SMOKE AND ASHES

A reluctant Belle has accompanied Gold to the large, secure library. They were met by a loquacious and charming Dr. Luminere who has shared the many security features the library uses to protect their rare and valuable books. While there, Belle is clearly recognized by the Archive Cat, Whisper, a large white animal with pale green eyes. Luminere has shared much about the lonely little princess's early life and how much her people care for her and want her to be well.

After beginning his research, Mr. Gold asks Luminere about another old document, the Curse Manuscript. Luminere allows Gold into the special vault where this item is kept. Gold falters and nearly falls going into this vault but is able to recover and ascertain that the desired item is indeed here in the Library. He shares with his group that the vault is enclosed in vorpal metal, a composite of silver and iron which is used to dampen magical energies and that his original plan (just to replace the scroll and dagger handle with duplicates by sending out the originals and sending in the copies) will not work. Emma has another idea.

Gold has been successful in changing his hotel room and he is joined by Belle before supper and in the course of events he has begun to kiss her.

Recombinant Reactions

Chapter 21

A.N. This chapter did dissolve into a modest amount of actual smut (if this isn't your thing, skip to The Dinner and Back at the House sections and leave the rest alone).

+ + + + Morning Delight

Belle was caught up in a tide of pleasure, awash in the ocean of desire. His hands had divested her of her undergarments and he was lying between her legs, his jeans rough against the delicate skin of her inner thighs. His kisses were leaving her breathless. His fingers, oh, his fingers had begun to tease and touch her and she found herself lifting her body to his clever, questing fingers. His fingers now were slick with her rapidly growing arousal. He slipped two of his fingers between her folds, caressing the sides of her rapidly stiffening clit.

Then he lifted up and scooted down her body, lightly kissing her breasts and her stomach.

"What are you doing?" she couldn't help but ask, slightly alarmed at this turn of events. Was he stopping? There had been other times he had started and then stopped.

He looked up at her. "I want to taste you," he told her and he slipped down. Realizing his intent, she tried to pull away. This was too much, too close, too intimate.

"Don't," he ordered her. "Don't deny me. I've waited for this," and refusing to listen to her protests, he dropped down between her legs which were hanging off the bed. Gingerly, favoring his injured knee, he lowered himself to the floor. He was in just the right position. He kissed the inside of her knee.

"Relax, princess," he suggested.

He kissed the inside of her thigh.

"Just relax," he again encouraged her.

He heard her whimper and could feel she was tense and frightened, nervous about what he was about to do.

"I won't hurt you Belle," he promised. "You'll like this."

And then . . .

Belle had never felt, never imagined, never . . . anything like this. She could feel . . . his tongue? lapping her, swirling around, ever so much more talented than his clever fingers. And then, it was as if. . . he had latched onto to something so sensitive, so hyper-sensitized, so incredibly filled with a zillion nerve endings all clamoring for attention. She abruptly sprang back up on the bed, but he gently pushed her back down. She flailed for a moment, grasping at the sheets on the bed, one of her hands finally finding purchase in his hair, her fingers entwining¸ holding on. She was gasping, not sure of what was happening this time.

And then he stopped.

"What?! Why'd you stop?" she managed to ask. She was panting and confused.

He kissed her on the inside of her thigh again and she heard him chuckle. "Soon, sweet girl, but not yet."

"Am I being punished for something? Are you mad at me?" she asked. Had she disappointed him? Why had he stopped?

"Not at all. But the longer the anticipation, the more intense the response."

"What?!" Belle was befuddled. What was he doing? Through hazy eyes she watched as he fetched the glass he had poured himself earlier. He pulled a piece of ice from the glass.

And then he was back again applying an incredible mix of hot and cold, alternating, randomly, with Belle never knowing what to expect, hot or cold, cold or hot. His tongue or the ice chip. Intense.

Belle found herself pounding the bed in increasing frustration. She was at the mercy of this madman who seemed intent on driving her to the brink of despair. She heard herself begging him, not knowing what she was asking for, but something, something that only he could give her.

He pulled back and there was a moment of respite. Belle was able to catch her breath. And then he softly blew on her. And then . . .

And then his mouth was on her, gently sucking and teasing her most sensitive core with his tongue and she felt him push two fingers into her.

She screamed as deep inside her body she felt an exploding burst of energy that pulsed and squeezed and spasmed. He did not stop but continued to use his tongue and his lips to give her every last little bit of satisfaction.

When her vision cleared, she was able to look down at the man, still on the floor, still sitting between her legs. Gold was definitely enjoying himself, inhaling her incredible fragrance, vanilla and rose and something else that was entirely his Belle. He still had his fingers resting inside of her. She twitched and it was as if she became aware of his continuing presence.

"Oh," she managed to say.

"That's all I get?" he asked, smiling at her.

"I . . . I . . . uhm . . . I . . . " she stammered.

"Now, that's better," and he gently caressed her, rubbing his thumb over her.

Too sensitive. "Please," she shook her head and tried to pull back but was too intimately attached to him. If he should continue . . . or begin again . . . .

"Please," she begged him again shaking her head. "No more."

He considered and smiled gently, relenting, "All right, not just yet." He slowly removed his fingers knowing that she would wilt without his presence and stood up by the bed, still between her legs.

Belle struggled to sit up. "I should help you," she told him, recognizing the bulge in his jeans, straining against the confinement. "I want to touch you," and she reached for him, struggling with his belt. He helped her unfasten the pants and closed his eyes when her hand reached him, her fingers wrapping around him. His jeans dropped to the floor allowing her better access.

"Help me, please. Help me know what to do," she asked him.

He placed his own hand over hers and showed her the action, the up and down caress he craved. Belle was still sitting on the edge of the bed and was eye-level with his swollen member.

"I want to do to you what you did to me," Belle told him and without instruction she put her mouth on him, taking the head into her mouth and attempting to take him down her throat. This time he was prepared for Belle's eager artless efforts to please him. He ran his fingers into her hair and guided her actions, relishing the warm (scalding), wet feel of her and her efforts to pleasure him. Her untutored efforts were easily as arousing as anything his more practiced companions had ever offered him. And she was so obviously wanting to do this for him – that thought was more arousing than anything she was actually doing.

Well, maybe not exactly more arousing. She was doing quite well, amazingly well, learning to take more of him into her mouth.

The first time she figured out how to apply suction, he nearly passed out. It was enough and he tipped over his own edge, holding her head in place while he thrust and pumped his seed into her, momentarily oblivious to nothing else except his own pleasure.

Belle swallowed and continued to do as she had been doing, astonished as the change she felt in her mouth as he softened.

Reluctantly she pulled away, but then gently touched him.

That shook Gold to his core. He put his hand around her wrist. "I think I'll need a little time to recover, my Belle," he told her.

"I just wanted to look at you," she explained. "Like you look at me. It's all right, isn't it?" she asked.

He leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips. "It's very much all right."

+ + + + Dinner

Gold and Belle joined Emma, Jefferson and Archie down in the lobby and they went out of the hotel toward a little restaurant the concierge (and Belle) had recommended.

It was (surprise) Mediterranean food, seafood, fresh vegetables and fruit, a variety of cheeses.

"Tell me about your day," directed Gold to Emma and Archie who had gone exploring in the city.

"There's a lot of power here," Archie told him in a quiet voice. "Everywhere we turned, where ever we went. Mostly benign or neutral but very, very watchful. At you get in toward the castle, the forces get stronger. It's like there is something protecting this place or lying ready to defend it."

"What he said," Emma said. She was looking at Belle. She thought the younger woman looked slightly flushed, relaxed. She glanced over at Gold. Yeah, he looked pretty relaxed too. And he seemed quite solicitous towards the little princess. Something had happened between them. Emma downed a glass of wine.

"You should give Belle a break and take Archie to the Library tomorrow," Emma directed Gold. "He can sense out the back-up battery systems. The next day, Archie and I can go out and look for the power grids and nearest power station. He should be able to figure it out without pulling up city records," Emma told Gold and she looked over at Archie.

"Yeah, I'll be able to do that," the shy young man responded.

"When I'm out with Archie, you can take Jefferson into the Library and then, well after that, it's just a matter of timing," Emma stated.

"And all the while, I have to be building up a trusting relationship with Doctor Luminere," Gold grimaced.

Belle sat up, full princess mode and narrowed her eyes at Gold. "I'll have you know that Monsieur Luminere is a very nice man." She took a bite of her salad, "He fancies himself a gourmet cook," she added with just a glint in her eye.

"Really?" said Gold. "Maybe we can swap omelet recipes."

+ + + Back at The House

Cora knew something was off in The House, in Gold's little antiquities store to be precise. It looked the same but it didn't feel the same. She was a bit hesitant to enter. Facing Gold off on his own territory wasn't the smartest thing to do and the last time she'd ventured into the shop it had not gone auspiciously well. Of course she'd had that devil bocan with her. The damn thing had probably made things go worse rather than better.

Perhaps that was what had turned Gold so completely off. He'd been so easy to seduce at one point in their relationship. Quite easy. He had been a lonely man and he hadn't had good luck with women. She'd only had to be nice to him. And he pushed right over, right over into her bed.

Cora ran her fingers through her hair. He hadn't been a disappointment as a bed partner. Great stamina, very creative, extraordinarily considerate. And, she smiled, putting her hair back into place, he'd been sufficiently well endowed to have given her pleasure if he hadn't had the bonus points going for him.

They'd certainly had fun together. Then the damn House had decided she was bad news and had kicked her out. She'd burn the place down if she could.

She'd gotten some of the little shadow creatures, the dubharim to watch the place. They reported that they hadn't seen Gold go in or out in a couple of days. Her daughter had told her she thought the man had a new pet, that same mousy little thing Cora had briefly glimpsed when she had last visited the house – Zelena had briefly met the little twat and she couldn't see what the little piece had going for her that would have possibly interested a man of Gold's sophisticated predilections. Of course, Zelena didn't really know the man – she liked to think she knew him, but she didn't.

Well, Cora wanted to know just what the hell was going on. Was he sick? Had he decided to bed that pasty-faced little drab he'd had cleaning the place? Was he temporarily out of action boinking her brains out? Was he even here?

Cora decided to go in.

Oh, it was the dwarf sitting behind Gold's counter. She'd never liked him. What the hell was his name? Larry? No. Lummis! No. Leroy? Yeah, it was Leroy.

"Well hello," she managed her most charming smile but realized that it was probably wasted on the stupid dwarf.

Leroy had been working the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. He looked up, recognition flashing in his eyes. He was not intimidated. He was not impressed. He wasn't particularly interested.

"Hey Cora," he answered.

"You're looking well," she told him. She walked around, her heels clicking on the hard wood flooring.

"You're looking like . . . well, you know," Leroy always managed to sound snide.

"Business seems slow," she observed, walking around picking up odds and ends.

"People probably frightened off," Leroy told her.

"Mmmmm, no doubt," she responded. "Seeing you behind the counter would do it for most of the tourists."

Leroy snorted, "I was thinking the low class clientele we sometimes attract might've scared 'em off."

Cora momentarily bristled but then decided that Leroy wasn't worth the effort.

"Where's Gold?" she asked, tried of diddling the dwarf.

"Takin' a piss," Leroy told her.

"So he'll be back any moment?"

"Well, unless he decides to take a dump too," Leroy sucked his teeth.

"Where's that little maid he'd hired?" Cora asked, becoming increasingly irritated with Leroy despite her intentions to look cool, collected and in charge. Such a little turd.

"Doin' her job, cleanin' one of the back rooms," Leroy yawned. "Hey, you lookin' to buy somethin' or just clutterin' up the place?"

"I was planning on asking Gold to have some tea with me at Dobra."

"Well hell, I can save you some time. He ain't gonna be interested in that," Leroy told her.

"And just how would you know that?" Cora's irritation level had grown exponentially. She was considering wiping the floor with the dwarf.

"Cause I know the man hates your lying, deceiving guts," Leroy explained it to her as if he was talking to a dull-witted child.

Cora was seething, "Maybe I have something important to tell him."

"Maybe I'll tell him you said that. He's got your number, dearie. He'll call if he wants to talk." And Leroy turned his attention back to his newspaper essentially dismissing the dark sorceress.

"Well, if you're his messenger boy, tell him that daddy's going to be in town and he just might come calling," Cora spit out and started out the door.

Leroy didn't flinch as Cora approached the door. Focusing on his crossword puzzle, he did call out and ask, "Hey, what's a five letter word for a female dog? It ends in 'itch.'" He looked up at her and said, "Oh, never mind."

Cora was denied even the pleasure of slamming the door behind herself when The House tempered the door swing and slowed it to a soft thud.

"Well," said Leroy. "That was . . . interesting."

+ + + The New Room

Belle was standing alone in Gold's new hotel room. It was identical to his original hotel room but didn't look out onto the castle. Gold was still attending to something with Emma. Belle'd found that at some point during the dinner meal, Gold had had her bags brought up to his room. She might have been angry at the arrogance of his actions, but, well, this was something she wanted too. She had drunk about two glasses of wine at supper and was debating another one. She opted not to. She didn't want to pass out.

She knew after what had happened this afternoon, that tonight was The Night. Unless she said no, unless she told him to stop, It Would Happen.

Finally.

Belle was excited. Gold was the most attractive man by far that she had ever met. Just being around him made her feel fluttery and . . . and . . . receptive. She'd gone ahead and removed her contacts. She'd taken a shower and combed through her unruly hair. She'd scrubbed her face and added just a touch of the pink lipstick that she didn't wear out during the daytime while in her disguise.

She rummaged through her clothing. She huffed. Nothing really there. Nothing feminine, attractive, certainly nothing sexy. Just her usual plain white undies. She wanted something special.

Well, she couldn't exactly go out and buy anything. She eyed Gold's luggage. Let's see, couple pairs of boxers – those were a possibility, some black tee-shirts, some white tee-shirts, several long-sleeved white shirts, some socks and another pair of blue jeans. Belle pulled one of his white shirts out and slipped it on, rolling up the sleeves. She looked at herself in a mirror wearing just the white shirt and a pair of her serviceable white panties. Okay, the shirt covered her heiny; left open at the top it revealed just a little of her cleavage. Her legs looked good. The white color looked nice with her current tan. Nice.

She looked around. The comfy chair or the bed? She sat in the chair, posing in different manners, legs out (maybe), legs together (demure), legs crossed (tense-looking), legs open (slattern). Then she tried the bed – sitting up, lying on her stomach, lying on her side, lying on her back. Then she dropped a pillow off the side of the bed and bent over from the surface of the bed to lean down to the floor to pick it up, putting her butt up in the air as she knelt on her knees and reached over and down.

She didn't realize that Gold had chosen that moment to come in. The first thing he saw was Belle's shapely rear poked up in the air.

"Lovely position, but a little advanced for where we are right now," he said startling Belle who tried to sit up, but over-compensated and with a yelp, went tumbling over the side of the bed.

He was over to her instantly. "Are you all right?" he asked the young woman who was sprawled heels over head, lying ungraciously on the floor. She scrambled to pull herself upright, pulling down his shirt as she stood up.

"I'm fine. I was just. . . uh. . . trying to get comfortable," she told him.

He looked her over. "Looks like you succeeded. Nice look by the way. I thoroughly approve."

Belle felt herself blushing. "I didn't have any sexy lingerie," she told him, dropping her eyes.

"We'll have to get you some," he promised.

"All right," she told him, still not meeting his eyes. He gently lifted her eyes to his.

"Belle, if you don't want to . . . do this, I'm all right with it. I don't want you to feel pressured."

"Oh, but I want to," she gushed. "I've never wanted to do anything more."

"But Belle," he pulled away. "There are such, such serious differences between us, more than you know, more than you can possibly realize. And you are so young, I'm afraid I've swept you away. If we go through with this, you know it will forever change things between us. Forever."

Belle allowed her empathy to flow out, seeking to understand this complex man. "Is it my blood?" she asked. "Are you afraid of my blood?"

Gold turned and looked right at her. "I would be willing to become ill for a week to bed you, my dear, but that is not the problem."

"Then what is?" Belle felt that he was running hot and cold, pulling her to him and then pushing her away. She knew he was interested in her no question about that . . . but?

He shrugged, struggling for words, "Darkness and Light. Us . . . together. I don't know what will happen."

Belle walked around the room. "Are you telling me that there has never been a . . . relationship between the Light and Dark?"

"A very long time ago, there was one couple."

"What happened?"

"Not sure. It upset everybody, I do know that. The couple, well this was the couple that devised The Curse that took away magic. They were afraid for themselves and for their children, so they took down all the magic users, took all the magic away."

"And you afraid we'll be that couple again, shunned and feared by Light and Dark forces alike?" she asked. "That's why you're trying to get all the scrolls together?"

His eyes were haunted, "For leverage, yes. I don't want harm to come to you, especially harm that I might have prevented if I would have been more circumspect."

Belle stood a moment. "I think that life is precious and love is precious and we should be grateful that we have found each other and take advantage of every moment we have together." She put her hand on his arm.

"Then you are saying. . . ?"

"Yes. I don't know where we'll be a year from now, a month from now. But we're here now. And we both clearly have deep, sincere feelings for each other. I believe I'm in love. I've never felt this way about anyone. And if what we have ends tomorrow, I would still want to have memories of us being . . . together."

"You love me?" he had to ask. This was so far beyond anything he could have hoped for.

"I think so. The feelings I have for you are different, stronger, deeper than I've ever felt for anyone," Belle looked down for a moment and then met his eyes again, raising her hand to gently touch his forehead. "And you have the same feelings for me," she whispered.

He had to smile. "I do. I think I'm falling in love with you. I've lived a long time and I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you." He very gently kissed her on the forehead.

He allowed Belle to remove his jacket and unbutton his shirt. She hesitated when she got to his jeans. Somehow unfastening the man's pants never got easy for her. He gave her one of his little smirks and helped things along so that soon enough he was standing only in his boxers and his socks. He took his socks off.

Belle led him back to the bed and they lay on it together. For the moment, Gold was content to just touch her, caress her smooth, soft skin. He finished unbuttoning his shirt that she was wearing leaving her open to him.

He touched her breast. "You're nervous," he told her.

"I am," she admitted.

"I may hurt you," he confessed. "You know I don't want to, but I may."

"I know," she assured him.

His hand drifted down to the top of her panties. "I'm going to touch you first. You seem to like me touching you."

"I do," she grinned at him. "You like me to touch you too, I think."

"Yes, I do," he agreed. "But if you touch me too much, we'll have to wait a little while before I can do anything else," he told her.

Belle giggled.

"Not funny," he admonished her.

"Yes it is," she told him and reached down to pull off his boxers. He responded by stripping off her panties, settling her on her back and putting his leg over hers to still her.

"I don't want to have to hold you down, my dear," he warned her. "I'd prefer this to be sweet and memorable in every good way imaginable for you."

Belle had started to kiss him on his chest, flicking her tongue over his nipples which she was delighted to find had hardened, the same way that hers responded to his touch. Her hand sought him out and she heard him suck in his breath when her hands closed around him. He pushed her so she was lying flat on her back. He began kissing her on the side of the neck and then his hand dropped between her legs.

This time it was Belle's turn to suck in her breath.

"Look at me," he said softly. "I want to see your eyes."

Belle complied, "I trust you," she told him quietly.

Gold stopped. She trusted him.

He kissed her on the mouth, nudging her lips open. His magic fingers were lightly grazing her curls, very gently stroking her.

"Perhaps you shouldn't," he whispered in her ear. But Belle didn't push him away. She didn't push him away in revulsion. She trusted him. Instead she held onto him, holding his arms, running her hand up his neck to curl into his hair. He liked it. Belle was untutored, inexperienced . . . innocent. But she was enthusisastic, wholesome and totally committed.

He settled in with one hand slipping between her legs, his fingers sliding into her folds, gently rubbing, gently stimulating. Belle closed her eyes again, luxuriating in the feelings he was giving her. She knew what could happen, what would happen this time.

"That's right my beauty, Relax, Let it happen," he directed her.

He felt her lift her body, "Oh yes," her voice was husky. He lowered himself and began to kiss her perfect breasts, lavishing attention on her hardened nipples, sucking first one into his mouth, then the other, all the while his clever fingers, now slick with her own honey, were circling, pressuring, and finally, going along each side of her distended clit. Belle was now clinging to him, thrashing against him. He didn't tease her this time, but allowed her to peak against his hand, her body clenching and pulsing against his, a soft cry coming from Belle as she felt her body break. She collapsed into him.

She became slowly aware that he was kissing her again. He had raised his hand and licked his fingers, making her blush at the sheer familiarity of his action.

"You taste like honey and vanilla and roses, absolutely delicious," he murmured against her neck. "Belle, Belle, my Belle. One last time. I have to ask. Are you sure?"

Belle touched his shoulder. The man was nearly completely on top of her. His eyes had turned almost completely black. There was the tiniest moment that she thought she glimpsed an amber light in his eyes. He was delicately kissing her face.

"I'm sure. You're the one I want," she told him.

"Then I have to break the mood for just a moment," and the man reached over to the end table next to the bed, opened the drawer and pulled out a small black packet. He opened it with his teeth and removed the contents.

Belle realized he had a condom. Fascinated, she asked, "May I help with that?" and was rewarded with an astonished look.

"If you like," and Belle sat up to allow him to show her how to put the novel item on. Before she set it on him, she gave him her most mischievous grin and kissed the tip of his penis. He pulled her back, "Belle," he warned her. "I'm struggling to not spill myself here and now and while I appreciate your . . . efforts, another time would be better."

Belle pouted but couldn't make it last and it quickly changed into a smile. Following his instructions she pinched the top of the condom to allow for movement and rolled the item down his member.

"Very nice, milady," he complimented her. "Now I need you to lie back for me."

Belle complied and promptly opened her arms to him. She gave him one last glance, "I really don't see how this is going to work," she told him shyly.

"I'll go slowly," he told her and rolled over so that his weight was pressing her into the bed then lifted himself up on his elbows and his knees. "Trust me. This is going to work splendidly." And he kissed her, perhaps a bit harshly, but she rose up as she could to meet him, her arms going around his shoulders, pulling him down into her.

"Belle?" he said tonelessly and touched her on the temple. She knew what he was asking and she nodded. He was joining with her, not just body but in mind.

She felt him when he started to enter her. He put the tip of his member into her, allowing her to adjust to his size and the strangeness of the invasion.

"I think you can go a little further," she encouraged him. He smiled and he began to kiss her again. He felt Belle wiggle, trying to accommodate him.

"Belle," he stopped kissing her a moment, "Hold onto my shoulders." Belle complied. He kissed her on the mouth and surged into her, swallowing her cry. He then stopped moving allowing her to adjust.

"That wasn't bad," she just managed to say.

"Liar," he told her. "It stung like hell."

"Maybe," she smiled up at him. "But now it feels pretty good."

"I'm glad," and he began to slow process of thrusting in and out, relishing the hotness, the wetness, the tightness of her channel. He reached down to pull her knees up and shifted his own position to be sure he was providing stimulation at just the right place.

Belle had never felt closer to any one, never felt more alive, more nurtured, more precious than she did in Gold's arms. The feelings that he could give her were building again, a tightness, a coiling, her whole body wrapping itself around his. She discovered she could lift her hips to give him counterpoint. His pacing became faster as he sought his own release. He was muttering words, compliments, endearments. Belle began to fly apart, she felt the energy exploding much more intensely than anything she had experienced before. She felt connected with this man, her whole life force coupling with his. She thought she might have screamed. She thought there had been a flash of bright light.

Gold felt the same things, his body pushing forward, his life stream leaving his body. This time was something different for him, his joining to his little Empath was different than other joinings. He thought he might have shouted out as the sheer release came over him. And he thought he'd seen a flash of bright, clear light.

Had something just happened?

Thanks to all my readers and reviewers (again I keep getting ideas from you people): RaFire, karolprado, RoxyMoron, thedoctorsgirl42, auntpsy (19), RaFire, cheesyteal'c, CharlotteAshmore, spacecats, OneMagician, orthankg1, cynicsquest, jewel415, Chauchi, juju0268, MyraValhallah, deweymay, Aletta-Feather, Erik'sTrueAngel, and Anne Andrews (Guest) (not sure which is more fun – dressing Gold or undressing Gold).

Next: Belle and Emma go shopping

Archie, then Jefferson make a trip to the Library

Belle shows Gold what she bought