Seven Months this time...sorry. I'm just trying to keep this story going honestly. It's my baby and I love it and it's hard feeling like the story is crap, but I read the reviews I do have and see that this story does have a loyal following and I appreciate you all. You're the real MVPs.
~Jem
"Emma? Emma, don't ignore me, it's a good idea! I think you should talk to someone and Dr. Nolan is a great person, she's a great listener and she's helpful."
Emma sighed and rolled her eyes, "She works for the college Rubes, there's no way I can talk to her about my life and what's going on. She'll have to report it and then Regina will lose her job, and that would suck especially with her going up against her mom. She can't afford to lose her job. And I won't be the reason for her losing her career. Rubes she loves her job and she's the best at it and she busted her ass to get where she is."
Ruby huffed and crossed her arms; she looked over at Emma who was lying across the foot of her bed. There were opened books separating them. They'd been able to work in comfortable silence for about an hour before Ruby went on a tangent about Regina and how Emma needed counseling or therapy.
"But you don't have to say who it is, and as a therapist she will respect that. Look, I know that you're happy that Regina is trying to get her life together but it's been six weeks since you saw her last. You two are obviously avoiding each othe"
"Not true Rubes." Emma grabbed her can of root beer off the nightstand and took a long drink from it. Though some of it was try, Emma had been avoiding Regina but that was because she couldn't make up her mind and she hated sending out mixed signals because that wasn't far to Regina.
"What do you mean not true? When did you see her, you didn't tell me about this." Ruby sat up and closed the book that she'd been using for research. Emma took another drink to buy herself some time.
"You're supposed to be working on your paper." She reminded looking pointedly at Ruby's laptop. Emma really didn't want to have this conversation right now, not because she didn't trust Ruby but more so because she didn't know how she felt and Ruby would want to know that.
"Yes I am, but you're supposed to tell me things." Ruby whined, she was obviously annoyed. She knew Emma was hiding something and she didn't appreciate the omission. Emma told her everything, especially Regina-centric things.
"And I do, when I feel like it's important."
"So you're saying seeing Regina isn't important?"
"No I'm saying that it's not pertinent knowledge for you to have." Emma knew that was unfair but she just wasn't ready. Talking about it opened the floor for questions and she didn't want that. She honestly wasn't ready for that.
"Is that your way of telling me to mind my own business?"
Emma looked up and smiled at Ruby and the brunette huffed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, I can see that this isn't my business."
"Don't get huffy."
"I have every right to be huffy, you're hold out on me."
Emma waggled her eyebrows and Ruby threw a pillow at her. "You suck."
"Actually I don't"
Ruby chuckled and opened her textbook back up. She shook her head but didn't push the issue. Emma would talk when she was ready and not a minute before.
"Maybe you should talk to Dr. Nolan." Ruby looked up, an adorable look of confusion on her face. Emma laughed and emptied her can of root beer.
"Maybe she can help you sort out your feelings for the sexy librarian who's made to the President of the college." Ruby rolled her eyes and threw a highlighter.
"Fuck you."
"We agreed not to do that anymore." Ruby rolled her eyes but couldn't keep the amusement from her face.
"Weren't you supposed to be being pizza?" Ruby looked pointedly at Emma who nodded and smiled.
"Order it and I'll go pick it up." Ruby pulled out her cell phone and dialed the number for the pizza place, since she knew the number by heart.
Meet me for dinner. I have great news.
Regina sighed at the text message. It'd been a long day, honestly it'd been a long week and she wanted nothing more than to soak in her claw foot tub with a bottle of wine and a good book. She needed to relax, her body was buzzing. The chance encounter with Emma had been playing in her mind on repeat the entire drive home. The kiss was highly unexpected and absolutely delicious. Though it was tame and lacked tongue, it was immensely intimate and that was truly what Regina had missed and by the way Emma looked at her after the kiss, she'd venture to guess the young woman missed their intimacy too. It felt good to be wanted, the last few weeks had been hard, missing the blonde, wishing that everything was the way it used to be. She knew she had no one to blame but herself and her cowardice was upsetting. She'd found love; life-change, earthshattering love and she'd let it slip threw her fingers but she wouldn't do that again.
She looked down at her phone and replied to the text message.
Where and what time?
Making her way up the stairs she walked in to her closet and began to rifle through her extensive wardrobe in an attempt to find something suitable for her business dinner with Jafar. She decided on trousers, nothing could be miscommunicated if she wore pants. Dresses or skirts always leave a bit to be said and she had history with him so she couldn't risk him thinking that more was coming of the night than a simple dinner. He'd been well behaved, mostly, since he'd been in town but she knew him well. He'd kept his hands to himself but she often caught him staring at her and he loved walking down memory lane. Though the times they spent together were great, they were in the past and there was no future in them.
6:30 at the steakhouse
Checking the time, she had roughly 45 minutes to be dressed and ready to go if she wanted to make it on time to the restaurant. Deciding on a pair of charcoal dress pants and a marron colored blouse, she laid the items on the bed and went into her en suite. Knowing that time was not on her side, she glanced longingly at her claw foot tub but moved to the shower on the far wall. She put her hair up out of her face and turned the shower on. Peel-your-skin-hot is what Emma referred to it as. She chuckled at the thought and stepped into the shower.
When she stepped out of the shower, she patted herself on the back for a job well down. She'd only been in the shower for 15 minutes which was short for her. She opened the bathroom door and the steamed wafted into the bedroom. Drying herself quickly, she grabbed her moisturizing lotion and applied it. Slipping into a simple pair of underwear and the matching bra she pulled the trousers on. She checked her reflection and ensured that the pants weren't too tight before pulling the blouse over her head. The clock glared mockingly at her showing the time, 5:48. Deciding she didn't have time to fret over shoes, she grabbed the heels she'd worn to work and put them on. Standing in front of her mirror, she fluffed her hair and touched up her make-up and sighed.
"Well here goes." She grabbed her phone and made her way back down the stairs. She turned on the light in her foyer and grabbed her purse off of the table by the door. Dropping her phone inside, she grabbed her keys and opened the door and was greeted with quite the surprise.
"Emma?" The blonde was moving, rather quickly, up the paved walkway. Regina stood, dumbfounded, as Emma stepped into her personal space. Warm hands gripped her waist gently and backed her into her house. Emma pushed the door closed with her foot and before Regina could fix her mouth to ask what was happening, pale lips were on hers.
While the kiss in the library had been gentle and somewhat chaste, this one was neither. Regina felt like Emma was everywhere, and it felt amazing. Regina felt lightheaded as she held Emma tightly, getting lost in the kiss. Their tongues caressed one another, before a game of tag began. Emma would delve deep and then pull back, causing Regina to dive in and capture her tongue once again. Emma's hands gripped Regina tightly as if she never wanted to let go and if Regina had anything to do with it, she would never have to.
"Are you heading somewhere?" Emma asked, when they had to break for air. She still stood close, not releasing Regina even after the kiss was over. Her breathing was slightly ragged and Regina smiled at the pink tent that Emma's cheeks had taken on.
"Business dinner with Jafar. He found something, he said it was great news." She leaned in and kissed Emma's nose and her cheeks reddened. She stroked the blushing woman's cheek and cup her chin gently. Eyes open, she leaned in and captured the mouth she'd missed so much. She heard Emma whimper and watched her eyes slip close and her melt into the kiss. Allowing her own eyes to close, Regina slipped her fingers through long blonde hair enjoying the moment.
Emma groaned deeply when Regina's tongue stroked the roof of her mouth and the younger woman fisted the silk blouse. Regina chuckled into Emma's mouth and broke the kiss,
"I'm going to regret these words but…..I have to go." She gently placed her forehead against Emma's and took a deep breath. "I really wish I didn't."
Emma nodded, "No, it's ok. I'm supposed to be getting pizza."
"Is that a euphemism?" Emma laughed loudly and shook her head.
"No, I'm literally supposed to be picking up the meat lovers' pizza that Ruby ordered. "
"Ah, and you decided to make a stop first?"
"Well…yea. I wanted to kiss you." Emma whispered and Regina leaned in slowly. Emma sighed happily as Regina took her time gently probing her mouth. It was slow and sensual and Regina felt herself falling in love all over again. It reminded her of late nights and weekend trips. It reminded her of the greatest love she'd ever experienced.
"Oookay, you have to stop that." Sucking in a lungful of breath Emma stared longingly at Regina.
"Stop what dear?"
"Looking at me like that and kissing me like that. You have a meeting and I have a pizza to pick up, and neither of those things will matter if you keep kissing me like you were just kissing me."
"We're not ready for that and I don't think I can handle seeing regret in your eyes again afterwards…"
"When we are together again, I want us to be ready, I want it to be more than an anger induced fucking."
"When?" Regina inquired, trying to hide how she felt about the proclamation.
"Yes…when. Now, I'm going to go get a pizza and you're going to go to your meeting and then you're going to tell me everything."
"OK, come by my office after my first class and we can talk about it." Emma nodded and placed a quick kiss on Regina's lips.
"Sorry." Emma mumbled as they walked out of the house and Regina locked the door.
"For what dear?"
"I'm pretty sure I made you late." Regina looked down at her watch and swore, she wasn't late yet but she was going to be.
"I'll take that as a yes." Emma chuckled and Regina rolled her eyes and pulled her phone out of her purse.
Running a little behind, I'll be there shortly.
"Enjoy your pizza dear." Emma smirked and slid into her car. Regina watched her before sliding into her own vehicle and heading towards the restaurant.
