Chapter 10

Belle didn't even have time to think when Vin's lips covered hers. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to; if she did, she might think she was dreaming. The man she had fallen in love with, albeit through letters pilfered from her mother's desk, was kissing her in a way that made her believe he had feelings for her, too.

How had she come to deserve this? She had yelled at him in a drunken stupor; had ridden off in a stormy huff from his company; had gone on a date with another man, a friend of his no less, to spite him; had slammed a door in face whilst claiming to never want to see him again. And yet, here they were, arms around each other in the middle of her sister's guest bedroom, kissing in quite possibly the most passionate way she had ever known. It was heaven.

Vin pulled away first, a smile on his face. He didn't speak, just stood there, watching her reaction. Belle had to keep her arms around his neck, where they had moved to of their own volition, in order to keep from falling over in her dizzy ecstasy. Her smile was dreamy as she stared back into his deep blue eyes.

"How?" One simple word; a question Vin needed an answer to before they could go any further.

"Mary." Belle giggled at the look of confusion on his face. She ran her fingers through his long hair, testing how he reacted to the intimate gesture before continuing. "She wrote letters about the seven of you to my mother. I found them when I was cleaning out her desk after the accident. My favorite letters were the ones that had you in them. I would read and reread them for hours." Belle sighed and nuzzled into his chest, hearing his heartbeat going wild. "She wrote about your poetry, what she knew of your life, your passion for the outdoors, your quest to prove your innocence. I just fell instantly."

Vin's arms tightened around her as he placed his chin on the top of her head as he digested what she had said and what had just happened. He'd been wanting to hold her like this for some time and he felt a wave of contentment at finally being able to do what he had been longing to.

Belle pulled away, though, before he had had his fill. She looked up at him, questions burning in her eyes. "How did you figure it out? How long have you known you felt it too?"

He pulled her back to him, resuming the hold that he'd been waiting for. "It wasn't hard to figure out, Miss Belle. You only spoke to me while you were locked in here. And you stopped crying to talk to me." He looked down at her. "And you wouldn't look at me after you opened the door."

Belle listened quietly, feeling the vibrations of his voice in his chest. She nodded slowly, waiting to hear the next answer, which was really the one she had wanted all along.

"I felt something for you the instant I saw you, even if you were being quite colorful." They both laughed. "When you came and spoke to me at the jail, I was eager to learn all about you. I followed you to the stable, and I fell even harder when I knew you could ride. Your sense of adventure is incredible." Vin's vision clouded. "I was so jealous of Ezra. I almost wanted to shoot him." He softened as he heard Belle giggle. He ran his hands through her hair, gently. "I think I really knew when I fell asleep watching the house. And then when I kept upsetting you this morning. It tore me in two." He squeezed her tightly. "When I came up those stairs a few minutes ago, and I heard you sobbin', I almost lost it. And when you opened that door, and I saw your tears, I wanted to hold you so tight. I don't ever wanna see you that hurt again."

After Vin finished his confession, Belle was content. She leaned against him, letting him hold her, and enjoying the feeling of being protected. Here was a man who would die protection her against anything or anyone. It was nice to feel that loved.

They were so busy holding each other that they didn't hear the footsteps on the stairs. "I do declare."

Both of them turned toward the voice. There, at the top of the stairs, stood Mary, hands over her open mouth, and Ezra, holding a bouquet of flowers. Belle and Vin looked from the odd couple to each other and back again. Vin's hand was still on Belle's waist; he slid it off of her and let it fall to his side.

"I had just heard the news that you were in need of cheering up, my dear." Ezra recovered first. "So I rushed over with some flowers and a dinner invitation in the hopes of stopping your tears. Obviously," he paused and looked over to Vin, "Mr. Tanner has done the job just grandly." He handed the flowers to Belle. "Good day." And then he walked down the stairs; the door shut in the distance.

Belle looked meekly down at the bouquet in her hand. When she finally had the courage to look back up, Mary was standing there, arms crossed, eyes demanding an explanation.

"Um, hi, big sister," Belle smiled weakly.

"Mary, I can explain." Vin held up a hand in surrender.

"Well, one of you better." Her looked changed from demanding to distaste. "You two appear awfully close."

Belle stuck out her chest in defiance. "And what if we are? I am eighteen, legally a woman."

Vin looked back at her and stopped her, finger to his lips. He returned his attention to Mary. "What Belle is trying to say, Mary, is that we would like your blessing," he softly grabbed Belle's hand and pulled her to his side, "to begin a courtship."

Mary's eyes flashed from unhappy to ecstatic in a matter of seconds. "You want to court Belle?" She watched Vin nod. Mary's happiness faded briefly. "But you barely know each other!"

Belle, who had been staring dreamily at Vin, returned her attention to her sister. "You barely knew Steven when he asked to be your beau. Besides, I know all about Vin, thanks to your letters to Mama."

Mary smiled, remembering the beginning of her courtship with her husband. She looked at Vin. "And you're sure you're comfortable with this, Vin? It isn't just to save face?"

Vin smiled at Mary, then gazed down at Belle. "Never been more sure of anything."

"Well, then, I guess you have my blessing."

Belle squealed and ran to her sister, hugging her tightly. "Thank you so much," she whispered.

Mary laughed softly. She pulled away. "I will have to ask that you no longer cling desperately to each other without a chaperone." She raised her eyes to Vin. "Not that I distrust you, it's just not proper."

Belle rolled her eyes as Mary went back downstairs, still beaming. She walked back to Vin. "That was a little too close. I believe my sister thought my virtue was in danger."

Vin smiled wickedly. "Who says it wasn't?"

Belle laughed and slapped him lightly on the shoulder. She calmed down a bit. "You didn't have to do that."

Vin pulled her close. "I wanted to." He kissed her again, this time more gently and intimately than the passionate whirlwind that started the whole thing. "I was going to do it anyway."

Belle smiled at him and held out her hand. Vin took it and let her lead him downstairs. It was the first time in a long time he felt comfortable settling down. And that was only because he knew she was as wild at heart as he was…

A/N: Yes? No? Maybe so? R/R to let me know! XOXO ~Nelli~