(Seattle)
"Mr. Locksley will see you now."
Regina's stomach churned as the words she had been dreading were spoken by the hulking goon looming in the open doorway. She reluctantly slid off the leather stool and crossed the mostly empty bar. She didn't miss the curious looks from the handful of patrons bellied up to the bar this early in the afternoon.
She nervously smoothed the front of her skirt and stepped into the office. She shut the door behind her with shaking hands. Her eyes adjusted to the soft, natural lighting streaming through a small, frosted window. Unlike the smoky bar, the office had a clean, fresh scent. It looked immaculately neat and tidy. It was near the space needle here in Seattle.
The man behind the desk was no different. He exuded control. Perfectly pressed charcoal grey suit, snappy white shirt, clean-shaven face—he looked more like a banker than the mobbed-up loan shark she knew him to be.
Robin Locksley rose from his seat and shocked her with his height. Robin gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat."
His gentle voice caught Regina off-guard. Instead of falling under the spell of his gentlemanly display of manners, she recalled just how ruthless this man could be. She had learned enough over the last week of helping her friend Jefferson dodge the heat on his ass to know exactly what Robin was capable of doing with those big hands.
She settled into the chair, her butt right on the edge of the hard seat and her back ramrod straight. Robin sank into his and looked Regina over. "So, you're Jefferson's friend?"
Regina didn't miss the disbelief in his voice. "Yes. I'm Regina Mills."
The briefest flash of annoyance crossed his face at her sarcastic come-back. "Why are you here?"
"You know why."
"Because your weaselly friend owes me thirty large?"
Regina gasped. "Th-thirty? But I thought—"
He laughed, the sound harsh and cruel. "Let me guess. He lied about how much he owes, right?"
She reluctantly confirmed his guess. "He said five."
"That was the initial loan but then he rolled it into another one and another one. He's been light for the last six pick-ups in a row."
"Light?" Regina felt completely lost by the gambling and loan lingo he tossed around so easily.
"He was short thousands of dollars each time I sent my pick-up man around for the payments," Robin explained. "Add in the interest and we're sitting at thirty thousand owed."
"Thirty thousand," Regina echoed softly. She couldn't even wrap her head around that number. How had he racked up so much?
As if he could read her mind, Robin said, "Poker. Your friend had a hot streak a few months back and then went cold. He just keeps digging that hole deeper and deeper. Frankly, you're lucky he hasn't had his fingers broken for those card counting tricks of his."
Regina sighed heavily. It wasn't the first time he'd tried his stupid card tricks. Like her, he had a mind for numbers. He simply didn't use his gift wisely. It was always about the next get-rich-quick scheme.
"So, let me guess," Robin said, a patronizing smile on his face. "Jefferson gave you some sad, weepy fucking story about being down a couple grand, right? You thought you'd come in here and shake that tight little ass of yours to get me to wipe the debt clean?"
"What? No!" Regina vehemently shook her head. Reaching into her purse, she withdrew the fat envelope of cash and placed it on his desk. "I brought this."
He eyed the envelope. "Four thousand?"
Surprise rippled through her. "You can tell just by looking at it?"
Robin nodded. "When you've been in this business as long as I have, you pick up all sorts of useful tricks." He sat forward and snatched up the envelope. "That still leaves him twenty-six short."
Regina bit her lower lip. "I thought he owed five grand. I brought what I could scrape together and hoped you'd let me pay the balance of one thousand over the next month or two but twenty-six thousand? I—I just—I can't."
He tossed the envelope back at her. "You shouldn't. He's a big boy. Let him dig himself out of this mess. Besides," he sat back in his chair and lifted his hands behind his head, "I don't do payment plans."
Regina shivered as his searing gaze roamed over her body. When he spoke again, his tone had changed. "Although…I might be willing to make an exception—just this once. It's not every day a brilliant, beautiful college girl walks through my door."
Regina bristled with indignation and shot to her feet. "I'm not a whore."
"I didn't say you were," he replied calmly.
Regina dropped the envelope on his desk. "Here's the four grand. You can take it or leave it but that's all I've got."
Pivoting on her heel, she gripped the handle of her purse, strode to the door and jerked it open. Fuck you, she thought.
"Your friend isn't going to last much longer hiding in your bedroom, Regina." He called out after her.
Regina stopped, not knowing how he knew she was hiding Jefferson. But he knew. She turned and said. "What do you want?"
Robin studied her for a long moment. Finally, he held out his hand. "Come here."
Regina hesitated before complying with his request. She placed her purse in the chair in front of his desk and walked around the edge of it to stand next to him. He grasped her small hand in his huge paw and dragged her between his knees and the desk. The sturdy piece of furniture bit into her bottom.
Only a few inches over five feet, she was so tiny they were practically eye to eye as he sat in his office chair. He dwarfed her like some kind of giant. At least he smelled nice. She picked up on the faint cedar note in his cologne. He had nice eyes, she grudgingly admitted to herself, the blues in his gaze were like some sort of turquoise color. There was something handsome about him. Not in the classical way, of course, but in a rugged, tough guy sense.
"You're shaking," he commented gently.
"You scare me," Regina answered honestly.
"Don't be afraid of me, Regina. I'd never hurt you."
"Your reputation tells me otherwise."
"Don't believe everything you hear." He grasped her waist and effortlessly lifted her up onto the desk. Regina's eyes widened at how easily he manhandled her. "Lift up your skirt."
Her fingers trembled as he pinched the hem of her dress and lifted the fabric up around her thighs. Her stomach wobbled and dipped as panic took hold. She muscled down the fear creeping through her. She could do this.
"Higher."
Her gaze jumped to his. He wore a no-nonsense expression and she didn't dare refuse him. She pulled her skirt up around her waist and revealed her pink cotton hipsters.
"Pink?" Robin's gaze lingered on her panties. "They suit you."
Heat streaked up her neck and into Regina's ears. She fought the urge to shove her skirt down, certain it would end whatever deal they were making. "How the hell would you know? You don't even know me."
Robin's gaze moved to her face. He examined her carefully. "I know more than you think."
Somehow, she didn't doubt that. A man in his line of business probably learned to read people extremely well. Regina was sure that she was no exception. His piercing gaze left her feeling vulnerable and exposed.
"Lift your bottom." He grasped the waistband of her panties and started to tug them down. Regina planted her palms on his desk and lifted her backside. He quickly removed her panties and knocked the ballet flats off her feet.
Bared from the waist down, she tried to squeeze her thighs together in a last-ditch attempt at modesty but he wouldn't have it. His big hand slid between her knees, forcing her thighs wide apart. "Don't."
His warning zinged her. He was going to take what he wanted. It was that simple.
"Don't look so sullen." He tipped her chin up. "You're the one making this into something it isn't."
Regina's mouth gaped in shock. "You're extorting me. How, exactly, am I making this into something it isn't?"
"You say extortion. I say seduction." He waved his hand. "Let's not put labels on it, Regina. Let's just enjoy it."
"Enjoy it?" She laughed acidly. "You're out of your fucking mind."
He clicked his teeth. "Such a dirty mouth on such a pretty girl."
Regina glared at him. "Let's just get this over with, okay?"
"Fine. If that's the way you want it." He shoved her knees wide apart and grasped her ankles. He forced her feet up onto the desk, the movement so fast that Regina fell back and barely managed to support her weight on her elbows.
"Oh!" Regina gasped when his hands moved to the very tops of her inner thighs. He brushed his thumbs up and down the seam of her sex. Regina's chest constricted as he carefully parted the tender lips of her cunt, revealing all her sweet secrets to him.
"My, my, my," he murmured approvingly. "Look at this sweet, pink cunt."
Her face flamed. Regina never had anyone use that word around her before. He didn't seem to be using it to demean her. It seemed to be just another word to him. Regina inhaled sharply when his thick finger breached her. She wasn't wet or excited so he didn't make it far, burying just the tip inside of her.
"You're so fucking tight, Regina." He sounded in awe. "How many cocks have you had in your cunt, sweetheart?"
She ignored the pet name but answered him. "One."
"One?" His finger retreated and circled her opening. It slid up between her folds to trace her clit. Regina's body tensed as his skillful finger began to evoke unwanted sensations. "Who was the lucky man?"
Her face was hot with embarrassment. She couldn't believe he was interrogating her about her sex life. "That's none of your business."
His fingertip moved side to side over her clit. His penetrating gaze pinned her in place. "Your friend owes me thirty thousand dollars. Everything about you is now my business."
Reminded of her position in this arrangement, Regina unhappily answered his question. "He was a friend. A good friend," She added softly. "He enlisted and was leaving for basic training a few days after graduation. I was on my way to college. It seemed like the right thing to do."
His cheek twitched. She could tell he was amused by her overly sentimental tale. "Where is he now?"
"California," Regina replied, a bit breathless. That finger circling her swelling clit was starting to feel really good. "With his fiancée."
Robin grunted at that tidbit. "Did he make you come?"
The blunt question threw her off-kilter. "What?"
"Did he make you come?" He asked it as easily as if he were wondering what Regina had eaten for lunch.
"No." She couldn't believe she said that. "I mean—"
He shook his head. "Don't be embarrassed. It happens." His lips curved in a sinfully sexy grin. "Well—to other men."
His arrogance should have annoyed her but Regina found it oddly enticing. Feeling a bit brave, she asked, "Are you going to make me come?"
"It's not a question of if, sweetheart. It's a question of how many times." He touched the front of her dress. "Unbutton this."
Regina's shaking fingers flicked through the pearly buttons lining the center of her bodice. His huge hand shoved aside the fabric and covered her ample breast.
Robin tugged down the lacy cups of her bra and bared her nipples to his gaze. His hands seemed so big against her chest. When he leaned forward and flicked his tongue against her nipple, Regina almost died. The playful sensation made her toes curl.
"Relax," he urged. "I told you. I'm not going to hurt you."
Regina still wasn't so sure about that but she couldn't argue with what he'd shown her so far. He'd been gentle with her. She had half-expected him to simply toss her face-down on his desk and jam his cock into her but he seemed to be trying to show her pleasure, too.
And it was working.
He lightly sucked her nipple. His hot, wet tongue laved the sensitive nub. Lightly, he grazed his teeth over her tender flesh. Unable to stop herself, Regina moaned. Every tug of his mouth on her nipple translated right down to her pulsing clit. The unruly pink pearl throbbed for attention.
Regina's mind reeled. How was it possible that she felt more aroused and more excited with this burly stranger than the one time she'd made love to her best friend? It didn't seem right or even possible but it was happening. Robin seemed to know her body even better than she did.
It was maddening. This man, this loan shark from the seedy underbelly of Seattle, owned her friend. He could hurt Jefferson. And what was she doing? Regina was holding onto his shoulders as his mouth jumped between her breasts and tormented her nipples.
His lips were red when he abandoned her breasts. Nose to nose, they stared at one another. It was hands-down the most bizarre moment that Regina had ever experienced. She was half-naked on a stranger's desk and sharing what was arguably the most intimate gaze in her twenty-one years of life with the man who had coerced her into trading her body for her friend's safety.
She trailed her fingertips along his strong jaw, the stubble there rasping her smooth skin, and dragged her thumb across his lower lip. For the briefest of moments, she spotted a flash of vulnerability in his eyes. It shocked her.
His lips touched hers in the softest of kisses. Regina's eyes closed as his chaste kiss grew more passionate. He plundered her mouth, his searching tongue stabbing between her lips. She sifted her fingers through his short hair. The fabric of his shirt grazed her nipples, leaving them tingly and tender. With one wild kiss, Robin owned her.
When he shoved her backwards, Regina dropped down to the desk's surface. He gripped her hips and dragged her ass to the very edge of the table. Hands on her inner thighs, he buried his face between Regina's legs. She cried out at the first touch of his tongue to her clit. There was nothing uncertain about his sensual assault. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"Oh! Ah!" Regina clawed at his shoulders as he lapped at her. His tongue fluttered around the swollen kernel hidden there. He suckled her clit and flicked his tongue around it. She had never felt anything like this.
Pleasure built low and steady in her belly. Bright sparks of ecstasy arced through her. She couldn't believe how quickly he'd mastered her body. With a flutter of his tongue, Regina exploded in an orgasm that knocked the air right out of her lungs. She jolted atop the desk and scratched at his arms as his mouth tortured her.
Just when Regina thought she would pass out, he abandoned her pulsing clit for her dripping wet entrance. "Oh!"
His tongue entered her slowly. It wiggled side to side and penetrated her like a small, pliable cock. The tip of his nose stimulated her clit. She clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the shriek of pure delight that escaped her throat. The knowledge that the bar patrons and Robin's goon would hear her kept Regina from losing it completely.
She shuddered as wave after wave of bliss engulfed her. She'd never imagined it could be like this. Regina certainly never considered it would be a loan shark in some back room who would show her just how amazing oral sex could be.
Robin seemed to love eating her. He lashed her clit with his tongue and slid a thick finger inside her. He thrust slowly in and out of her wet cunt and rubbed around the front wall of her passage. When he found her g-spot, Regina almost jumped off the desk. The sharp burst of pleasure rocked her world. With his tongue lapping her clit and that damn finger of his stimulating her precious g-spot, she nearly died. She came with a muffled howl and prayed that the music in the bar would cover their sinful deeds.
Chin glistening with her slick nectar, Robin lifted his head and placed playful kisses along her belly and around her navel. Regina tried to catch her breath and clear the fog of lust clouding her judgment. Vaguely, she was aware of him unzipping his pants and freeing his cock.
Regina's eyes widened at the sight of his massive tool. She'd never seen a cock that big, let alone had one that close to her. She gulped as fear and desire rushed through her. She felt sure it was going to hurt to have that huge rod battering her vagina but she had to know what it would feel like. She needed to know.
His big hand stroked the length of his shaft. Clear droplets of pre-cum dribbled from the tip and rode the curve of his ruddy head. "You on the pill?"
She couldn't drag her gaze away from his thick cock. "Yes."
"Good." Cock in hand, he moved close enough that their bodies touched. He dragged the crown of his member through her slick folds. Regina gasped at the wild sensation of his cock head circling her clit. In the back of her head, she knew this was dangerous, that she was playing with fire, but she couldn't bring herself to stop him. He eased just the blunt tip of his cock inside her. Her tight cunt instantly protested.
"Ow!" Regina tried to pull back but he held onto her hips. "Ooh! It hurts."
"Easy, sweetheart," Robin gently cooed. "You can take me. Relax." His thumb brushed side to side across her clit, lessening the discomfort of his intrusion. He found just the right rhythm and pressure. In no time at all, her wet cunt welcomed him. "There you go, Regina. Take me. Take all of me."
"Ah!" Regina threw her head back as inch after inch of his massive tool penetrated her snug passage. Her cunt gripped his shaft. His fingertips manipulated her clit skillfully, coaxing even more of that slippery honey from her core. Soon, his member was coated in her slickness. He moved easily within her now, his cock gliding in and out of her in a way that gave them both pleasure.
"Yes!" Regina clutched at his forearms and grasped the fabric of his shirt in her fingers. "Oh! Oooh!"
The unexpected ripples of an orgasm ripped through her. She couldn't believe how quickly he'd taken her over the edge again. His fat cock stroked all the right spots. His fingers strummed her clit, working the tiny pink nub until she was gasping and begging him to stop, to let her have a moment to come down from the heights of pleasure.
Robin bent over her, his body covering hers completely, and captured her mouth in a punishing kiss. She clung to him as he smothered her with his kisses. Regina wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted up to meet his deep thrusts. It was sinful and wanton and she couldn't get enough.
Rising to his full height, Robin grasped the backs of her thighs and pressed her knees toward her chest. Fully exposed to him now, Regina felt impossibly tighter and experienced every swift penetration with newfound sensitivity. He pounded her cunt relentlessly. The desk squeaked noisily and started to jump. She gripped his arms and held on for dear life. His fingertips bit into the flesh of her thighs. No doubt she'd be sporting fingertip bruises by the time she left his office.
With a growl, Robin slammed balls-deep. She slid up the desk an inch or two from the force of his final thrust. He jerked as his cock shot spurts of blazing hot semen inside of her. The warmth spread through her core and left her trembling with aftershocks.
Robin gathered Regina up in his arms and flopped down into his chair. Their bodies still intimately joined, she ended up straddling his thighs. He tangled his fingers in her dark hair and made love to her mouth. His erotic kisses washed away the lingering sensation of cheapness. Their illicit tryst may have begun on seedy terms but it had ended on a much different note.
As their body temperatures cooled, their kisses grew languid and easy. Reality started to intrude. A quiver of regret and embarrassment pierced her belly. Regina started to climb off him but Robin stopped her movements. His big hands cupped her bare backside. He forced her to meet his hard gaze. "Don't even think about it."
"Think about what?"
"Jumping off my lap and running out of here." He rubbed her lower back. "You're going to clean up in the bathroom and then we're going to talk."
There was no refusing him. Regina nodded and let him lift her up from his lap. She tugged down her dress and grabbed her panties from the desk. Seeking refuge in the bathroom, she made quick work of tidying up and stepping back into her cotton hipsters.
Back out in the office, she found Robin leaning against the wall. He dangled her shoes from his fingertips. After grabbing her purse from the chair and placing the envelope of cash back on his desk, she joined him near the closed office door. She took her ballet flats from him. He held her hand as she stepped into the shoes. Cupping her chin, he turned her face towards his. "What are you doing tonight?"
A white-hot frisson seized her. She could be coy or outright refuse him. Instead, Regina chose the most practical option. "You tell me."
He laughed. The grin lighting up his face made him seem so relaxed and friendly. Maybe there was another side to this man. "I'll pick you up around eight. Wear another dress—but no panties."
Regina quirked an eyebrow. "No panties?"
"Well there's still quite a balance on your brother's debt…"
His reminder of the coercion behind their quickie should have bothered her but it didn't. His teasing tone told her that this thing blossoming between them wasn't just about the debt anymore. Regina let her fingers walk up his chest and toyed with the top button of his shirt. "And how much did I just work off that debt?"
His sexy grin warmed her. "Let's call it five."
"Five, huh? Should I be flattered?"
He dipped his head and claimed her mouth. "Absolutely."
Regina took a step back and patted his chest. "I should go."
He nodded and opened the door. "I'll see you tonight."
She stepped through but he snatched her wrist. Regina glanced up at him. "What?"
His expression had morphed into one of pure business. "Tell Jefferson this is the end of our business."
The painful intrusion of reality made her gut clench.
"But our business is far from over, Regina."
Jefferson was furious with her when she got back to her apartment. He took one look at her and knew instantly what had happened.
"You went to Locksley didn't you? And you fucked him?" Jefferson was shouting at her.
"Yes we were together but-"
"You fucked him for money, for my debt!" Jefferson said as he put his hands in his hair and pulled hard. "I've turned you into a whore."
"Stop saying that! You did no such thing," Regina said.
"I'm sorry." He looked abashed. "You're right. You're not. He took advantage of you. These people, Regina? They're dangerous. And you? You're sweet. People like Locksley? They can smell innocence a mile away."
Regina didn't doubt that but said, "I'm not innocent, Jefferson. It's not like I was some lily-white virgin."
He scoffed. "One guy? You may as well have been a virgin. That's why he seduced you. You're a prize to a man like Locksley."
"Look, the whys and how of this don't matter, Jefferson. Okay? Your debt will be cleared. You don't have to keep looking over your shoulder. You can start over."
"Wait." He pushed off the wall and straightened up. "Will be paid? This isn't a done deal?"
"No. Well. I mean…we're going out tonight. I think maybe after tonight he'll consider it done."
"And if he doesn't?" Panic invaded his voice. "What if he wants another date or two or three?"
Her body practically vibrated with the memory of her tryst with Robin. "I guess that wouldn't be so bad."
"Wouldn't be so bad?" Jefferson parroted in shock. "Regina, listen to yourself! Are you hot for this guy? For this loan shark?"
Regina shrugged and turned away from him. "Maybe."
"Fuck, Regina. You're out of your mind."
"Why?"
"Why? He's up to his eyeballs in the mob, Regina. This guy hurts people."
"He didn't hurt me."
"Oh, well, that just makes it so much better, right?"
For a long moment, they stared at one another. Regina knew he was right. She was flirting with danger. Hell, her knees had been knocking together when she'd walked into Robin's office earlier. Now her belly trembled with need and desire for the man who had basically threatened her friend over a gambling debt.
Jefferson was right. What the hell was wrong with her?
"I don't want you to go tonight, Regina." Jefferson ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.
"I have to go, Jefferson."
"Have to or want to?"
She swallowed hard as her friend asked her the same question she'd just asked herself. "Both."
He swore under his breath. "At least you're being honest with me."
"It's not easy." Regina dropped her gaze to her collection of makeup and picked out her favorite mascara. It was one of those ultra-expensive brands she reserved for special occasions. As she started to apply it to her lashes, Jefferson exhaled loudly and headed out of the room. She called after him. "Hey! Where are you going?"
"Out."
"Out where?"
"You're not my mom, Regina. I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."
She wanted to beg him not to go to one of the underground casinos but didn't. He was on edge. An argument wouldn't make matters any better. Besides, she'd been begging him to get help, to go to gambling addiction meetings or counseling, for months. He hadn't listened then. He sure as hell wasn't going to listen now.
"Are you coming back tonight?"
"Why?" He popped back into the apartment. "You planning to bring your date back here?"
Regina narrowed her gaze. "Don't be a jerk, Jefferson."
His jaw tightened. "Yeah. I'll be back later."
"I'll leave a light on for you."
"Yeah. Great. Whatever."
Regina watched him go and shook her head before heading back into her bedroom, she stepped inside her small closet and flicked through her hangers. She only had two little black dresses that were appropriate for a date. She didn't really get out much so she'd never bothered to spend much money on that kind of a wardrobe. Jeans, tees, comfy skirts and casual dresses were staples in her closet. Short, sexy and sassy? Not so much.
Her ears perked to the sound of the front door opening and then footsteps in the living room. Certainly Jefferson had come back to ask for money, she rolled her eyes and announced loudly, "There are a couple of twenties in my wallet. That's all I have."
"Thanks for the offer, sweetheart, but I'll pass."
Robin's low timbre startled her. She jumped and spun around to find him standing in the doorway of her bedroom. He looked impossibly huge and filled the space with his wide shoulders and imposing height. His eyes glinted with amusement. "I like that look on you."
She gripped the edges of her fluffy turquoise bath robe and tugged them together to cover her nakedness. "How the hell did you get in here?"
The expression of amusement on his face was quickly eclipsed by one of displeasure. "You left the front door unlocked."
She groaned. "Jefferson."
"He left the door unlocked?"
Regina nodded. "He was kind of pissed when he left. I guess he forgot to lock it behind him."
"I'm so glad he cares about his friend's safety."
"He's not like that normally. Really," She added quickly. "He's a good friend."
"Who gets into debt and sends his friend to clean up the mess?"
"Please, don't start." Regina said.
"I'll wait in the other room for you to get ready." Robin said.
She quickly dressed and in minutes they were on their way out. Regina sat beside him in the back of his SUV as there was two SUVs in front of them and two behind them.
"Where are we going?" Regina asked after a few more minutes.
Robin chuckled as he turned to look at her. "If I wanted to kidnap you, do you think I would tell you?"
"Do you want to kidnap me?" Regina asked.
He was silent for a few seconds then he finally answered. "No, there are more important things I want to do to you."
"Like what?" Regina asked.
"Like have you for dinner." Robin answered as seconds later they arrived at the Space Needle. Once they were at the restaurant, Regina discovered it was completely empty except for them.
"Where is everyone?" Regina asked.
"This is just for us." Robin answered as they walked over to the table that had candles lite all over it. As Regina went to her seat, Robin took the chair and pulled it out for her. He then picked up the single red rose and presented it to her.
"Thank you," Regina said as she inhaled the sweet scents of the delicate blooms.
They were served by waiters and then they were left all alone for the night. Robin watched as Regina ate her food. He watched the way her mouth moved as she chewed, the way her lips moved. Everything was sensual about this woman.
Afterwards they went to the windows and looked out over the city.
"Very nice." He fingered the fabric and then touched her dress. "Take this off."
A quiver of anxiety pierced her belly. Even after their impromptu sex session this afternoon, she still felt shy about revealing her body to him. She slid the straps from her slender shoulders and let the dress glide off her body, till it pooled at her feet.
Robin's hungry gaze roamed her naked curves. He walked up to her palmed her breast and brushed his thumb over the soft flesh. His thumb coaxed her nipple into a tight peak. He pinched it lightly, making her gasp. Ever the gentleman, he soothed the sharp twinge with a tender kiss.
As he kissed her nipple, Robin enjoyed her body. His big hand slid down her back to cup her bare bottom. She felt so small and vulnerable. He dragged her closer and slipped his fingers through her hair. He dipped her head back and claimed her mouth in a possessive kiss.
Desperate for something to hold onto, she gripped the lapels of his suit jacket. His tongue touched hers. He nibbled her lower lip. Breathless and needy, she gazed up at this dangerous man and wondered how he made her feel so safe and secure.
"You're shaking." He sounded concerned. "Are you still afraid of me?"
"It's not that kind of shaking."
His lips curved upward. "Ah. I see."
Regina inhaled a sharp, shocked breath as he swung her up into his arms. With two steps, he reached the piano and gently deposited her on the cool surface. Reality cut through her haze of need. "We won't fit."
He laughed. "I've squeezed into tighter places." He said and knelt at the edge of the piano.
Regina squeezed her knees together. "Wait. We can't. Your men-
"Wouldn't dare interfere." Robin said. He pushed her shoulders down. "Now hush and let me eat this sweet little cunt of yours."
Regina gasped at his explicit instruction. Lower belly wobbling like a bowl of gelatin, she clenched her fingers and prayed that she wouldn't make too much noise. The idea of Robin's men hearing her in throes of passion again wasn't one she relished. She could only imagine what they thought of her. Probably the same thing Jefferson had. Whore.
But Robin didn't. Of that, she was absolutely sure. Somehow knowing that he didn't consider her a tramp made it all okay.
Regina moaned as his tongue fluttered between the lips of her sex. He discovered the pink kernel hidden there and lapped gently at the tiny nub. She relaxed under his skillful ministration and let him have his way with her. Those big hands clasped her inner thighs and shoved them wide apart, opening her cunt for his exploring tongue.
He licked and flicked at her clit. When he sucked the swollen kernel between his lips and rolled his tongue across the sensitive bundle of nerves, Regina clapped a hand over her mouth and cried out against her palm. Sparks of ecstasy snapped in her core. It wouldn't be long. Another lick… Just another…
"Robin!" She shouted his name, the sound muffled by her hand. He attacked her vagina with his mouth. The first waves of orgasm had just started to fade when he forced her into another climax with that expert tongue of his. Regina reached down and scratched her fingernails along his scalp as he drove her crazy. "Oh! Yes! Yes!"
Regina thrashed atop the piano and reveled in the wicked sensations his lips and tongue created. When her orgasm finally left her, she sagged against the piano. Her whole body felt limp and liquid. She couldn't even move when he stood up and walked away from the piano. She watched him disappear into the hallway and return with a damp wash cloth and a hand towel.
"You don't have to—"
"Shh." He silenced her with a look. Ever so gently, he cleaned between her thighs. He dropped the towel and cloth onto the floor. Grasping her hands, he tugged her into a sitting position. She was suddenly eye-to-eye with the bulge in his pants. Thinking that he wanted her to return the favor, Regina reached for his fly. His hand snatched her hand and stopped her. "No."
She frowned up at him. "But you just—"
"I just indulged my craving for your cunt," he said matter-of-factly. "You've been driving me crazy all day thinking about it. This?" He gestured to his erection. "This can wait."
"Are you sure?" Regina couldn't believe he was turning down the offer of a blow job. Most guys would have been yanking out their cocks and shoving them in her face by now.
"Positive." He touched her cheek. "I like the anticipation."
"Of?" Regina asked.
"This is just the beginning, the beginning for us." Robin promised her.
"Come home with me."
Regina glanced at Robin and tried not to be seduced by the yearning in his voice. He toyed with the loose waves of her hair as his driver expertly navigated the tricky late-night downtown Seattle traffic. "I should go home."
"No. You should come home with me." He grinned sexily and gave her hair a playful tug.
After the best date of her life, Regina was finding it hard to say no. The most deliciously exquisite meal from the restaurant had set the tone for the night. She hadn't quite known what to expect after dinner and their lovemaking. To say she was stunned to pull up to the city's finest art gallery was an understatement.
Somehow, he'd discovered her love for modern art. To be so close to a Basquiat that she could reach out and touch the painting trumped any date she'd ever had. Honestly, he'd set the bar high enough she wasn't sure anyone would ever top it. The ice cream and coffee after had been the perfect ending to their night.
Except that it seemed Robin wasn't quite ready to say goodbye.
"Jefferson is expecting me." The excuse sounded lame even to her but she tossed it out there anyway.
"He's a big boy, Regina. I think he can manage brushing his teeth and getting into bed all by himself."
Regina tried to find another excuse to say no but came up empty. Truthfully, she wanted to say yes. She wasn't ready for her night with him to end either. It was crazy and out of character for her but she couldn't get enough of Robin. He made her laugh. He made her feel safe. He made her feel sexy. He made her hot.
He nuzzled his nose against her neck. "Come home with me, Regina."
Goose bumps blossomed on her skin. Heat and need pooled low in her belly. "All right."
He grinned triumphantly and peppered ticklish kisses along the curve of her throat. Their driver effortlessly switched lanes. She had no idea where they were going now. Robin hadn't volunteered his address or neighborhood. She'd started to ask but decided she liked the excitement of the mystery more.
Besides, she had other questions that needed answers. His big hand started to ride the soft flesh of her thigh but she stopped it, placing her smaller hand atop his huge paw. "Robin, what are we doing?"
His brow furrowed. He gave her thigh a playful squeeze. "I think that's fairly evident."
Regina smiled at his teasing reply. "I'm serious. I mean—what is this? Is it really just Jefferson's debt or is it something else?"
His needful gaze seared her. "What do you want, Regina?"
"I don't know, "She admitted on a whisper. "You confuse me. You make me want things…"
"Is that so bad?" Robin asked.
She shrugged. "It wouldn't be if you weren't a loan shark. How the hell do I let myself get even more involved with someone who does the kind of work you do?"
He didn't even flinch at her blunt remark. Instead, he questioned, "And what if I wasn't a loan shark anymore? What would you say then?"
She narrowed her gaze. "I'd say I want to know more before I make a decision."
He stroked her cheek with his fingertips and thumb. "This economy, it's been bad for a lot of businesses but for me? I've never been so flush. I've discovered plenty of new opportunities over the last few years."
"Opportunities?"
"Legal opportunities," he explained. "When banks aren't lending and people need an influx of cash for their real estate developments or their businesses, guess where they come?"
"To you?"
Robin nodded. "It started slowly. Quietly," he added. "Now I have three personal finance companies spread across the city. I've bought into a few payday loan places. I'm getting out of loan sharking for gamblers and lowlifes. I'm selling that side of things back to the man who got me started. He's got a nephew who needs an entry-level job. These days I can make a hell of a lot more money doing it legally."
"I'm sure you can." She'd seen the payday loan places around campus. Their ads were all over the television. Their flyers showed up in her mailbox. They charged exorbitant amounts for small loans. Still, desperate people flocked to them for help.
"What is it?" His thumb caressed her chin. "Payday lending doesn't sit well with you?"
Regina shook her head. "It's usury."
"It's legal."
"Lots of shady things are legal, Robin. That doesn't make them right."
"I'm not holding a gun to someone's head and forcing him to take the payday loan. I'm providing a vital, needed service for people on the fringe."
"And enslaving them to your god-awful interest rates so they have to roll that tiny loan into another loan and another loan." Regina flicked his chest hard enough to make his jaw twitch. "You forget that I'm pretty good with math. I know just how long it takes to pay off those loans."
"I didn't forget. I think your math skills are sexy as fuck." His lips skimmed that sensitive spot just beneath her ear and she shivered. His mouth moved closer to her ear and his hand escaped hers, his wide, rough palm gliding higher along her thigh. His hot breath tickled her ear as he whispered, "Maybe later you can recite amortization tables while I use my tongue to make you come again and again."
"Robin," She said on a shudder. Cheeks pink with embarrassment, she dared to glance at the driver. Thankfully, he seemed totally oblivious to what was happening in the backseat.
Robin chuckled and nipped at her earlobe. "I'll behave—but once we get to my place, all bets are off."
He wasn't joking. She'd barely stopped gawking at his ridiculously huge house and perfectly manicured lawn before he was trying to unbuckle her seatbelt. His driver pulled into the circular driveway and they slipped out of the backseat. A split-second later, Robin grabbed her hand and practically dragged Regina into his home.
"Robin!" Regina gasped his name as he scooped her up just over the threshold and tossed her over his shoulder. Mounting the steps two at a time, he carried her up the staircase to the second floor, hooked a right and marched into a master bedroom that was probably three times as big as her cramped apartment.
Regina squealed with surprise and delight as he dropped her onto his massive bed. She bounced a few times. He crawled onto the bed, pinning her between the mattress and his huge body. Their mouths met in a wickedly sensual kiss. His fingertips brushed her face and trailed down her neck to the front of her dress. He cupped her breast through the thin fabric and plunged his tongue deep inside her mouth. Regina arched under him and scratched her fingernails down his back.
"On your side," Robin urged and rolled off her just enough to allow her to move. He jerked down the zipper on her dress and worked it down her shoulders to her waist. He expertly unsnapped her bra and freed her from the simple black garment.
Grasping her shoulder, he pulled her onto her back again and threw his leg over Regina. Up on his knees, he captured her beneath him and dropped his lips to her chest. Regina groaned with sheer pleasure as his mouth followed the dusky outlines of her nipples. He licked and nibbled and sucked until Regina was panting and grasping at him.
He wore far too many clothes for her liking. She made her preference known by jerking on his suit jacket and tie, ridding him of them in the same urgent way he'd gotten rid of her bra and lowered her dress. He sat up and hurriedly flicked through the buttons lining the front of his dress shirt. She watched the shirt fly and assumed it landed somewhere close to his tie and jacket.
Naked from the waist up, Robin hovered over her again. The crisp hairs on his chest teased her stiff nipples. Pinned beneath him, she realized just how big he truly was. Yet Regina didn't feel scared or uncertain. It was the strangest thing. Like earlier in his office, she felt safe. Secure, even. It didn't make sense to her. Regina hardly knew him, but she couldn't deny what he made her feel.
Wanted.
With one swift move, Robin flipped their positions. She ended up straddling his waist. He grasped her hips, his long, thick fingers spanning her abdomen. His huge cock stretched taut the fabric of his pants and jutted against her backside. She wiggled a little and made him growl. His eyes were dark with lust. "I need you, Regina."
Suddenly, it struck her just how much power she had over this man. Never in a million years could she have ever imagined that she could have a powerful man like Robin wrapped around her little finger. What he saw in mousy, geeky her she'd never understand. Whatever it was, it made her feel special. It made her feel wanted.
Grasping her dress, Regina pulled it up and over her head. She tossed it over her shoulder before she slid down his thighs and unbuckled his belt. Far from experienced, she betrayed her poor seduction skills with her trembling hands. He seemed amused by her slightly fumbling attempts to get him out of his pants. She pulled off his shoes and socks and finally managed to drag his pants and boxers down his hips.
Straddling his thighs again, she stared at his big member. She still couldn't believe that thing had been inside her earlier today.
"I have condoms in my bedside table," he said. "I'm clean," he assured her. "I haven't—I mean, it's been awhile since my last relationship. I was tested a few months ago and I'm good."
Regina was surprised he'd been celibate for months. He didn't strike her as the kind of man who had a hard time finding a date. With as much power as he wielded within Seattle, he must have had women throwing themselves at him. "Why?"
His brow furrowed. "Why what?"
"Why haven't you been with anyone in months?"
"Sometimes you just need a break from it, Regina. I was tired of the scene. I wanted something none of those women wanted."
"And what's that?"
"Something real," he said, his voice soft. He stroked her bare belly with his fingertips. "I want something that's going to last. I want someone to spoil and take care of and love. I'm looking for the right woman this time."
Regina didn't know what to say to that. Did he think she was the right woman?
Not letting her dwell on that thought, he asked, "Are you sore? I lost control there at the end."
"Not really," She said. Truthfully, she was a little sore from their wild, frantic coupling on his desk. Her cunt just wasn't used to that kind of abuse. But she couldn't wait to get him inside her again. She wanted to feel his huge cock stroking her, filling her, stretching her. She knew if she said anything, he'd be super gentle and easy with her. That wasn't what she wanted. Regina wanted him to be wild and rough with her, to mark her as his, to make her feel.
But first…
Robin cursed as Regina's tongue flicked along the underside of his cock. She grasped the base of his shaft in one hand, her fingers unable to close around him, and traced the head of his cock with her tongue. The ruddy crown throbbed against her lips. She'd only given head a few times. She hoped Robin would find her attempt acceptable.
Her fingers loosely gripped his shaft and stroked up and down. She wet her lips and sucked him into her mouth. His impressive girth stretched her mouth wide. Using her hands and lips and tongue, she worked his cock. He sighed and groaned with pleasure.
Though she tried to take as much of his length into her mouth as possible, Regina knew there was no way that she could deep throat him. Luckily, she didn't think he would mind. Robin pushed up on his elbows and watched her lick his shaft and suck the head of his cock. His fingers sifted through her loose hair as she bobbed up and down on his member.
"Come here," he said unexpectedly. He clasped her by the upper arms and hauled Regina up his body. She wasn't sure what he wanted until she felt him start pressing on her shoulder. Then Regina understood.
She spun around and planted her knees on either side of his chest. Facing his feet, she lowered her mouth to his cock again. Regina groaned as his tongue found her clit and sucked hard on it, causing her body to jerk. He next slid his tongue up and down her slit, tonguing her finally as his fingers played with her clit.
Sucking his cock made her so wet. His fingers encountered no resistance as they slipped through her folds and circled her swollen clit. He pushed a finger inside her, penetrating her slowly. Regina moaned around his cock. He groaned softly and used both hands to stimulate her. Two fingers thrust in and out of her wet passage. The fingers of his other hand rubbed her clit until she was clawing at his thighs and groaning around the cock buried in her mouth.
"Robin!" Regina shouted his name as he grabbed her hips and dragged her higher up his body. He jammed his face between her thighs and lapped at her. The odd position and the strange angle of his flicking tongue awakened every nerve-ending below her waist. She stroked his cock with her hand as he devoured her sex, his tongue lashing her clit until she exploded. "Robin! Robin! Ah!"
He moaned between her thighs and kept licking her until Regina thought she would pass out. Overwhelmed, she slid off him and onto the bed. Robin curled up to her back and grasped her thigh. Lifting her leg, he angled his body just right and thrust into her welcoming cunt with one sharp movement. Regina gasped at the sudden invasion of his big cock.
Lips on her neck, he kissed her skin and gently rocked in and out of Regina. She reached back and clutched his side. His hand snaked around her front and slid down her lower belly. His fingers found her clitoris. Regina sighed gently as he took her slowly, his thrusts long and deep and measured, while his fingertips circled her clit.
There was no race to climax this time. She relished his heat and strength. Cocooned in his strong arms, Regina closed her eyes and focused on the wondrous sensations he evoked with his fingers and thrusting cock. His lips danced down her neck and across her shoulder and cheek.
"God, Regina, you're so fucking tight."
"Robin," Regina whimpered his name.
He thrust hard enough to make her gasp. "You love my cock, don't you, Regina?"
"Yes," She said, nearly sobbing with need.
"You love the way my cock fills your snug, little cunt."
"Yes. Yes!"
He bit down on the fleshy bit where her shoulder curved into her neck and tapped her clit with his fingertip. The sharp bite and the increased pressure around her clitoris sent Regina reeling over the edge. She came hard as he continued to take her with deliberate, deep thrusts.
She was still quaking with aftershocks when Robin pressed her onto her stomach, grabbed her hips and hauled Regina up onto her knees. His fingers tangled in her hair as he slammed into her, burying his shaft to the hilt in her wet sheath. Regina cried out and clawed at the duvet.
"Too much?" he asked, his voice tight and clipped.
"No! God. No!" Regina pushed back to meet his thrusts, proving that she liked this rougher side of things. He growled and started to take her like some wild thing. Her breasts ached. Her nipples buzzed as they drew tight to hard peaks. Their bodies slapped together noisily. The force of his bigger frame slamming into hers again and again left Regina panting and shaking. Never had she imagined sex could be like this. So wild. So primitive. So real.
"Robin. Robin!"
"That's it, Regina. Beg me for my cock."
"More! Oh! Oh!"
"You want more, baby girl? Like this?" He jackhammered her cunt now. Every fast, shallow thrust added to her building climax.
"Yes. Oh! Harder. Please. Please." Regina needed to come so badly. Her poor clit throbbed. She slipped a hand between her thighs and furiously rubbed the pink pearl. A short time later, she shrieked his name again and started to come. She gripped the bedcovers in one hand and strummed her clit with the other while wave after wave of pure bliss engulfed her.
Regina thought for sure he'd come with her but he held back again. When her climax finally faded, Robin flipped her onto her back and climbed between her thighs. His huge body covered Regina's. He planted those big hands on either side of her head. When he claimed her mouth in a sensual, searching kiss, Regina melted. Their tongues fluttered together as he thrust into her again and again.
Captured beneath this male behemoth, she experienced the strangest thrill of belonging. Regina's hands roamed his sides and his back, her fingertips discovering the old scars marking his skin. Some of the scars were obviously from knives or other sharp objects. One or two looked puckered like bullet wounds. A few of them she couldn't even guess as to how they'd been created.
Taking hold of his muscled forearms, she held onto him. Their gazes clashed with such intensity as he made love to Regina. Their lips touched and separated, their breaths mingling as Robin started to shudder and approach the beginning of his climax. Regina wound her thighs around his waist and squeezed him tightly, milking his cock with her cunt as he shoved deep inside her and came. His lips ghosted across her ear. Only one word escaped them.
"Mine."
The possessive ring to his declaration should have bothered Regina but she couldn't imagine belonging to anyone else. She wanted him to claim her. She wanted him to call her his.
Robin fell onto his side but pulled her close. He tucked her into the little spot created by his bent arm and thigh, snuggling her tightly to his chest. She happily placed her head on him and draped her arm across his body. Feeling sleepy and humming with post-orgasmic bliss, Regina let him stroke and caress her.
Regina told herself that she wouldn't fall asleep, that she'd just doze for a few moments before getting up to go home. The reassuring thud of his big heart tempted her to stay even longer. His lips brushed her forehead in a gentle kiss. Regina realized in that moment that Robin was even more dangerous than she'd ever imagined. Walking into his bar that afternoon, she'd been sure he would break her and Jefferson. Now, though, she understood his biggest threat to her wasn't violence.
No, it was hope. Hope that she wouldn't be alone. Hope that she wouldn't have to face life without someone to love and support her.
And hope could be a very dangerous thing.
The annoying chirp of her cell phone shattered the lovely dream she was enjoying. Without opening her eyes, Regina slapped at what should have been her bedside table. The sensation of her hand smacking warm skin shocked her right out of her slumbering state. Sucking in a sharp breath, Regina bolted upright.
"Easy." Robin's now familiar voice cut through the darkness. "It's just me."
Regina blinked a few times before the memory of their night flashed through her mind. "Did I fall asleep after…?"
"Yes. I didn't want to wake you. I had your purse brought in from the car and let you sleep."
Her phone started to ring again. Her stomach knotted. It had to be very late or very early. There was only one person who could call me at this time of night and so many times in a row. Groaning, she pushed down the sheet and moved to the edge of the bed. "Where is my purse?"
"I put it on the chair in the corner." Robin flicked on a lamp. Regina shielded her eyes until they grew accustomed to the brightness.
The idea of answering the phone while naked weirded her out. Obviously, Jefferson wouldn't be able to see me but it just didn't feel right. She grabbed the first piece of clothing she could find, Robin's shirt—and slipped into it. The phone started to chirp and vibrate again. She picked up her purse and fished around inside the bag until she found her phone. Regina glanced at the screen and frowned. It wasn't a number she recognized.
"Hello?"
"Regina?"
She didn't recognize the female voice either. "Yes. Who is this?"
"Um…that doesn't matter. Look, Jefferson is hurt."
"What? How?" Her knees wobbled as terror struck my gut. "Is he okay? How badly?"
"He ran into some guys who owned some debt of his. It's pretty bad."
"Where is he?" Her voice was barely a whisper now. Her heart was racing so fast she could hardly breathe.
She rattled off the name of a hospital downtown and then hung up. Regina dropped the phone and rubbed her forehead. Sick with dread, she tried not to think about how badly Jefferson could be hurt. He was out there right now, suffering alone, and needed her.
The jangle of a belt buckle broke into Regina's thoughts. She glanced over her shoulder to find Robin getting dressed. Clearly, he'd pieced together her side of the conversation. She didn't understand it but the sight of him infuriated her. The reality that someone in his line of business, hell, maybe even one of his goons—had put the hurt on Jefferson for owing some debt, hit Regina like a ton of bricks.
Robin frowned at her. "Regina, snap out of it and get dressed."
She stiffened at his instruction. "Don't tell me what to do."
He didn't even flinch at her snarled reply. "I know you're upset."
Regina's jaw tightened. "You don't know anything about me."
"Are we back to this again?" He leveled a maddeningly calm stare her way. "I thought we talked about this in my office. I know more about you than you think."
The reminder of our discussion in his office left her feeling unsettled. God, how stupid could she be? What the hell was she thinking getting involved with this man? Regina knew better than to trust someone so dangerous. What the hell was wrong with her?
She'd let her guard down with Robin. She'd let him seduce her. She'd let the man who had made it possible for Jefferson to get himself into this kind of trouble wine and dine her. Now my long-time friend was in the hospital, and she'd been sleeping with the man responsible for it.
Robin strode toward her. "Talk to me, Regina."
"I can't do this, Robin." Regina pulled off his shirt, threw it at him and reached for her dress. "I can't be with the person responsible for my friend's downfall. You're the reason he's in the hospital now."
His eyebrow arched. "Am I?"
Regina glared at him before tugging her dress down over her head. "Don't play stupid, Robin. You knew he was a gambling addict. You gave him the money. You kept increasing his credit at those stupid poker games. It's like giving a suicidal person a loaded gun!"
"Guns aren't my line of business. That's Robert Gold's action."
Regina gritted her teeth. "I'm trying to be serious. People like you prey on the weak. You destroy them. You've destroyed my friend. Someday you'll do the same to me."
Her accusation hung in the air between them. Finally, he spoke. "Do you really believe that?"
"I—" The answer didn't come. It died on her lips. Everything Robin had shown her had been nothing but sweetness and kindness. He'd gone out of his way to show her that he would never harm her. "No," Regina admitted grudgingly. "I don't."
"You know what I think?" He crossed the distance between them with a few powerful strides.
"No." She shook her head and kept her gaze glued to her bare feet.
Robin tipped her chin and forced Regina to meet his warm, affectionate gaze. "I think you're pissed off at your friend. I think you're terrified that you're going to lose him like you lost your parents. I think it's easier to shout at me than it is to think about how afraid you are right now."
He was right, of course. Regina was beginning to wonder if he was always right.
He opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace. Hot tears burned her eyes. Robin didn't say anything else. He just held her and rubbed her back until she was ready to pull away and finished getting dressed.
After asking her which hospital, he took her hand and led her down to the garage. They climbed into one of his cars. As he pulled out of his gated community, he said, "About Jefferson's debt with me…"
Dread settled in the pit of her stomach. "Yes?"
"I wrote it off the second you walked through my office door."
"What? But you said—"
"I know what I said. I just—I wanted you. I knew a girl like you would never—not with someone like me."
"So, you bluffed me."
"Yes."
"I should kick your ass, you know that?"
He laughed and smiled over at her. "You could try, Tiny."
"God," Regina said and wiped a hand down her face. "You know what's even crazier than this hot mess with Jefferson the money and your blackmail?"
"No. What?"
"I'm not even that pissed off at you." Regina couldn't believe it but it was true. "I should be. I should be furious with you—but I'm not. How screwed up are we?"
"We're not anymore screwed up than most couples, I'd guess."
Regina's eyes widened. "Are we a couple?"
Robin rubbed his thumb across her palm. "I don't know. Are we?"
Regina considered all that had happened in the short hours that she'd known him. There was no denying the connection she'd made to Robin. Their relationship might not have started in the most noble of ways but it was real. It was true. They were creating some sort of foundation. This could go somewhere.
Regina bit her lower lip. "I think we play this one day at a time."
"I can do slow and easy."
Their peace made, they drove in silence to the hospital. The windshield wiper blades thwacked softly as they cleared away the heavy dew that accumulated on the glass.
When they reached the hospital's parking lot, Robin found a spot and killed his engine. He shot her an apologetic look. "I can't go in with you. Not now."
Regina started to ask why but then noticed the police cruisers parked near the emergency room entrance. "Oh."
"I didn't have anything to do with your Jefferson's injuries, Regina. If the cops see me strolling in there with you, it's just—it's going to cause more problems for you than you need."
"I understand." Regina figured this wouldn't be the first time they would had to navigate a tricky situation because of Robin's history and occupation. She wondered if this was why he was so keen on the idea of shedding his past as a loan shark and moving into the world of legal lending.
"While you're in there, I'm going to make some calls. This thing with Jefferson? It ends today. Right now. Whatever he owes around town, I'll make it right."
"No! Robin, you can't. I mean, it's too much."
He shook his head. "This is my gift to you."
"Why?" Regina asked in a whisper.
Robin cupped her face in his big hand and caressed her cheek. "I told you I'd take care of you. Now let me do that, Regina."
She leaned over and kissed him gently. Their lips lingered for a long moment before she finally pulled away and grabbed her purse. "I'll text you when I find him."
He nodded. "I'll be waiting. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."