(A/N-Okay here is the much delayed update for this story. Thanks to all who read, review, message, favor and follow this.)

Regina stood by the door with her hands clasped and chin down. Robin's new wife was refined and unassuming, exactly as he had specified. What he had not expected was to find her picture had lied. And it was a monstrous lie of epic proportions.

She wasn't girl next door attractive, as he'd believed. This woman he'd married radiated sensuous energy, as if it was barely being restrained. He was extremely attracted her to already.

She was more than beautiful, she was stunning in every way. From the way she stood, the way her mouth moved as she spoke. From the way she smiled and especially the way she kissed. It was one of the most impressive kisses he had ever had, and it was only their first one.

Her name was even sensual and royalty. He kept his eyes glued on her, she was his wife now. He was in a constant state of arousal now, because of that kiss that could have gone on for the foreseeable future. It had rocked him to his core. His body had certainly not forgotten what her lips felt like under his.

How was he going to handle this now?

"Are you ready to leave?" Regina asked

Leave? Oh right, he was going to be taken her home with him. They were married now. He had thought he would be able to marry basically a perfect stranger and go on with his life like before. He had not expected her to affect him like this.

This marriage was meant to be about her taking care of some of his responsibilities in the home and such. Not about going down a path of passion and want.

"Are you ready to go then?" Robin asked.

"Yes, I'm ready," Regina answered.

Before long they were on their way to his home, correction their home now. Neither spoke on the car ride over to their home. Once they were getting out of the car, Robin finally spoke.

"I would like you to meet my parents tonight at dinner if that is alright with you," Robin said.

Regina nodded her head, "Of course. How are your parents accepting this?"

Robin just shrugged his shoulders before answering. "They are less than liking this arrangement we made. My mother especially wished I had met and fell in love."

"Well, you need to remember this is your life. Your choice," Regina reminded him. She was very grateful he had made the decision to marry her, if only for her mother's health.

Robin was thinking how she always seemed to know the right thing to say. With him anyways from their few conversations they had had before. By tomorrow morning the petals would have fallen off the rose, he just knew it. He sighed lightly.

This had to work, she was there so that he could focus on his job, while Regina would handle all his social responsibilities.

"Regina, I know we don't know that much about the other and I know that will take time to do so. But I do want you to know you can come to me if you need anything or have any problems," Robin said.

"Thank you," She replied back.

There was a sense of obligation in her voice as she spoke, he could tell. They were partners in this arrangement. "As we spoke about before, I will have many social obligations, and I will need you to handle them, but don't hesitate to come to me if you have any questions or concerns."

"I understand," She started to say something else and appeared to change her mind as if someone had stopped her.

"Regina," Robin said, not knowing what exactly would ease this tension between them. "We're married. i want you to be able to trust me and vice versa, I want you to feel at ease with me."

"I do," She said. She was clutching her hands so tightly together, her knuckles had gone white. The art of small talk was not his strength, but he knew he could do better than this surely.

"I'm pleased then," Pleased, but not happy. This marriage arrangement had never been about being happy, but about being logical. "But now we have to live together and it should be comfortable for the both of us. You can talk to me about anything. Finances. Religion. Politics."

SEX

He inward kicked himself as his mind had went straight to that word...with a very vivid mental image of that her legs would feel like around his hips, her breasts in his hands, against his chest. He groaned inward as the fantasy played out in his mind. She glanced at him and held his gaze. He knew his gaze was filled with desire, but instead of changing her gaze, she held onto his. A fire blazed between them and again, he sensed her energy, coiled and ready to whip out, and his body strained to catch it.

"Thank you again, I appreciate everything you have done," Regina said.

His very carnal reaction to a mere glance had obviously upset her. He cleared his throat, "Are you still okay with letting the intimate side of our marriage unfold naturally?"

Her mouth opened and he knew he had surprised her. Great Locksley, just great. You put her at ease alright.

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?" She asked and held his gaze again and earned points for courage in doing so.

Chemistry had been far down the priority list, for both of them. He just hadn't anticipated having so much of it between them at this point in their marriage.

"I just want to be sure we're on the same page. That I'm not pressing you to do something you're not ready to yet," he said.

"We are. Our marriage will be for companionship with a progression toward intimacy when it deems appropriate." Her tone wavered, just a touch, and was coupled with a glint he couldn't put his finger on. "Like we discussed."

His exact words to her. And now he suddenly wished he could take them all back. Wished he could put a glint of happiness in her eyes instead of the look currently drilling a hole through his chest.

"You'll have your own bedroom for now," That had been his intent from the beginning and seemed even more necessary given her nervousness. It should solve everything. The back of his throat burned with inexplicable disappointment. "We'll take things slowly."

Separate bedroom for now would serve to put some distance between them. Give the chemistry time to cool. And definitely allow him to refocus.

His phone beeped and he glanced at it. He'd taken a half day to attend his own wedding and given his employees the rest of the day off as well, but he was never 'out of the office.'

His message on the phone told him that they were invited to a wine and dine the following weekend at a party hosted by Garrett.

"Everything okay?" Regina asked.

"We have a party to go to this weekend," Robin said as they went into the house. Robin showed her to her own bedroom, which was on the other end of the hall from his.

Once she was in her own room, she took a deep breath. Her mother was counting on her. She was counting on herself, too. If Robin divorced her, she'd have nothing. One of his first acts upon learning she'd accepted his proposal was to hire a full time caregiver for her mother who specialized in pulmonary rehab. The nurse was slated to start today.

Without Robin's help, her mother would die a very slow and painful death. Robin was her lifesaver and there's nothing she couldn't do, even share a bed with a man she didn't love.

She had wanted her wedding day to be a memorable one, but in a good way. She knew she shouldn't be wishing that Robin had swept her up off her feet, into his arms and carry her across the threshold, Rhett Butler style. Or wishing that they had a timeless romance. She had wanted a man to romance her, court her, but that was silly thinking in this day and time.

They had a partnership, not love. Regina was Robin's wife, not the love of his life, and she didn't have the luxury of entertaining daydreams of eventually being both.

They didn't have any love between them, just a deal they had made together.

"Regina," Robin said from the doorway, she looked over at him. "Find everything you need?"

"This is all overwhelming. I'm sorry if this is too forward, but I have to ask. Why would you do all this and expect nothing in return?" Regina asked.

His eyebrows drew together in confusion. "I expect quite a bit in return, actually."

"I meant in the bedroom."

Robin went still. Yeah a no limit credit card and he didn't even want on conjugal visit a month? There was a punch line here she didn't get and she'd prefer not to have it smack her in the face later.

"Regina..."Robin swallowed and she realized he was at a loss for words.

Why couldn't she keep her big mouth shut? She should have stuck to yes and thank you instead.

"I didn't want you to feel like you were a prostitute to me. When the time is right, we'll consummate our marriage," Robin said.

Regina nodded as he smiled lightly at her,"My parents will be here in an hour. Why don't you freshen up and come down when you're ready?" And with that Robin left her bedroom and headed to his own room, once he reached it he sat down on his California King bed. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, she was getting under his skin, making him want her under his skin in every way.

He wanted her!

While Regina was in her room, she also was sitting down in front of her dresser, brushing her hair. She was very attracted to her husband, her husband. He affected her in ways no other man every had before. She had had a previous lover, one that she had been involved with for years, but nothing he ever made her feel rivaled what Robin had made her feel with just one kiss. One look of his eyes, looking down into hers.

She wanted him!