Regina turned around in front of the shelves as she realised the door had taken longer to close than usual.
"Miss Swan, what are you doing?"
"I'm your PA. I'm supposed to get the envelopes if you need them." Emma reminded her, hands on her hips and feet apart as though she was balancing herself for a fight.
"I'm perfectly capable of walking over here. It's not like I expect you to run around after me like some kind of servant."
"What do you expect of me?"
"What?"
Emma stepped towards Regina smiling nervously, as Regina realised that she was backed up against the shelves and couldn't move away. Regina raised her arms defensively, but Emma gently pushed them down. She gazed up into Regina's eyes. Suddenly one hand was on Regina's arm and the other was moving up to touch her cheek.
"I need to know if I'm going crazy or if you like me the way I like you." She whispered.
"I'm attracted to you of course, who wouldn't be? You're young and gorgeous, but…" Regina stuttered, wishing she could find the words to make Emma stop.
She wasn't ready for this. She didn't know what to do. It was one thing to dangle Graham on a string, forcing him to do what she wanted because he was attracted to her. It was another to have someone like Emma, someone so independent, to want her.
"No buts, I want the truth. It's been driving me mad, seeing you and watching the way you look at me but not daring to say anything."
"I don't think it's appropriate. We work together, and I'm so much older than you…"
"Is that all? You don't look old to me, you look…"
"Listen, you don't know anything about me. I have a past."
"Who doesn't? You're the mayor, a model of good behaviour for the whole of Storybrooke. I trust my instincts."
Regina closed her eyes, resting her head against a box behind her. "You don't understand!"
The next thing she knew Emma was kissing her. She kept her eyes closed to focus on the kiss. It only lasted a few seconds. Then Emma pulled away and Regina looked at her.
"I'm sorry, I had to do that." Emma told her. "Even if you don't want me to do it again …"
Regina grabbed her shoulders, pulling her close and kissed Emma so fiercely she had to move her feet to keep her balance. She spun them around and pushed her roughly into the shelves. Emma's hands moved across Regina's back and down to where her shirt met her skirt. As Emma's hands moved under the shirt and against her skin, Regina regained control of her actions. She pulled away and brought a hand up to her head, running her fingers through her short hair.
"What am I doing?" Regina spoke as if to herself, instead of Emma.
"So you don't want me?" Emma asked, looking hurt.
"Miss Swan you're my PA. This is inappropriate."
"It didn't feel inappropriate. It felt nice."
"You don't understand."
Regina backed herself into the door, reaching behind her for the handle and struggling to locate what she couldn't see. She couldn't take her eyes from Emma. She wasn't sure if it was because she was scared that Emma was going to kiss her again or if she was scared that Emma would turn away from her.
"Aren't you attracted to me?" Emma asked.
"I…"
"Regina when I look at you, I feel… something that I haven't felt with someone else in a very long time."
"What about Graham?"
"The Sheriff?"
"Yes. You went out with him last night."
"Sure. I invited Ruby to come along and he brought Mary Margaret. We played pool and drank and hung out. He seems like a nice guy, we could probably be friends." Emma pushed her hands into her pockets. "So you were listening to our conversation yesterday."
"I didn't want to interrupt if he was going to ask you out."
"Wait. Were you jealous?"
Regina took a deep breath. "No."
Emma smiled. "You were!"
Regina looked at the smile and began to mirror it, before realising what she was doing and shaking her head. "Stop that. We can't do this."
"But you want to."
"Emma…"
"You're curious. If you leave now, you're not going to stop thinking about it, wondering about it."
"It was just a kiss. It happens."
"Two kisses, actually. And nearly more." Emma took a tentative step forwards. "Besides, we're both adults."
"Who work together."
"Yeah but, think how much fun that could be…."
Suddenly Emma was in front of Regina, not touching her but close enough to speed up Regina's heartbeat. Regina surrendered to the moment, her hands reaching out to touch Emma's arms as though she couldn't believe what she was doing.
"No. If we… if we do this… no-one can know. We have to remain professional in the office at all times."
Emma stood still, allowing her to take the lead, wanting her to feel comfortable so that she would keep moving her hands up her arms and towards their logical conclusion. "Okay."
"We can have one date. To see if there is anything more than just…"
"The physical attraction?"
Emma couldn't help but finish her sentence. Regina's hands were at her shoulders. She nodded. Emma leant towards her and Regina met her halfway. They kissed, Regina wrapping her arms around Emma's neck, until they heard voices from outside. Reluctantly they broke apart.
"Lunch time must be over." Regina told her.
Emma looked around and grabbed a box of envelopes from the nearest shelf. "Is this what you were looking for?"
Regina took the box in one hand and reached out with the other to wipe smeared lipstick from the side of Emma's face.
"We'll see." She told her with a grin before turning around and opening the door.