Summary: Carolina meets Belle and takes great pleasure in riling Gold, Belle and Gold clear the air, and there's smut in a cab.
A/N: Yes, we're still in New York City, kids. This was meant to be the last chapter, but I was having so much fun with the snark between Carolina (Cruella) and Gold, and then my brain said, "What this fic needs is a hand job in a cab!" You're welcome.
"That was quite a performance, darling," Carolina said, stepping down off the dais when the panel ended. "I especially enjoyed the part where you said nothing at all."
Ignoring the barb, Gold watched the other attendees file out of the meeting room in noisy clusters. Some stood in the corners of the room to check mobile phones, while others hastened to the sponsored Coffee & Cookie Break, desperate for a jolt of caffeine and sugar. Giving Carolina the brush off was the less adversarial course of action, but he wasn't about to bolt from the room like a frightened child. This shark could smell blood from miles away.
"And yet, I managed to make it through the morning without imbibing a fifth of gin," he replied through bared teeth. His gaze remained on the emptying room; he was biding his time until he could pop over to the Library Association of America Conference and catch a glimpse of Belle, maybe even say hello and pull her aside for a quick kiss. And they really needed to have that birth control conversation sooner rather than later.
Carolina tsked. "Multitasking, darling. Men do it so poorly."
She flicked the fur stole draping her shoulders out of her way, enveloping him in a cloud of her oppressive perfume. He coughed and looked her up and down with disdain, taking in her full body leather jumpsuit. "Before you head to your next engagement, you'll want to catch a cab downtown. This section of Manhattan frowns on lolling about on street corners."
"Is that any way to talk to an old friend?" She pouted.
"Friend?" He snorted. "Only when I'm using my expertise to extricate you from a legal snafu with one of your former marital partners. What is it this time? New husband? Wife? Or are you going to wed one of your canine companions next?"
Carolina wasn't listening anymore. He followed her gaze. She was scanning the rows of chairs in the back of the auditorium. "Dammit, I lost her," she muttered.
"What the hell are you looking at?"
"At the moment? Nothing good." She glared at him. "There was a scrumptious brunette in the back row earlier. Thought I might chat her up at the bar, but the way she was looking at you, I thought she might have you for breakfast. Didn't you notice, or was that when you dropped your notes and forgot your name?"
Had Belle been here? He could feel the skin on his neck turning red. "During the panel?"
"Must you be so obvious, Gold? So you're either shagging her or, if she has anything to say about it, you're about to be."
He inhaled deeply through his nose, trying to collect his last shreds of patience. "Was that meant to be a question?"
"That's a yes. How long have you been seeing her?" She chortled, elbowing him hard in the ribs. "God, what'll this do to your reputation in Book River, or whatever the hell podunk town you're wasting away in?"
"My home is in Storybrooke. And I don't care." It was the first honest thing he'd said to her. With Belle in his life, he was happier than he'd ever been, and he wasn't going to let anyone else spoil it, especially a gin-soaked primadonna like Carolina.
"What's her claim to fame?" Carolina asked.
He smiled nastily. "She's a librarian. Best damn one I've ever met, too. She hosts a movie night at the library once a month and people love it. We watched The Wizard of Oz recently. Come to think of it, didn't I see you onscreen, riding a broomstick?"
"Didn't I see you riding in the basket on the front of a bicycle?" she said crisply. "Oh!" Carolina let out a low whistle. "Here she comes now. From far away she's gorgeous, but up close she's breathtaking. And look at that, she's petite so you don't even have to stand on a stepstool to kiss her."
Panic began to rise in his chest. He didn't want Belle exposed to his unsavory associates, especially this one. He wished there was some way he could warn her off, but he didn't want her to think he had anything to hide, either. If only he had one of those smartphone thingies. He could text Belle some sort of signal.
"Aren't you seeing someone?" Gold asked out of the corner of his mouth while Belle approached, hips swaying and smile bright. "An aquarium director?"
"Relax, Gold. Green has never been your color. Although your puppy dog devotion is rather adorable. Does she return the sentiment, or is she just in it for the mediocre sex?"
"The sex is fantastic!" Belle slid her arm around his waist and claimed his mouth in a hard, possessive kiss. She turned to Carolina with a broad, almost evil smile and held out her hand. "Belle French, charmed to meet you, Mrs.…"
"Ms. Carolina DeVil." Carolina threw her stole around her neck with a huff, a sure sign she had been caught off guard.
Gold couldn't help his own smug smile. He should have known better than to doubt Belle's ability to handle herself. He really did need to whisk her away for a conversation about protected sex before the next session began, but before he could lead her away, Carolina laid a manicured hand on Belle's arm.
Her eyes gleamed with eagerness, and Gold bit back a groan.
"How positively radiant of you to stop in and check on Gold, darling. What with such a poor showing on the panel he'll be in need of some cheering up."
"I can't imagine Branan being poor at anything," Belle corrected, arching a brow. "I heard all of his remarks and they were quite informative, particularly when other panelists weren't hogging the spotlight." She gave Carolina a pointed look.
Carolina threw back her head and laughed. "I like this young lady, Gold," she announced. "We must get together tonight and have dinner."
"Dinner?" he responded with a smirk. "Since when is gin a food group?"
She waved a dismissive hand at him and turned to Belle. "He's in one of his beastly moods again, I see. But you're such a witty, charming creature, and I demand we get better acquainted. I won't take no for an answer."
Gold crossed his arms and shook his head. He needed to intervene before they wound up at some drunk karaoke night, like the last time he'd made the mistake of joining Carolina for dinner at a conference. "We have other plans."
Carolina maneuvered between him and Belle, tossing her stole in his face. They linked arms, and Carolina walked Belle slowly toward the lobby, with him trailing behind. "So how did you two...well, forgive me if my question is gauche, darling, but he's not exactly a people person, is he?" Carolina shot a look at him over her shoulder.
"Belle, you don't have to answer that," he said, spitting bits of fur off his tongue.
"Love, it's okay." Belle reached for his hand and drew him to her other side so she was walking between them. It was an image of rose between thorns if he'd ever seen one. They reached the lobby, and while he and Carolina glared at each other, Belle fell into hostess mode, pouring cups of coffee for all three of them.
Belle stirred cream into her cup and smiled. "It took me some time to get to know Branan, but it's been worth every moment."
"Fascinating." Carolina plucked a cheese danish from one of the trays of sweets on the table in front of them, then tossed it back. She pulled a flask from her handbag and dumped a healthy portion of gin into her cup. "In all our years as colleagues, never once have I see Gold with a woman—or a man—at one of these things. I was beginning to wonder about his ability to carry on a relationship at all."
"Jealous?" He smirked, picking up a chocolate chip cookie and putting it on a plate.
"Yes, actually," Carolina replied. "I need a Belle of my own. Anyone who can handle your disposition is a rare gem."
"Sweetheart," he said, stabbing the cookie over and over with his fork until it was a mutilated mess, "why don't you ask the Love Doctor here how many times she's been married?"
Carolina scoffed. "You can hardly blame me because the first two died within a year of saying our vows."
"And did they jump off bridges or opt for poison, dearie?" he asked, then drained his coffee cup in three large gulps. "If you're truly miserable, I hear hemlock's a quick, painless way to go."
"Belle French, you have the patience of a saint to put up with this one," Carolina declared. "Do you have a brother, darling?"
"No."
"Shame. How about a sister?"
Belle shrugged. "I'm an only child, I'm afraid."
"Pity. You'll make it up to me tonight by buying me drinks." The matter decided, she clapped her hands twice. "Cipriani Downtown. Seven sharp. Don't be late, darlings. I abhor tardiness."
xoxo
Gold looked out the window of the taxi at the city lights, rehearsing what he wanted to say to Belle. A stale-smelling cab wasn't an appropriate place for this conversation, but he sure as hell couldn't sip martinis and sit across the table from Carolina DeVil with birth control weighing on his mind.
He hadn't seen Belle again. They'd both been in and out of conference sessions throughout the day, barely stealing five minutes to splash of water on their faces before it was time to go. After a long, exhausting day among strangers, all he wanted was to curl up with her and order room service, but they'd agreed to dinner with Carolina, and an agreement, like a deal, was an unbreakable contract to him.
Belle leaned against his chest in the car, her closeness reminding him of how good it had felt to share a bed with her. She had slept snuggled against him the way his puppy did after a long walk, all warm limbs and peaceful sighs. Rather than giving in to sleep, he'd spent a long time watching the rising sun chase the darkness from the room, enchanted by the woman in his arms. Remembering her passionate moans made his ears burn and his neck flush and he stuck a finger inside his too-tight collar to relieve the pressure on his neck. No matter the consequences, he couldn't bring himself to regret a single kiss or touch.
He took another glance at the cab driver in the rearview mirror. Some drivers wanted to talk and point out tourist attractions, but this one had earbuds stuck in his ears and was bopping his head to jazz music. Wearing headphones while driving was illegal in New York State, but the cabbie hadn't said a word to them since they gave the address of the restaurant, so Gold was thankful.
"Belle, I'm so sorry. About before," he blurted, then looked at her helplessly. It was a lame statement that told her nothing at all.
She pressed her lips together. "Sorry? For what?"
"You know, I never did get you coffee or tea this morning," he said, stalling. "What was it you said you preferred to wake up to?"
Her smile made his insides quiver like jelly. "You're sweet, but I actually didn't say. It's coffee in the morning, tea after lunch." The edges of her smile faded, and she narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said with a nervous laugh.
"Branan," she began in a tone that said she didn't believe him, "what's going on? You can talk to me. About anything."
"I know," he said, looking at the floor of the cab. Their driver honked and gestured at another car, then swerved into the next lane. "I'm sorry."
"You keep apologizing." Her flushed cheeks went pale. "Do-do you mean you're sorry about last night? Or this morning?"
"No!" He grabbed her hands and kissed the insides of her wrists. Her pulse hammered against his lips, and he realized he was worrying her. "Belle, please don't misunderstand me, sweetheart. I'm not sorry for a single moment I've spent with you."
Relief flooded her face, the color rushing back into her cheeks. "You're sure?"
"Yes, of course. I could never be sorry about us. What I was trying to say, with a total lack of eloquence, is we never talked about birth control. I've no excuse, of course, but I don't think we're ready for, um, for…"
"For babies and growing old together on a porch in a set of Cracker Barrel rocking chairs?" she concluded, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Exactly." He squeezed her hands, his relief palpable. "Not today, at least. But maybe someday?"
The brilliant smile was back, and her hand found his bad knee, massaging the gnarled flesh lightly. "I'm on the Pill. Have been since you finally came to the Movie Night at the library."
"Oh? Oh."
"Yeah. So not only do you know there's nothing to worry about, now I've admitted that I've had designs on you for a while, Mr. Gold." The hand on his knee crept upward toward his thigh and the swerve of the cab pressed her more tightly against his side.
He wasn't complaining.
"I can honestly say I've never been more flattered in my entire life." He grabbed her hand again and kissed the knuckles, then slumped back against the seat, allowing her to continue massaging his leg. Her hands felt amazing, and he savored her nearness, the light floral scent of her skin tickling his nostrils. The only physical touch he'd had in years before Belle came into his life was the occasional hug from Neal, and now he was with a woman who not only accepted his touch but welcomed it. A pleasant change, to say the least.
"Was that all that was bothering you?" she whispered in his ear, glancing toward the driver who was now singing Kenny G in an off-key tone.
"Yes. No. I don't really want to go to this dinner." He growled when she nipped his earlobe with her teeth. "I don't want to share you. Especially not with Carolina DeVil. We had cookies and coffee with her; isn't that enough punishment?"
Belle laughed, tickling his neck with her warm breath. "It'll be good for us, maybe, to spend a little while with someone else. Practice for when we're back home. Ruby is dying to get us out on a double date with her and Archie."
"You're too nice, sweetheart." He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Fine. We will distract Ms. DeVil from her tragic little existence long enough to have a cocktail and share a plate of bruschetta. Then we're moving locations."
"Deal." She giggled, and although he was dead serious about getting them the hell out of there at the earliest possible moment, he did love to make his sweetheart laugh.
"But while we're here in traffic, let me relax you."
The hand rubbing his thigh snaked upward toward his groin and she cupped the front of his trousers. He jerked his hips with a gasp. "Belle!"
xoxo
"Yes?" She fluttered her eyelashes, playing innocent. The cab driver hadn't glanced in the rearview once, and she'd checked repeatedly, ever since she concocted this little plan.
He looked down at her hand, still massaging his groin, and then toward the cabbie, his expression guarded. He shifted in the seat. "What are you doing?"
"I told you." She leaned close enough to blow her warm breath into his ear, pleased when he shuddered. She smiled against his shoulder. Although she would never admit it out loud, she loved it when he was grouchy with everyone except her. "I'm going to help you relax."
"What?" His gaze flicked back at the driver. "But he's—"
"Paying absolutely no attention to us," she finished, then scraped his earlobe with her teeth till he shivered again and groaned. "Don't worry. Just let me make you feel good." Her fingers danced lightly across the front panel of his trousers, and she crowded him closer to the door, in case their driver should decide to glance in the back after all.
She leaned across his body for a kiss, nibbling at his lips. He opened his mouth for her on a gasp, and she took full advantage, sliding her tongue into his mouth and working her fingers into his hair. He wrapped his arms tight around her back and moaned, the sound sending tingles down her spine. When their lips parted, Belle was the one who was lightheaded and struggling for breath. He chuckled, a light self-assured sound leaving no doubt he knew exactly what effect his kisses had on her.
But it was Belle's turn to take back control, and she was determined to take his mind off their upcoming dinner. She rubbed her hands together to warm them, then unzipped his trousers and parted his boxer briefs to wrap her hand around his length.
His eyes flew open, a look of surprise rippling across his handsome face. His jaw hardened with resolve, his fingers lightly circling her wrist. "You don't have to do this."
"Shhh. I want to." She began to caress him with firm, slow strokes, grinning when he slumped against the seat and closed his eyes with a sigh of surrender. Sparing another furtive glance at the ignorant cab driver, Belle experimented with soft, feathery touches and hard, quick strokes, then twisted her wrist until he yelped and opened eyes fiery with desire.
Their driver swerved and smashed the horn, muffling the sound of Gold's cry, and Belle bit her lower lip and wrapped both hands around him, her breath hitching as he watched her pleasuring him. His glazed eyes and slackened jaw, the way he watched her hands move up and down his cock, made her skin itch and the place between her thighs grow warm and damp. Her breasts tightened and she leaned against his side, rubbing her nipples against his ribs with a whimper.
He groaned her name, his hips thrusting upward, lifting off the leather seat as he writhed and strained toward her. His desperate reaction to her touch was making her core throb, and she guided his hand inside her blouse to relieve the sweet-hot ache. It was all the encouragement he needed to cup her breast with a growl, and he plucked and pulled at her nipple through her bra.
Still working at her breast, Gold snaked up her skirt with his free hand and brushed his fingers against her knickers, the slight contact making her moan. Pushing the gusset aside, he plunged his long fingers inside her while he rubbed and flicked her clit with his thumb. Her hands on his cock stilled, her body keyed up and rushing toward release. He pinched her clit between thumb and finger, and she gave herself over to the pleasure, coming hard against his hand with a low moan.
Belle lifted her hips and shimmied out of her underwear, draping his cock with the warm, soft fabric. Again she began to stroke him, using the friction between silk and hot flesh to carry him over the edge. Rocking his hips, he spurted over her hand and into her knickers, and she captured his mouth, swallowing his cries with her kiss. While he shook and whimpered, she continued to rub the knickers against his flesh until he stilled and opened his eyes. The dazed look on his face made her smile. His clothes were slightly rumpled, his hair tousled and he looked absolutely adorable.
"Belle," he whispered. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she said, sliding her palms up his chest to feel his heartbeat. Seeing him lose control, his body now boneless and sated beneath her hands, was the most erotic experience of her life. Belle tossed the soiled knickers into her handbag and tucked him back into his trousers just as the cab pulled up to the curb, signaling their arrival at the restaurant.
"And we're here!" she exclaimed, reaching across him to open the door and handing him his cane. She paid the driver while he climbed out of the car, his legs wobbling as he gained his footing and pressed the butt of his cane into the pavement.
"Feel better?" she asked, tucking her arm in his and leading him toward the door.
The smug look on his face and the swagger in his step was all the answer she needed.
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