A/N: I had several readers comment how they'd like Belle to catch Rumpel reading the book about the wizard and Princess Eloise. So, here you are, my darlings. I hope you enjoy.

XX

A Love So True

Rumpelstiltskin pushed himself away from the wheel he'd installed in Belle's library, and gave a wary glance about the room, wondering where his little maid could be. He was quite parched, wishing it were tea time, but a look at the clock on the mantel revealed it was still several hours off. He stretched, the bones in his neck giving an audible crack. Apparently, he'd been spinning longer than he'd thought, his body stiff from sitting in one position for far too long. His fingers idly brushed the wooden surface of his worktable before drumming in irritation. He was bored.

Perhaps he should seek out his caretaker and tempt her into an afternoon of frivolous pursuits. Surely, there was something they could find to pass the time. Anything was better than listening to the voices in his head. Having made up his mind, he turned towards the stairs, his eyes briefly landing on a book on the side table near the settee. One dark brow rose, and he found his curiosity piqued, his feet carrying him across the room almost against his will.

His fingers steepled before his chest, tapping together in indecision as he stared down at the tome. It had quickly become her favorite, having read it several times over the last few weeks. Lowering himself down to the cushioned seat of the settee and perching there on the edge, he reached out and flipped the book over, the title embossed in gold on the cover. A Love So True. He snorted. True love. Did he even believe in such a thing? It was as attainable as catching smoke in one's hands, and the one magic he'd not yet been able to bottle or brew. Yet, his little maid seemed fascinated with it.

But why? From their discussion, earlier in the month, he could see the parallels between their own strange relationship and the characters of the book, but surely, she couldn't believe their tale could end in some romantic drivel … could she? How absurd. His maid was a smart girl. She must know, deep in her heart, she could never truly give herself to a monster.

Rumpelstiltskin tapped his fingers against the cover, pulling the book onto his lap as he debated whether or not to see for himself what all the fuss was about. Should he start at the beginning? Belle had related most of the story. Perhaps he should look towards the end … to pick up where she'd left off when that meddlesome knight had interrupted with his unwelcome visit.

William flinched as Eloise trailed her soft fingers over the scars covering the left side of his face. His hand encircled her delicate wrist, gently pushing her away despite his yearning for her touch. How could she bear it? His disfigurement was painful to look upon, yet her warm gaze was open and bore not a trace of disgust.

"Why do you do that, husband?" she queried, searching his troubled sable eyes.

"Do what, princess?"

"Hide from me," she replied softly, turning her hand in his grasp until she could twine her fingers with his.

He sighed, turning away to stare down into the crackling flames of the fire. "I don't know what you mean."

William shivered as her hand ghosted over the nape of his neck. Was there anything more precious in the wide world than her willing touch upon his flesh? "You hide behind your scars, your magic, and a gruff demeanor. It's a ploy to push me away. Why won't you let me love you, Liam?"

"What are you reading, Master?"

Rumpelstiltskin nearly shed his skin as Belle's warm breath ghosted over his ear. He made an undignified sound in the back of his throat, the book in his hand flying into the air before he could get a grip on it and shove it behind him to hide it from her view. "Don't do that!"

Belle giggled, finally having paid him back for all the times he'd sneaked up on her. "That must be some tale to have you so absorbed you didn't hear me come in," she quipped, rounding the settee to sit next to him.

He could feel the heat rising in his face as he waved her off. "It's nothing. Quite boring actually."

One dubious brow arched in his direction. "Of course, Master. But I'm sure you won't mind sharing it with me."

His lips parted to argue with her, but no sound would pass his tongue. He was mesmerized, lost in the deep pools of her eyes, so alight with mischief. She used his befuddlement to snake her hand behind his back and reach for the book. That seemed to snap him out of his fugue, his fingers encircling her wrist and pushing it away. He didn't want her to catch him reading romantic nonsense he used every opportunity to scorn.

"Dearie, were you not taught about the impropriety of invading one's personal space?!" he scolded in exasperation.

While he focused on restraining one questing hand, Belle slipped the other behind his back, reaching again for the mysterious tome he didn't want her to see. Her fingers inadvertently brushed his ribs and she froze as he let out what sounded like a true laugh instead of one of his impish giggles. She froze, her eyes widening in astonishment. "Master, you're ticklish!"

"Am not!"

"Yes, you are!" she retorted.

She freed her left hand and goosed his ribs, the book forgotten. It lightened her heart, his laughter warming her from the inside out. What a joy to see her cantankerous master laughing so freely. When he could barely breathe, and was fighting to catch his breath, she came back to herself, realizing her precarious position. Somehow during their horseplay, she'd wound up sitting across his lap, his arms around her, one clawed hand resting low on her hip. Her own breath caught in her chest as warmth pooled low in her belly, butterflies taking wing beneath her heart as it pounded furiously. She lost herself in the magic of his eyes, her hand trailing over his shoulder to toy with the ends of his hair.

Rumpelstiltskin drew in a sharp breath as her gaze darted down to his mouth, her little pink tongue snaking out to wet her lips. She wanted so much for him to kiss her. Instead he whispered, "Shouldn't you be dusting or some such?"

Belle shifted a bit as his warm breath fanned against her lips, not missing the soft groan rumbling low in his throat. "All done for the day. I'm all yours … er … I meant I'm free to spend the rest of the afternoon with you, Rumpelstiltskin," she stammered, a blush riding high on her cheeks.

"What do you want, little dearie?" he rasped, his heart lodged somewhere in his throat.

She could practically feel the battle waging within him between panic and desire. Slowly, Belle. "Um …" she cleared her throat and tried to rein in her desire to kiss him. "It's stopped snowing. I thought we might take a stroll through the garden and collect some holly to add to our decorations in the Great Hall," she suggested. His brow dropped to hers, his nose nuzzling against hers. That innocent touch had any thoughts of an afternoon stroll quickly flying out of her ear. Perhaps the devil made her do it, but she found she couldn't resist. "Or we could stay here until you find the courage to kiss me."

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes narrowed suspiciously as his head shot up to stare at her. "Enough of your teasing, wench. Go fetch your cloak and we'll go collect your holly."

Belle sighed, though the cheeky smile never left her lips. She climbed off his lap and made her way to the stairs, pausing to glance back over her shoulder before she began her descent. "Who said I was teasing, Master?"

The Dark One let his head fall back against the settee and groaned. Oh, he was in trouble.