#unknowntrombone

He gulped.  As the moments went by without a sound from him, Belle’s confident mask slipped to one of concern.  “Rum?  Is this okay?”

He hesitated.  The truth of the matter is that it was more than okay.  The sheer eroticism of the idea had him half hard in his Armani pants already and wondering how he’d never thought of this before.  Not that it would’ve mattered.  He never would have trusted anyone enough to hand over the dagger anyway.  Not until Belle.

The problem was that he wasn’t trusting Belle.  Not really.  That dagger was his weakness and his shame.  His resolution to return the true dagger to Belle and end the deception had lasted a whopping six hours.  This idea was fraught with danger.  If he didn’t play the part just right…it would all come crashing down around his ears.  It was terrifying.

And exhilarating. 

He reasoned with himself.  This was Belle.  She was often the follower in the bedroom, not for lack of passion.  Just lack of experience.  For her to initiate a game was rare.  He couldn’t possibly turn her away.

Bowing his head in a show of submission, he placed a hand over his heart.  “What do you command, my Lady?”

Her smile was bright and full of promise.

He managed to convince her that verbal commands would be gentler and she grasped at the compromise eagerly.

Her commands ringing in his ears, he bent his whole being to the task of pleasuring his true love in any way she asked.  He was normally a passionate man but this time was different.  There was an air of fear and danger that added another level of intensity to his lovemaking tonight.  He pushed himself to the brink and, if the sounds of her exclamations of pleasure were any indication, Belle was well pleased.

In the aftermath they lay tangled together, sweaty and spent.  He panted shallowly, half sprawled on top of her.  She hummed contentedly, arms wrapped around him and fingers tracing absentminded patterns on his back.

“That was…”

He chuckled.  “Indeed.  Quite inspired on your part love.”

He could feel her blush where his cheek rested on her breast.  “I was going to say a success, but I’ll take the compliment.  I was wondering though…”

She trailed off and he wearily lifted his head to look down at her.  She seemed to be puzzling something.  “Belle?” He prompted.

“Well…it’s just that…when you were doing that thing…with…um…with your…” Her blush was brilliant and he smirked.

“With my tongue?” She nodded, biting her lip in a way that made him melt.  “Yes, I remember.  What about it?”

“Well…I could’ve sworn that I asked you to touch me as well…I mean I was a little out of it.  I may have only thought it but I’m pretty sure I was touching the dagger at the time.”

It took every ounce of willpower not to let his face show his true emotions.  This was exactly what he had feared.  Thinking fast, he decided to go with the truth.  “I didn’t feel anything love.  I promise I would’ve obeyed that command had I felt it.” He promised with a wink.  She giggled, the vibrations sending shivers through his body.  “Are you sure you were commanding and not just wishing?  I’d like to think your focus was a little…less than perfect at that particular moment.”

“I suppose you’re right.” She said uncertainly.  She brightened, her blue eyes meeting his and twinkling with happiness.  “Not that I’m complaining of course.  It was wonderful.”

He smiled back, internally sagging in relief.  “Indeed it was dearie.  Thank you.”  After that he deftly turned the topic to safer subjects.

Before long exhaustion caught them both and they slowly settled, still wrapped in each other in the big bed.  Rumpelstiltskin lay awake spooned up behind Belle.  As he drifted to sleep, the pirate’s threat rang in his ears.  Something would need to be done about that. And soon.