Chapter 11: Flames and Shadows

Regina was in her bedroom, lying on her stomach under her blankets and peering over a novel.

There was a knock on her door.

"Regina?"

"Yes, daddy?" she looked up from the pages. Her father entered.

"I hate to ask you this so last minute, dear. Would you mind heading off to our lake house tomorrow? The caretaker is having some repairs done and wants me to make sure they don't do anything they're not supposed to. I'm having lunch with my associates tomorrow and I doubt the meeting will end in time. Will you be able to make it?"

"Sure, daddy, I don't have anything planned" Regina shrugged.

"Oh you're just wonderful, dear. Thank you so much" he leaned down to kiss the top of her head, "you can bring a friend along if you want. Didn't your friends love the lake house back when you took them in the summer?"

Some friends they are…

Regina thought bitterly but didn't say anything.

"G'night, dear" her father said before closing the door behind him. Regina sighed and went back to her book.

She wasn't reading at all.

Regina took out the cell phone she hid inside the pages as soon as her father had come in. She was going through the pictures she took this week.

They were all Emma's.

In her bedroom's semi darkness, Regina scrolled through the random snapshots of the blonde- Emma raking leaves, Emma drinking water in the kitchen, Emma putting books away in her bag, Emma doing homework, the pictures went on and on. Regina smiled as she went through them one after the other.

Then she flipped to her favourite one.

She had taken this yesterday. Regina had finished her work in the kitchen and was waiting for Emma. The girl had been out all day looking for jobs in the community. Emma was exhausted when she got back to their room at the shelter. She had dropped her bag, and collapsed beside Regina on the bed with a loud groan.

They had talked the rest of the afternoon. Regina could go on and on when she was around the blonde, her stories were endless, her words never ran out. Emma mumbled tiredly and mostly listened to her nonsense. After a while she had looked to her side to find Emma dozed off. She was snuggled into her shoulder and napping peacefully. Her lips were slightly parted. Emma looked so precious; Regina had to capture the moment.

It'd be fun if Emma came along tomorrow, Regina thought happily, it wouldn't be so difficult to arrange it with Katherine.

She sighed into her pillow and started going through the pictures again.

…

"We're lost."

"No, we're not!"

"Yes, Regina, we are. You should've taken that last right when I told you to. Should've listened to me, I'm better at reading the map" Emma shook her head.

"I'm better at following the GPS!" Regina hissed, peering through the driver's side window.

Clouds rumbled in the grey sky.

"Why did we have to go today anyway? Didn't your dad know there's a storm coming?!" Emma groaned and stretched her arms.

They were in the middle of no where. The highway stretched out endlessly ahead of them, surrounded by fields and orchards. No sign of the lake or any waterfront. The lake house was only about half hour away from Boston, but they've been driving for over two hours. Regina had her driver take her and her friends up there last summer. She didn't think finding her way would be this hard.

Regina started the car again.

"Fine, I'll turn off the GPS and follow your great map-reading wisdom" she muttered at the blonde beside her.

"Good" Emma smirked and settled back on her seat.

Half an hour later they were still on the road. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds that were threatening to rain down on them, heavily, if they didn't hurry up and find their way. Strong winds were blowing in from every direction. Regina drove her car through an unknown town, leaving a trail of whirling leaves behind as her Porsche sped on an uneven road.

"Now who's direction blind?" Regina smirked. Her hands were clutching the steering wheel tightly. The winds were becoming stronger with each passing second. Tiny droplets of rain appeared on her windshield.

"I thought it was the right way…" Emma muttered, scratching her head as her eyes frantically darted over the map on her lap. She was just as clueless as Regina.

Lightning shot through the dark sky. It ripped open the clouds and finally released the rain. Regina cursed as it poured down on them heavily.

It only took minutes for the roads to flood. The storm was raging violently through the town.

"Regina we have to stop!" Emma shouted over the sound of wind and thunder. The car was fighting against the stream of muddy water from overflowing drains.

"No I'm not st- oh FUCK!" Regina swore as the car suddenly jerked. The engine groaned one last time and stopped abruptly.

Regina whacked her hand over the steering wheel and cursed everything from heaven to hell. Emma sat quietly as she took out her rage on the vehicle.

"Are you done?" Emma asked after a few minutes.

"Yes" Regina breathed, trying to calm herself.

"Try your phone. See if you can call for help"

Regina fished out her phone from her purse. No network.

She almost threw the useless thing out of her window but Emma grabbed her wrist.

"Regina! Chucking that thing won't do anything! Just sit…I'll…I'll think of something…"

They spent the next few minutes in multiple fruitless attempts at starting the car. Regina tried her keys again. Emma stepped out into the pouring rain and checked the hood. She stepped back with a yelp when smoke started coming out.

"I'm gonna go look for help!" Emma shouted through the window and left before Regina could answer. She swallowed hard, praying the blonde would come back in one piece.

About ten minutes later she heard sneakers slosh through the flood and reach the car.

"There's a little inn, near the end of the road. Looks really old and run down. I asked for a phone they're telling me the power's out in the whole town. The lady said we can stay the night and catch a ride in the morning in their delivery truck. C'mon!"

Regina followed Emma out of the car. The two of them ran through the rain and wind towards the end of the street. They quickly skipped each step and ran through the doors of the inn. Rainwater dripped from their breathless bodies onto the mouldy carpet.

They checked into Granny's Bed and Breakfast.

"If the fireplace gives you any trouble just give me a shout" the old lady innkeeper flashed a toothless grin and handed them a key, "I'll bring you girls some hot chocolate and fresh towels in a bit. It's gonna be a long rough night, seems like it. Who knows when this storm's gonna pass…"

The room was fairly small. A medium sized bed was positioned against the back wall. There was a table beside it. The windows were closed behind thick red curtains. There was a small bathroom in one corner. The fireplace was right across the bed, two small couches were sitting around it. The entire floor was covered in soft dark red carpet. The bed sheet had floral patterns.

Emma tried a switch on the wall in vain. The lights were out. Regina's teeth clattered, the room was really cold. The wet clothes were clinging to her body making her shiver. Emma was rubbing her arms over her drenched shirt.

Regina stood near the door, gripping her sides tightly to capture her body's heat. A rustling noise behind her made her jump.

There was a knock on the door.

"Here you go, my dears" the inn keeper entered their room with a tray. Two steaming mugs of chocolate sat on it. She handed Regina a pair of towels, "get out of those clothes you two before you catch a horrible cold!" Then she left them and disappeared into the darkness of the stairwell. Regina closed the door.

"I'll get the fire started" the blonde mumbled and moved towards the fireplace. Regina nodded and picked up one of the towels. She headed towards the bathroom.

Regina walked back out into their room minutes later drying her hair with the towel. Her body immediately felt the change in temperature.

Emma had the fire started. The flames were popping and crackling, tiny sparks erupted from the burning wood. Regina smelled pine in the thick warm air.

Her eyes centered on Emma. The blonde had taken off her shirt and spread it on the couch by the fire. Her sneakers and socks were sitting in one corner. Emma sat by the fire in her black tank top and wet jeans.

"You should take off your pants," Regina spoke as she neared the fireplace. She dropped her towel on the couch beside Emma's shirt.

"You want me to take off my pants?" Emma raised her eyebrow. Regina chuckled.

"I do yes. You'll catch a cold."

"You should take off your dress first," Emma winked. She reached for one of the mugs on the floor, "mmm…hot chocolate's so good…"

Regina watched as the blonde sipped, the muscle on her neck flexed as the liquid made its way down. Her eyes followed that quick moment. She bit her lips.

The glow of the fireplace had transformed Emma into something Regina could only describe as magical. The golden curls shone brighter than the flames. Her lips appeared more red and full than Regina ever remembered. She could see the paleness of Emma's skin. She could trace every outline of her features- her jaws, her neck, her arms- everywhere Emma was soft, was rough, was strong, was weak. She wanted to touch those parts of her. She wanted to memorize every bit of the skin that shaped Emma Swan.

Regina wondered about the mysteries Emma's body held beneath the few layers she wore now.

Oh how I'd love to discover…

The storm was raging outside. Rainwater water was splashing onto the windows. The glass shuddered against the force of the winds. Regina sneezed.

"Regina get out of that dress if you want to live" Emma hissed as Regina sneezed again, "I swear I'm not gonna look I'll just turn my back to you and sit by the fire here."

Why would you do that my dear…when what I want is the opposite…

"What if I don't want you to do that?" Regina finally spoke. A wicked smile slowly stretched on her face. She had decided.

Emma blinked.

Regina's heart rate increased as she slowly crawled towards Emma. She wasn't thinking anymore. The storm was inside her head.

"What if…" she leaned on Emma's side and whispered in her ear, "what if I say you can look…as much as you want…."

Her voice was breathy and deep. She felt Emma's pulse quicken.

Encouraged, Regina reached behind and pulled down the zip of her dress. She licked her lips seductively. Her eyes never left the pair of green as she slowly crawled onto Emma's lap. Regina wrapped her legs around the blonde's waist and rested her arms on her shoulders.

"What if…" she continued, "I say you can…take off my dress…" Regina looked straight into Emma's eyes as she spoke. She felt a hand on her waist.

"What if…I say that you can take my dress off…" she kissed Emma's neck, " and do whatever you want with me…" She licked up the length of her smooth throat. Emma gasped as her tongue left a wet trail on her skin.

"Dammit Regina…"

Regina smiled happily as Emma finally reached behind her waist and pulled the zipper all the way down. The dress was flung across the room.

"Whatever I want?" Emma asked her, staring hungrily at her bra –clad chest without any sign of subtlety.

"Whatever you want" Regina sighed as Emma reached up and captured her lips.

…

Her skin was on fire.

As her tongue tasted Regina's sweet mouth, Emma pulled her closer. Regina moaned into their kiss as her fingers raked down the brunette's back.

She pulled Regina down on the carpet without breaking their kiss. She unclasped the black bra from the brunette's chest and flung them away. Her black panties followed.

Emma stopped and stared at the gorgeous girl revealed before her.

Regina Mills was beautiful. Naked, she was divine.

Emma's eyes trailed over the swell of her breasts. Her nipples were two dark pebbles waiting for her lips to suck, her tongue to flick over, her teeth to bite and mark around, and her fingers to play with. Her eyes travelled down her breasts and watched the rise and fall of her abdomen. Her eyes travelled lower between her legs, where she knew Regina wanted her, where she wanted to touch and suck and thrust until Regina screamed her name.

Emma smiled as her thoughts wandered towards her darker fantasies. She saw Regina in all of them.

"Tell me what you're thinking" Regina asked her.

"You're so…beautiful…" Emma breathed. She caressed Regina's cheek and traced over her soft lips. Then she trailed a finger down her neck and over her breasts. Her finger circled each nipple. Regina whimpered.

"And…."

"And…" Emma whispered as her finger roamed even lower down the brunette's body, "and I'm thinking about everything I want to do to you…all the ways I want to touch you and take you…will you let me, Regina?"

Her finger found Regina's quivering lips between her legs. She flicked over her clit without a warning.

"Mmmh!"

Regina gasped. Emma saw her eyes close and her teeth bite down on her lips.

"Yes…god yes…please…"

Emma felt the familiar desires rise within her. She pulled her tank top over her head, along with her bra. Her pants and drawers followed suit.

They were naked, lying skin on skin against each other tasting each others mouths hungrily. Emma kissed Regina deeply as their bodies pressed into each other.

"Have you ever…" she asked between their kisses.

"No…never."

I'm her first…

She would be the first one to touch her. She'd be the first one to stroke her to her peak and watch her lose herself completely over the edge. She'd be the first to taste her. Make love to her. The thought was intoxicating.

Emma kissed Regina's neck. She trailed her lips down to her perked nipples. She wrapped her lips around one and sucked heavily.

Regina gasped and laced her fingers through her head. Emma licked over the nipple and nibbled around it.

She reached her hand between Regina's legs and cupped her naked heat.

Her lips were already wet for her. Awaiting her entrance eagerly. Emma pushed one finger in. Slowly.

Soft velvet welcomed her and sucked her in. Wetness seeped down the length of her invading finger. Regina moaned in her ear.

Emma pushed deeper into her, exploring. She hid her face in Regina's hair and the brunette wrapped her arms tightly around her torso. Their breasts pressed against each other.

"Oh Emma…" Regina breathed heavily.

Her name was a sigh. A moan. A whimper.

Emma added a second finger.

"Fuck…oh..oh god!"

Regina's voice sent jolts down Emma's spine as she thrust forward. She slightly crooked her fingers to rub against her clit, eliciting a deeper growl from the girl's throat.

"You like that?" she asked, speeding up a little bit.

"Y-yeah….d-don't…oh god Emma…just don't st-stop…oh…"

Emma thrust faster into Regina and rolled her thumb over her clit. Their bodies pushed into each other. She knew the carpet was rough against Regina's back, but the brunette didn't complain. She felt her walls clench around her thrusting fingers.

"Are you close, baby?" Emma breathed into the brunette's ear.

"Mmmh…uh-huh…Em-Emma…" Regina moaned into her shoulder, pushing her hips into Emma's thrusting hand and taking her deeper.

Then she was gasping, her nails digging into Emma's back as her desires peaked. Regina muffled her scream by biting Emma's shoulder. Her body quaked under Emma, clenching her fingers inside.

Emma waited for Regina's heart to return to its normal pace before pulling out of her. Her fingers were coated with Regina's warm wetness. She brought them up to her mouth and tasted her lover. Regina was delicious.

She pulled the brunette up to her feet. Regina was slightly dizzy.

"You blew my mind" the girl breathed, trying to find her footing. Emma didn't wait.

She picked Regina up in her arms in one swift motion and headed towards the bed.

"I'm only getting started with you."

Regina giggled as Emma lowered her on the soft mattress and climbed on top of her.

...

*Note: Yes yes smut will definitely continue on to next chapter,and the next...and the next...( i will eventually get to the main conflicts but for now enjoy the smutfest!) this was just a taste. This chapter may've been a bit disappointing in terms of my writing...I was a bit distracted while I wrote it, apologies! i'll do better next time :S