((Author's Warning: This website's policies do not permit explicit scenes. So this chapter will fade to black rather than depict a consensual sexual encounter between two consenting adults. If you wish to read this chapter in its entirety, please find the explicit version of this story on Archive of Our Own.))
Lycaon x Belle
Lycaon's body was aware of Belle before he fully came awake. A warm, delightful body was pressed against him, a soft firmness he had curled himself protectively around in his sleep. His eyes snapped open, immediately focusing on the screen of the security system across the small room. No alerts, which a lack of horrendously loud audible alarms also confirmed. A red bar indicated that Ellen had indeed deactivated and locked the elevator between the ninth and tenth floors, as per proper security protocol. All was safe, and Belle herself was dozing in his arms, her face half covered by his own tail, which covered most of her body like a blanket.
His jerking movement to look up at the computer awakened Belle, though she did not open her eyes. Lycaon heard it in the change of her breathing. But if she wanted to pretend to sleep, or simply doze, he was not eager to object. He could lay here and smell Belee's scent- this time mixed with the faint aroma of cherry blossoms, likely from the soaps in the suite's bathroom. It didn't match her as well as her usual plumeria, but it was still enjoyable.
Belle didn't want to open her eyes. She didn't want this relaxation to end. She feared if she opened her eyes, reality would force her away from this moment of peace. Instead, she would lay here and trick the universe that she was sleeping, and so fooled, time would stop. That's how it worked right? She could lay here forever, the smell of Lycaon and his tail shampoo in her nose, the softness of his arm around her, and the warm hardness of his body pressing into her backside.
Which meant, now that Belle thought of it, she had herself slightly shoved into Lycaon's crotch, and though both of them were wearing pants and were rather innocently and platonically sharing a bed… Belle began entertaining some truly non-platonic thoughts. What if he just, turner her over and unwound the belt of her robe? She bit her lip in a small way and grinned slightly, thoroughly enjoying the half-dream fantasy she found herself within her own mind. Was Lycaon thinking the same? Should she roll over on him, right now, and press the issue?
It was tempting…
Lycaon was not nearly as far down the path of fantasy that Belle had flung herself down with eager abandon, but he was not unaware of their proximity, either. Nor could he ignore the pleasant soft, firmness of Belle's body against him. And then her scent began to change slightly, a new sweet musk that Lycaon could almost just pick out: Belle was becoming sexually aroused, and his own body was responding in turn even as he became consciously aware of what was happening- he felt a tightening and stiffening in his groin. If he didn't distance himself from Belle soon, she would feel a very obvious change in the topography of his underwear.
"B- belle?" said Lycaon, finding his mouth beginning to salivate slightly. Another sure sign of his own instincts beginning to assert themselves. He knew she was awake, and she likely knew he was, too.
"Shall I call for your breakfast?"
Belle took in a deep breath and sighed with mild disappointment, she didn't want this moment to end. Not already. Something had been brewing between them, hadn't it? Some invisible energy…
"What time is it?" mumbled Belle, "And when do we have to be at Scott Outpost again?"
Lycaon's eyes briefly returned to the security screen on the nearby desk. "It is a little past ten. Qingyi will arrive to pick us up at 3:17 pm."
That news immediately put Belle into a better mood. They still had hours! And while she really wanted to turn over and see if Lycaon would… respond to her now that they were alone: she was feeling a little peckish. Belle thought it might be best to take this opportunity a bit slowly: it had taken quite a bit of time to get Lycaon on board for anything physical when she'd tried before. Snoozing in bed with him might have already pushed the envelope, and she needed to slow herself down.
"That sounds nice…" Belle said slowly, her mind turning and a sudden inspiration striking her. She rolled over onto her back so she could look directly into Lycaon's face, him on his side against her. "But we're totally safe here, right? Do you really have to go down and get food?"
"No place is totally safe, Belle," said Lycaon immediately. One of Lycaon's ears twitched and he pulled his hips away from Belle slightly, one of her idle hands very close to his waking excitement. "But we are... very secure with the elevator disabled. If you want a proper meal, I need to go down. The only things in the suite are some tea pastries."
Belle's eyes lit up. "Tea pastries! Those will work for breakfast! And then you can stay here. And- you can go off duty and eat with me."
"Off duty," said Lycaon, mildly scandalized by the suggestion. "I'm never off-"
"Come on, Lycaon~" said Belle, rolling over further still to face him, her hand purposefully setting itself lightly on his chest. "We've never had a meal together just as… you know… two people. Go off duty and just be you! Just for a few hours. If we're secure, then wouldn't you have plenty of time to go back on-duty before anybody reached us?"
It was somewhat an alien concept, but as Lycaon gazed into the hopeful, fae beauty of Belle at close range… he was willing to consider most anything. She was, technically, correct. The only active danger possible was some sort of rocket attack on their windows, and that was highly unlikely due to their floor being significantly higher than any nearby structure. Anything else would need to come up the elevator, and it was locked over a hundred feet in the air and the shaft had so many independent sensors and boodytraps that there was no way anyone was quietly coming up it.
Lycaon felt a small, fearful wonder at the power Belle had over him when he said: "I suppose that's true…"
Her aqua-green eyes opened wider in excitement, a smile grew on her face. That propelled Lycaon the rest of the way: "Very well, Belle. I will be off duty."
"Yes!" The genuine happiness of Belle lit up her face and then she buried it into Lycaon's chest in a hug.
The hug and the scent of Belle again caused Lycaon to worry over his own body's reactions to her. He would be thoroughly embarrassed if she discovered his growing erection now. Tea and pastries did sound like quite the thing! And as soon as possible!
"Shall we see what the morning looks like?" said Lycaon, his eyes looking towards the security room door.
"Sure!" Belle rolled gamely out of bed and waited as Lycaon gracefully rose after her. He reached for his butler shirt and began to put it on.
"Lycaon," said Belle, mildly scandalized. "You said you were going to be off duty..."
"I can hardly enjoy a proper tea without a shirt on," said Lycaon, pausing briefly to give her a wondering look.
Belle watched Lycaon button up his shirt slowly, covering up his broad chest, an alluring expanse of toned muscle covered in soft, white fur. She felt impelled to make a joke at this moment, but should she? Would it sour the mood if it went wrong? Maybe that was the wrong way to look at it. If Lycaon was going to be just himself, then shouldn't she try being herself?
"I could enjoy a tea without you having your shirt on," said Belle's inner gremlin, offering a tentative sly smile.
Lycaon's hands froze as he looked back at her blandly for a moment. Belle immediately began to worry she'd overstepped- had Lycaon regressed away from their physical encounter yesterday?
"And why is that, pray tell?" said Lycaon, closing his eyes and frowning, resuming his buttoning as he did so. He looked so serious all of a sudden, but his tail was also slightly wagging behind him. Was he… being playful?
Belle banked on the idea that Lycaon was playing. She hoped he was playing. She hadn't seen that side of him yet. "Because your bare chest is really fun to look at."
One of Lycaon's eyes opened and his buttoning froze again, then he inclined his head, closed the eye again, and resumed buttoning; meanwhile, his tail wagged a bit more. "I see. Well… perhaps this might suffice?"
And he stopped buttoning two buttons down from the collar, leaving an expanse of collarbone and the hint of pectorals open to Belle's view, all hidden under a veil of curling fur. It was not the reaction she'd expected from Lycaon and she stared at that opening in disbelief. It was pretty sexy, honestly.
"Y- yeah, Lycaon," said Belle. "You look really… good. You always look good."
To Lycaon's view: Belle stood before him in a mildly wrinkled yukata, sapphire and pearl in color. The thin robe hinting at her shape hidden underneath- the vague outline of her breasts, the curve of her hips somehow more alluring when mostly obscured. The sapphire of the robe brought out the same color in Belle's eyes, and they sparkled at him in a genuine way as his response to her teasing set her off balance. The smell of her suddenly seemed overpowering again.
"I am but a moth before a butterfly," said Lycaon, raising an arm to indicate they start for the kitchen.
Belle's expression seemed half exasperated and half amused. "What kind of line is that, honestly? You're not into taxidermy, are you? Lycaon? No picture frames full of dead bugs in your room?"
"No," said Lycaon, stepping forward to tower over Belle. "I prefer small mammals."
Belle felt her heart flutter with excitement and a bit of that delicious fear that was not fear- like the nervous first glance over a cliff that she'd already resolved to jump off- but now here it was, in front of her, it was a little scary. She loved that feeling. But it didn't help her come up with another witty response.
"Tea?" said Lycaon with a slightly raised brow, again a large arm rising to indicate the door. Belle found herself suddenly hyper-aware of how Lycaon's wrist was nearly as thick as her own bicep. And he had claws.
"Y- yes," said Belle, her heart thumping, excited with the reality of being alone with Lycaon and having hours to… explore whatever this was between them. This was going to be fun! "Let's have tea."
She led the way out of the security room and down the main hallway from the suite's private elevator. The main room was more chill this morning, and ahead of them, a bright gray sky awaited them on all sides. The hotel tower seemed wrapped in low clouds, giving the impression of them being all alone on some high mountain. Belle shivered slightly as she entered the main room of the suite, the larger space with so many windows was notably more chill.
"I'll turn up the heating," said Lycaon. "Please have a seat at the table, Belle. I'll bring tea for you, presently."
Belle didn't like the idea of sitting at the table and just waiting. That would be boring and a little lonely. The kitchenette was a little ways away from the table. Plus, wasn't he not supposed to be doing the usual things?
"No! Let me serve you tea, Lycaon. You're off duty, remember?" said Belle, making way for the kitchenette.
"I- it is not a duty, Belle," said Lycaon, who pursued her. "Is not the sharing of domestic tasks the proper modern approach to a relationship?"
Belle absorbed that comment for a moment, her heart fluttering a little. She spun on him and brought him to a halt, again towering over her. "Why? Are we in a relationship? Lycaon?"
"Ah," Lycaon shifted his body weight slightly and pulled away. "...any two acquainted persons are technically in a relationship."
Belle thought that was such an ineffective statement that it was funny. She tried to hold back a laugh and mostly succeeded. "I suppose that's true. But anyway: you've served me for days. Let me serve you, for a change. You sit at the table and I'll bring us tea."
Lycaon was trying not to look grim and he made no move toward the dining table. He was trying to honor the idea of being 'off duty', but doing things properly in the kitchen was not just an aspect of his duties- it was life. And a person like Lycaon who occasionally must entrust that life in the hands of someone like Rina; well, the output was just more likely to be palatable if he did things himself. He didn't know if Belle shared Rina's culinary capacity- but Random Play sure didn't have a kitchen… so…
Belle, in fact, could not cook at all- but she thought she could handle tea, and she felt that it was important to mix things up a little. Perhaps through new situations, Lycaon would find some end thread to his tangled emotions and unknot himself. If Belle could show him that she was capable at something he normally did, perhaps that might help him relax and like her even more.
So: tea! A simple process of get-tea-bag and add-hot-water; that seemed a good place to start. She could do that! But when Belle opened the cabinet, she was mildly surprised by a traditional teapot and an array of cans of tea (tea came in cans?) and a collection of… tea-making paraphernalia?
"What's this for?" Belle held up a tiny strainer with confusion. Then she peered into a can that was labeled as Darjeeling but there was just a bunch of loose tea leaves in there. "This tea isn't in bags?!"
She looked up towards Lycaon who loomed anxiously over her in the kitchenette and his ears were half flat against his skull in dismay.
"...Please allow me to handle the tea, Belle…"
Belle thought he sounded like he was in physical pain. Perhaps this wasn't the right way to mix things up. Not finding anything as she expected was destroying her confidence, and it seemed to be bothering Lycaon a whole lot.
"Uh… all right, fine… I'll unwrap some pastries for us, then."
Lycaon felt thoroughly relieved. "You will find a wide selection. Take as many as you like."
Slightly disheartened, Belle went to the indicated cabinet and peered inside. She found a colorful collection of pastries, scones, and biscotti- all in perfectly symmetrical lines and gleaming plastic wraps. All appeared to be baked goods on the harder/crispier end of the spectrum of breads, presumably to limit the effects of age. Belle experimentally squeezed a scone and still found it responsive. These couldn't be more than a day old.
"They seem pretty fresh," said Belle, already eyeing a cactus-fruit turn-over. Wasn't that an Outer Rim recipe? That would be fun to try. She looked over to Lycaon who was working the electric kettle.
"Of course," said Lycaon, a proud tone to his voice. "They were stocked upon the booking."
"What flavor do you want?" asked Belle, realizing she had no idea of his preferences.
"Is there a selection with cheese?"
Belle read over the myriad options and did find two cheese-stuffed pastries. It looked like a cream cheese or other form of sweet cheese mixed with some variety of berry. Lycaon's choice made sense to Belle, cheese being an animal protein. All thirens were omnivorous, but the common stereotype was that certain thirens generally went carnivore when possible. Nekomata, a feline thiren, was the same way. She wouldn't touch rice or potatoes- that Belle had ever seen, anyway. It was fried chicken all the way.
She snatched up a few other random options and began taking them out of their packaging and putting them on a plate. Meanwhile, she watched Lycaon preparing the tea set out of the corner of her eye. He poured some of the freshly boiled water into the tea pot and swirled it around with deft motions before pouring it out. What was he doing? Prepping the temperature of the pot? Jeeze.
"Do you have a preference in your tea, Lady Belle?" said Lycaon, though even as he said it he was taking up a specific canister of tea from the shelf. Belle realized that he didn't think she had a preference for her tea!
And! … well.. he was right….
"No, whatever you like is fine," said Belle, and watched Lycaon nod to himself at her response. "And you just called me 'Lady' again."
He glanced at her in surprise. "Ah, did I? I apologize. Belle. I must have fallen into the mindset."
Lycaon quickly poured tea leaves into the now empty pot then carefully poured hot water over the top and closed the lid when he was satisfied. The tea pot joined the tray wherein cups, saucers, sugar, and cream all awaited the star of the show. Lycaon didn't exactly smile at Belle, as that facial expression was difficult for a wolf thiren to manage, but he seemed relaxed and pleased and his tail was wagging slowly behind him.
"It's ready. Shall we move to table?"
"Yes," said Belle, taking up her own less impressive plate of loose pastries and two spare plates. They walked to the overlarge main table which looked long and cold in the gray light from outside. Belle thought it had the wrong vibe. Meanwhile, her bedroom had a small table near the windows (everything was near windows). But it was a table with intimate meals in mind.
"Let's eat in the bedroom, Lycaon. I think it's more cozy."
"As you wish, Belle," said Lycaon. He was used to overly large tables, but he was aware of the smaller table she was talking about. He'd seen it last night during the security check. If Belle wanted to use that, it was fine for him, as well.
They deposited their burdens on the small table, Lycaon emptying the tea tray so that it didn't take up extra space. The gray daylight bathed them both, and while there was little to see outside but an amorphous cloudbank, it felt cozy and Lycaon thought the light made Belle's eyes shimmer with lighter blues. Belle thought Lycaon's fur was a gleaming pearlescent. He must have used some sort of tonic on it last night.
Lycaon, off duty or not, was the one to pour the tea for them both, and Belle didn't object. He gracefully filled her cup and set a steaming cup of dark tea before her. She was immediately aware of a heady scent, floral with citrus.
"What did you pick, Lycaon?" asked Belle, as Lycaon poured his own cup.
"I greatly favor the earl grey with a bit of cream. Would you like some cream or sugar, Belle?"
"I'll have mine the same as yours."
Lycaon nodded and added a healthy dollop of cream into both cups. "And on its own, I like a bit of sugar. But when we are to eat sweet things at the same time, I prefer it unsweetened."
Belle reached for one of those cactus fruit pastries and bit into it, finding it much more sweet than she'd expected. For some reason, she'd thought anything from a cactus would be either tart or sour. The tea cut through the sweetness pleasantly, and Belle understood why Lycaon liked it this way- the contrast of flavors was delightful, the sweet erasing the bitter to then be cut down again by the next sip of tea.
"How is it?" said Lycaon, gracefully poised with saucer and teacup in hand, seeming to be the idealistic idle gentleman at table. He gazed at Belle who was slightly leaning over her plate and was obviously enjoying the tea and the pastry. She must have been hungry, but to see her eat was satisfying. Lycaon felt a great satisfaction in seeing Belle pleased and enjoying herself in his company.
"It's good," said Belle, nodding her head over her steaming cup. "I don't usually drink much tea, but I think I need to start. It goes with sweets really well."
"You favor coffee, I presume. What with the Tin Man just down the street from your establishment."
Belle blushed slightly. "Almost every morning."
"And what is your preference?"
"Lately, I've been having fun with the rotating specials," Belle paused to eat a bit more pastry. Lycaon was trying to learn more about her, too, so she wanted to provide something a bit more tangible. "But my mainstay is probably the mocha. I've always loved chocolate, and hot chocolate was my favorite when I was a child. A mocha is like the adult version."
Lycaon made a grunting noise of affirmation and sipped his own tea- pinky out, of course. The tiny claw of that finger gleaming silver-white in the gray light.
"What did you like to drink as a kid, Lycaon? Hot chocolate?"
"Ah, no," said Lycaon, selecting a cheese pastry for himself. "Chocolate makes me feel mildly ill, I fear. So… well… I think you might laugh- but I greatly favored broth."
"...Broth?"
"Yes. The bouillon cubes? The instant soup bases? I'm sure you are familiar. Like in instant ramen."
"Yeah, I am familiar," said Belle, trying not to laugh at the idea of a child Lycaon sipping away at mugs of soup broth. "What was your favorite flavor?"
"Beef bone, no question," said Lycaon, wistfully. "The richness of flavor was superior to everything else. Just thinking of it now makes me greatly desire it."
Now Belle did laugh lightly. "Well, after my appointment at Scott Outpost, why don't we get hot pot or noodle soup, or something? Get your fix."
Lycaon's ears perked up further and his tail wagged idly behind his chair. "If that is what you wish, I will arrange it." He reached into his shirt pocket, presumably for his phone.
"Not now, Lycaon!" said Belle, quickly. "You're off duty."
"Ah, yes..."
He settled back to drink more of his tea and a companionable silence settled over them. Both finished a first cup and a first pastry, and Lycaon refilled both cups. Belle watched him and thought about Scott Outpost now that she'd brought it up.
What would the procedure be like? This removal of data from her mind? She'd not suffered any ill effect from it so far, so she'd almost forgotten that anything was dangerously wrong with her. But, probably, it was just a matter of putting on a large headset and letting Dr. Ray push a button and then waiting. There probably wouldn't be more to it than that.
Then again, it was an experimental procedure involving Belle's brain and even Dr. Ray, the foremost expert in the field, seemed on the fringes of known science. Something could go wrong. Maybe her brain would get fried, or erased, or maybe her head would pop like a cartoon and candy would fly all over the place. Anything seemed equally plausible. Or maybe some assassin would shoot her as she stepped outside the hotel this afternoon, or her car would blow up- a thousand bad movie scenarios paraded through Belle's mind.
This could very well be her last breakfast.
"Belle?"
Lycaon's voice dragged Belle back to the present, she had been gazing off into the gray sky. His hand had reached out to cover her own. He looked deeply worried. "Are you well? Are you worried about today?"
How did he know? Well, perhaps that was the most obvious conclusion. "Y- yeah, a little."
"Whatever threat, I'll stop it." Lycaon added some pressure to her hand, his crimson eyes gazing intently into her own.
Belle believed him, feeling marginally better. "I know you will. I was mostly thinking about the procedure."
"Ah, well, your mind is strong, Belle. Not very many people can face the threat of assassination and plan their own retribution. Several times in just a few days, I've witnessed you gather allies around yourself and set them to task in pursuit of your own goals and against those of your enemy. You are like a general. I have no doubt the computers at Scott Outpost hold no danger for you."
Belle had become captivated by Lycaon's eyes, feeling a range of emotions as he praised her. Pride, satisfaction, gratitude, excitement, and joy. Did he really feel like that about her? He was impressed? She? Belle? The tiny little girl who was useless in a fight. Lycaon? The towering rock of muscle, fur, claws and combat ability? A man who toppled an ethereal the size of a skyscraper… single-handedly?
"Oh, well," said Belle, overwhelmed and unable to think of a responsive cognitive thought. "Thank you… Lycaon…"
"Of course, Belle…" said Lycaon, watching Belle break her gaze with him and look again out the window. He was worried about her. His job was to keep her safe, but he also wanted her to be happy and relaxed. Not many people had the luxury for those emotions when they had a price on their head, but if he had opportunities to provide that, he deeply wanted to do so.
Meanwhile, Belle did feel better about her chances, the brief despair nipped in the bud by Lycaon's words. But even so, if this was her last breakfast, her last moment of peace in this life… wouldn't it be wise to live it up? She eyed Lycaon, who was still looking concerned and sympathetic, and Belle decided the moment was ripe.
"Lycaon: Yesterday, just before the attack, I invited you to spend the night in my room," Belle saw his body language stiffen as she spoke. "What was your answer going to be?"
Lycaon blinked at Belle, her shifts of mood and topic setting him off balance. The invitation to spend the night in her room? He could see Belle in his mind's eye, in tight shirt and bare legs and black panties. Her dark room behind her, illuminated vaguely by a television screen, the smell of sex and desire and Belle's body strong in the air. What would his answer have been? Even now, he felt his body beginning to answer even the memory of that moment.
"Yes," said Lycaon softly, seeing Belle relieved at his answer. "I was going to say yes."
They stared at each other over half empty teacups and half-eaten second pastries. The energy in the room shifted perceptively, both of them feeling it. The air was suddenly charged with invisible electricity.
Lycaon remembered well the efforts Belle had gone to seduce him yesterday, and he was mildly ashamed at his own reticence- to force a woman to be so forward was hardly gentlemanly. He would rectify that now: he wanted her, she wanted him- she was not a client, he had revealed his feelings for Belle to Ellen and had been absolved (sort of, to himself)- and to top it all off: he was off-duty right now, wasn't he?
Belle took an excited breath as Lycaon stood from his chair and walked around the table towards her. Her heart began thumping in her chest as he reached down and gathered her into his arms, lifting her from the chair as if she weighed nothing at all.
Lycaon walked her to the bed, immediately smelling the return of desire to Belle's scent. He gently set her down on her own bed, laying her on her back as she blushed furiously, staring at him with excited, wide eyes. He leaned over her, pressing his weight upon her slightly, just long enough to offer his tongue to her in the way they had learned how to kiss each other, and her mouth opened eagerly. Belle breathed deeply through her nose as their tongues met. Then he slowly pulled away.
Belle strained her neck up to continue kissing Lycaon's mouth, which she managed once, before he fully withdrew from her, leaving her on her back on the bed. He rose to his towering height, his eyes intent upon her- and he began to unbutton his shirt. The intensely deliberate way he did it may have been funny if it also wasn't so damn hot, each of his motions gaining a sort of intense impatience to be done with it all.
For her part, Belle wanted him to have something to watch, too- but she didn't have anything more to do than slowly loosen the belt of her thin robe. That motion, small that it was, was enough to gain Lycaon's intense attention. She unwound the sash and opened her robe...
The camera fades to black..