Disclaimer Time: I do not own Once Upon A Time or any of the characters from that show. Nor do I make any money off of this story. This is done purely for entertainment purposes.
-Michelle

It wasn't just that Belle had had the need to prove to Rumplestiltskin that she could be more than just a damsel in distress. That she could be more than just the pretty book keeper. Belle had honestly wanted to HELP him. To not only find his son's memento, but to keep Rumple from going to that awful place inside him, that dark place that kept him from being a completely good man and instead made him into some cruel beast.

She was willing to do anything. Even if it meant going alone to Hook's ship, in search of Bae's scarf. And really, what was one pirate, when Belle had faced down not one, but two beasts in her short but eventful life?

It was thinking like that, that made her less nervous, Belle creeping around the inside of the ship. She was barely reacting to the fact the wooden planks seemed to magnify her every sound, her footsteps echoing loudly over and over again. If Hook WAS on this ship, he'd have already found her, guided by all the noise she was making. The fact that the pirate had yet to appear? Why it only bolstered her courage, Belle almost enjoying this little adventure.

Just as she would enjoy the look on Rumple's face, when she presented him with Bae's scarf, the garment and Belle none the worse for wear for all the trouble Hook had tried to cause. And maybe, just maybe, that pirate himself, would come to someday appreciate what Belle had done for him too. Both men would be unharmed thanks to Belle's interference, neither one having to die.

Belle truly thought she was solving everything, in sneaking onboard Hook's ship. She didn't know how bad the blood was between the two men. Didn't realize the extent of Rumplestiltskin's misdeeds, or to what lengths Hook was willing to go to for revenge. Simply put, Belle didn't know she was deluding herself where both Hook and Rumplestiltskin were concerned.

Using the same smarts that had allowed her to research and identify the boat part that had led her to Hook's ship, Belle deduced that the pirate would keep his most valuable items close to where he slept. And certainly his bedroom was a treasure trove of expensive and valuable things, Belle finding chests of coins, the amount of gold and silver the likes of which would have set her poor father and his kingdom salivating.

There was also trinkets, and jewels, even small, finely wrought pieces of porcelain. The few books in the room intrigued her most of all, Belle noting they were all leather bound first editions from their home world. There was even a solid gold compass laying on the desk whose drawers she had rifled through. And expensive looking clothing stuffed inside the closet, though she could not find Bae's scarf amidst all that leather.

There was even a case that held nothing but different hooks, each one finely polished, each one just different enough from all the others. Belle wondered what reason Hook would have to have them all be so different, the woman nearly giggling out loud at the thought of Hook color coordinating his outfits to match.

Eventually Belle had searched every possible nook and cranny but one. The bed loomed larger than life, it's frame bolted to the floor, to keep it from sliding during the ship's travels on the rough seas. What felt like silk or a good imitation of it, covered the bed, but Belle wasn't interested in the top of it. Not when she was eying the dark crawl space beneath it, the woman slowly dropping down to her knees.

There was a book on the floor, some ratty old journal that looked worn and well used. Belle was curious, but not enough to waste time on it, instead trying to reach for whatever might be under the bed. The very tips of her fingers touched something soft, but her attempts to grab it met with failure. But Belle was determined, crawling half under the bed, intent on that soft fabric that she hoped was Bae's scarf.

"Well now..." A husky tone from somewhere behind her. "That ass is as fine and welcoming a sight as I've ever been privileged to see."

She actually hit her head when the voice spoke to her. As sudden, as unexpected as his arrival was, even more surprising was what he had said. And the downright admiring tone he had used. Belle blushed furiously in the darkness under the bed, the bump on her head throbbing.

There was no helping it, Belle having to crawl backwards out from under the bed. As undignified as it was to be seen like that, to have had her posterior be the first thing Hook saw when he walked in on her in his bedroom, what Belle faced when she turned to him, wasn't exactly any better.

Eye to eye with the area of his pants just under his belt's buckle, Belle wondered how Hook had snuck up on her so easily. So quietly.

"Looking for this?" Hook asked, his tone amused. His expression was too, once Belle remembered to jerk her gaze upwards. The pirate was grinning, Bae's scarf in his hand.

Reacting in a split instant, Belle was still too slow, as she attempted to make a lunge for the scarf. She ended up plastered against Hook's front, the pirate holding the scarf higher out of her reach, his other arm going around her. The blunt side of his hook was at the small of her back, Belle's blush maintained as she made eye contact with the pirate.

"Give that back!" She started to say, but found him distracting with them pressed so close together. Certainly she would have never noticed his blazing blue eyes, or how that amusement reflected within them also glinted with a hint of mischief. Distracting, and almost impossible to keep from not noticing he had pressed her closer, their lips close enough to kiss if one of them would move in just the right way.

If Belle thought she had been blushing before, now she turned even redder. Not liking that she was thinking of kisses, or that she had noted how sensual his mouth looked to be. She attempted to move free of him, and that arm around her tightened it's grip, holding her easily, even as Belle squirmed.

Had Hook picked up on her unease? Was that why he kept on moving with her, staying right in her face, so that his lips were always teasingly too close? Certainly he helped shift her to fit better against his body, Belle noting the powerful build, and every hard muscle of a form that was fine.

Face flaming with her embarrassment, Belle hoped he was as distracted by her nearness, as she was by his. Not because she wanted him to be attracted to her, but for the opportunity it might offer her. She attempted to lunge for the scarf again, Hook tossing it away, but not before he made a tsking sound.

"Now, now lass..." Belle couldn't tear her eyes off of Hook, not even for a brief glance to gauge where the scarf had landed. "Don't you know better than to try and steal from a pirate?"

His words took a moment to register, and then Belle was indignant. "That doesn't belong to you."

"I believe the saying is, finders keepers...?"

"But you didn't find it!" Belle pointed out. "You purposefully took it from Rumple's safe."

His lips quirked just a little, as though he found it funny, the name she affectionately used when referring to Rumplestiltskin. "Yes, I did take it." He agreed. "But then, RUMPLE has always been bad at taking care of his possessions, let alone keeping them."

Why did she get the feeling Hook was talking about more than just the inanimate? But before she could hazard any true guesses, Hook was murmuring almost husky like to her.

"I wonder what else Rumple has that I can take?"

She was going to slap him. Really she was. Her lips actually parted on an outrage gasp, Belle's right arm tensing in preparation of the slap. But before she could launch the attack, his lips touched hers. And it was nothing like Rumplestiltskin's kiss.

Not that Belle had much experience with kissing him. In fact, she could count on one hand, and still have fingers left over as to the number of times she and Rumplestiltskin had actually kissed. And each time, while wonderful in it's own way, had been outright chaste. A mere brushing of lips together when compared to the hungry way Hook had at Belle's mouth now.

She actually made a sound, more surprised than protesting. Belle had never realized a kiss could be so deep, so wet. And though she was a woman educated by books, Hook's tongue still caught her by surprise. She knew OF kissing with tongues, having read this world's more...salacious and titillating books. Full of descriptions of sexual exploits, both wanted and not, Belle had rapidly developed an unhealthy addiction to this realm's idea of romance novels.

Of course reading and actually experiencing was two very different things, and Belle firmly told herself she wanted no one to kiss her like this but Rumplestiltskin. She just had to be patient, perhaps give Rumple a little nudge in the direction she wanted things to go. In the meantime, she shouldn't be experimenting, and she shouldn't be enjoying the pirate's kiss.

Wait, shouldn't? Belle shook with fury, telling herself she most definitely wasn't enjoying this. Never mind that it was heady, exciting, thrilling. Hook was a pirate, and an enemy, bound and determined to hurt Rumple. He'd use Belle herself if that's what it took, and she couldn't allow it.

But his hand now free of the scarf, was in her hair, holding her steady for his every dark impulse. His hook was still at her back, his arm still pinning her in place. Belle tried to squirm free, but it did nothing save make her whole front rub against his body.

To her mortification, she felt her nipples go stiff, Belle hoping, praying Hook wouldn't notice. The last thing she needed was for him to think she was inviting him, and why oh why wasn't he terrible at this? Maybe then she'd have been able to do something more than just voice a half hearted scream, Belle fighting not to melt any more than she might have already had. Her lips trembled, Belle fearing they were developing a mind of their own. A need of their own, to respond and kiss Hook back. And just as she was ready to give in, to give him that favorable response, he pulled back, breathing as heavy as she.

"Aye..." He said, his voice coming out on rasping breaths. "Aye lass, that will do."

Belle was dazed, confused, her chest heaving with the need for air. In that moment, if Hook's arm hadn't been around her, she would have collapsed onto the floor. She had barely registered what he had said, and her gaze was fixed on that mouth of his. Belle knew she should say something, should muster some indignant reaction to what had just happened. And she would, just as soon as she could remember something to respond to, other than the fact Hook had just kissed her in a way that made her toes curl in their shoes.

It wasn't until Hook had tipped them both down onto the bed's soft downy mattress, that Belle finally thought of something to say. Something she thought, HOPED, would be enough of a slap in the fact, to stop Hook from going any further.

"It's not enough that you took one woman from Rumple, you have to try again?"

It was a direct hit Belle had scored, the woman seeing the flinching look in Hook's eyes. But why did he show her such a wounded look, such raw pain when Hook was the one guilty of stealing Rumple's wife? Not close to understanding it, the look flashed away, Hook once again full of mischief and smirks.

"And are you close to being taken, lass?"

She blinked, then quickly shook her head at both of them. Him for the question asked, and her for the fact she had actually started to pause to think about it! She'd wonder what was wrong with her, but Belle knew. It was that damn kiss. It had affected her more than she had expected, more than she wanted. Well she wouldn't let it a second time, not when she knew what to expect, and was ready to guard against reacting.

"Shame." Hook said in response, never losing that grin. "Guess I'll have to do more to persuade you."

"There is nothing you can do..." She trailed off at the way his eyes lit up. Damn, but it figured Hook would be the type of man who liked a challenge.

"You do realize I'll be wanting to test that resolve of yours." It was then that she tried to scoot out from under him, Hook shifting with her so that her only avenue of escape was to back up to the bed's head board. And even that didn't get her very far, Hook crawling after her.

"Rumple will kill you." She stated, doing her best not to shake.

"Yes, I've no doubt one of us will be dead before this can come to a true end." Hook looked serious for one single instant, before that rakish smile flashed back into place. "But in the meantime, I intend to enjoy myself fully."

Something low in her body tightened in response to the way he purred out those words. It was a threat, she was sure of it, and yet Belle was getting all a flutter from his tone of voice, and the way he looked at her.

"What...what makes you think I'll just let you?" Belle asked. He gave her a look as though she was completely naive. "So what if you're bigger, and stronger than me. I won't simply just lie down and let you...let you..."

Oh God, he was kissing her again! And it felt just as good as the first one. Maybe even better, Belle fighting not to swoon.

She'd actually put a hand on his shoulder, but her fingers were digging into the leather of his coat, rather than trying to shove him away. Her other hand was caught by Hook, Belle not paying attention, not suspecting anything strange was going on. Not until she felt the metal encircle her thin wrist, Belle trying to jerk her arm free, and finding she couldn't move it more than an inch or two.

Even as she made an infuriated sound, Hook caught and cuffed her other wrist to the headboard of the bed. He had effectively bound her, and there was nothing she could do, Belle struggling, testing her restraints with hard jerking motions.

"Easy there lass." Hook's attempted to stop her, making another tsking sound. "You'll succeed at nothing but hurting yourself."

"You tricked me!" Belle snapped. He didn't deny it. "Why?" Then her eyes widened, Belle finally giving in to her shaking. "What are you going to do to me?" Hook's smirk was hardly reassuring, Belle resuming her violent struggles, fervently wishing she had done something more than just react in a daze to his kisses.

Dun Dun Dun...To Be Continued...

Ah...this requires some explaining. I've been trying to work on writing Taken chapter two. Only got a few paragraphs in, but doubt has sorta been paralyzing me. Plus I had a sorta bad headache, so didn't get much if any writing done yesterday.

So instead I was emptying out old emails, and found a plot bunny I had which was meant to be a Voltron story. Where the female ends up tied to the guy's bed. (There was a little more to it than that, but I can't say without spoiling my initial intents for THIS story here...)But I couldn't figure out how she ended up in his room, so never wrote it. Well reading that email where I talked about the idea, it made me realize I could use it for Hook and Belle! But...this was meant to be a one shot...however...I couldn't get it to exactly go like my initial thought. Belle hasn't been doing a lot of wild imagining yet . I may have to change the summary for future chapters, and damn but this is starting to take on a life of it's own. I mean, it's going much better I think than my attempt at Taken. So what was meant to be a one shot, I've already got plot bunnies in my head, with a way to make this a multi chapter story. Still gonna try to work on Taken though!

-Michelle