Continuing Tales

Civilised Existence

A Once Upon a Time Story
by Fyrie

Part 10 of 17

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Civilised Existence

It was dark and still when Belle woke.

She was lying on something soft, which didn't add up with her last memories of the evening before. There was a scent in the air that was unfamiliar too, not the scent of ink and books, but something more earthy, something that reminded her of him.

It was too dark to be her room.

Her heart jolted and she started to sit up, until she felt the arm around her waist. It moved, loosened, giving her leave to escape if she so wished.

"Oh," she whispered, smiling into the darkness. He was still there, now that she was paying attention, she could feel his body curved against hers, fitting together like a book and its cover. She covered Rumpelstiltskin's hand with hers, drawing it back to rest over her heart, nestled beneath her breast.

The breath he had been holding ruffled her hair, but he didn't speak. His fingertips moved in a gentle, lazy caress, and his lips pressed to her bare shoulder, first kissing, then, with caution, adding a gentle nip of the teeth.

Belle shivered pleasantly. So it hadn't all been a rather fevered dream? Well, that was good. And his skin still felt as it always did, so he still had his power, so that was good as well. It certainly meant less risk of another temper tantrum.

She ran her fingertips along his forearm, then back to his hand, threading her fingers between his. He curled his fingers to hold her hand, and she felt the small, content smile against her throat.

"Where are we?" she murmured, moving one leg slightly, which in turn made his legs shift against her, tangling pleasantly until it felt like every inch of them was touching from head to toe.

"My room," he whispered.

She gazed into the dark shapelessness with lazy pleasure. The one place that she was never permitted, his personal haven, his hiding place. She pressed back against him, felt the rise and fall of his chest against her back. He had been letting her in, little by little, and now, she was seeing into the heart of him.

"Mine now?" she breathed.

He trembled, and she smiled in delight. "Belle…"

She drew his hand up and kissed his fingertips, then caught one between her teeth, nipping then licking. He made a low, hungry sound. "Rules," she whispered. "Who so-ever has love made to them in a bed has the right to claim it."

"You forget, dearie," he whispered, running his fingertip along her lower lip. "We didn't reach the bed." His hips shifted against hers, and his thigh slipped upwards, between hers, the coarseness of his skin causing the most delightful sensations. "The rules don't apply."

"Technicality," she gasped out, arching.

He caressed her lower lip again, teasingly, and his fingertip pressed gently, invading, just as he rolled his hips. "But you now own the library," he whispered, then drew a breath when she dragged her tongue over the tip of his finger.

Her hand tugged his down playfully. "I want the bed," she whispered, rolling her hips back against his. "Our bed."

The words made him tremble again, and she pressed his hand over her heart.

"Ours?" he asked in a whisper, his lips close to her ear.

She laughed, breathless and husky, and twisted in his embrace to look him in the eyes. "You're mine, Rumpelstiltskin," she breathed, lifting her hand to caress his cheek. "Every part of you. My true love, my frustrating employer, my best friend. Why shouldn't you be my bed companion too?"

For the longest of moments, he stared at her, the gleam of his eyes in the darkness of the room the only thing she could see.

Then he touched his fingertips to her lips and kissed the back of them.

Belle knew her smile was verging on the idiotic.

It wasn't true love's kiss, and probably never would be, but it was true love.

Civilised Existence

A Once Upon a Time Story
by Fyrie

Part 10 of 17

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