Chapter Summary: Emma makes it her night's mission to woo Regina. Will Regina let her defenses down and allow her heart to expel all her reservations?


Chapter 7: Physical Intimacy

The main lodge was dressed in the finest celebratory decoration, and Regina was impressed. The tables were arranged in a way that surrounded the middle of the room, turning it into a makeshift dance floor and at the end was a small platform used as a stage that the DJ table stood on.

Regina recognized the popular Kool and the Gang song and even though she didn't dance, her body betrayed her and swayed, just a bit, to the addicting melody and thumping disco beat.

"Do my eyes deceive me or are you dancing?"

Emma's voice hummed in her ear, intimately. As a matter of fact, the blonde was standing way closer than usual. Right up against the back of her, and Regina found their near proximity thrilling. Just when she thought she had her wits about her to answer, she felt Emma's fingers possessively pressing against her waist and pulling her gently, yet purposefully, against the woman's leather clad front.

Tingles swarmed her lower abdomen, causing Regina to throb when Emma's thumbs began to draw lazy circles on either side of her lower back, first in light brushes, and then in a mild massage. If she wasn't careful, Regina thought she just might melt onto the wooden floor, and incidentally, she already began to feel the telltale signs of arousal at her center. Her brain was calling on her good sense, but her body was abandoning her.

Interpreting that it was okay to continue, Emma's hands dropped down to appreciate the curve of Regina's hips, bringing those tantalizing thumbs to the top of Regina buttocks. A mere five seconds into their fondling, Regina jumped forward surprising Emma and Henry, though Emma knowingly smirked back at her.

"You okay, Mom?"

"Oh, uh… Yes. I'm thirsty, though. Would you like a Coke?"

Henry's eyelids fluttered in incomprehension. "You're actually asking me if I want soda?"

"Henry can get his own soda, Regina. Henry, why don't you get us some drinks? Your mom and I will find a spot."

He left without argument or preamble and Regina sighed, glancing at Emma. She wasn't sure how much longer she could fight this powerful attraction. It was debatable whether she wanted to any longer.

"How about over there?" Emma pointed to an empty table near the corner of the room and, with a hand at the small of her back, followed Regina over and chivalrously pulled a seat out for her. When it was clear that the action made Regina suspicious, Emma delivered her most innocent looking smile to which Regina merely stared at, enchanted by its potent impact on her and took a seat. "Moonie and Bill really went all out."

"It looks very festive." An air of approval took over and Regina's lips widened into the loveliest smile Emma had ever seen. "The decorations are very pretty."

"So are you." There was a soft penetrating glow on Emma's face and she bent forward intently seeking a connection with Regina's gaze.

Regina had no idea why she felt so shy all of a sudden. This wasn't like her. Where was the snappy comeback? The sarcasm? Why did she suddenly feel like tittering in her hand like a school girl?

No! You are a Queen! Pull yourself together, Regina!

Nonplussed, Regina studied the petals on a daisy in the floral arrangement situated at the center of their round table.

Jesus, Regina. At least try to remember that you are in control. A force to be reckoned with.

She wondered what it was about Emma Swan that resorted Regina to a lovesick teenager, pining away for wants and needs that she knew were impossible and unavailable to her.

"Did you hit your head today or something?"

"I mean it, Regina. You really are beautiful."

Emma saw Regina blush and then flinch and all of a sudden she became upset with herself. What had happened to all her wooing techniques? Before ever coming to Storybrooke, Emma Swan had no problems pursuing companionship when she sought it. She didn't like to brag and she was not a player by any means, but she could romance someone when she wanted, and she was smooth and confident when she did it.

Just when Emma thought that she was losing a grip on her mission to pursue Regina, the brunette lifted her eyes and in their dark depths was hope, longing and something not quite discernible that made Emma's heart palpitate fast and hard.

Bringing gentle fingertips to Regina's cheek, Emma grazed the soft skin and eventually tucked the lock of hair behind Regina's ear, lightly caressing the outer lobe tenderly. With a tremble, Regina couldn't help herself from moving closer, her goal… meeting Emma's lips with her own. Elation swam in the blonde's eyes when she understood what was happening.

"Okay. One mineral water." Henry said breaking both of them out of their forward momentum. Regina, clearly shaken, straightened at once and swallowed in a discombobulated fashion. Emma sighed in exasperation and looked up at Henry as he placed a can in front of her. Realizing his faux pas, his speech curbed and slowed. "One Coke Zero and… a Coke… for me."

"Thanks, Henry." Though her tone implied something else, Emma smiled and shook her head at his timing and his mouth twisted apologetically.

For a little while they sat. Emma, Regina and Henry. While their son bobbed his head and tapped his hand against his knee to the music, the two women were so aware of one another, sitting so closely within touching distance. The fragrance of their perfumes mingled within the same space and it felt like the heat radiating from them both could light a bonfire.

No one heard the table make a sound when Emma propped her elbow on it, and leaning her chin pensively on her palm, she tried to figure out how she was going to continue their little interlude before Henry had returned with drinks.

Emma eyed the brunette beside her who was purposely distracting herself with wavers passing by and people dancing in the middle.

She knew what she had to do. She had to get Henry to leave them alone again just for a little while because Regina would not willingly let herself do anything in front of him.

She could call his name but she couldn't very well send him on another mission. Too obvious, and she felt Regina would veto it this time. Extending her leg underneath the table, during a break between songs, she tried to connect it with his but when her bare calf brushed up against Regina's, she heard the brunette gasp and a shudder pulsated through Emma, not just because of the feel of skin on skin but the breathy noise Regina made at the contact. Oh my God!

Henry was oblivious but Regina glanced at her with a passionate fire in her eyes and Emma had to will herself not to drag the woman up and throw her on the table for a good ravishing. Holy shit! Emma had never felt desire this strongly before.

Quickly, Regina turned away and Emma had to do something. She couldn't kick Henry apparently. Her fingers went to her soda can and she tore the tab off, unnoticed by either of her companions. Turning the tab over in her hand, she knew she had to time this perfectly.

Her opportunity arose when Suzie Chin waved and Regina raised her hand to return the greeting, her attention monopolized. Emma, with dead precision, aimed and flicked the can tab hitting Henry's ear lobe.

Startled, but not hurt, Henry closed a palm over his ear and snapped his focus to Emma who leaned behind Regina and gestured with her hands for him to give them some alone time.

Sensing all the sudden moves behind her, Regina strangely eyed first Henry, still holding his ear, and Emma whose waving turned into her stroking the hack of her golden tresses as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on.

Suspiciously, Regina eyeballed both of them again and skeptically asked, "Henry, what's the matter with your ear?"

"Huh? What?"

"Your ear."

"Oh. Uh…" Henry looked to Emma who raised her brows high, waiting to see what story her son would come up with. He did come from her womb after all. Let's see how creative he could be. "Um… mosquito bite."

Emma stifled a laugh by covering her mouth. Well, he was Neal's biological son too.

"On your ear?"

"Yeah. Oh yeah!" Henry became a little too animated in his explanation. "You know, those little blood suckers can bite you anywhere. Nick once claimed that a mosquito crawled up his shorts and bit one of his…"

"Henry!" Regina looked at Henry in round-eye shock and Emma was near dying with buckled-in laughter now. "I do not care to hear about any of Nicholas Zimmer's private parts no matter how badly offended they were!"

"Uh… Mom?"

"Yes." The mosquito lie seemed to be forgotten as Henry scooted his chair back.

"May I go hang out with Slash?"

After a moment, Regina said with a grin, "Yes, you may," and jokingly added, "But do not regale the Chins with Nicholas' private parts either please."

"Yes, Mom." When Regina looked at Emma and shook her head, Henry bent quickly and grabbed the soda tab from the floor and just as Regina turned back to look at him, he threw the tab at Emma, his timing precise as he innocently drew his hand back to his side. The tab flew directly over Regina's turning head and hit Emma on the top of hers. Her hand immediately flew up to cover where it had landed and that's how Regina caught her, as Henry disappeared into the crowd, with her hand atop her head, her shoulders shrugged upwards and a cute scrunched expression on her face.

Regina was certain that Emma and Henry were in cahoots together and she chuckled and kidded, gesturing to Emma's crown, "Mosquito?"

"Maybe even the very same one."

"Uh huh." There was soft affection on Regina's face. "You two are a pair." She lifted her Crystal Geyser and took a sip, the cool carbonation leaving a pleasant sparkling sensation down her throat. "Sometimes it feels like I am babysitting the both of you."

"Great! That's not how I want you to think of me. Like another child."

Unable to leave the seriousness out of her voice, Regina queried, "How would you like me to think of you?"

"Not like an underaged teen."

"I don't." Regina contemplatively turned the can slowly in its place. It would be highly inappropriate, no dead wrong, for Regina to have the thoughts she'd been having about Emma if that were the case.

At that moment, a well known slow song from the Disco era came on and Emma got up quickly and reached for Regina's hand. "Come on, Regina. Let's dance."

"Oh, no no. I couldn't possibly." She let Emma drag her out of her seat anyway. Why? Regina wasn't sure. Why did she let Emma do anything?

"It's a slow song. You just stand there and I'll take care of the rest."

"But…"

They were standing in the middle of the dance floor, safely surrounded by other dancing couples who were too preoccupied with each other. No one was paying them any mind so Regina considered herself lucky that her melting into Emma's arms had not been witnessed by anyone. It probably wouldn't have mattered anyway since everyone thought they were married. Embracing and dancing closer to Emma than she had to anyone ever before, Regina heard the blonde begin to sing the lyrics to the song. She'd heard this one before and had liked it a lot. Now with Emma in her arms, she had a new reason to like it even more. .

"I know your eyes in the morning sun

I feel you touch me in the pouring rain

And the moment that you wander far from me

I want to feel you in my arms again

And you come to me on a summer breeze

Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave

And it's me you need to show

How deep is your love?..."

Had anything ever felt as wonderful as this? Emma loved the feel of Regina flush against her. She had never danced with Regina before and it was awesome, addicting and she never wanted to let go. She was even softly serenading the woman. Emma wanted to laugh at herself. She had an okay singing voice and really only ever sang to herself in the shower. She'd never sung to anyone before, so this was all new to her, but she realized she liked doing this with Regina. It made her feel inexplicably good. Every new experience with this woman became Emma's new favorite thing.

"'Cause we're living in a world of fools

Breaking us down when they all should let us be

We belong to you and me."

Swaying gently, following Emma's lead, Regina allowed herself to be carried away by the BeeGees. The melodic rhythm touched her deeply while accompanied by the feel of Emma's cheek against hers. Emma's singing lulled her into sweet dreams of them together, dancing this way in the evenings, having family dinners with their son, the two idiots and cute little Neal and ending each night laughing while cuddling before drifting off to sleep. Could she have it all? Could she have Emma?

As the next verse played, Regina recalled the lyrics and realized how accurately she felt them for this woman. How crazy that this particular song was playing now and that they were in each other's arms as it did.

"I believe in you

You know the door to my very soul

You're the light in my deepest, darkest hour

You're my savior when I fall

And you may not think I care for you

When you know down inside that I really do

And it's me you need to show…"

Without thinking about it, Regina leaned her head on Emma's shoulder, closed her eyes and relished the moment. You're the light in my deepest, darkest hour. You're my savior when I fall. Emma was the savior, but at times Regina had felt like Emma was her own personal savior, and with Henry, were the only ones to give her light in her darkest of times. She needed them. She wanted them. She wanted this.

"How deep is your love?

I really mean to learn

'Cause we're living in a world of fools

Breaking us down when they all should let us be

We belong to you and me."

As the music faded out, Regina sighed resolutely. She wasn't going to break them down or keep them apart anymore. She, they, had been the fools for so long. No more.

"What's the matter?" Emma leaned back and searched Regina's eyes to gauge the reason for the heavy sigh she heard.

"Emma, take me back to the cabin."

Panic waged inside Emma and she thought she had pushed Regina too far. Her parents had relayed to her that Regina had never learned to dance, but this was nothing like the elaborate choreography that dancing in the Enchanted Forest called for. This was hugging and swaying and Emma had enjoyed it. She thought Regina had too. Had she misread Regina's embracing her and putting her head on Emma's shoulder with the woman's hot breath warming against Emma's neck, driving her crazy with need?

"Did I… Are you feeling alright?"

The expression Regina wore was unreadable. Blank. And the longer Regina stayed quiet the more anxious Emma got. Until, the corners of ruby red lips quirked up and the woman finally answered reassuringly and determinedly, "I want to be alone with you."

Emma's insides quaked at the realization of Regina's words and her green eyes widened, the pupils dilating and transforming the sea green to dark emerald. Her lips parted and her jaw slackened and then she was pulling Regina in one direction and then the other.

Where was she? How could they get out of this large pool of people, jiving and twisting to a new song with a quicker tempo, though no matter how quick the beat was, it was no match for Emma's heart.

"This way, Emma."

A goofy smile overtook Emma's face as Regina led her to the side and toward the exit, but stopped abruptly before leaving, looking around for their son. They should at least tell him where they were going.

"Hi you two. My, look at you!" Moonie looked both women over and smiled brightly at their joined hands. "You two are gorgeous! Where are you off to?"

Before Emma could answer, Regina took charge, as Regina was often doing. "There are some things we need to discuss so we're heading out for a spell. Moonbeam, I was wondering if you could just let Henry know so that he doesn't worry. And tell him to have a good time."

"I will, indeed."

"Thank you." Regina left and pulled Emma right along with her; the blonde grinning excitedly at Moonie as they disappeared through the lodge door.

Moonbeam gazed across the room where she saw Henry sitting with the Chins and he was eyeing the door in subtle concern. When he met her gaze she gave him an exaggerated wink and a low thumbs up and he sent back a grin that was just as goofy as Emma's. He gave Slash a high five and they settled back in to enjoy the party.

[X]

Two things became abundantly clear to Regina as she flung the front door open and stepped inside the cabin with Emma close on her tall, stiletto heels. One, the cabin was blessedly silent, the area quiet with all the campers at the party, and two, Regina wanted to ridiculously laugh at how right all this felt.

Instead when Emma entered and walked further into the living room, Regina pushed the door closed soundly and leaned on it while her eyes raked hungrily up Emma's leather clad form. The woman really did wear leather well and Regina was instantly reminded of a saucy dream that she had once had of Emma when she was the Dark One. She would never tell anyone just how affected she had been at an Emma dressed head to toe in tight black leather, and that involuntary dream had led to a few fantasies she had entertained in the privacy of her bedroom on just a few occasions.

Emma took a near ragged breath in. True, she rarely wore heels and Regina was a hiking expert in them, but trailing after Regina from the lodge had proved challenging. After all the brunette's strides were purposeful and Emma had to chase her to keep up.

"So…" Remembering what Regina had said to Moonie, Emma looked around and then back to Regina. "You wanted to talk?"

The almost playful look Regina cast upon her turned Emma to a trembling mess of anticipation and the woman pushed herself off the door and unswervingly took two large steps, grabbed Emma's face, answered, "No," and crashed their lips together, holding Emma still for the glorious rush of ecstasy unleashed upon her.

With a light moan of obvious approval, Regina's thumbs traced Emma's cheek bones and her lips opened slightly to nip at Emma's. The assault, if one could call it that, drove a hot bolt of sexual tightening down Emma's middle. Instantly, Emma felt the rush of desire throb at the apex of her thighs and her insides turned to hot molten lava.

They separated briefly, the soft suction sound of lips parting had both women smiling at one another at the sheer unadulterated pleasure.

"Oh my God," Regina murmured in excitement.

"Holy shit," Emma answered and beamed as they met again, this time with a deeper connection as tongues greeted and arms wrapped around one another.

Amongst sighs turning into whimpers and moans turning into groans, the more urgent their actions became the less fluid their movements were. With a desperation, they needed more of each other. Standing was becoming difficult.

Emma pushed Regina one way. Regina pushed back toward the other with a protesting sob. Emma tore her lips away enough to ask, "Couch or bed?"

Forcing their mouths together again, Regina ran her tongue along Emma's bottom lip and she was sure the blonde growled. Regina quavered in a barely audible manner, "Henry sleeps on the couch."

Emma cackled and wanted to smack herself. Duh!

"Right. Right. Yeah. Oh my God!"

She would ponder her behavior as a mother later. Right now Emma could think of nothing else but Regina's hands clasping her leather covered ass and squeezing her, bringing her hip into demanding contact with Regina's center and the sounds the woman was making with each thrust.

Holy crap in a can.

In the next instant, Emma was dragging Regina backward toward the bedroom, their hands exploring, their mouths moving against one another, though they stopped to chuckle as they collided into various things. A dining chair here, a wall there and suddenly they were in their bedroom pawing at the hems of each other's dresses as they both crashed onto the bed.

Emma found a sensitive part of Regina's neck that made her cry out Emma's name and the blonde made sure to commit that spot to memory. Jesus, was there anything sexier than Regina Mills' moan?

"Emma… Emma…"

"Christ, Regina. The way you sound."

Regina sucked on Emma's earlobe and Emma could hear the smile on Regina's lips. "Oh? And how do I sound?" Regina was being coy, flirty and absolutely sexy.

"Hotter than anything I have ever heard." When Regina dipped the tip of her tongue into Emma's ear suggestively, the blonde swore and gyrated her body quickly. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Stilling her hips, Regina gave an alluring giggle and it made the little hairs in Emma's ear canal tingle.

"Easy does it, Miss Swan," Regina whispered but the huff of a hot breathy moan said the contrary, and so did the hand that suddenly covered Emma's breast. A thumb stroked an aching nipple into hardness, and Emma could feel its point as if it wanted to cut through, not only her bra, but the leather dress.

"More, Regina. More…"

They were laying side by side now and Regina threw her leg over Emma's hip where it was pawed and stroked and she felt Emma's finger slowly roam under her dress along the back of her thigh.

"I can't believe we're doing this." Emma separated briefly to purposely reveal Regina's lips from where they were buried in her neck and captured them with her own. She lifted her head suddenly. "We are doing this, right?"

Regina rolled Emma onto her back with an alluring bout of laughter and once atop the blonde, she straddled her and ensnared her wrists over her head.

"What do you think, Miss Swan?"

"I think I like you calling me Miss Swan only when we're doing this."

Hovering over her, Regina promised before tasting Emma again, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh my God, Regina. Do you know how many times I have thought about us like this?"

"No." That caught Regina's attention and she looked down upon Emma, released her wrists and brought her hands down to cradle her face. "About as often as I have?"

Emma's toothy grin shone in the light. "And how often is that? Wait. When did you first think about it?"

Rattled by the sudden question, Regina pulled back, stroked Emma's cheeks with her knuckles and honestly thought about it. "I think I first wondered about being held in your arms, honestly, when you saved me from the fire."

"Gold's fire?" Incredulity filled Emma's expression.

"Yes."

"Seriously, back then? You imagined me naked?"

"No."

Emma was confused. "Make sense, woman."

They both laughed and it made Regina's body shake deliciously and Emma felt glad they were pressed together in all the right places.

"You asked when I imagined being in your arms in an intimately sexual way. The fire. However, I had already wondered what you'd look like naked way before then." Emma goggled at her and Regina kissed the astonishment off her face. "It was when you answered the door in your underwear. Who does that?"

A burst of laughter, a patting of Regina's bottom, and a naughty eyebrow wiggle later and Emma said, "Me apparently. Though in my defense, I was expecting Granny. How was I to know that Storybrooke's babelicious mayor would come knocking on my door?"

"Babelicious?"

"Don't play innocent. You know you are. You've been torturing me ever since I came to town, with your pencil skirts, and your straining blouses…"

"That's the second time you've mentioned my pencil skirt." Regina mocked offense but Emma just railroaded on, wrapping her arms around Regina's waist and enjoying the feel of Regina's fingers in her hair. "And my straining…"

"Yes… your buttons are fighting the good fight trying to keep your blouses closed."

"Oh please… of course you noticed."

"We all have noticed, Regina." She thought she saw a ghost of a smile and she seized Regina's delicious mouth for a quick kiss. "I'm not even going to get started on those shoes and prim business suits that say, Tear me off! Tear me off!"

"You are absolutely certifiable, you know that?"

"And now you tell me that you wanted me way back then? That's just cruel." Emma had tried to pretend like she was offended and upset and Regina struggled a little to hold her face still while laughing and Emma enjoyed this new found playfulness between them.

"Well, tell me then. When did you want me?"

"Physically. From the get go."

"What?" Regina was shocked and bug-eyed not quite believing what she was hearing.

"You should see your face right now."

"Explain."

Searching her face, Emma noted that Regina was serious and the woman had made a move to get off her but Emma held her firmly in place.

"I wanted you from the first moment I met you. As a matter of fact, I was hoping that you inviting me in for cider meant something else. But sadly…" Emma chuckled. "It was just cider."

"Amazing." Regina was truly confounded by the admission.

"But just so you know, in my mind, I was totally undressing you while you were pouring us drinks."

"Perhaps we should get undressed on this bed, Emma."

"Have I told you I like the way you think?"

"Not usually."

Emma shook her head and quipped, "No not usually. Usually your thoughts are pretty scary."

For that, Regina bit down lightly on Emma's chin and then tongued the cleft and drew a line to her mouth, delivering a dizzying lick there.

"You're going to kill me. You know that right?"

"If only I knew it was this easy back then." Turning more serious, Regina touched her nose to Emma's and then her forehead. "This thing has been happening for a long time between us, hasn't it?"

Emma nodded, her lips rubbing lightly against Regina's. "But finally we're right where we need to be. Regina, this feels…"

"Right."

"Right."

They stared at one another and marveled at the enormity of the moment. The realization. This was meant to be. They were on the verge of their Happy Beginning together. Why hadn't Emma really thought about it before? All her internal musings, warnings with Killian, the sacrifices for Regina, Regina's sacrifices for her… all of it. Her eyes began to mist and so did Regina's.

"Oh my God! I love you, Regina."

Regina laughed. Regina cried. Regina wondered what the hell was the matter with herself. Finally, after so long and all she had been through, love had found her. Real romantic love. Romantic True Love. She had True Love with Henry and she knew now she had it with Emma. She didn't need to guess or use pixie dust. She just knew.

Emma felt the same way. She didn't need a true love test or a bright glimmering rainbow wave to tell her what she was feeling for the woman looking down at her. She sensed it in her mind, in her heart and in every fiber of her being.

Giddiness flooded Regina and it was as if finally everything fell into place and the puzzle piece that had been missing for so long was right where it should be.

"I love you, Emma. I choose you."

"I choose you too."

This kiss between them held promise but it was more urgent than the others. As if they both understood, Emma released her hold on Regina and Regina slid off Emma and then onto her back beside her. Together they stared up at the ceiling completely in sync with one another.

"We're not having sex tonight, are we?" Regina's rich tone was a little somber but she was still smiling and it was a statement and not a question.

"Nope," Emma confirmed, and though she was slightly disappointed that it wasn't happening tonight, she knew this was the right decision and that it would happen soon and it would be awesome. "Not here. Not in a few stolen moments. Not when our son can walk in at any minute. When we make love, Regina, it's going to be long and slow."

"I like the sound of that."

"And the least you can do is buy me dinner first."

"I agree that we should at least have an official date before we take this to that next level, but you get paid very well, Sheriff. You could buy me dinner."

"Yeah, but you know. I'll probably be doing all the work in bed. I kind of like to top."

Regina thought about how she normally sought for control in bed and thought of Emma doing the same and became instantly aroused again. They were going to be explosive. "Interesting. Are you set on that position? If so, this could be one hell of a power struggle."

"Oh yeah?" Emma thought about Regina vying for sexual dominance and was even more turned on. Maybe they'd both learn something new about themselves and each other. "You're welcome to try and change my mind."

"As are you."

"Hot damn, stop teasing me. If we're really not doing it, we should stop talking about it."

"Agreed."

They laid in silence, both with smiles on their faces, both thinking of the future.

"So now what?" Emma asked, holding the side of her head in an open palm on a propped elbow. Regina's kiss swollen lips were beckoning but she thought it a good idea to ignore the impulse, at least for a few more minutes in order to get her body under control.

"We go back to the dance."

"Can we hold hands?"

"Yes."

"Can we make googly eyes at each other?" The dimple on Emma's left cheek winked at Regina and so she raised a finger to poke at it, not believing how corny they were acting and loving it.

"Yes."

"Can I slip you the tongue every now and then?"

"If you must, but let's be mindful of Henry."

"Okay, but we are his parents. We're supposed to embarrass the hell out of him occasionally, you know."

Regina nodded and raised up to kiss Emma sweetly and slowly. "And later tonight…"

"More tongue kissing." Emma grabbed her and brought her in closer.

"And cuddling. Lots of cuddling."

Emma nodded and threw Regina a meaningful gaze. "And no running, Regina."

"No. No more running ever again."