I hope everyone is having a nice new year! If not, then...I'm sorry, since the year has just begun.
This chapter has some smut in it, so if you love it, you'll hopefully like the chapter. If you don't like smut then...well, who the hell doesn't like smut?
Thanks to the wonderful CharlotteAshmore for editing this chapter. She just started beta-ing this story for me, and this is the first chapter she's helped out with, so any mistakes in the previous seven chapters are all mine.
Please continue reading...
Zelena was still upset over what had happened with Rumpelstiltskin the night before. She had thrown herself at him, and made a complete fool of herself.
Zelena was pouting, walking into the kitchen where she saw the object of Rumpel's affection wiping the counters. Belle. Zelena curled her lips in disgust, and annoyance. She didn't understand what Rumpel saw in that little girl. Sure she was pretty and small, but Zelena just saw those things as undesirable.
Or maybe envy, she thought to herself. The maid had everything she wanted: a petite frame, beauty, and The Dark One's affections. Zelena hated her.
She sat down at the counter where Belle was cleaning. The red head propped her chin in her hand, sighing dramatically. Belle stopped in wiping, lifting an eyebrow.
"Is everything all right, Zelena?" the maid asked.
"No," Zelena muttered. "My life is terrible."
Belle paused. "Don't say that. I'm sure there are some great things to keep you happy."
"Not when you're here," Zelena pouted.
"I'm sorry?" Belle scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.
"Rumpelstiltskin has feelings for you, and he can't stand me," Zelena said, miserably.
Belle hesitated, continuing to wipe the counter. "Zelena, I don't know what has happened, but you're worrying me."
Zelena snorted. "I don't want your pity or concern." She moved her hand away from her chin, sitting up straight. "Answer me this, maid: do you love him?"
Belle's mouth dropped open, shocked. "What?" she asked, breathlessly, not understanding where Zelena was going with the conversation.
Zelena rolled her eyes. "Rumpelstiltskin," she enunciated. "Do you love him?"
Belle shook her head slowly. "No. I don't know."
"You don't know?" Zelena asked. "How can you not know?"
Belle shrugged. "I haven't thought about it. Rumpelstiltskin is a complicated man."
Zelena raised an eyebrow. "So your feelings for him are complicated?" she asked, disbelievingly.
"Why are you asking me these things, Zelena?"
"Because he loves you!" Zelena exclaimed, standing up. "Don't you get that? Or do you not have anything going on upstairs in that brain of yours?!"
Belle stepped away from Zelena. She was confused by Zelena's outburst. The red head was clearly dealing with something that Belle didn't understand. "Zelena, I'm sorry if I've upset you-,"
Zelena cut her off. "I don't want your sympathy or pity. Did you not understand me when I said that?" Zelena was obviously distressed and angry. Seeing the maid stirred up all her feelings of rejection and insecurity. Belle was just unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of it all.
Belle quickly nodded. "I did hear you. I just don't know what you want. I don't know what to do." Belle was ramblingly, becoming upset herself over Zelena's outbursts.
"I don't want you to do anything," Zelena seethed. "I just want you gone." Zelena reached out a hand, and tried to use magic on Belle. A spell that would surely hurt the maid, but, as Zelena felt her magic flow through her hand, she saw that it did not affect the girl. Then Zelena remembered the necklace Rumpelstiltskin had given the brunette. It would protect her, so no magic could harm her.
Damn it, Zelena though, throwing her hand down in frustration. Why could nothing go her way? She gave Belle one last menacing look, and stormed out of the kitchen, thinking she would feel better if she didn't see the maid.
She would go complain to Regina. She knew her sister would listen, even if she was rolling her eyes every five minutes. Zelena was going to bitch to her sister, whether she liked it or not. She was having a bad day.
And she would cry if she wanted to.
Regina, much to Zelena's disappointment, wasn't anywhere to be found. Regina was outside, close by the stables. Rumpelstiltskin didn't have many horses, having the ability to transport himself using magic, but the few he kept needed a place to stay.
Regina couldn't stop thinking about the boy, Daniel, she'd met at the market yesterday. She was angry with her mother and sister for embarrassing him. She went to the stables at the castle, hoping it would make her feel closer to him.
She had never felt such an instant attraction to a man before, it was startling. She wanted to leave the castle to go see him again, but she knew her mother wouldn't let her leave without her permission.
So Regina would just have to find a way to sneak out.
The only problem was, she had no idea how to leave. Rumpelstiltskin didn't keep the gates closed when he was at the castle, but she couldn't just walk out the front door. Her mother would notice, and prevent her from going, especially if her mother knew she was going to see Daniel. Regina just hoped that Daniel wouldn't be too upset with her. She did lie to him after all, and her mother and sister were complete witches to him.
Regina sighed, thinking. She could leave at night, when her mother was sleeping...but Cora had a tendency to know when to wake up if something wasn't going according to her plan. Regina was worried about the magic her mother was trying to use. She knew Rumpelstiltskin didn't know about it, and probably wouldn't approve it. She was also concerned that it might be stronger than The Dark One's magic. Her mother seemed to want more power than him.
Regina shook her head. Her mother probably wanted to control Rumpelstiltskin using magic, since she wasn't his 'favorite' anymore. Her mother also couldn't find the dagger, as Rumpelstiltskin had it in serious lock down. No one would be finding it anytime soon. Rumpelstiltskin was slipping through her mother's fingers and Regina could tell that Cora was not happy about it.
Regina still couldn't believe that Rumpelstiltskin might be having feelings for Belle...and she him! Regina wouldn't normally believe it, but after returning to the castle yesterday afternoon, and seeing The Dark One's arms around Belle, changed her view point. They seemed to like each other, or were at least comfortable around each other. It was just slightly...weird. Regina didn't know how that was possible. Rumpelstiltskin and Belle were so different.
Regina rolled her eyes, at her thoughts. It wasn't an issue for her to be concerned about. Trying to escape was.
Regina went through many options. She could try to use her magic to transport herself into town, but her magic wasn't quite strong enough yet. She cursed herself, at the irony. She fought so hard on learning magic, and now she really needed it. She supposed she should have listened more in her lessons with Rumpelstiltskin.
She could try to scale the gate surrounding the back of the castle. Maybe her mother wouldn't be as perceptible, if she went out the back, but the gate walls were too high. Regina would never be able to climb them.
Regina then hesitated, thinking up a more dangerous idea. Her mother's spell book.
Regina knew her mother had a strong spell book, hiding somewhere. Rumpelstiltskin had given it to Cora as a gift, and Regina knew her mother was adding spells inside, ones Rumpelstiltskin had never taught her. After yesterdays lesson, Regina knew Cora was keeping secrets from Rumpelstiltskin. Maybe her spell books would have answers on how to escape. Regina knew though, that the idea was futile. If trying to leave the castle would be tough, then trying to find her mother's book would be even more difficult.
Just then, Regina heard the horses whinnying. Someone was approaching the stables. Regina held her breath, hoping it wasn't her mother or sister. She started breathing again, when she saw it was Milah.
"Milah, what are you doing out here?" Regina asked. "It's cold out."
"I could ask you the same question," Milah responded, pointing at the stables. "What are you doing in the stables?"
Regina hesitated. "Trying to figure out an escape plan."
Milah raised her eyebrows. "Oh. Having any luck?"
Regina shook her head. "Not much. I'm kind of stuck here."
"Same here," Milah said. "Remember the day I tried to escape, and was flung back from the gates?"
"Yeah," Regina nodded.
"There's no escaping this place," Milah said sadly, rubbing her arms.
"I wish there was," Regina muttered. She furrowed her brows at Milah. "What are you doing out here?"
"Getting away from all the commotion inside the castle," Milah said. "I like walking around the grounds."
"All the commotion?" Regina asked. "You mean, with Belle and Rumpelstiltskin?"
Milah nodded. "It's quite clear that Cora and Zelena are not happy about Belle and my husband's blossoming relationship. Zelena couldn't find you, so she came complaining to me about Belle."
Regina winced. "Sorry. That must have been terrible."
Milah nodded, exaggeratedly. "It was. Zelena likes to hear herself talk...and complain. I'm sure your mother kicked Zelena out of her room when she went whining to her." Milah paused. "I got stuck with her instead," she muttered.
Regina chuckled. "I'm not laughing at your expense, but my sister sure is a character."
"That she is," Milah agreed. "One that won't shut up."
This time, Regina laughed out loud. "Zelena...," she sighed, shaking her head.
Milah sighed as well, moving on from the topic back to their previous one. "Is there really no way to escape from this place?"
Regina shrugged. "You've lived here longer than I have. Do you have any ideas?"
Milah shook her head. "None. My husband and I haven't confided in each other for a long time. We're strangers living in the same house. I don't know him at all anymore, to know any of his secrets."
Regina nodded. "I figured. I know that ever since my family arrived here, you and The Dark One have been estranged. Did my mother cause the tension between you two?"
"Partly," Milah confided. "We'd already had some problems with him becoming The Dark One. Your mother just helped escalate our issues."
"We've never really spoken much," Regina commented. "We always complain to each other about wanting to escape, but I don't know much about you, Milah."
"That's all right. You've only been here for over a year," Milah said, teasingly.
Regina chuckled, then sobered. "I should have tried harder to get to know you."
"Why now?" Milah asked.
"Ever since Belle came here, I've started losing some of my shell," Regina said. "The sympathy I have for her, makes me feel more open. I guess I've never really realized how much you've been suffering. I've mostly focused on myself."
Milah waved a hand. "You're young. You're allowed to be self-centered."
Regina shrugged. "I guess." She looked steadily at the older woman. "What has Rumpelstiltskin put you through?"
Milah hesitated. "At first, none of this was his fault. We lost a child...and it changed him."
"How?" Regina asked.
Milah shook herself. "I don't like to talk about it. It's too painful."
"That's fine. You don't have to tell me," Regina said, sympathetically. "You can tell me when you're ready."
"And in the meantime," Milah said, "we can think of an escape plan."
Regina smiled. "Yes, we can." She paused, hesitating. "I might have an idea, concerning my mother's spell book..." she trailed off."
"Is it dangerous?" Milah asked.
"Extremely," Regina nodded.
"Then we better start thinking up an idea quick."
Belle went to bed that evening, in her new room. She was so glad she didn't have to sleep on that uncomfortable bench any longer. Her new bed was so plush, and soft, that she sank easily into it.
She was till wheeling from Zelena's confrontation that morning. Belle wished she could help the other girl somehow, but didn't know how. She and Zelena were not friends. Zelena didn't want her help, but that didn't mean that Belle didn't want to give it. She didn't want Zelena to suffer on her account.
Belle was getting tired though, and decided to eradicate the confusion over Zelena, and get some sleep.
She woke up a little later in the night, to the sound of her door opening and closing. She opened her eyes, bit didn't sit up to see who entered her room. She felt a hand brush the hair out of her face, and turned to see Rumpelstiltskin standing next to her bed. He was gazing wistfully at her.
"Rumpelstiltskin?" she asked, quietly. "What are you doing here?"
He grinned slightly, sitting down on her bed. His hand moved from her face down to her neck. She shuddered at the feeling. His hands were cold to the touch, but it just heightened her sensitivity even more. "I came to make sure my little maid was all right."
She furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?" She was whispering.
"I know you had a run in with Zelena this morning," he said, stroking her arm, "and I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt."
"How do you know about that?" she asked, subdued.
His grin turned wicked. "It's my castle, dearie. I see and know all," he said, teasingly ominous.
She giggled. "You're being silly." Her breath caught though, as his hand moved over her arm, skimming the side of her breast, to rest on her waist.
"Am I?" he asked, softly. His hand squeezed her waist, making her breath hitch. She didn't know why Rumpelstiltskin was touching her, and so intimately at that. She enjoyed the feeling though, so she wasn't going to complain.
She nodded, slowly. "You are."
"Hmm," he murmured. "Then I guess, I'll just have to change that, wont I? Show you I'm being serious." His hand slipped to her back, so his whole arm was around her. Belle gasped as her pulled her into a sitting position, her chest brushing his. She blushed at the fact that she was wearing nothing but her nightdress. She didn't have her corset on to cover her. The feeling of Rumpel's red vest brushing against her breasts was nice, though. She liked the feeling.
He lifted his other hand that wasn't around her back, to cup her face. He rested his brow against her own.
Belle gulped. "What are you doing?" she asked, whispering.
He giggled, high pitch. "Kissing you, of course."
Belle furrowed her brow. "But you're not-," She was cut off when his lips touched hers.
She was hesitant at first, when his lips were hard. They softened then, making her ease into him, She folded her hands on his chest, not knowing what to do with them. She sighed into the kiss. It was marvelous. She expected nothing less for her first kiss, knowing how special it was.
His hand moved from her face, to cup the back of her head. He lowered her body to the bed, making the bottom of her dress lift higher on her legs. It was skimming her thighs, making her blush even more. His other arm was still wrapped around her back, but it slipped over her hip to touch her knee. He lifted her leg so it encircled his own body. He nestled himself in between her legs.
She pulled back from the kiss, gasping. He kissed down her neck, passionately. She tugged at his hair. "Rumpel?" she questioned, a little worried. She wasn't sure what he was trying to do, or how far he was taking things.
He stroked her knee, speaking against her neck. "Shh, sweetheart," he murmured, his breath tickling her neck. "I'll take care of you."
"That's not what I'm worried about," she whispered. She pulled on his hair, so he lifted his head to stare into her eyes. His face was so close to hers. She shook her head. "I don't know what you're doing."
His gaze softened, though his grin remained wicked. "Showing you something you've never experienced before," he breathed. His hands trailed up her body to hover over the strings on her chest holding her dress together. He unlaced the ribbon, though he didn't pull the dress open yet. Belle had her hands still in his hair, but moved them to lay at her sides by her head. Her chest was rising and falling quickly, her breath labored.
He rested one hand over her heart. "Your heart is beating so fast. Is my little maid nervous?" He tisked, when she nodded. "That won't do. Not at all," he murmured, kissing the skin over her heart. He lifted his eyes to meet her gaze, gripping the sides of her dress. "Do you trust me, sweetheart?"
She hesitated, though she knew she wasn't in danger. She wasn't afraid of Rumpel. She was just uncertain about what was to come. She finally nodded, making his grin widen. He leaned down to kiss behind her ear, making Belle gasp at the tenderness of it. It was a very sensitive spot. He eased open the sides of her dress, finally exposing her breasts. Belle blushed, trying to cover herself up. He moved his head to look back in her eyes, smirking, as he lifted her hands above her head.
"Don't be trying to hide yourself from me, little one," he breathed. As he lifted her hands even higher over her head, her body moved down the bed a little. She noticed his hips in the center of hers, and a hardness resting against her lower abdomen. She didn't know what it was. Rumpel shifted his hips, and Belle felt the hardness even more, causing her to gasp. She was most surprised though, at the fact that she liked the feeling of Rumpel's hips between her own. It caused a fluttering in her stomach.
She quickly lifted her eyes to his, confused. "Rumpel," she breathed herself. "What is that?"
He smirked, moving his hips gently against hers. "That, Belle, shows you that I'm very happy to be here right now." He tapped her nose with a finger, making her giggle. His smirk moved back into a grin. "You don't have to be afraid of it," he said, softly.
"I didn't say I was afraid of it," Belle responded, barely able to hear herself speak, she was talking so quietly. "I just don't understand it. But...I do like the feeling of it," she added, slightly embarrassed.
He moved his hands down her arms, encircling her waist so they both touched her back. "You like the feeling of it where, sweetheart?" He started kissing lightly down her neck again, till his lips reached her chest. His lips hovered over her right breast. She felt so light headed from all the feelings coursing through her, she couldn't keep her head up. She let it fall back, as Rumpel's lips encircled her nipple. She arched, gasping at the feeling, a jolt of fire singing along her nerve endings and settling into a pulse of pure pleasure at her core. 2
"Rumpel," she quietly moaned. He was lightly pulling at the nipple, lapping at her. He was being so gentle still.
He pulled back, tapping her nose again. "You didn't answer my question, dearie." She frowned at him. He swivelled his hips against her center, making her buck into him. She gasped again, sweat beading at her temple. "Where do you like the feeling?" he asked, his lips against her neck, right above her collar bone.
"I like the feeling..." she hesitated.
"Yes?" he prompted, kissing her skin to reach her other breast. He wasn't so gentle this time. He wrapped his lips around the nipple, sucking hard.
She wrapped her arms around his head, hardly believing what was happening. She tried to speak again. "I like..."
"What do you like, sweetheart?" Rumpel moved one hand from around her back to start reaching for the hem of her dress. He lifted it, slowly, carefully, resting his hand on her upper thigh. "Tell me, and I'll give it to you. You like which feeling?"
She blushed, trying to say what was on her mind. "I like the feeling...of your hips between mine," she finally said, lowering her eyes so she didn't have to look at him.
He chuckled. "You like this feeling, little maid?" He bucked his hips into her, his leather pants not concealing anything. She gasped, again, covering her mouth with a hand. "Answer me, Belle, and I'll give you what you want."
She moved her hand away, her fingertips brushing against her temple. She was so warm, her forehead was covered in beads of sweat. "But I don't know what I want," she confessed.
His eyes softened. He grabbed her face in between his hands. "Then I'll help you make up your mind," he breathed against her lips. He kissed her, meshing their lips together. She moaned against his mouth, closing her eyes. He reached one hand down to slip between her thighs. It brushed her in a very personal area. She was going to pull back from the kiss and ask what he was doing, when one of his fingers touched inside of her. Belle didn't know why he would do that. She was a little embarrassed by the fact that he was touching her where she did her female business.
"Rumpel," she murmured against his lips. She couldn't seem to stop saying his name. "Why...?" She trailed off, when he moved his fingers, brushing it along the inside of her walls. She bucked her hips into his hand.
"Fuck," he said, pulling his lips away, to kiss her breast. He rested his head on her chest, as he continued to touch her. "You're so tight, sweetheart." He pulled his finger back. "And wet," he smirked, staring at the arousal on his finger. Belle blushed at his language and words.
But then she really blushed when he lifted his finger to his mouth, and licked at...whatever it was that had been inside of her. Belle really had no clue. She was never taught any of this.
He pulled his finger away, smirking. "You taste amazing, sweetheart. Like honey. Or the sweetest plum. I can't decide." He shook his head.
Belle was breathing faster by the minute. "Why did you do that?"
"Because I couldn't help myself," he responded. He dipped his finger back inside her, then adding a second finger. His body was covering hers, she could feel his arm moving. Belle leaned her head back farther at the feeling of his fingers in her. She kept letting out quite, little gasps, her hands grasping at the blanket underneath her.
"Does this feel good, my little maid?" Rumpel asked, resting his head against her neck, so his breath tickled her skin.
"Yes," she managed to get out. She could barely believe what was happening, but decided to just enjoy the experience, and let her nervousness go.
"Good," he growled. "Are you too tight for more, I wonder?" he asked. Belle didn't know what he meant, so she just leaned her head back even farther, especially after he added another finger inside her. He chuckled, at her moan. "Well, I guess, that answered my question."
She continued bucking her hips into his hand, when he reached his other hand to hold the side of her left hip, preventing her from moving to much. She didn't understand why he would stop her, when he spoke.
"I'll do the work, sweetheart," he said, a grin in his voice. "I just want you to lay back and enjoy it." He continued moving his hand. She moaned even louder when his fingers seemed to reach a spot within her that gave her even more immense pleasure.
Belle could feel something rising within her lower abdomen. She lifted her hands to tug at Rumpel's hair. "Rumpel," she gasped. "What's happening?"
Thankfully for Belle, Rumpel seemed to know what her predicament was. "Let go for me, sweetheart." Belle didn't really know what she was 'letting go,' but decided to listen to him. He increased the speed of his fingers. "Yell my name, Belle. I know you can do it."
She was a little embarrassed to call out his name. She didn't want any of the other women to hear. But when her body couldn't take anymore, she took Rumpel's advice. She felt the ache in her lower belly release, and her body clenched around Rumpel's fingers. "Rumpelstiltskin," she moaned, leaning back into the bed, content.
She opened her eyes, and lifted her head. Rumpelstiltskin was gone.
She frowned and looked down at herself...to see that she was tucked in bed. The covers were over her. The hem of her nightdress wasn't up to her thighs, but down by her feet.
She then realized, that everything had all been a dream. Her things felt sticky, and she reached down to see what it was. It looked like the substance Rumpel had put in his mouth.
Belle blushed. She couldn't believe that she'd just had an...intimate, love- making dream.
About Rumpelstiltskin.
She had never been taught anything about...well, anything sexual, so she was shocked by her mind that she could come up with the acts she dreamed of. Though Belle did remember once finding a book one of her maids kept. It was about a man and a woman locked in heated embraces. Belle was so shy about it that she had put the book down quickly, but not before she'd snuck a peek. She hadn't thought it affected her so much, but clearly her subconscious picked up on things that her functioning, conscious brain did not.
She was extremely warm, so she kicked off her covers. She laid on her back in the middle of the bed, her hands covering her face. She was embarrassed. She had never had a dream like that before. Maybe it was the new bed, she thought. She couldn't imagine having that...that...kind of dream on a hard, wooden bench. The comfortable and soft mattress must have had an extreme effect on her.
She didn't know why she'd dreamed that now. Maybe it was because Rumpel had been showing her so much more kindness. Or maybe it was the memory of his arms around her, when he'd caught her from falling. Whatever it was, she was clearly having some sort of feelings for him. She remembered what Zelena had asked her: do you love him? Belle didn't know if she did. She hardly knew anything about Rumpelstiltskin, his past or otherwise, but she did have a strange fascination for him. He had an intrigue about him that made her curious. He was very entrancing.
She just hoped it wouldn't be obvious the next morning to Rumpelstiltskin that she had a dream about him. She wasn't sure if she would be able to look him in the face ever again if he knew.
She rolled over in bed in frustration. Too bad she couldn't move.
In the morning, Belle got out of bed, and dressed, feeling nervous for the day. She was moving a lot slower, stretching out the time before she would have to see Rumpelstiltskin.
She made her way to the Great Hall, where Rumpel and all the other women were waiting to eat breakfast. Zelena was sitting next to Cora, who was on Rumpel's left side, and Regina was sitting next to Milah, was on Rumpel's right side. The Dark One sat at the head of the table, his hands folded underneath his chin. Belle didn't make eye contact, and quickly left to enter the kitchen. She served the tea, while their food cooked.
Belle was passing out cups, when Rumpel spoke up. "I want that one, dearie." He pointed at the teacup with the chip in the side. Belle didn't question him, and placed it before him.
Cora snorted. "I don't know why you kept that cup, Rumpelstiltskin. It's broken for goodness sake."
Rumpel lifted the cup to take a sip, then pulled back to stare at it. Admiring it, it seemed more like. "It's still a functioning cup," he responded to Cora.
"Yes, but it's broken," Cora repeated.
Rumpel shrugged. "It still works." He sounded like a petulant child who wanted to be right. Cora rolled her eyes, and drank her tea.
Belle left to grab their breakfast. As she was serving, and trying to not make eye contact with Rumpel, she felt a hand steady her shaking wrist. Of course, it was The Dark One. Belle quickly looked up at him and away.
He frowned. "Why so unsteady, dearie?"
Belle gulped, his hand still on her wrist. "Uh, just tired," she muttered.
He gave her a look that showed he didn't believe her, but he shrugged, and let her go. Belle finished serving their morning meal, and hurriedly went back to the kitchen. She ate her own breakfast, quickly. The sooner she could start on her chores, the sooner she could finish, and return to her room ro read. And the sooner she could be away from Rumpelstiltskin.
As the day wore on, she successfully evaded Rumpel, moving on to clean another room when he entered the one she was in. When he tried to speak with her, she would just tell him she was busy, and quickly get back to work, ignoring him. She knew she was being slightly rude, but her embarrassment overrode her politeness.
But Belle could only evade Rumpelstiltskin for so long. He was The Dark One after all. He eventually found a way to get answers.
Belle was fetching more straw for him, and putting it in a basket by his spinning wheel. As she stood up, she turned to see Rumpelstiltskin leaning against the white cabinet he had centered against one wall. His arms were crossed, and he did not look pleased. If anything, he looked confused, and disappointed.
"Rumpelstiltskin," she gasped, not realizing he had shown up. Of course, when she gasped his name, it reminded Belle of her dream when she was gasping his name in pleasure. She blushed, a considerable amount.
He tilted his head. "Not expecting me, dearie?" He stood up straight, and started walking towards her.
Belle backed away, gulping. "Um, no I wasn't. I didn't hear you come in."
"Where were you today?" he asked. "Don't tell me you're trying to avoid me." He stood directly in front of her now. Belle felt like she couldn't breathe. She also felt like her face was going to be permanently red for the rest of her life. She really needed to cool down, but having the man, that she just had a love making dream about, standing before her, did not help matters.
Belle shook her head. "Not at all, Rumpelstiltskin. I wouldn't do that." She lied through her teeth, and hated it.
He squinted at her, disbelieving. "You're lying," he finally determined.
"No, I'm not," she denied, quickly.
"Then why are you blushing, dearie?" He looked at her hands. She kept wrapping one around the other. "And fidgeting."
"I guess, I'm just having an off day," she tried to say teasingly, but it just came across like she was lying even more. Which she was doing, of course, but Rumpelstiltskin didn't need to know that.
He lifted a finger to stroke his chin. "That's not it," he murmured. He snapped two fingers together. "Maybe I can guess. Are you up for a game, little maid?" The endearing nickname only made Belle's face redder. He had called her 'little maid' in her dream. She guessed that she liked the term more than she realized.
"What kind of game?" Belle asked, hesitantly.
"The one where I guess what's bothering you," Rumpel responded.
Belle really didn't want him guessing correctly the reason for her avoidance, but she thought of the likelihood of him getting the reason right, and relaxed. He couldn't possibly know.
Or so she thought.
"All right," Belle agreed. "You can try."
Rumpel smirked, walking around her, thinking. "My mistress was being a bitch to you again." He giggled. "Is that correct?"
Belle laughed, despite herself. "No," she smiled, shaking her head. "That's not correct."
"Mmm," he said, still circling her. "Zelena's being a bitch to you then."
Belle hesitated, thinking of her dream. Rumpel had come to her to see if she was all right after her conversation with Zelena. This was hitting too close to home.
When she didn't answer right away, Rumpel laughed. "That's it, isn't it?" He kept walking around her, until he stood facing her. "Really, dearie? That's what's been bothering you?" He sounded disappointed. "Zelena can be a pain, but she's harmless."
Belle decided to play along. Spending time with him again renewed her comfort around Rumpel. She smiled, teasing. "I didn't say that Zelena was bothering me. You just assumed it."
He paused in his smugness. He'd thought he had her figured out. He tilted his head at her, waving his hands dramatically. "Well, then what could be bothering you?"
Belle pursed her lips. "Why do you care?"
That pulled him up short. "Ah," he paused again, thinking of a response. "Who ever said I did?"
Belle smiled. "Rumpel," she admonished. "You care, don't deny it. You already admitted you care for me."
He just looked at her. He then pointed a finger, saying, "Technicality."
Belle giggled. "You're not going to find out what's been bothering me." She crossed her arms triumphantly.
A wicked, challenging gleam entered his eyes. "It must be extremely embarrassing for you not to want to admit what the issue is."
Belle paused herself. Not having a comeback, she just shrugged, acting indifferent.
"What could be so embarrassing, I wonder," Rumpel mused, "that you wouldn't want to tell me?" He stared steadily at her for a few seconds. Belle tried to keep her composure, but she couldn't handle the weight of Rumpelstiltskin's stare much longer. "Was it a...dream perhaps? A dream about me?" He pretended to look flattered. Belle could tell Rumpel was teasing her. He wasn't being serious in his question.
But Belle couldn't deny the new wave of flushing on her face, when Rumpelstiltskin said 'dream.' And that new wave of face reddening pulled The Dark One up short.
He squinted at her, frowning. Finally, he giggled. "You had a dream about me?" He sounded ludicrous, not believing it. "What kind of dream was it, dearie?"
Belle didn't respond, ducking her head in embarrassment. Rumpelstiltskin waved a dismissive hand. "Don't be embarrassed, little maid. We all dream after all." He stepped directly in front of her, tilting her head up. "What did we do in your innocent, young fantasies?" He trailed a finger over her lips. "Kiss perhaps? Is that why you're embarrassed, dearie? You dreamed about kissing a monster?"
His finger remained on her lips, as Belle opened them to reply. She figured it was pointless lying to him now. "Not...just kissing," she said, softly.
His gaze darkened. His finger on her lips, twitched imperceptibly. "What did we do, little maid?"
Belle swallowed with difficulty. "Not telling," she whispered.
He smirked. "Not telling?" He leaned closer, so his face was hovering over her own, moving his finger to touch the side of her face. "Well, this has become quite the interesting predicament." His breath coasted over her lips. "Did the innocent, little Belle have a sex dream?" He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.
"No," she spoke softly. "We didn't have... sex." The word made her blush. She wasn't lying, at least...just omitting some of the truth.
His finger on the side of her face, trailed under her chin, lifting her head higher. "We didn't?" He sounded like he needed confirmation. He also sounded a little disappointed.
She pulled away, giggling at the confused frown on his face. "No, we didn't." She felt confident getting the upper hand on him.
He waved a hand dramatically again. "Well, then what did we do, dearie? You're going to make me lose all my hair in frustration, and I don't think I would look good bald."
Belle grinned, stepping away lightly, like she was dancing. "We didn't do anything, Rumpel. It was just a dream after all. And you said we all dream, so I guess it's not important." She giggled again at the shocked expression on his face, pointing a finger at him. "And I'm still not telling."
Belle quickly left the room before he could gain back upper hand. But she hummed and acted like she didn't have a care in the world just to get under Rumpelstiltskin's skin.
She liked having the last word.
Rumpelstiltskin was very frustrated.
Sexually, at least.
His little maid had practically confessed to dreaming about him, and he didn't know what to think. Belle hadn't gone into detail about what happened in her dream, but it was enough to embarrass her. And for Rumpelstiltskin, that was enough to assume that something wicked happened.
He'd never tried anything with Belle, not wanting to scare her. He would never have believed that his maid could feel anything for him, romantically or...sexually, but it seemed to him, that his little maid was keeping some secrets. He had wanted to kiss her when she confessed to her dream, but she had pulled away before he could. Well...he'd wanted to do more than kiss her. He wanted to deflower his innocent maid. He wanted to ravish her. The darkness inside him wanted to possess her and make Belle his.
But Rumpelstiltskin was starting to...care for Belle. A softness entered his chest every time he looked at her. That softness prevented him from corrupting her. He liked the fact the Belle wasn't Cora. Belle's lightness and goodness was a fresh reprise from the damaged relationship he had with Milah and the harsh, dark relationship he had with Cora.
Belle made him feel...happy. He hadn't felt happy in a long time. He'd felt pleasure, and humor, but not happiness. The feelings within him, confused Rumpelstiltskin. He knew he was beginning to care for Belle, but he didn't want to admit how far his feelings could go. He was surprised he even had feelings, especially warm and soft ones.
He snorted and rolled his eyes at his thoughts. He wasn't going to let a young girl make a mockery of him. He was The Dark One after all.
And The Dark One didn't do warm and fuzzy feelings.
He entered his chambers, really needing a bath, mostly so he could deal with his...affliction that was making his pants tighten. He really needed to ditch the leathers pants. It was becoming way to obvious when he was aroused.
He warmed up a tub of water with a snap of his fingers, and stripped himself of his clothes. He eased in, and closed his eyes for a moment. Before he could start fixing his affliction, someone entered his chambers. He opened his eyes, and saw Cora standing before his tub.
Naked.
A wicked gleam was in her eyes, her hands on her hips, challenging him.
Rumpelstiltskin sighed in annoyance. "What do you want, Cora?"
"What does it look like?" She dropped her eyes to indicate her naked body. "I want you to fuck me."
He snorted. "Always so classy." His eyes roamed over her body. He couldn't deny the beauty of Cora's figure. He did like fucking it...and he was painfully afflicted. He really wanted to fix it. At least Cora's body was better than his hand.
He leaned over the tub to grab Cora's waist, pulling her inside, so water surrounded her. He placed her on top of his lap, as he leaned back against the tub. He didn't bother getting her ready. One thing Cora was great at: she didn't take much handling. Though, it was also because Cora became easily bored with foreplay. She wanted everything fast and hard.
She gripped his shoulders, painfully so, enough to leave marks.
Rumpelstiltskin quickly pulled her onto his cock, groaning out in pleasure. "We're doing this my way," he growled into her neck, as she rolled her head back. "Fuck me, and I might let you come when I'm pleased." Cora nodded, moving her body up and down.
Rumpelstiltskin felt animalistic in his desire. He gripped Cora's hips tightly, his head against her neck. But as Cora continued moving over him, Rumpelstiltskin's mind started to roam.
He couldn't help it.
In his mind, Cora's light brown hair, turned a darker shade. Her body became smaller, and when she turned her eye's to his, they weren't brown, but blue.
He imagined his little maid on him, fucking him. It made his desire grow even more.
He could imagine the little gasps she would make, the blush covering her cheeks at losing control. She wouldn't want to. She would be too embarrassed to lose control, but Rumpelstiltskin would help her. He would bring her to that breaking point, and guide her into pleasure.
"That's it," he murmured when he felt Belle clench around him. Her hand's shaking, her eyes wide, unsure exactly what to do. "Do you feel me, little one? Come for me." He wrapped a hand around the back of her head, her dark, lush brown hair covering his fingers.
"Rumpel," Belle gasped, staring steadily in his eyes.
"Fuck, sweetheart," he growled out through clenched teeth. "Let go."
As Belle followed his command, Rumpelstiltskin felt his own release happening. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes. As he came, he called out a name.
And it wasn't Cora's.
He opened his eyes to see an extremely pissed off Cora. She smacked him on the chest, fuming.
"Belle?!" Cora screeched. "Seriously, Rumpelstiltskin?" She got off him, and stood up, reaching for a towel, as she got out of the tub. "You fuck me, and yell out her name?" She turned blazing eyes on him.
He remained sitting in the tub, hand's resting on the sides, calmly, like he didn't just call out a woman's name while he fucked another. "It made me aroused," he said, simply, shrugging his shoulders.
She scoffed. "Yes, because that makes it all right." She was clearly being sarcastic
Rumpelstiltskin frowned, lowering his eyebrows. He stood up, and stepped out of the tub, stalking closer to Cora to stand directly in front of her. "And trying to kill Belle is acceptable? Only because you're envious? I don't think you should be lecturing me on what's right."
Cora's lips thinned. "If that little girl wasn't here, we wouldn't be having any problems."
"Cora, we've always had problems. We met in your cell where you were awaiting your execution." He emitted a high pitched trill of laughter. "If that doesn't scream problems, then I don't know what does."
Cora laughed, condescendingly. "Don't you get it, Rumpelstiltskin? You're The Dark One. You kill and maim people all the time! Your 'innocent, little maid' that you seem to hold on a pedestal, will run away screaming for her life when she sees the real you." She pointed a finger into his chest, as he remained stoic. "You pretend to be Prince Charming here in your castle, where you can protect her from evil queens, like me, and rapists, that want to steal her virtue. But here's some news for you, Rumpelstiltskin: you're not Prince fucking Charming. She will never love you. Not like I can."
Rumpelstiltskin scoffed. "You love me?" He ripped her hand away from his chest, tossing it. "Cora, you only love yourself. Don't pretend to tell me otherwise." He turned to walk away, not bothering to wrap a towel around himself. He walked into his room, pulling on sleep wear.
Cora stormed in after him. "Why do you push me away? I'm the only one in this entire household that accepts the real you."
He whirled on her. "And what does that mean, dearie?"
She started listing of her fingers. "Your wife hates you, the man you've become. Regina can't stand you. The minute she laid eyes on you, I could tell she would always think of you as a monster. Zelena is delusional, building a fantasy world where you choose her, and become her knight in shining armor. And Belle...well, like I said, you will never show your 'precious maid' your true colors." She lifted one of his hands to rest over her heart. "I'm the one that accepts you. The darkness, the wicked desires, the pain. I know you."
Rumpelstiltskin stared at his mistress, still stoic. "Desperation doesn't become you, dearie." He ripped his hand away from the hold she had on it. "You know nothing."
Cora shook her head. "You say flippant comments to hide what you are, what you're feeling. Don't tell me I'm wrong."
"What if you are?" He stood before her, arms behind him, head raised high.
Cora scoffed, an ugly sound. "What, you think you don't want your power? Rumpel, you couldn't live without the darkness for a second. There's no way that you would give it up for anyone." She pointed towards the hallway, to Belle's room. "That girl, won't accept you with your power. If you want to be with her, you'd have to give it up. And you're too powerful a man, to be wasting time on a lowly peasant like her."
Rumpelstiltskin was grinding his teeth together. "She's not a peasant. She's a noble lady."
Cora waved a dismissive hand. Nobles were no better than her. They were the ones to shun her when she cheated on her husband. Belle being a fine lady of noble birth merely lowered her in Cora's estimation. "That doesn't matter-,"
Rumpelstiltskin cut her off. "And you're wrong about me, Cora. I could change if I wanted to."
She paused, placing her hands on her hips. "And do you want to change?" Rumpelstiltskin didn't respond. Cora smiled, wickedly. "I know you don't want to. Don't lie to me." Cora started to leave the room. She called over her shoulder, "Don't forget what I said." She left, leaving The Dark One alone.
Rumpelstiltskin was angry with Cora for what she said, but he was angry mostly because she was right. He could never give up his power, his magic. He loved it too much...and he didn't love Belle.
Sure, he was starting to care for her, but he knew he would always choose power. It was his crutch, his safety net. The one thing that gave him strength when he lost it, years ago.
He had been pretending with Belle. He kept her in a safe bubble, not exposing her to his dark side. He didn't want her to see it. She would be disappointed in him, and he couldn't stand the thought of that.
Belle's teasing grins, and happy nature brought out a light in him that he enjoyed. She blazed fiery bright in his world of darkness.
But his damn mistress was right. He would always choose power. He enjoyed darkness, more than he could ever enjoy light.
He would just have to wake up and remember that.
So...yeah. The Rumps was getting a little to...humpy, I guess? He totally called out Belle's name while going at it with Cora. Not awkward or anything.
And Belle having her first sex dream, makes me so proud.
Upcoming: Regina is on a mission, Milah and Rumpel's past is revealed a little bit more, and Cora hunts for a dagger.