So this is Love ● The Beast

{2}

Lightly pushing against Gaston's broad chest, I smiled nervously as I readjusted my bag on my opposite shoulder, my shoulders grew sore from the weight. "What a pleasure." I said as the villagers of the town walked around us continuing their daily chores and jobs. Some glanced our way, mostly women. "What brings you to town at this hour? You're never here before the suns peak."

Honestly, I couldn't think of anything else to say. I always try to leave the house before sunrise, but as I learned throughtout our time in Villeneuve, Gaston is the most persistent man I've ever met. Gaston had a way of finding me whenever I was in town, it mattered not when or where I was thought out the day. However, it was early to be out despite the busy townspeople already beginning their day, many still had yet to leave their homes.

"My, Josette, you should know by now." He said, stepping forwards. I stepped back in response, crossing my arm's waiting for an answer.

Gaston didn't seem fazed as I widened the space between us. "What else should I come here for, if not to see those gorgeous paintings I've seen all over town. Marvelous work, I must say." He then chuckled lowly, his hand moving forwards to grab mine. I let him out of curiosity, he slowly leaned down and placed his lips onto the back of my hand. "And I must not forget the woman behind all of it. Josette, such a beauty." He admitted, his voice growing husky and charmingly low.

I sucked in a breath before pulling my hand from his grasp, he straightened up unfazed as always although I could see his brow furrow. "Thank you. I'm truly flattered." I forced a smile before I began walking past him, he followed. "It's wonderful to hear that you're fond of my work," I said as I held the strap of my bag between my fingers.

Gaston walked beside me his hands behind his back. "Who isn't?" He boasted, "Actually, I don't believe any portrayer has captured my likeness as magnificently as you have Miss Wandler. Your skill with a brush has caught many eyes, including mine." His lips pressed together as his lips twitched upwards, his eyes crinkled fondly as he met my brown eyes.

"Oh, Gaston, that's so kind of you, really, I--" I adjusted the strap of my bag again with a small huff, the bags weight pressing deeply onto my shoulder. "--can't thank you enough--" I paused and gasped as my supply bag was suddenly lifted from my grasp and over my shoulder. "Hey!"

I raised a brow in surprise as Gaston held the bag in his right hand with ease, his head tilted up in pride as if to say 'Don't fight me, just let me.' "A fine woman such as yourself shouldn't be carrying such a heavy load like this. A man must provide, my lady." He advised as we continued our stride towards the middle of town towards the market square. "Specially when she could be carrying something else entirely." He glanced down at the corset concealing my belly, hinting at something I didn't understand.

I placed my hands in my hips, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness around my shoulders. "You're quite a gent, Monsieur. I don't remember the last time you've been such a gentlemen, however." I stopped in my tracks with a sly smile as if to say 'I caught you'. "You want to tell me or ask me something, don't you?"

Gaston stopped with me, turning towards me fully. He spread his arm's out his eyebrows raising, "I have nothing to hide, I am an open man. You should know that by now, Josette." He implied and I narrowed my eyes at him and he only chuckled as he stepped forwards. "But, if you must know. I was curious," he starts.

My hands drop to my sides and I raise a brow in question. "About what exactly?"

"When I take your hand in marriage, we must find a way to incorporate your work within our home instead of throughout the town." He said bluntly, a thoughtful grin settled upon his face.

I gaped at him in disbelief. "Marriage? When did you start courting me, exactly, Gaston? I have never accepted any kind of status with you." I snapped, crossing my arm's. "And are you telling me that I would have to give up my work? I've made a good, stable name for myself and I am not about to let that go to waste because a man wants me to give it up."

Gaston's smile faded quickly, replaced with a deep frown and creases beginning to form on his forehead. "I have allowed us to skip the process of courtship, it seems pointless with me being such an open man to you Josette. And I've found everything I needed, the moment I saw your face, to know I want you as my wife." He reaches forwards his fingers coiling around a lock of my dark hair. "Your work can still be used, the rooms for our little ones will need some color and I can think of other things we could do with your paints."

I pulled away, glaring at him harshly. "That is not up to you, Monsieur! You don't control whether I want to court you or not, my decision should stay mine. And I do not appreciate that you've thought so lowly of me to think that I would want to skip such a wonderful moment such as courtship, a bond only grows with it, it's not meant to be treated like a side step." I poked his chest angrily before stepping away fuming silently, "Just because of the way I look, you find yourself having no respect for our relationship or what I think. You wanted an answer and now you've got one: the answer is no, Gaston, I won't marry you."

Gaston's eye's narrowed before he raised his head, his eyes still locked with mine. He circled me as I looked away from him my nails digging into the fabric of my clothing. "Do you not think of children, Josette. A woman of your age should be married and with child, your on your way to the coming age of 20, are you not? A perfect time to conceive your first." He hinted gesturing to his own body instead of mine, a smirk coming to his lips. "A husband, such as myself, is all you need. I can provide for you, Josette. Your belly swollen with my child is all I wish from you." A large hand came around to rest over my flat stomach and I immediately turned to shove him away.

His unoccupied hand, however, made its way around my waist before I could move away, tightening considerably as he pulled me to him, my hand met his chest to push away. "I do not Love you, Gaston." I gasped out to him.

He only chuckled, leaning down with his hot breath hitting the side of my cheek, I turned away pushing against him. "You will." He assured me before letting me go and moving forwards towards the market.

I watched as he walked past me, his head held high as always with that charming smiles that made every other woman swoon, all I could do was ball my fists up as I walked ahead towards him. Awaiting to reach the destination so I could continue my work and be as far away from Gaston as I could be.

As we reached my workplace, I took my bag from Gaston's grip without a word before silently making my way into the store Deboef held, my latest mural decorating the wooden shutters. I could feel his eye's on the back of my head as I quickly scurried out of his sight.

Why out of all people, did he have to choose me?