When dinner is over and we've loaded all the dishes into the dishwasher, Regina turns to me.
"Would you like to watch a movie?" I smile at her.
"How about the Blind Side?" She claps her hands in glee and then takes my hand and starts to lead me upstairs. I stop at the bottom of the staircase.
"Emma?"
"Wh-where are we going?"
"Upstairs. I have the TV in there so I can sit in the living room and grade without getting distracted."
"Upstairs like.. Your bedroom?" She nods her head and tugs on my hand.
"Come on. Relax, Ms. Swan." I follow her upstairs. Back in her bedroom, I instantly blush just from nerves. She glances at me and then pauses, returning from the entertainment center she was standing in front of.
"Emma," she whispers quietly. She holds my face softly between her hands. "Are you uncomfortable?" she looks me dead in the eye as she speaks.
"No, Gina. Just.. Being around you makes me nervous. Being in your bedroom makes me so nervous."
"I can take you home." I grab her hands with my own in surprise.
"I don't want to go anywhere." She smiles at me and returns to the entertainment center, opening the doors and grabbing the DVD.
"Sit, please. Try to relax," she winks at me. I sit on the edge of the bed with a huff, wringing my hands nervously. I glance around her room; it really is immaculate.
When she's done with the TV and the opening credits have started, she returns to me. With a smile, she pushes my shoulder gently, encouraging me to scoot up to the head of the bed. I slide up and she crawls after me, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Regina," my voice is hoarse, throat suddenly dry. She straddles my legs with a smirk and pushes her hands into my hair.
"Hi," she whispers, a small smile on her face.
"You're missing the movie," I whisper back. She smiles and kisses my nose before swinging one leg over and curling into my side.
When my eyes flutter open, I blink in confusion. It's still dark, and the TV is playing the main menu for the movie on a loop. I glance at the clock: it reads 3:37. Regina is fast asleep, tucked into my side, grasping my shirt tightly in a fist. I run my fingers through her hair and she begins to stir.
"Emma?" she croaks sleepily. I instantly fall in love with her, right at that moment. Sleepy, groggy, disheveled, Regina Mills completely undoes me. The Dr. Mills that waltzed into the classroom the first day of school is not the Regina I know now. "What time is it?" She begins to sit up in a panic and it snaps me out of my love-induced coma.
"Hey, relax. It's almost four."
"In the morning? Shit, Emma, I-"
"Regina!" I hold a finger to her mouth to silence her.
"I just wanted to wake you up so you wouldn't be surprised in the morning."
"I feel so guilty." I smile at her.
"Well, stop. I'm in heaven right now." I kiss her forehead, pull back the sheets, and encourage her to snuggle back into my side. She hums happily, burying her nose in my neck.
"I could really get used to this," she murmurs.
In a moment of complete vulnerability I whisper, "I'm really falling for you, Gina." She kisses my neck softly.
"I am too, Emma," she says sleepily. My heart explodes with joy.
When I wake again several hours later, Regina is surprisingly still asleep. This time the clock reads 10:15. I reach over to the nightstand where I placed my phone and see several missed calls from Ruby and 17 texts. I swipe right on a missed call and wait, hoping I won't wake Regina.
"Where the hell are you?" Ruby answers. I shush her immediately and urgently. Regina stirs a little, but ultimately burrows back into my side and sighs.
"We fell asleep watching a movie. I'm with Regina," I whisper.
"Emma it scared the shit out of me when I woke up this morning and you weren't home," she breathes out. "God I'm just so happy to hear you're okay."
"I'm more than okay. I'm really sorry Rubes. We'll be home soon so get ready for the pool. Gina is still sleeping but once she wakes up we'll head over." I can practically hear her snickering over the phone.
"You sound so domestic, Emma," she chuckles. "Wake your girlfriend," she teases before hanging up. I put the phone back on the table and pull Regina closer to me. She wraps her leg tighter around me, drawing me nearer.
She sleeps for another half an hour before she fully begins to wake. She smiles a sleep-laden smile and pulls me impossibly closer. I kiss her forehead.
"What time is it?"
"Almost eleven," I chuckle. She groans.
"You are ruining me, Emma." She smiles up at me and kisses me immediately. "But oh, what a way to go!"
"You're very chipper in the morning," I note. She shakes her head.
"Typically I am not, but there's something about being in bed with you…" she trails off.
"You did bed me quite early, Dr. Mills." She blushes.
"Come on, I'm sure Ruby is waiting for us?" I smile, surprised that she remembered. I nod my head and she stands from bed, stretching her arms above her head. Her shirt rides up her toned abdomen.
"Is that a tramp stamp?!" She whirls, tugging her shirt down in the process. "Oh my god, Regina, that is ridiculously hot," I groan.
"Well in that case," she smirks, "come get a better look." She turns again and suddenly pulls her blouse completely over her head, letting it drop onto the bed. She's still dressed in her outfit from yesterday. My mouth dries as I stand and approach her.
It is a star, no bigger than the size of my thumb, situated in the dimple in her lower back. While not elaborate, the simplicity of it is perhaps the most attractive. I gently trace my fingers over it and she shivers.
"Beautiful," I murmur. Her head tilts down and I can see a blush rising up her cheeks. I kiss the tattoo very gently and then stand up straight and turn her around. "You're perfect," I whisper. I keep my eyes focused on her and not her slightly heaving chest.
"I should get changed," she murmurs, her lips inches from mine. I nod my head in agreement.
"Probably a good idea."
When she comes out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, I'm disappointed to find she has already donned a cover up. I click the TV off and we head downstairs.
"Are you hungry? Do you want to eat first?" I shake my head.
"I'm fine. I could use some coffee though." She puts the pot on and moves to the fridge, taking out two apples and a container of yogurt.
"Eat this," she says as she tosses it to me. I catch it and take a large bite, suddenly realizing I am rather hungry. She munches on hers as well, and I watch as a piece gets stuck on the underside of her nose.
"Regina," I giggle, "you have apple on your nose." She blushes and tries to wipe it away, but is unsuccessful. I get up from my chair and still her with a hand to her shoulder while wiping it from underneath her nose. She huffs as I do this.
"Thank you," she says quietly. Her mood shift is startling.
"Hey, what's up with you?" I duck down to meet her eyes.
"It's just embarrassing, that's all." I sigh.
"You don't need to be 'perfect' 24/7 in front of me, Regina. I already think you're perfect, even with apple under your nose." I kiss her, pushing her gently against the counter. Her arms wrap around my neck and she smiles into the kiss.
"You're perfect," she whispers against my lips. I smile and kiss her again. We kiss lazily, hands exploring slowly, for several minutes before the smell of freshly brewed coffee invades my senses. I pull away from her and glance at the coffee pot. She chuckles and releases her hold on me.
"Mugs?"
"Two cabinets over." I retrieve one for both of us and pour the cups. After we respectively fix them the way we like them, we sit at the table. Regina eats her yogurt and I finish my previously abandoned apple.
"Ready to go?" she asks me after I've drained my cup. I nod and we head outside. The sun is warm and inviting, and I smile at the way Regina just seems to glow with happiness as we get in the car. I hope I look even half as happy as she does when she looks at me.
"Are you okay if I call Ruby and let her know we're on our way home?"
"Of course." I select her name and wait as the phone rings.
"Hey Em," she greets me happily.
"Hey Rubes, we're on our way home." I smile at Regina who is fully focused on her driving.
"Cool. I'll just head over to the pool now. Meet you there."
"Later." I hang up and turn back to Regina, crossing my legs and sighing in contentment. I see her glance over at me before focusing on the road again, a smile creeping up her face.
When we arrive at my apartment, I suddenly get nervous again. Regina has never been inside my house. With shaky hands, I unlock the door and lead her inside.
"Welcome to our apartment," I say shyly as she glances around. "I know it's not-" she halts me with a kiss.
"It's perfect and so wonderfully you," she beams at me.
"Thank you," I breathe. "Give me five minutes to change and then we can walk over to the pool. Please make yourself comfortable." She sits on the couch and I smile at her for just a moment longer before rushing back to my room.
In my room, I tear all my bathing suits out before deciding on a black bikini. It's slimming and gives my breasts the push they need. I clean up my mess, make my bed, and try to tidy up a little before brushing my teeth and putting my hair in a ponytail. I grab my sunscreen and, feeling refreshed, head back out to Regina.
She glances up as I walk out and I swear I see her eyes darken. I smile as I approach her.
"Would you like to leave your bag in my room?" She nods. I extend my hand and pull her up before leading her into my room.
"This is really beautiful, Emma." She's admiring my quilt.
"Thank you, my mother made it for me."
"Wow, what a talented woman." She drops her bag at the foot of my bed and then I watch as she peels her cover up off. Beneath is the same fire engine red bikini I saw her in at the beach all those weeks ago. I'm already drooling.
"Wow," I murmur. She smiles at me.
"You're pretty wow yourself, Ms. Swan. It's all I can do to keep my hands off of you." I flush at the thought, arousal pooling between my legs.
"You're not making it very easy for me either, Dr. Mills," I tease. I step closer, into her personal space, and place my hands on her hips, just below her bikini bottoms. She gasps and her hips thrust forward, so nearly every inch of our bare skin is connecting now.
"Emma," she warns breathily. My hands move slowly to her backside, still just skimming underneath her bathing suit. She lets out another gasp.
"You're so incredibly sensitive to my touch," I murmur in her ear. "I can't wait to play your body the way you play your piano." Her fingers tighten their grip on my shoulders and she lets out a groan.
"We need to go. Ruby is waiting." I chuckle and release her. She blinks at me for a moment before taking a deep breath and shaking her head slightly. I take her hand and lead her out of the apartment with nothing but a bottle of sunscreen.
