Author's Note: Please note that this chapter is where the story earns the M rating I gave it. If you don't want to read anything regarding sexual content, please skip this short chapter.

Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 9: The Love of a Monster

Night in the desert was as harsh as the day, though frigid cold. Rubbing her arms, Zelda sat with her knees up and hunched forward, vainly trying to soak up the warmth of their small fire. They'd sought refuge among one of the many cliffs and rocky outcrops scattered about the sandy landscape and Ganondorf had deemed it safe to have a fire because of that cover. They wouldn't be seen by prying eyes.

Her gaze shifted to his silent form, sat stiffly across the fire from her. It was moments like that, when they stopped, that she was reminded of his quiet attraction to her. He'd never voiced it, had never touched her with anything more than a strong hand meant to still her small but sure steps, but that night in the forest, four days ago now, had proved his feelings. He'd blushed and refused to answer her question. Why are you still here? She knew why now. He was there for her protection. He wanted her, he yearned for her, he was loyal because of his crush on her. Was it love? She wasn't sure if he could feel such a thing. He was strong but broken in strange ways by that monster that had controlled him for centuries. Perhaps true love was beyond him. Or perhaps he only believed it was. She didn't know. She also didn't know what to do about his affections. Did she return them? Well, that depended on if he was bound to break her heart. He was a kinder man without Demise, but the demon hadn't made him go for the Triforce in the first place.

"You say you did it for your people." Zelda spoke suddenly. It earned her a swift and somewhat startled look. She hadn't spoken for a good hour, after all. His attention forced her to continue on. "The Triforce, I mean. You said you did it for your people."

Ganondorf exhaled slowly. "I did, but I shouldn't have. Their extinction is on my shoulders. My actions were far too bold and my intentions were... less than ideal when it came down to it. I made the Sacred Realm a place of evil. When it changed, that was when I knew I'd damned everyone. Hylians, the Gerudo... even myself. It's a wonder Hyrule still stands to this day."

Zelda hesitated only a moment before making her decision. Rising, the princess moved silently around the fire and sat at the man's side. She placed a hand to his jaw, feeling along the bright, red beard there. The soft pad of her thumb moved to touch his lower lip. It was with great satisfaction that she watched as his eyes lidded and his lips parted obligingly for her. This time when he exhaled it was a motion made of contentment. Then his eyes fluttered shut behind red eyelashes. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

It was a soft kiss, gentle and above all, an experiment. A worthy experiment however, as he was enthusiastic in chasing her lips after, near demanding a second kiss that was far more searing and passionate that the first. "You're so full of fire, aren't you my Gerudo?" The princess breathed against his lips. His only reply was to all but purr while her fingers trailed along his neck, arching his head back to give her better access. So she simply brought his head down to kiss him again.

She wasn't sure exactly how it had happened, the details were hazy, but all too soon she had him shirtless, fingers trailing along his chest hair. He was a beast of a man but that night the beast had been tamed and he'd become gentle with her, pliable and easily shaped by her slender, clever fingers.

Zelda gasped when his large hands found the ties of her dress and removed it entirely. Then his hands were on her breasts, teasing and kneading. Not long after they came together with grunts of pleasure, coupling on sheets on the desert floor and using their body heat to stay warm. No longer was the desert cold that night, not when she had Ganondorf to keep her so hot that she felt sweat beading beneath her breasts.

That night in the midst of passion was the first time he roared out that he loved her. She believed him.