Please excuse the long wait, it's been a crazy week of midterms and an even crazier weekend :p This chapter is a little shorter, but quite heavy in content as it is the sort of the buildup for the next chapter that is to arrive very soon. Please enjoy and tell me what you think!
The apartment is silent, vacant; having both its occupants absent with their respective significant others. Not a stirring happens in this one such apartment for several hours as it stands peacefully quiet amongst the buildings in the very heart of this sparkling city, that is until suddenly a crash followed by the sounds of hot steamy, heaving breaths fill the silent air. Regina and Robin burst through the doors; Regina walking into the room backwards as Robin takes control to walk forward. Their lips never leave one another, as the temperature grows hotter by the second. The door slams closed at the kick of Robin's foot.
"Where's the fucking couch?", Regina moans, entangling her hands in his hair as he continues to walk her backward. She can almost swear her living room isn't that large, however the desire pounds incessantly through her chest; desire that needs to be fulfilled at this very moment.
"It's your place, milady, not mine," Robin responds breathlessly. He keeps walking until Regina's legs hit the plush cushions behind her. Falling down upon the couch with a thump, she takes him down with her, as he climbs eagerly on top. In one swift movement, Regina's jacket falls to the floor with a soft thud, leaving behind but a plain red tank top and bra underneath. Regina too reaches up, working to push the lapels of Robin's jacket apart and slide the material off his shoulders to reveal tight arm muscles underneath a thin, forest green t-shirt. Breathing heavily, the man ducks down for another searing kiss as his fingers graze the hook and zipper on Regina's jeans. It takes him but a moment to undo it all and slide the material off her rear as the brunette willingly lifts her hips to assist.
"Wait, I want your shirt off," Regina moans, running her hands up and down Robin's biceps. Moving those hands to his back, she grasps the clothing, pulling upwards with ease and sliding it over his head. Robin smirks, ducking down once more to devour the side of Regina's neck kissing and nipping and biting softly much to the brunette's pleasure. She tilts her head to the side and allows her eyes to flutter closed as she savors the attention.
"Your turn then," Robin whispers, lifting his head and thereafter removing Regina's tank top with her help to reveal a lacy black push-up bra underneath. The brunette smirks as the man looks down at the prominent swells upon her chest, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallows. It's as if the man hasn't already seen this spectacle before.
"I know," Regina states huskily as she grabs the back of his neck, urging him down towards her lips for yet another kiss.
"Oh Regina," Robin murmurs, tracing his fingers along the soft skin of her cheek, "So beautiful." He bows his head, placing a soft kiss on the underside of Regina's chin before traveling down her center line to the little valley between the great swells of her breasts, breathing in the scent of sweat and apple perfume. The scent of her. Regina breathes heavily, puffing her chest towards him as she feels his tongue run between her breasts, gathering up any moisture and saltiness that could have collected there.
Robin takes his time, lifting his head to nip Regina's neck, sucking and pulling at the skin softly as his hands, with a mind of their own, descend to the lower half of her body. Eagerly, they tear through her underwear before brushing her sex while the man eagerly looks on at the woman's reaction. The brunette gasps softly, arching her back abruptly into him as she presses her head back against the cushion of the couch. Her eyes roll back towards the ceiling as red lips part. Sparks begin to shoot as Robin slowly begins to rub at Regina's throbbing center, growing faster and faster, working the brunette up into a frenzy where he brings her to a writhing, squirming, mewling mess.
"Oh Robin!", Regina yells, "Please…harder!" And at her request, Robin rubs harder as he steals the next cry into his own mouth; kissing her passionately, and nibbling softly on her lower lip. Simultaneously he inserts two fingers into her, curling them up and up and up, to drive her higher and higher towards ecstasy. Regina gasps for air, moaning into the man's mouth as sparks whizz by, bursting and crackling through the air above her. Everything clenches inside her as she groans aloud, squeezing her eyes shut, before allowing herself to finally let loose.
And once more, the sun and moon and stars align and become one in the sky. Regina falls hard, descending into a peaceful bliss as she comes hard down in pure ecstasy. Sweat trickles from her brow and down the back of her neck.
Robin hurries, lifting his fingers, now soaked with her fresh cum, to his lips. Regina looks on, biting her own lip as she watches the man clean off the evidence before reaching another hand down to his trousers and undo the hook and zipper. After swiftly pushing both his trousers and underwear down, the man positions himself over Regina once more. Grabbing his length gently, he works himself to become hard for his entrance, which he does slow and steady.
With a sigh, Regina accepts him once more as he fills her completely, becoming one with her once more. He fits like a lock and key, like a glove to a hand. He slides in like a sword to its sheath, to where he finally belongs.
Grabbing onto Robin's biceps, Regina allows the man to take her away once again. Her hips rock back and forth in accordance with his soft and steady thrusts. All the while, gazing up into blue enigmatic eyes, Regina revels in the pleasure that finally she has someone who was able to finally break down her walls for the first time in forever.
The air is filled with hoarse, heavy breaths of the lovers, the soft moans of both man and woman. Thrusts begin to quicken as both quickly find themselves ascending that Jacob's ladder into paradise once more, finding that peace that which both have worked so hard to find and now finally are within but moments of reaching. The stars collide, the earth begins to slow, time itself halts and takes a deep breath. And suddenly the two fall madly into one another, melting as one as they plummet profoundly into the feeling of euphoria; himself spreading his thick warmth inside her, and she exploding around him for the second time this night.
A great tidal wave of pleasure floods their senses, heightening their senses of one another. Nothing else in the world matters except these two. Nothing else in the world exists but they.
And for these few peaceful moments, Regina and Robin remain, wrapped in each other's embrace, without a care in the world.
"I can't believe you gave me a hickey," Regina breathes in disbelief. It's the morning after, and the brunette has stood for at least ten minutes in front of the mirror on her vanity, scrutinizing the small purplish blue mark on the side of her neck.
"It's barely that noticeable," Robin defends.
"It's very noticeable Robin," Regina huffs, pulling at her skin.
"Regina stop," Robin says, shaking his head, "It will go away soon, I promise."
"Yes, but not soon enough," Regina groans, rolling her eyes, "Now what am I supposed to say if anyone asks?"
"Just tell them the truth," Robin answers with a shrug, as if the answer had somehow been staring the brunette right in the face.
"I can't do that!", Regina exclaims, throwing her hands in the air, "It's embarrassing!"
Robin's eyes widen as he sits up in mock astonishment. "I embarrass you?"
"That's not what I mean!", Regina yells, picking up one of her dead pointe shoes and throwing it at him.
Robin laughs, dodging the flying shoe. "Well then if you're that worried, put makeup on."
"Does it matter? I'll just sweat it off anyway."
"Well then I guess you'll have to wear that thing loud and proud," Robin states with a shrug, giving the brunette a cutesy smile from the bed. Regina stares at the man from the reflection of the mirror and narrows her eyes, though smirking as she shakes her head endearingly.
"It's shocking the things you get away with," Regina mutters. "Now put some clothes on. I have rehearsal to get to."
Robin rolls his eyes, smirking as he stands and pulls on his trousers from last night over his boxers. "I thought you have Saturdays off," he says.
"I do," Regina replies, "That is until it gets closer around to the time of performance. Then, we rehearse six days a week instead of five."
Robin shakes his head incredulously. "You dancers really are something."
Regina smirks, grabbing her dance bag and brushing past him out of the room and towards the stairs. "You don't even know the half of it," she teases over her shoulder. She heads downstairs, marching towards the front door.
"Wait!", Robin calls after her, running down the stairs all the while rushing to pull his jacket on, "You haven't had breakfast!"
"I'll be fine," Regina yells over her shoulder, "I'm late! See yourself out. Lock the door with the spare key. You know where it is." And with that, she is gone.
The hallway is bustling with both the conservatory students and company members alike. Regina makes her way through the throng of people, heading towards the grand studio to begin her first rehearsal of the day. It's another pas de deux rehearsal, one that which the brunette quickly finds herself dreading due to the fact that Graham will surely notice her delightful little spot on her neck. And after getting shit from Tink about it earlier, the woman finds herself not so easily ready for round two, especially if it is to be Graham this time.
Her head is pounding. She knew she shouldn't have pushed so hard in her warmup class, especially if she hadn't eaten at all yet that day. Nonetheless though, she is stepping into the studio. So upon setting her bag down in her normal spot, Regina begins to get ready as usual. She ties her pointe shoes, slips on her warmup leggings, and takes out her white practice tutu; slipping it on over her hips.
"Morning Regina," Graham greets quietly as he walks into the room. Regina frowns, looking up at him.
"Don't tell me you're trying to butter me up," Regina warns, raising a brow at the man.
Graham raises his hands in defense. "What can possibly be wrong with just saying 'good morning'?", he protests. The man shakes his head. "I don't understand it. You've become so cold."
"I'm not interested in having this conversation right now," Regina sighs, reaching up to fix a loose piece of hair back into her bun. She presses a finger to her temple.
"Regina we need to talk about this, about us, about that other guy-" Suddenly the man halts, leaning forward and eyeing the hickey with widened grey eyes almost as if in horror.
"Graham please," Regina states, her hand shooting to the side of her neck, covering the love bite. "It's none of your business."
"You don't realize how much this kills me," Graham murmurs, "I love you Regina. I always have, but then to see you smile at him like that, and to know you two…"
"Graham no."
"I would have given you everything. I would have given you my heart. I would move with you, back to Harlem or New York City or whatever if that's what it takes." He shakes his head. "What does he have that I don't? What can he give to you that I can't? Tell me. Please."
"Graham stop. It's not like that. Look, I like you. I've always liked you, but you always remained no more than a really good, a really close friend of mine. I keep telling you that."
"I don't believe it."
Regina sighs, shaking her head softly. "Then I don't know what to say. I don't know what you want me to say."
Graham's eyes widen in hurt but he barely opens his mouth to speak when Madam French and the pianist enter the room.
Breathing heavily outward from her nose, Regina turns from Graham and faces the ballet mistress.
"Good morning you two," French begins with a gentle smile, "No need for dallying, let's start right in. From the beginning of the pas please."
Regina nods, taking her position to begin the duet. Luckily, this specific pas occurs in Act Three where Odette dances with Siegfried although he has betrayed her by swearing his love to Odile, therefore allowing the brunette to utilize her present mood to enhance the lonesome, desperate emotion in which the character is portrayed.
The pas is progresses well, the two moving perfectly in sync with one another. However when the part comes for Graham to lift Regina above his head in a pose, the man's back wavers and suddenly Regina comes crashing down atop him as he desperately tries to break her fall. The man lands hard on his back while Regina stumbles atop him, tears springing to her eyes. Madam French halts the music.
"Are you two all right?", she asks, making her way towards the fallen couple. Regina shakes her head, climbing off Graham as hot tears threaten to roll down her cheeks. She keeps her gaze cast downward.
"Regina?", French asks gently. Regina shakes her head, wiping at her eyes with the back of her wrist while Graham scrambles to stand. "You two were doing very well until that lift," Madam continues, "Graham, you must remember what you know already. Keep your back and focus." Regina grits her teeth. "Let's go again. Regina, we'll pick up from the part where you run towards him into the lift."
The music begins again, but Regina's mind is in a whirl. Failure and frustration for perfection overwhelms her senses. Her already injured ankle is throbbing from the fall. Heated tears block her vision, making it all one large swirly mess. The piano in the background echoes in her mind, the rhythms and phrasing hardly making sense to her overwhelmed brain. Her stomach growls, the sound reverberating in her ears. The steps Regina takes towards Graham feel as if they are in slow motion. In the background, she can hear Madam French counting the music out loud. But nothing can help the brunette as she begins to see darkness, her body falling limp as she collapses into the strong arms of her dance partner.
"Regina?", Graham calls, his voice echoing, "Regina!"
Then everything is silent.
A cool cloth touches Regina's forehead; softly brushing its way from one side of her forehead to the other, leaving a cool trail across her skin. The brunette stirs softly, eyes fluttering open to see Madam French just above her; the look of deep concern etched across the older woman's features.
"What happened?", Regina murmurs, staring up at her with large brown eyes.
"You fainted."
"For how long?"
"Just a few minutes, enough to move you to the green room."
"Oh," Regina replies, lifting her head to scan her surroundings.
"You of all people should know better than to not eat before you dance, Regina," the older woman chastises gently. Regina frowns. "Don't give me that look," French says with a small smirk, "I know a stunt like this due drop in blood pressure in a student or company member when I see one, and with the stress you've been enduring inside and outside the studio…"
Regina sighs, shaking her head. "I'm sorry."
"You scared the living daylights out of Graham too, you know."
"Oh I'm sure," the brunette murmurs, rolling her eyes.
French shakes her head softly, placing the cloth to the side. "I'm not one for gossip, but I do hear whisperings around the studios. And I hear your relationship is a bit rocky, no?"
"Maybe," Regina murmurs.
"Well it is seriously starting to effect your work in the studio. As you know, a good relationship, a good chemistry, must be crucial for your progression and improvement inside the studio, which ultimately leads to your success onstage."
"I know…"
The mistress sighs, "You must work things out with him. Please, at least until the show is over. Easier said than done, I know, but Gold is beginning to grow more and more of an interest in our understudy, Ruby. And Regina, the last thing I want is for you to be is replaced. You deserve this role, more than anyone. You just need to show us that you can do it." Regina looks away, avoiding the eyes of her instructor shamefully. "And don't go taking all of this out on Graham." Regina suddenly gazes back at the older woman, frowning. "I know you well, Regina," French continues with a slight smile, "The man is just as sensitive as you are. It's not a bad thing. But I do think you are a bit hard on him, just as you are on yourself, perhaps even more so."
"All due respect, but you don't know the full story."
"No I don't. But that doesn't mean you can't put yourself in his shoes for once and try to view things the way he sees it. Isn't that what Odette does when she forgives Siegfried although he has betrayed her? Doesn't she step into his shoes for a moment and realizes that he has been tricked, that his feelings are true? The same can be said for Graham. Try to understand what he is going through emotionally. I see the way he looks at you. And even if you might not feel the same way he feels, that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve respect."
She continues on with rehearsals, establishing little contact between her dance partner apart from executing the steps of the duets that which they must rehearse. Small glances and the brushing of shoulders when they walk past one another constitute the most of their interactions outside of rehearsals. Of course Regina has thought of what Madam French had said. However, she can't seem to bring herself to do such a thing, to swallow her pride and place herself in that understanding, selfless frame of mind. But what she neglects to notice is the man's growing anxiety.
It is six thirty in the evening when Regina trudges through the door, slamming her dance bag on the ground before collapsing onto her couch with an exasperated groan.
"Long day?", Tink calls from the kitchen, "I heard what happened."
"Yes," Regina answers, throwing an arm over her eyes, "And I'm fine."
"Well that's good to hear," the blonde says, heading in the direction of the living room, "Where's Robin? I thought he would stay for dinner."
"He is back with his son tonight," Regina informs, recalling past conversation over the phone on the way back to her apartment.
"I didn't know he had a son," Tink says, tilting her head curiously.
"Me neither. He's four this month. Name's Roland."
"Huh," the blonde huffs, heading back into the kitchen. "Oh and I'm going out again tonight," she states halfway from the other room.
"You are always going out," Regina mutters shaking her head, as it looks like it will turn out to be another quiet night in for the brunette.
It is late at just about ten thirty when Regina, after binge watching a series on Netflix, finally decides to head upstairs to bed. Wandering into the kitchen, the brunette grabs herself a glass of iced water before carrying it along with her dance bag towards the stairs.
Suddenly however, there is an abrupt loud pounding at her door that halts Regina in her tracks. Her heart rate suddenly begins to pound as she slowly lowers both the glass and her dance bag, leaving them both at the foot of the stairs before creeping towards the door and the incessant thumping. She uses the eyehole to peep through the door when her heart altogether stops. For there standing right under the light of the doorway outside is a desperate-looking Graham.
With her heart in her throat, Regina slowly unlocks the door, cracking it open so that just half of her face can be seen. "Graham?", she asks slowly, "What is it?" Somehow seeing the man at this unusual hour of the night is just unnerving. Something's off about him.
"Is anyone home?", Graham questions lowly, his voice lower and huskier and more breathless than usual. The man shifts from foot to foot.
Regina frowns. "No, why?"
"Please," the man whispers, clearly distraught, "Let me in." But Graham doesn't wait for Regina to answer when suddenly he is pushing forward against the door, causing the brunette to stumble backwards into her apartment.
"Graham—stop, what are you doing?!", she exclaims, trying to regain her balance. Without warning, the man reaches out, grasping her wrist tightly and pulling her to him. Regina's eyes widen as she is instantly overcome with the thick stench of alcohol that pours into her nostrils. And suddenly it becomes clear that Graham is drunk. Very drunk.
Uh oh. Love does crazy things to the minds of some... My many thanks as always for reading, and please don't forget to review!