| Tears had already started to fall from Belle’s eyes and Brian felt the wet spot on his shirt. He disregarded it, not caring about anything at that moment but reassuring Belle. Couldn’t she feel how much she meant to him? Didn’t she know he would never let her go again? Sitting up a little she gave him a weak smile. “You brought me here?” His eyes opened wide. “Who else do you think asked for you to be a part of this video?” She shrugged self consciously, her fingers rubbing over the wet spot on his shirt absently. “I didn’t know for sure.” Her fingers stilled and she looked back up at him. “I had hoped it was you. My agent didn’t know. It all seemed so hush hush.” “I think that was my fault,” Brian said to her sheepishly. His hand was gently rubbing her back as he spoke. “I asked the casting director to be discreet. I never even told the guys you were coming. I didn’t mean for you to be confused by it.” Belle chuckled. “They don’t know?” Brian shook his head. “They’ll be surprised.” Falling silent again she contemplated all Brian was telling her. He had wanted her to come. He was the one who wanted her here. But why? What did it all mean? Could she dare to hope? “Brian. Why did you ask for me?” The look he gave her melted her heart. “Belle. Don’t you know why I wanted you here?” He lifted her gaze with a finger under her chin. Looking into his eyes was distracting when she needed to think clearly. She looked back down at her fingers that were again laced together tightly. “Belle,” Brian said getting her attention again, she peeked up at him. “It was me who instigated you being asked. I would have done it much sooner and then this song came up. All I could think about was you. Every time I had to sing that song I would think of you and ache for you. When we were told we were going to reshoot this video I knew it was now or never.” He ran his finger down her cheek softly trailing down to her bottom lip. Belle’s tongue snuck out and touched the tip of his finger. The amber of her eyes darkened with desire and he knew he wanted her. He had sworn to himself that no matter how much he felt like this, nothing more would happen between them until they worked things out. Deepening the relationship would only lead to more intense hurt if it didn’t work out. He would kiss her at least, but no more than that. He wanted to kiss her now. He wanted to kiss her deeply and lovingly. Belle hadn’t said a word the entire time he had spoken to her about the way he had been feeling and he suddenly felt uneasy. Didn’t she feel the same way? “Belle?” She looked up and he saw tears in her eyes and his heart broke. He knew in his heart that if this wasn’t what she wanted he would let her go, just so she would be happy even if it meant his own unhappiness. He had though by the way she kissed him though, that she did want the same thing. His mind was spinning with the possibilities and reasons. “We wasted so much time,” Belle whispered. Brian barely heard her, but amazingly he had and his heart rejoiced. He lowered his lips to kiss her softly on the cheek. “We have. Three whole years.” He kissed her forehead tenderly. “We can fix that from now on.” “Can we Brian? Can we really? It’s been agony without you.” “We can Belle. We’ll make sure of it.” He kissed each eyelid softly. “We are both busy,” he continued in a whisper, “but we are both able to take a break and visit the other, wherever we are.” He kissed her other cheek. “And when one of us is off we can be together. Does that sound okay? Do you think that can work?” She was falling under Brian’s spell again and knew they still had a lot of talking to do to work things out but his tender kisses and softly spoken words were driving her crazy. “I think we can,” she said in a hushed tone. Kissing her chin, he sighed and looked up into her amber eyes again. They turned even darker than before, blazing with desire and his heart slammed in his chest. All he wanted now was to kiss her. “I know we can,” he murmured into her ear sending shivers up her spine before bringing his lips around to meet hers. Belle whimpered as his lips crashed down on hers, his tongue seeking hers out eagerly. This would be the beginning of their future. ********** “Well, I’ll be.” Kevin said the next morning, not trying in the slightest to hide his surprise when he saw Brian and Belle walk on to the set hand in hand. “Look at you two. Hello Belle, what brings you here?” Belle smiled shyly. “Brian does.” She giggled at Kevin’s eyebrows lifting in surprise. “You wanna tell me what’s going on here Brian?” Kevin asked him. “I dunno! Do I Belle?” he grinned in her direction and she again felt that longing take residence in her body. She raised her eyebrows and shrugged even though her body was reacting wildly to the man at her side. She was finding it hard to concentrate on anything but Brian, and it looked like he was experiencing the same feelings too. “You two, Earth to Belle and Brian,” Kevin said waving his hand in front of them. “Tell me what’s going on.” It was obvious Brian wasn't going to say anything so Belle turned to Kevin, as much as she wanted to keep looking at Brian. “Well, it’s like this Kevin. Brian decide that it would be good if I appeared in this video with him, like I had in the first video of this song. He organised it all.” Brian had explained the whole idea to her the night before, from when the idea had come to him through to her signing the contract. He still had no idea what her contract had entailed. Maybe when they were old and grey together she would tell him. “Organised it all hey? I think it had a lot more than thinking the video would look good with you in both Belle.” He eyed their hands entwined tightly together. “I think it more had to do with a certain singer missing a certain actress for the past 3 years making everyone else’s life a misery.” “Kevin. I wasn’t that bad!” Brian squeaked out, blushing. “Oh yes you were. Okay, we could live with him. The worst that he had ever been was yesterday! Now I know why.” Kevin continued. “That’s because I was expecting you any moment, then I found out you weren’t coming,” Brian whispered into Belle’s ear sending delightful shivers down her spine. Kevin didn’t miss a beat. “He was unbearable after lunch. You really shouldn’t have done that to us Belle.” “I’ll make it up to you Kevin,” Belle said laughing. “Yes,” Kevin said with affection. “Now come here.” He captured her free hand and pulled her towards him away from Brian and into a hug. “Just make Brian happy,” he whispered for only her to hear. “And in doing so I will be happy,” she said. “You have a deal.” The three of them embraced, only to be interrupted by Howie and the explanations began all over again and then again when AJ and Nick appeared. They were all glad to see Belle and thrilled to see her with Brian, all eager to tease Brian that he would now be easier to live with. Filming for the video shoot went smoothly, particularly Brian and Belle’s scene. With a professional as Belle was it was easy to complete the filming in record time giving Brian and Belle more time together alone to work out their future. Belle wanted to cancel her next movie contract, but Brian wouldn’t hear of it. He assured her things would work this time, both of them being more financial as well as having stability in their careers. He promised her, this time things would work out. ********** Three months later they found themselves on a break from their busy schedule and they decided to spend some quiet time with just the two of them at a secluded beachside house. They needed this time alone. Time to plan their next few months, but most importantly, time to really get to know one another. Even though they had been in contact almost daily since the video clip was made, they had no more time together. That time came now. There was no media here to harass them as they had in the weeks leading up to their break. A famous singer and famous actress becoming a couple was big news on the entertainment scene, but neither one of them cared for the publicity it brought them. They walked quietly along the beach, hand in hand as they watched the sun setting over the ocean of the California coastline. The sky was awash with purple and gold painting a beautiful scene of nature. Belle gasped as she saw the sun dipping below the horizon, one last burst of colour lighting the sky. “Ahhh, it’s beautiful Brian.” He looked down at her tenderly. “Not nearly as beautiful as you.” Belle smiled at him radiantly. She always felt so loved by Brian when he looked at her and spoke words like that to her. “We’re going to make this work aren’t we Brian?” “We are making this work, it is working Belle. I’m not going to lose you again. I love you too much.” Belle stopped still looking at Brian wide-eyed. “What did you say?” she asked him, her heart pounding erratically. He turned her to face him and pulled her into his arms. “I said I love you Belle. I don’t when it happened but I am sure it was 3 years ago in the mountains. Each day we were apart was a nightmare and as each day passed I loved you more. Now I finally have the chance to say it to you. I love you Belle, more than anything.” She was not going to cry. Why then did her eyes feel so damp? She couldn’t cry now. Then a tear slipped down her cheek and he reached up to brush it away. Her throat felt constricted and she was speechless. He loved her! She took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. Finally words came. “Brian. I…” she trailed off. She wanted to tell him. “For so long now I have loved you,” she said in hushed tones, but Brian heard her every word. “There has been no one else since the day I met you. I knew even back then. And when we parted and I couldn’t see a way to fix it.” She looked up into his eyes, her own wet with tears. “I told you I was scared.” “There’s no need to be scared anymore. I won’t let anything happen to you, you won’t lose me.” He wiped some more tears from her cheek. “I am here, by your side forever, in body or spirit. Just know I won’t leave you.” Belle sniffed. “I love you Brian.” “I love you too Belle,” Brian said lowering his lips for a kiss. He knew he would never again break her heart. |