Without pulling her clothes back on, Regina fell asleep, head and heart still pounding. The pillow was beside her, and she was clutching it in her arms, leaning against it. Her cheek was pressed against the cold metal of the bed, but her face was still warm and red. Even while sleeping, her muscles tensed, and she was taking large, heavy breaths, still straining to breathe. Exhaustion took over, and she slept for hours, until the sun started to go down and dusk bled through the window, the last of the sunlight splashing on her face. Soon, shadows kissed her cheek, but she didn't stir until she heard the unmistakable sound of the thick metal door opening with a screech.
"Regina?" a voice asked. "Oh, Jesus. . . I didn't mean to. . . to. . . I'm so sorry."
The girl slammed the door shut and disappeared into the hallway, her face a bright red hue. She leaned against the wall, covering her mouth with two hands, panting for air. Had she really just seen that?
Regina sucked in a huge breath and nearly choked on it, coughing up and expelling the oxygen. She immediately swung her legs off the bed and stood up, jerking her underwear and pants up as quickly as she could. The hue of her cheeks matched the hue of the young girl's in the hallway, but she was even more embarrassed (and rightfully so). Regina threw the door open, not caring that it slammed against the wall and made a thunderous crashing noise that filled the entire floor of the building.
She ran - faster than she ever had - and screamed, "Belle, WAIT!"
Luckily for her, Belle was pretty much frozen with shock, so she hadn't gone far and also hadn't moved since pressing her back up against the cold wall. Regina stood awkwardly in front of her, wanting to throw her arms around the girl but not knowing what to say. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, as if she'd forgotten how to make the words. Jaw dropped open, she was staring. Belle was wearing the dress Regina had left for her. Its elegance was enhanced by the girl's own beauty, and Regina found herself unable to make any noise at all. She did, however, just barely remember how to breathe, and as her heart quickened, so did her breaths.
They kept staring at each other, both of their faces rushed with blood, even more so than before, until Regina finally managed a quiet, "You look so beautiful."
"It was a beautiful gift from an exceedingly beautiful woman," she responded.
Belle's eyes flashed in the dark with something Regina couldn't recognize. It pulsed through the girl's veins and overflowed inside her until she could no longer keep it in. Belle smoothed her dress and looked down at her shoes - a pair of light yellow heels that matched her outfit. Regina looked at her with lustful adoration, unconsciously scanning her body up and down. Belle noticed this, and it fueled the blush on her cheeks, making it impossible to slow her heart rate.
"I'm sorry. . . I didn't mean for you to see me like that. . ." Regina finally said. "I didn't think. . . I didn't think you'd come back, so I. . . I mean. . . Oh, God. . ."
"It's okay. I just. . . I'm sorry, too. I should've. . . I don't know. I just didn't expect. . . to see. . ."
"I'm sorry," Regina choked again, her voice cracking as if she might cry.
She hung her head in humiliation and started wringing her hands, still in disbelief that the incident actually happened.
How could she have let anyone see her like that? She should have put a barrier curse on the door, but like she'd said, she did not expect Belle to return. Regina cringed. The situation was completely inescapable. No way out. She tried to swallow the shame, but it wouldn't reach her stomach. It stayed stuck in her throat, making her voice shake and betray her embarrassment.
"It's really okay. . ." Belle tried to convince her. "You don't have to be embarrassed. . . Everyone does it. . . I mean. . . It's not a big deal. . ."
Regina was silent, unable to respond.
"Regina?" Belle asked quietly, nervous to hear the answer to her next question. "Why were you. . . Why did you do it in my bed?"
Regina's jaw dropped again and every muscle in her body froze solid. She didn't want to answer. She couldn't. But she couldn't lie, not to Belle.
"I just came back to see. . . you know. . . to see if you were still there. When you weren't, I sat down, and I -" She stopped short. I cried, she wanted to say. But the words wouldn't come out. "Everything still smelled like you. . . and I couldn't. . . I couldn't stop myself."
Belle's lips parted, and she gaped at the woman, stupefied. She felt her heart jump up into throat. Not knowing exactly what to say, she reached out and gently brushed Regina's hand with her fingertips. Up until that point, they hadn't touched. Months had passed, and not one touch had passed between them, so when Belle felt her hand, she realized that it felt exactly like she dreamed it would - perfectly soft and smooth, not unlike the petals of a rose. She imagined her lips felt the same. Thinking of this, she felt her core get hot with desire. But she waited for Regina to make the next move, not daring to give much more without some sign from Regina that she wanted it, too.
This sign Regina gladly provided by moving closer. She was trembling, but it didn't stop her from taking the one precious step forward.
"I'm so embarrassed," she confessed. "I can't believe you saw me like that."
"I'd like to see it again," Belle offered bravely. "If you're not too scared to show me."
Belle winked and smiled encouragingly, regaining her composure, at least enough to try flirtation, something completely new to her. Still, she wouldn't make another move, silently daring Regina to touch her. Regina looked more surprised than lustful or pleased, like she couldn't believe it was happening. When they looked at each other, Regina saw something new in Belle's eyes. They were still sparkling, but there was something different, something strange that she couldn't place. But the same look was in her own eyes, and Belle could sense it, wanting to take full advantage of the moment. Maybe Regina wasn't ready to share all of herself or let her in, but her eyes couldn't lie.
"Regina," she crooned. "Just make love to me."
This time, Regina didn't hesitate. Her hunger was insatiable, the fire between them unquenchable. She lifted the girl up, pulling her legs around her waist and pressing her up against the wall. Their lips moved together as Belle tangled her hands in Regina's hair as they pressed their bodies closer together. Regina lifted her back up into her arms and carried her down the hallway, back into the cell, which had become a place full of memories of their most precious moments. Gently, she laid Belle on the bed and lifted her dress, moving her own hand between the girl's legs and up her thigh.
"Please," Belle whimpered, moving her hips up to meet Regina's.
The Queen grabbed the girl's hands and pressed them against the zipper of her pants. As Belle obeyed the silent order, Regina slid her fingers up inside Belle and leaned down to kiss her thighs. Belle begged her not to stop and could barely get Regina's pants down. Of course, Regina grew frustrated with this, pulled her fingers out and jerked her own pants down, gracefully stepping out of them and grabbing Belle's legs, sliding her forward and resuming her position between the girl's thighs, this time pushing her fingers even deeper. Belle moaned, gasping for air, and grabbed for Regina's hips, trying to pull her closer, but the woman pushed her hands away.
"No," she said, kneeling down in front of the girl, pulling her closer by her legs until her face was directly in front of Belle's center. With each touch, kiss, and lick, Belle grew closer and closer to climax, until her moans turned into desperate screams. When Belle finished, Regina licked her lips.
They both lay spent on the bed, wrapped in each other's arms, Regina's head on Belle's chest.
"Why did you come back?" Regina asked, sighing.
"Because I love you, too."
