Neal really wasn't kidding when he said his car broke down in the middle of nowhere, because it took Emma a little over 2 hours to find him. To say the trip there was torture would have been a gross understatement: spending two hours alone in her car after making out with her exceptionally hot professor and not being able to do anything about it was driving Emma crazy. It didn't help that her thoughts were occupied with less than appropriate images of said professor either, because she kept missing signs and exits she otherwise had to pay attention to.
That night, when she got home, Emma spent several moments debating whether she should text the brunette or not. Would it seem too clingy? Desperate? Would she seem rude if she didn't text her? She was so focused on her own thoughts that she almost didn't notice her phone screen flashing with an incoming text.
She picked up only to realize that the sender was Regina, and she couldn't stop her heart from racing as she clicked to open the message.
'Emma,
I hope whatever interrupted our…encounter was worth the interruption.
Sweet dreams.'
Emma decided Regina was probably going to be her cause of death.
The morning after, Emma found another text letting her know that Regina was busy today, and that they'd have to postpone their "talk" to Monday. Emma was torn between feeling relieved and even more anxious, but was nonetheless glad to have a day for herself. She had several assignments due the following day and she was somewhat behind.
Thankfully, her work took less time than expected and she opted to make plans with Ruby and Mary Margaret.
"Hey, Rubes. What's up?"
"Rubes? Since when?" Ruby inquired, giggling.
"Since now. What, don't like it?" Emma teased.
"No, no. I like it," Ruby smiled even though Emma couldn't see her. "I'm just chilling with Mary Margaret. Well, she's studying; I'm chilling."
"Shouldn't you be studying too, smartass?"
"No, because I am a smartass. It's my last semester here and I'm at top of my class, thank you very much," she sassed.
"Oh." Emma was certainly not expecting that.
"'Oh', indeed."
"Didn't know that," Emma grinned. "Anyway, I didn't call to lecture you. I'm bored, let's hang out."
"Shouldn't you be studying?"
"I'm done," Emma countered. "So, yes? But we should probably avoid that bar for now."
Ruby couldn't help laughing. "Are we, like, banished from there now? 'Cuz you didn't let that girl fuck you?"
"No, we're not 'banished'," Emma suddenly felt uncomfortable. "It's just…I just think I should stay away for now. At least for a couple of days."
"Sure, no problem. Got somewhere in mind?"
"You two want to come over? I'm in the mood for pizza but I'd rather just order in. Plus, I have a very comfy sofa and an awesome flat screen."
"A comfy sofa, huh?" Ruby laughed again, remembering their very first conversation. "You're not gonna analyze me, are you?"
Emma grinned. "Never."
"Oh. My. God." Mary Margaret squealed. "You live here?!"
Emma chuckled, feeling more than a little pleased with her reaction. "Yes, yes I do. Welcome to my loft, ladies."
"Dude, this place is so cool it hurts," Ruby let out as she walked around and explored.
The loft was perhaps Emma's third most valued possession- the first being her Camaro, the second her fitness club.
Ruby didn't really know what to expect, but she certainly was not expecting this: black pillars springing up seemed to be randomly situated around the place, but they definitely added to the luxurious décor of the loft. The kitchen was left to the door, consisting of black and silver counters and appliances. Up ahead was a baby grand piano with floor-to-ceiling glass doors behind it leading to a balcony that offered a breathtaking view of the city, and to the right were black leather couches surrounding glass tables and a ridiculously large flat screen TV. The staircase to the side, Ruby noticed, didn't have a handle, but instead comprised of black wooden panels that were nailed to the wall itself, leading up to what she assumed would be Emma's bedroom.
"You got a thing for black and white, don't you?" Ruby teased. If it were up to her, she wouldn't have minded adding a little red to the place, but she still liked it.
"They're my colors," the blonde simply stated.
Mary Margaret walked over to the piano and traced the exposed keys. "Emma, you play the piano?"
"No, MM. The woman just has it there 'cus it looks good with the décor," Ruby replied, rolling her eyes.
"That's exactly why," Emma tried to say with a straight face, but failed as she saw Ruby's jaw slacken. "I'm just kidding! Yeah, I can play."
"Play us some-"
"I haven't played in a while," Emma quickly interjected. The memory of the last time she played flooded in before she could do anything about it, and she winced. "I'd rather not make a fool out of myself."
Ruby sensed Emma's change in demeanor, and decided to let it go for now. "Okay. Pizza time?"
Everyone agreed. "Pizza time."
Monday couldn't have come any sooner, and Emma was fighting –and failing- to concentrate in her classes. The entire day was a very slow, agonizing build up to Regina's class, and she was so anxious that she opted to wait in the lecture hall rather than the bench she normally sat on.
As though on cue, Regina walked in 10 minutes early and was too busy rummaging through papers to notice the blonde sitting in her usual seat.
Emma cleared her throat, effectively startling her professor and causing the papers to drop. She swiftly left her seat and knelt down in front of Regina, gathering the stacks of paper that had haphazardly scattered around her.
"I'm sorry about that," Emma mumbled. "I didn't mean to surprise you."
"It's quite alright, dear," Regina gave her a beautiful smile. "I've been more than a little clumsy today."
Emma stood up, but before she handed over the pile, she glanced over at the brunette. She was wearing a black sleeveless dress with a beige stripe that went down each side. Emma assumed that such a simple fitted dress would have looked ordinary on anyone else, but on this woman, it looked anything but. The simple black heels only accentuated the woman's curves more, so Emma felt an obligation to stare.
Regina noticed the younger woman's lingering gaze and smirked; she knew the dress would elicit this exact reaction. Now, it was her turn to clear her throat. "See something you like, Miss Swan?"
Emma hadn't missed the brunette's voice dropping an octave as she said that statement, and she returned the smirk. "Oh, you have no idea."
This caused the professor to blush deeply, and she hurriedly took the papers from her student and made her way towards the desk. She was about to respond, but students started filing into the room and she didn't want to risk being overheard.
"Settle down, everyone," she called instead. "Please, take your seats. We're about to begin." She then moved her gaze towards the blonde, silently telling her to do the same.
"Now," she began after making sure that at least most of her students were present. "Can someone tell me what today's lecture is about?"
Emma unconsciously raised her hand, then lowered it, not wanting to seem overly eager to both her professor and her classmates.
Regina noticed, and smirked. "Emma, you seem hesitant. Why don't you tell me what you think?"
Emma shook her head but grinned nonetheless at her professor's challenge. "Neuroplasticity."
"Excellent, and what does that refer to?" Some students raised their hands to answer, but Regina was still directing her question towards the blonde.
"Uh…" Emma faltered, then quickly recovered. "Would you like the simple answer or the complicated one, professor?"
Regina chuckled, "Tell me both."
"Well, the simple response is that it refers to the brain's plastic nature, in which it can alter and grow throughout a person's life."
"Good," Regina nodded. "And the complex answer?"
"Neuroplasticity is an umbrella term that encompasses both synaptic plasticity and non-synaptic plasticity—it refers to changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, thinking, emotions, as well as changes resulting from bodily injury."
Regina smirked again, arching an eyebrow. "Well, well, Miss Swan. That was quite impressive, well done."
It took the blonde every ounce of her self-control not to jump her professor right then and there and kiss that tantalizingly sexy smirk off her face. "I try," she finally mumbled, grinning.
The two had become so engrossed with each other that they didn't notice how most of the class were staring quizzically at them now, wondering why the exchange between the two seemed so intense.
If they only knew.
The professor finally tore her eyes away from emerald ones and looked up; she noticed the stares, but decided to redirect them to her by asking another question. "And why is neuroplasticity important?"
No one raised their hand, although several were fumbling through their textbooks trying to find an answer. Regina wasn't pleased. "Did I not ask you all to read chapter 2 last time?" she asked, sternly.
Everyone looked a little petrified by their professor's sudden change of mood- except for Emma, of course.
Raising a hand, Emma didn't wait for permission to speak. "Research into Neuroplasticity has incredible implications for all aspects of personal development, behavior change, skill acquisition, interpersonal relations, and overall well-being." She paused, waiting to see if anyone else wanted to chip in. No one did. "Basically, Neuroplasticity can be the key to advancing yourself in every way, be it psychologically or socially."
Regina's face remained passive, but Emma noticed the sides of her mouth quirk up a little. "That is correct, Miss Swan." Once again, she shifted her attention towards the rest of the class. "Please recall what I said the very first time I met all of you; I am fair, yes, but I like to see my students working hard. Thus, when I ask you to read something, I expect you to do so. While I appreciate Miss Swan answering, I am a professor teaching a class of 19, not a class of 1."
Emma didn't turn around because she knew she was getting death glares from most, if not all, of her classmates. She couldn't care less.
The professor made her way to the black board and picked up the chalk. "In his book, Rewire Your Brain, Dr. John Arden devised a simple formula that could help use neuroplasticity to one's advantage, aiding him or her in changing their behavior. The formula consisted of the acronym 'FEED', which entailed the following." Regina began to write.
"F for Focus.
E for Effort.
E for Effortless.
D for Determination."
She then put down the chalk and sauntered to the center of the lecture hall. "Attention galvanizes your brain, thus, if you seek to alter a behavior, you must focus very carefully on it. Of course, that's easier said than done, but true nonetheless."
Someone in the far corner raised a hand, and Regina smiled, almost certain of his question. "Let me guess, you're wondering how Effort and Effortless could coexist in that acronym?" The student nodded. "Well, Effort requires one to take deliberate, precise action to program the new behavior. I'm sure everyone knows the popular saying, 'practice makes perfect'? That's what Effort is all about. You must practice over and over again in order to successfully alter or create your behavior."
"Once you do that, and the neural network becomes wired, actions that once needed effort become effortless. Think of anything that required a huge deal of effort when you first began doing it, and how, months or years later, the activity became effortless. Perhaps like driving a car."
"Finally, Determination. The word says it all, really. It is not enough to simply focus and apply effort, but you must also be determined to keep the wired neural network robust."
Regina scanned her students' faces, trying to sense their level of understanding. "Are there any questions?"
Those who paid attention simply shook their heads. "That's all I have for today," she concluded, then smiled. "Please make sure you read the next chapter."
Her students hurriedly gathered their things and left the hall, leaving Emma and Regina behind.
"Professor-" Emma started but was interrupted.
"Miss Swan, I'm afraid I have a meeting that I must get to at once." Regina noticed her student's disappointed look, and quickly added. "But I'd like you to come to my office, say, in an hour. We have much to discuss."
Emma grinned, then nodded. "I'll be there."
Regina was pacing around her spacious office when she heard three, low knocks. Too nervous to sit, she opted to lean on her desk, her hands supporting her on each side, and faced the door. "Come in!"
Emma finally opened the door and stepped in, her eyes exploring the classically designed interior before finally landing on the object of her desire.
"Miss Swan," Regina began, determined not to forsake formalities on campus. "Would you like to have—" but the sentence was never finished as the blonde all but lunged at her, crushing their lips together in a fierce kiss.
Emma had no idea what had gotten into her, but seeing her professor leaning on that desk, in that unbearably sexy dress, made her release the tight grip she had on self-control.
Regina moaned, despite being surprised, and returned the kiss fervently, her lips parting slightly to allow her student passage. Emma was everywhere: her hands on the brunette's arms, her blonde curls brushing her face, her scent intoxicating her. "Emma," she moaned again, sounding more desperate than she would have liked.
Emma groaned deeply then bent down, wrapping her hands around firm thighs and lifting the older woman so she sat more fully on the desk now. "I love it when you say my name," she whispered before bringing her lips back to meet red, full ones.
Regina's hands were wrapping around Emma's neck now, pulling her closer. Her brain tried to rationalize the situation, tried to tell her to stop because it was certainly not the smartest thing to be doing in her office. She also tried to recall that they needed to talk, seriously and at length, but Emma's tongue was doing things to her and all she could think of was what it would feel like to have it inside of her, tasting her.
The blonde couldn't think at all. All she saw was Regina; her perfectly coiffed hair now mussed, her lipstick smudged, and her dress now risen to reveal smooth, toned thighs. She placed both her hands on her professor's thighs, stroking and squeezing.
Regina gasped, loving the electricity the woman elicited every time their skin touched. She decided she wanted more. "Emma," she leaned into her ear and breathed. "I want you to touch me."
"Fuck," Emma barely let out before reaching around with one arm, sweeping the desk clear and pushing the older woman back against it. She kissed her once, then let her lips trail to her chin, up her jaw, and down the crook of her neck. She lingered there, then bit down softly before allowing her tongue to soothe it. Emma was loving every inch of the brunette.
Her student's touch was causing her to moan and gasp like a woman that had never been touched before, and she was torn between feeling slightly embarrassed and not giving a crap. She went with the latter.
Emma moved a hand to the back of her dress and slowly began to unzip it, her fingers leaving a trail of heat and yearning in their wake. She arched her back into the touch, and was more than disappointed to feel its absence.
The younger woman's hands moved to the dress's sleeves and carefully slid them down to reveal full breasts encased in a black, lace bra. Emma brought fingers to trace the smooth skin, feeling more than a little pleased with the goose bumps she caused. She left her fingers there, lightly brushing the soft skin and effectively driving the woman crazy.
Emma leaned in to kiss Regina again, but just as their lips caressed, Regina seized a handful of blonde hair and all but yanked her head down to her chest. "Here," she moaned. "I want to feel your lips here."
Emma eagerly complied, and lowered the right cup to reveal a perfectly erect nipple aching for her. She finally brought her parted lips to it and kissed, then sucked and nibbled. Regina gasped once more, feeling her panties slowly getting wetter with every lick and bite. She wrapped her legs around the blonde's waist, needing and aching for more contact, and, feeling Emma's hard abs ripple against her throbbing sex, she all but screamed. "Please…" She almost begged, her chest heaving, her breath ragged.
The blonde wanted to savor every moment but knew she could not deny the woman before her anything. Emma's hand began making its journey to where the brunette desired her most, but as she did so, a loud knock on the door interrupted them, causing both women to jump and freeze their advances.
"This is getting ridiculous," Regina muttered under her breath, and Emma's lips, still on her breast, widened in a grin. "Who is it?" She called out, trying desperately not to sound out of breath.
"Dr. Mills, the Dean would like to speak to you," her secretary stated.
"I'm a little busy, I'm afraid." Emma chuckled at that, causing Regina to lightly swat her on the arm. "Shh," she whispered.
"He said it's urgent."
"Fine. Is he on the phone?"
"No, he'd like to see you in his office."
Regina sighed at that, and reluctantly got off the desk. Her hands went around to zip her dress, but firm, warm hands stopped her. "Let me," Emma smiled, sounding less out of breath than the brunette would have liked.
"I apologize. If I didn't have to, I really wouldn't," the professor confessed, blushing.
"I know."
A smirk and an arched eyebrow emerged. "A little cocky, aren't we?"
Emma leaned in and kissed her slowly and passionately. "Only a little."
"We still need to have that talk."
"I know."