Regina flushed blood red, after being caught in such a compromising position. She tried to remove herself from his lap, but felt his hands on her hips, keeping her there.

"No need to rush now." Robin said as he didn't want her to leave.

"Let go of me!" Regina said.

"Sorry about interrupting you Robin." Ruby said as she tried to usher everyone back into the building. "Let's go get some free drink everyone." Leaving Robin and Regina alone again.

"I can't believe that just happened." Regina said.

"It was bound to happen, sooner or later between us." Robin said.

"I have to get out of here." Regina said as she quickly moved away from him, knowing he was letting her go, he easily could have kept her where he wanted her. She took a few steps away from him, straightening her dress.

"What's the rush?" Robin said as stood and followed up behind her.

"Are you serious? We were just caught, making out in front of all these people! I had my legs wrapped around you, with my dress hitched up and your hands under it." Regina explained.

"They didn't see anything, I wouldn't have let them." Robin said.

"That's not the point, what if someone took a picture of us? I'll be the laughing stock in the media." Regina said.

"I won't let that happen to you, I promise." Robin said.

"You're not that powerful, Mr. Locksley." Regina said as she turned around to look at him.

"You might be surprised, and it's Robin." Robin said as he walked up to her, putting his hands on her shoulders and caressing them lightly, sending shivers down her spine.

"I have to get out of here. Now!" Regina said as she started to head around the outside of the building, when she felt Robin place his hand on her arm, stopping her.

"I do believe you lost your bet with Ruby." Robin said with a smirk on his face.

"You would have to remember that." Regina said as she turned around to face him.

"So?" Robin prodded again.

"Will you go to Ruby's wedding with me this weekend?" Regina asked through clenched teeth.

"Why, Regina Mills, I would be honored to be your date this weekend." Robin said as he smiled down at her. They both turned to the sound of the patio doors opening up.

"Well, I'd say you two have caught up with one another?" Ruby asked as she walked up to them.

"Yes, you might say that cousin." Robin said as he looked at Regina.

"Enjoying yourselves? I hope Regina is taking care of you, Robin." Ruby's eyes sparkled happily as she stood between her cousin and her friend.

Regina watched as Robin, ever the charmer, turned his blue eyes on her, the man oozed charm from every pore. "This is quite the party, Ruby. Victor is a very fortunate man, and yes, Regina is looking after me beautifully. In fact she's just asked me to escort her to your wedding tomorrow night." His glance slid back to where Regina, stood, his eyes gleaming with pure male satisfaction and something more..."I couldn't be happier."

"Well, not that I'm partial, but I don't think you could ask for a better escort Regina." Ruby said as she knew why her friend had asked Robin. "Well, I've been away from my fiancee for longer than I wish, so if you two will excuse me." Ruby said, not waiting for an answer, as she smiled and headed back inside.

"Now, may I leave?" Regina asked as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Asking for permission? I'm impressed, I'm not your husband, yet. That being said, I'll escort you to your car." Robin said as he placed his hand on the small of her back to walk her to her car. They passed several people who had seen them out on the patio, making out with one another, they smiled at them. Robin had a steel gaze, while Regina couldn't stop the blush to form on her face.

"This is me." Regina said as she neared her car, a sleek BMW. She opened the door, standing between the open door and her car.

"It was good to catch up with you tonight, Regina." Robin said as he moved to stand in front of her.

"Well, you certainly rose to the occasion." Regina said, as she remembered the way she had felt his arousal between her, when she had been sitting on his lap.

"That was because of you, milady. I hope to rise to the occasion with you very soon." Robin said, enjoying the blush he was putting on her face. He enjoyed this bickering back and forth with her, most would have given up by now, but not her.

"I guess, I will be seeing you tomorrow at the wedding then." Regina said as she figeted with a strand of her hair, pushing it back behind her ear.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow at one." Robin said. The wedding was due to start at three, with the reception to follow afterwards.

"Fine. Wait, you don't know where I'm staying." Regina said.

"I'll see you at one, Regina." Robin said as he leaned down and his mouth brushed her ear. One of his hands slid the length of her throat to span the fragile bones in her jaw. A shudder raced down her spine as she felt a surge of awareness, a primitive knowledge that they were so different from each other. He was made differently, shaped bigger, harder, more powerfully. He thought differently too, and yet something about him, something in him, made her feel strongly. Intensely.

Love, hate...what was the difference? They way she felt now it was so fierce, all so passionate, she couldn't figure out what she wanted from him, and whether she wanted his touch or wanted to be left alone. But a part of her knew, exactly what she wanted.

Regina closed her eyes as his lips traveled across her cheekbone and kissed the corner of her mouth. The kiss sent sharp darts of sensation through her, made her belly clench and her breath catch in her throat. She felt his hips cradle hers, felt the firmness of his hand against her waist. She could almost imagine him with her, naked, could almost imagine the feel of his skin and the press of his hard body against hers.

It would be both pleasure and pain. It would be more erotic and more intense than anything she'd ever felt. He kissed her lower lip and her mouth trembled beneath his. She gripped his shoulders, she wanted to touch him, wanted to draw him closer to him but couldn't. Despite her desire, she couldn't let this happen, couldn't give in to the craving for contact, for heat, for skin.

"Stop," she whispered faintly against his mouth, hoping he wouldn't hear her, and yet needing him to have more control than she did, more discipline than she felt.

He lifted his head. he looked down at her, his light eyes shadowed. "Of course. I can be as much of a gentleman as your Jefferson." Robin had watched with jealous eyes, as she had been with this Jefferson fellow.

"As I saw you with the blonde tart." Regina said, throwing his challenge right back at him.

"I knew that would get to you, as you tried to make me jealous with Jefferson." Robin said.

"If you only knew," Regina said under her breath.

"What was that?" Robin asked.

"Nothing. I'll see you tomorrow then." Regina said.

"Good night, Regina." Robin said as he took her hand, and kissed it gently. He winked at her before he headed back towards the country club. Regina got into her car, and quickly headed towards the hotel she was staying in. Later that night, as she was lying in her bed, she couldn't go to sleep. She was so frustrated because of Robin, yes sexually frustrated as well. As sleep finally started to claim her, her sleep was consumed with dreams of Robin.

Across town, Robin was in his hotel bed as well. He had just gotten off the phone with his friend Will, explaining to him that he was going to be out of town for the foreseeable future. He also had plans of leaving the country very soon, and hopefully not alone. He had gotten to her tonight, he knew his rejection of her back when she was a teenager, had hurt her. But he was not going to be one who took advantage of her back then. He had watched her over the years, she was very successful and if she had not came home for Ruby's wedding, then this was going to be the time to go to her. And try to win her over. He had to wonder what might have happened, had they not been interrupted on the patio this night.