Beast wasn't an early riser; not by any means; but when his body had undergone the damage it had the day before; it was hard to not wake up when the slightest move of your leg felt like someone was pressing it together in a vice. He tensed up and pressed into something warm behind him. He almost didn't know who it was... almost. He moved his head and lifted it to get a better view of the doe beside him. Belle. He smiled gently at how her hair seemed to be in a dissaray; and her ears were so cute when she was so relaxed like that. He leaned down and started nuzzling her; something he would do with his old mate. Trying to keep her close; trying to enjoy the moment; wanting to be sweet and gentle and kind to her but not wanting her to know that he was capable of it. He breathed in deep and let out a slow breath. If waking up to the sight of her in the morning was his reward for nearly dying; he'd have to do it more often... He smiled wickedly as a thought came to him; and he began to lick at her face; tenderly; sweetly; the way he knew most females enjoyed. He would give her quite the wake up.

Belle gave a faint murmur and snuggled into the warmth beside her, so soft and cuddly. She didn't want to open her eyes just yet she was having such a nice dream, about a library. Her head lowered a bit as she tucked herself against the warm mass and then she tilted her head. Something felt nice, she leaned up into the faint little licks her ears falling back in contentment. Slowly they perked back up and she gave a faint yawn and murmur. "Hmmm?"
Slowly sleepily she managed to open her eyes a bit, at first everything was blurry. She blinked and shook her head a bit before giving a startled cry at the sight of Beast. Goodness but he looked larger now then he had before! "Oh!" She flopped over tangling her dress.

Beast had actually been feeling pretty good about himself; gaining a bit of that self worth back when it came to the ladies; especially the way she seemed to enjoy what all he was doing. And she looked even more beautiful when she yawned he just wanted to keep her close and never let her go. But when she gave that cry; and seemed to fall over herself in surprise and was that fear? He scowled; his good mood completely ruined. He was a beast after all; why wouldn't she view him any differently. "Good morning to you too." He told her bitterly.

"Ugh! You startled me! I forgot that I...stayed here last night..." She looked around and then back out at the roses that had made him so angry. She sighed and righted herself pulling her dress to untangle herself and lay back beside him. She snuggled against him a moment and gave a small happy sigh. "Your so warm..." She blushed and gave a half laugh "sorry..."

Beast watched her suspiciously and was happy to see she didn't go near her roses again; wounded leg or not no one would touch them except him. But when she lid down against him his breath caught in his throat and his tail began to wag of it's own accord. He closed his eyes and clenched his mouth shut; trying to gain his composure; trying to steel himself against how good she felt. "Belle." He said in a strained sort of voice before putting a fore leg over her body possessively and pulling her close; strength or not. He started to nuzzle her again and if she pulled away he probably wouldn't be able to go after her. "Belle you smell amazing."

She peered back at his tail and raised a brow curiously before laughing. "Thank You...thats a nice thing to say so early in the morning." She gave a little sniff, well she didn't smell bad, which was good. The way he placed his leg over her made her lean into him a bit. Her tongue flicked out over his muzzle before she shook her head. "Glad you seem to be feeling better...I'd best get back to my own room." She lowered her head to wriggle out from under him.

Beast put a bit of pressure on Belles body once she licked him. "No Belle." He told her; not really forcefully; but not in a way that he thought left any room for discussion. "No Belle I don't think you should." He told her seriously. Didn't she know how attractive she was? How irresistible she was? He'd been trying his damndest to not do anything to her with her consent; but it was getting harder and harder. "Belle~" He'd whisper into her ear if she was still close to him. "Do you know how hard it is; to go day after day; being in such close quarters with you; and never go near you? Never touch you? Feel you, smell you, taste you?" He asked licking her with each you. "I suggest; if you want to keep your innocence of your own will when I'm fully healed. You stay here with me in my room."

Her eyes widened as she felt him press closer and she moved her head back to frown at him. No? Why shouldn't she go back to her own room proper? Her eyes narrowed flashing a defiant band of green before the hazel color mellowed again and she eyed him. Her heart started to thud in her chest, the sound like a million drums in her ears. What-what was he saying? Why was he saying such things? Her legs trembled beneath her and she felt warmth flashes all across her skin.
"If I stay here, it will only be more tempting for you...you should know that. I'll go...and spare us both anymore...foolish ideas." She frowned at him and rose on shaky legs, except they wouldn't hold her slight frame and she folded herself back beside him.

Beast frowned when she frowned. He didn't want her getting anymore ideas of escape; not when he was injured like this. That would have been brutal for him; humiliating really. And when she said that; that US part, he smiled inwardly. He watched her rise; the frown still on her face; the frown still on his own; but it was replaced with a small victorious smile she she went back down besides him. He moved his leg out of the way before she laid on it and laid his head over hers pulling her a bit closer into her. "Belle; I'm too weak to do anything now; even if I wanted to do something 'foolish';" He told her chuckling lightly at the wording she'd used. "I wouldn't be able to do it; not unless you wanted it of course~" he practically purred to her; nipping at her ear playfully. "In which I would muster up the strength and work through the pain. And it would be worth it~ to hear the noises you would make. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me; living in the same place as such a beautiful doe as you? Seeing you every day; and not being able to do anything to you? Not being able to sneak into your room at night and bed you? You're lucky I'm built of stronger stuff Belle." He purred her name to her.

She huffed softly surprised with herself, why didn't she just force herself up and out of the room. She bumped his head and glared at him "You shouldn't look so cocky..." her gaze slowly softened as he pulled her closer. Was he trying to reassure her with his words? She blushed and turned her face away shaking her head at his scandalous talk. Her ear flicked and her tail gave a nervous twitch as she felt his fangs graze her ear. Goodness if she wasn't careful this Beast would devour her well and truly.
"I don't think we're quite familiar enough for THAT." She stated firmly and eyed him with the caution of a mouse staring at a cat. "I am thankful for your...so called self control though." She added dryly and offered him a small smile.

Beast wiped the look off of his face and tilted his head. "This better for you princess?" He asked, and obviously teasing tone to his voice. "and hey~ I can wait~ The winters here are very long and very cold~ and with out a thick fur like mine you'll freeze in this drafty place ever with all of the blankets in the cathedral wrapped around you. We'll become that familiar if you don't want to freeze to death. And I don't intend on letting you freeze to death.
He belted out a loud laugh that only lasted for a few moments at her joke. "You might be but I'm not!" he teased her nosing her shoulder playfully. "I'll tell you what; right outside my room; there's a bag of books~ " He told her motioning towards the door with his head. "there's an old place full of them around here. The Talons that live in the dead cities don't like to be there; they're not the bookish type like their brothers are. So it's nice and easy pickings. I wasn't sure what you'd like though... So I got a few things for you." He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal. "why don't you go get them and you can read while you stay the next few days with me?"


She would have told him she'd rather freeze then deal with his arrogance, but the truth was she quite enjoyed his warmth. Besides his company wasn't so bad, he was oddly charming at times when he tried. She laughed softly at the nudge and then blinked surprised by his words.
"Books?" She repeated hopefully and forced herself up and out in search for them, she adored books. Books she had found had the magic to transport your mind to a million different places, and evoked a hundred different emotions.
She peered outside and smiled as she located the bag quickly dragging it back inside and laying beside him. She nosed the bag open and gave a startled gasp of contentment at the array of books inside.
"Oh! Beast this is amazing...thank you..." She turned and gave his muzzle a small kiss before blushing and quickly turning to pull the first tome out. She was just going to have to take his advice and stay with him over the next few days...until she finished reading all these books.

If all it took was a few books to keep belle this close to him; to have her kiss him and lay against him like that. He'd gladly go out every day to bring her back something to read. He himself didn't care for reading. It was a waste of his time really. He spent most of his time watching things; hiding in the shadows and observing. It was who he was; how he acted. He didn't want to be a part of the outside world. not anymore. That's why he'd come here. And he would have gladly let himself die too if his guardian hadn't told him he'd burn in eternal damnation if he killed himself like that. Where the devil would be sure to make him relive everything a thousand times over.
Beast frowned inwardly; but kept a cool calm look on his face. He didn't want to upset Belle. And she had just thanked him. Who knows; maybe they were on better terms now? He nuzzled into her and smiled laying his head over her back. "You're welcome Belle."