Those paintings were removed from the halls and such of the castle as Beast didn't want to accidentally destroy them with his claws in case if he goes in rage mode, and they were the best thing of his mother he treasured the most.
"Wow... this is...", Perla admitted as the Beast sighed. "My last real connection with my mother...", he told her. "She... she cared so much for it when I was little...".
Carlo replied, "They're so pretty! But why is the wall empty there?", confused yet curious, and Beast gave a nervous smile, "Well, I was thinking since you like colors, you could paint with your hands and brushes.".
"Really?!", Carlo gasped in excitement, almost bouncing in Perla's hold, and Beast nodded, "It's my way of apologizing, for scaring you and roaring in your mama's face, and grabbing her...I'm so sorry, Carlo...", biting his lip, looking down in shame.
Carlo looked to his mother for a moment before she realized what he was wanting to do. She put him down and to her surprise, he ran over and hugged the Beast's leg.
Beast widened his eyes, looking down at Carlo who chirped with a wide smile, "I forgiving you, Beast!", and Beast exhaled in relief and surprise before smiling, and gently ruffled Carlo's hair with his giant paw, "Thank you, Carlo. Now, why don't you start painting? There's bowls of different colors by the empty wall for you to play with.".
Carlo's smile widened further, "Okay!", before glancing at Perla who nodded with a warm smile, and he hugged Beast's leg again before all but running to the area of paint bowls and began to experiment with the colors as he dabbed a brush or a hand into a couple of bowls and started to make his creations.
"I... I really have to thank you... for that.", Perla said to him as Beast nodded. "Well... I had to.", he told her. "I just... I really regret what I did that first few minutes...".
Perla touched his arm, "Hey, my son forgave you, and I have forgiven you already, and yes, I could remember that night, but memories can fade. And I'm proud of you, Beast. This is one of those baby steps, hmm?".
Beast replied, "Yes, it is...I-I want you to be happy, and if making your son happy makes you happy, then I know it was worth it for today for a good deed at least...", with a soft smile as he heard Carlo's giggles and nonsensical singing. Perla smiled brightly, "Oh, Beast...you didn't have to go for so much today since...this morning.", with a soft blush.
He blushed too as obviously, the two of them didn't want Carlo or rather anyone to truly know what they had done. "So, will he be happy with all this?", Beast asked as Perla nodded.
"Well, it'll certainly keep him distracted with things for a time, but you might know how young kids are... they just don't ever seem to quit when it comes to running out of energy.".
Beast nodded in understanding, smiling, "Chip is the same, despite being a teacup and all, along with the other little ones like him.", and Perla inwardly exhaled, realizing that the servants were human as well...Sure, any curse could make anything sentient because of leftover magic or something, but something about the servants in this castle, probably because of emotions and obvious gestures like they were human once...
Perla then smiled, "Would you like to tell me what's behind your mother's paintings, their origins and such?", and Beast looked surprised before giving a gentle look of a nod, and went to show her the paintings, and so, with glances to check on Carlo every few minutes, the couple conversated about the paintings.
Soon, Carlo went to them, covered in splattered paint everywhere and rubbing his eyes as he smiled, "Mama, can I come back again with Chip and my other friends tomorrow?", and Perla smiled, "You better ask Beast on that. And goodness, you need a bath, mister!".
Carlo asked politely, "Can I, please, Beast?", and Beast hummed, "I will have to ask the servants to take Mother's paintings to another safe place, if you want more blank space to paint. Your wall is barely half done.".
Perla replied, "He means it's a yes, Carlo.", and Carlo smiled happily, "Thank you!", before yawning. Perla chuckled warmly, "Let's get you a good bath and a nice story, darling. Beast, see you in the morning?", with a smile.
Beast nodded, "Of course. Good night, Carlo, and Perla.", with a smile, and Perla replied, "Good night, Beast.", before taking Carlo's hand warmly, and left the room. Beast's heart swelled in delight, and headed off in another direction, to tell Cogsworth the happy news, and the orders to take his mother's paintings to another safe place.
And so, the next month was spent with Beast apologizing to the rest of the family with giving them better rooms or places to do hobbies, and luckily, the stitches were taken out by the first couple of weeks, and he then became able to accompany one of the men in turns to hunt for red meat, as the greenhouses are now in full gear since the first snow came in the last week of the month.
During that month, Beast spent time with Perla by showing her the castle like a personal tour guide, taking strolls in the gardens, learning to enjoy books with her again as he nearly hadn't touched a book in ages, afraid to tear the books with his claws and such, and of course, taking baby steps intimately, with Beast continuing to fight his primal instincts back, as they pleasured each other in their clothes one or two times a week, with some light teasing and finding sensitive spots.
This continued for two more months, with the rest of the family happily becoming friends with Beast and the servants, and the compasses gratefully yet weakly hid the other couples of the family's lovemaking time; Jules and Leila, as it turns out that she was increasingly horny as time passed, and Ray and Evangeline's secret rendezvous meetings of courtship in his room as Evangeline was able to come out of either one of the compasses, and Ray was given one of them.
Still, Beast couldn't help but be concerned about things; he felt as if things maybe weren't moving any more with Perla after all this time. Was he doing something wrong? Was she maybe not the one after all and only wished to stay on friendly terms? If that was the case... it would be devastating, especially for the servants. It would be highly unlikely any other woman would show up in the amount of time they would have left.
Deep in his patrol around the castle and in the castle, his ears flickering to hear the passion-filled cries of Leila and Jules, the castle was mostly silent. His servants' hearing wasn't as good to hear human sounds of passion while being enchanted objects, though they were able to hear his roars of rage and such over the years, probably because he was cursed like them.
He knew his primal instincts was on overdrive, and it was increasingly hard over the past few months to fight back, but not wanting to scare Perla, he was scarcely satisfied with the pleasure she gave him. Winter is here, and that means four seasons to go before the due date of the spell, he knew.
He glanced upon the castle from his patrol, and saw a few spots of firelight, one being Leila and Jules, one probably Lumiere and Fifi, and one, that looks like to be the library.
As the winter winds blew, he sighed, heading back inside the castle, hearing the hungry howls of wolves chasing some unfortunate deer in the dark forest, and he headed to the library, figuring that it's either Jiminy or Perla.
Perla herself had seen Beast's incredible improvement over the past few months; rare bouts of his temper, his mannerisms getting more human-like, enjoying time to socialize again, through he's still a bit of an introvert which she couldn't blame for, as years of isolation can affect anybody, and of course, she saw things she observed, and she can see the sharp glint of his wild side in his eyes every time they had pleasure time together, and he fought back, but she can sense that it's hurting him...
After lots of thinking over the past few days, she realized that she's ready, wanting him, and since she doesn't care much about modesty when she's relaxed and all, she took a bath, and headed out in her robe and slippers, to dry out by the fireplace while reading a book on the couch.
The Beast soon walked into the library, knocking on the door to alert whomever was in there that he was there. "Hello?", he called out.
Perla's voice replied, "In front of the fireplace, Beast. Did your patrol go well?", and Beast replied, "Yes. And the stables are snug and warm for your horse and mule as well. The wolves are on their hunt tonight. Didn't expect you to be up late...Couldn't resist to read a new book?".
"Well... that and a few other things.", Perla chuckled as the Beast didn't know what she meant. "Can you not see me from where you are?".
"If you're in one of those chairs in front of the fireplace... then no, not from where I'm standing.", Beast replied. Perla answered, "One of the couches, but good guess. Wanna join me for some storytelling?", curling up under a blanket, waiting for the moments she will catch Beast off guard to reveal some skin while loosening up her robe.
Beast replied, "Okay. Is the book big enough for my paws at least?", as he walked up, and Perla hummed, "It's a hardcover if you're meaning by that. Do you want me to go back to the beginning?".
The Beast shook his head as he finally got into view of her. "What exactly is it that you're reading, in the first place, if you don't mind me asking?", he asked as he could see the sly look on Perla's face.
Perla smiled, "Oh, just a very interesting story of forbidden friendship that grows into something more between a princess and a stable boy, along with a scandal if you can believe it.", and Beast sat down on the robust couch, opposite Perla, "Really? Well, go finish the chapter you're on, and I can take my turn then.".
"Alright.", Perla smiled as she hummed, warmly reading out loud to Beast who listened with apt attention, and then finished the chapter, and handed the book to Beast who carefully held it in his paws, focusing to read aloud, as Perla listened to his rumbling, deep voice, almost sliding the blanket over her lap as she loosened her robe, exposing her shoulders, waiting for him to look up.
It didn't take him too long to read the chapter; since it was a bit of a shorter book in terms of length but by the time he finished the chapter, he looked back up... and everything in his head just froze the moment he finally was paying attention to Perla once more.
Beast's eyes slowly dilate as he can see Perla's neck exposed, with her hair over the pillow, her shoulders open and exposed, slightly revealing the edge of her breasts as the robe covered her, and Perla smiled coyly, "About time...If you're a good boy to the end of the book, I might, could, can be all yours tonight...That is, if you can deal with taking turns with me revealing a tiny bit more every time...".
"Perla... I... I...", Beast honestly was completely dumbfounded by the moment. But with what she was doing, there was hardly a doubt in his mind what she had planned.
Perla quirked an eyebrow, smiling gently, "Beast?", seeing that he is almost practically speechless, the book almost falling out of his paws into the couch.
Finally, his brain caught up as he cleared his throat. "Um, Perla... were you... um... did you just wash?", he asked, mentally hitting himself for asking something of that nature.
Perla nodded, blushing with a grin, "Yes, I did...I came here to dry off as I like to be near the fireplace. I know it's not normal, but then again, we're not normal per sec...Do you remember what I said just earlier? Or do I need to repeat?", with a subtle gesture of coyly fingering her robe.
"I... um... I think I may have actually forgotten...", Beast admitted as Perla rolled her eyes. "I... Perla... I think I know what you're trying to do right now...". He obviously was starting to get fairly hot under the collar.
Perla chuckled softly, "You do? Tell me, please.", and Beast exhaled deeply, "To pleasure you without that robe in the way, to touch you more intimately than ever before...".
"That's only part of it, the truth is that I want you, Beast...All of you...", Perla whispered, "But to do that, can you be a good boy while we take turns reading this book to the end as I reveal a tiny bit more of myself every turn?".
Now this woman was teasing him, he was sure of that. If this was her idea of fun, he really wasn't liking it as he really did want to just start ravaging her in a pleasurable way at that moment. But he kept himself in control as best as he could as he picked back up the book.
"We'll... we can finish this book in a bit, can we?", Beast replied. Perla smirked, "Depends on how good of a reader you are...".
Beast growled huskily, taking that as a challenge, "You're on.", handing the book to her, and Perla smiled, reading the next chapter out loud as she craftily removed the blanket from her, revealing her nude, long, and shaved legs in a laying position, the robe down to her knees.
Beast certainly was trying to keep it together; but her teasing, it was quite the challenge but the reward at the end of it all. He did mentally wonder... about them; was things moving forward now? Were they actually falling in love for one another?
No, he knew that he deeply cares for Perla, but falling in love with her...it...it's hard to comprehend without a reference, and no, he doesn't count Lumiere, and as far as he knew, he just wants to see her smile, to listen to her laugh, to feel her emotions when she has moments of sadness, to see the fire in her eyes when she fights with him in those rare moments of his temper.
But one thing for sure, things are moving forward physically at least...Could she actually like him, to have him really touch her skin, her body without any obstacles in the way? To take him inside her, to consent to the union?
This is a major step, he realizes, and he both is desperate to ravage her yet be gentle with her, that night still impending on his mind.
"Beast?", Perla's voice snaps him out of it, and Beast rumbled, "Done with the chapter?", and Perla nods, handing it back to him, and he flicks between the book and the desire to watch her remove a bit more of her robe.
Perla smiles coyly, nodding for him to read aloud as she slowly started to take one of the sleeves of the robe, sliding it down her arm, revealing half of her left breast, and Beast determinedly focused on finishing the chapter as Perla replied, "Good boy...Do you want more?".
Beast fidgeted, nodding as he read out loud, and Perla slowly went to do the other side of her other arm, revealing half of her right breast just in time as Beast finished the chapter.
"Is it... um, a bit awkward to keep posing like that with the robe while reading?", Beast asked her as she clearly was trying to make sure to be slow and teasing with her disrobing.
Perla smiled lightly, "A little bit, but it's worth it to see your reactions...What do you think about my breasts as this is the first time you see them?", and Beast rumbled huskily, "Even if I can't see full of them, they're beautiful...like you...".
"Thank you...", Perla blushed as Beast handed over the book, and she read out loud of the next chapter, curling her legs a bit as the robe rode up a bit, revealing her knees to the edge of her thighs.
Perla was enjoying what she was doing, practically driving him wild though making sure not to really tease him to the point of getting upset and angry. That was the last thing either one of them wanted especially tonight.
Beast rumbled lowly as he can smell the slight allure of her body slowly becoming stronger, and he rasped, "Perla...can I get my cape off and loosen my shirt?".
"Well, it wouldn't be fair if I was the only one not wearing anything... besides... fair is fair.", Perla smirked as she took the book back to continue reading.
Beast growled huskily as he eagerly took his cape off and tried to loosen the strings at the top of his shirt, feeling his rod stirring up in his trousers.