Warning: This chapter contains smut in case you're not into that sort of thing.

XVII

Belle was practically hanging out the carriage window, her entire body humming with excitement, the black iron gates of the Dark Castle looming up before them as they crested the last hill on the mountain pass. One word seemed to reverberate through her mind … HOME! It didn't matter that it had taken them a day and a half in the stifling carriage to arrive - their time had been cut in half due to a fair bit of magic on Rumpelstiltskin's part – and she didn't want to miss the first glimpse of her home.

The many weeks she'd had to spend in Avonlea had just made her appreciate it all the more. Her father hadn't been her home, even though she was thrilled he'd welcomed her back with open arms. She'd craved the warm hearth of the Great Hall, the steady creak and hum of Rumpelstiltskin's spinning wheel and the cozy comfort of her library. The Dark Castle and her wily sorcerer were her home and a thrill of pleasure wove through her at the sight of the stone fortress.

She squeaked in surprise as her husband's wiry arms wrapped themselves around her waist and pulled her back against his chest, his lips instantly nuzzling the tattoo imprinted on her flesh below her left ear. "Happy, dear one?" he whispered, his hot breath fanning her ear and causing a delicious shiver to travel down her spine.

Belle relaxed back into his embrace and hummed in pleasure. "Indeed, I am, considering I never thought to see the Dark Castle again," she said, turning to meet his lips with hers.

"Belle, I —" he began, her fingertips to his lips cutting off what he'd wanted to say.

"No regrets, no recriminations, Rumpel. Everything worked out in the end." She replaced her fingertips with her lips for a heartfelt kiss. Belle sighed when his moodiness refused to dissipate and tucked her head beneath his chin, her hand resting lightly over his heart. "I hope you plan on compensating poor Teddy for bringing us home so quickly. You didn't stop to let the poor man even stretch his legs."

"Magic, my darling," he murmured, tapping the end of her nose with one long finger. "It was a simple spell to give our horses and Dove enough stamina to make it home with all haste. And yes, he will be compensated."

"It would have been fine had we stopped at one of the villages we passed through. There were several posting inns which looked nice where we could have spent the night," she whispered, pressing a light kiss to his throat. She'd made quick work of his cravat and jacket early into their journey, the excess garments impeding her exploration of her new husband.

His hands tightened on her waist, pulling her more firmly against his side as she nipped at his collarbone. "We were not spending our wedding night in a posting inn, Belle," he snorted, continuing their earlier argument.

"I suppose not," she grumbled, turning once again to look out the window as the carriage rumbled along the cobbled path of the courtyard. They'd had a pleasant journey with the aid of his magic and he'd made an excellent pillow when the excitement of the day had given way to fatigue. The basket Mrs. Potts had prepared for them with bread, cheese, cured meats and a lovely bottle of wine had sustained their hunger, but it would have been nice to stop for a while. She could only surmise her husband was as eager to reach their home as she was. She was just thankful there hadn't been a wagon full of luggage to slow them down, all her possessions from her childhood home forwarded to the Dark Castle with a flick of Rumpelstiltskin's wrist.

"Seriously, dearest, I need to brew a potion to rid you of the sickness which overwhelms you when we travel by magic. It will make travel quicker," he lamented, brushing a curl behind her ear.

"I like the carriage, Rumpel. The journey is half the fun," she teased with a suggestive wink as the carriage rolled to a stop. He'd just reached for her again when Dove let down the steps and opened the door, offering her a hand down from the conveyance.

Dove bowed low over her hand, grinning shyly. "Welcome home, milady."

Belle beamed at him. "Thank you, Teddy; and for seeing us home safely as well."

"As always, I am at your service," he said before climbing back into the driver's box and leading the carriage away to shelter it and see to the horses before returning to his own home.

"If only he were so malleable to my wishes," Rumpelstiltskin grumbled.

"He'll come around. I'm sure he's just disgruntled because you sent his favorite tea companion away. Now that I'm home …" she squealed delightedly as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the front steps of the Dark Castle.

"… you'll be having tea with me," he intoned firmly, carrying her across the foyer and into the Great Hall. He set her back on her feet on the rug before the hearth, but didn't release her, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, one hand plunging into her hair and scattering the remaining pins which hadn't been lost already in the carriage.

She smiled lazily up at him when he stepped back, a quick flick of his wrist producing a bottle of sparkling white wine and two crystal flutes. "Don't be jealous, darling. Dove has my friendship, but you are the only man who has ever held my heart," she whispered, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth before he moved away to pour the wine. She took the moment to wander through the hall, hiding her smile at the tender look in his amber eyes as they followed her.

Belle winced as she ran her fingertips over the long dining table, leaving a trail through the fine film of dust on its surface. It seemed unfair to be an all-powerful wizard whose magic had absolutely no influence over dust. She moved from one pedestal to the next, reacquainting herself with her home, remembering several instances when she'd almost broken a few and the scoldings she'd received from her then master. It even came as a surprise to her that he hadn't replaced the draperies after he'd banished her from the castle, that he hadn't retreated completely into the darkness. Even his spinning wheel had a fine layer of dust, which made her wonder how much use it had seen after her departure. She gave it a lazy turn, closing her eyes and reveling in the sound it made.

"Melancholy thoughts have no room on our agenda tonight, sweetheart," he said, moving to her side and pressing a champagne flute into her hand. His now free hand caressed her cheek, his gaze warm, tender. "Welcome home," he told her, reverence quite evident in his tone.

She wrapped her arm around his waist and pressed herself against his chest as she sipped at her champagne. "It's wonderful to be home … with you." She set her glass down on the edge of his spinning wheel and looped her arms about his neck. "But before we continue this momentous occasion," she purred, "I would like to take a bath to get some of the travel dust off of me. You don't mind, do you?"

He set his glass next to hers and once again swung her up into his arms, wishing he could magic them to their destination instead of having to walk. Not that he minded carrying his new bride down three flights of stairs, just hating that it would take time to do so when he was so ready to show her what he had planned for them. "Actually … I do," he said, his thin lips curving up into a smirk.

"Rumpel …" Her arms tightened about his shoulders. "I really want a bath, love."

"And a bath my lady wife shall have as soon as I show you your surprise," he teased, the torches in the wall brackets flaring to life as he set off down the corridor which led to the dungeons.

Belle gripped his shoulders tighter as he began to descend the stone staircase, burying her face in the crook of his neck and praying he would continue to be sure-footed. "When did you even have time to plan a surprise? You've been with me the entire time!" Her eyes narrowed on him as he stopped for a moment to stare down at her once they'd reached the dungeon level. "And I'm not going back into that cell, Rumpelstiltskin!"

He cast her a wounded look as he turned left down another passageway and started down another set of stairs. "I would never. Really, I think I might be rather offended you would think such a thing, dearest."

Belle snorted, arching a brow at him. "What a load of …"

"… now, Belle …"

"… horse hockey," she continued despite his warning. "Do we need to discuss your temper?"

"Perhaps later," he added with a wicked grin. "I mean we could always nip back up to the cell and …"

She giggled, pressing her lips to his. "Incorrigible." It warmed her heart he felt so free to tease her now. So much had changed between them in the last month it sometimes felt like a dream, and then she would pinch herself and realize it was — one which had come true. She wanted nothing more than to spend forever with the enigmatic man whose heart she'd won.

The light dimmed as they descended further into the bowels of the castle and she could hear the slow burble of water, knowing instantly where he was taking her. She was wary of his insistence to bring her here, remembering when she'd first come to the Dark Castle and using the hot springs beneath as her only recourse for a bath. Did he know — of course, he did. There was nothing that went on in the fortress he wasn't aware of. A fiery blush lit her face and she was thankful he wouldn't see it in the dark as it pressed in on them.

"Can you even see where you're going?" she asked, clinging tightly to his shoulders lest he drop her.

"I'll not drop you, my Belle, if that is what concerns you," he murmured, his lips grazing the shell of her ear and sending delightful tingles along her flesh. The stairs ended on the rough stone which covered the floor of the cavern but instead of hearing the sharp tap of his boot heels on the ancient stone, only the sound of the bubbling springs met her ears.

"We could have at least brought a lantern down with us, so I could see as well," she grumbled. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt her heavy traveling costume fall away and all she could feel against her skin was the soft brush of silk and chiffon. "Oh …"

Rumpelstiltskin ran his hands over her sides, so much better able to feel her through the thinness of the gown his magic had made for her, not wanting her to feel overwhelmed and vulnerable by leaving her naked and exposed. He clothed himself in his softest cotton sleeping attire, the breeches ending mid-calf and the tunic long sleeved and open at the throat, the ties hanging loosely and leaving it partially unlaced.

"I wouldn't want to deprive your other senses of your gift," he whispered against the crown of her hair as he turned her in his arms until her back was pressed firmly against his chest. "Tell me what you feel, dear one."

Belle hummed in pleasure as she wiggled her bare toes and felt the warm grass beneath her feet instead of the sharp stone. A light breeze wafted over her exposed arms, yet it was warm and dry instead of the chilled dampness which usually permeated the chamber. That same breeze rustled something which could only be leaves in her mind and the scents which met her nose were reminiscent of the forest - fresh air and pine and freshly turned dirt - instead of the dank smell of age and disuse. "Did we leave the castle without my knowledge? It smells and feels so much like we're in the forest, Rumpel. What did you do?" she asked, her tone filled with wonder.

"Just a simple glamour." With a grand flourish of his wrist, moonlight streamed through the boughs of the trees in a star-filled sky, illuminating the largest of the three springs and she could at last take in the sheer beauty surrounding them. "Something beautiful for you to enjoy in the darkness of our home. This is another space of your own, like your library, where you can rest and enjoy time to yourself."

"No," she breathed, turning again in his arms to slide her hands up his chest to cradle his face in her warm hands. "This will be ours to share."

A slow smile spread over his face as he basked in her joy. "You like it then?"

"It's wonderful," she gushed happily, grabbing his hand and tugging him with her to the water's edge, careful not to crush the forget-me-nots which dotted the grass. "This is the most amazing thing I think I've ever seen you do with your magic." She sighed in contentment as his hands spread over her belly and his lips brushed softly along the curve of her shoulder.

He chuckled softly as she relaxed back into his embrace, her hands fluttering nervously at her sides as she trembled slightly. "I can't decide if you look more like a pagan goddess or a water sprite," he murmured, his teeth nipping lightly at his mark beneath her left ear. "Or perhaps a sea nymph."

The low husky timbre of his voice combined with the light play of his fingers along her abdomen sent a delicious thrill tripping along her flesh, heat pooling in her lower belly and seeming to center between her thighs. His hands trailed lower, over her hips and to the outsides of her legs, catching in the gauzy chiffon of the knee length skirt of her thin gown, pulling it higher.

"May I?" he whispered, the breath catching in his throat as she nodded frantically, already caught under the spell of their shared desires.

"Yes," she breathed, the sound nearly lost in the cavernous room amidst the breeze and burble of the spring. Steam rose from it, surrounding them in its warmth and comfort, causing a slight sheen of perspiration to form on her skin, curling tendrils which escaped her upswept hair sticking to her brow and neck. She was his goddess, his nymph, his sprite, but more importantly … his wife. For so long, she'd wanted him to touch her this way, to claim her, possess her, love her and never in her wildest dreams could she have thought it to be more perfect than this moment.

At her acquiescence, he pulled the gown over her head and tossed it aside, smiling as a rosy blush of maidenly shyness rose in her chest to spread upward until it settled into the apples of her cheeks. Her arms lifted to shield herself from his view as she ducked her head. "Go, dearest, into the water with you," he said, giving her a gentle push.

Belle stepped forward and lowered herself into the pool, wading into the center where the water was deeper until she could hide herself somewhat from his view. It was maddening to feel so nervous with him and she took a deep calming breath before turning to face him. She tilted her head to the side and arched a brow when she noticed he was still standing where she'd left him. "Aren't you coming?" she asked, a slow smile curving her lips.

His cock twitched at the seductive lilt of her voice, her siren's song beckoning him to her, yet he was still hesitant to shuck his armor before her searching gaze. It wasn't as if she hadn't seen him without a shirt before, but the circumstances had been entirely different. After the wolf attack, she'd been more concerned with his wounds than his actual state of undress and then the day of their wedding after his bath, he'd still been partially clothed. He'd never had leave to do … this.

"Belle," he breathed, a raspy choking sound. "Are you sure?"

She nodded slowly, the tip of her pink tongue darting out to wet her lips. "I'm sure, my husband," she murmured silkily, her eyes roaming his lithe form as she waited for him to disrobe, anxious to see him bared to her gaze. "Come on, darling, off with it. It clearly states in our betrothal contract that I get to have you," she teased, trying to soothe his fears that she wouldn't want him.

He grew harder beneath her steady gaze, her eyes blown wide with desire and he found himself breathless under the truth in her stare. She truly wanted him, scales, claws and all and he was powerless to resist her. He pulled the shirt over his head and dropped it in the soft grass at his feet, arching a brow and challenging her to look away. When she didn't, he screwed up his courage and reached for the ties of his cotton trousers.

Belle could feel her face flame as he loosened the ties and let his last remaining garment slip down over his hips to pool around his ankles, but she couldn't bring herself to look away, her eyes roaming over his wiry frame from his head to his toes. Her eyes glowed with appreciation as they settled on his engorged member lying stiff and proud against his lower belly. She met his gaze once more and bit her lip as she read the uncertainty there, his doubts of whether or not she would still want to go through with this now that she'd seen the beast without his armor. She simply held her arms wide to him, standing straight and tall out of the pool where the water only lapped about her middle. If he was brave enough to stand before her naked and exposed, she could do no less for him.

He needed no further encouragement, entering the pool and gathering her up in his arms until her feet no longer touched the stone bottom of the spring. He kissed her gently, reverently, the beast locked away in his cage, leaving only her husband, the man she loved, to worship her body as he did her heart and soul. Her hands moved along his upper arms as she lost herself to the heat and passion, finally snaking into his hair to coil through the strands. It was everything he'd imagined from the first time he'd spied on her at her bath in the spring, so very long ago.

The sorcerer drew away, taking in the flush on her cheeks, her eyes heavy-lidded in her desire and her petal soft lips parted and swollen from the onslaught of his mouth. "I dreamed of you here, my Belle. Here in this pool, ripe for pleasure," he whispered, his lips following along the curve of her jaw.

A delicious shiver wracked her body, causing her to arch into him, her breasts pressing into his chest. She reveled in the contact just as much as from his wicked words. "You watched m-me?" she asked, trying to focus her attention away from what he was making her feel.

He nuzzled against the sensitive flesh where her shoulder met her neck, nipping gently with his sharp teeth. "Mmhm," he acknowledged. "I couldn't find my little dearie, was afraid she'd gotten herself in a bit of trouble." He left hot open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone. "Imagine my surprise when I found you down here, gloriously naked, the water droplets shining against your perfect skin like diamonds in the light of your lantern."

His large hands cupped her breasts, the rough pads of his thumbs lightly ghosting over the peaks as his lips returned to hers, muffling the keening cry which seemed to be ripped from her throat. He pressed her against the smooth stone side of the pool and began again, leaving not an inch of exposed skin free of his questing lips and tongue. "I wanted you so badly, Belle," he whispered, drawing her nipple deep into his mouth and laving it with his tongue, a low growl rumbling in his chest as her nails raked over his green-gold skin.

He wanted so badly to tell her just what he'd wanted to do to her, but words failed him as his hands trailed lower over the smooth curve of her hips and the inside of her slender thighs before covering the downy nest of curls resting between her legs. "I never thought you would want me like this."

"S-Since the wolves … when I thought I was going to d-die and you were all I could th-think about … I —" she cried out as he parted her folds, his long spinner's fingers dipping into her heat, his thumb finding and rubbing the hot bud of flesh protruding wantonly above her entrance. He bucked against her hip, needing to relieve some of the ache in his straining cock

It wasn't enough. He'd waited too long to have her fully, months of yearning to be buried in her sweet flesh and now he needed more. Even the churning swirling water enveloping them was not enough to relieve the ache in his loins. Her short blunt nails scratched against his flat nipples and he bit into the mark beneath her ear, suckling and drawing her flesh into his mouth until she was left gasping and panting and writhing frantically in his arms, all the while pressing into the hand between her legs.

"Open your eyes, love," he commanded, feeling the fluttering of her inner walls against his fingers as he thrust them faster inside her, knowing she was close. "I want you to look at me when you come. I need to see you find your pleasure." His free hand delved into her hair, sending the pins scattering against the stone ledge with a soft pinging sound. He pressed his thumb against her clit and she came apart, her eyes wide, only a tiny ring of blue showing around her blown pupils. He groaned and rubbed himself against her as he slowed the movements of his hand, bringing her down slowly, prolonging her pleasure. "So beautiful, my precious wife," he murmured, pressing his face into the crook of her neck as he fought for control.

"Love you," she panted, willing her heart to slow as she trailed her hands over the flat plane of his stomach, enjoying the feeling of his muscles contracting beneath her fingertips. She pressed a kiss to his temple, his face still buried against her throat, as she boldly caressed lower over his hip until she could wrap her hand around his burgeoning length. He hissed, catching her wrist in his hand.

"Belle …" he gasped as she ran her thumb lightly over the blunt head of his cock, his gasp turning into a deep moan as he thrust up into her hand. "Belle, please."

Belle watched his pained expression with avid curiosity, never having seen such conflicting emotions cross his face … pain, pleasure, wonder over her boldness … it was all there written clearly for her to see. "I'm yours," she declared, her tongue running sinuously over his lower lip as she sucked it into her mouth and nipped gently with her teeth. "I need you, Rumpel. I'm burning to have you inside me, to fill me up. Don't make us wait any longer."

The arm he had about Belle crushed her to his chest as his other hand moved to cover the one she had wrapped around his straining length, shifting his body to rest between her quivering thighs. She let go as he guided himself to the entrance of her body, moaning as she felt him press into her. "Are you certain, my Belle? I don't want to hurt you." He knew it was inevitable, but it didn't sit well with him that he was going to cause her even the slightest discomfort.

The look she gave him was incredulous at best. "Seriously, you have to ask? Yes!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms about his shoulders and relaxing into his embrace.

He eased forward until the head slipped past her tight ring of muscles, a rumbling growl issuing from his throat as he felt her tight heat envelop him, his brow knit into a worried frown of concentration. "Okay?"

Her inner walls clenched around him, unused to the intrusion, shifting and adjusting to make room for him. "More," she gasped, burying her face in the crook of his neck, rubbing her face over his sensitized flesh like a cat seeking attention. He lifted her legs to wrap around his waist, and braced her against the stone wall of the spring, easing himself further into her until he came up against the barrier of her innocence and stopped. She was so hot and tight and perfect as she clenched around him and he prayed to every deity he'd ever heard of to keep himself from spilling into her before he even had a chance to bury himself fully in her heat.

She took the matter out of his hands, biting into his shoulder, the pleasure so intense, his hips bucked forward involuntarily, his cock tearing through her maidenhead, his groin flush with hers. She stiffened in his arms, a lone tear escaping the corner of her eye to trail over her ashen cheek. He remained still, gnashing his teeth against the pleasure of being buried in his wife … his wife. Somehow, the fact that she was his so completely made it all the more special to be sharing this with her.

He stroked his fingers through her hair and rubbed soothing circles into her back and over her sides until she once more relaxed, drawing in a deep calming breath as she tentatively wiggled her hips. "Alright, darling?" he crooned, kissing her gently, praying she wouldn't ask him to stop now … not now when he'd found the closest he'd ever come to complete bliss. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"It's okay … I'm alright," she gasped, smiling reassuringly as she cupped his face in her hands and claimed his lips, thrusting her tongue between his parted lips to duel sensuously with his own, exploring the inner recesses of his mouth at her leisure as he withdrew from her almost completely before snapping his hips forward sharply. She gasped, the feeling of him filling her so completely nearly overwhelming. The intense heat that his touch evoked coiling through her veins and pooling in her belly, the pressure she'd come to associate with her pleasure building between her thighs with each thrust. "More, Rum … harder," she cried, her inner walls clasping him tightly, fluttering at the onset of her climax.

The sounds he made against her throat escalated as he did as she bid, growling, moaning, feral in their intensity, giving claim to the beast within him. His arm wrapped around her hips in a bruising embrace as he held her more tightly, his cock swelling and engorging as she shattered around him, his name tumbling from her lips, her sex spasming and pulling him into the abyss of pleasure with her, milking him dry as he spilled himself within her. They rode out their high together until they lay limp and panting against the side of the spring, Belle's arms and legs locked about her husband.

He didn't know if he blacked out from the intensity of the experience, but he came back to awareness to find Belle carding her fingers through his limp curls and her lips pressing light kisses to his damp brow. "Hey," she purred, "are you alright?"

"I should be asking you that question," he huffed, a silly grin on his thin lips as he pressed his brow to hers. "Was it … did I hurt you?" he asked, his happiness slipping a notch at the thought.

Her petal soft mouth curved up into a smile of contentment. "It was perfect, Rumpel," she murmured, sighing sleepily as she tucked her head beneath his chin. He grumbled incoherently as he softened enough to slip from her body, but he continued to hold her just as tightly, unwilling to give up the closeness they shared.

With a flick of his wrist, he transported them upstairs to their bed, hoping the magic wouldn't make Belle suffer through a bout of nausea. But when he looked down into her face, she was already asleep. He nuzzled her ear with his nose and whispered, "I love you."

He reached down and pulled the duvet over them, tucking the edges around his wife's body so she wouldn't catch a chill. With a thought, a fire sprang to life in the hearth, sending out its comforting warmth as it spread throughout the room. The Dark One curled his body around his wife and sighed, rumbling happily as he felt the pull of slumber creep along the edge of his subconscious. He didn't know what he'd ever done to warrant the treasure in his arms, but he was especially thankful that someone, somewhere, thought he deserved a bit of happiness.

A/N: Well that was just a little slice of hell to write. Please tell me you enjoyed it. Next chapter is going to be sooooo much fun. We're going to see Regina's reaction to their nuptials and find out how she's enjoying having Hope's sisters as her guests. Fun! Fun! Fun! Also, the dark curse will be cast, and an unexpected favor owed. We're coming to the end, my dearies … two chapters left. I really hope you've enjoyed it so far. Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews and support throughout this fic. Xoxox