SMOKE AND ASHES
Pan, arrogant and secure in his own powers, has thrown Emma and Belle into an iron cage which has carried them from The House to Undertown. Taking quick advantage of being left unsupervised, a powerless Emma is nonetheless able to pick the lock of the cage and she and Belle escape. Having made their way to Ruby's hotel, they consider their options. Belle is able to remove the binding on Emma by channeling Pan's ambient energies. Belle decides to attempt to transport them to Gold, a dangerous procedure (presumably far beyond Belle's abilities) and using only her attachment to Gold to guide them. They emerge in Cora's House.
Back at The House, the embattled tenants prepare to make a last stand against Pan's hordes but are saved at the last moment by a large cat-like creature who literally jumps into the middle of the fray and chases off the invaders.
Meanwhile a smug Zelena has brought Gold to her mother's home (under Ruby's watchful eye). Zelena is momentarily stymied when she is not able to enter her mother's home and ultimately directs Gold to break through the protective wards. No one is apparently at home when they get there and Zelena leaves Gold alone to search for her mother. Gold realizes (with a great deal of distress) that Belle and Emma are in Cora's house.
Pan realizes that his precious prisoners have escaped and, after taking his anger out on some of his own people, calls for his hellhounds to track them. The trail disappears at the point that Belle and Emma transported. Desperate, Pan uses powerful blood magic to call up a dark ancient entity, enlisting her help in locating his missing treasures. The entity reminds him that she will demand an unwilling life.
Reuniting
Chapter 31
AN (smut in this chapter – it has been awhile) and sorry, but this did run a trifle over-long.
Killian escorted Cora back into the sitting room. Gold was waiting patiently, standing behind Zelena who had sat herself down in one of the central chairs – like a queen.
Gold was surprised when he saw Cora knowing she'd most likely just been involved with an extensive multi-day scene with Mr. Jones. She was dressed in a cream-colored simple cotton shift and looked younger, much younger, softer, her hair flowing down her shoulders.
"Zelena, darling," she saw her daughter first. "What brings you here?" she was smiling.
Zelena said nothing, just waved her hand in Gold's direction and smirked.
"Rumple?" Cora said, her eyes flicking to the black collar around his neck. "What?! Zelena, you haven't done this! . . . Have you?"
"Jealous, mother?" Zelena asked, preening.
"That's not the point. You two . . . you two haven't . . . you two haven't . . . ?" Cora seemed genuinely stressed.
"I've not availed myself of his bedroom skills, if that's what you're fumbling around asking, Mother," Zelena responded. "I wanted to have chat with you first."
Cora gave a quick glance at Jones who nodded and then she quickly came over and sat down across from her daughter. "I know you've always had this ridiculous crush on Rumple, Zelena, but he's not . . . right for you."
"What do you mean? He's not right for me?" Zelena demanded. "You've never been picky about who I diddled around with before."
Cora was hesitant. Gold was curious, he had never seen Cora hesitant about anything, whether it was picking out a nail polish, deciding which mutual fund to invest in or selecting the right size manacle for an errant sex partner. What was she hiding?
Cora took a deep breath. "After Rumple and I broke up, I took a series of lovers, a lot of lovers," she explained. "One of them was . . . "
Gold was getting the picture. Oh hell.
Cora closed her eyes, bit her lip and then started again. "Zelena, there's a chance that you and Rumple are brother and sister, well, half-brother and half-sister. Now, I don't draw too many lines, but incest is one of them. You and he cannot, cannot consummate."
"But . . . no!" Zelena was having to come to a number of realizations very quickly. "You don't know for sure, right?" Zelena protested, her dreams crumbling around her. She had tears forming in her eyes. "I mean, you don't really know who my father is, do you? It might not be . . . ."
Gold spoke up, "Cora, are you telling us that Zelena may very well be my baby sister?"
Cora nodded. "I'm sorry. I never thought it would be an issue." Cora shrugged. "I always knew she had this crush on you, but for her to act on it like this . . . ."
Gold was about to speak again but he suddenly sensed something
From her position hiding behind one of the curtains, Belle also felt something, something threatening and dangerous. It was outside.
Gold stepped around from behind the chair he had been humbly standing behind. "There's something out there, something pretty nasty. It's coming in here. Jones," he said to the young man who'd been watching the family melodrama unfold. "You need to get out the back door. Take Cora with you."
"Wait, you can't start giving orders," Zelena recovered herself.
"We're all going to die, unless you listen to me," he told her curtly. "Zelena, you should go too. It's looking for me and . . ."
Belle stepped out from the curtains with Emma following behind.
"It's looking for Emma and me," Belle announced.
"What is she doing here?" Cora and Zelena spoke up together.
Emma explained, "We were kidnapped by Pan, we escaped and Belle managed to transport us here."
"She transported you here?" Cora was astonished.
"Ladies, can we discuss this later? That is, if there is a later?" Gold asked them both. "You need to get out of here."
"Cora, come on," Jones held out his hand. "Miss Zelena?" He waited for the daughter.
"I . . . I'm staying," Zelena said.
"Zelena, it's not safe for you," Gold told her.
"I'm staying," she insisted.
He sighed. "If you're sure, then." He turned, "Belle, you and Emma, go with Jones."
Belle and Emma looked at each other. "We're staying too," Belle told him.
"What is coming here, we'll face it down with you," Emma told him.
For a brief moment, Gold felt his head would explode. Damnable females! Emma and Belle, one more stubborn than the other. He swore at them, "No, damn it all. I want you two to be safe. I'm angry enough with you both already. You need to go." Gold was insistent.
Belle just smiled at him and came to stand next to him. "We're staying."
Gold rubbed his forehead.
Jones spoke up, "We're going, mate," he told Gold reaching for Cora's hand.
"Look for Ruby," Gold told him as Jones headed out. "She's out there somewhere. She'll help keep you safe."
The four watched them go. Belle reached for Gold's collar and took Zelena's hand.
"What are you doing?" asked Zelena.
"Gold needs to be at his best facing down whatever comes through that door," Belle told her and the collar came off in her hand.
"How did you do that?" Zelena demanded. "Only the person who put it on can take it off!"
"I'm a channeler," Belle replied.
"What the hell is that?" Zelena asked.
"I can use and combine the powers of others," Belle explained.
"Come on ladies, we only have a couple of minutes before that front door comes down," Gold told them, planting a quick kiss onto Belle's forehead. "Thank you," he told her.
+ + + + Outside
Jones and Cora hurried out of the back of the house.
"What the hell is coming into your house?" Jones asked Cora in a whisper.
"I don't know, but if Gold wanted us out, I don't want to meet it."
"You don't think he asked us to leave so that we . . . would. . . uh. . . .?" Jones asked
"Be chum for the incoming monster?" Cora asked archly. "Not his style. I suspect he was making a noble gesture to impress his latest piece of fluff. What is she?"
"Belle? She's been his maid. Somehow he talked her into his bed. Don't see the appeal," Jones shrugged.
"For either of them," Cora added, a tad snarkily.
Jones was looking around, "Where should we go?" He looked around the back yard, filled with gardens, a pool, a pool house, even a hedge maze.
Cora looked around. "I think we should get off the grounds completely. There is a back gate behind the pool house. And the two began to circle around.
Jones was the first to hear the low growling.
They froze.
There were two very large, very fierce dogs standing to one side. The dogs were poised to jump, growling and snarling.
"Oh no, what do we do?" Cora placed herself behind Jones.
"Cora, I'm going to tell you to run as fast as you can to that gate. I'm going to try to distract them," Jones told her wondering where he had gotten so brave so suddenly.
"Oh now, you don't have to do that."
Jones relaxed. He was familiar with that voice, that sexy sultry voice. "Ruby?"
"Yeah," and the leggy brunette walked out of the darkness coming to stand between the two dogs. "You two settle down," she spoke to the hellhounds . . . dogs. She shook her head, "I keep telling them that they aren't bad dogs and they don't always have to act like such badasses, but," she shrugged, "they're still learning." She reached down and ruffled the two dogs on the scruffs of their necks. "They just lost their big brother to that mean ole Pan. Apparently the dog got in his way and Pan fried him."
The hellhounds, ur . . . dogs, had immediately relaxed at Ruby's gentle command. Ruby knelt down and the two dogs began to lick her and push their heads in for her to pet. "Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" she asked the dogs alternately. "I found these two wandering. They had evidently come in with Pan but then he left them alone on the grounds. We had a little chat and they decided to become my new friends. Isn't that nice?" she asked. "What's going on in there?" she nodded in the direction of the house.
"Gold told us that something bad was coming in and told us to go out the back. He tried to get Belle and Emma and Zelena to leave, but they all wanted to stay with him."
+ + + + Confrontation
Gold turned the large chair Zelena had first placed herself in so that it faced the door. This time he sat down in it. Zelena and Emma each stood on one side of him and Belle, after a moment's consideration, placed herself at the man's feet.
They waited.
Expecting the door to be blown off its hinges, they were surprised when the heavy front door slowly opened. They couldn't stop themselves from leaning forward a little, peering into the darkness.
Pan appeared on the threshold, striding into the front hallway and down to the room they were sitting and waiting for him.
"Excellent," he said. "The two women I'm looking for and a choice for my . . . 'friend'." He waved his hand and slowly a small girl drifted into the house.
"What is that?" Emma asked in a whisper.
Pan overheard her, "This is the Lady Shivat. She is one of the First Born, capable of greater magic than all of us combined. She agreed to help me find you two," Pan explained, looking at Emma and Belle.
"You called upon a First Born?" Gold was appalled. "They always demand . . . a life, an unwilling sacrifice. What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking 'how can I win?'" Pan told his son. "And now, I have Emma. She continues to impress me so I have decided she will become my new queen, and Belle, who shall be my sacrifice for my latest, very powerful spell. Lady Shivat can have whichever one of you, Rumple or Zelena, that she desires."
"But, Rumple is your son and Zelena may well be your daughter!" Belle spoke up.
"Rumple, I'm pretty sure, yeah, he's my kid, but Zelena, maybe yes, maybe no. She's quite powerful, she inherited some of the demon characteristics, but I'm not sure I'm her father. Whatever," Pan looked around the room. "As far as I'm concerned the Lady Shivat can take either one."
"No," Belle stood. "She can take me instead."
"Belle, I can't let you sacrifice yourself for me," Gold also stood. "If she takes one of us, I would insist it be me."
"She can take me," Emma stepped up. When Gold turned a puzzled face to her, she explained, "You've been my teacher. You took me in. You've taken care of me. I owe everything I am, everything I know to you. I can never pay you back. Besides," she said with a sad smile. "You deserve some happiness with Belle."
"Oh please," Pan rolled his eyes. "This is disgusting. Anyway, she's not going to take Belle or Emma, that was part of our original agreement."
Zelena stepped forward. She wiped away some tears. "She should take me. I've never done anything worthwhile. I've never helped anybody. I've never. . . had any one love me. I won't be missed."
"No," Gold spoke up. "Zelena, I can't be your father, but perhaps I can be your older brother. We have some things to work out, but I can find you a place to live. I won't let anyone hurt you and I can take care of you."
Zelena was outright crying now. "I won't let you sacrifice yourself. I'm the best one for Shivat to take. All the rest of you are good and noble. I'm not. I won't be missed," she repeated herself and turned to face the First Born.
The Lady Shivat had stood, wavering and shifting back and forth, watching the exchange. She turned to address Pan. "I demand my payment now," she told him, her voice deep and hoarse.
"Take your choice. Rumple or Zelena," he waved her off.
"You don't understand," the Lady told him in her raspy voice. "I cannot take a willing sacrifice – only someone who is unwilling. Each of these," she nodded at Gold's little group, "is willing to die for each other. Each is willing to go for the others. There is only one here who is unwilling."
Pan narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"
"I choose you," and she held out her bloodied hand to him.
+ + + + + After Shocks
"What just happened?" Cora asked.
There had been a boom and then things had gotten quiet and then . . . it was as if a fresh wind had blown across the street.
Jones's group consisting of himself, Cora, Ruby and two large hell-hounds had been standing under the bus-stop, all them keeping one eye on Cora's house which was down the block.
"I don't see anything on fire or any smoke," commented Jones.
Ruby sniffed the air, "It smells differently. Want me to go check it out?" she asked.
"Would you mind dear?" Jones asked her.
"Just mind the boys for me," and Ruby turned to the hounds. "You do what Killian tells you, all right? I don't want to get back and find out that you've been making trouble." The two dogs whined, then sat and allowed her to give them one last head pat. "Good boys."
And then Ruby changed.
"Wow," Cora said as the large grey wolf loped off back towards the house.
"She is pretty impressive," agreed Jones.
"What are you planning on doing when this is over?" Cora had sat down on the bench.
"I guess a lot depends on whether Pan is going to take over the world or if Gold will take him down."
Cora considered, "I think I'll put my money on Gold. Pan is evil and dark but he's not as sneaky and clever as Rumple."
"What happens if Gold defeats Pan?" Jones joined her on the bench.
"Then he becomes the next Demon Lord, at least of this area."
Jones nearly laughed, "He's not going to want that job."
"Somebody needs to try to keep order. Pan did it with fear. Everybody was scared shitless of him. But he was so bloody unpredictable," Cora complained.
"You think Gold will do a better job?"
"If he'll take the job."
The two sat back.
"I had a good time with you," Cora finally confessed.
"And I with you. You had some toys that were new to me. I particularly liked that vibrating thing you uh . . . you uh . . ."
Cora smiled. "Thanks. That is one of my favorites too. You had some sweet moves yourself. That thing you did with the . . . uh . . . corset . . . "
"Picked that one up in Singapore," Jones confessed. "Have to be careful there. Too little, no effect. Too much, you can do some real damage – takes all the fun out."
"Well, you certainly had the right touch," Cora complimented him.
The two sat quietly for a while.
"You know, I'm not a nice person," Cora finally said.
Jones did laugh this time, "Well, neither am I."
+ + + + + Aftermath
Gold was standing as close as he dared to the Lady Shivet. She was standing calmly, as if she had not just consumed his arrogant father. He had watched horrified as she had simply sucked his father in towards her, with the creature his father appeared to be melting down into a screaming, swirling mass of energies than dwindled down and spiraled into her slight form. She had ended up licking her fingers.
"Ma'am. Is there anything else you desire?" he asked.
The girl-creature smiled showing her razor sharp teeth. "Not at this moment. Pan was the one that called me, called me up from my slumber for a trivial concern. He thought he could control me with deals and conditions. I simply waited for the right opportunity to claim my price."
"Thank you. I know you didn't do it for me and mine, but thank you."
"Why would you think I wouldn't do it for you?" the Lady asked him in her harsh voice.
"I . . . I . . . uh would think that you would be above my petty concerns."
"I know what you would do, Rumple." The black empty eye sockets fixed on him. "I think it shall be interesting if you succeed."
And she faded away.
The three women crowded in. "Now, that was creepy," Emma announced.
Ruby was peeking in the door by this time. "Everything all right in here?"
"Yeah," Gold told her. "Pan's gone."
"Gone like returned home with his tail between his legs or gone like . . . gone?" Ruby asked.
"Gone," Gold answered her.
"Then I guess that makes you head man down here," Ruby said off-handedly.
"What?!" Gold asked.
"She's right. You inherit both by right of birth and by right of pretty much being the one who took Pan out," Zelena agreed. "You're in charge."
"Oh shit," Gold said.
+ + + + Priorities
Gold had sent Emma and Zelena back to The House, after assuring Zelena that if her heart had truly changed The House would accept her in. "We still have some things to settle between us, but I'll address those later," he promised her, his tone stern.
"What if there's not a House anymore?" Emma had asked him. "When Belle and I were taken out of there, it was under attack."
Gold smirked, "I have a feeling that everything is just fine. It'll take a little more than an attack from some underworld fiends to take down The House. Have Regina and the others meet me in the Villains' Club at nine tomorrow evening."
Emma nodded.
"What about Cora and Jones?" Ruby had asked.
"Take them with you, Ruby, back to The House," he'd answered. "I need some time here to sort things out, think things through, consider my options."
Ruby glanced at Belle, who gave her a faint smile, and then she too was gone.
"What do you have to sort out?" Belle asked him.
"So much. I don't know where to begin. There's you and me. There's what's happening with our powers. And I so don't want to be the mayor of Undertown and I need to think how to resolve that mess," Gold told her. "I still need to get the dagger piece from my 'little sister' . . . and decide what to do with her. . . and Cora. But," he glanced at her, some heat apparent in his gaze, "After an emotionally taxing night, I find . . . I find what I want to do more than anything else is to thoroughly compromise your virtue, here and now."
Belle very nearly grinned. "So you aren't mad at me?"
"Yes absolutely, upset, shocked, appalled, and mad." He leaned down and kissed her gently on the nose. "You're not repulsed by this," he gestured toward his head and down his body.
Belle shook her head, "I find you beautiful. I have to ask if this desire to compromise me is left over from the collar? I know when you took the golden one off of me, I was pretty desperate."
He shook his head. "The black onyx collar apparently works differently. That or my anger kept any budding passion at bay. No, my dear, what I'm feeling for you is just garden-variety lust. You're incredibly beautiful and you aren't afraid of me, afraid of unleashing the monster, the beast within." he told her.
"You would never hurt me," Belle told him and stood on her toes to kiss him. He pushed her back so that she was against the wall.
"Are you sure? Are you so sure?" and she couldn't stop herself from shivering as he gently grazed his blackened nails down her face.
She was enveloped in his scent, in his warmth, his power emanating out of him, sweeping her along, making her dizzy . . . and weak. She managed to smile at him, "I'm sure."
"Good. I don't intend to hurt you, but I think I might like to make you squirm a bit. Come," and he pulled away from her to lead her up the stairs the beast within him determined to have some time with the beauteous Belle – she hadn't rejected him - she thought him beautiful.
"But don't you have all the other issues to work through?" she asked as he pulled her along.
"Those other issues can wait. I can't," he told her. Maybe that damn collar was affecting him belatedly.
Holding her hand, he began going down the hallway, opening doors and rejecting rooms. He didn't want to take Belle into any room that screamed "sex dungeon." He was looking for a basic four poster type bed with clean sheets.
He finally found what appeared to be a pretty ordinary room and shoved Belle inside. The walls were painted a soft cream. The furniture was blond oak and there was a soft off-white woven rug on the wooden floor. In the center of one wall there was a plush bed in a brass four poster frame covered with a poofy soft floral print duvet. It was a comfortable room, like one that might be found in a bed and breakfast. He gently guided Belle toward the bed and lifted her up onto the soft mattress. He pulled off her black silk jacket.
"This is nice. Where did you get this?" he asked.
"I took it out of your drawers. I thought it belonged to you," she told him, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.
"Must have been a gift that I never wore. Looks good on you, princess."
He then pulled down the silken pants, which easily slipped off. He took another moment to remove her socks and shoes. Then the tank top. He ran his hands up and down her limbs, reveling in her smooth soft skin, sometimes following the trail of his hands with his lips.
He looked at her and she couldn't repress another shiver. His reptilian eyes had blown out to black orbs. He smiled and reached around to unfasten her bra and then pulled down her panties.
He was silent a moment while he looked her over. "You are so beautiful. Are you really sure you want to bed the monster?" he asked her.
"Please," she told him and moved her hands to help him undress, taking off his jacket, his shirt, moving her hands down to unfasten and help him remove his pants. He stopped to kick off his shoes and pull off his socks and then joined her on the bed. He pulled down the covers and rolled her underneath them.
"I want to see you," Belle told him pulling at the covers.
"See how far down the scales go?" he asked her.
She blushed, "Something like that." And she sat up to look down at him. She gently touched him on the shoulder and then laid her palm on his chest. She pulled down the covers and couldn't help but notice his boxers were straining.
"May I?" she asked, but really didn't wait for his answer. She pulled down his underpants and released him.
She looked at him a long moment. He was fully engorged and when she touched him, he flinched. "You are . . . larger in this form," she observed.
"I am. You will also find that I can last longer for your pleasure and recover faster . . . also for your pleasure," he told her smugly.
"Really?" she sounded like Emma now. "I think I may have a reason to like this version of you more and more."
"Yeah," he sat up and pushed her back down. "So glad. Are you up for some fun?" he asked.
"Uh hum." Belle closed her eyes, enjoying his kisses. She had reached out to caress his hardened cock. "Feels like you are," she replied. He chuckled. He was working on her neck, while one of his hands gently massaged a breast.
He stopped a moment to look over the headboard. He reached down and pulled up the silk pants she had been wearing and threaded them through the bars. "Grab hold of the pant legs," he directed her.
She was puzzled but did as he directed. He surveyed the situation. "This should provide the same sense as being restrained. I think you'll understand why I'm not eager to put actual restraints on anyone right now," he explained. He paused a moment to suckle on the nipple, pulling on it just hard enough to make her gasp.
"I don't want to hurt you, mind you. On the contrary, I want to give you great pleasure, more than you've ever experienced," he told her.
"That doesn't sound too awful," Belle said timidly.
He kissed her full on the lips. "We'll see. Be back in a moment. Don't go anywhere. Don't let the pants legs go," he smiled at her.
Belle pulled on the pant legs. It did give the same feelings as being restrained but there was still the awareness that she could let go anytime. What had she got herself into? She was able to release herself, but was willing to go along with his game, so she held on. Where had he gone? What was he doing?
And what about his promise to give her more pleasure than she'd ever experienced.
He was gone at least ten minutes. When he came back in, he held a single strip of black silk.
"Trust me still?" he asked her.
"Yes," she answered.
"Lovely girl," he told her and kissed her lips before he tied the blindfold.
"All right?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered. The darkness, the blindness accentuated the other senses.
"Be right back." He then left the room.
She heard him come back in a second time. He talked softly to her. "Cora was into a lot of naughty things, most of which she kept in the basement. I don't want to do anything painful with you, but I do want to enhance your pleasure. I have a little device in my hand that is rather well known for helping a woman along. Hang on tightly, my darling."
Belle heard a soft, almost grinding sound, and then nearly jerked off the bed. He had applied a vibrating wand between her legs. It was sturdy and powerful. Belle gasped as the sensations began quickly and strongly. He seemed to know just exactly where to apply it.
It was less than two minutes before she screamed, her orgasm shaking her, surprising her with its suddenness and force. He pulled back and allowed her a few moments.
"Don't let go," he directed her. Then he re-applied the wand.
"No, no, no! It's too soon," she begged him but she didn't let go. "Please, I can't possibly . . . I can't . . . no. . . no . . ." and Belle felt herself building up a second time, feeling her womb contract and spasm. It was much more intense the second time, as if her entire body was responding. She was now gasping.
"No more, please, not just yet," this time she was frantic in her pleading.
He relented and lay down next to her to spend some time stroking and cuddling her.
"Shall we go another round, my sweet?" he whispered to her.
"I don't know. I don't know. That was so intense." Belle was tossing her head from side to side.
"Then let me put the wand up. We'll see how well we can do when it's just me." And she felt him begin kissing her down her body, taking his time as he came to her taut stomach and then lingering as he came to the over-sensitized juncture between her legs. He gently nudged her legs apart.
"Come on pretty girl, let me kiss you," and she could feel his warm breath as she eased her legs apart for the man. She felt it as he flicked his tongue back and forth, back and forth. Belle was holding her breath. She felt the flat of his tongue. She realized that she was close, so close again.
Then he backed off.
"Let's have you cool down just a little," and she nearly wept in frustration. He sat up to caress her breast, using his fingers to roll her nipples, now plumped and tender, applying just enough pressure, right to the point of pain.
"You know you have the loveliest nipples. If I were to give in to my lowest desires, you would be installed here permanently and I would have these beauties pierced, so that they would always remain hard and swollen, eager for attention, my attention." He paused and now she felt his hand between her legs, sliding into delicate folds, with one finger along each side of her swollen clit. "Perhaps have this pierced also. Put a little dangling jewel on it, so that there would always be just a little stimulation. Would you like that my sweet?" His voice was low and soft. He moved his fingers rubbing her just right, then sliding one, then two fingers gently into her.
Belle moaned. She was at the point that whatever he wanted to do to her, she'd agree. She lifted her body to give better access to his hands and she heard him chuckle.
"You like that my darling? How about the idea of me putting a mark on you, so that everyone knows that you belong to me? It would be easy enough for me to do," and he was kissing her neck, kissing her hyper-stimulated breasts and still continuing his sensual assault on all her inflamed feminine parts. He shifted and now he was licking his way down her body, down to her now distended clit. This time she felt his breath and then his lips . . . and his tongue.
She couldn't stop herself, helpless against the giant wave of pure pleasure that swelled within her and washed over her.
"You know, I love how soft your body becomes after I've made you come," he told her, shifting back up alongside of her and lifting his body so that he was now on top of her. He was kissing her again and as his mouth came down on hers she felt him slide inside of her, not all the way, her body unable to accept his bulk despite her level of arousal. The blindfold came off. "I want to see your eyes when you come for me again," he told her. He slowly began to thrust inside of her, stopping after each push to allow her the chance to adjust to him, and then thrusting again, gaining a little each time. "Wrap your legs around me," he told her and, trembling, she managed to comply. Gently but persistently, he pushed and pushed and, at the point that his body completely joined with hers, she felt herself come undone again. "Beautiful, beautiful," she heard him mutter. "You are so beautiful when you come." And he fastened his mouth onto hers.
Unable to wrap her arms around him, still restrained by her grip on the silken pants, she strained to return his kiss. She had little choice but to accept him, as he increased his pace driving hard and fast into her body. He reached down between their bodies to give her more stimulation just where she needed it.
It started slowly, a tightening, a coiling building, building up towards the peak of a mountain and as she approached the top, and then just as she reached it, she felt him give it up for her, his life streaming pouring into her and she went over the top and fell, falling into darkness, her grip on the pants faltering as she slid down into oblivion.
+ + + + After
"Belle, Belle, are you all right?" She heard him, then felt him, gently shaking her. Her arms were limp, lying stretched out from her body.
She was momentarily disoriented. It took her a moment to realize where she was.
"You blacked out," he told her.
"I did?" she was surprised, but then, it all came back to her. They had been having sex, her and the Dark One. It had been everything he had promised. She smiled at him and pulled herself up to kiss him. And then she fell asleep.
+ + + + Sun Up
She woke up snuggled in her dark lover's arms. "Satisfied?" she heard him ask.
"I don't think I could be more satisfied," she confessed. "You?"
"Pretty happy with how things turned out," he told her. "I'd like to keep you here the rest of the day, but . . . "
"You've got a lot of things to work on today."
"Exactly," he sighed. He was obviously debating what to do next – the work things or . . . the Belle things?
She was looking up at him, her deep blue eyes locked on his. "You know what?" she asked him in a breathy whisper.
"What?" Was she going to make a suggestive comment?
"I'm really hungry."
He laughed. "I would guess so, we both put in some real exercise last night. Shall we go see what we can find? I'm not counting that Cora has a well stocked kitchen but it's a place to start."
They both redressed and Gold led her down the stairs.
"Where is the kitchen?" she asked.
"As best I recall, it's down this hall." They went down the dimly lit hallway and Gold opened a door to check. "Kitchen," he looked back at Belle letting her know that they had found it.
"Maybe we can find some coffee," Belle said hopefully and went into the room in front of Gold. Then she stopped.
Sitting at Cora's kitchen table with her nose barely above the table top was a little girl with blue eyes and brown curly hair.
"Hi," the little girl said to her. "I'm hungry."
Thank you all you wonderful reviewers: Robin4, thedoctorsgirl42, RoxyMoron, RaFire, deweymay, jamie. wan. kanobi, Erik'sTrueAngel, spacecats, orthankg1, Tinuviel Undomiel, jewel415, MyraValhallah, Chauchi, DruidKitty (chapter 17), Grace5231973, and Aletta-Feather
(A special thanks to Aletta Feather for the inspiration to make Zelena Rumple's (probable) half-sister).
At this point in a story I tend to get the Virginia Blues (that's an Appalachian Trail term for the funk that settles in over hikers in Virginia when they begin to wonder just what they are doing and many of them bail at that point). Reviews really help keep me writing.
NEXT: Gold makes some decisions