Her lips pulled away from his, but she could still feel the tingling sensation it left behind. That quick, and chaste kiss made her whole body feel aflame, she couldn't help shivering at the, 'very' recent memory. She never knew a simple kiss could make anyone feel the way she did now.. Her breathing came quick and labored. She was stunned by her own actions, she wasn't sure what had possessed her. But she couldn't bring herself to regret doing it. The feel of his lips against hers was, intoxicating.. Despite their ashened, and rough appearance, his lips were soft and sweet against hers, leaving her to wish she could have tasted them just alittle bit longer.. But didn't dare..

At this moment, the question resting in the front of her mind was, 'What was going to happened now?..' She took in the expression on his face just a second before she initiated the kiss. His eyes snapped wide with shock, and his body became as tense as stone. He clearly wasn't expecting his anger to cause her to react in such a way.

After she had broken the contact, she never took her eyes away from his, she was waiting for him to act, to do, or say.. anything. She didn't know what would happen now, but she was determined that no matter the outcome, she wouldn't let him push her away, she wouldn't show any fear of him.

His breathing came out just as quick and labored as hers. She watched as his expression went from shock, to completely impassive. She had tried as hard as she could, but just couldn't read what was going on behind those dark eyes. She assumed it was anger. And though it made her chest hurt, to think that, what made her feel so warm, and alive, made him feel cold and disgusted, she found the will to put on a small, yet sad smile to her face, as her throat pulled tight with emotion. It was time to, at least, apologize for her assumingly unwanted action.

"I'm sorr..."

She didn't get to finish the word as her apology was pushed back down her throat. His mouth slamming down on hers. His sharped, discolored teeth hitting hard against her own, completely stealing her breath away as his tongue pushed through them, warring with her own. His hands coming up quick, and buring them deep in her chestnut curls. His claws gently scrapping her scalp, causing a pleasant shiver to run down her spine. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. She didn't know what was happening.. All she knew was how.. wonderful it felt. Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, it was beating so fast. Her veins felt as if they were filled with fire, and her whole body was trembling from the sensations he was bringing out in her. His hands slid their way slowly down the sides of her neck, his claws gently tracing down the curve of her throat, and resting on her shoulders. She was lost.

He kissed her with the desperation of a drowning man. His hands trembling, just as hers, she could feel it. And as quickly as the kiss began, it was over.

His hands gripped her small shoulders and he pushed her back abruptly.

His eyes were closed tight when he pushed her away from him, his brows were pulled together in seemingly, deep concentration, and his jaw was ridged with a strong tension. He was doing his best to regain his self control.

He was taken back with her sudden kiss, never expecting that to come from a lady as herself. But he still couldn't help believing that she only did it out of desperation.. From what, he wasn't sure.. And after the initial shock and surprise wore off, he had a desire to teach her a lesson, Or so, thats what he tried to convince himself he wanted to do anyway.. The truth was that small simple kiss left him wanting so much more.. Her lips were as soft as silk, and as sweet as honey. His desire to taste her more deeply was over powering that he couldn't stop himself. He convinced himself he had meant to scare her with the hunger of his kiss. To fear him as she should have a right mind to do.

He then slowly opened his eyes to look at her, to take in her 'expected' fearful expression. He had fixed a slight bitter smirk across his lips that quickly crumbled away when his eyes fixed on her face. His mouth fell slightly open, and his eyes went wide.

She was breathtaking. Her eyes were open as she looked at him with the expression of an innocent child caught in a daydream. Her lips were red, and swollen with the effects of their now past kiss, her cheeks were flushed with a beautiful crimson color, and her wavy chestnut curls, (by his own actions) were coming undone from their pins and falling to frame her heart shaped face, in a most becoming, disheveled state. She literally looked the picture of an angel.

This wasn't what was suppose to happen..

"Don't.. Do not!.. Look at me like that!" " What is wrong with you?..." "You should be digusted, literally repulsed by me right now!" "You should be sceaming at me, running from me, or even trying to hit me, for gods sake! But not be looking at me like that! So Stop!" He yelled. His voice cracking slightly in anger and bitterness.

He got up quickly from his position and began pacing the room, wanting so badly to break something, anything. That look on her face, the expression in her eyes can't really be there, it couldn't be real.. His mind was playing tricks with him, or, being in the Dark Castle this long, with only his company has to have effected her mind. There was no other explaination..

"I seem to recall kissing you first."

At her words, he then turned in her direction. No longer was the serene expression on her face, but in its place, one of anger (that match his own), and also, it seemed, Hurt. She then quickly jumped up off the bed, with her hands now in fists, resting at her sides. She walked straight up to him leaving only a foot of space between them.

After closing her eyes and taking a short moment to calm herself, she spoke again.

"And why? Why would I have?" She asked somewhat hopeful, and alittle desperate.

"Because, you've clearly lost your mind Dearie."

Was his quick and clipped answer. But as soon as the words were out he regretted them, as he saw her wince in response. Her expression cracking, leaving her look lost and vunerable for only a short minute, before she attempted to fix a, (not so convincing), mask of indifference across her features, never breaking eye contact with him.

"You're a Coward, Rumpelstiltskin."

And with that reponse, she quickly turned on her heels, refusing to let him see the tears beginning to form in her eyes, as she strode out the door, leaving the room, and a very stunned Rumpel behind.

Another short chapter.. Sorry.. :( I only get like an hour a week to write anything.. Always busy.. Working full time sucks.. lol but anyway, Thanks so much again for all the R&Rs last chapter! Hope this one is also not disappointing!