A/N: Sorry for not updating. I have been very sick and busy with school work. I'm much better now, and I have finally found time to update, so yay! Here it is! All five pages worth!

Angrily I burst through the door of my house, slamming the door behind me as I made a beeline for the shower. I stripped off my clothes as sobs built up in my throat, making me choke and gasp for air. I turned on the showerhead, blasting the scalding hot water, and got in. I turned my shower radio on to try to calm me down as I shampooed and conditioned my hair. Duncan Sheik's voice summed up my feelings as I turned the dial towards a less static station.

'Cause I am barely breathing

And I can't find the air

Don't know who I'm kidding

Imagining you care

And I can stand here waiting

A fool for another day

I don't suppose it's worth the price

You're worth the price

The price that I would pay

But I'm thinking it over anyway.

I scrubbed my skin till I was red and raw, trying to get his cologne off of me. I felt so used and dirty, like I could shower a thousand times and still never be clean enough. But a small part of me, a part of me that had been awakened, wanted more.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. As soon as I walked to my bedroom, my cell phone began to ring. With a shuddering sigh, I realized who the caller was, and picked it up. "What is it?" I asked tiredly.

"You left me standing here alone," growled the voice on the other end of the phone. "I told you to wait!"

"Deal is off," I said, tears starting to build in my eyes. "I can't be this person you want me to be. You want everything to go your way, you want the control, but sometimes you need to let go of it every once and a while. I can't be the girl you want me to be."

"Don't say that," Mr. Gold said, his tone changing from angry to soothing. "I told you that you could tell me to stop at any time things were getting uncomfortable. You have yet to establish the boundaries, dearie, so technically it is your fault…"

"My fault?!" I shrieked. "You FUCKED me in my place of employment! God, I hope you took those tapes and burned them. Do you have ANY idea how embarrassing that is?!"

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about," said Mr. Gold nonchalantly. "We are both adults with healthy sexual appetites."

"I beg to differ," I scoffed. "It's over, Gold. I'm not leaving my job just so you can work out your sick fantasies of dominating me. It's not going to happen. EVER."

"What will it take to change your mind?" sighed Mr. Gold.

I paced around the bedroom, shaking my head. "You want to know what it will take? You wouldn't be able to do it."

"I can assure you, I am more than capable of doing absolutely anything," said Mr. Gold in a sexually charged voice. "Try me. What will it take?"

"I want you to romance me," I said softly.

There was a pause at the other end.

"I don't have a romantic bone in my body, dearie," said Mr. Gold seriously. "Try again."

"No," I said as I took a deep breath. "I want you to romance me."

"I have never romanced a woman in my life," said Mr. Gold. "And I don't ever plan on doing so."

The Beast inside him growled lowly, subdued and sated after lovemaking. The imp looked at the beautiful maiden that lay beside him, still aglow in after sex, even though it had been hours since they had last made love. Her cheeks were bathed in pale pink, her lips a luscious red pout. Gently, he stroked her face as she slept.

"I should do something for her," he murmured quietly to himself. "She has done so much for me already…"

He kissed her forehead before getting out of bed and taking off for his private tower. "I have just the idea."

Belle slept peacefully in her bed as the imp plotted quietly to himself. She rolled over in the bed, and once her arm grazed the empty spot in the bed, she slowly started to wake. The beauty stretched and yawned, and searched for Rumplestilzkin in the bedroom. "Rumplestilzkin?" called Belle sleepily. "Where are you?"

Belle sighed as she pulled the covers around her body for warmth. She longed for Rumplestilzkin to wrap his arms around her, pulling her closer to his warm body. She smiled as she thought of last night. She had brazenly rode his cock until they had both received mind-numbing pleasure. Despite her boldness, Belle felt so deeply for the Dark One that she felt her heart would burst. She knew deep down she loved him, and there was nothing he could do to change that fact.

Belle climbed out of bed and threw on some clothes and began to work on her chores. "No use neglecting my duties," she said to the quietness of the castle. She hummed to herself as she dusted Rumplestilzkin's many trinkets, then walked carefully to the beloved spinning wheel. She dusted the wheel, making sure that there wasn't any straw in it as she carefully moved it. Just as she went to clean the spindle, he grabbed her hand, pulling it away. "Careful dearie," smirked Rumplestilzkin. "Don't want to prick your lovely fingers. Remember what happened to Aurora?"

"N-no," stammered Belle, still shocked that he had seemingly appeared out of no where. "Gods, you scared me!"

"Well, let's just say spindles are very pointy and deadly, and can cause you to fall under a spell if the conditions are right."

"I was being careful," said Belle in a small voice. She looked down at her feet, embarrassed that she had been admonished.

"I just don't want my pretty little maid to fall under a sleeping curse," said Rumplestilzkin. "That's all. I need you to clean. You know, magic can only do so much."

The imp carefully sat down at his spinning wheel and began to guide the straw. "Damn it, I am out of straw!" Rumplestilzkin got up from his seat suddenly and kicked the empty bucket that had once contained straw. Belle jumped in fright, still nervous from before. "I have a meeting with a client, and going out to fetch straw would be an inconvenience… What the hell am I going to do?"

"I-I could go, sir," said Belle in a small voice.

"What, you?" scoffed Rumplestilzkin. "And how do I know that my pretty little pet isn't going to run away?" His hand guided her chin to look him in the eye. "What is going to keep you from running away?"

"I won't run," said Belle. "I swear it."

"Promises, promises," said Rumplestilzkin bitterly. "Everyone makes them, everyone breaks them. I'll make you a deal, dearie. If you come back with my straw, you shall be rewarded. But if you do not come back… Let's just say things will get VERY nasty."

"You won't be disappointed in me," replied Belle with a small smile. "I can gather straw. I promise, I will return."

I hung up on him, and turned on the television. I flipped through the channels, and after realizing that even with the thousands of channels that I had subscribed to that nothing was on, I shut off the TV. Just then, my cell phone went off again.

"What is it this time?" I sighed wearily.

"You test me, Miss French," growled Mr. Gold tiredly. "But I may be willing to work things out with you."

"So, you are going to romance me?" I asked hopefully.

"How about we go to dinner tonight at this Italian restaurant I know," said Mr. Gold. "They have great food, and it's a very nice atmosphere."

"And what if I say no?" I said, frustrated that he thought I would be so willing after everything that had happened.

"I will go over to your house, walk through that door, and take you over my knee."

"Is that a threat?"

"Only if you say no," breathed Mr. Gold huskily. "You infuriate me. I demand an answer from you."

"If I say yes, will you promise not to fuck me in the middle of the restaurant?" I hissed.

"Can't make promises I can't keep," said Mr. Gold with a chuckle. "Will you accept that I will try very hard not to?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, I will go. What time will you pick me up?"

"Six o'clock," said Mr. Gold. "And, wear something… sexy."

Again, I rolled my eyes. "Yes, master," I said sarcastically.

"Now, you're getting in," said Mr. Gold, and I could tell on the other end he was smirking. "See you then."

I ended the call, and then decided that I was going to take him up on his offer. But since all of my clothes were less than sexy, I decided to go shopping for a new outfit. I grabbed my purse, and was out the door in no time.

. . .

The doorbell rang, and I walked carefully to the door, trying not to fall in my black stilettos. I opened the door, and was greeted instantly by a very handsome looking Mr. Gold. He had slicked his hair back and was wearing a black suit with a golden tie. His eyes raked over my blue lace dress and my blue clutch that was currently trembling in my hands. "You look ravishing, Belle," he said in a deep voice, oddly reminding me of Batman. "Shall we?"

I smiled and took his hand. Suddenly, he dipped and kissed me passionately. As he pulled me back up, I struggled to get my balance. "Damn heels," I scowled. "And damn you for turning my legs to jelly."

"I can fix that," smirked Mr. Gold as he scooped me up into his arms.

"You are giving the world a lovely sight of my ass!" I hissed as he carried me to his car. "Put me down!"

He opened the car door, and gently set me down on the passenger seat. "There. Better?"

I scowled. "You think you are so clever."

"Ah, but I am, dearie," said Mr. Gold with a charming smile. "It's what you wanted. I'm romancing you."

Belle walked along the well worn path carrying her empty basket. She breathed in the fresh air deeply, and looked about at her surroundings. It had been a long time that she had been confined to the Dark Castle and its grounds, and it was certainly lovely to be allowed to stretch her legs and walk to the market.

"Excuse me?" said Belle politely to the vendor. "May I please have some straw?"

"It'll cost ya," said the man in a gruff, deep voice.

"Oh, I didn't bring any money," said Belle nervously.

"Then you won't be getting any straw then."

Belle began to tremble nervously. Had Rumplestilzkin tricked her? Did he forget to hand her money? "Please, it's not for me. I'm sure there was a misunderstanding."

"Who is the straw for, girl?" asked the man impatiently.

"Rumplestilzkin," Belle said truthfully.

The man stumbled backwards. "The Dark One?! I apologize for not giving it to you sooner! Please don't tell him about this! He'll kill me and my family!" Belle was baffled as the vendor filled her basket to the brim with straw frantically. "Please, I beg of you!"

"There is nothing to tell," said Belle calmly. "And thank you for the straw."

"Have a nice day," bowed the vendor as he disappeared into his hut.

"Strange," said Belle. "Very strange…" She walked back to the worn path, carrying her heavy burden, and wondering what was in store for her when she got back.