"Rumpelstiltskin, we need to talk."

"Oh dear, am I in trouble now?"

He gave her a smile that never reached his eyes and Belle was startled by how exhausted he looked. How could she not see it before? Those shadows under his eyes with the more pronounced crow's feet at the corners... He seemed tired and sleep-deprived even though now he slept every night compared to the previous days spent working or spinning.

"What is happening?"

"Well, let's see," Rumpelstiltskin tapped his chin sharply with a long-nailed finger. "I believe, the ogres are plotting an attack on the southern lands – if grunting and constant drooling can pass for plotting. Queen Snow White will soon birth to a baby girl that will eventually inherit the throne and quite frankly rule nothing like her mother. A certain mermaid is about to make a deal she'll regret but which eventually will give her the happy ending she desires."

"You know it's not what I meant!" How could he just blurt out some jokes when she was dead serious? "What's happening with you?"

There was a pause and the man clearly did not intend to answer the question.

"Rumpelstiltskin, please, I need to know. What is wrong?"

He sighed but still seemed in a rush to indulge her. Belle was worried and bit her bottom lip with her teeth while trying not to squirm in her seat.

He finally gave up.

"There is something draining my magic," he confessed. "I didn't think it was possible, but it appears to be so. And with the magic, my life powers diminish."

"You… you're not d… dying, are you?" Belle's voice cracked at the word and she kept her eyes wide, watching his face with intent.

"No, of course not. It no longer feasts on my energy, besides, the Dark One possesses a life eternal," he replied not without a hint of pride. "It's just merely… inconvenient."

"Could it… could it be the price of magic? For the…" she paused, searching for the word. Evil was what came to mind but she knew better than to say it out loud. "For whatever your shadow did to Regina."

"Perhaps," he steepled his hands before his face, his eyes losing focus and staring off into the distance. "Or the Evil Queen proved to be more cunning than I anticipated."

Belle bit the inside of her cheek but couldn't quite muffle the whimper she made, which threatened to turn into full-blown crying. She pressed a hand to her mouth but he still caught the sound.

"Oh, stop it now," he snapped but immediately softened and stretched his arm out. Belle grasped his cold fingers and allowed herself to be pulled into his lap, tucking her head under his chin. She felt guilty for being comforted when it was Rumpelstiltskin's wellbeing that was in danger and she had to be strong and show her support. Her body trembled, meeting the coolness of his even through his multiple layers of clothing. Belle tried to blink the unwelcomed tears away, concentrating on the long intakes of his breath and slow exhales. He held her a little awkwardly as if he wasn't sure that he was still allowed to. But his body was strong and solid beneath her and his scent, mixed with the smell of leather, so familiar and reassuring. The hand that came to stroke down her back soothingly was steady and she closed her eyes, enjoying his simple touch.

"You are overdramatizing, darling," his voice was confident and Belle was grateful he didn't find her silly or was annoyed at her near-sobbing. "I'm fine, it will go away and I'll be back to my old self before you even know it."

His low cooing and rhythmic heartbeat were almost hypnotizing and Belle chose to believe that it was just her tricky imagination playing on her nerves. Surely, he wouldn't say something just because she chose to believe it.

She clung to him that night, desperate to get closer and trying to memorize every small movement, every little touch. Everything seemed somehow sharper, more intense and she arched her body, feeling like she could never get enough of him. They'd started slow and gentle but soon turned needy. Belle tried to chase away the cold and warm him down to his soul with hot open-mouth kisses on his skin, licks and little bites which drew most wonderful groans and hisses from his mouth. She traced random patterns on his skin, her fingers touching, stroking and pressing on every bit of flesh and every sensitive place she could find, but it wasn't enough. Belle raked her short nails across his chest, leaving long dark marks on the fine scales. She wished she could still be closer, to give more, to convey through touch how she felt.

Perhaps she just imagined it, but it seemed to work. Rumpelstiltskin returned her kisses feverishly, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue. He practically ripped the night gown off her, diminishing his own clothes swiftly by magic, his lips never leaving hers. They pulled away briefly to draw in a breath before his mouth was back on hers, the long purposeful strokes of his tongue making her lower body tingle with desire. Her lips already felt swollen and would probably ache the next morning but she couldn't care less.

Belle felt like the fire he set in her was spreading through her veins like lava and she pressed to him, making sure she was plastered against his wiry torso. He grunted in response, thrusting forward to rut against her hip, his leaking cock jabbing against her thigh almost painfully. Rumpelstiltskin moved away slightly, squeezing his hand between their bodies to cup her left breast gently. But gently wasn't the way she wanted it. Belle needed a reminder that this was real, that it was happening and that it was one night out of many - that there was a luxury of time.

Her palm covered his hand, increasing the pressure on her breast and he took the hint, kneading the soft flesh harder, his moist lips travelling along her jaw line and closing on the side of her neck. She sucked in a breath of half-pleasure and half-pain when his sharp teeth scraped against her skin. The rough pad of his thumb began drawing languid circles on top of her tit which gradually got smaller until he was tracing the shape of her areola, enjoying how the smooth flesh blended into velvety softness of the nipple. Belle pressed her legs together tighter, hoping that the increased pressure would relieve some of the throbbing ache in her loins but the caress of his single finger combined with the long bathing strokes of his tongue had her squirming and thrashing under him.

Rumpelstiltskin's lips moved in a smile against her neck at the low rumbling moan she made when his thumb flicked against her nipple. He rolled the hard point between his thumb and forefinger, pinching the nub and letting his nail scrape over it. Belle wriggled until he was nested between her legs, the tip of his cock grazing against her entrance.

"Yessss," she hissed trying to move lower against his manhood, to have him fill and stretch her.

Rumpelstiltskin remained oblivious to her apparent need. He shifted, sliding down, now both of his hands raising her breasts up and together. He inhaled deeply before rubbing his face on the soft peaks. He dragged his tongue on the underside of her breast and up between the cleft he created. Belle whimpered as he lapped at her nipples, closing his mouth around them but not quite sucking. Hot slick swirls of his tongue combined with her rapid panting breaths were maddening, but the man seemed to be quite content with his current task even though it felt like he spent forever exploring her chest and wasn't going to move on anywhere else.

"Please," she whispered hoarsely and Rumpelstiltskin lifted his head, meeting her eyes, misty with desire.

"Please what, sweetheart?" he enquired airily and if it wasn't for the rapid rising and falling of her chest he could believe she was completely unaffected.

Belle buried her fingers in his hair and roughly pulled him upwards, crushing his lips in a kiss. There was no doubt he could feel her soaking wet pussy against him as his cock twitched with anticipation. His fingers caressed her face lightly, a stark contrast to the heated suction of his mouth.

"So?" he asked, voice tinted with amusement.

Belle couldn't imagine why he took so much pleasure in teasing her while even the top of her thighs were drenched in her juices. She barely had the patience to endure those games any longer.

"You know what I want," she said peevishly.

"Indeed," Rumpelstiltskin smirked and nudged her sex with the head of his member, the pressure making her eyes close as her body arched against her will. "But it's always nice to hear what exactly you desire so much."

"Oh gods." The pressure at her opening increased but he kept still otherwise, making her grunt in frustration.

"You… I want you," Belle panted as if it wasn't apparent. She would probably feel ashamed for begging if she wasn't so wound up and practically soaked. Whatever got into him tonight wasn't going to make it any easier for her.

Belle could tell him she wanted to hear him voice his pleasure as he took her hard and fast, to have him wrapped around her body as each stroke brought her closer to her relief. To reduce her to sobbing and whimpering noises as she'd clench around him and claw at his back until her body broke into a thousand pieces, every rational thought washed away by throbbing, blinding ecstasy.

Instead Belle bit her lip and reached down between her legs. If she couldn't voice her request, she could show him. Her fingers were shy but steady as they closed around his girth and Rumpelstiltskin's eyes fluttered shut at her touch. Not so cold-blooded and in control, after all. She lined them up, sliding her hand upwards on his shaft to indicate he should move forward.

Luckily, he didn't need further encouragement. Ever so slowly he penetrated her, feeling her tight inner muscles give in and wrap around his intruding manhood. The feeling was sweet, too sweet to described and his gentle eyes that never left her face seemed only to intensify the pleasure. He didn't pause once he was in, moving out just as unhurriedly. He was impossibly hard, all of her nerve endings responding to the stimulation as he leisurely sank back in. Belle felt her eyes roll back in her head and she shut them, no longer able to experience so much stimuli and being consumed by his hungry stare.

Gods he was so thick and hot inside. Belle felt she was going to melt around him, her body turning boneless as he kept those long, thorough strokes - his pace not faltering and she tried to squeeze him inside and draw him in deeper. His arms wrapped around her back, his wide-spread fingers leaving burning marks on her skin as he pressed into her, leaving no space between them. Belle brought her legs up, crossing them behind his back to draw him even closer, his weight almost crushing her. Rumpelstiltskin groaned as the changed angle brought him even deeper, increasing the pressure on the underside of his member, and rotated his hips on the inward movement, his pubic bone grinding against her clit and the warmth in the pit of her belly tightened at the sensation. It was different from where he directly touched her, but the closeness and the steady brushing against her swollen clit built her pleasure up, and she tried to concentrate on it, holding her breath and gripping his cock with her inner muscles.

She was almost there, climbing to the peak but not quite hitting it. In an out, out and in, two ragged breaths against her ear per stroke, so wet and hard, surreally steady, hot and firm and heart-throbbingly sweet. It was the same yet different, she felt like their coupling meant something, the thought that lingered in her mind for weeks now but now it swirled into shape and she had to reach it. Belle almost grasped it but her body ached pleasantly and she was almost there, she found the words, she had to tell him, she knew for sure now that…

Rumpelstiltskin moaned and her body gave in, his deep voice triggering her and sending her flying, the joy of relief hitting her body, that unstoppable tide after tide rocking through her. Her heart raced and she felt afraid that it was too much, that her body would not be able to take so much pleasure. She cried out against his shoulder as he drove into her forcefully, her pussy spasming around his cock, her orgasm intensified by hard thrusts. Belle barely registered the flood of heat as he came.

Rumpelstiltskin moved onto his side, running his left hand over her damp body until her heart calmed and she opened her eyes. He looked a bit concerned but also smug, a cheeky grin tugging the corner of his mouth upwards.

Belle turned to him, bringing her face close to his and gently moving a wavy strand that was plastered to his cheek. She gave the man a brief kiss, then moved across his cheek, brushing her lips softly over his eyelids. She sighed contently, basking in his undivided attention as his hand still glided over her skin. Belle couldn't imagine she'd ever find herself wanting again so soon but her body had quite a mind of its own. His touches sent sparks of desire rushing along her spine again and she encouraged him with little moans.

Her fingers danced along her nether lips and he arched his eyebrow at her inquiringly. Belle nodded, giving him permission and his hand continued the slow exploration. Her clitoris was still oversensitive but she didn't push his hand away. He watched her face closely for any signs of discomfort and immediately jerked his hand away when the girl winced but before she could reassure him that it was alright, his fingers returned, more careful this time. They slid along the sides of her clit, over her pussy lips, dipping between her folds and probing at the entrance to move back up and coat her with a thick mixture of his cum and her juices.

Rumpelstiltskin rubbed her with the flat of his palm, smirking when her hips closed, capturing his hand and she grinded against it impatiently, flushed but determined. She sobbed when he inserted two of his fingers, curling them upwards and pumping them in and out. Belle bucked her hips, making him set the rhythm she wanted, her low throaty moans growing louder when she approached her climax. It took her longer this time and she almost felt neglected as his fingers caressed only her most intimate bits.

Belle raised her hands and pinched her own nipples timidly, shivering as her fingers seemed to send electric impulses that echoed deep in her womb, adding to her pleasure. Rumpelstiltskin's eyes darkened with arousal and he bent down to kiss her forcefully, muffling her moans and drinking her cries, his lips and his tongue stroking along hers almost aggressively.

Belle felt that she could no longer hold back; her sex tensed and contracted around his fingers and then the world concentrated to a pin-point deep inside her body before exploding, waves of heat washing over her body from the top of her head to her curling toes. The pulsations subsided to a warm buzz in her quivering stomach and Rumpelstiltskin carefully removed his fingers.

"How was that, my sweet?" He purred into Belle's ear and she shivered at the obvious lust in his voice. "Was it… satisfactory? Was it enough pleasure?"

Belle didn't know what got into her but she met his eyes openly and gave him a mischievous smile.

"More," she said, eliciting a chuckle from him.

"Oh-ho."

Rumpelstiltskin made a show of licking his fingers, which glistened with her juices, clean. Then all of a sudden, he grabbed her, flipping the girl over with controlled force and positioning her on all fours. Belle squealed with surprise but made no objection.

She did feel a bit uncomfortable though as his face nuzzled her sex, soaked with the mixture of her arousal and his cum, but Rumpelstiltskin didn't seem to mind. She yelped as he bit the inside of her thigh gently before lapping at the marks his teeth left. He was teasingly close, his breath tickling the sensitive labia but he was in no rush to indulge her. It took an inviting moan and an arch of her back to finally have his lips touch her. Rumpelstiltskin eagerly cleaned her up, before shifting lower to lick her clit with a grunt.

His tongue was hot and confident, steady sucks and licks making her knees weak. It seemed he was getting off on the act as well, his hands curling around her hips to grasp her backside and hold the girl in place, his tongue flicking at the left side of her clit just in the perfect way, making her see stars. Her face was pressed into the pillow and she grasped the sheets helplessly as he licked hungrily, over and over.

Before Belle knew she was cumming, her clitoris throbbing in his mouth as he sucked and flicked his tongue against the sensitive nub. Her breathing became so ragged she thought she'd not make it. The pleasure was suffocating, his wicked and slightly rough tongue somehow prolonging it with teasing, soft strokes as she came down from her peak.

"Gods," Belle panted, her mind too clouded and tired to form a single coherent thought.

She hadn't fully recovered from the bliss when strong hands grasped her waist, pulling her down on the bed against him. His cock slid inside her pussy in a smooth stroke, not too fast yet not giving her enough time to accommodate.

Her pussy was slick from the previous round yet she felt as if she tightened inside from so much cumming. Rumpelstiltskin didn't seem to care much about that, taking her as he desired. He made feral, animalistic noises through gritted teeth as he practically pounded into her, his hips making wet slapping sounds as they met her butt and he drove himself deep inside.

Belle felt was is if she was a rag doll, being maneuvered and pulled onto his cock and the thought that she made him lose control was dark and shameful, yet no less exciting. The mattress squeaked under the force of his thrusts. His long nails dug into her skin, leaving red, angry-looking half-moons as the pace of his frictions grew. Belle tried to match up, bucking her hips back even though the man left her very little room for maneuvering. Rumpelstiltskin's movements were fast and erratic, none of that familiar tenderness left in them as he used her body for his own pleasure, muttering curses under his breath and thrusting hard until he came with a grunt, flooding her with hot thick cum and collapsing onto her, breathless.

He did roll to his side a moment letter, closing his eyes. The man heaved like he ran several miles but he also looked happy or at least more content and closer to normal than Belle had seen him in the last several weeks.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" she whispered, moving closer to the man but not quite touching him. Despite the heat and sweat from their love-making, he no longer radiated warmth when his breathing evened out. His skin was damp and cool, reminding Belle of reality, acting as a signal that no matter how hard she wished to forget, the problem was still there.

"You will find the cure, right?"

Rumpelstiltskin sighed and pulled the covers over them, extinguishing the light with an impulse of his magic.

"Of course I will, darling," he promised, his voice steady and somber.

Belle's heart skipped a beat and she hugged him as tight as she could, to the point where it must have hurt him, but Rumpelstiltskin did not object or comment on her emotional outburst, holding her with just as much force.
She knew Rumpelstiltskin was powerful, wise and hers.

But just as confident as she was about him and even though the darkness of the bedroom hid his face, she was also sure that he was lying.