Chapter 3

Dinner had been served to the Beast in his bed, with Belle sitting by his side. She had helped him with his spoon after much protesting but he had to admit he enjoyed the attention she'd been giving him. He had fallen asleep sometime after, listening as she read him stories, the soft whispering of her voice, sending tingles down his spine. It relaxed him and lulled him to sleep.

Now she sat with a book in her hands, sitting on a large plush chair beside the bed, falling asleep herself. She'd been there for hours, but for the past three days, this had been the routine. She would stay there by his side by candlelight, reading until she couldn't hold her eyes opened any longer and fall asleep by his side, waiting for him to wake up. The castle had long since been quiet, and she guessed it was some time after midnight, since the Beast had been asleep for quite a while, but she was used to sleeping here and no one bothered her about it anymore. She was too stubborn to change rooms. She hadn't even changed into her nightgown, the long sleeves of her velvet green dress warm and soft like a blanket, cradling her as she slowly nodded off.

The large book in her lap was another one of her fairytales. It was the same she used to read before she'd become a part of one herself. It was a leather book with a painted cover, the pages frayed on the edges and as she relaxed into the chair, it slipped down over her knees and to the floor with a loud crack as she coiled up into a little ball, her chin tucked into the cushioned back.

The Beast jolted away, the sound of the book having ripped him from his peaceful slumber. He looked over at her little body, hunched over on the seat beside him, the book on the floor and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Belle?" he whispered more softly than normal, his voice smooth and even. She turned with a little whimper, tucking deeper into her position. It wasn't until he saw her retreating from the cold that he noticed the fireplace had burned down to cinders. He couldn't let her sit there in the cold, but all the same he couldn't wake her. He frowned softly, sitting up in the bed and getting up carefully, hoping not to hurt himself again. He moved over to the fireplace and began preparing the fire. He would glance back at her every now and then, checking to see if he had woken her, but she remained there sleeping peacefully. Once he was finished he placed the grate back in front of the flames and came back to her side. He felt almost guilty letting her sleep in the chair. He moved to her side then looked at the bed, then back to her. In an instant, he'd effortlessly picked her up in his arms without hurting his back and placed her down in his bed. He sat down beside her and slipped his hand down her leg, taking off one tiny shoe at the time. The small garment fit into his palm as if it were meant for a child. He wondered if this was truly how large he was or if she had exceptionally small feet. It had been quite some time since he'd seen a foot, female or otherwise. He had nothing to compare her to. But as true as that was, he remarked how sweet and tiny she was, how small compared to him and it saddened him as well as made him smile and love her even more.

He pulled the thick heavy blankets up over her before staring up at her face again. Perhaps he could go to the west wing and allow her a good night's rest. He stood carefully and picked up her book, returning it to her chair before blowing out the candle and heading towards the door. He slowly turned the knob and before he stepped out into the dark hall, he heard a soft groan from behind him. He turned to see her sitting up on her side, one arm extended to hold her up as she rubbed her eye with the other.

"Where are you going?" she whispered groggily, staring at him with her eyes half opened in the darkness.

"I-I thought I'd let you sleep in here. I would find somewhere else to sleep," he said quietly, still standing in the door.

"I've slept with you in here the past few nights. It's alright," she encouraged, laying back down again, "Come on. They all know I've been sleeping in here. They don't have to know where. Besides, I'm cold." She smiled softly, rolling onto her back and stretching out as she glanced down at her dress. She chuckled softly as she got up out of the bed and went to the corner where she had her clothes behind a screen for dressing. She pointed to the bed again as she stood there bewildered by her request. "Go on," she insisted, stepping behind the screen to change into her nightgown.

He stood there for a moment, staring before considering his options. In a normal relationship, it would be most strange for a pair to sleep together before marriage, but given the circumstances, he doubted such intimacies would ever happen, so perhaps it was alright. He doubted no matter how much she ever loved him, that she would want him in that way. So at least on for now, it was innocent. She said herself that she had slept there before. Perhaps the damage was already done. He finally argued with himself enough and agreed, closing the door behind him and locking it just in case someone were to come in and see them that way, or see her in her night dress. It was the least he could do to shield her from embarrassment.

"Are you sure?" he asked, slowly making his way to the bed and pulling himself under the blankets, turning away to face the window. Maybe it was the gentlemanly thing to do not to look as she made her way to the bed. He would be able to see her in the firelight, her animal-like eyes helping him find the shapes of her curves more easily. He shook his head, concentrating on the little snowflakes outside that fell on the window.

"I offered, didn't I?" she said softly, stepping out from behind the screen and moving across the room and shedding a long robe. Then in her nightgown she slid into the blankets behind him, her body small and bundled behind him. He lay there frozen, too shy to roll over until she placed her hand on his back. "Would you like to go to sleep or talk for a little while?" she asked sweetly, carefully moving her delicate fingers over his bandages.

Against his better judgment he rolled over, glancing down at her as he lay on his side facing her. He attempted not to show how it affected him, seeing her there with the blankets pulled up over her shoulder, just the top of her chest showing, the fabric teasing that skin was visible below. Her hands moved out and she came closer to him, pressing her frame against his chest. She smiled gently, indulging in the feeling of the warm sensuous fur against her chest and cheeks. Inside he was fall apart. How could this be happening to him? How was it that all his dreams were coming true even though he retained this body? He sighed contently, slipping his large arm under her neck to support her, the other paw coming to her cheek, carefully slipping through her hair again. They were silent for a while, both laying there were their eyes closed, under the same soft blanket, feeling so in love in this strange circumstance.

"Thank you," she whispered softly against his fur, sending shivers down all the way to his tail.

"Why would you have to thank me?" he mumbled back, gently grazing down her neck with her claw-like nails.

"You stayed," she answered. And suddenly he felt everything at once, the feeling he'd never thought he'd feel, finally coming to him. He was finally allowing himself to accept it.

"I love you, Belle," he confessed, finally breathing the words he had wanted to for so long. Perhaps he was partly to blame for the amount of time it took for her to break the spell. If she had known he was capable of love, maybe she would have been more willing to love in return or the spell being unbroken was his fault entire. He suddenly realized it must be true. He had never allowed himself to fully love her. She had done her part. It wasn't until now that he could tell her too. This was the first demand of the curse. He was unable to love another, no matter how much she loved him in return. He was too hideous to accept the truth until now.

"I love you too," she said, glancing up at him with a little smile, "I just have one question."

"Anything."

"Mrs. Potts told me, you had a name once, but she wouldn't tell me. She said you made everyone swear to never say it again. Why?" she whispered, her fingers tickling soft patterns against the fur on his chest. He thought for a moment, the memory almost as hard to recall as a dream from years past.

"The same reason it took me so long to say those words. It hurt too much to be reminded that I was a man, I suppose," he said softly, letting out a gentle sigh, "It's silly now." She always had a way of making him feel so sheepish and embarrassed. It was completely unlike him, even when he was a human before.

"It is silly. You're still a man," she said tenderly, shifting herself up to come closer to him, wrapping her arm around him to bring him into a hug, her arm reaching as far around him as she could, her chin and cheek buried into his neck and her chest against his. He responded warmly, slipping both arms around her and holding her firmly but with a strange gentleness, his cheek against the top of her hair. He breathed her in, her hair smelling of peaches and tea- pages of books. "Please…I want to know your name." Her voice was so calm, like an echo, calming his soul, making him feel more like a man than he'd ever felt before.

"Adam," he answered, the name tasting strange on his tongue. She pulled away slowly, staring into his bright blue eyes. Adam was such a perfect name for the man she'd seen in his portrait. Adam was such a perfect name for this creature before her. It seemed so unfair she'd referred to him as 'Beast' for so long. He was so far from that. He was no beast at all now.

"I love you, Adam," she said softly, the words melting into him and causing his eyes to well. She was the most wonderful creature he'd ever seen, and here she was saying his name, speaking of love. She saw him as a man. She stared up at him, her big brown eyes locking with his and all at once be felt some strange release. He let his lips come to hers, pressing gently, letting go of every worry that she might scream or push him away. And she didn't. The moment he kissed her, she sighed happily, glad to finally feel his lips again, after all this time, pretending she hadn't kissed him. She wanted him to decide. Beast pulled away carefully, looking down into her eyes with a sheepish grin.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, seeming more amused than sincere.

"It's alright. I was wondering when I'd get to kiss you again," she cooed, cupping his cheek in her hand.

"Again?" he questioned, surprise knitted all over his face. She giggled in response.

"After you were hurt, after I said I loved you, I kissed you. I was too embarrassed to say so," she admitted, biting her lip softly. He stared down at her in surprise. All these things had been left unsaid, but somehow they always managed to come out. She'd loved him truly all this time.

"You kissed a beast?" he whispered, still seeming in disbelief.

"Yes," she mused sweetly, "and I'll kiss him as many times as he'd ever wish."

The Beast needed no more coddling or convincing. This was enough. He pulled her close again, this kiss more deep and passionate. Somehow her mouth was small enough to fit just between his tusks as if she were made to kiss his monstrous lips. And when she parted her lips, he followed, allowed her sweet tongue to graze along his. Her hands were on either side of his cheeks, pulling him close and daring him to hold her too. His body responded and he felt himself eagerly wrapping his arms around her, one hand slipping up her spine to cradle the back of her head, fingers lacing through her hair. It was slow and heavy, the two of them indulging in each other's tastes. His fur brushed against her cheeks and lips at times, causing her to giggle but she'd always return, hoping to assure him that her laughs were from pleasure and not at anything he had done wrong. He let his left arm wrapped all the way around her, holding her carefully and securely. His paw came to rest on her left hip from behind, nearly wrapping all the way around her waist. The sensation was so sweet that Belle began to feel aroused by his touch. It had started off so simple. It was only a kiss. But now she felt herself filled with a foreign desire that she was unprepared to feel. She let out a soft groan as she pulled away, looking up into his eyes again. He kept them closed for a moment before biting his lip softly and letting them slowly open, the pools of blue hazy and calm as if waking from a peaceful slumber.

"See," she whispered, "You're a man to me. I could never wish for anything other than you." Her voice was a calm breath, and she came to rest her head on his shoulder. He was feeling guilty but pleased. Through all of this, he'd promised himself to be the gentleman, never taking advantage of her, but it seemed they both were unaware how much they would affect each other. He could smell something unusual as she pressed her body to his. It was something he'd never smelt before but for some strange reason, his body knew what it was and he was helpless to react. She was feeling the same way he was. She was feeling heated. He could smell the sweet pheromones lingering on her neck and between her legs. The Beast would have blushed if he were a man. He could feel the sudden desire building inside him as his animalistic urges took his mind to dark fantasies filled with her curves beneath the sheets and the wetness between her legs. He shook himself and pulled her off of him, lying on his back as to hide the inevitable tightening bulge he could feel against his leg. He wouldn't allow his urges to get the better of him, or embarrass either of them. No matter how much her body reacted to him and no matter how much she loved him, he was still something other than a man. The thought of her even allowing him to take her was so unrealistic to him that he wouldn't dare bring it up, or let her see his arousal.

She flopped over as he pushed her back, frowning gently.

"What's wrong?" she murmured in a hurt tone, coming close to him again.

"I'm sorry, I'm just….tired," he said finally, looking over at her and offering his arm for her. She shifted close to his left side cuddling up to his warm chest and closing her eyes contently.

"Alright. I am too," she mused softly, placing a gentle kiss against his chest. She wiggled gently, rubbing her legs together before wrapping one around his leg, nearly causing him to jump. If her leg had moved just a bit closer to his right leg her knee would have brushed his arousal. He gulped heavily, attempted to calm himself out of the sensation as he had tried to with his temper and soon the powerful heat had faded and given way to the urge for sleep.

She leaned up, playfully grabbing his horn and steering his lips to hers before flopping back down at his side.

"I love you," she murmured, nuzzling into his fur.

"I love you too," he answered, carefully smoothing back her hair. He had to be more careful from now on. It embarrassed him to think of her finding out about his excitement. Kisses were one thing but intimacy was something completely different. He'd never been with a woman before he turned into a beast and he'd assumed she'd never been with anyone else. He knew he was very different than other men and the thought of asking her to accept this frightened him. He had already basically forced her to accept so many other things about how her life would be if it were with him and she'd chosen to stay. Perhaps a life of innocence would be the kindest thing he could give in return. He was ashamed of himself. He lay there staring at the window, feeling her softness against him, wishing for nothing more than to have her this way beside him in his sleep for all time, but he would never be able to give her this. He could kiss her; he could marry her if she wished for it, but make love to her? It wasn't right. He could feel himself fully calm as he glanced down at her again, nodding in and out of sleep. He'd make it easy on her. He'd do his best to keep her love, but make sure she never had to make the choice to love him in that way too no matter how deeply either of them desired it. He promised himself.