There was a soft tickle at his nose, he tried to ignore it and fall back to sleep to continue the sexual dream he was having about his son's beautiful roommate, but there it was again, something lightly brushing his nose. He shifts his head but to no avail, the tickle was still there. Finally he had enough of it, how was he able to focus on his dream when this tickle pestered him so much? Dream Belle would just have to wait until he could find out where this infuriating tickle was coming from.
His eyes fluttered open, and he finds out that the culprit is soft auburn hair that smelled like a garden of lilacs in a summer breeze. It didn't quite dawn on him who the hair belonged to yet, so he puts his face into the locks and deeply inhales. Each of his senses woke up one by one. When he regained his feeling, something wasn't right, he was pressed close against her body, spooning with her while she slept.
He gasped quietly, moving his hips away from her backside, he could even see his erection protruding in his pajama bottoms. Belle begins to move backward, scooting her backside closer to him like she was trying to resume the position they were lying in. But he was hard as a rock, and he didn't want to impose on her while she slept. He also didn't want to wake her up, and if he didn't do something quickly she would. Maybe a pillow, no that would never work, and besides if he moved too much he would risk waking her up.
Her backside continued to wiggle to find him again, she must have been comfortable with him lying so close to her. He finally gives in and returned back to the position they were in. Belle then reaches back, grabs him by the arm and wraps it around her torso. Gold was speechless. I guess the mystery had been solved, Belle was a cuddler. And this was an extreme case, they were basically spooning while he held her. She grinds against him softly in her sleep, making him even harder. Last night he had no doubts he would wake up with a boner, but he had no idea that he would wake up to her spooning against his morning wood.
After a few more moments of them lying in this position, Gold hears her yawn and then she begins to stretch. Gold figured this was a good a time as any to go to the bathroom and relieve himself in more ways than one.
"Where are you going?" She asked rubbing her eyes, half dazed from sleep.
"To the bathroom to start getting ready."
"Getting ready? Its only 7 in the morning. Come back to bed."
He had no clue to what was going on and even considers that maybe he was still dreaming. But he got back in bed anyways and Belle instantly turns over to resume the spooning position they were in. His erection was still prominent, and there was no way she wouldn't be able to feel it. But she didn't say anything, she just tucked herself closer into his warmth. This time without the help of Belle, he places his arm around her to hold her, she seemed to like it before so he assumed it was okay.
"I believe you promised me a story." She told him.
"Did I?"
"Mhm." She said before turning over to face him, "Tell me some embarrassing stories about Neal."
Gold chuckled nervously. "Well there are so many, hard to keep track of them all."
"Oh come on, start with your favorite one."
"Okay, when Neal was 4, I took him toboggan down the steepest snowy hill in Storybrooke. Neal was trying to act tough in front of the older kids at the hill that he decided he was brave enough to go sledding down the hill alone and without me.
"Ooo, Let me guess he chickened out once he got to the top of the hill," Belle said trying to guess the ending.
"No, not quite. He did make it to the top without chickening out and he even took off on his toboggan perfectly, but halfway down the hill somehow his sled came from under him and the rough snow managed to pull his pants down."
Belle snickered."So he was sliding down the hill bare bottom?"
"Yes, screaming and crying. When Neal finally made it to the end of the hill, I rushed over to find him holding his backside in pain, jumping up and down crying: it burns papa, it burns, I thought snow was supposed to be cold, not burn."
The both of them laughed, Gold was even in tears from reliving his favorite embarrassing moment of Neal.
"His little bum was red as fire," Gold continues through his laughter. "he couldn't sit down for hours until I rubbed it down with burn cream."
The image of a little Neal strolled across his father's knee while Michael applied ointment to his behind sent Belle into a fit of giggles. She would have given up her whole book collection just to have seen that.
Gold didn't stop with the embarrassing stories about his son, he told Belle at least 3 more. They were having so much fun together and the time seemed to fly. Before either of them knew it, it was passed 8 in the morning, which meant they were going to be late for breakfast. Gold really didn't mind however, he enjoyed lying in bed with his pretend wife while they talked about fond memories of his son. He began to realize that his make-believe life was a hell of a lot better than his real one.
They quickly groomed and got dressed. While Gold was in the bathroom, Belle stepped outside onto the balcony to take in the scenic view of the vineyard. She notices there were tables and chairs, like a sitting area, that seemed like a perfect private setting to share with Michael.
He reemerges from the bathroom in his stylish waistcoat, even completed with gold sleeve garters. He walked using his cane to the closet and pulled his suit-jacket off the hanger and puts it on. Just watching him put his jacket on sent Belle into a trance, his smoothness was hypnotizing to her and the way he always presented himself in such a formal way was so alluring for Belle
"Shall we?" he asked holding out his arm for her to take.
She nods with a smile and intertwines her arm with his and he led them out of their room to the banquet hall downstairs.
The breakfast was presented buffet style. Not only was Gold looking to impress the Nolans' for his son, he also wanted to impress Belle, he wanted to be that gentleman she'd mentioned in their false first date.
"May I fix your plate?" he asked, picking up an extra plate that would serve as hers. "I can't have my wife doing all the work, what would you like?"
Belle smiled, he was really sweet. "Just some fruit and maybe a bagel, I'm really not that hungry."
They found a nice secluded place for them to sit and to continue to get to know each other while they enjoy their breakfast. But unfortunately, their private talks didn't last very long before being interrupted by The Nolan's coming to join them.
Neal walked into the dining hall with Emma, and Belle noticed he was getting the star treatment from all his friends and family. Belle considered this to be the perfect opportunity to deal her fake son some well deserve payback.
"Oh honey look it's Neal." She said to her husband before standing up to get Neal's attention and call him over.
"Mornin' mom, dad." He said taking a seat next to Belle. "How did you sleep?"
"Very well. You didn't tell me how beautiful the room was. Your father and I almost didn't want to get out of bed this morning."
"Oh-...O- Okay." Neal stammered uncomfortably, making his father snicker behind his hand. "I'm glad you loved the room mom. When Emma showed it to me I knew you would.
Neal was obviously embarrassed, but Belle was ready to amp it up just a tad more. Cue the overly-dramatic mother. "Oh Neal I can't believe this is really happening to you, my only son is getting married." She said pulling Neal in for a hug.
"Belle what are-" Neal whispered.
"It seems like just yesterday I was changing your diapers, getting you dress for school-"
"Don't forget reminding him to take his medicine for his irritable bowel syndrome." Gold said adding to Neal's embarrassment.
"How could I forget, he would be gassy all day if it weren't for me," Belle said.
Neal forced a fake chuckle. "Well I think I hear Emma calling me."
It was becoming hard for Gold to keep a straight face, he was almost in tears at his son trying to find an excuse to get away from Belle and his teasing.
"Bye sweetheart, remember twice a day with food," Belle shouted, making Neal pick up his pace to get away from her and his father.
Belle sat down with the feeling of a job well done. Even Gold gave her a congratulatory nod of approval for successfully embarrassing his son. That made her smile and not to mention, Belle enjoyed portraying Neal's mother and the perks that came with it. Belle was having such a good time with Michael and she even hoped that they would keep in touch after the wedding was over.
The rest of the morning was spent mingling with Emma's relatives. Mary Margaret was captivated by Belle and Gold's charming relationship. What Emma's parents saw in them were two people deeply in love, and have been that way for a long time. They seemed like the perfect couple, but little did The Nolans' know, Belle and Gold were practically strangers up until this morning.
"I must say, you two are a beautiful couple." Mary Margaret complimented.
"Why thank you," Belle said before placing her hand on top of Gold's.
"It certainly is easy when you have such a wonderful wife," He remarked looking at her hand on top of his, then turning to Mr. Nolan. "I'm sure you can agree David."
"Yes wholeheartedly." He said before giving his wife a kiss. "You are amazing my wife." He tells Mrs. Nolan and they shared another trite kiss in front of Belle and Gold.
Gold blushed and looked away uncomfortably at their public display of affection. Belle saw his face become red and it made her blush as well. Who knows, maybe she would get a chance to kiss her pretend husband too. They were married after all and married couples kissed, quite often she'd imagined. But Belle didn't want to force it, she wanted it to happen naturally as if they were dating and not already married.
"I noticed you have a vineyard," Belle said regaining the attention of the love birds.
"Oh yes it belonged to my father," Mrs. Nolan explained. "but you're more than welcome to look and sample the grapes."
Belle turns to Michael. "What do you say dear, I really wouldn't mind seeing the vineyard."
"Whatever my beloved wife wants, she'll get." He said placing a soft kiss on her hand.
"Yes by all means, go out into the vineyard, the weather is perfect for it." Mr. Nolan commented.
Belle stood up and took her husband lovingly by the hand and they left the banquet hall together. They walked outside to the beautiful garden, each row of the vineyard was filled with different color grapes. One row of red, another of green, and lastly purple, the rows continued the repetition for miles across the acres of land.
"Wow this is so breathtaking." she said admiring the beauty of the vineyard.
"Indeed it is." He agreed but Gold wasn't just talking about the grapes.
"How about we try some."
She plucked a small cluster of grapes delicately to not disturb the other bunches from their cultivation. Gold held out his hand waiting for her to place some in his palm, but she doesn't. She instead feeds him a grape before placing one in her mouth too. Gold certainly wasn't expecting to be fed grapes by the goddess pretending to be his wife, but he felt so comfortable with her and it only added to the list of things that he liked about Belle.
"Mmmm." they hummed together at the flavor explosion that was happening in their mouth.
"They're wonderful. Such a full body flavor. I bet the wine these berries produce is amazing." He remarked.
"I saw a sitting area close by." Belle hinted innocently.
"After you, Mrs. Gold." he playfully teased which gained him another smile from her.
They reached the sitting area, a small outside table, which included two comfortable chairs. On the table were two glasses and a bottle of wine. Gold had no doubt it was for decoration, but it also was very convenient. He uncorks the bottle before pouring the white wine into her glass and then his. There was also more grapes on the table along with an unopened package of cheese and crackers.
"Shall we make a toast?" He asked her.
"What are we celebrating?"
"Us, and our newly form... uh- friendship."
"To us." She toasted.
As they sip, Gold's eyes never left her, even with all the beauty surrounding them, there was nothing lovelier than her.
"I never got a chance to ask how did you sleep last night." he said to engage her into a conversation.
"Pleasantly, but I did get cold during the night." She explained. "I hope you didn't mind me using you for warmth."
"No not at all, in fact it was quite nice having you close to me." He confided, it's been years since he'd slept in the same bed with any woman. So of course he liked it.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you can do it again if you wish." He said, the wine giving him the courage he needed.
"Are you inviting me to cuddle with you?"
"I'm simply throwing the offer out there, you may do with it as you please." He said.
"I accept," she said before taking another sip of her wine. It was making her dauntless as well. "You know Michael, I'm really enjoying this weekend with you."
"As am I." he said truthfully.
"You know there's one last thing I think we need to do, to prove to everyone that we are husband and wife." She said slightly bashful, shifting her wine in its glass to give herself a distraction.
"And what would that be?" He asked, cupping her chin so their eyes would meet. Belle was so beautiful, he felt there was no reason for her to be shy around him. Anything she wanted he would give it to her.
"Well, we probably should kiss."
"I see." He said. Gold didn't really think too much of displays of affection before because they were pretending, but a kiss would certainly be convincing if it ever came up in question. He leans over to meet her awaiting lips and placed a soft kiss on them. They both felt a stomach fluttering chill go through their bodies. "How was that?"
It was perfect and it felt so damn right. Belle considered another one couldn't hurt, and well, they needed the practice after all.
"Shouldn't it be more passionate?" she asked, disguising her intent in the form of a question. "I mean- since we've been married for over 20 years.
"I couldn't agree more." he concurred, wanting to kiss her lips just as bad as she wanted him to.
Belle leans in, meeting Michael half way until their lips merged together again. This time it was more sensual. The chill was back and Belle felt her heart quicken when he deepens the kiss. This intimate moment they were in seemed to last hours or more, and Belle definitely didn't want it to end, but unfortunately they were interrupted by loud music being played over speakers, flowing from the Villa.
They returned just in time to hear the wedding planner make her announcement that the formal reception would be beginning at 5 this evening. Giving Gold and Belle enough time to go up to their room and get changed into a more formal attire. Belle was in a sleek golden formfitting cocktail dress, the neckline was cut low but it still remained a very classy dress. The heels she wore were at least 6 inches tall, and Gold couldn't even begin to imagine how she was able to walk in them. The dress she wore also matched perfectly with the gold accents of Michael's suit. She looked amazing and he felt like the luckiest man in the world just to be around her. Gold even wished this reality he was in would stick, the desire of Belle being his real wife was overwhelming.
They went back downstairs and out the back door to a beautiful outdoor setting complete with streaming lights and a deejay. The dance floor was glowing the wedding colors of pink, white, and gold and a light up fountain was placed in the center to served as a beautiful conversational piece. Gold thought everything was stunning, but not as stunning as her.
It was time for Neal and Emma's first dance. The dance floor was empty except for the bride and groom. The spotlight shines on them and placed them in an ethereal glow as they moved gracefully across the floor to a sultry song. Gold looked over to Belle and felt fortunate that he was sharing his son's beautiful moment with her. Everything about her was amazing and even in the lowly lit tent, her beauty shined. He gave them an applause once the music ended, but his son and his bride's beautiful dance didn't surpass the rapture he was feeling knowing that Belle would be returning to his room after the evening was over.
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