Chapter 13: There is Fire in the Air
"I don't think they'd take to kindly on the Dark One's son courting me, prince or no," Emma tried to manage a chuckle at the thought.
Regina just looked downtrodden. "Have you ever felt like you might have met anyone who you thought could be your true love?"
Emma thought back to all the balls and princes she had been introduced to and courted by thus far: shiny white teeth, perfect hair, and strong jawlines. She could scarcely remember their names or kingdoms from where they hailed from.
She shook her head, "I guess I feel like when I meet my true love, I'll just know." She looked up to find Regina staring at her with an odd expression on her face.
"How will you know?" Regina whispered. She sounded breathless and she leaned forward into Emma's space.
"My mom said she just knew, so I suspect it will be the same for me," Emma matched Regina's quiet tone. The subject matter was too deep and personal. Emma wasn't the best at recognizing or expressing her feelings, but she was trying so hard to ignore the fast beating of her heart and the way she felt hazy around the stunning woman next to her.
Regina nodded, "I suspect you will know him when you meet him. I hope it happens soon for you."
"You too," Emma choked out the syllables. She felt like she was lying when she said it. "We should probably um…study."
Emma looked down at the jumble of parchments and felt like she couldn't focus. Her hand was still holding Regina's and there was a pulsing energy emanating between them: a gentle push and pull of what Emma was recognizing as the feeling and effect of magic. It felt good, but something in her mind told her she could feel better.
"Why are we here?" Regina asked rhetorically, "to prepare and practice to find our loves, yes?"
"Yeah, I guess that's what the brochure said," Emma shrugged even as she felt Regina shift in her seat and squeeze her hand.
"There's something I want to practice and it's not studying stupid treaties and obsolete family histories."
"Oh?" Emma couldn't breathe, Regina was looking at her through thick dark eyelashes, and her eyes were doing that spectacular shiny thing again. She recognized the look as the same one Ruby had when she saw that Tuesday night dinner was all you can eat steak. Regina looked hungry and curious. Emma felt like the steak.
Her mouth went dry and Emma's eyes went to Regina's full red lips. She looked so inviting, and Emma thought perhaps she was giving Regina the same steak eyed look. Regina's chest was moving up and down a bit faster. She moved her free hand up and drew her fingers against Emma's cheek. Emma closed her eyes to guard herself against the overwhelming brush of magic and feelings the simple action brought forth in her.
"Can I try something, Princess Emma?" Regina asked hoarsely.
"Okay," Emma mumbled numbly. She was so caught up and transfixed by Regina slowly leaning in, their knees knocked together, and their skirts rustled keeping them from getting as close as they wanted.
Emma sat and waited impatiently. She was acutely aware of Regina's hand in hers, and the way the soft sweet wind of her breath ghosted against her cheek. Then her lips were on Emma's. She pressed with the lightest of pressure.
Lips on lips.
It was a simple kiss, but the magic transferred easily and instantly and the feeling of something stronger, something binding and unforgiving pulled Emma closer. She felt like she was overflowing. The feeling started in her belly and drew her in again uncontrollably. She vaguely heard the quiet smack of their lips parting, and then coming together again.
It was everything Emma had allowed herself to imagine and everything she had never had the insight to fathom.
Regina made an 'mmm' noise that vibrated against her lips and ignited something of a fire in Emma. Then they were clinging to each other, unable to break away finding that instead of each mashing of lips satisfying the craving it caused a greater one.
Emma stood up, pushing the heavy wooden chair out from behind her, and pulling Regina up by the waist, tugging hard unwilling to break their fragile connection. She couldn't get enough and she pushed Regina against the wall. She registered the hard sound of her back hitting the brick and Regina broke off, drawing in a sharp breath. Emma didn't stop, she pushed her whole body against her again, winding her fingers in through her silky hair and clawing at her waist possessively.
Regina licked Emma's bottom lip and pushed her tongue into her mouth, teasing her, Emma sucked gently on her tongue, lost in discovering new sensations. Just like with the dance, the two Princesses lost track of all time, not noticing the growing ball of red and white magic pushing out and growing brighter from their combined energy and feelings.
Emma was so lost in Regina's mouth and how her body felt against her, she didn't notice the building bubble of magic that was sucking all of the oxygen out of the room. It was about to pop when Regina pushed Emma away and gaped at the magic hey made. "We have to get out of here!"
Regina grabbed Emma's hand, she tried and failed to get her bearings and orient herself back to reality. Regina pulled open the door despite the thick heavy mass of magic and pushed Emma through before jumping out into the hallway. They ducked and covered one another as adrenaline raced through their bodies. Then they heard the explosion and felt the heat, saw the bright light of erupting magic.
Even as Regina yelled at Emma to stay down, she jumped up to watch as the door shook. The brightly colored magic burst out. Luckily for Emma, most of the shock wave blew out the open window and shot toward the sky in a fiery, kinetic, dangerous ball.
"What the hell was that?" Emma screamed.
"That was one hell of a kiss!" Regina informed her breathlessly. Her expression was a mix of delight and fear.