XV

A Request

A moan slipped from Belle's throat as she thrashed upon the bed, the fire in her blood bringing her back to consciousness. Her eyes flew open as her head popped up off the pillow, her gaze trained on the wiry curls of her lover where they bobbed between her legs. "Rumpel!"

Her fingers fisted around the chains linked to the headboard as she writhed beneath him – her hands bound once more – his hot wet tongue gliding sinuously through her sopping folds. He traced her slit with a long lick, pressing his hand to her belly to push her hips back to the mattress. "Gods, you taste heavenly, dearest," he moaned, turning his head to trail hot open-mouthed kisses along her inner thigh.

The sounds issuing from her throat were incoherent babble as he returned his mouth to her core, his tongue delving deep into her entrance, thrusting gently to give her a taste of what she had to look forward to, drinking down every drop of arousal until she was nearly begging for release. "Rum … Rum, please! Pleasepleaseplease!"

He flicked his tongue against her clit as he eased his fingers inside, using them to judge just how close she was. He groaned, pressing his hips to the mattress as he felt her flutter around his digits. He wasn't ready to relinquish his prize. She was so hot, so wet, so ready for him. He could effortlessly ease himself inside and take what she was so willing to give. He cursed his not so bright idea of making a deal with her.

He rested his head against her thigh, smoothing his hand over her belly as he tried to get his ragged breathing under control. Slowly, he kissed his way back up her body, pausing at her breasts to give them his thorough attention. She arched beneath him, a litany of 'please, yes, more' slipping past her parted lips. "I'm going to keep you in bed for at least a week," he murmured against her fevered flesh. "And then I'm not sure that will be enough."

Belle nodded jerkily, wrapping her legs around his hips as he loomed over her, grinding herself against him as she sought the friction he denied her. It would never be enough for her, she knew, having him like this. Gods, how she wanted to touch him! To have the freedom to explore his body as he had hers. "My Rumpel, my master, my love. Yes!" she wailed, stretching up to meet his lips, tasting herself on his tongue. She felt empty, hollow. She needed him to fill her with his flesh and chase away the burning agony she felt in her womb.

She wanted to cry as he moved off of her and came to rest at her side, his face drawn in lines of pain and frustration. "I don't know how much more of this I can endure, Belle."

"This … This was your idea, Rumpelstiltskin, s-so you have n-no one to blame but yourself," she panted, pressing her thighs together to ease her aches.

"A lesson learned by example –"

She glared at him through the narrowed slits of her eyes. "Rum, darling?"

"Yes?"

"Bite me!" she growled, rolling over as much as she could and giving him her back. She didn't share his amusement when he chuckled lowly and pressed himself flush with her back. She melted into him as he trailed his hand over the soft swell of her hip and outer thigh and back again, his lips at her neck. She tried to resist, but she was putty in his masterful hands.

"That can be arranged," he purred, his hand ghosting higher to cup her breast, his fingers teasing the taut bud of her nipple. "Come, dearest –"

"I wish I could," she grumbled under her breath.

"You have one question and a request remaining. Choose wisely. It will take your mind off of … things."

Rumpelstiltskin nipped at her shoulder and she gave a little yelp, though she shouldn't be surprised he'd taken her so literally. She gasped as he peppered kisses along her spine, each one accompanied by the tip of his tongue brushing her flesh, tasting each new bit of her he'd yet to sample. All the while his fingers played her like his spinning wheel. What had happened to her respite?

A slow smirk pulled at her lips as she glanced at him over her shoulder. "Alright," she cooed, her voice playfully seductive. "I think I'd like to use my request now. Am I correct in assuming this request has no limits?"

"I'd do anything for you, my Belle."

His precious girl rolled over, spearing him with her wide azure eyes filled with love and desire and more than a little desperation. She chewed thoughtfully at her lower lip, wanting her request to be just right with no way for him to find a flaw in her wording. She couldn't ask him outright to just throw away their deal … it wouldn't be fair to him. He thrived on the fine points of a deal and she wouldn't take that away from him. She'd just have to outsmart him.

"Well, dearest?" he asked, paying particular attention to the little dip between her collar bones.

She sucked in a ragged breath as his tongue found a sensitive spot just beneath her jaw. "I want …" she moaned again, her body on fire for his touch. "I want you to take off the remainder of your clothes. All of them."

Rumpelstiltskin rolled away from her, his face twisted in horror. "You don't mean that. Tell me you don't mean that … please. You could have anything in the world you desire. You do not want to see me naked."

"You were planning on making love with your clothes on, were you?" she asked dryly, rolling her eyes. "Rumpel, you are what I desire most in the world, and I want to see you … all of you. I don't think my request is so out of character with what we've been doing."

"But –"

"You promised," she reminded him. "Besides, you've looked your fill of me. And no extinguishing the lamps either." She insisted upon the last part, knowing her wily master would think of that next.

His face fell, his hands trembling as they rose to the laces of his shirt. He'd already discarded his boots and waistcoat while she'd been napping and that only left his silk shirt and leather trousers. Of course, her eyes followed his every movement, her little pink tongue darting out to wet her lips in anticipation. The lamplight grew dimmer as he pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it atop the chest which sat at the foot of the bed.

"Rumpel!"

"I didn't extinguish them, dearest … I simply turned them down a bit," he whined petulantly. "This request is entirely unfair, Belle. You know if there's nothing between us I'm not going to be able to resist you."

Her lips turned up into a wicked smile. "That's the idea. Rum, please … I need to feel you."

The sorcerer groaned, shucking the remainder of his clothes and cursing when he nearly fell, his pants getting tangled around his ankles. Just what he needed, to make himself look more of a fool in front of his true love. With a flick of his wrist, the manacles fell away from her wrists, her arms open to receive him as he returned to her side.

"Screw the deal," he mumbled as her arms closed around him and her leg wrapped itself over his hip.

"What?!"

His tongue toyed with the lobe of her ear, eliciting a moan which sent sparks of electric heat coiling down his spine. "I said, screw the deal. You win. I'm yours."

Belle stilled as he lifted his head to lock his gaze with hers. "I thought you already were … mine that is," she whispered reverently. "As I've always been yours, Rumpelstiltskin."

He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her flushed skin. "Belle, are you sure? This is a gift … one you can't take back if you change your mind. To be mine is to put yourself in danger. Already, you've been abducted by three demented harpies and had your heart stolen by a vapid queen. Not to mention, people will scorn you for your association with me."

She smiled up at him, and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I don't care. I want to be yours, Rum. I love you, and I'd do anything to stay by your side. And whatever dangers we face, I have every faith you'll protect me."

He sighed, a deep contented rumble low in his chest as he shifted against her. "You have entirely too much faith in me, but I don't want to let you go now. Not when I know how it feels to have your love."

Belle wrapped her arms about his neck, shoving her hands into the curls at his nape to pull him down for a kiss. She was tired of talking, especially when the feel of his bare skin against hers was so deliciously thrilling and the fire in her blood roared in her ears. She could feel him hardening more against her belly, and she wanted him so badly.

She couldn't keep her hands still, finally free to touch and caress him at her leisure. He felt so good beneath her fingertips, his skin soft as it played over wiry muscles, despite its appearance. She knew it was just his curse, another aspect which warned people of danger. Yet, she thought him beautiful.

Her love howled as she raked her short nails over his arse, squeezing as she pulled him closer and buried her face against the crook of his neck. She dragged her teeth over his firm flesh, suckling a bit more roughly than she'd intended and his arms tightened about her, his hips bucking against her. She marked him with her lips, teeth and tongue, branding his flesh for the world to see he belonged only to her. The Dark One had taken a mate, had lost his heart to a mortal girl who could see well past the mask he wore to his heart of hearts. She would shout her joy from the rooftops if he'd allow it.

Belle arched her back, her breasts pressing into his chest, as his hand skimmed over her side to squeeze her hip before slipping between them to cup her mound. Her lips fell open as he breached her folds, her warm wetness coating his fingers as he teased her entrance, sliding effortlessly into her. Her inner walls fluttered around his digits and she gasped, wanting more …needing all of him.

His lips crashed against hers, his tongue delving deep into her mouth, their movements rough, frenzied as their previous playing had taken its toll on the both of them and the time had come to end it. She could feel the sweet burning pressure in her womb growing, pushing her up the peak, urging her to fall. She broke their kiss as he withdrew his hand from her to replace it with his tumescent cock, the tip slipping past her entrance. He stopped, his warm amber eyes meeting hers in askance.

Belle nodded, her body stiff with tension in preparation for the pain to come. Rumpelstiltskin groaned as she clenched around him, easing himself further into her wet heat as he circled her clit with his fingers, driving her once again towards her climax, needing her to relax again. "It's alright, love, I've got you. I won't hurt you."

It took all of his concentration and force of will not to thrust into her and take what she so willingly gave, but he would not hurt her. He was a man of his word. Instead he focused on her pleasure, his lips stealing across the smooth curve of her jaw, nipping lightly at the pounding pulse point at her throat as he continued downward. A little more, he gave himself to her, feeling her tight passage adjust to his size. He clenched his teeth, the muscle working feverishly in his jaw from the tension, praying for the restraint to keep him from embarrassing himself and disappointing his Belle.

Belle keened as his lips closed around the taut pink bud of her nipple, his teeth scraping gently before he pressed it to the roof of his mouth and suckled, his long spinner's fingers toying with her clit as his cock brushed against her maidenhead. He withdrew slightly and eased back in, the friction maddening. The breath caught in her throat as white light burst behind her eyelids, her belly clenching, her heart stopping as her climax washed over her. She shattered beneath him, barely registering the brief sting as he thrust forward and buried himself in her, his groin flush with hers.

Rumpelstiltskin forced himself to remain still, swearing internally at the delicious pull of her sheath surrounding him, urging him to come with her. He peppered her face with tender kisses before returning to her petal soft lips. "Are you alright?"

Belle smiled radiantly up at him as he whispered words of praise to her, soft words of flattery which melted her heart … how beautiful she was, how much he loved her, how wonderful she made him feel. Her blood sang at the feeling of his flesh filling her. It made her feel as if she belonged, that elusive something which had been missing her entire life. She shifted beneath him, raising her legs to wrap around his slim waist, gasping as he rocked into her. Her moan was answer enough, as was the press of her lips to the hollow of his throat.

He set a slow pace, a gentle withdrawal followed by the sharp snap of his hips to return. And then she found her own hips rising to meet his as the delicious burning ache began to build once more, and his gentle ministrations were no longer enough. Cries of harder, faster, more fell from her lips in time with his thrusts and she couldn't bear it anymore, her nails raking sharply down his back, scoring his flesh as she came again, this time dragging him over the edge with her. His warmth flooded her womb, his hips jerking sporadically as he continued to thrust, prolonging their pleasure.

Belle tightened her grip on him when he tried to relieve her of his weight, not quite ready to let go. He breathed heavily where his head rested against her shoulder, pressing a lingering kiss to the side of her neck. "I love you … my Belle, my love," he panted.

Her fingers carded leisurely through his damp hair, a tear leaking from the corner of her eye as the magnitude of the love they shared became too much for her heart to bear. "I love you, too … so much," she whispered brokenly.

Rumpelstiltskin rolled over onto his side, pulling her against his chest, her head on his shoulder. He cast her a worried frown as he brushed the moisture away from her eyes. "What is it? Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head. "No, you didn't hurt me, Rum. I just … I'm just a bit overwhelmed, is all."

He pulled the duvet over them, tucking the edges around her to keep her warm. "It's understandable … it being your first time and all. Are you … are you regretting –"

"No!" she hurried to reassure him. "No, Rumpel. I'm so happy I feel my heart could burst with it."

His smile was warm and open, no trace of the Dark One evident on his features. "Aye, dearest, I feel the same way."