Chapter 10

Belle woke up slowly but couldn't help smiling at the feel of Red's arm slung loosely around her waist. She turned around to face the other woman, who was still breathing lightly as her eyes closed. Belle placed a hand on her waist before she closed her eyes again but quickly opened them when a quiet growl emanated from Red's throat. She watched the woman's eyelids flutter for a moment before she went quiet again.

Belle gingerly placed a hand on Red's cheek, and though her eyes remained closed, the other woman turned her face into Belle's hand. The smaller brunette giggled but bit her lip to quiet herself.

"What you giggling at?" Red mumbled, opening her eyes slowly.

Belle blushed and smiled, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she said guiltily.

Red smiled lazily, "It's okay, baby," she mumbled as she stifled a yawn.

Belle giggled, "You have morning voice," she bit her lip, finding Red's 'morning voice' incredibly attractive.

Red rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah," she put her arms around Belle and pulled her closer, burying her face in her hair, "How do you smell so good even in the morning?"

Belle pushed her away playfully, "Shh," she laughed, "Hey, what were you dreaming about?" she asked suddenly.

Red frowned at the sudden question but smiled, shrugging, "I don't know. I don't remember. Why?" she squinted at her girlfriend, "Did I talk in my sleep or something?" she asked nervously.

Belle shrugged, "You didn't talk, you did like…" she thought for a moment, "this growl in your throat. And your eyes were fluttering like you were dreaming."

Red tilted her head before nodding, "Ah, well…yeah, I do that," she muttered.

Belle blinked quickly, "Really? I've never noticed."

Red shrugged, "It's usually around wolfs time. I guess the animal starts to come out."

Belle giggled but stopped under the glare of her girlfriend, "Oh, what? I think it's cute. I like it when you growl," she admitted.

Red sighed, shaking her head, "You're one weird chick, you know."

Belle pouted, "Hey!"

Red laughed and in a flash and crawled on top of Belle, holding her arms to the bed, "So you like the animal in me, huh?" she asked, a devious spark in her eye.

Belle bit her lip as she stared up at Red, feeling the heat shoot to her core, "Very much," she smiled.

"Hmm," Red hummed, leaning her lips close to Belle's ear and letting a low growl out of her throat as one hand laid on her girlfriend's stomach and she laughed quietly when she felt Belle's breath hitch in her body, "You're so fucking cute," she whispered.

Belle blushed as their eyes met but she grinned, "You're so fucking sexy."

Red's eyebrows shot up; she didn't often hear the other woman swear, "Damn, you swear good," she grinned.

Belle rolled her eyes, "You growl good," she shot back, looking at the clock beside the bed, "We should get over to your place to pack," she said unconvincingly.

Red tilted her head once again and lent close to Belle's face, "Uh-uh, not yet. If I'm an animal, you're my prey, baby," and sunk her teeth gently in Belle's ear before nuzzling into her neck.

"You're late," Granny stated as the two women entered the restaurant.

"Uh-huh," Red rolled her eyes, "Hi Granny," she said pointedly, flitting her eyes quickly from her girlfriend to Granny.

"Hey, yourself," Granny said in her usual gruff way but under her granddaughters pointed gaze attempted a smile, "Hello, Belle."

Belle half hid behind Red, "Hello…"

"Call her Granny, everyone does," Red said, shrugging.

Belle simply smiled shyly.

"Well, you better get to it. I mean, half those clothes you may as well get rid of now that you're back to your…old, better dressed self," Granny looked at Red over her glasses pointedly.

Red laughed, "I might keep some of them," she shrugged, ignoring Granny's tut.

Belle frowned; making a note to herself to ask Red about Ruby's wardrobe when they were alone.

"Well, go on then girl, get to it," Granny said, "Lasagne for dinner," it wasn't a question, more a statement, "I'll be in once I close up. You're staying for dinner, Belle?"

Belle snapped to attention and looked at Red before Granny, "Oh, um, yes, that would be nice. I mean, if it's not too much trouble."

Granny was lucky she still had wolf hearing with the quiet mannered girl, "'Course not, can't let my granddaughter move in with someone I hardly know, can I?"

Red groaned, "Granny."

Granny waved a hand, "Don't worry, I'll save the interrogation and embarrassing stories for dinner," she laughed.

"Hey, Red?" Belle asked, turning from the box she was packing.

"Mm?" Red glanced at her.

Belle bit her lip, "What did Granny mean…about Ruby's wardrobe? Why didn't she like it?"

Red was silent for a moment before she barked a laugh, "Oh. Right. Come here."

Belle walked over to her, Red taking her hand and leading her to the wardrobe, "I got a bunch of it out already but there's still some left," she shrugged.

Belle went through the wardrobe curiously, before turning to Red and giggling, "You used to wear this?" she held out a pair of tiny red shorts in her hand, "Like in public?"

Red blushed, "Ugh, yeah as Ruby I did. I mean, some of it isn't too bad, I guess but man, I don't know what I was thinking."

Belle moved closer to Red, placing a hand on the taller woman's chest, "I bet you looked damn fine though," she mumbled.

Red grinned, "Oh yeah? You like short shorts?" she teased.

Belle shrugged, "I'm sure I would on you," she pulled out a shirt, "You really wore this? Can't you see like all your stomach?"

Red rolled her eyes, "Yup, I even used to work in it… that's probably why Granny can't wait to see the back of it," she chuckled, "We used to get quite a few comments, maybe one or two complaints."

Belle licked her lips, "Well, I think when we get back to…our place," she smiled at the phrase, "You owe me a fashion parade."

Red laughed, "Whatever you want, baby," she lent close to the smaller woman as she placed her hands around her waist and nipped her on the ear gently.

Belle couldn't help sighing and stepped backwards, "We should finish packing," she said pointedly.

Red nodded reluctantly, "You're right," she sighed, "Nearly done, I reckon. I hope Granny's finished soon, I'm starved!"

Belle looked at her incredulously, "We just had a huge lunch, woman! You have some appetite!"

Red's cheeks burned, "I can't help it, it's – "

"I know, I know. It's the animal in you," Belle chuckled, "Granny must be used to it."

"Yup," Red said proudly, "She'll cook up a storm!"