Chapter Thirty-Three
Julian
I just stare at Belle, her hands still tied over her head, her glorious body stretched in front of me. I can’t believe that she’s let me do everything to her that I have, that she’s seen the darkest parts of me and came back willingly .
Even more, I can’t believe she liked it. My fondest wish has always been to find someone who didn’t mind the things I wanted to do to her, who’d tolerate it once in a while, but a beautiful, smart woman who wants it just as bad as I do ?
She’s a dream .
I must be dreaming .
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur again, lost in a rapture .
“You too,” she finally whispers, and I smile, leaning over her .
“You don’t have to lie,” I murmur into her ear as I untie her bonds, taking her wrists between my hands and rubbing them, making sure that her circulation is okay .
“I’m not lying,” she says, taking her hands from me, sliding one through my hair and bringing my forehead down to hers. “Just because you’re imperfect doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful .”
I kiss her slowly, thoroughly. I explore every part of her mouth with my tongue and she lets me, yielding softly, mine to plunder .
“I can’t be,” I murmur. “Look at me. Look at the things I do .”
Belle laughs . It sounds like a chime ringing in the wind, and I stroke her hair with one hand .
“Why?” she says .
“It’s not…” I say. “They’re not good .”
She takes my hand in hers, twining our fingers together .
“I disagree,” she says, kissing me lightly. “I think they’re very good .”
I nuzzle my face against her hair, breathing her in .
“I love you,” I say .
“I love you too,” she whispers. “That’s why I came back. I couldn’t stand to be without you any longer .”
“Will you stay?” I ask .
There’s a tone in my voice I don’t know, soft and pleading. Belle holds my heart in both hands, and she could crush it instantly if she wanted to .
She pauses. I swallow hard .
“Please?” I whisper .
“I can stay tonight,” she says, her voice hesitant. “But, Julian, my father …”
“Marry me,” I say .
Belle holds her breath .
I hold my breath .
I didn’t mean to say it. It just came out, because I need her so desperately — I’m in love with this woman, and I can’t bear to see her go again .
“Marry me, Belle,” I say again, and suddenly I realize how much I mean it. “I know this is sudden, and it’s spur of the moment, and I don’t have a ring or anything but I love you. I need you. I want you to be my bride, to be mine forever, from this instant onward .”
Her eyes are wide, and she blinks at me, taken completely by surprise. I squeeze her hand in mine, and she squeezes back .
“You don’t have to answer now. I know it’s sudden, it’s probably impulsive, but I mean every single thing I say, Belle — ”
“Yes,” she says .
I stop, stunned .
“I’ll marry you,” she whispers. “I love you. I couldn’t stand to be without you .”
Suddenly I’m struck by a happiness so intense, so complete , that it’s dizzying .
“We can move your father in with us,” I say. “He’ll have care night and day, we can get him a laboratory to do his experiments in and if he hates the monarchy too much for that, I’ll set him up nearby — ”
Belle just starts laughing, and I stop in the middle of my sentence, puzzled .
“We can worry about that later,” she says. “Just kiss me .”
I do .