AN: So this is the last part of this story. It's longer than usual and I hope it ended up okay.
Today is going to be the day. Well, it might be, if Emma agrees to it. It's been almost two weeks since that damn dream and she's just going to have to put down her foot and force herself to get back up on the horse. She can't keep doing this. It's hurting Emma and it's hurting herself and it's not fair to either of them. The man has been dead for 38 years; he can't hurt her anymore, and so she shouldn't let him potentially ruin this good thing she has going now.
Yes, today is going to be the day. She has even made arrangements for Henry to spend the night at his grandparents so she doesn't have to worry about him and can focus on Emma and herself instead. The only problem is how to best present what she wants to her girlfriend. It's going to be an awkward conversation at best. If she pitches it the wrong way her lover might just end up thinking it's a joke, or get mad at what she's asking for. She's so focused on trying to figure out the least awkward way to explain things to the blonde that she misses the opening and closing of the front door.
Emma kicks off her boots and shrugs out of her blue leather jacket before she makes her way to the kitchen. She finds her girlfriend deep in thought, a frown marring her almost perfect face, her eyes glassy and far away.
"What's going on? Is everything okay?" She asks as images of a hurt Henry flashes before her eyes. He has to be fine right? Regina would have called if something bad had happened.
The brunette's muscles tenses in surprise causing her body to jerk as she spins around to face the intruder, before she realizes it's just her girlfriend and she quickly adopts a smile that she hopes is inconspicuous. "Everything is fine, dear."
The sheriff raises her brows unimpressed in a silent gesture of 'that's bullshit' and makes a mental note of how her lover reacted. She will have to be more careful not to sneak up on her. Prison and years spent in the foster system has taught her just why people startle like that. "I know that look, what's up?"
Regina feigns surprise. "What look?"
"The one that says you want to ask for something, but you're afraid it will come back and bite you in the ass."
The mayor purses her lips and crosses her arms defiantly. "I do not have a look like that."
"Sure you do," Emma states as she makes her way closer and settles her hands against her girlfriend's hips before elaborating. "You try to make your face look impassive, but your lips are drawn into a thin line and you get these crinkles around your eyes, almost like when you're squinting."
The mayor raises her eyebrows, interest piqued. "I do?"
"Mhm, and your whole body goes ramrod straight and you flex your hands when you think no one sees."
Regina looks at her with surprise, amazed at the attention the sheriff clearly pays to her every move. When was the last time anyone bothered getting to know her enough to read her moods and body language? Had anyone ever? "I...Well, there is one thing I've been thinking about," she states as her heartbeat picks up ever so slightly as the nervousness she was feeling earlier comes back.
"Okay," Emma replies patiently, squeezing hips just slightly in encouragement.
"It's to do with our...predicament," the brunette offers uncomfortably, suddenly feeling shy and considering blowing off this whole thing. Why had she thought this would be a good idea? There's no way the sheriff will agree to it.
"I'm listening."
"It's a possible solution, well, more of a suggestion I guess," she says quickly, barely drawing a breath before continuing, knowing if she doesn't get it out there soon, she'll lose her nerve. "Of course I totally understand if you don't think it's okay and you have to know that you're allowed to say no and-" She's cut off by lips pressing firmly against her own to silence her.
"You're freaking out. Just take a deep breath," her lover says with a lopsided grin. It's not often the mayor is anything less than cool and composed.
"I don't freak out," she replies offended, even as she unknowingly adopts a sheepish look, aware that it is exactly what she's doing.
"What's your suggestion?" the blonde asks, choosing not to comment, settling instead for a knowing grin.
Regina wets her lips subconsciously and runs a hand through her own locks before she clears her throat. God, this is hard. "I think...maybe the problem is that I need to feel in control."
"Okay?" Emma asks as neutrally as she can manage. She needs the other woman to explain further if she's going to understand, because she's pretty sure the mayor has never not been in some sort of control when it comes to their bedroom activities. Not that she's complaining.
The mayor draws in a deep breath. Okay, here goes nothing. "I think a big part of the problem is that right now, when you have your weight on me, all I can focus on is the feeling of being trapped and unable to get away should I feel the need to," she elaborates before looking away awkwardly. Why is talking about this so difficult?
The blonde smiles. "So you want to be on top? I have no problems with that," she replies, wondering why that would make her lover feel so hesitant. It's not like they haven't done that before. Regina riding her to get herself off makes for quite the delicious, arousing sight.
The brunette turns her head back to fix her girlfriend with a less than impressed look. "It's not just that. I might have to- I need to-" she stops and exhales loudly, frustrated with her sudden inability to formulate herself. She tries to slither from the other woman's loose grasp, but the blonde simply pulls her closer and pecks her on the lips.
"Just talk to me. So far you have yet to make a suggestion I haven't thoroughly enjoyed," she says with a wink, hoping to lighten the nervous mood Regina seems to be in. It does garner a brief smirk, before her girlfriend takes a steadying breath and she can't deny that she is growing a little nervous herself at how much the other woman seems to be struggling with whatever it is she's working herself towards asking for.
"To feel like I have complete control, I want to-" the mayor pauses briefly to consider her words before she settles on just being honest and forces the words from her mouth. "I wish to dictate your every move." Emma furrows her brows thoughtfully as she lets the words sink in, mulling them over.
"So basically, you tell me where to touch?" She asks for clarification. Regina bites her lip nervously as she gives a curt nod of confirmation. "Okay."
"Okay?" The brunette questions surprised, the simple agreement catching her off guard. Emma just shrugs.
"Why shouldn't it be?" The sheriff asks, when her lover doesn't add anything further, just keeps looking at her with disbelief. The mayor scoffs at how nonchalant her girlfriend is being to all this. Doesn't she know what she's asking?
"I'm asking to take away your free will simply for my own gain and pleasure. I'm pretty sure by most that would not be considered okay." A slight exaggeration since this is about so much more than such basic, animalistic things, but she has a point to make.
The blonde adopts one of her knowing smiles that Regina can't stand. Because yes, her lover understands how hard it is for her to ask for anything for selfish reasons. For the longest time - and oftentimes still if she's being honest - she believed that she didn't deserve happiness or a reprieve from all the hard times. How could she possibly have the right to ask for that, after all the horrible things she has done?
"I'm pretty sure that's what sex is about, babe. Taking and giving so both can be satisfied. I don't mind, you're hot when you take charge and take what you need."
A faint tinge colors Regina's cheeks as she looks at her girlfriend suddenly shyly. "I sent Henry to your parents for the night, just in case," she admits to the woman self-consciously, pouting at the wide grin she gets in return.
"Awesome. Why don't you take a seat and I'll get a glass of wine for you?" Emma says with a wink, watching confusion flit over her lover's face.
"But I should start dinner." She shakes her head in the negative and guides a puzzled brunette over to one of the chairs.
"I'll make us something. You just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view."
Regina doesn't respond, just sits down and ponders silently just what her lover means by that. It becomes apparent once Emma has poured her a glass of wine, delivering it with a kiss, before disappearing for three minutes - not that she is counting of course - to return in an apron; only an apron.
The mayor sips her wine absentmindedly while her eyes stay trained on that pale, pert, bare ass peeking out at her. She almost loses her grip on the stem when the woman bends over and gives her just the barest look at her most intimate parts and suddenly food is the furthest thing from her mind.
"Emma?" Regina asks throatily, setting down her glass with a slightly shaky hand and clearing her throat that's feeling awfully dry as inconspicuously as she can manage.
"Hmm?" The woman answers, turning her head to look at her over her shoulder innocently. Like she doesn't know exactly what she's doing to her.
"I'm not really that hungry."
"Are you sure?" The sheriff questions with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Of course I'm sure," Regina bites back quickly in irritation, before realizing that being mean is probably not the best way to get things moved to the bedroom. Emma just looks at her knowingly before turning to fully face her.
"What are you in the mood for then, Madame Mayor?" The brunette flushes slightly and it's pretty clear just what she's thinking about.
"Well, a shower doesn't sound so bad," she replies softly, forcing more racy images out of her mind, teeth finding her lower lip and biting as she stares into green orbs twinkling with mischief. "Don't you want a shower?" She questions coyly, just to make clear what she meant in case her girlfriend didn't understand the vague hint that she wants company.
"You know, now that you mention it, I do think I might need one," Emma answers with a wink as she makes her way over and takes her lover's hand, pulling her up from her seat gently before turning to walk upstairs first. When she glances backwards, she's thrilled to find deep brown pools staring transfixed at her backside as she walks up the steps.
Emma quickly removes the apron before she undresses her lover unhurriedly, placing gentle kisses wherever soft skin is revealed. She takes her time because tonight is not going to be about her and she's okay with that. Regina has been through so many hardships and she wants to show her that she deserves to be cherished, to be loved properly. The brunette shifts restlessly as lips brush against her skin again and again, not used to the attention and not entirely comfortable with it. It feels so...intimate, loving, and she's not sure she deserves that.
"Relax, stop thinking and let me take care of you," Emma whispers as she lets her hands run comfortingly over sun-kissed skin, careful to keep them from any private areas, mindful of their earlier conversation.
She guides her now naked lover inside the shower and turns on the water, checking the temperature before letting her walk under it.
She takes her time, fingers dancing playfully over wet skin, lathering her body with soap, massaging as she does so before using Regina's swamp to gently rinse it off again, making soothing circles. She figures that's what her lover wants; gentleness and intimacy. So unless Regina explicitly tells her otherwise she's just going to take her time loving her. And from the content, barely audible sigh that the woman releases as she leans her back just a little more against her front, Emma thinks she read the brunette right.
"May I?" she says with a kiss to a shoulder as she lets her fingers brush just barely against the underside of her girlfriend's breasts to indicate what she's asking. Regina gives her answer by laying her own over soaped ones and guiding them up until they're cupping her.
Emma massages slowly and moves to pepper kisses along a neck, smiling as another sigh, this one a little louder, is released from parted lips as her lover lets her head fall more to the right to give her better access.
Once she's satisfied that the nipples straining against her palms are as pert as they'll get, she starts sliding her right hand down towards the only part yet to be washed other than her girlfriend's hair. Just as soon as her fingertips pass a naval and shows no sign of stopping though, Regina tenses, her own hand shooting out to lay over the blonde's and stop it in its track.
Emma doesn't say anything just starts moving her hand upwards again and kisses once right under her lover's ear to show that the message has been received and there are no hard feelings. She makes sure all the soap is gone before she reaches out for the Mayor's shampoo and starts massaging it into her girlfriend's hair.
She bites her lip as Regina releases a noise not unlike purring as she works her scalp, and if she presses her legs together slightly to try to alleviate the tension building there, who can blame her? Her lover has a very sensual voice and even if she would never admit it to anyone out loud, that voice does things to her that should almost be illegal.
She reminds herself that tonight is not going to be about her though, and with a steeling intake of breath, she moves the brunette so she can rinse her hair.
"There you go, all clean," she says with a kiss to wet, moist lips, forcing herself to not deepen it and pull away instead. Regina gives her a lazy, relaxed smile and lets her hands fall to hips, trying to guide the sheriff under the spray. Emma stops her with a shake of her head as her own hands settles atop the other woman's. "Tonight is about you, remember?"
The mayor looks conflicted for a moment, like she wants to argue, a slight frown marring her features. But then she nods almost imperceptively and kisses her girlfriend gratefully before making her way out of the shower.
Regina raises an eyebrow when the blonde starts to dry her off, but she keeps quiet and lets her do what she wants. Once again Emma makes sure to kiss the revealed skin once the towel finishes its gentle patting and once again her lover leans back against her and sighs contently.
When she's sure the woman is dry - spending extra time on her breasts to be absolutely certain, of course - she lets the towel drop and traces her fingers down the brunette's sides, stopping at hips and pressing a kiss to the hollow of her neck before laying her head on a shoulder and meeting dark pools in the mirror.
"Why don't you go make sure everything is as you want it in our room and I'll be out in a minute?"
Regina's answer is to turn around and catch pink lips fiercely between her own, tongue running teasingly across Emma's teeth before her own nips at a plumb bottom lip. When she walks out of the bathroom, hips swaying, the sheriff stares after her breathlessly, a familiar heat pooling between her thighs.
It takes long moments, but eventually she manages to shake her head and turn to stare at herself in the mirror. "Jesus," she whispers to her own image before she remembers that her girlfriend is waiting and she moves to dry herself off quickly. She barely refrains from doing some tension relief, knowing it will not be appreciated by her waiting lover, and sends a silent damnation to whomever decided to make Regina Mills so stunningly, sensually, frustratingly beautiful and enticing. God, that woman would be the death of her someday. And she would enjoy every second of it.
Regina is pacing nervously in their bedroom when her lover walks in and if she had been the type to she would have been biting her nails. Any relaxed state she found herself in earlier from the shower is gone as the silence in her bedroom has made sure her doubts are back.
Is Emma really going to be okay with this? She knows she herself would not be if she was in the sheriff's shoes. Her past has made sure she can't surrender herself so completely to someone else. Years of abuse from both her mother and the King has made sure that she only looks at it as weakness and humiliation. She can only hope that one day she'll be able to do it if her lover needs her to.
She feels a little hypocritical thinking like that, but for some reason, the blonde doing this does not make her think less of her like she would herself. No, instead it gives her a newfound respect for the woman, not to mention how it makes her heart beat just that little bit faster because it's another thing to add to the list of proof that Emma Swan really loves her.
She startles as arms wrap around her stomach and a kiss is pressed against her neck. "You're overthinking again aren't you?" the sheriff whispers before pressing her lips to the skin just under her ear. Regina tilts her head to the side almost unconsciously to give her girlfriend better access and she can feel the other woman smile before she latches onto her neck more firmly.
Emma splays her hands and lets them run along a soft stomach, over defined hips and up sides in random patterns as she sucks on a patch of skin before soothing it with her tongue. Regina sighs and lets her body relax against her lover, one of her own hands moving on top of the sheriff's while the other moves up and behind her to tangle in blonde tresses.
She moves the hand beneath her own up to her breast and draws in a slightly uneven breath as it starts kneading slowly, teeth nipping teasingly where her neck meets shoulder before lips go back to no doubt trying to mark her. She gave up trying to tell her girlfriend not to a long time ago, and so instead of wasting her breath on deaf ears she simply grips a little tighter at blonde tresses and tugs her almost impossibly closer, making Emma smile against her skin, humming her approval at the move.
Emma stops lavishing attention the brunette's skin and lets her hand slide from a straining nipple down a side. She tries to take a step away and grins when her girlfriend's hand tightens in her hair as she releases a disappointed whine. Before Regina can ask her why she stopped, she simply slides her body around to her lover's front and gives a smile as the woman lets go of her locks just long enough to reposition her arm more comfortably, before re-entangling it. She lets the mayor tug her closer, pressing her body closer until their breasts are squishing against each other as lips meet wetly.
Regina's free hand clutches tightly to her hip and she lets her own currently unoccupied ones slide down her girlfriends back to settle on round globes, squeezing and massaging. The brunette's hips buck almost of their own accord to the stimuli and bumps against Emma's pelvis causing her lover to cant her own hips in response. They end up rocking gently against each other, the sheriff's thigh slipping between the other woman's while their tongues dance against each other without hurry, lips fluttering and teeth scraping teasingly.
The mayor is only vaguely aware that they're moving as she tries to loose herself in the feel of their lips and bodies pressing together and so it's only natural that she breaks their kiss in surprise as her legs bump against the edge of their bed. Emma sits down on the edge and looks up at her lover with a small smile just shy of coy and Regina knows it's a position meant to make her feel superior and in control.
"Just tell me what to do," the blonde says as she leans back on her arms to signal her submission, watching her girlfriend's eyes rake down over her breasts and stomach to the juncture between her legs, the brunette's tongue darting out to wet lips as she pushes her thighs slightly apart to let Regina glimpse a view of her wetness. Her lover bites her lower lip and lets her eyes move back up, appreciating the tantalizing picture painted before her.
"Move back," Regina rasps, voice husky and low with want, sending pleasurable shivers down the sheriff's spine which makes her nipples stand to attention. The former mayor notices this as well and smirks.
Emma obediently hunches herself further up on the bed and watches intently as the other woman kneels over her legs before crawling upwards to settle across her hips. She barely manages to keep her hands from moving to well sculpted thighs, biting her lip and trying to soak in the visual instead as she remembers what she has agreed to.
She releases a groan when her girlfriend presses down against her with a wicked smile and lets her head fall down against the mattress. "You're killing me," she whimpers as she feels the faintest trace of wetness against her skin and tries her best to stay still and await instructions. She's all too willing to meet her lover's lips as Regina leans forward, trying not to convey her desperation through their kiss, to not give in how badly she's itching to touch.
The brunette lets her fingers flick across a stiff nipple before squeezing the nub and Emma releases a frustrated mewl because now her girlfriend is just being mean. She knows there's not going to be any release for her until the other woman has gotten what she wants and it really isn't nice to torture someone by getting them all worked up when they know they can't do anything about it.
"Please, please let me touch you," the blonde breathes against full lips, pouting when Regina pulls herself back up with an amused chuckle.
"Like this?" she asks innocently as she takes hold of the sheriff's hand and places it against her side. The look she receives is not unlike puppy eyes and she can't deny that there is a certain thrill in knowing how dismayed the other woman is when she can't touch her. Emma always looks at her with a hunger and passion she hasn't experienced from anyone and it always makes her heart beat that little bit faster.
"No? Maybe this then?" she teases as she moves the hand to the flat of her stomach.
"Regina," her girlfriend growls, flexing her fingers against smooth skin and hoping the woman will show mercy because trying to keep her hands from wandering like they're usually allowed to, isn't easy.
The brunette leans down over her with a mischievous grin and Emma waits for a kiss that never comes. Instead, warm breath tickles at her ear. "Teasing is part of the game, you know that," she husks, placing a barely there, wet kiss against her neck before sitting back up. The sheriff closes her eyes in frustration. Because yes, she does know. She has been merciless to her lover on more than one occasion and at some point karma had to come bite her in the ass. But why did it have to be today when she's already having enough problems remaining passive and submissive?
Regina basks in the way her girlfriend bites her lip, eyes filled with want as they stare at her chest, and she decides it will be in her own best interest to allow the blonde to touch a little. She takes Emma's right hand and places it over her left breast, her breath hitching slightly as the woman begins to knead immediately, fingers occasionally brushing and tweaking her nipple until it stands proudly.
The sheriff's other hand lifts, clearly intent on finding her other breast, and she slaps it away with a tsk. "Did I say you could do that?" she chides and her lover's hand drops to the bed immediately.
"Sorry," the blonde mutters as her gaze moves back to focus on the hand that has been given permission to touch, missing the slight frown that crosses the brunette's features.
Regina can't help but feel that something is off. The thrill she has been feeling at completely dominating her girlfriend falters somewhat. This is what she had asked for, and the blonde had agreed. But there's just something, something she can't quite put her finger on, that makes her feel like this is not right.
"Stop," she demands and her heart skips a beat in that familiar, achy way when her lover pulls her hand away immediately, looking up at her, face filled with worry.
And there it is. That's why this feels wrong. Emma should be allowed to do what feels natural to her, not have her every move decided for her. Not walking around on eggshells, afraid that every little thing she does might not be welcomed. This isn't what she wanted. It reminds her too much of Graham and who she used to be before.
Regina's frown deepens as she's flooded with the realization that this way isn't going to work either. She needs to choose a middle way, not either complete control or submission. She doesn't want reminders of her less than stellar past, she just wants Emma Swan; the woman who loves her.
"What is it?"
She looks down into green eyes filled with love and concern, noticing how her girlfriends arm twitches, like she wants to touch here and try to reassure her, but is scared to do so without permission. "I was wrong."
"Oh," Emma responds, her body growing rigid as she prepares herself for the brunette to run. She frowns in confusion when her girlfriend doesn't move off her like she thought she would, just keeps looking down at her.
"I don't want to control what you do," the mayor explains, leaning over and taking hold of her lover's right hand and putting it on her own thigh. "I want you to do whatever you want, just…be gentle."
"Are you sure?" the sheriff asks confused, wondering what the hell just went through Regina's head that made her suddenly change her mind.
"Yes, you're nothing like him. Just…make sure I stay with you." She pleads, chest suddenly feeling tighter as a hand moves to cup her cheek softly. She leans into the touch automatically, trying to draw reassurance and courage from it.
"Do you still want to be on top?" Emma asks, voice filled with a tenderness not many others ever hear from her.
"Yes." Otherwise the weight on top of her would only remind her of the King, but she doesn't say that out loud suspecting her girlfriend already knows that since she asked.
She leans down to meet lips when the sheriff's upper half rises, forcing the woman back down again as she lays her weight on her. Emma doesn't seem to mind, her hands moving to caress her lover's back as their tongues dance and their lips nip at each other's.
The blonde takes her time, letting her hands move over thighs, up sides and back down Regina's back before settling on firm globes that should be banished from the tight skirts her girlfriend loves to wear. That ass does things to her that should be illegal and damn, how she loves to touch it.
She pushes gently down, delighted when the mayor seems to take the hint and starts rocking gently against her and she's forced to break the kiss with a moan as she feels slick heat against her pelvis.
"I want to feel you," she whispers breathlessly against plump lips that turn slightly upwards in amusement at her plea.
"Then feel," Regina breathes back before reconnecting their lips in a bruising kiss that sucks the oxygen from her girlfriend's lungs and leaves her heaving in the most pleasurable way.
Emma chooses to take her lover's advice, her left hand moving to tangle in dark locks as the other slowly slides over a hip and down between their still gently rocking bodies. Her fingers trickle downwards over neatly trimmed hair until they reach the slightly protruding nub and this time it's the brunette that breaks away from their lip-lock with a throaty exclamation.
Their eyes connect as the blonde starts a careful rhythm, watching Regina's face for any kind of discomfort, their breathing slightly labored as they move together.
The mayor's breathing hitches and she leans down to press her lips a little frantically against her girlfriend's. "More."
Emma is all too happy to comply, her fingers abandoning their assault to be replaced by her palm as they slide down further where the wetness is more prominent against her digits. She presses her middle finger just barely against her lover, watching as her eyes slam shut, and she stops.
"Look at me," she says, coaxing her girlfriend by tugging just slightly at the locks she's still holding. She had been asked to make sure the woman stayed with her after all, and she knows it will work better if she makes sure she's looking at her.
Dark pools focuses on her own green ones and she smiles reassuringly before she lets her finger slide further inside. Regina stiffens for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. But then the sheriff reminds her to breathe and she lets herself relax, focusing on her lover's unique eyes and voice, and the pleasure she is making her feel. She can do this.
"You're so beautiful like this," Emma breathes, watching the slight flush starting to spread over her girlfriend as she moves slowly within the woman, her palm pressing against her sweet spot.
Regina moans her approval, increasing her rocking against the blonde as she leans down to take a bottom lip between her teeth, biting down almost painfully before soothing with her tongue. "Keep talking," she pleads as they lock eyes again.
And Emma does. She whispers compliments to her lover as she keeps up her ministrations, watching as a fine sheen of sweat coats the brunette, the way she tries her best to keep her eyes open as her pleasure mounts and the keening noise as she finally falls over the long overdue edge.
She revels in the way Regina clings to her as she tries to get her breathing back to normal, content to wrap the arm not squished between their bodies around her girlfriend and kiss any part of skin she can reach.
Eventually, the brunette's breathing calms and she buries her head against her lover's neck before she laughs. She laughs in relief and gratitude, feeling both silly and happy.
"I guess I don't need to ask if you're okay then," Emma tells her with a smile, more than happy to accept the kiss Regina gives her. She shudders as one of the mayor's hands starts to make their way down her side.
"You know what I'd really like right now?" she asks softly, the hand stilling in its ascent as brown eyes look down at her questioningly. "Cuddling."
"What?" her lover blurts incredulously and she grins back up at her innocently. "I feel like cuddling."
Regina wrinkles her nose slightly and the blonde knows she's trying to figure out why her girlfriend, who's not usually too big on the clinging, suddenly wants to. Not that she can blame her. Usually, she'd be more than happy to have the brunette return the favor. There's no denying the wetness between her thighs. But this time has been about helping the former Queen move forwards and for once she really does just want to be close to the woman.
"I don't mind returning the favor," Regina says, trying to gauge if her girlfriend is being serious or not.
"I know, but I'd rather we snuggle." Emma watches as understanding floods her lover's features. She's doing this for her.
"Of course, I keep forgetting sometimes that you're really just a big baby," the former mayor replies with a chuckle as she slides left so she's only lying half on top of her girlfriend, her leg thrown over pale ones and her head securely against a strong shoulder.
"Mhm," she confirms, willingly giving the woman she loves an out of having to admit that she's the one who needs this. She knows the brunette sees it as a weakness and she doesn't mind taking the pretend blame for something they both secretly enjoy.
Emma releases a content sigh as her girlfriend starts tracing random patterns against her skin.
"Are you sure you don't want me to?" Regina asks one last time, her hand trailing softly down a toned stomach. Her lover stops its ascent by laying her own hand on top before bringing the hand up to her mouth, kissing each knuckle sweetly.
"Tomorrow," she replies, laying the hand back against her pale sternum and tangling their fingers. Regina snuggles further against her girlfriend's throat and hums her agreement.
And for the first time in twelve days, when she thinks that things might be okay, she really does believe that they will be.