His lips twitched upwards at that smile on her face, the way her eyes glimmered so brightly. She was happy. For the first time in years, he got to see Belle truly happy, and it was because of him. The thought that he could actually inspire something so beautiful in her, that made her smile and blush and forget all the troubles that had accosted her from the moment he'd cast her out, was enough to bring back a smile on his face, wide and true. If his way were the way of the world, not a creature alive would make her unhappy. Especially not those that plagued her now; that plagued them both.
As if her smile wasn't enough, those words... The darkest parts of him awoke the beast, growling and purring in its gilded cage. Oh, if only sweet Belle knew what those words did to him. But she could hardly mean what he thought, not when she had far more consuming thoughts on her mind. Not when they had met in this town only an hour previous. It wasn't as if he needed it, not now. Just to feel her and touch her, have her sit beside him in this small room, was enough to sate the desires of the past four years.