Continuation of Chapter 23.

Pain. Excruciating pain.

Her head was pounding, her tongue felt as if it was swollen to thrice its normal size, a sordid taste lingered in her mouth and her stomach felt as if she would throw up any second.

God. She would never drink one drop of alcohol ever again.

"Good morning, majesty."

She clenched her teeth, wondering if she might convince him that she was still asleep and make him leave because what was he still doing here?

She heard a clank as he put something down on the nightstand, the mattress dipping as he sat down beside her and she realized he would probably not go until she had acknowledged him so she peeked one eye open to a slit and saw a glass of water sitting on the nightstand, the tablet still sizzling as it resolved.

She didn't even want to think about what he might have found while he was looking for the painkillers and a part of her wondered how he even knew what painkillers were.

But she pushed the thought aside and groaned as she pulled herself up and reached for the glass, gulping the content down, leaning her head against the headrest wishing the pain would just go away.

"Are we gonna talk about it?"

"About what?" She asked, not even opening her eyes.

"So you are gonna pretend you don't remember?"

For one moment she contemplated to actually pull the 'I was too drunk to remember anything' card but decided otherwise and let out a soft sigh before she opened her eyes and searched his gaze.

"I was drunk."

"Drunks and children tell the truth."

"Well, ..."

"Well what?"

He was too close for her comfort, his eyes boring into hers and she gulped hard, her stomach revolting, her heart leaping into her throat as she saw the low burning flame of passion deep in his gaze.

"I was telling the truth." She whispered, her voice barely audible and she dropped her gaze down on the sheet, her fingers clenching the fabric in her hands.

"You want me?" A shiver ran down her spine, his voice suddenly much lower. "Look at me, Regina."

She couldn't look up. Afraid what she might see but his fingers appeared in her vision and he pulled her chin up until she locked eyes with him, the unbridled lust she saw there knocking the breath out of her.

"Tell me, Regina." His hoarse voice shot another shiver down her spine and her fingers tightened around the sheet. "Do you want me?"

Seconds ticked by, seconds in which she couldn't utter a word, the need in his eyes making her whole body tingle.

"Yes. I want you."

"Good."

"Good?" She asked surprised, furrowing her brows as he stood up.

He leaned forward, pressing a kiss against her forehead, his fingers brushing over her cheek. "I'll give you some time to recuperate and then I will be back and then ..."

He let the sentence hanging in the air, straightening and she looked up at him, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

"And then?" She couldn't help the quiver in her voice, the trembling of her fingers.

He leaned down again, caging her in between his arms, his mouth only inches away from hers as he rasped. "And then I will fuck you until you scream my name."

A whimper slipped over her lips and he chuckled, pressing a hard kiss on her lips before pulling back.

"I'll be back, Regina. And I will make sure that you will never forget our first night together."

He was out of the door before she could say anything, her heart still beating like a sledgehammer in her chest and she groaned as her mind came up with images of his body covering hers, of his hands and mouth moving all over her skin.

"Jesus Christ." She breathed, pressing her fingers against her eyes, letting out a strangled sigh. "You better keep good on your promise, outlaw."