AN: Hey guys I know it's been a really, really long time. I've missed writing but school has been busy and stuff so I'm sorry I was gone for so long. But here is the next chapter, thank you so much to all of you that have followed, favorited, and/or reviewed the story, it is very encouraging. If anyone has ideas or thoughts please review and let me know. Also, warning, this chapter has a lot of smut in it, not intended for readers that are not adults. Enjoy.
...
They say love is the strongest emotion. They say that it can make people do incredible things. They say it is by far the most powerful. For these reasons, love can be one of the most frightening emotion.
But there was one more feeling, one more instinct that just barely was surpassed by love. There was one innate response, one compulsion, that was nearly as powerful as love, though far more dangerous. Fear.
Humans evolved to do two things; survive and reproduce. Humans have the guttural desire to mate with another human being for the sole purpose of reproduction. The drive to mate, or "fall in love," is strong. Slightly stronger than fear.
For the other behavior humans have evolved to do was survive, for how could one reproduce if they were no longer living. The will to survive makes humans as well as animals impulsive and abrupt. And what drives humans to survive, other than mating purposes? Fear.
Fear is one's response to a seemingly dangerous situation. The 'fight or flight" response is something each person and animal is born with. It allows someone to assess a certain situation and decide whether fighting their way out would accomplish more than simply running.
There are two types of fear; the fear that one can explain, that arises when one is in danger, and the fear that cannot be comprehended. The fear that comes without a true purpose. The fear that emerges when a person learns from their life experiences that fear is the only option. That fear is what is keeping them alive.
...
Belle slowly adjusted to Adam's new form. The first few mornings, when she expected to awake next to her beast, were a bit startling but her memory would return shortly after.
Belle tried her best to adapt to this new lover, but she was finding it difficult. Her insecurities didn't help the matter either.
She had a hard enough time believing Adam, in his beastly form, was able to love her, but attempting to believe that this handsome, beautiful, godly man could feel that way about her, a strange girl who loved her books, was incredibly difficult.
She tried to hide it; she smiled when he joked, held his hand when he offered it, read to and with him. But inside she was cold and distant, afraid of their future together.
...
The new change was tough for Adam as well. It was funny how he could wish for something for years on end but when that hope finally comes true and makes the one he loved unhappy, he would wish it had never happened.
Neither of them were the most open people, but with each other they had always been completely honest, and the fact that Belle wasn't telling Adam what made her unhappy distressed him.
He finally was a man, he could finally give her a form he could be proud of. While he was the same on the inside, he no longer had to be embarrassed by his external appearance.
He couldn't understand what distressed his beloved so. Why was she unhappy? Did she find his new appearance unappealing? Or had she lost the feelings she had thought she had for the monster he had been?
...
Belle sat alone reading in the library, like she did most days, in order to avoid Adam.
From a few feet away from her, Adam cleared his throat hesitantly to get her attention.
Belle looked up, and gave him a small sad smile.
"I was wondering if you would like to go to the lake like we used to. I packed us a picnic..." Adam looked at his toes, both embarrassed and angry for being so shy with the first person he had loved in years.
Belle smiled slightly and nodded.
...
The sky was a brilliant blue as they walked to their site near the lake.
The two walked with a few feet between them, like strangers not trying to disturb the other's space.
Neither of them knew exactly what to say, though both had many words and questions for the other.
Belle looked up from the path for a moment to see how the sun shimmered in Adam's copper hair, and in the process of doing so, she tripped, throwing herself forward toward the sandy ground.
Adam, reflexes quick as always, grabbed her hand and caught her before she could fall. The gesture reminded Belle of their hike into the mountains where she had almost fallen from the path, and the Beast had held her hand the rest of the way in case she tripped again.
Belle blushed and stood, smiling sheepishly at Adam. "Thank you," she murmured.
"You're welcome," Adam replied almost stiffly.
Adam looked down at their joined hands. He loved being in contact with some part of her, but he wasn't sure if he should let go. She was clearly having a hard time adjusting and he wasn't even sure if she stilled shared his feelings.
He began to unclasp his fingers but Belle, in a moment of desperation, held onto his hand. It was more of a reflex than a thought out decision but she held it all the same.
She blushed some more and Adam grinned, enjoying one of the first gestures of affection he had received since his change.
Belle smiled at Adam's radiant reaction and squeezed his hand, letting him know she was still his.
...
After swimming and splashing with each other, the joyous couple set out their blanket beneath the stars.
Belle laid back, and Adam joined her, lying on his side, watching his love gaze at the world around her while he gazed at his own world.
He watched her dark lashed move as she blinked and took in the gorgeous scenery. He watched her lips move ever so slightly as she breathed.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he whispered, "Belle?"
"Mm?" She rolled on her side to face him.
"I still love you... I know a lot has changed for you but... to me you are the same girl I feel in love with, the same woman I wish to spend the rest of my life with."
Belle sighed and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry I've been.. distant. I just... I know you are the same man you've always been, I just don't understand how you, a man you could now get any beautiful woman to bare children and to cook and clean, how could you want me now?" she looked at him, for once refusing to break eye contact.
Adam shook his head in wonder. He knew why she didn't see herself the way he did. She was raised in a town who thought she was a freak then married to a man who constantly abused her, both verbally and physically.
Adam shifted closer until he could feel her heat against his newly bare skin. Her raised a hand and placed it gently on her face, slowly caressing her cheek.
"Belle, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met. It doesn't matter what I look like or what trophy wife I could get. The woman I want is laying in front of me and no matter what happens, no matter what physical changes either of us go through, my love and affection for you remains constant, permanent. Never think that will change? How can I make you see that you are all I ever wanted?"
Belle sighed and scooted closer to Adam, so that their chests touched, a position that was the most intimate that they had experienced since his change.
"I love you too. I guess it's scary having something so good, it seems like something has to go wrong... but even if it gets bad, we'll come out the other end. We always do."
Adam pressed his mouth passionately to hers, feeling the way her lips moved in an intricate pattern against his. He groaned as the kiss deepened, and he pressed himself more fiercely against her body.
Belle moaned and accepted him, enjoying his domination of her. She liked seeing the beast that still lay within him.
Adam rolled so that he was on top of her while continuing their kiss, both of them letting out all of their frustration and desperation as they passionately ravaged the others mouth.
Adam rolled his hips against her, moaning once more at the contact with his most intimate area.
Belle breathed heavily and wrapped her arms around his back feeling the toned muscles beneath his thin shirt. She dragged her hands from his hard shoulders all the way down his back to his taught buttocks.
Adam lifted himself from her body for a moment to remove his shirt. In the moonlight, Belle could see his large muscles and she longed to run her hands along each one of them.
She quickly unbuttoned her blouse and removed it, desperate to feel his bare skin against her own.
Adam practically leapt back to her, and she giggled at his excitement. She was eager to feel him inside her, on top of her, surrounding her, but, as always, something went wrong.
Belle became suddenly terrified. The feel of his naked chest pressing her into the ground was familiar, too familiar. She was suddenly sucked back into Gaston's rape. He had pressed his body on top of her own, forcing himself upon her so that she couldn't move or struggle.
Belle thrashed against Adam in the heat of the flashback. Tears began to stream down her face as she struggled to get him off of her.
"Stop... please no," she cried out, pressing hard against Adam's chest. Adam, immediately sprung away from her, worried he had hurt her in some way.
"Belle, are you ok what is wrong?"
Belle blinked for a few moments, realizing her "attacker" was no longer upon her.
She looked up at Adam's worried face and slowly began to realize what had happened.
Meanwhile, Adam couldn't erase the look of pure terror etched into his love's face from his mind. Only once had she looked at him like that, and it had been when he had raised an arm during their fight. But now was different. Neither of them had been angry and he wasn't a beast any longer.
Belle shook her head, attempting to clear it, and brought her knees close to her chest. She rested an elbow on one of them and placed her forehead in her palm.
"I'm so sorry..." she didn't know what else to say, how else to explain what had just happened. She had been sucked into the past for just a moment, but it was long enough. "I'm sorry," she repeated. "I... wasn't here for a moment, " she finally said. "I was remembering... him."
"Did I hurt you? Is that why?" Adam asked, his voice hoarse and broken.
"No, no... this new form... and I had never done... it... that intensely before, except when it... you know... wasn't mutual."
Adam was horrified with himself. "I don't know how to apologize, Belle I'm so sorry... I would never want to frighten you... I guess I got caught up in the moment."
"Adam you don't need to apologize... it wasn't your fault at all... maybe we should just go slow with this new body."
Adam nodded slowly. "Yes... maybe we shouldn't be... intimate for a while."
Belle shook her head slowly. "I think that would be best... but please know this isn't because I no longer have feelings for you... I just can't be that, I guess, rough with you yet," she said blushing.
Adam began to protest saying she wasn't ready for any of that kind of intimacy, but all rational thought left when she climbed up to him and pushed him to the floor, straddling him in the process. This way she was in control and wouldn't feel helpless and have flashbacks again.
Adam grunted with desire at the new position.
Belle slowly ran her hands along his chest, feeling the smooth skin and the way his muscles rippled beneath her fingertips.
She removed his trousers along with her skirt until they were each fully exposed to the cool night air.
Belle sat once more on top of Adam but this time she sat between his legs.
She traced the line between his abs with her index finger and marveled at the way they clenched beneath her touch. She slowly got closer and closer to his manhood, building up the courage to touch him in his most intimate region.
When her hand finally reached the desired area, she grabbed it firmly, admiring the smooth texture of it.
Adam was already breathing heavily from her delicate touch but feeling her touching him there was unexplainable.
His chest heaved laboriously as she worked him into a frenzy with her delicate yet firm touch.
Curiously, she brought her hand from the base to the tip, twisting her hand slightly as she did so.
She gazed wonderingly at the drop of fluid that formed from the small slit at the top. She rubbed her thumb over it, spreading the bit of moisture.
Adam was propped up on his elbows, unable to look away from the erotic sight before him.
Belle began to move her hand up and down his shaft, periodically squeezing but remaining firm the entire time. After a few minutes of enjoying the looks of pure pleasure on Adam's face, she stopped when he said, "Belle stop, I'm going to cum."
Belle grinned both proud and bashful at what she had accomplished. Adam laid back pulling Belle back on top of him.
"I need to be inside you," he whispered, and Belle could only nod in desire.
She bit her lip in anticipation.
"Belle, do you want to be on top or should I? I don't wish to frighten you again..."
Belle thought for a moment. On one hand, she was worried that she would have another flashback but as long as he was gentle that shouldn't be a problem. Also, she was afraid she wouldn't know what to do if she was on top.
"Can you?" she asked, trailing off.
Adam nodded slowly, carefully rolling them both over so that Belle was once again beneath him.
"Just... go slow, ok?" Again Adam nodded, attempting to control his desire.
Carefully he aligned himself with her. It was taking all of his self control not to thrust deeply into her but he restrained himself. The fear of frightening her again was enough.
Slowly, he pushed into her, feeling her tighten for a moment before relaxing. She moaned lustfully.
Adam continued pressing into her until he was fully in. It was all he could do not to cum right then and there thus was his arousal, but then it would be over before it had even begun.
He carefully pulled out, leaving just the tip in and Belle nodded in assent, answering his unspoken question. He pushed into her again, this time more forcefully. She was quite aroused, so he slid easily.
They continued until they found their rhythm, and they filled the night with groans and sighs.
As his pace increased, Belle felt herself building and building before a sudden release, causing her to clench around him, triggering his own climax.
Each moaned loudly, calling the other's name as they felt Adam's liquid shooting inside her.
He grunted one last time, and whispered, "I love you," before passing out by her side.
...
AN: hey I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. Seriously, ideas for where I should go are welcome, if I don't use them I'm sorry but it is nice to hear your thoughts. I hope to update again soon. Or this might be the ending. I have no idea. We'll see. Let me know.
-Hope