Here we are at chapter nine, in which things develop even further between out favourite couple. Penultimate chapter, folks. I've found a stopping point that I think people will like, so I'm wrapping it up at ten chapters, but there will be more from the Tempted 'verse in the future, and I'm still debating with myself whether to open it up to prompts or not. Would be really grateful to know if that is something people would like. I've never opened things up to prompts before, but I'm really interested in doing so for this 'verse, so please do let me know if you'd like to be able to prompt me, and thank you SO MUCH for all the feedback on this so far: it means a great deal :)

Tempted

Chapter Nine

Gold woke with his arms wrapped around a slim, petite brunette: the very same brunette he'd been dreaming about for months. God, it was incredible! He'd gone from the pit of despair to the heights of elation in an instant. He could hardly believe she was real when he saw her: he'd had to touch her, hold her, to be sure. And, oh, God, feeling her warm and soft in his arms had been…

Then she'd kissed him, said she was sorry, said she did want him and that she'd panicked. And she'd taken him home and they'd made love for hours. It had been incredible, absolutely the best sex he'd ever had. All of his experience hadn't prepared him for how good it could feel, or for how much he wanted to do it again.

Belle snuggled back against him and he smiled. Then her arse brushed against his hardening penis and he hissed. She moaned in her sleep and rocked her hips.

'Tristan,' she sighed out.

She was still asleep, still breathing deeply, but she was dreaming of him. He was rock hard as she moaned his name again.

'Belle?' he whispered.

'Please, Tristan,' she breathed, and he let out the breath he'd been holding.

He slid his hand down her belly and between her legs, finding her wet already. She moaned and rocked against his questing fingers and he smiled, kissing her hairline.

'That's it,' he whispered: 'that's it, my beautiful Belle.'

She moaned and then he felt her tense and saw her eyes open. He paused, afraid she'd freak out.

Her eyes found his and she smiled dreamily.

'Don't stop,' she murmured: 'it's a lovely way to wake up. I thought it was a dream: I'm so glad it's not.'

He buried his face against her shoulder.

'You're incredible,' he told her.

'You're incredible,' she echoed. 'Please, keep going,' she requested, rolling her hips. 'Or, better yet: here.' And she reached for a condom and handed it to him.

'Oh, I like the way you think, babe,' he said, taking the condom, pulling away from her for a moment, and then lining himself up and sliding into her from behind.

He smiled at Belle's excited intake of breath and kissed her as she turned her head.

'Can we wake up like this every morning?' she asked.

He paused and stared at her. 'You're serious, aren't you?' His heart was beating fast.

She looked up at him earnestly. 'I'm serious about wanting to be with you. I haven't been brave for so long, but last night I discovered what can happen when I gather my courage: I can have everything I've ever wanted.' She reached up and stroked his cheek. 'I know it's too soon to think about living arrangements, and I don't want you to feel rushed, but if you wanted to, you could stay over some nights, as many as you wanted, and we could wake up together. I just want you to know that it's something I'd like for us.'

'It's something I'd like too,' he told her, and kissed her as he began to move.

'Mmm,' she moaned, and kissed him more deeply. 'I'll give you – mmm – a key and you – ohhh – can stay over – oh, God – whenever you – ooooh – want. Mmm…' She could hardly get the words out as he was moving inside her, but she managed it, and then he slid his hand between her thighs again and she cried out.

'I might never leave,' he murmured, smiling.

'Don't think…I'd have…a problem…with that – ooooh!'

He came with her, whispering endearments into her ear.

0

They managed to drag themselves out of bed long enough to eat a late breakfast.

Gold smiled as he watched Belle move around the kitchen. He'd never get tired of looking at her.

She smiled shyly. 'I ache in places I didn't know it was possible to ache,' she told him, 'but it feels so good.' And she reached over to kiss him.

'Well, I'm glad I could make you happy.'

She stroked her hand through his hair. 'You made me very happy, Tristan. I know I'm not very experienced with any of this: I didn't get much practice with Greg and there hasn't been anyone else since him, so I'm sorry if I'm not very–'

'Sh, Belle,' he crooned, wanting to chase away the doubt he could see growing in her eyes: 'you were spectacular. The way you reacted to me was…I knew you meant it, knew you truly wanted me, and that made me feel so good I can't even tell you.'

She smiled, seeing that he had enjoyed himself, and her doubt was quelled.

'Well, some of those things you did…I'd like to learn to repay the favour. There are things I've never done, but, with you, there's so much I want.'

He pulled her into his lap and kissed her.

'We'll figure it out together, Belle,' he told her, repeating his words from last night.

She smiled and kissed him.

'Hmm, so, I suppose I should thank those two idiots for convincing me to sing that song,' he mused, cradling her in his lap.

'You should,' she agreed: 'we should. Without them, and Ariel, we wouldn't be here right now.'

'Yes: Ariel was a huge help,' he agreed. 'I'm very grateful to her for getting you to that gig last night, and to the boys for talking me into singing that song.'

'That was beautiful,' she said: 'no one ever wrote a song for me before.'

He smiled. 'You've become something of a muse to me, Belle.'

She bit her lip. 'You're so sweet.'

'And you're beautiful: come here.' And he pulled her in for another kiss.

0

'Well, well, well: look what the cat dragged in.'

Victor looked up at Jefferson's hail and saw Tristan coming in.

'What are you doing here?' he asked.

''lo, boys,' Gold greeted. 'It's just a flying visit: I need some clean clothes.'

Jefferson grinned. 'So, things are going well with Belle?'

Gold smiled. 'They are.' He looked at his friends. 'Thanks to you two,' he said earnestly. 'I owe you.'

Victor grasped his shoulder. 'We just want you to be happy, and Belle is lovely.'

'Isn't she?' Gold asked, grinning stupidly. 'I feel like I've died and gone to heaven.'

'So, what the hell are you doing here?' Jefferson demanded.

Gold laughed. 'Yeah, ok: clothes, and then I'm gone.'

'Good!' Victor shouted after him.

Gold laughed again and went and threw a few things in a bag.

He hugged the boys on his way out a few minutes later.

'We'll talk Tuesday, ok: at the meeting with Midas. I think it's time we released the album back home.'

'Great,' Victor enthused.

'Yeah,' Jeff agreed.

'See ya later, boys,' Gold called, and then he was gone, leaving Jeff and Victor smiling at each other.

'He's back,' Jefferson said.

'He certainly is,' Victor agreed. 'Thank you, Belle!'

0

While Tristan was gone, Belle showered and tidied up. Then she made them dinner and called Ariel.

'Hey, Belle. Did everything go well? Please tell me it did!'

Belle laughed. 'Ariel, it was better than I could have imagined.'

'That good, huh?'

'Yes,' Belle said simply.

'Well, good,' Ariel said, and laughed. 'I'm happy for you, sweetie.'

Belle smiled. 'I want to thank you, Ariel. You said I would find this and I didn't believe you at the time, but you were right. I can't get over how good it is with him, how alive he makes me feel. I never thought I could have such happiness.'

'Well, no one deserves it more,' Ariel said emphatically.

'You're such a wonderful friend, Ariel. He told me about the advice you gave him and I wanted to thank you for that too.'

'It's ok, Belle.'

'It's because of your advice that he and I are such good friends as well as everything else we have now,' Belle insisted, 'so thank you.'

Ariel smiled. 'Well, you're welcome. I'm so happy everything worked out for you two.'

Belle heard the front door close: Tristan was back.

'Oh, that's him, Ariel,' Belle said.

Ariel heard the excitement in her voice. 'Then what are you still doing talking to me? Go on: go and be with him.'

Belle laughed. 'Thank you, Ariel. Lunch next week? I'll call you?'

'Yes, of course, now go!'

Belle laughed again and hung up. Then she went to meet Tristan.

'Hey, babe,' he greeted, smiling at her.

'Hey,' she greeted, suddenly overwhelmed by the happiness she felt at all that had passed between them since last night.

'Are you alright?' he asked, seeing the emotional look on her face.

'Yes.' She went to him and put her arms around him, smiling when he immediately hugged her back. 'Yes,' she said again: 'it's just that I just realised that I've never felt this way before.'

'How do you feel, Belle?' he asked softly.

'Happy,' she told him, smiling brightly: 'I feel blissfully, uncomplicatedly happy, and I never felt that way before, and it's all because of you, Tristan.'

He stared at her, his heart full to bursting. How could it be that their feelings were so in tune? As proud of his success as he was, as excited as he'd been by every new experience he shared with the boys, as much as he loved the accomplishment he'd achieved because of the band, he'd never been completely happy until now, until he was here with her.

He smiled and raised his hand to curl around her neck, his thumb tracing over her soft bottom lip.

'I don't think I knew what happiness was before this moment,' he murmured, and then he kissed her soft and deep, so intense that she lost her breath.

She just went with it, wrapping her arms around his neck, and then her legs around his waist as he picked her up.

She smiled as he carried her up the stairs. Dinner could wait.

0

Belle found that her life was now punctuated by all kinds of kisses: lazy morning kisses as they woke up wrapped in each other's arms, little sipping kisses when she was trying to leave for the library and he kept pulling her back into his arms (not that she really objected to that), hungry kisses when they saw each other after being apart, even if it was just for a few hours, sensual kisses during lovemaking, adrenalin-fuelled, passionate kisses when he came off stage after a gig. He kissed her as often as he could, and Belle loved it.

She loved the intimacy too. Even though they hadn't really talked about him moving in, after that first night, he hadn't slept at the apartment he'd shared with the boys. Belle loved having him close. After being alone for so long, she loved coming home from the library and hearing his footsteps coming to meet her. She loved the way his face lit up when he saw her. She loved the way he kissed her like it had been a year instead of a few hours. She loved that he wanted to be with her, no matter what they were doing. He was happy to talk with her over dinner or cuddle with her and watch a movie. They were comfortable together and Belle enjoyed the companionship as much as the sex.

And the sex… Oh, God… She'd never known anything like it. There were moments when he'd look at her and she'd shiver in delicious pleasure because she just knew what he was thinking. It would take only seconds for his mouth to be on hers and his arms to be around her. Then it didn't matter where in the house they were, whether the bedroom, the living room, the bathroom, the hall, the kitchen: they'd made love in every room. There wasn't a part of her home that she couldn't now associate with pleasure he had given her.

She was rather surprised to find how taken he was with her. Of course, she knew he wanted her, but the extent of it did surprise her. She remembered one night when he'd been away a couple of days and she'd found it difficult to sleep without him, even though they'd only been together a couple of weeks. She'd finally drifted off around two in the morning only to wake a short time later to the feeling of lips trailing gently over her face.

'Tristan?' she breathed, waking fully: 'what are you doing here?'

'I missed you,' he told her.

'But I thought you had interviews.'

'I did: I left straight after the last one.'

'Why?'

He smiled and kissed her gently. 'I didn't fancy being away from you another night.'

She stared at him, into warm brown eyes full of sincerity.

'You…' She didn't know how to finish that thought, so she kissed him instead. He kissed back eagerly, moving to settle between her legs as she rolled onto her back. It was a while before she slept that night, but when she did, it was soundly, with his arms wrapped around her.

0

Just over a month after they got together, Belle was opening her mail and Gold heard her groan.

'That didn't sound like a good groan,' he observed, coming and wrapping his arms around her. 'Bad news?'

'It's the fundraiser for the science museum,' Belle told him, showing him the envelope she'd just opened. 'It's one of the few I go to every year. It's a wonderful cause, but Faye Rheul is organising it this year and I'm not much looking forward to it, especially because I know she won't have forgotten what I said to her and Regina that night you and I went to dinner together.'

'Was she the one who looks like she's been sucking lemons all her life?' he asked.

Belle giggled. 'That is an excellent way to describe her,' she said.

'Will the other one be there? What was her name?'

'Regina, and I would imagine so.'

'Even though they were both your ex's mistresses without either of them knowing?'

'Yes. Those people are very concerned with appearances,' Belle told him: 'it's part of the trappings of their world. They have obscene amounts of money, but the world they move in is ruled by tradition and strict etiquette. They'll commit their sins and be at each other's throats in private and they'll play their parts in public.'

'Hypocrites, then,' he summarised.

'Of the highest order,' Belle agreed. 'It's why I don't associate with them much. Well, that and the fact that those people love it when their so-called friends are having difficulties. I learned that the hard way during all the crap with Greg: not one of those people came to see how I was. Now I only interact with them at things like this.' And she held up the envelope.

'Well, at least you won't be alone,' he told her, squeezing her a little.

'You'd come with me?' she asked, surprised.

'Of course I'm coming with you,' he told her: 'I'm not about to leave you to face those hypocrites alone, babe.'

She smiled. 'You're very sweet, but you don't have to. Those people are amongst the most self-centred, shallow people you'll ever meet: it's not a very pleasant way to spend an evening.'

'I don't much care about them, babe: I only care about being with you. I'm coming with you: we'll have fun shaking them up a bit.'

She smiled at him. 'You're going to cause trouble, aren't you?'

'Who, me? Wouldn't dream of it.'

She laughed. 'You are going to cause trouble.'

He grinned. 'Maybe just a little. Would you have a problem with that?'

She smiled, her eyes twinkling. 'None whatsoever.' Suddenly she was rather looking forward to the event.

0

'Jesus Christ!'

Belle had walked into the living room in what had to be the sexiest dress he'd seen her in yet. It was gold: it shimmered with the thousands of sequins or beads or whatever they were sewn into it. They caught the light and drew his eye, and he knew he wouldn't be the only one staring at her tonight.

She turned for him and he salivated at the sight of her. The column dress made her look taller, something that was aided by her towering heels. There was a slit up the side of the dress: just high enough to be alluring, and the bodice showed just a hint of cleavage. The back, too, showed just enough skin to be tantalising, especially with her hair swept up the way it was, and the dress hugged her beautiful backside just perfectly. He'd thought she was sexy in that red number she'd worn months ago, but this blew that dress out of the water. Gold was definitely her colour.

She smiled. 'Do I look alright?'

Gold's eyes swept over her figure again.

'Alright?' he spluttered. 'Alright? And you were worried about me causing trouble? Belle, I'll be lucky if someone doesn't steal you away from me!'

'There's absolutely no chance of that happening, sweetheart,' she told him. 'It's just that there will be cameras when we arrive tonight, and I wanted to look the part of a famous rock star's girlfriend.'

'I don't care about any of that crap, Belle: I don't need anyone dictating how my girlfriend should look.'

She smiled. 'I know, but this is our first time out together as a couple, and I wanted to make an effort.'

He smiled and stroked her cheek.

'I understand, and, believe me, you nailed it.' He looked her over again. 'Jesus. It's hard enough to keep my hands off you without you wearing something like that.'

She smiled. 'Well, I'm sure you're going to be bored out of your wits tonight, so I thought you should have something nice to look at.'

He smiled. 'Well, mission accomplished. I sort of wish we weren't going now, though.'

'Why?' she wondered.

He smirked. 'Because all I can think of after seeing you in that dress is helping you out of it.'

She blushed. 'Oh.'

He nodded. 'Yeah.'

She smiled. 'Well, you can help me out of it later,' she told him.

He smiled. 'You're on.'

0

Gold looked down at Belle and saw the clenching of her jaw. She was nervous and on edge, and he didn't like seeing her like that.

'Hey,' he whispered, squeezing her hand. She looked up at him and he smiled. 'Relax, ok: everything's gonna be fine.' He leaned in and kissed her gently, ignoring the flash of cameras up ahead.

Belle smiled. 'I'm so glad you're with me,' she told him.

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, and then they posed for photographs before they made their way into the lobby where Faye and the ladies on her organising committee were waiting to greet the guests.

'Hello, Belle,' she greeted coolly.

Belle nodded. 'Hello, Faye: you look well. I'd like to introduce my boyfriend, Tristan Gold: Tristan, this is Faye Rheul, the organiser of tonight's festivities.'

Gold greeted the woman, shaking her hand and noticing the look on her face as Belle introduced him as her boyfriend.

'Do enjoy your evening,' she invited, attempting to smile, but it looked rather forced.

Belle and Gold thanked her. Then he slid his arm around her waist and led her away from the woman that he was sure was watching them.

'You know what her problem is?' he asked.

'What?' she wondered.

'She's jealous.'

She looked up at him. 'Well, you do look incredible in that suit,' she murmured.

He grinned and kissed her.

0

Gold was rather irked by the looks he and Belle got throughout the evening. A lot of people here knew Belle and when she introduced him as her boyfriend, they looked a bit oddly at him, as if they were asking themselves what the hell he was doing here.

Belle understood what these people were thinking, so when they asked what he did for a living, expecting to be wildly unimpressed, she would smile serenely and ask if they'd heard of Desperate Souls. Most of them had: it seemed that even people from this rarefied world knew his band. The looks he got when Belle told these people he was the lead singer nearly made him smile, but it was Belle praising him that really warmed him.

'I'm sorry: these people are so judgemental,' Belle said, as they walked away from an older couple who'd looked down their noses at Tristan. 'As if I didn't know that she married him for his money and that he's sleeping with their granddaughter's nanny: hypocrites!'

Gold laughed and she looked up at him and smiled.

'I'm sorry, we shouldn't have come: this can't be fun for you.'

'I don't know, babe: I kinda like seeing you with a fire in your belly, and I like the way you talk about me.' He squeezed her a little.

She smiled. 'I'm proud of you, Tristan. All of these people have money, but they don't have your talent, or your drive, or your charisma. I don't want you to ever feel any kind of insecurity around these people, because you're wonderful.'

He smiled. 'You keep saying that.'

'Because it's true.' And she reached up for a quick kiss.

0

'Belle's new man is proving quite the distraction tonight.'

'I know: I can't believe she would bring him here.'

Belle had paused at the sound of her name and then she froze when she realised that Faye and Regina were discussing her and Tristan.

'I mean, he's not exactly our kind of people,' Regina continued.

Belle caught her breath. Regina's dismissive tone infuriated her. How dare she disregard Tristan just because of his background? He was worth more than a hundred of her, because he'd worked for what he had: he hadn't had it handed to him by wealthy parents. The woman's prejudice made her sick.

'What do you think he sees in her?' Faye asked curiously.

'Her money: what else?' Regina asked cynically.

Belle was livid. How dare they make vile assumptions about her wonderful boyfriend and their relationship?

'Are both of your lives really so empty that you can't be happy unless you're tearing other people down?' she found herself turning and asking.

Regina and Faye turned quickly, realising they'd been overheard.

Belle walked slowly towards them, her confidence rising at the realisation that Tristan had been right: Faye was jealous: she could see it on her face.

'Or is it just that you don't like seeing me happy?' she asked. 'You know, I don't know what I ever did to either of you to make you first sleep with my husband and now insult my boyfriend, but it doesn't even matter, because I am happy, and no bitchy comment from you can ruin that.

'Go on believing that he only likes me for my money if that will help you sleep at night, but I know how he reacts when I touch him, and that's what's real.

'Maybe one day you'll stop being cruel and shallow long enough to find a real connection with a wonderful man who makes you feel things you never thought you could feel. As it is, I pity you both: I really do.' And Belle turned on her heel and walked back down the stairs in search of her amazing boyfriend.

Gold saw Belle making her way through the crowd. She didn't stop to talk to anyone, though a few people did call out to her. She seemed to be a woman on a mission.

As she came closer, he saw the look on her face: there was something fierce and wild about her, and she captured his heart all over again. She really was a goddess, walking tall and proud in that dress. She was the most gorgeous creature he'd ever seen, and he moved towards her now.

When her eyes landed on him, he caught his breath at the fire burning in them.

'Come with me,' she requested, her voice soft, and she took his hand and led him away from the crowd. He would have followed her into hell on his hands and knees, so captivated was he by her.

To his surprise, she led him to the cloakroom and asked for their coats.

'Are you alright?' he asked, resting his hand on the small of her back.

She turned and leaned comfortably into his side. Then she reached up and kissed his cheek sweetly.

'I'm wonderful: I just don't want to be around these people any longer. I want to be home with you: I want to have you to myself.'

He stared at her. 'What happened? Did someone say something to you?'

'I overheard Regina and Faye speculating about us and it just reminded me of how cruel and petty these people can be, and you were right: Faye is jealous, and Regina's just a snob.

'I'm sorry we came here, Tristan: I don't ever want to see any of these people again.'

'Are you sure? Belle, this is the world you come from: I don't want you to give anything up for me.'

She stroked his cheek. 'I don't see it as giving up anything,' she told him: 'I see it as freeing myself.' She smiled. 'I don't want any of this: I just want you.'

He could see that she meant it, that she was sure, and he kissed her softly.

'I'm all yours,' he murmured.

They took their coats and he helped her on with hers.

She smiled. 'Come on: let's get out of here.'

'Lead the way, beautiful.'

She smiled over her shoulder at him and led him out to the street, where she quickly hailed them a taxi.

0

'Hey, come here,' he called, tugging on her hand as they walked the last few hundred yards home.

She laughed. 'We're almost home, Tristan.'

'Don't care: come here.' And he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

'What was that for?' she asked, smiling.

'You're just so…'

'What?' she asked, flushing at the appreciative look in his eyes.

He smiled, pulling her a little closer.

'You've got me under your spell,' he whispered, 'and it's exactly where I want to be.'

She bit her lip, her heart beating fast, the way it always did when she knew he was being completely open and sincere.

'Tristan,' she whispered.

They both leaned in.

'Hello, Belle.'

The interruption made Belle jump and she pulled away slightly, though not far enough to leave his embrace. Gold continued to hold her, looking at her, concerned. Then he realised that the stranger had spoken her name, and he had a feeling he knew who the tall, slab-faced guy was.

'Is this…?'

Belle looked up at him. 'My ex, yeah,' she said grimly. She wasn't happy to see him, especially not here, just outside her home. 'What are you doing here, Greg?' she demanded, looking over at him mistrustfully, aware that he'd been drinking.

'Heard you had a new man,' he said: 'this him?' He shot a nasty look at Tristan.

'Not that it's any of your business, but yes: this is Tristan. Tristan, this is my ex, Greg Gaston.'

Greg sneered. 'Thought you didn't like men who were after your money.'

'He's not,' she said assertively, 'but at least you finally admit that you were.'

'Sure he's not,' Greg snorted. 'He's half your age: what else would he want from you?'

'Hang on a second, pal,' Gold interjected, annoyed: 'you don't know me, so don't go fucking shooting your mouth off about something you don't understand. And as for what I want from her, she's what I want: she's everything I want.'

Irritatingly, Greg ignored him. 'Belle, why don't you tell the kid to go back to his sandbox and find yourself a real man?'

Gold only laughed. 'Yeah: a real man leaves his wife lonely and doesn't show her any affection. Some real man, pal.'

Greg glared at him and Belle tightened her hold on Tristan.

'Let's go inside,' she murmured, worried that Greg was going to cause trouble.

Gold didn't want any trouble either, so he nodded, and they turned away.

'Don't turn your back on me, Belle,' Greg growled, grabbing her arm.

She cried out, his hold painful.

'Hey!' Gold shouted: 'what the hell do you think you're doing?' he demanded. 'Let her go: now!'

'This is between me and my wife!' Greg returned, 'mind your own damn business, kid.'

'I am not your wife, Greg!' Belle shouted indignantly.

Between his drunken idiocy and those snobs at the museum fundraiser, she'd had just about enough for one evening. If he thought him throwing his weight around could make her crumble, he could think again.

'Let me go right now, or, so help me, I'll scream bloody murder,' she threatened, drawing herself up and scowling at him.

He looked at her, frowning, noticing a change in her. Slowly, he let her go, and she impatiently used her free hand to push his hand off her. Then she slapped him as hard as she could.

'Don't ever touch me again.'

'Slut,' he muttered, as she turned away.

Gold heard that and, before he could stop himself, he'd punched Greg in the jaw.

'Tristan!' Belle cried.

'Fuck,' he groaned, holding his right hand.

'Let me see,' she requested.

'I'm calling the police and having him arrested for assault,' Greg stated, almost gleeful, glaring at Tristan.

'Go ahead, Greg,' Belle invited calmly, 'and I'll be sure to tell them how you grabbed me. I can even show them the bruises.'

That seemed to quiet him and he backed away, but not before sending the pair of them a filthy glare. He walked off, muttering about being better off now that she was out of his life.

Well, so was she.

She looked at Tristan. 'Let me see your hand,' she requested gently.

It didn't hurt so much now, but he showed her, smiling as she touched it carefully.

'We should get it x-rayed,' she said.

'It's fine, Belle. I can move my fingers and my wrist: see?' And he showed her. 'I'll be a bit sore for a few days, but it'll be grand.' He smiled to reassure her.

She looked up at him earnestly.

'You shouldn't have done that,' she told him: 'you could have really hurt yourself. What if you'd broken it? What if you were on tour and couldn't play your guitar?'

He smiled. 'Still would have been worth it,' he told her.

She shook her head, but smiled a little. 'My hero.' And she gave him a gentle kiss. 'Still, you didn't have to do that for me.'

'I'd do anything for you, Belle,' he murmured, smiling at her blush. 'Hey,' he said, taking her hand with his good one, 'you know I don't care about the money, right?'

She smiled. 'Of course I do.' She'd always known that.

'And I don't care about the age difference.'

She smiled at his conviction and the way his eyes flashed with it. She brought her hand to rest over his heart.

'I know,' she told him: 'somehow, between us, age just isn't important.'

'No,' he agreed, reaching up with his uninjured hand to touch her cheek.

As they looked at each other, something was settled between them that had been up in the air before. Perhaps neither of them had been completely easy about how the other felt about the age difference and the fact that they came from different worlds, but now they were.

Belle took Tristan's hand and led him into their home.

0

Belle sipped her wine and felt herself relax. She'd poured the wine for her and a Scotch for Tristan, who drained his glass and put it down.

'Is your hand alright?' she asked, putting her own glass down as he came to her.

He smiled. 'It's fine. How about your arm?'

'It'll be ok,' she told him, sighing as he kissed his way down her arm to the bruises from Greg.

'Wish I could take these away,' he murmured, bringing his injured hand up to trace the dark spots on her skin. He kissed each bruise gently. 'I'd never do this to you, Belle,' he vowed, looking into her eyes.

'I know,' she returned. She smiled at him. 'I love you,' she murmured, knowing it was the first time she'd said it, the first time either of them had said it.

He stared at her, eyes widening.

'Say it again,' he begged.

'I love you,' she whispered: 'I love you, Tristan.'

He leaned in for a kiss that quickly turned passionate.

'I love you too, beautiful Belle: you're the best thing that's ever happened to me.'

She sent him a beaming smile.

'I never knew such happiness was possible until you came along.'

He smiled, accepting her soft kiss, moving easily as she manoeuvred him backwards. He caught that fiery look in her eyes again and knew that he was going to enjoy whatever she had in mind.

The backs of his legs came up against the couch and Belle pushed on his chest to get him to sit. He did so, watching her, happy to follow her lead. She'd been getting bolder since they'd been together, but she hadn't completely taken charge. He sensed that was about to change.'

'You were so wonderful about everything tonight,' she murmured, stepping close and encouraging him to lean back. She began to undo the buttons on his shirt, leaning over him, smiling as her hands went to work. 'I'm so lucky to have you in my life. You make me feel brave and beautiful, and I love you, so much.'

'Me too: oh, Belle.' He caught his breath as she leaned down to kiss his chest, bracing herself with her hands on either side of him.

He moaned as she licked and sucked on his chest, teeth nipping gently. She moved lower, grabbing a cushion from beside him and kneeling on it so she could move her mouth over his stomach. Her hands were now free to touch him, and she wasted no time in sliding them up over his torso and down his sides, humming in contentment.

He was breathing heavily, very much enjoying her teasing mouth and caressing hands, and he groaned in protest when she lifted both away.

His eyes found hers and she was smiling. He held his breath as she put her hands on his belt buckle.

'May I?' she requested softly.

He nodded. 'Yes: anything.' And he clenched his jaw as she unbuckled his belt and released him from the confines of his boxers. He was hard and ready for her. It would have been impossible for him not to have been: he'd imagined her doing what it looked like she was about to do many times, and it never failed to arouse him.

Belle bit her lip, excited, but also a little nervous. She very much wanted to do this for him: she just hoped she could do it right. Well, she'd found that she enjoyed things immensely when he went slow and drew it out, so perhaps he would enjoy that too.

'I've wanted to do this for so long,' she told him, curling her hand around him. Keeping her eyes on his, she put her mouth around him and sucked experimentally.

'Oh, babe,' he sighed out, shuddering. At the feeling of her mouth and tongue, he realised this wasn't going to last very long. It was just such a fantasy come true to watch her sweet mouth sucking him that he couldn't contain his quivering moans or the way his hips thrust up to meet her.

Belle was rather awed by the way he responded to her. The look on his face was one of breathless ecstasy, and it gave her a thrill of pleasure to know that she could have such an effect on him.

'So good,' he moaned, and she smiled, pleased to know she was pleasing him.

She hollowed her cheeks and gave a series of sucks and licks, moving her hand to play with his balls at the same time.

'Fuck!' he cried. 'Belle, oh God! Oh, babe…I can't…hold on.'

He babbled as he came, spilling himself into her mouth and moaning long and low.

Belle released him with a little pop, and, catching his eye, she swallowed, which made him moan.

'Oh, babe,' he breathed: 'you're a goddess. That was fucking incredible.'

She smiled and stood, sitting beside him, cuddling close as he came back to earth.

'I didn't realise it would feel so good to do that for you. I understand, now, why you like to pleasure me so much.'

He raised a hand to her cheek. 'It feels just as good in a different way to be the one bringing pleasure.'

'Yes,' she agreed.

'So, what else were you planning on doing with me?' he wondered.

She smiled. 'Well, I do seem to remember saying you could help me out of my dress.' And she stood up and moved away a little, her dress shimmering in the light.

She looked over her shoulder, smiling seductively.

'Aren't you coming?'

'Try and stop me,' he growled, standing quickly and following her.

And there you have it. Whew, that was a long one! Thanks so much for reading.