When I walk into the apartment, there isn't a sound to be heard. All the lights are off, including the light under Ruby's door. I glance at the clock.
It's just after midnight, is Ruby really already asleep?
I walk quietly to her door and gently turn the handle. She's snoring quietly, the blankets wrapped around her. I leave the door ajar and hasten to my room, changing my clothes and brushing my teeth before returning to Ruby's room. As I crawl into bed and get under the covers, she rolls over.
"Emma?"
"Yes, love. Is it okay if I stay here for a little?" she nods her head. All of a sudden, a light goes off in her eyes.
"Wait. Did you just get home? How was your date?" she asks sleepily. She's rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and sitting up. I push her down and scoot closer, resting my head on her shoulder.
"It was perfect, Rubes." She seems to be waiting for more, the unspoken question of "what happened?" lingering between us. "She kissed me," I finally whisper. My body warms as soon as I say it aloud.
Instead of reacting in wild Ruby fashion, she squeezes my hand tightly.
"I'm so happy for you, Emma. You're honestly radiant and it's been like that for weeks." I blush.
"Thanks Ruby."
We sit in silence for a few minutes and Ruby yawns loudly, causing me to do the same. In minutes, she starts to snore and I follow not long after.
The next morning I wake up to find Ruby already out of bed. I can hear her clamoring around in the kitchen. I turn to look at the clock and see it's only 9:45. I groan and roll over, but when my stomach growls I decide to get up and eat.
Ruby is dancing around the kitchen and smiles when I come in.
"Good morning sunshine. You have class at noon, right?" I blink, realizing I had completely forgotten.
"Yes! Wow I totally forgot." Ruby laughs, shaking her head.
"You've got it bad, girl."
"Shit, I have to check my phone." I run into my bedroom where I left it charging. As I meander back to the kitchen counter, I see an email from Regina. It's an announcement to the whole class.
This afternoon, I would like to take a field trip to one of the childhood development centers downtown. We would spend about an hour reading stories to children and afterwards discuss the macro- and micro-level influences on the surrounding community. If you're interested, please let me know. I will give you the address.
RM
I reply immediately.
Regina,
I'll be there :)
Em
"What the hell are you smiling about?" Ruby teases.
"I'm going with Regina on a field trip downtown after class!" Ruby rolls her eyes.
"Sheesh, you two are already inseparable." I blush, recalling last night. My phone lights up with a response from Regina.
I'll be on campus. Would you like me to pick you up?
"She wants to pick me up so I can drive with her." I reply to her e-mail, letting her know what building my class is in and what time it gets out.
"Inseparable," Ruby reiterates. I throw a grape at her.
When my painfully slow, three-hour lecture class finally releases, I am the first one out the door. Regina is, of course, waiting outside for me, keys and two cups of coffee in hand. I smile shyly and approach her.
"Hi," I murmur. She gives me an ear-splitting grin and hands me my cup.
"Thought you might need this." I nod and sip it gratefully.
She remembered I like peppermint mocha.
"Thank you. Are you ready to go?" she nods and ushers me towards her car. When we pull out of the school and are stopped at a light, she turns to look at me.
"Emma?"
"Yes?"
"I missed you," she admits quietly. I tilt her chin up so her eyes meet mine.
"I missed you too." I kiss her quickly, lightly, and then the light turns green and she has to drive.
"Stopping myself when you kiss me is very challenging," she whispers. Her eyes never leave the road.
"Stopping yourself?" I gulp when she nods her head slowly. The tension in the small space is painful. "Well, I hope one day you don't." Her head snaps up to look at me.
"Jesus, Emma," she breathes. Her face is bright red and her hands are tightly gripping the wheel. I lean over the center console while simultaneously resting my hand on her thigh.
"I hope one day you don't stop; I hope you keep going, and going, and going, until I can't take it anymore," I whisper breathily in her ear.
I see a bead of sweat form on her forehead; I feel her breath begin to labor. I inch my hand closer until I can feel the seam of her jeans beneath my fingers.
"Emma," she gasps. I retract my hand and settle back into my seat, trying to regulate my heartbeat. "I have never hated driving more than I do right now," she jokes. Her voice is hoarse and throaty.
When the tension dies down, she asks me about my class. We talk for the rest of the thirty-minute car ride until we pull off the highway and into a massively low-income neighborhood. I stare out the window at run down and abandoned houses, unkempt lawns, peeling paint, and broken fences.
"Wow," I whisper quietly. She nods her head, not saying a word.
We meet up with several other students when Regina pulls in front of the tennis courts. I recognize Meredith and she apparently recognizes me as she comes bounding up to us, her wild red hair bouncing behind her.
"Hi Emma! Hi Dr. Mills! Fancy you two showing up at the same time." We both smile, exchanging quick side-eyed glances.
"Hello Meredith, how are you?" Regina engages her in conversation and I watch quietly, constantly awed by her beauty. She's dressed in a more toned down version of her usual high class outfits: jeans rolled up to just above her ankles, ballet flats, and a cream colored, long sleeve blouse littered with black hearts. Her earrings match are also small, black hearts.
"Earth to Emma?" Regina snaps her fingers in front of me and I glance up.
"What? Sorry." She gives me a knowing look and giggles.
We walk into one of the classrooms at the center. Meredith volunteers to read the book to the entire group, probably twenty kids in all. Regina and I sit at a table with three other girls.
As Meredith reads the children's book, Regina continues to glance over at me. I'm not sure if she thinks I haven't noticed or if she's hoping to make eye contact, but I try my best to stay focused. When the story is complete, we spend some time coloring with the kids.
Watching Regina with the six-year-old girl sitting next to her changed my life. She was awkward in a sweet way, trying to ask the girl questions about her life.
"And do you have any pets?" she asked formally, back straight, crayon poised in her hand, as if she had just asked Barack Obama his views on gun control. I laughed outright.
"Yeah, but I'm gonna be a princess for Halloween. Are you gonna be a princess too?"
"I am a princess every day," she says matter-of-factly, a smile on her perfect face.
I have my own rowdy little boy to entertain, but I can barely keep my eyes off Regina.
"Is she your girlfriend?" the little boy asks me. He's pointing at Regina. We both freeze.
"No! Why would you say that, bud?"
"Cause you look at her a lot like when I look at the girl I like." Regina turns scarlet and I feel my cheeks heating up as well.
"Nope, Ms. Regina is just my teacher." I say, side eyeing a still blushing Regina.
"Oh!" he says, returning to his coloring.
When we get back in the car almost two hours later, we both breathe a sigh of relief.
"That was quite an event."
"No kidding." We sit in silence for a moment.
"Would you like to come back to my house and have dinner? I can make lasagna."
"Are you sure?" she nods adamantly. "That sounds great, Gina." Her eyebrow rises.
"You nicknamed me."
"It only seems fair, seeing how you gave me one." She smiles and puts the car in drive.
We don't drive for long, but when we pull up to a giant mansion surrounded by a white picket fence, my mouth drops.
"Oh," I whisper quietly.
"Welcome to 108 Mifflin. I know it's a bit much."
"It's.. Perfect." I tear my eyes away from the house to smile at her. She gets out of the car and comes around to open my door. I take her hand and we walk towards the front door. She doesn't release my hand, even as she turns the key to the front door.
"Feel free to leave your shoes here." She kicks off her own shoes and gestures for me to do the same.
"This place is gorgeous, Regina," I say as I place my shoes next to hers.
"Thank you Ms. Swan. Now, before I give you the grand tour-" she pushes me roughly against the door and presses her lips to mine.
Her foot kicks my ankles apart and she slips a thigh between my parted legs. This time, her kisses are fierce; she bites my bottom lip, sucking it between her own before releasing it. My hands reach around her body to cup her ass and knead the soft flesh I find there. When she bites down on my pulse point, I smack her ass roughly. Her hips buck, grinding her core against my thigh.
"Oh my god," she groans out. Her head rests on my shoulder and she pants heavily in my ear, only serving to arouse me further.
"Yeah," I breathe out, trying to catch my own breath.
"I'm clearly lacking in the self control department," she chuckles, detaching from me. I groan at the loss of contact with her warm, soft body.
"Nobody was complaining," I whimper.
She smirks at me, readjusting her hair. "Come, let me take you on a tour and then we'll start dinner." She takes my hand and pulls me off the door, leading me upstairs.
When we enter her bedroom, the mood shifts considerably. It's immaculate, mostly white but garnished in deep red accents. I smile at her and compliment the décor, but we both know I've grown increasingly anxious.
"Come downstairs, I want to show you my favorite room in the house." She takes my hand and leads me back down the stairs. She opens a large set of wooden double doors to reveal a grand piano.
"You play?" she nods.
"My father taught me when I was very young. I've loved it ever since"
"Will you play for me?" I ask shyly. She pulls me over to the piano bench and I sit down next to her. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and begins to play a soft, sweet tune.
When she stops playing and glances up at me, I grab her face with my hands and kiss her gently.
"You are absolutely breathtaking, Regina," I whisper against her lips. She giggles an adorable, heartbreaking giggle. "And so perfect."
"Emma," she murmurs.
"Say thank you," I brush my thumb against her bottom lip. She captures it with her teeth and bites softly.
"Thank you," I kiss her nose. My stomach growls loudly at that exact moment. Regina laughs loudly. "Come on, my love. Let's make dinner."
Thirty minutes later, I'm washing my hands in the kitchen sink. Regina is putting our lasagna in the oven. I feel her arms wrap around my waist. She presses into my body.
"It'll be ready soon," she murmurs against my neck. She kisses up to my ear, tugging on my earlobe. "What would you like to do in the meantime?" she whispers seductively.
"Well, Dr. Mills, it seems like you've already got something in mind." She whirls me around and presses her lips against mine instantly. I groan and pull her closer to me, her warm body pressing against me. Her hands slip into the back pocket of my jeans and squeeze.
Suddenly, the shrill sound of my phone breaks us apart. I gasp quietly and detach myself from her.
"That's Ruby, let me get that." I run over to my phone, trying to simultaneously catch my breath.
"Emma," she whines. I hold up a finger, smirking at her pouting face.
"Ruby? What's up?"
"Where are you? I'm starving. Do you want to order pizza?" I glance at the clock and realize it's already after seven.
"Oh Ruby, I'm sorry I forgot to call you. I'm having dinner with Regina."
"Emma!" she groans. "Wait a minute. It's so quiet. Are you at a restaurant?" I roll my eyes.
"No," I mutter.
"You're at her house?"
"I'll explain later. Hey I forgot to tell you she's coming tomorrow to hit the pool. Are you coming?"
"You are absolutely head over heels for this woman, Emma Swan. I'll see you tonight… Maybe."
"Ruby!" She's already hung up. I roll my eyes and huff.
"Emma?" I turn back to Regina. She crooks her finger at me and I return to her waiting arms. Instead of the ferocious kissing I thought would ensue, she hugs me tightly and nuzzles her face into my neck.
"Gina," I whisper.
"This is going to sound like a bit of a weird request, but do you think we could sit on the couch and cuddle?" I laugh loudly, shaking both of us. I grab her hand and lead her to the couch. I sit with my back against the armrest and pull her down. She curls into my side and sighs happily.
"So what's your favorite movie?" She glances up at me.
"I'm not sure that I have one. But you know what I really love right now? The Blind Side. I bought it a few months ago because it was in the one dollar bin at the store and I've watched it four times since then."
"That is absolutely adorable." I kiss the top of her head and smile.
"I know from your notecard you're a big Matilda fan." I blush.
"To be fair, I didn't think you actually had time to read two hundred notecards. And also to be fair, it was my favorite childhood movie and I watch it when I'm sick or if I can't sleep."
"You would be amazed at how much free time I have," she laughs.
"I still don't know how you do it. You're amazing." She smacks my arm.
"You're bad for my ego, Swan. When I started college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. What I did know is that I wanted to make a butt load of money and be a badass."
"Well Regina," I laugh, "you certainly did both, in excess no less." She snuggles deeper into me.
"I'm so excited that you chose sociology. You're really going to love it, as I can see you already do. When I took my first sociology course, it changed me instantly." I smile when I realize she has no idea that's what she did for me.
A/N: Just a quick note to say thank you again for your reviews! I would be replying, however they don't seem to be appearing in my review section. I hope that issue resolves itself so I can reply to all of your lovely reviews. Also- the semester will be starting up again for me on Wednesday so please remember I have many other things to read and write, but I am *always* doing my absolute best to update. Hit me up if you want to talk about the story, have requests, or anything else! xx
