(Orlando)


Regina Mills was on her way to Rosewood Retirement Center, where her beloved Grans was staying. Amelia Mills was in her late eighties and while her health had been good over the years, her voice last night on the phone with Regina had sounded depressed. So, Regina had called in to work at the elementary school where she worked, and had taken this Friday off, along with the weekend to visit her Grams.

Regina was twenty-nine and living in Orlando as an elementary school teacher. She taught first grade and loved seeing her kids adorable faces each and every day. Her parents were both dead, killed in a car accident when Regina was only even, Amelia Mills, Grams, had taken in Regina gladly. She had been in grief at loosing her son and daughter-in-law, she had found comfort in little Regina. But Regina had grieved for her parents, Grams was all she had left in the world.

Regina pulled into the parking lot, after parking the car she walked into the Center. As she neared her Grams' room, she became a little anxious. She took a deep breath and knocked on her Grams' door.

"Regina, come in, come in." Her Grams called out to her.

Regina smiled and walked to her, Grams held out her arms and Regina pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Grams. It's been too long."

"And who's fault is that?" Grams asked.

"Mine, I know." Regina said as she sat down beside her.

"So, tell me how is teaching doing?" Grams asked.

"Really good, we just started this new school year." Regina said.

"And the kids, how do they like being in school?" Grams asked.

"Well, most of them like recess, and all. But you have the occasional few that really don't want to be there and will let you know about it." Regina said with a chuckle.

"So, what brings you here today?" Grams asked.

"I can't come see my Grams when I want?" Regina asked.

"Sure you can, but I wonder if its because you're worried." Grams said.

"I'm always going to worry about you." Regina said.

"And I you." Grams said.

"Me?" Regina asked.

"Let me tell you the story of Raina." Grams said.

"Who?" Regina asked.

"Raina. My own Grams told me this old but sad tale that goes back decades." Grams said.

"Grams," Regina started.

"Don't Grams me. This is something that might help you with your own love life, my dear." Grams said.

"I have no love life," Regina said.

"Exactly. Now hush and let me tell the story." Grams said as Regina nodded.

"Now, once upon a time there was two feuding families. The Lyons and the Regals It was during a time of lord and ladies and when children were betrothed when they were first born. The feud had gotten so bad between two families that a King ordered the firstborn son of the Lyons and the firstborn daughter of the Regals were to wed in order to stop the feuds between the two." Grams said.

"And did it?" Regina asked.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you patience is a virtue?" Grams said.

"Didn't I tell you that about my love life?" Regina fired back.

"You have no love life. Remember?" Grams said raising an eyebrow and effectively shutting up Regina.

"Now, as I was saying. The couple were both very reluctant when their betrothal was announced. Robert came around and was looking forward to marrying Raina, he loved her quit whit, her spirit, the way she stood up to him, and tried to stand up to her parents, he simply fell in love. Raina on the other hand, was not immediately in love. She fought Robert, fought their attraction, their love for their families, fought their love for riding horses. Robert would take her on early morning rides, and afternoon rides every day leading up to their wedding."

"Sounds like he was determined. "Regina commented.

"He was. He was determined that Raina would want to marry him as well." Grams said.

"So did he?" Regina asked anxiously.

"You never did have any patience, did you?" Grams shook her head. "To answer you, yes he did make her fall in love with him. With his charm, his determination and his heart."

"So, what happened next?" Regina asked.

"The day of the wedding was a great celebration. The two families had put aside their feud and were both in attendance. It was at the Lyons village with everyone there, the Regals were also there. The bride and groom exchanged their nuptials, a grand feast had been prepared and a huge celebration commenced. As the evening wore on, the bride and groom made their exit." Grams said.

"Sounds like they had a happy ending." Regina said.

"Not quite," Grams said then continued. "As Robert toasted to Raina in their bedchamber that night, he watched as she drunk wine…that had been poisoned."

"What?" Regina gasped.

"Someone had poisoned their wine in their room. Robert was horrified to witness Raina fall to the floor in front of him, gasping. He called for healers to help her, but it was too late. The poisoned had acted quickly and she died within seconds of drinking it. Robert was inconsolable in his grief, even though the goblet where the wine had been stored had all contained the poison, he had not drunk any when Raina had." Grams said.

"Did they ever find out who killed her? How did her family react?" Regina asked.

"Her family blamed him and took her body from him to be buried back at their home. Robert didn't fight them as he had no fight left in him. Robert's family found out who poisoned the wine, a young maid from another village who had wanted Robert for herself, had snuck into the bedchamber with the festivities going on down below. She was killed for her act." Grams said.

"And Robert? What happened to him?" Regina asked.

"For a few weeks he didn't speak to anyone. One day while out riding, he went to the cliffs and took his own life. Legend says that their because their souls were no longer one with the other, that one would never live without the other, not truly live." Grams said.

"That's so sad." Regina said.

"It is, to have love or a chance a love and experience to the fullest." Grams said.

"Why did you tell me all this?" Regina asked.

"Because, I have found someone that is perfect for you." Grams said.

"Oh no, Grams, you are not setting me up again are you?" Regina asked.

"Regina-" Grams said.

"No, no Regina this or that. Grams, do you remember the last guy you set me up with?" Regina asked.

"That's not my fault." Grams denied.

"He had just gotten out of prison Grams!" Regina reminded her.

"Okay, so he had a bit of a bad boy in me. There's nothing wrong with a little wild side, especially in the bedroom," Grams said with a wink.

"Kinky in the bedroom, there is nothing wrong with that. A kink for being in prison every year for the last few years, no thank you." Regina said.

"Okay, maybe he wasn't the right one. But that doesn't mean you won't find the right one. And trust me, this one is the right one." Grams said.

"Grams, I can find a guy on my own." Regina said.

"Then why haven't you?" Grams asked.

"Grams! There's no rush." Regina said.

"That's what Robert and Raina probably thought." Grams said. "Now, do your dear old Grams a favor and at least talk to Robin, he's a doctor."

"Robin?" Regina asked.

"The guy I want you to go out with. I've got his number and the least you can do is talk to him or text, or if things keep going well, you can sext him." Grams said.

"Grams!" Regina exclaimed.

"Regina, please. I really have a good feeling about this one. There is something in his eyes…" Grams said softly.

"Grams I don't know why you're being like this," Regina said defiantly.

"I want to see my only granddaughter happy, and in love. A love that fuels you through every obstacle in life. A love that you can rely on, to love someone and to have that same love returned to you tenfold." Grams said.

Regina saw that look in her Grams' eyes and knew that there was no use. "Okay, give me his number and I'll text him."

Grams looked like she had won the super bowl.

"But, if I don't have a good vibe about him, that's it," Regina said.

"Fine," Grams said as she gave Regina the number. They visited for a little while longer, then as Regina was leaving, Grams had to say a few more things.

"I want you to remember the story of Raina and Robert, how they almost had the world at their fingertips, only to have it taken away. Don't let anything hold you back, my dear. If Robin is not the one, then don't give up. Don't ever give up," Grams said as they hugged one another.

The following weekend, Regina was home…alone and was having a glass of wine to comfort her. She had been alone…lonely for so long. Her greatest love, her only love had died when they were both seventeen. Daniel Colter.

He had been her rock for so long. Her everything.

And then fate had cruelly taken him from her, right before they were going to go off to college, have an apartment together and conquer the world. He had been diagnosed with heart disease, a hereditary condition that had been passed down to him. Regina had been devastated, and one again her Gram had been the only one who kept her sane. Regina had gone into such a depression that she had almost given up going to college.

Grams wasn't having it.

"You're going to go and you're going to have a bright future. Daniel wouldn't want you to throw it all away." Grams had told her.

Regina had gone to college and finished her teaching degree. Grams had been there to see her get her diploma and sent her a basket full of red apples her first day of teaching.

Now, here she was almost thirty and she had no one. She took another drink of her wine. To add to her misery, she had found out last night by accident at her friend Emma's party, that her ex, Graham Hunter had been cheating on her the whole time that they had been together. Emma had tried to set her up with Emma's boyfriend's best friend, but Regina had stated that she wasn't interested. Truth be told she was afraid of getting hurt again. She still had to call Robin, the man her Grams wanted to set her up with. She would, soon.

Regina knew she was getting buzzed and decided to do something about her former ex. So, she picked her phone up and started to type in numbers to send Graham a text.

Shit, what was his number again? Regina thought.

Once she had it she starting typing.

You're an asshole!

A big asshole!

You were horrible in bed. I had to fake it every time.

She sent him one last drunken line as she put him back into her contact as 'Cheating Asshole'.

Hello, my name is Indigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die!

Ding!

Cheating Asshole: Did you just quote the Princess Bride?

Regina: Why is your dick so small and useless?

Cheating Asshole: I don't think it's small at all. I've been told it's quite big.

What a conceited asshole! Regina rolled her eyes at that.

Regina: Well it did nothing for me!

Cheating Asshole: Well maybe I would have to be in your presence and in you to use it on you.

Was he was acting like they had never had sex!

Regina groaned.

Cheating Asshole: Maybe you should come over and offer me a redo.

Regina: When hell freezes over. And for the record, I suck great dick. It's your loss buddy.

Cheating Asshole: Care to put your mouth where your words are?

Regina gasped at the audacity. She wouldn't reply, no matter what.

As you wish.

Robin Locksley was taking a small coffee break at work. It was nine o'clock and his appointment schedule was booked for the day. It would be late before he would be home tonight. Not that he had anyone to come home to. It was him and his fern.

But Saturday night, he had been interrupted from his work at home by a text from a stranger. He had two cell phones, one for his work, as an oncologist and another for his personal use. The text he had received tonight had come in on his work cell phone.

And as his thoughts had been interrupted before by her, she chose now to do the same.

Buttercup: I am SO sorry. I texted you by mistake. I'll erase your number and you'll never hear from me or my wine ever again.

Of course he had saved the sad stranger's name as Buttercup. The name of the heroine from the movie. Robin smirks at her text before sauntering out back to his office.

Robin: Sounds like that asshole deserved it. Did you ever forward on those colorful insults or were they for my privilege only?

He's grinning as he sits back at his desk.

Buttercup: He truly is a horrible human being but he didn't deserve those insults. And you didn't deserve them by accident. Again, forgive me.

Robin: I'll forgive you if you tell me your name, Buttercup.

The three dots on his screen move as she replies.

Buttercup: I don't give my name out to strangers.

Robin snorts.

Robin: But you give them verbal lashings instead? You at least owe me your name…

It only takes her a moment to respond.

Buttercup: Tell me yours first, please.

Robin: Wesley. Now what's yours, Buttercup?

Buttercup: Why do you call me Buttercup?

Buttercup: I'm sorry if I offended you.

Buttercup: That's not really your name.

Buttercup: OMG. I've offended you twice in the past nine hours.

Robin looks at the clock and realizes his next appointment is only minutes away. He finishes his coffee quickly and heads off.

Robin: You accused me of killing your father. Would you prefer I call you Inigo? I mean…I still haven't established if you're a chick or a dude.

Buttercup: Ahhh. The Princess Bride. I'm surprised you caught that.

Robin grins as he responds.

Robin: At least I know we're from the same generation. At least I hope you are.

Robin: Tell me you're at least 18.

Buttercup: 29. Tell me you're at least under forty.

Robin laughs as he types.

Robin: 34. Was your dickhead ex an old geezer? Also…you never told me your sex.

Buttercup: I'm a girl.

Buttercup: I mean…a woman. Gah!

Buttercup: I'm not good with people. Clearly.

Buttercup: Sorry, Mr. Stranger. Er, Wesley. I've already creeped on this little conversation too much. Hope you have a nice life.

Robin: Glad to know you're a woman. And newly single from my observation. You don't get off that easy…unless you want to. ;) What's your name?

The three dots are immediate, like she was waiting for his text. The thought warms him.

Buttercup: Carrie.

Robin: Like Stephen King's? The one covered in pig's blood?

Buttercup: No! Like Underwood!

Robin: Hmmm. Can't say I've ever heard of her. Perhaps you should send me a picture of yourself.

A few seconds later, a picture comes in.

Of Regina Mills!

The Regina Mills!

The woman that Amelia Mills had been trying to set him up with. After almost twisting his arm, he had told her that she could have his number. He had thought he would have heard from Regina by now, but now he knows why.

She had been hurt and rather badly.

One word came to his mind.

Robin: Stunning.

Buttercup: Thank you. Now can I have one as well?

Robin: As you wish.

Robin took a quick picture as he neared the exam room. He took a quick head shot and sent it. A few seconds later he was rewarded.

Buttercup: Pretty cute there.

Robin: Thank you.

Buttercup: I need to get back to work. Can we pick back up on this later? You know…so I can formally apologize for being rude. Again.

He scratches at the stubble on his jaw and smiles.

Robin: As you wish.

Mortified was putting it lightly on how Regina felt as she read through her text messages that she had sent him Saturday night. Those crude messages were not her. She barely swore. But in one night, she decided to start drinking and go all out, bringing out this person she never knew existed. She was so embarrassed that she texted the stranger back, telling him she was sorry. Surprisingly, he texted her right back. And with each message, she found herself less embarrassed and more intrigued about who he was. He had just received some pretty insane messages from a stranger, but here he was texting back like they were old friends, bantering over a secret joke. And the fact that he got her The Princess Bride comment made her strangely elated. Being that it was one of her favorite movies. Graham probably couldn't even guess her middle name. Let alone could he be bothered to care about her interests. But in this complete stranger, she found something in common.

Throughout the morning, while getting ready for work, they messaged back and forth. His replies all made her smile and as she tried to match his humor, she kept falling short. Each time she tried to make a funny, the messages would stop and she would panic, pacing her room while smacking her head, telling herself she did it again. She was making a complete fool out of herself.

She found herself throughout the day checking her cell phone. She was at lunch, checking it every so often when Mary Margaret finally asked her. "So, who has you preoccupied?"

Regina put her phone down and just shook her head. "No one."

"Don't tell me it's Graham?" Mary Margaret asked.

"I'm not that stupid." Regina said.

"Then who is it?" Mary Margaret asked. "Is it the guy who your Grams mentioned?"

"No, I just haven't had time to call him." Regina said.

"You mean you haven't had the guts to call him." Mary Margaret said instead.

"Great, just what I need two fairy nosy rosies." Regina said.

"Regina there's just so much you have to offer someone. You care about people with your whole being. And if it's not the guy your Grams wants you to meet, then maybe this cut guy on your phone will make your eyes roll back in your head." Mary Margaret said with a wink.

"How do you know he's cute?" Regina asked.

"Ah ha! He is cute. Now what is his name?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Wesley." Regina answered.

"That's a nice name." Mary Margaret said.

"It's not his real name, but what we're going with now. He's Wesley and I'm Buttercup." Regina said.

"Wait. From The Princess Bride?" Mary Margaret asked.

"The same one." Regina said.

"So, what are you waiting for? This guy obviously has your interests." Mary Margaret said.

"I don't know, Mary Margaret. What if this guy is a creep? Or married?" Regina asked.

"One way to find out." Mary Margaret said.

Wesley: So how is your evening going?

Regina looked down at her phone and couldn't help but smile.

Regina: Fine, out with some friends for tonight.

Wesley: Will you be texting me tonight?

Regina: If you wish, but nothing like the other night.

Wesley: I rather enjoyed it.

Regina: So have you enjoyed my picture?

Wesley: Pardon?

Regina: I didn't mean…oh crap.

Robin couldn't help but smile and wonder what dear little Amelia Mills would be thinking right now of her granddaughter.

Wesley: So what are you drinking tonight?

A few seconds later a message came through of a wine glass with red wine in it, the glass was being held by a lovely hand.

Wesley: Beautiful hand, delicate.

Regina: Thanks.

Wesley: You don't want to know what mine is doing right now.

Robin couldn't believe he had just told her that. Here he was a renowned doctor and he was basically sexting with a woman he hardly knew, but was enjoying getting to know.

Regina: Are you…are you…

Wesley: Yes.

Robin waited but there was no reply. Had he offended her? Been too bold and audacious?

"Way to go Locksley!" Robin muttered to himself as he opened up his own bottle of wine.

Regina was out with Jefferson, Tink and Ruby blowing off some steam at a local bar. She hoped the blush that she feared had been on her face was going away as she had been questioned over and over on what caused it.

Regina had whispered in the backseat with Tink what had, who had let it be known to the other two occupants in the car on what happened.

"He didn't!" Ruby said.

"He did." Regina said.

"I don't like this guy." Jefferson said.

"I can't help it if he's not your type." Regina said.

"I like this side of your Regina, you should come out and play more." Ruby said. "What's his name anyway?"

Regina couldn't help but smile and answer. "Wesley."

"Wesley?" Jefferson asked.

"You got a problem with it?" Regina asked.

"Maybe." Jefferson said.

Ten minutes later, and seeing Regina still looking at her phone, Ruby had to add. "Okay, that's enough. Make him send a dick pic."

"Ruby!" Regina exclaimed.

"What? You want the dick pic. Important to see what the dude's packing before you commit." Ruby said.

This conversation cannot get any more embarrassing. Regina certainly don't want to see his stuff.

"What? I do not!" Regina said.

"Bull," she says with a chuckle. "And if you don't, I sure as hell do. That chest. That tattoo. It has to come with a package any girl wants to bob on."

Ugh…

"So!" Ruby claps her hands together, while Regina drains her whole glass of wine. "Tonight's mission is get a picture of Wesley's cock."

UGH!

"Ruby, no. I don't want—"

"I do," Ruby interrupts.

Regina groans. Then sighs. Then taps on her wine glass for a refill. "Fine."

Ruby was more than delighted to take Regina's phone and started typing off a quick message.

Regina: I wish you would show me a dick pic.

"Ruby, are you kidding me!? He's going to think I'm some sick weirdo!" Before she even responds, they hear the ding, and they lean in to see the phone. The message shows PHOTO ATTACHED.

"Oh my God, I can't look." Regina covers her eyes, but still peeks a little.

"I can," Ruby says, leaning over her to get a better gander. Ruby opens it, and even though she's too embarrassed to look, Regina sneaks a glance through her fingers.

Wesley: Like this?

And attached is a photo of a car taking up two parking spots.

"What the fuck!" Ruby types away.

Regina: No! What the fuck is this?

Wesley: A dick. He took up two spaces. I had to park eons away from my loft.

Regina smiles at his response. She is becoming a sucker for his quirky sass.

Ruby types another response.

Regina: No, I mean your junk in your damn trunk.

They stare at the phone as they see those three darn dots moving. Before they know it, another message with PHOTO ATTACHED comes through. This time, it's a picture of a car trunk.

Wesley: I'm not really sure what's in it though. I broke the key in the lock ages ago.

Regina begins to laugh, along with Tink, who's also enjoying Regina's guy, while Ruby gets more annoyed.

"Seriously what's wrong with this dude? How does he not know what a dick is? He has one, right?" she grumbles.

"I'd assume he does since he jerked it off earlier," Jefferson says, putting his two cents in. That causes Regina to giggle, remembering their earlier text-versation.

Ruby is next to Regina typing something like rapid fire.

Regina: Let me put it in simple terms. Send me a picture of some cock.

"If he doesn't get that then you need to cut your losses like now with this dude."

Five more minutes, and then ten more pass and still no reply. Regina's nerves are going berserk with the anxiety that she just ruined what they were starting. Regina finishes her second glass of wine, and then her third, when her phone finally dings. They all throw themselves closer to the phone as Ruby opens the newest PHOTO ATTACHED.

"Be a cock, be a cock," Ruby chants out loud as she swipes and then, "Oh fucking come on!"

Regina can't hold in her laughter as they all look at a photo of a rooster.

Wesley: You really are pushy. Fine here's a cock. Now you have to tell me what you plan on doing with it. Pet it? Rub it? I want every single dirty detail.

"This guy is ridiculous." Ruby pouts, slamming her drink.

Regina smiles at the photo. "I think he's charming."

She rolls her eyes at Regina, and she simply shrugs. She thinks about how much she enjoys their text exchanges and how she wants more. So much more. Regina excuses herself to her friends and goes to the bathroom.

She's going to do it. She's going to make a bold move and call him. She goes to his contact info and her thumb hovers over the send button. "Don't be a scared, Regina." She takes in a deep breath, the feeling of the booze warming her from the inside out. It's giving her the liquid courage she needs to just do it, and she does.

She presses send.

And she holds her breath and closes her eyes.

One ring. Two rings. On the third ring, she gets his voicemail. She lets out the huge breath she was holding, feeling a bit disappointed. Why wouldn't he answer? Maybe he didn't want to talk to her.

"You know what to do." He has an English accent. Then the beep sounds in her ear.

"Um… Hi, it's me. I mean it's Reg-Buttercup. The one you've been texting. I mean, I think you probably know who I am. I, uh, I just wanted to tell you I liked your cock." Regina grins at his joke, but then realizes how horrible that sounds. "Oh God! I didn't mean your cock. Oh crap, this is not going as she planned. She had been hoping to talk, and they could get to know each other on a better level. "I mean… not that I'm not enjoying us now. I like you. I mean! Oh my God! That sounds overboard since I don't even know you. Or you me. But I like our texts. Annnd, this was also maybe a bad idea." "Let's just pretend this never happened. Mmmkay? This is the wine calling. Don't worry about calling me back." She then hangs up.

Goddammit! He had taken a shower and ended up missing her call. But the voicemail was worth it. Her voice was so unsure and she kept stumbling over her words. It was fucking adorable.

Robin: Loved your message. I'm glad you liked my cock. Did you like my dick?

Her response is immediate.

Buttercup: Are you this brave just because we're texting?

Robin: Why don't you call me again and find out?

He has to wait a minute before she responds back.

Buttercup: I have an audience here at the bar. I'll call when I get back home. Deal?

Grinning, he types out a reply.

Robin: I can't wait to hear your voice, Buttercup.

She doesn't reply for what feels like hours. While he waits, he finishes writing up some notes for work. Finally, the name Buttercup flashes on the screen. He picks up on the second ring.

"Hello?"

It's quiet on her end, he can hear soft breathing.

"Buttercup?"

A sigh into the phone. "I like when you call me Buttercup." There's a twinge of guilt in her tone.

"I like when you send me pictures of yourself, Buttercup," Robin says, indulging her. She giggles, and he swears to God, it's the sweetest sound ever. He turns off the lights in the house and locks up while he awaits her response. Eventually, she does.

"Umm," she breathes. "I'm not really good at this."

Robin chuckles. "What? Talking to people?"

Another soft sigh. Her sighs are cute. "What I mean is…I'm not normally a risk taker. I do everything traditionally and by the book. Texting with some random stranger. Talking about sex with him. Sending and receiving pictures with him. It's all so…"

"Risky?" Robin asks.

"Yeah."

He lays down on his bed in my darkened room and rest a palm on his bare stomach. "Isn't risk all about the potential of losing something you once had? Like certain investments are risky because you chance losing money. What do we have to lose, Buttercup?"

She's silent for a moment. "I'm embarrassed."

"About having fun? About talking to someone who really wants to talk to you? Tell me why that embarrasses you."

"Well…" she trails off. A small, non-humorous laugh escapes her. "It's kind of weird. Like…ummm…."

"I like you, too." He scrubs at his face in the darkness and lets out a sigh of his own. "Look, I haven't exactly been happy for several months now. It wasn't until your wrong text that I began to laugh again. It may sound stupid, but I felt like you kind of dropped into my life at exactly the right moment."

She doesn't respond right away. Then, he hears her shuffling around. "What exactly are we doing? Are we trying to be friends?" Her words are breathy like she's doing stuff.

"We already are friends," he tells her, a smile curving his lips up. "We're trying to be more."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. I don't do relationships that often. Especially with people I don't know," she clips out.

He tries not to sigh in frustration. "You keep saying you don't know me. Let's get to know each other. We'll make it fun."

"Okay." She's hesitant, but he'd do anything to keep her soft, breathy voice on the line.

"Tell me ten of your favorite things. Just real quick. I'll go first so you know what I mean. Ready?" I ask.

Silence and then, "Ready."

"Football. The Beach. Pineapple pizza. Thunderstorms. Coffee. Classic Rock Music. Game of Thrones. Dogs. Rollercoasters. And The Princess Bride. There, ten things. Your turn."

She giggles, and his cock twitches in response. "Okay, so um, let me think." She pauses for nearly a minute, clearly having to think hard about this. "Laffy Taffy. New York at Christmas time. My friends, especially Mary Margaret. She encourages me when I feel down. She makes me dress like a ho sometimes when we go dancing because she says every woman has to go through their ho stage so they'll be ready to settle down when the time comes." She pauses and groans. "Oh my God. I just ramble, don't I? You just rattled your ten things off and I'm giving you TMI about each of mine. I'm sorry."

"Don't ever apologize for being you. I happen to really like you. If I weren't talking to you right now, I'd be staring up at my ceiling in the dark, obsessing over my life." Robin said.

"Thanks." Regina said.

"So, tell me some other of your favorite things." Robin said.

"I love ice skating. I'm probably the oldest one on the ice, but I don't care." Regina said.

Robin smiles as he imagines her on the ice with children. "Go on."

"Christmas songs. I could listen to them all day." Regina said. "Come Thanksgiving, I've got them flowing through the house."

Her words made him think of Christmas at the Locksley house. His parents would dance to Bing Crosby's White Christmas in their living room back in London. On Christmas Eve, they would have a big dinner with family and friends, and then after they were gone, Jack and Rachel Locksley would have a glass of wine, and would slowly dance to the song. Robin would watch them from the couch and smile at his parents.

"You got quiet. What's wrong? Are you going to sleep? I should let you sleep," she rambles.

"No," Robin tells her, his voice gruff with emotion. "Go on. I was just thinking about my parents is all."

"Are they still alive?" Regina asked.

"Yes. I haven't seen them in awhile. Work and all." Robin says, feeling guilty. They had just gotten to here the other day and he had been too busy. He would have to slow down.

"I always think about them and their dancing to Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas.'" His smile is back.

"They sounds lovely," she murmurs.

"Okay, what's next?"

"Hmmm, I also love winter. It's the best season of the year. I love the holidays. I love the snow. I love the giving spirit of everyone around us. I love that I can wear leggings, oversized sweaters, and boots every day." She sighs with happiness. "I just love it."

"I like winter, too," He tells her absently.

"Also, I love Grey's Anatomy. Do you know that show? I have all the box sets and anytime I'm on vacation from work or bored or lonely or sad, I watch it. Every time, I get sucked in and forget the world around me."

"You're cute," Robin blurts out. He wonders what she would think if she knew that he was a doctor himself.

"Graham didn't think so," she murmurs, a bitter tone in her voice. "Can you believe I gave that guy nearly a year of my life? He did me so wrong…and yet…" she trails off and huffs. "I still feel bad. Like it's another failure."

Jealousy flares in Robin's chest, but he quickly quells it down. "Were you happy with him?"

"Not exactly," she says sadly. "But I wasn't lonely either."

"You're not alone now," He reminds her. "Three more favorite things. Spill, Buttercup."

She laughs. "Mr. Impatient. Okay, so, um…maybe that's it. Maybe I don't have anymore favorite things."

"Big liar," He teases her. "You're one of those people who loves everything. You find something positive and good about any single thing, besides assholes like Graham, and try to like something out of it. Am I right?"

She groans and then huffs. "Ruby says I'm too nice."

"Since when did nice become a bad thing?" He questions. "You just need someone who appreciates and doesn't take advantage of your niceness. Being nice is a good quality to have. Now tell me three more things."

"You're nice too, Wesley," she whispers. Her sweet voice sends tremors of need rippling through him. "I love…oh my God…I don't even know how to say this without sounding like a total weirdo."

He snorts. "Now I need to know. And, by the way, I love how you say the words 'oh my God' just as dramatically as when you text them."

Her giggles are soothing. "Okay, fine. I love folding towels. Isn't that strange? I mean, who admits to that? Towels! That's weird. Nobody loves to do laundry. That's the most boring thing ever. But truth is, Ruby has had to drag me out of JC Penney's before because I got stuck folding all their towels so they'd look neat. They were an awful mess! I couldn't stand to look at them so I started folding them all. I even had a couple of people ask me questions where certain items were in the store because they thought I worked there. Of course, I shop there a lot so I was able to direct them, this, also, to Ruby's horror." She starts giggling so hard she think she's crying. It makes him chuckle too.

"I want to see you," Robin says. It just comes out. "God, how I want to see you, in person."

She grows quiet. "Maybe one day. I'd like to keep getting to know each other first."

"Fine," He grumbles in faux annoyance. "Two more, towel girl."

"Let's see…oh! I know one. I absolutely love cheeseburgers. Oh my God! Cheeseburgers are the best thing ever. Like, I could eat them everyday probably."

"So we'll go to a place that serves cheeseburgers on a date then." Robin hints to her.

"We'll see."

"Okay, what's last on your list?" Robin asks.

"My Grams. She is my heart. My parents died when I was little so she took me in and raised me." Regina said.

"It sounds like you love her deeply." Robin said.

"Very much so. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her." Regina said then also adds. "She's been trying to set me up with someone."

"Really?" Robin asks, knowing that Amelia Mills had been wanting Regina to go out with him.

"Yes, I'm supposed to call him." Regina said.

"Why haven't you?" Robin asked.

"I don't know. Maybe because someone else has my attention." Regina admitted.

"Lucky guy." Robin said.

"I need to go. It's late."

"I don't want you to go." Robin admitted.

She laughs. "I have to."

"Call me next time you get lonely. I'll always answer if I can."

"Thank you," she says sweetly. "Goodnight, Wesley."

"Night, Buttercup."

They hang up and an instant feeling of loss overwhelms him. He walks over to the window and looks out onto the city for a whole ten minutes without moving. He thinks about her. She's so vibrant and colorful. Life drips from her and he wants to drink it all up. He's known the woman but a couple of days and he's quickly becoming obsessed with her.

His phone starts vibrating on his desk. When he sees it's Regina, he grins as he answers.

"That was quick," he tells her with a chuckle.

"Remember how you said we could be brave over the phone? Because we don't know each other?" Her voice is serious, if not strained.

"Yeah."

"I started to touch myself after we hung up but…" she trails off. He hardens at the mere thought of her fingers under her panties.

"But what?"

"But it's more exhilarating to talk to you while I do it. Oh my God," she whispers. "That's so embarrassing to admit. I'm glad I can't see your face judging me."

A growl rumbles through him. "I'm definitely not judging. I'm imagining that sexy little hand rubbing yourself, easing one of those delicate fingers inside you, in and out.

She lets out a whimper. "Hearing you talk like that is hot too."

"I could talk you right through your embarrassment. What do you say?"

"Okay."

Sitting on the bed, his heart is thundering in his chest and his cock is straining against my lounge pants. "What are you wearing?"

"A big T-shirt and some panties," she tells him bravely.

"Take them off," he orders, his voice a low growl.

She shuffles around and then she squeaks out a "done."

"Good. Now, I want you to touch your right nipple and tell me what you feel," he instructs. His own hand tugs his pants down his thighs until his heavy cock bobs out. Gripping it, he waits for her to speak.

"Um, the nipple is hard. My breasts aren't all that big," she complains.

"Let me be the judge of that." Robin said.

"Um, I'm aching. Down there."

"Down where?"

"There."

"Your pussy?"

"Oh my God!" she shrieks.

"Now, slip your hand down to your pussy." He starts to stroke his cock.

"Okay, I'm touching it."

"Your clit."

"Mmmmhmmm."

Her breathy voice, coupled with knowing she's touching her clit, has him closing his eyes. In his head, she's lying on his bed with her hair decorating the pillow beneath her. Her breasts jiggle as she squirms each time she touches her clit.

"Spread your thighs, baby," His hand fists his cock harder. "I want you to tell me how wet you are. Are you dripping for me?"

She moans, and he nearly spill his seed right then. Slowing his fisting, he waits for her to answer. Finally, "Yes. I'm wet. Very wet actually. In fact," she rambles, "I have never been this wet, I don't think."

His cock aches for release. "You'll only ever get that wet for me," he growls. For some reason, he can feel that vow down to his very being. "Rub your slick finger all over your clit. And when you think you might come, Buttercup, I want you to stick that finger in your mouth. Since I'm not there, it's only fair you tell me how good you taste."

She moans louder this time. Her breaths come out ragged and uneven. Then, he hears a sucking sound. "I taste….good."

"I bet you taste like you and you already know how much I like you. One day I'm going to taste you for myself." His fist moving quicker over his length.

"I'm scared. What if we don't get on in person?"

"We'll get on. So well, in fact, that I can guarantee you that the moment we actually meet in the flesh, I'll have my tongue down your throat within the first ten minutes. And you'll be begging for much more than that," he tells her with a growl.

She moans again and he knows she's back to fingering herself. With her soft breaths in his ear, he goes quiet as he focuses on his cock.

"One day soon, I am going to suck on your clit for you, Buttercup. I'm going to bite it until you beg me not to. You'll come all over my tongue, and when I taste you, I'll bet you taste sweet like honey," he murmurs.

"Oh, God," she gasps. And then a long moan of pleasure. His own climax jolts through him. Heat from his release splashes his stomach, and he lets out a groan of relief. When they both come down from their highs, the air feels different.

Whoever you are, Buttercup, I'm coming for you.

Robin promised.

"Thank you, Wesley." She sighs happily. "That was weird if I think about it too hard. But I don't want to think of it as weird. I loved it. It's okay to admit that, right? I'm not like this a lot if that's what you're thinking. I've never done this before."

He shakes his head and grins. "You're mine."

They hang up not long after and for the first time in months, Robin finally sleeps.

"You have got to be kidding me here," Ruby says in an exasperated tone. "Again?"

"What?" Regina asked.

Regina's barely just walked into Ruby's place, they always have dinner once a week. At Ruby's look she checks to see if she has something on her shirt.

"Not your damn shirt," she groans. "Your smile." She pulls a face as if smiling is a bad thing. "Really, Regina? Another?"

Regina begins to blush at what she's getting at. She should have never told her about the first one.

"This is getting ridiculous. We're on day five of you and that goofy-ass weird I-did-strange-things-over-the-phone-with-a-guy look." Her lip curls up as if this is the oddest thing she's ever heard of.

The past five days with Wesley have been…perfect. Her cheeks and throat heat as she thinks about just how perfect her late night calls with him have been.

"Oh God, you're thinking about it right now, aren't you? I'm going to vomit. Ew," Ruby says and starts making fake gagging noises.

Regina ignores her jesting and set her purse on the kitchen table. For the past five days, they have talked. A lot. They've gotten to know more about one another, in a way that she doesn't think she ever had with any other boyfriend.

Oh my God! She just compared him to a boyfriend.

Friend.

He's a friend.

But then again, do friends do what they've been scantily doing all week?

Each night their conversations have led them both into a heated craze. One thing ends up leading to another, and then they're both touching ourselves, talking through every move like they're lying in the same bed. As if they're actually touching each other.

Quite frankly, it's hot.

Exhilarating and exciting.

And fun.

But it's more than that. It's almost as if she knew him already and he hasn't even set eyes on her. It's strange, though. Sometimes, during his heated praises, the way he compliments her, it's like he already knows her.

And Lord help her. The things he says. Naughty. Dirty. Straight up bad. Vulgar words that cause her to turn bright red with embarrassment, but at the same time, gush with wetness between her legs.

She likes it.

She likes him.

She likes what they've been doing.

"That's it! Just chop up those vegetables." Ruby says as they start getting dinner ready.

As she's chopping up the vegetables, Regina remembers the night before when Robin was telling her what he was doing…

"I'm stroking my cock, wishing it were your hand," he mutters, his voice low and sensual. "Your smooth skin stroking me up and down."

Oh, God. That visual is almost her undoing. She bets his cock is thick and long and veiny and perfect. She's willing to bet he knows how to use it too.

"So perfect," he murmurs.

At his words she pinches her nipple harder, allowing a soft moan to escape her lips. His voice is like an aphrodisiac for her, turning her senses wild. Feeling bolder than she has the past few nights, she releases her breast and works her hand back down her stomach to her aching center. "Oh God, I'm already so wet," she tells him, breathless. "My fingers are soaked."

Another groan from his end. "Fuck, babe, if I were there, I would use my tongue to suck you up and eat you. Put your finger inside you. Pretend it's my finger and tell me how much you want it to be me."

She moans at his words and does as he says. The pleasure intensifies.

"Oh yes, that feels so good. So good," She repeats as she pulls out and push back inside. She can hear Wesley panting along with her.

"That's it," he instructs, his voice a gravelly whisper. "Now I want you to put two fingers inside of you."

She does as he says, once again, and work two fingers inside her. The feeling is filling and wonderful. She can't help but work them in and out as she waits for her release.

That's what his words do to her.

They make her lose control.

Turn her on.

Makes her wild.

"Oh God, Wesley, this feels so good. I'm going to come soon."

She can hear his breathing pick up, and she knows he's working himself harder and faster. The thought of him being with him, watching him as she works his cock with her hands and mouth, throws her into a spiral of desire. "Oh God, I'm going to… I'm going to…"

Thank you for being a friend.
Travel down the road and back again.
Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.

That was her Grams ringtone, coming in at the wrong moment. "Wesley….I'm so sorry but I have to take this call."

She heard him mumble something and quickly answered. "Grams. Hi! How are you?"

"Catch you at the wrong moment dear?" Grams asked.

"No…I was just…just watering my flowers." Regina said.

"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Grams asked.

"Did you need something, Grams?" Regina asked.

"Can't a Grandmother call her granddaughter when she wishes?" Grams asked.

"Of course, anytime." Regina said.

"Now, how you had time to speak with Robin yet?" Grams asked.

"I've been really busy with school. The kids have been practicing for an upcoming play." Regina said honestly.

"Regina! Darling, what are you waiting for?" Grams asked.

An orgasm, Regina thought.

"Okay. I'll get in touch with him this weekend." Regina promised. A few texts wouldn't hurt.

"Excellent. Now, I won't keep you, talk to you soon," Grams said.

Regina hung up and looked down at her phone, not surprised to see a few texts from Wesley.

Another time?

Regina quickly typed out a response.

Definitely.

The following weekend, after talking with Wesley all week, Regina texted Robin Locksley.

Hi, this is Regina Mills. My Grandmother is Amelia Mills.

A few moments later there was a reply. Hello to you too. It's nice to hear from you finally.

Regina: I'm sorry it's taken so long. I've been really tied up lately.

Robin had to bite his tongue from saying something snarky.

Robin: Perfectly understandable. Work seems to do that to us.

Regina: Exactly. I love the kids at school, seeing their smiling adorable faces when they learn something new.

Robin: Sounds like a very rewarding career you've went into.

Regina: It is. I feel like I'm really doing something for someone.

Robin: That's exactly how I feel.

Regina: With you being a doctor.

Robin: Yes. I feel like if there is something I can do for someone, to help them in the slightest I will.

Regina: It must also be a stressful environment.

Robin: It is. Especially when you've done everything that you can, and it still isn't enough. I feel like I've let them down.

Regina: But you also do so much good for people.

Robin: I do. But it just feel like I've failed at times.

Regina: You can't do everything. I'm sure those you do help are so grateful for everything that you do for them.

Robin: They are. It does feel good to see the relief on their faces knowing they will have a future.

Regina: So what do you do to relax after work?

Robin thought to himself, talk with a sexy woman on the phone. Fantasize about being in her presence, in her….

Robin: I may sound cliché, but I like going for walks to clear my head after a hard day at the office. Just having dinner with someone who keeps my interest, sharing a bottle of red wine in front of a fireplace.

Regina: Sounds like you have a romantic side. Is there someone who does keep your interest?

You, Robin thought to himself.

Robin: Right now, you are.

Regina: You're not shy about being direct are you?

Robin: When it comes to life, no. So am I keeping your interest?

Regina: You're not boring, that's for sure.

Robin: Come on, you can do better than that.

Regina: My Grams did say you were quite charming.

Robin: So if I'm charming, can we take this a little further?

Regina: How so?

Robin: I have a charity event to go to this weekend. It's a dinner and dance event, we're raising money for St. Jude, if you would like to continue this.

Robin held his breath waiting on what her answer would be. He didn't have to wait long as three little dots appeared on his phone, signaling she was answering.

Regina: As I said very direct.

Robin: That's not an answer.

Regina: My answer then is, yes.

Robin: Would you like me to pick you up? Or would you rather meet me?

Regina: I'll meet you there. That way if you smell awful, I can always leave.

Robin had to laugh at her reply.

Robin: I promise I do not smell. It's at the Fairmont, Friday night at 7:00.

Regina: How will I know who to look for?

Robin: I'll find you. Your Grams has showed me what you look like.

Regina: Fine. See you then.

Regina was nervous the next day or so. She hadn't heard from Robert and was now anxious about her upcoming dinner date with Robin Locksley. They had been texting back and forth the last two days quite frequently. She had enjoyed texting with Robin, he had been able to hold a conversation, but she would also have to see how he would be in person. But then, her head also argued what about Robert?

She was enjoying talking with Robert, sexual fantasies aside. But she always looked forward to talking with him. But after not hearing from him, she was now thinking it had all been for naught. Had he just been using her for his own sexual desires?

It was now Friday night and she was getting ready for her evening with Robin Locksley. As she finished putting on her lipstick, she paused in the mirror to look at herself. She was wearing a little black dress that stopped just below her knees. She was going to go out and try to enjoy herself and try her best not to let herself think about Robert.

Just as she was about to leave, her phone signaled she had a text…from Robert.

Wesley: Hey sexy. How have you been?

Buttercup: I've been great. Going out tonight.

Wesley: With your friends?

Buttercup: With a guy.

Wesley: Really?

Buttercup: It's a charity dinner.

Wesley: I hope you have a good time.

Buttercup: I plan on it.

Wesley: I'll call you later.

Buttercup: Don't. I don't plan to be in until late.

Regina didn't wait for his reply. She put her phone in her purse, grabbed her keys and drove off to the charity event. She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to let her guard down around someone who didn't think anything of her going out with another man, and telling her to have a good time with him?

The nerve!

Regina's chest felt pain, as if she was nothing more than a sex operator for Robert. He must be laughing at her right now, thinking how silly she was. Well, tonight she fully intended to forget about Robert and just have fun.

A few minutes later, she arrived at the event, she parked her car and went inside. Once she arrived at the ballroom, she was looking around the room. Not knowing who to look for, as she has yet to see the face of Robin Locksley. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter and went to stand by one of the windows looking out over the city. As she stood there she felt a calm cover over her.

"Care for a drink?" a voice said from behind.

Regina turned around to see the smiling face of Robert looking back at her. "What? What are you doing here?"

"I invited you." Robin answered.

"Excuse me? I was invited by…"

"Robin Locksley, and here I stand." Robin said.

"Wait, are you telling me that you're…Robin?" Regina asked.

"In the flesh." Robin answered.

"But why did you tell me you were Robert?" Regina asked.

"Well, my dad wanted me named Robert, but mum wouldn't hear of it, so it was Robin instead." Robin explained.

"Has this whole thing been a joke to you? Pretending to be two different people?" Regina asked. Fed up, she turned to walk away from him.

"Regina!" Robin hurried after her, standing in her way. "Every moment, I have spent with you…has been real. Every moment."

Regina stared at him, then finished off her champagne, gave the empty glass to a nearby waiter.

"Care to dance?" Regina asked.

"Pardon?" Robin asked.

Regina cleared her throat and thought if he turned her down, she was going to die. "I asked you to dance."

"Dance?"

"Unless you would rather not?" Regina asked.

He smiled at her, his expression very charming. "It would be my pleasure to dance with you."

She smiled at a totally inappropriate thought drifted into her mind. Then she shook her head and led him to the dance floor, surprised to see a few close friends there. "There's a few of my friends, would you like to meet them?"

Robin smiled and nodded.

Regina lifted an eyebrow at Jefferson, along with David and Mary Margaret. "Robin this is Mary Margaret and David Nolan, and Jefferson Hatter. Guys, this is Robin Locksley."

Her friends all shook hands with hands with him and were all nice to him. Regina watched closely as Jefferson checked him out, really checked him out. She got Jefferson's attention and mouthed the word, 'Stop' to him. He just smiled at her.

"So, Robin what do you do?" Mary Margaret asked.

"I'm a doctor." Robin answered.

"What field?" David asked.

"Oncology. It's a personal mission of mine to try to help someone go through the terrible ordeal." Robin answered.

"That's a powerful answer." David said

"I want it to be. If I can help save one person, I know my spirit is much better off." Robin said.

"Nice," Jefferson said then looked dead at Robin. "Now, that the pleasantries are over, how is the rest of Regina's evening going to go?"

"Jefferson!" Regina said rather loudly.

"What? We don't know anything about him." Jefferson said.

"What do you want to know, Jefferson? His blood type?" Mary Margaret asked.

"It's a start." Jefferson said.

"You are not going to interrogate Regina's date." Mary Margaret fired back at him.

"Why not?" Jefferson asked.

"Because it's rude." Mary Margaret said.

"I'm rude?" Jefferson asked, faking outrage.

"No, you're just an ass." Regina said.

"It's O Negative, by the way." Robin interjected into the group. "Anything else you would like to know?"

Regina couldn't help but smile at his snark.

"Lots." Jefferson said.

"Okay, I'm thirty-three, love being a doctor. I enjoy going camping when I can, to feel the earth beneath my feet. I've never been married, I love snuggling on the couch in front of a roaring fire watching a good movie," Robin looked over to Regina as he said that last part then added, "I also hope to find out if Regina's a good kisser one day."

Regina couldn't help the smile that came across her face at his last statement. "Well, if you can show me that you can dance, your chances of finding out might increase."

"Now, if there's no more questions, I would like to dance with a beautiful lady," Robin said as he drew her to the center of the dance floor and into his arms. Even in her heels he was taller than she was. He smoothed his hands down her back, resting them just above the curve of her hips.

He was a good dancer, which made her also think he would be good at many things….

She sighed and had to look away and hope that her face wouldn't betray where her thoughts had just been.

"What are you thinking?"

She shook her head. There wasn't enough alcohol in the room to get her to admit what she'd been thinking. "Nothing."

"You sighed."

"I did."

"So…."

"Robin."

"Yes, Regina."

"Stop being so charming."

He laughed and lifted his head. "I can't. It's a curse of mine. I inherited it from my mother's side of the family."

"And you use it very well."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Well, it makes you seem like the kind of man who always knows the right thing to say."

"Fake?" he asked.

She bit her lower lip. "Yes. Fake. I mean you say things to me like you already know me."

"I know what you sound like when you orgasm, if that counts." Robin reminded her.

Regina smiled and couldn't help the blush that crept on her cheeks.

"Maybe we knew each other in another life." Robin commented.

"Oh really."

"You're easy to talk with, I have enjoyed talking with you. You're very charming yourself to be around." Robin commented.

Regina shook her head. "I know I'm not. I'm still single at almost thirty."

"Then those men aren't really looking at you," Robin said.

Regina felt something shift inside her as she looked at Robin. He drew her even more closely to him until her breasts brushed against his chest and her head rested on his shoulder.

She feared this was a dream, but it felt so incredibly real to her and she wanted it to last a little while longer. Tomorrow, she would wake up and be back to her normal self. Tonight, she wanted to revel in the feeling of being in this man's arms, wanted by him.

"Robin?"

A voice sounded low and husky and very feminine. And there was a hint of possessiveness in that voice as its owner spoke to Robin.

He stiffened and his features tightened, but she didn't know him well enough to really read his reaction. "Hello, Marian."

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?" the woman named Marian said.

Regina heard the criticism in the other woman's voice. That note that said, why are you dancing with Regina instead of her?

"Marian Law, meet Regina Mills. Regina, this is Marian Law."

"It's nice to meet you," Regina said to the other woman.

"Aren't you sweet?" Marian said. "Now run along and play with another man. I'd like a word with Robin."

Regina felt Robin's hand tighten on her arm. "Regina is my fiancée, Marian. Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of her."

Regina smiled politely, but inside her mind was reeling. What the hell was Robin thinking? She started to speak but he bent to her and brushed his lips lightly over hers. She parted hers in surprise and felt the brush of his tongue against hers. Then it was gone. "I'm sorry, Marian, we don't have time to chat. I promised this dance to Regina."

Robin danced her away from the other woman. And she just stared up at him, for the first time in her life completely unsure of what to do next.

"Um…"

"Don't say anything just yet. Dance with me and look up at me the way a woman in love would." Robin whispered.

"And how is that?"

"With adoration, of course."

She had to smile at him. And he leaned down to once again touch his mouth to hers. She opened her mouth this time, hoping to taste him again. That first kiss had been too quick, too brief, and it left her wanting more of him. He angled his head and his tongued touched hers. She breathed into his mouth and felt the contact of his lips and tongue on hers all the way to her core. Chills raced down her body, making her breasts feel fuller and her nipples harden. Though his kiss was new, it felt like they have been kissing for decades.

She pulled back from him and held tightly on to his shoulders, having the very real feeling that she had never experienced anything this real, this intense, ever before. This was different than asking a cute guy to dance…this was passion.

Something that had always been lacking in her life.

"Robin…"

"Regina. You have the most kissable lips."

She shook her head. Her mouth tingled. Tingled! It actually tingled. She wanted to touch her lips but knew she'd give away just how attracted she was to him.

"Trust me." He said, bending down to take her mouth one more time. She shivered in his arms. She knew the music changed, because the couples around them seemed to be moving, but time stood still for her as she stood there with Robin. As she felt the warmth of his big body next to hers. The way he wrapped his arms around her waist and let his hands drift lower to cup her buttocks and draw her more fully into his body.

She melted against him. For the first time she felt like she was as alluring to someone as they were to her. When he touched her, his hands were strong and sure. She pulled back, afraid that she was losing her perspective, and looked up into his warm blue eyes.

"What is it?" Robin asked.

"Your eyes," she said, raising one hand to trace his eyebrow.

"What about them?"

"They are this water tone, like a beautiful ocean color."

"Do you like the water, milady?"

He was calling her that again. She told herself it was probably an affectation, something he did with every woman, but it didn't stop the little thrill from going through her each time he said it.

"I love the water," she said.

"Do you sail?" he asked.

"Yes. David and Mary Margaret had a get together a few weeks ago on theirs." Regina answered.

"You aren't what I expected."

"Why would I be?" she asked. "You don't know me at all."

"Well, I hope that's going to change rather quickly."

"Why do you think that? Because we're engaged?" she asked.

She heard a gasp and turned around to look into the face of her friend, Emma Swan.

"You two are engaged?"

"Emma…" Regina said.

Robin hadn't thought through his rash words to Marian. His only thought had been to change the dynamic that had existed between the two of them for more than a decade. She'd had all the power. He was insanely jealous and, because of his own views on infidelity, powerless to change anything. But saying that Regina was his fiancée had given him a glimpse of change. Marian's eyes had narrowed and he knew that he'd finally jarred her from that safe position she'd held over him for years.

Of course, he didn't intend to marry a woman he hardly knew. But seeing the blood drain from Regina's face as her friend asked if they were engaged…well, he couldn't just walk away from her now. His father was big on personal responsibility and walking away from a woman in a situation like this wasn't something he could do. Robin knew Emma from her association with his mate Killian Jones, he and Killian had been friends since childhood, their houses were also pretty close and Robin had always gotten along with Emma quite nicely.

He wrapped his arm around Regina and drew her more fully against the side of his body. "Well, it's been a secret until now, Emma. We didn't want to make any announcement just yet." Robin said.

Regina looked up at him and he could see the panic rising in her. He was used to managing people and taking control of situation, especially in the operating room and ER. "Right, Regina?"

She nodded and tried to smile but failed miserably.

"Does your Grams know?" Emma asked.

"No." Regina answered.

"Let's go someplace quiet where we can talk." Emma said.

"Another time, Emma. I have another dance promised to this lovely lady," Robin said. "Tell Killian I'll see him soon."

"Okay. How about brunch tomorrow then?" Emma asked.

Regina nodded and Robin pulled her away. He needed to get Regina alone to talk to her. Seriously. Instead of taking her to another part of the dance floor, he kept going. "Where are we going?" Regina asked.

"Someplace where we can be alone, milady."

"Robin," she said, flat-out stopping.

"Yes?"

"This is getting out of hand."

"No, it's not," he said. In his entire life, there'd been nothing he couldn't manage and make work to his advantage. Including being caught when he was seventeen, throwing a party while his parents were out of town.

He knew this 'engagement' wasn't the smartest thing he'd ever gotten himself into, but he was confident he'd be able to think of something that would get the both of them out of it.

"I think it is. I've never been engaged before. I'm almost thirty and my Grams wants me married yesterday." Regina said.

Robin shook his head. "Almost thirty isn't a curse. I'm over thirty and also never been married. You are a goddess…no a queen among women."

Robin nudged her out of the main traffic path and into a nearly deserted hallway. She spun to face him and pressed back against the wall. He put his hands on either side of her head and leaned in close, so close that he felt the exhalation of her breath against his cheek.

Her eyes were wide as she gazed up at him. There were doubts and insecurity in her eyes. He was suddenly angry at all of his sex for allowing any women to feel like this.

He leaned down and brushed his lips over her forehead and then dropped a few soft kisses on her lips. He pulled back and looked down at her. He drew her closer into his arms. Her head rest comfortably on his shoulder.

"Marry me, Regina." Robin said.

"What?" Regina asked, shocked.

"Marry me." Robin said.

"Why?" Regina asked.

"Why not? It would help us both. Your Grams wants you married, as do my parents who are visiting right now." Robin said.

"You want to marry me, just like that, without getting to know each other?" Surprise haunted her eyes.

"All I'm proposing is that we have a mutual agreement that helps us both. I need a wife and your Grams wants you married as well."

"What are the terms you had in mind for this agreement?" Regina asked.

"Simple," he said, hopeful. "We would elope tomorrow and agree to remain married for four years."

"Four years?" she repeated loudly. She took a deep breath and motioned for him to go on.

"There would be no expectation of intimacy, of course, just acting like a normal couple in front of family," he assured her. "Bearing that in mind, we'd have to work something out."

"As long as your discreet." Regina said.

Robin said nothing.

"Just like that?" Regina asked.

"Just like that," he said and walked slowly towards her.

"No other expectations?"

He rubbed his forehead, wondering what she might mean. "Children?" She nodded. "You're safe there. I'm not about to throw that in the mix," he swore. He wasn't going to deny he had dreamt of being a dad, but right now, he only had to get through his life one day at a time. If he could do that while married and keep doing what he did now without the worry of any fallout, that was enough for him.

"Good, because I… uh, I can't have them anyway. Kids, I mean," she whispered, her voice cracking.

A twinge of concern flickered in his mind. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, life happens." She turned to face him.

"So do we have an agreement?" Robin asked.

Regina took a second before answering. "Deal."

"Good. I'll need you to move in immediately and take a small vacation from work till we finalize everything."

"Alright."

Married. She would be married tomorrow. The idea was foreign to her, and Regina expected to wake up from this crazed dream, but every time she opened her eyes, she was in Robin's penthouse. Night fell over the city before she left the bedroom again to find a note taped to her door. She took it down, reading the words aloud as she walked.

"Went to work out in gym upstairs. Help yourself to fresh food in fridge, booze in cabinet over oven. Lawyer will need the following information." She flipped the paper over. "Well, that man certainly knows how to be romantic."

This was not the marriage she had dreamed about as a kid, but when she was a kid, she'd hoped she would never fall in love. Losing her parents had done a battle on her, then having irregular menstrual cycles she had been told by a few doctors that her chances of being able to have a baby of her own were slim and none.

Rather than her dream marriage, she was selling herself into a marriage with a man she didn't know. At least he swore he would never hurt you, a voice whispered. Do you believe him?

Talking over the phone with him had been one thing, it let her be someone else, someone she had no idea she could be. But now, she would be seeing this man, living with this man, dining with this man whom she had masturbated over the phone with every day.

He made a cup of coffee while he waited for her to wake up, thinking about how he was about to marry this beautiful woman he had been talking to for the last few weeks.

"We have a long day ahead of us, so get your breakfast and coffee if you want and then we have to go," he said and lifted his head. She held her head, squinting against the bright sunshine that had just arrived to pour through the penthouse.

She reached for a k-cup and popped it into the coffee maker. "You're one of those early morning people."

"It's the life I chose when I entered medicine." Robin said. He drank the rest of his coffee before continuing. "Right, we're leaving in fifteen minutes. Going to the lawyer's first, then shopping, and then Killian is meeting us at a chapel out of the way."

"You were able to plan a wedding just like that?" she asked, almost sounding impressed.

"I bribed the local pastor, so yes," he informed her. "Be ready to leave."

The night before, his workout had helped ease his tension and get him to sleep, but less than five damn minutes with this woman and he was wound tighter than a top again. There was no time before their long day of venturing for him to work it off again, so he would have to find another way to deal with it. A quickie would've done nicely, but they'd agreed sex was not on the table—unless she wanted it to be, of course.

"Don't get attached," he warned himself as he straightened his tie in the mirror. "This is a business deal, nothing more."

"Ready?" Regina called from the doorway.

"Yeah," he growled and scooped his keys off the dresser. His eyes slipped to her. "Maybe we'll shop first."

"Does my appearance embarrass you?" Regina looked down at her jeans and sweater.

He leered as he closed his bedroom door behind him. "No, but I thought I'd be nice and give you a chance to look your best on your wedding day." Who was he kidding? She already looked damn fine in what she had on with minimal makeup to cover up her naturally smooth skin and soft curves.

Her cheeks flushed, and she dug the toe of her shoe into the floor. "Sorry."

Robin's hand moved before he knew what he was doing, and he placed two fingers carefully under her chin, raising it. "For what? Don't say you're sorry for anything."

"But—"

"No, no buts. Let's go and get this circus started." He strolled past her, and she followed close behind. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed her lips curling in a crooked grin for barely a second before it disappeared.

Time passed in a blur. Regina's emotions were so torn up by the time she said I do, she wasn't sure she could tell up from down anymore. The ring on her finger—a simple gold band with a single diamond—was a weight reminding her of what she'd agreed to on a whim. At the end of the ceremony, she and Robin exchanged a brief kiss, a gentle brush of his lips on hers that slowly turned into something more until Killian's whistling startled them apart. Robin cleared his throat loudly as he held onto her hand, her other hand preoccupied with the tiny bouquet of tiger lilies she'd picked out at the florist.

Her white wedding dress clung to her curves and dragged along the floor behind her, a gown fit for a five-star evening out on the city on the arm of a man just like Robin. The diamond studs in her ears cost a pretty penny, too, as did the single pendant hanging from her neck. She'd assumed she was only picking out a ring, but Robin refused to leave until she had everything she wanted. A perk, he told her, of being the wife of a rich man. Regina was not the type to be spoiled and certainly never had anyone buy her anything this nice before.

"The roses would have matched your dress better, I still think," he mused as they strolled down the short aisle of the chapel.

"No," she said, eyeing her brightly colored bouquet. "No roses."

"What woman doesn't like roses?"

Roses reminded her of when they had passed a simple red rose to her when Daniel had died. "I don't like them."

"Something to keep in mind," he replied.

"So," Killian said as he slung an arm around Robin's shoulders once they were outside. "Where would the happy couple like to celebrate their first married night together?"

"I am starving." Regina grimaced. "I haven't eaten today."

Robin quirked a brow at her. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"I got caught up in the rush of the day, I guess," she replied sharply. "You know, if we're supposed to be happily married, you can't scold me like that."

"I can when my wife isn't taking care of herself."

"Good luck telling her what to do." Emma said as she smiled at them both.

She yanked her hand from the crook of his arm and holding up her dress, tossed her bouquet at Emma and stalked to the car. With nowhere to go, she hopped up on the trunk of his fancy-ass challenger and stared out over the open fields surrounding the chapel. When he'd said he found a place out of the way, he'd meant it. They drove for two hours outside the city just to get here. A chilly breeze picked up, and goosebumps broke out over her arms. She shivered and wondered if this had been the right decision after all.

A jacket fell over her shoulders and she jumped. "You looked cold," Robin explained, leaning against the car as she tugged the jacket around her.

His sharp gaze locked onto hers as his jaw worked.

"I hate roses because they remind me of a man I loved but lost a long time ago." She tugged the jacket tighter around her body, sinking into the warmth. "And I think you're the most handsome man I've ever seen in my life."

Regina frowned. Where had that come from?

Robin kicked at a rock on the ground, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You don't have to lie."

"I'm not lying," she promised and spun to the side so she could face him fully. Her hand lifted and she reached out, running her fingers tenderly down the line of his strong jaw.

His hand caught hers, holding it to his face, and his brow furrowed, his eyes wavering between aggravation and pain she sensed had nothing to do with her. "Where… uh, where do you want to eat dinner? Bride's choice."

He hadn't let go of her hand yet, and she relaxed in the comfort of his large palm. She shook with mirth, cackling loudly until he gave her a worried look. "All I want is a greasy burger and about a pound of fries."

"Didn't we agree to cheeseburgers?" She swore he was going to smile, but he held it in.

The hour was late and Robin was expected at the hospital the next morning. Not that this was a typical wedding night where he would be up for hours making love to his new wife. They dropped Killian and Emma off after dinner and drinks, returning to the penthouse with Regina tipsy. She kicked off her heels the second she stepped through the door, giggling through her hands.

"Oh, man. You know, for an impromptu wedding day, I don't think it was too shabby," she informed him. She held up the hem of her dress, spinning around and around in the open space.

Robin was transfixed by the sight and stood completely still, not wanting her to stop. With each spin, her hair tumbled out of the up-do until only a few pins held it in place. She came to a stop as she threw her arms out to balance herself. With a sigh, Robin reached out to hold her and turned her around.

"I don't think you want to sleep with those in your hair," he muttered and dug through the hair-sprayed tendrils to find the rest of the pins. She gasped at his touch initially but relaxed back against his body. Robin stilled, his fingers buried in her hair, and wasn't sure what to do. She sighed loudly and dragged him from his confused state of mind. He drew out the last pin. "There, I think you're good."

"Thanks," she murmured through a yawn. "I think I'll head to bed now."

"You've had a long weekend," he told her, but she didn't move. "Regina?"

"Hmm? Sorry, think I dozed off for a second." She giggled again and still didn't move from his body. His fingers trailed feather-light up her bare arms, and the insane desire to kiss her neck and up to her ear nearly crippled him.

"Do you need help getting to your room?"

"Nah, I can make it," she assured him and pushed off his chest, made it three steps, and stumbled on her long dress. Robin hurried forward and swept her easily into his arms. He shoved open her bedroom door without setting her down. He carried her to the bed and lowered her to her feet. Her body slid down the full length of his, and he groaned from the contact.

"What would you do if you weren't respecting my wishes?" she asked, dragging her finger down his chest.

He caught her hand in his and leaned down so their faces were level. "I'd tear that dress from your prefect body and ravish you until you screamed my name and begged for more," he growled. "I'd kiss you until you were dizzy and neither of us could see straight. I'd show you how many ways I could pleasure your body, touching you, tasting you… I'd do all of that."

Her lips parted and her eyes narrowed. He worried he had pushed too far, but there was no glimmer of fear in her eyes. He released her hand and turned to leave when her hand shot out and caught his arm.

"Wait," she pleaded on a breath.

"If I stay much longer, I won't leave," he promised.

"Just one more minute. Don't you want to give your bride a good night kiss?"

At the chapel, when he'd kissed her briefly, Robin had wanted nothing more than to crush her against his body and have his way with her mouth, her body, her everything, but he was afraid of scaring this woman who was supposed to be in love with him.

She wanted him as badly as he wanted her.

This was a bad idea—terrible if they wanted to keep their distance and maintain the agreed-upon business relationship. She rose on her toes and tilted her head. Any thought of keeping his distance from this mysterious woman disappeared the moment he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips were softer and tasted of the margaritas she'd been drinking all night long, salty and sweet at the same time. As her hands fisted in his shirt front, Robin deepened the kiss, flicking his tongue against her lower lip. She opened her mouth for him, and he held her close, exploring every inch as passion flooded his body. When he was with a woman, it was always a quick in and out and done, but with Regina, he wanted to take his time, needed to experience all she had to offer and then some. A quiet moan flowed from her mouth and he swallowed it, desperate to hear more.

But the kiss had to end before he did something they would both regret. He withdrew his tongue and brushed his lips gently against hers and then her forehead before he stepped away. Her chest heaving with ragged breaths, Regina's fingers rested against her lips, staring at him in awe and confusion.

"Good night, Mrs. Locksley," he whispered and turned on his heel, leaving her quickly before he changed his mind and relieved her of that dress hugging every delicious curve of her body. He would dream about her all night long, he knew it, hoping to catch a glimpse of what she looked like without any clothes on at all. His wife. His Regina.

Regina awoke that morning, her legs tangled in the sheets and a strange throbbing of want between her legs that took several hours to go away. Another note from Robin awaited her on her door, explaining he would be at the hospital until five. There was a key for the gym—complete with indoor pool—one floor up and a credit card he said she could use if needed.

She fiddled with the ring on her finger as she strolled along his bookshelves, searching for something to occupy her mind.

Anything to get it off the other issue pestering her.

Last night's kiss had been incredible—no, beyond incredible. Toe curling and gut wrenching all at once. She wanted to blame it on the tequila and possibly lust or an emotional response to do something nice for the man who had essentially changed her life for the better, but each thought was a lie. The way he'd held her so securely and gently at the same time, how his warm mouth captured hers in a way that promised the most insane pleasure and possession… it was more than simple lust.

Regina's chest tightened as she stopped before another shelf of books and glanced over the titles, not even really seeing them. Was she falling for this strange man so quickly?

"Course you're not," she scolded herself. "You're just hyped up from an emotional weekend. Nothing more, so get your head out of the clouds and focus."

Tonight was the big family dinner, and she was concerned Robin's family would see through their act of love. Were his parents as rough around the edges as he was? She decided to take a shower, after she took her clothes off she grabbed one of the towels off the rack, wrapped it around her body, and hurried down one floor to the penthouse. "Robin? You home?" she called out, but there was no answer.

The note also told her the master bathroom was much bigger and she was to feel free to use it instead of the guest one. She was, he stated, his wife, after all. Regina picked out the nicest pair of jeans she had and a sweater before ducking into Robin's bedroom. The walls had a few pieces of art and the comforter was black, as was the four-poster bed, dresser, and nightstands. His closet was off to the side, but she didn't peek through his clothes. She'd save that for another day when she was bored, and instead, she ventured into the bathroom.

"Holy shit," she whispered after she flipped on the light.

The walls, floor, everything was tile, and there was a drain in the center. Three showerheads hung down from the shower space, completely open, and a massive black-tiled tub was to the right, big enough to fit three people easily. The double vanities were granite with sleek metallic fixtures. Regina set her clothes on one and reached into the shower for the knob. As the water warmed, she grabbed a towel from the other bathroom, embracing the steam from the heated water as she stepped back into the bathroom. There was no door, but she had a couple hours and didn't worry about anyone walking in on her.

She shed her clothes and sighed as she walked under the water falling as a soothing rain over her skin. The warm droplets slipped down her shoulders as she tilted her head back and soaked her hair. She hadn't grabbed any of her soap and used what Robin had. The strong scent of pine filled the shower as she squirted out a glob of shampoo and lathered her body with a bar of soap close by. His scent surrounded her, and she closed her eyes, sensing him as if he was standing right behind her.

Regina set the bar of soap down and rinsed her hair, but as her hands ran over her naked skin, she couldn't hold back the strong desire to feel something—anything—pleasurable after all this time. Her hand cupped her breast tentatively, surprised by how heavy it felt in her palm. She squeezed the soft flesh, her nipple hardening against her palm. Except it wasn't her hand she imagined there, but another.

Robin's.

He'd promised to do so much to her last night if he wasn't a gentleman. Regina wished he hadn't been. She needed to feel something in her body, wanted to be swept away on a wave of pure ecstasy. Her breath coming in sharp bursts, she slipped her hand down her wet stomach and then lower. Her lips parted with her fingers as she dragged them over the sensitive skin and shivered. The small bundle of nerves sprang to life at her touch and she bit her lip, resting her head against the tiled wall as she rubbed it harder. Her fingers inched towards her cleft and had barely dipped inside her body before a quiet moan escaped her mouth, imagining Robin there instead… his fingers, his mouth.

Him taking her until she screamed his name to the heavens.

A thud frightened her, and she opened her eyes to see Robin standing in the doorway of the bathroom, blurred from the steam. His jaw was clenched tightly, and Regina started to move her hands away from her body, but he shook his head.

"Don't let me stop you," he said gruffly and turned around. "I'll just wait outside for you to… uh, to finish."

The naked hunger in his eyes struck her hard in the gut and she called out to him. "Wait, please. I… I don't want you to go." His body stiffened, but he kept his back to her. "Last night, what you said to me… that kiss? I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. You can go if you want to since this isn't what we talked about, but I think… I think I'd rather you stay."

She had no idea what she was doing, but her hands remained firmly planted on her body, waiting to see what he would decide to do. When he yanked off his suit jacket and slung it aside, followed by his tie, a spring coiled in her lower belly in anticipation of his touch.

Robin rested his hands on his hips as he turned, and his gaze raked over her body until she shook with desire from it. He caressed her without even touching her, and she gasped for breath. "If that's what my wife wants, who am I to deny her?" he grunted and stalked towards her in the shower.

When Robin had checked out early for the day, he expected to come home to find Regina reading or watching TV and enjoying the peace this new life brought her. Instead, he heard the shower running and stepped in to simply set his things down. He saw her finger deep inside her and heard her moaning as she touched herself. He should have left, but his feet refused to move. When she saw him, he braced for her to yell, to scream at him. She did neither and asked him to stay.

Robin pushed through the steam flowing out of the shower, his arousal growing when her eyes narrowed as she licked her lips. His feet stopped short of the shower area, and he stretched out a gentle hand towards her shoulder. He let out a shaky breath as his fingers trailed down through the water then up the crook of her elbow to the hand holding her breast. His large hand covered hers, kneading the flesh with her while his other snaked around her tiny waist. She frowned in confusion as he stepped under the spray with her.

"Your clothes," she protested quietly.

"They're just clothes," he replied and lowered his mouth to hers.

She smelled of his soap, and the possessiveness in him roared to life, needing to finish claiming this woman who so abruptly fell into his life and took him by storm. He pressed her back against the shower wall as he dipped his tongue into her mouth, tugging her nipple until her back arched against his chest.

He kissed her neck, nibbling her earlobe before sucking it hard at the same time he tugged both nipples, rolling them between his fingers. Her hands buried in his hair, shoving his head closer as she cursed. He reached to the left and shut the water off. Without a word, he scooped her delicate body up into his arms and carried her from the bathroom to lay her out on his bed.

She opened her mouth, most likely to protest getting things wet, but he cut her words off with a demanding kiss. "They're not the only things about to get wet," he promised, and she gasped.

He stepped back and shrugged out of his wet shirt so it was out of the way. She lay on the pillows, her eyes watching him intently, tracing the defined pecs and abs of his torso. Her fingers curled in the sheets, and she clamped her thighs together, rubbing her foot up her calf as he climbed onto the bed beside her.

"You're going to scream my name soon enough," he growled, letting his fingers dance down her side to her hip, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're going to writhe with pleasure at my touch, and then you're going to beg for more."

Her body shivering, Regina barely nodded before he shifted down the length of her, kissing her neck first and the hollow at her shoulder. His hands dipped low down her thighs, massaging her flesh before dragging back up. Her hands were unsteady and rested on his back, but after he raised his lips to hers, her touch grew more intense. She dug her nails into his back, spurring his want even more. Robin wanted this to last as long as possible. He dipped his head lower and licked the mounds of her breasts as his hand held her hip then went lower to grip her ass. That perfect ass he wanted cradled in his hips. Her breasts fit perfectly in his hands, and he held them, massaging and squeezing while his mouth circled the mounds to reach her pert nipples. He kissed each in turn, smirking when her breathing came in short bursts. He drew one into his mouth and sucked hard.

"Jesus," she moaned as her back arched. "Robin."

He continued to suckle and lick, teasing the pink flesh before he kissed the other one, giving them both much-needed attention. Goosebumps broke out over her skin, and Robin licked further down her body. When he reached the end of the bed, he took her legs gently and dragged her closer to him. His hands slid up her legs, spreading them slowly and giving her a chance to tell him to stop, but she didn't. With her eyes on his, he lowered his mouth and licked up her inner thigh.

"Robin? What are you—oh, God!" she moaned and dug her hands into the sheets.

He dragged his tongue up her swollen, wet lips again and swirled his tongue around her clit. He cupped her ass in his palms as his tongue explored her sex thoroughly before he spread her lips and thrust the muscle within her. She stiffened, and he worried he'd frightened her, but she released a loud breath and quivered, whispering his name.

"Don't stop," she begged. "Please, don't stop."

Obliging her wishes, he sucked hard on her clit as his fingers slipped around. He thrust one into her wetness, her warmth surrounding it instantly. He stretched her, twisted his finger as he sucked and licked the sweet flesh, then slipped a second finger in. He wanted this moment to be for her and nothing more—not that he wasn't getting his own enjoyment out of every quiet moan that escaped her mouth, or the way her hands worked at the sheets, and she bit her lip as the pleasure built in her body.

With each thrust, her hips moved, riding his hand hard. His thumb replaced his tongue. "That's it," he growled to her. "Let yourself feel, Regina, let yourself go. This is all for you. Take your pleasure from me. Take it."

Her back arched off the bed and her hips moved faster, but he sensed she still refrained from fully embracing the orgasm growing in her throbbing muscles. He pressed harder against her clit, and she gasped, his fingers moving in a fast rhythm, plundering her depths with a sudden fury.

"Come for me, Regina," he whispered. "I want to see you fall apart in my arms so I can pick up the pieces and fit you back together again."

She gripped her breasts and tossed her head to the side, but Robin wasn't going to let her hide from this. Keeping his hand firmly in place, he rose up over her body and shoved her hand aside so he could suckle her breast. Her nails found his back, raking up his bare skin, and finally, her inner muscles clenched hard around his fingers as she screamed, her body thrashing beneath him as her juices poured over his hand. He didn't let up, not until he'd wrenched every last drop of pleasure from her and she lay shaking against his body.

He kissed her lips sweetly, removing his hand and palming her.

"That… was incredible," she breathed, her eyes struggling to stay open and find him. She glanced down their bodies at the erection pressing against her hip. "What about you?"

Robin shook his head and placed his fingers over her lips. "Don't worry about me. I've had blue balls before." If only they didn't have to go to that damn family dinner tonight, he would keep her naked in his bed for more than a few minutes and let her explore what other pleasures they could take from each other.

He hugged her close, her tiny body fitting perfectly against his.

"We should get ready for tonight," he told her reluctantly.

"Right, dinner," she said, and he released her from his arms. "I'll grab my clothes and finish getting ready in my room." She hopped off the bed, leaned back down, and planted a warm kiss against his scarred cheek. "Thank you. I'm not sure you'll ever understand what this meant to me."

He watched her gather her clothes from his bathroom and saunter out of his room, naked. Her tight little ass teased him before it vanished from sight. He flopped back onto the bed with a groan. What was this woman doing to him? The salty, raw taste of her still fresh on his lips drove him mad with want, and he hurried to close his bedroom door to give himself a moment of privacy before shedding the rest of his clothes and stepping under the spray of the shower. He turned the water to cold, but it did little to dampen his raging erection bobbing before him.

Shutting his eyes, he gripped himself hard in his fist and imagined what it would be like, driving into Regina for the first time. How tight she would be, how hot and, after today, oh so wet from wanting him. They had taken sex off the table when they'd made this deal, but he wanted it back on. Biting the inside of his cheek to muffle his grunt of release, he pumped himself dry and sagged against the tiled wall. Not exactly what he needed to relieve himself, but it would do for now.

On the drive to his parents' rental house, Robin tried to think of anything besides the woman seated next to him in her tight jeans and bulky sweater. He'd worried earlier in the day how tonight would go and if they would be able to pass as a loving couple. As he parked in the long drive, her hand snaked over and grasped his. "Anything I should know before we go inside?"

He stared at their clasped hands and the simple ring on her finger. "Mom might ask you a ton of questions right off the bat, but I think we went over everything important." They had spent a few minutes running through the story of how they'd met and whose idea it was to elope and why. Rachel Locksley was infamous for digging to get to the truth, but Robin prayed she would lay off since it was their first time meeting Regina.

"Right, as long as I can remember everything, this'll go off without a hitch."

"That's the spirit, love." On impulse, he kissed the back of her hand and heard the way her breath caught in her chest. If only his car was big enough to really go at it with her before they went inside. His shower had not cooled his arousal, and every little shift of her body threatened to set it off again. "Shall we?"

She climbed out of the car, and he glared at his groin before following her. "What are you thinking about so intently?"

"It's nothing."

"No, we can't be the happy couple if we keep secrets from each other," she teased. "Come on, tell me what you're so worried about."

His feet slowed and he pulled her to a stop. "I'm not worried."

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked. He turned her around and held her shoulders firmly.

"Never," he assured her. "I'm just thinking of how much I want to relieve you of your clothes and taste you again… to hear you scream." Her eyes widened with desire, and she held her breath as he leaned in closer and whispered against her ear, "I want to feel your wetness as you surround me and take me into your body. That's what I want, but we can't do that in the driveway. I will not make a move until we have all the time in the world." He emphasized the last few words before kissing her neck hotly and straightening.

Regina staggered into him and she stood on her toes, her mouth searching for his, so he met her lips. The second they made contact, it was as if she'd set a five-alarm fire racing across his body. His hands fisted in her sweater, threatening to tear it off her body. Did she even have the slightest inkling of what she did to him? How she drove him closer to the edge of insanity with each quiet moan against his mouth, how her breasts smashed into his chest, begging for attention. She was more starved for affection than he realized, but it did little to dissuade Robin from crushing her to his body and kissing her as if she was his lifeline, the very air he needed to breathe.

Her reckless hunger sucked him in even deeper. He needed to be the man who showed her that affection, conquered her while showing her at the same time how she could possess him, body and soul.

"We should go inside," he whispered against her mouth.

"You're probably right," she agreed and sank back to her feet. She looked at the front door and froze like a rabbit seeing the predator stalking it. "Robin, what if your mom asks about children?"

"What about it?"

"Well I can't… I can't have them. Do I say that?"

"No, we just say we haven't discussed that yet and leave it alone. If she pushes, I'll handle it."

Her worry was evident in her bottom lip, and through tugging at the hem of her sweater. He captured her hands and kissed each one in turn, ceasing her trembling. "There's nothing wrong with you, and if anyone tells you otherwise," he growled, tucking her hand securely around his elbow, "you send them straight to me."

Regina nodded.

He knocked on the door when they reached it and waited for his parents to answer. Heels clicking across the hardwood reached his ears seconds before the door was yanked open and Rachel squealed in delight.

"My boy is here! Jack! Robin and Regina are here!" Rachel hugged him so hard he swore his ribs would crack. "I was worried you wouldn't show up."

"You always worry," he grumbled as she released him.

"Yes, I know and what does my son do? He elopes! Just like that!"

Robin rolled his eyes and motioned to Regina beside him. "Mom, this is Regina."

She held out a hand to Rachel, who pushed it aside and hugged her. "Oh, hi," Regina said through a surprised laugh. "Nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Locksley. Robin told me all about you. I can't wait to hear about your trip."

Rachel moved back and took her hand. "Then I will be sure to tell you. Robin, go snag your dad, he's in the den."

"Probably trying to hide from you," Robin muttered, and Rachel whacked his arm. "Ow!"

"Sass, mister," she snapped, and behind her, Regina's face broke out in a mocking grin, mouthing the words his mom spoke. He grimaced, but the sensation to laugh filled him. One slipped out, and Rachel pauses. "Well now, that's a sound I haven't heard in a long time."

He stiffened. "What sound?"

"You laughing. My, my, Regina, you'll have to tell me your secret. I haven't heard that sound come out of that mouth in years, not since the accident."

Robin whipped around and walked away. "I'm going to find Dad."

"Don't take too long. Dinner will be ready soon!"

He waved a hand over his shoulder and prowled through the house, passing photographs from when he was a baby all the way up to a few years ago. The den was situated at the far west end of the house and the door was open, music pouring out.

"Dad?" he asked as he stepped inside.

"Robin! Come in quick and shut the door," Jack said, chuckling as he hurried to his son. They shook hands before the older man pulled his son in for a hug. "I have a surprise for you before dinner. Don't tell your mother."

He whipped out two cigars and handed one to Robin. "I thought you weren't supposed to smoke these anymore, not since the heart attack."

"I've given up so much since then. I'm not missing out on my cigar."

"Fine, but if you drop dead tonight, just remember that Mom will come after me next."

They bit off the ends and Jack lit them both with a wooden match. "Oh, now that's the good kind, right there." He strolled to the window and threw it wide open, letting in the cool evening air. "I hear you're a happily married man."

Robin puffed on his cigar, savoring the strong taste in his mouth before blowing the smoke out the open window. "Yes, I am, so you and Mom can relax. I'll carry on the family name without a problem."

Jack clapped him on the shoulder. "Glad to hear it. Here you are," his dad continued, "my playboy son hitched to a woman who, according to your mother, makes you laugh. I think you landed the real deal here, son."

Robin's hands itched to hold Regina, to hear her moan and cry out his name again. Thinking of her sent his emotions on a whirlwind of confusion and insanity he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with yet. The hunger for her went beyond her body. He craved her smile, to feel that fire in her eyes he only managed to catch glimpses of. He was desperate to hear her laugh, a deep belly laugh that went on and on until her cheeks turned color and she clasped her sides. He shook his head to clear the dangerous images and met his dad's curious eyes.

"Robin, you coming?"

"Yeah, right behind you," he said and trailed after his dad.

Female voices drifted towards him as he and Jack walked to the dining room. Regina and Rachel both had glasses of wine in hand and dinner was on the table. "Ah, there you are," Rachel said and dragged Jack over. "Meet your new daughter-in-law, Regina."

"Jack," he greeted as he took Regina's hand. "Pleasure to meet the woman finally able to tame my son."

Regina's cheeks burned bright red as she laughed. "I'm not sure I tamed him, but maybe settled him down a bit?"

"Either way, I'm glad to finally meet you."

"Jack?" Rachel asked, sniffing the air.

"Yes, love of my life," he replied as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Why on earth do you reek of cigar smoke?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, woman," Jack said casually. "We were simply enjoying a nice pre-dinner conversation. Now then, shall we dig in?"

Rachel turned her glare to Robin as he sat down beside Regina on the other side of the table. "Fine, but you know those things can kill your father, right?"

"He's an adult," Robin reminded her, playfully. "Just like you are."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Robin, not at dinner," Jack said.

"I'll let you off the hook this time." Robin said with a wink to his mother.

"Good, because I have a question I've been dying to ask you both," Rachel said, bouncing in her seat. Robin shot his dad a worried look, but he shrugged. "Did you two elope because she's pregnant?"

Regina sputtered on her mouthful of wine, quickly covering it with her napkin as Robin glared at his mother. "Really? Is there a reason you couldn't have said something over the phone about that? Gods, Mum."

"I'm curious," she said stiffly. "You know I've always wanted a big wedding for my child, but you eloped behind my back. So, am I to take it there's no future grandchild headed my way?"

Regina's hand shook as she set her wine glass down, and Robin quickly reached out to hold it, cutting her off as she opened her mouth. "No, Regina is not pregnant. We're taking our time when it comes to kids, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring it up again so bluntly."

Rachel's eyes narrowed, but she dug into her salad. "Of course, dear, I'm very sorry. Robin tells me that you have a Grams that you love greatly."

"Yes, she raised me after my parents passed away when I was young."

"Regina, my dear, I'm so sorry to hear that." Rachel said.

"We eloped because of me," Regina said, startling Robin. "I'm not a fan of big parties or weddings, so Robin was kind enough to elope and save me from facing such an ordeal." Her eyes met his on her last words, and without thinking, he leaned in to give her a gentle kiss.

Rachel clapped her hands and swooned. "Now that, right there, that is love, don't you think, Jack? You two will be parents in no time, I can just feel it."

Regina's mouth fell away from Robin's quickly, and she set her napkin on the table. "Would you excuse me for a moment? I need to use the restroom."

"Just down that hall, second door on your right," Rachel informed her.

Regina stood and walked quickly away from the dining room. Robin saw her start to duck into the bathroom but decide against it and dart into the kitchen. There was a back door that led to the gardens. Mad his mother for opening her mouth, he excused himself to go check on her. Rachel tried to call him back, but Jack scolded her for being so damn nosy.

"I just want to know what's going on between them," she hissed in a whisper as Robin walked away. "Eloping is so very odd."

"It's not like our time, Rachel. Leave them be and stop harassing the poor girl about grandchildren."

Regina hugged her arms around her body at the chilly night air, but she had to get out of that stuffy dining room. The fresh air brushed across her face, and she closed her eyes, breathing it in. She knew his mother would be the type of woman to push about children, she just knew it, and somewhere along the line, they would have to tell the truth about the whole situation. Rachel would hate Regina and Robin would resent her, and the next few years with him would be miserable

Tears seeped from her eyes, sending shivers through her body as they chilled on her face. The door opened behind her, and she swiped them away quickly with her sleeve. "I'll be back inside in a minute," she said without turning.

"Regina, it's freezing out here," Robin said as he hung his heavy leather coat around her shoulders, bundling her in its warmth. "What are you doing?"

She grabbed the jacket tighter around her, inhaling his scent, but it did little to soother her fears. "Sorry, I just had to get out of there for a minute, clear my head."

"You don't have to worry about my mother," he said and walked over to the bench, sitting down hard. "She's been after grandkids since I turned twenty-one, so it's nothing new. I hate that she had to bring it up like this, though."

"But eventually, I'll have to tell her I can't," Regina whispered, and with one sharp look from him, the rest of the words tumbled out in a rush.

"Then we'll be there for one another. Now, enough about my nosy mum." Robin said, standing up. He caught her hand and ran his thumb gently down her cheek. "And for the record, don't ever assume anything about you and me. I could never resent you for simply being who you are."

She leaned into his hand, believing every word he said.

"I think you need another glass of wine," he commented.

"To get through this night with you, I'm going to need more than a glass."

Hours later, Regina was curled up on the couch later that night, a glass of whiskey in her hands, as Robin sat at the opposite end, hunched forward expectantly. She sipped the amber liquid several more times. In all the years she'd dealt with this torment, she never lost control of her emotions, never broke down into the million pieces she wanted to every second of every day. Now that she was safe, there was no telling what would happen.

Robin moved and picked up Regina and placed her in his lap as he sat back down. She leaned back in his arms, wishing she could read what rushed through his mind.. Sitting cradled in his lap, she realized how small she was compared to him, and at the same time, how perfectly she fit against his body, just like when they lay together on his bed.

Her arms snaked around his neck as she settled against his lap, shifting her legs so she straddled him. "Regina," he whispered hoarsely.

"What?" She kissed his cheek and trailed her lips over his neck. His hands gripped her hips, and she felt his erection pressing between her legs. She paused for a moment, worried about what she was doing, but she wanted to ensure she wasn't the only one receiving pleasure in this arrangement.

"Regina, wait," he grunted and pulled her arms carefully down from around his neck, holding them against his chest. He breathed deeply out his nose. "I don't want you to do something you might regret in the morning."

"But after everything you said?"

"I still want to. Don't think I don't dream about you panting for more breath beneath me as I thrust into you, but after everything you've been through, I'm not rushing you into anything." He kissed each hand in turn before he stood. "When you're really ready, then you can come to me and I'll be there, love."

He tilted his head in a goodnight salute, and with his hands shoved into his pockets, he stalked down the hall to his bedroom. Regina curled her feet up under herself again and relaxed against the back of the couch. He'd read her exactly right and she hung her head.

The morning after her wedding, Regina headed over to see her Grams. She would have to explain to her about her sudden wedding. As soon as she walked in and her Grams saw her, her Grams knew something was different.

"Regina?" Grams asked as she looked from Regina's face to the band on her ring finger.

"Guess who's married?" Regina asked.

"What?" Grams asked. "What do you mean you're married? To who?"

"To Robin." Regina said.

"Robin? Robin Locksley?" Grams asked. "When? How? When?"

"Last night, by a justice of the peace, last night." Regina said.

"Regina! Tell me everything. Like for instance, why are you here when you should still be in bed with your husband nor walking straight." Grams said.

"We started talking and one thing led to another." Regina said.

"And then you just decided to get married?" Grams asked, then smiled. "I guess he is good in bed."

"Grams!" Regina said.

"No wait. He should still have you in bed, why doesn't he?" Grams asked. "Why isn't he with you?"

"He had an emergency this morning and was needed at the hospital." Regina answered.

"Okay, but that still doesn't explain why you can still walk straight." Grams said.

Regina had to laugh at her Grams' antics. "Well, I did have a hot soaking bath this morning."

"That's my girl." Grams said as they hugged one another. "Oh, Regina, you found your Robert."

"You mean that story you told me?" Regina asked.

"Yes. The two soulmates that found one another only to be torn apart. But you two are going to beat the odds. I feel it in my bones." Grams said.

Regina smiled, hoping she was right.

Over the next few days, Regina settled into a comfortable routine with Robin. Her husband would give her a kiss on the cheek before he walked out, a gesture she loved more with each passing day. He didn't expect anything from her, and for that, she was equally grateful, though it didn't stop her from planning something anyway. By the time she got in from teaching, Robin was usually home within an hour or so, he would call or text to let her know if he would be running later.

In the evenings, they would watch movies or whatever was on TV. Robin laughed a lot, something that she loved to hear. They would also kiss and make out slightly, but Robin was patient and was just letting her set the pace for them now. Regina even told Robin about the story of Robert and Raina, telling the sad story of how they almost had the world, but it wasn't to be.

Wednesday evening rolled around, nearly two weeks since she had married Robin, and she leaned over on the couch to check her cell when it chirped. Jefferson was at the door with his hands full. "You could've knocked!" she called out as she hurried to open it.

"I like to be difficult," he said as he stepped inside.

"What is all this?" she asked, laughing as she closed the door behind him.

"Robin let me know he had to stay late at the hospital so I took it upon myself to ensure you had company for the evening." He handed her a bouquet of dark red daisies. "For you, my dear, from your beloved husband—with his apologies, of course."

Regina held them and sniffed their soft petals. "That man is full of surprises."

"You're telling me. I was about ready to deck him the first night." He pulled out a paper-wrapped package from the box and handed it over as well before he unloaded takeout containers. "Thai alright? It smelled good on the way home."

The two friends caught up on their lives as they ate dinner. Afterwards Regina had something to ask Jefferson.

"Look, there's something I want to do for him… with him, but I… uh, I want it to be perfect, and I know this is completely cliché, asking the gay friend to help, but…"

"Are you telling me you haven't jumped his bones yet?" he supplied.

"Jefferson!" Regina said.

"Regina! What the hell are you waiting for?" Jefferson asked.

"I don't know. Everything happened in such a rush." Regina said.

"Stop talking. Let's go," he said and scooped up his keys from the counter.

"Where are we going?" she asked and slipped into her flats before following him to the door.

"We are going shopping, my dear. Robin won't be home for at least three hours, and that should give us plenty of time," he announced. "To the elevators!"

Butterflies filled her stomach as she rode down to the lobby with Jefferson and realized that after tonight, she would be making love with her husband.

Someone she knew in her heart already…that she loved.

Robin yawned as he shoved his key in the lock and staggered inside. It was nearly midnight and he expected Regina to be passed out already. Jefferson had texted earlier to say all was well. He set his keys on the table and stepped around the kitchen to see a trail of flower petals on the floor. Robin scratched at the scruff on his face as he followed them slowly down the hall. His bedroom door was open just a crack, and the petals led him through the doorway. He pushed it open and stepped into the room lit by candles covering every surface. Quiet music played in the background, and lying in the middle of his four-poster bed, wearing nothing but a red lace bra and panties, was Regina.

His throat thick with arousal, he managed a grunt in greeting, his pants straining against his quickly growing erection at the sight of her beauty and the smile that finally reached her shining eyes.

"How was work?" she asked casually, resting on her side so he had a full view of her from head to toe.

"Good," he rasped before he cleared his throat. "Long day."

"Yeah? Well, if you're too tired…"

"Fuck, no," he growled, and her lips turned up in a wicked grin. "You did all this for me?"

"For us," she corrected. "I want you, Robin. I'm ready and I came to you like you said."

She sat up, and his eyes failed to focus as he tried to see all of her at once. The first time she was naked, splayed out before him, all he could think of was what it would be like to claim her, to make his mark on her. Wearing that red lace, he realized she wanted the exact same thing—except to do it to him. Her fingers trailed between her breasts and lower to her stomach as he watched. He took a slow step forward, wanting to soak in this moment.

"You're sure?" he asked, clearing his throat and having to ask again as he moved even closer.

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't be here, waiting for you," she purred. She bit her bottom lip in the way that drove him insane as she cupped her breasts firmly in her hands and gave them a good squeeze. "Robin, you showed me what pleasure is, but I want you right there with me. I want to see you squirm at my touch." She slipped her fingers into the lace cups and pinched her nipples. Robin groaned, his hands aching to shove hers aside and take their place. "I want you inside me."

He reached the bed in two steps and took her hand, dragging her body against his as she knelt before him. He smashed his mouth against hers, digging his fingers into her back, needing her to be as close to him as possible. His tongue demanded entrance to her mouth, and she parted her lips on a sigh. As his tongue sought hers out, rubbing and stroking, he fumbled for the hooks of the bra, wanting to see all of her again.

He'd barely freed the hooks when he paused and forced his mouth away from hers. "I don't know if I can control myself with you," he confessed.

She gripped his shoulders hard in her hands. "You won't hurt me."

"How do you know? I'm used to not taking my time, not being gentle."

Regina licked the shell of his ear and he squeezed the ends of the bra harder in his hand. "I don't need you to be. I trust you, and maybe a good, hard fuck is just what the Doctor Locksley ordered."

Her eyes glimmered with the promise of what was to come if he went through with this, and as his erection throbbed in his pants, he was hopeless to resist. He wanted her, plain and simple, wanted to fuck her until she screamed his name over and over, until she begged for more, until he couldn't see straight. Her eyes found his blue ones and they stared at each other for a solid minute as a rush of raw emotion erupted within him.

With her eyes still on his, he tugged the bra free of her arms and tossed it aside before leaning her back over his arm and ravishing her breasts. She pressed him closer as she whispered his name. Robin licked and kissed, reached for a nipple, and pulled it into his mouth. He nipped and tugged while she pushed herself closer to his body. He was used to the feelings of lust pouring through him, but the irrational instinct rising to protect this woman and keep her in his life was new. The moment he kissed her, he was at risk of losing so much more than a few days alone. He was married to a woman he wasn't supposed to fall in love with, but that was exactly what he was doing. Each kiss of his lips on her bare skin, each stroke of his hands down her back until he gripped her ass and squeezed it hard, was about more than simple pleasure with her. He wanted more than a night, and if he played this night right, he could very well convince her of the exact same notion.

Robin found her mouth again with his, sucking her tongue into his mouth and running his hand through her hair. He would never control what she looked like or what she wore. He would never stop her from chasing her dreams. He was going to love this woman in his arms, love her like no one ever before.

Heat wasn't even close to describing the warmth surrounding her body as Robin held her. The first time he'd given her such pleasure in his bed, he'd prevented her from doing the same for him, but not this time. She would see what other pleasures could be shared with a man while in his strong, protective arms. His hands massaged and kneaded the flesh of her rear, and all she could do was hold on tight as his scruff rubbed against the mounds of her breasts.

He took her hand and pressed it flat against his groin. She gasped in surprise at the hardness of his considerable length. He let go of her hand, and she rubbed it against his massive member, unable to pull away when he let out an animalistic groan and his hips bucked against her.

"Is this okay?" she asked.

"More than okay, love," he grunted as his eyes rolled back in his head.

Regina pushed her tongue against her lip as she shifted her hand to his belt, quickly undid it, and unbuttoned his pants so she could slip her hand in.

"Fucking hell." His hands gripped her ass even harder as Regina held him in her hand and slid down the fullness of him, amazed and a little worried about what would fill her soon enough.

She ran her hand up his length again, her other hand joining the first as she squeezed and teased, but she wanted to see him. She worked his slacks over his hips and let them fall to the floor so he bobbed free in front of her eyes. He was impressive, to say the least, and her panties were soaked instantly at the idea of that within her, driving her further over the edge than the last time he'd touched her.

Licking her lips, she lowered her body to the bed and ran her tongue around his crown. He muttered something, but she missed it. His hands occupied themselves with fondling her breasts as she held him steady and drew him into her mouth—as much as she could—and sucked harder with each pull. In response, he tugged harder on her nipples, and the sharp twang of desire shot to her sex, making her grow even wetter. She worked around his swollen erection, licking and sucking as much of it as she could, wanting to hear him fall apart in her hands, but suddenly, she was yanked away and lay on her back on the bed.

"I wasn't finished with that," she argued.

"Too much more, and you would've put me out of commission for a while, and that's not what I want right now." He shrugged out of his dress shirt and stood at the foot of the bed, completely naked.

He breathed deeply, and with each rise of his chest, Regina found another angle to admire his body from, to the lion tattoo on his right forearm, to every inch of him. The candlelight flickered across his skin, making him appear even taller and broader. He pressed his knee against the bed and climbed up to join her. As he reached for her hips, she wasn't sure what to expect, but he rolled her onto her stomach and traced her spine, his lips following and kissing every vertebra on his way down. Her hands dug into the sheets, wanting to hold him, but his touch was too good to interrupt. His teeth tugged at the edge of her panties, and she shivered as he dragged them over her ass and down her body to free her. Both hands massaged back up her thighs to her ass and spread her legs gently as he raised her a little off the bed. Regina, guided by his touch, closed her eyes and soaked in the sensations coursing over her skin. Robin's hands slipped to the inside of her thighs and one moved against the wet, swollen lips aching for his presence.

She gasped as he palmed her, pressing hard between her legs as he lowered his mouth to her shoulder and neck, kissing and nipping as his free hand found her breast. The second he tugged on her nipple, his fingers spread her folds and thrust inside, stretching and spreading. Her body shuddering, she rubbed herself harder against his hand as he stroked her clit hard, his fingers thrusting in a steady and hard rhythm. Regina's hands tugged hard on the sheet, her chest heaving as the torrent of ecstasy built within her. Blind with desire, she reached for his hand, and unsure what she was doing, she dragged his finger into her mouth and sucked hard as if it was his cock. His reaction was exactly what she hoped for, and his hand increased its pace, plundering her depths as she sucked and licked his hand, nipping his palm and kissing each finger in turn before she drew it into the wetness of her mouth. His thumb pressed further back against a place she never thought men liked to touch, but it was tentative until he did it again and she lifted her ass higher for him.

"You're going to be the death of me, love," he grunted a she cried out, so filled by this man, and they were barely getting started. "I want to taste you. I don't think I'll ever get enough of that sweetness."

Already on the brink, Regina whimpered when his hand slipped from her mouth and her quivering sheath and was replaced with his mouth. His tongue was hot as he dragged it up the length of her and drove it within. He sucked her lips and her clit mercilessly. There was no more controlling her body. Her hips moved on their own, lifting with each pull of his mouth and stroke of his tongue against the sweet bundle of nerves.

"Robin… please," she whispered.

"Please what?" he replied, kissing the soft curves of her ass as his hands massaged her thighs.

She lifted her head and glanced over her shoulder at him, deadly serious, and said, "I want you to fuck me."

His eyes darkened. He rose over her body. She glanced down at his tip, craving to suck the drips of pre-cum present on the head. He spread her legs wider, grabbed her hips, and rubbed his full length against her wetness. He was huge! His tip angled upwards, and she gripped the bed, bracing for the pain as he rocked forward gently.

"Relax, love," he soothed, running a hand down her back then up, calming her.

Regina nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out as he spread her lips and penetrated her. She stretched around him, the sensation foreign and familiar all at once. He drew back out, still running his hand down her back before he pushed in further this time. She wanted all of him and this was taking too long. Ready to embrace him when he thrust again, she moved back and gasped as his body met her ass and he settled completely within her.

"Damn it, Regina," he growled, ready to pull out, but she reached around and dug her nails into his thigh. "We were supposed to take it slow."

"I need you," she assured him and rocked forward before pushing back against him.

He didn't have to be told twice and drew out slowly before he thrust back home. Regina's body trembled each time, grabbing whatever she could to hold onto. Her nipples rubbed against the sheets, and she closed her eyes as the pleasure built. Then he pulled out and flipped her over onto her back.

"I want to see your face," he growled as he spread her legs. As she watched, he filled her body.

Regina's hands moved to his arms, holding them as he thrust. His massive body covered hers completely. He lowered his mouth to her nipple, flicking it and sucking hard as her head fell back and her back arched off the bed. It was impossible to feel this good, it had to be, but she was ready to come apart at the seams because of this man. Never leaving her, he adjusted them again, lifting her off the bed and holding her up with his arm. The angle shifted and Robin swallowed her cries as the orgasm exploded through her body. He thrust harder and faster before his bellow of release joined hers. He tossed his head back and they clung to each other as the orgasm rippled through them. Regina felt it, her inner muscles clenching him, felt him swell to an impossible size inside her as he twitched and shuddered. They fell to the side, but he remained within as if he never wanted to leave.

She never wanted him to. He tucked her against his chest, kissing her forehead and letting his lips move to her cheeks as he pushed her hair from her face. The sweat from their bodies mingled and she waited for him to leave her and hop into the shower, and avoid staying and cuddling with her, but he didn't move a muscle.

"That was not what I expected," she whispered.

"Better or worse?" he questioned. He moved his hips back, sliding from her, and they both shivered as another aftershock of pleasure hit them both.

"Definitely better." Propping her head up on her hand, she traced the tattoo on his forearm and tried to picture a life without this man in it.

"What're you thinking about so hard?" he asked, his hand resting casually on her hip.

"I was thinking, I'm ready for another round. Are you?"

He laughed. "You won't find any complaints here."

"Good, because I'm just getting started."

It was now a full month since their wedding and the sun was down by the time they reached the pub across the city and parked in the back. Neither said a word as they drove, and his hand was permanently attached to her thigh. The clock read seven o'clock, and he'd texted their friends earlier to meet them at the pub around 7:30, unless plans changed. He parked and shut the lights off, the only sound their breathing. Rustling from the passenger seat made him turn to look, but Regina was moving to his lap and clamping her lips on his in a possessive manner that rivaled his own.

His hands moved to cup her ass in her jeans and pulled back in shock to feel bare skin. "You little minx," he muttered. She'd shed her jeans so fast he hadn't noticed.

She laughed while her hands went to work on his jeans. He fumbled to lean the seat back as far as he could, giving them more room. Their touch turned desperate in their need to feel that intense connection again, and she pulled him free of his jeans, hovered over him, and rubbed her wet lips up and down his length. That was one thing he would never tire of—how wet she was for him and only for him. When she sank onto him, they sucked in a collective breath, clinging to each other as she rode him slowly at first, then faster as he plunged his tongue into her mouth, seeking her soul. Her inner muscles tightened around his shaft, and he grabbed her hips to hold her steady so he could finish them off together in several mad thrusts that had her screaming and him staring cross-eyed at the roof of the car, still in disbelief at how amazing it felt to be with Regina.

She collapsed in a quivering mess against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. "We should celebrate everything that way," she mused.

He nodded slowly and reluctantly lifted her enough so he could slide out. "First time in a car."

"Really?" she asked and sat up, a funny grin on her face. "I actually get to claim a first with you?"

"There have been several," he informed her. "I just never announced them before. Damn, I don't have anything in here to clean up with."

She reached over to her seat and pulled her panties from her jeans, ran them along herself first and then dabbed up the rest of the mess before tossing them in the backseat. "Looks like I'm going commando tonight."

"And how the fuck do you expect me to concentrate when I know you're wearing nothing under those tight ass jeans?" he scowled as she crawled back across the seats. He gave her a solid slap on her ass, and she squealed with laughter as he gave her another one for good measure.

"Just save it all for tonight when we get home."

"We already haven't slept the past two nights," he pointed out, fixing his jeans. "What the hell could a third hurt?"

He ran his hands through her hair, ready for round two, when someone knocked on his window. They jumped and Regina hunkered down in her seat until Killian's voice yelled to them through the window.

"If you two steam up that car any more, someone's gonna call the fire department!"

Regina laughed and gave Robin one final peck on the cheek before happily hopping out. Killian and Emma were there along with Mary Margaret and David, Jefferson was even here as well.

Regina wanted to peek out from under the blindfold that Robin had put on her and lifted her face, but Robin's hand covered her whole face as he chuckled and she tried to shove it away. "Oh, come on, at least give me a hint!"

"Can't. It'll ruin the surprise and I quite enjoy surprising you."

She huffed and crossed her arms over his chest. "This isn't fair."

"No, what you did to my cock wasn't fair," he growled, and she licked her lips just thinking of how much she'd made him squirm. "You know the saying 'payback is a bitch,' right?"

"I'm not sure you can top that."

"Did you just challenge me?" he questioned.

The hunger in his words burned in her, and she tilted her head. "Maybe."

"We're here."

She yanked off the blindfold before he could stop her and stared around the car lot. "Where are we?"

"Where do you think?" He climbed out and called for her to hurry up.

"Wait, am I… am I getting a new car?" she squealed as she stepped out and hurried over to him.

"No. I'm that much of an asshole to tease you by driving you to a car lot," he said flatly then lifted her into his arms and kissed her. "Yes, you're getting a car." The second she was back on her feet, she bounced on her heels until he motioned for her to go check them out.

Regina darted from one row to the next, her hands shaking as she debated what she wanted. Should she even accept such a gift from him?

"I see that look on your face. Stop it, right now," he scolded.

"What look?"

"The look that you get when I try to spoil you. You need a new car. The transmission just went out in yours last week and I will feel better knowing my wife is in a reliable car. Make yourself happy."

"You're sure this isn't too much?"

"Not even close," he said and gave her ass a quick slap to get her moving again. "Now, go. I'm going to track Tim down. He sold me my Challenger."

She thought it over another moment until he spanked her again and she took off for a row of new Chevys down the lot. There weren't many other people around, the chilly weather enough to deter other shoppers, and that was fine by her. It gave her a chance to peruse the vehicles until she finally came to a stop in front of a burnt orange one that called to her. That was a car she could see herself in.

When Robin and Tim tracked her down, she was grinning widely. "This one?" Robin asked, uncertain. It was a 2014 Audi R8 Spyder.

"Yes."

"You have good taste."

"Robin what if I don't want to leave after four years?"

Robin glanced from her to the car and back again. "I don't want you to go."

His words caught her off guard, and her eyes widened as her mind hurried to catch up. "You… you don't? But we just met and we're still figuring out who we are together. What if, after a year, you can't stand me?"

He laughed loudly and leaned down to kiss her. "I won't lie, you drive me insane some days, but I haven't laughed this much in a long time. I haven't smiled in forever either, and I can't even try to imagine sharing my bed with another woman. Can we worry about the here and now first and get to the four years when we get there?"

She kissed him back before pulling away and staring at the car in question, reeling with what he'd told her. He wanted to be with her, thought about it as much as she did, apparently. How had she managed to find the one man in the whole damn city who actually cared for her, a man she liked in return?

Robin glanced down at Regina, sound asleep on his chest, and grinned. He could get used to this and already had. Remembering his days before Regina only reminded him of how unhappy he had been. With her, there were smiles every morning and when he came home from work. She sent him amusing texts throughout the day. Killian and Emma had come over for dinner and Netflix.

"Come on, love," he whispered. "Time to go to bed."

"Hmm? No, I'm awake. Finish the movie," she mumbled without opening her eyes.

Emma laughed. "I think you missed the ending, but don't worry, it was the butler."

"Damn butler," Regina said and yawned. "Always the butler."

"Usually." Robin cradled her in his arms as he carried her to their bedroom. She curled onto her side as soon as she hit the bed, took his pillow, and breathed in his scent. Robin's gut twisted at the sight, and he dragged the comforter up over her, kissed her on the forehead, and backed out of the room.

"You know," Emma said quietly when he reappeared and flopped down on the couch, "when you two told me you were getting married, I thought you were full of shit. No way a woman could put up with you."

"Love." Killian said as he winked at her.

"Thanks for that, really," he said as he flipped through the movies available.

"But, after seeing you two like this, I can see that you have indeed managed to steal her heart and vice versa." Emma took the other cushion beside him and set the full bowl of popcorn on the table. "I think it's safe to say you found your soul mate."

Robin scrunched his face as he chose an old horror movie classic and hit play. "I'm not sure I would go that far."

"Why not? She adores you and I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her."

"With love in his eyes?" Killian said mockingly and flinched when Emma hit him on the shoulder.

"I'm glad to have your approval." Robin said as Emma went back into the kitchen.

"I bet your parents will be delighted when you hand them Regina junior." Killian said.

Robin's blood ran cold and he chewed the inside of his cheek.

"Robin? You just paled worse than that New Year's Eve party. What's wrong?" Killian said.

"Don't mention kids around Regina, please," he requested quietly. "She can't have them."

"Not ever?" He shook his head. "That's hard. I'm so sorry."

"She is, too, and I don't want her thinking I resent her for it, which I don't. Eventually, we'll adopt or something, if she's up for it, but it's a tense subject."

Killian held up two fingers. "Scout's honor, won't say a word."

"Three, moron."

"What?"

"It's three fingers," he reminded him.

Regina slept in his bed, right where she belonged and where he hoped she would be every night from here on out. Should he tell her he thought he loved her or should he wait and see if she said it first? Deep emotions like this were new to him, and he had enough issues managing his insatiable hunger for her body to contemplate the idea of loving someone for real this time. He no longer counted the first time. He had been blinded by a woman who was great in bed and gave him what he thought he needed. Regina gave him what he actually needed and more than what he wanted. She was honest, and the fire in her eyes grew every day, and soon it would be a raging inferno. Her happiness brought him happiness, and if that wasn't love, he wasn't sure what was.

Darkness met Robin's eyes when he rolled over and opened them. He frowned in the shadows and stretched his arm out for Regina, but the bed was empty. He sat up, looking for her when retching came from the bathroom.

"Regina?" he asked as he hurried to get out of bed. When he peeked in the bathroom, she was hunched over the toilet, hugging it tightly, and he rushed to her side. He drew her hair back and rubbed her back as she vomited more before finally stretching her hand up to flush the toilet. "Was it dinner?"

He helped her sit back on the floor by the tub before he grabbed a washcloth, wetted it, and pressed it gently against her face. She was pale but didn't feel feverish.

"Maybe," she muttered. "You don't need to see this. Go back to bed."

His alarm sounded from the bedroom and he grinned. "No need. Time to get up anyway." He sat beside her and she rested her cheek against his shoulder. "I'm not flying out today."

"No, you have that conference," she argued. "You've been planning it for months. I'll be fine. I feel better already."

He eyed her long and hard, and her fake smile fell as she hugged the toilet again. "That's it, I'm not leaving," he grumbled. "I think we should get you to the doctor."

She shook her head in between heaves. "I'm not even puking anything up. It's probably just sinuses or something. I'm fine, promise. And if it is food poisoning, it'll go away in a day or so."

Robin refused to budge from her side and held her hand as she rested her head against the wall, staying by the toilet. "I'm supposed to be gone for a week," he reminded her.

"So if it lasts longer than a day, I promise I'll go to the doctor's," she said.

"Jefferson owes me a favor. I'm going to have him stay with you."

"No, don't do that. You'll just get him sick if it's the flu or something," she argued. "I can take care of myself, you know."

He kissed the top of her head with an aggravated sigh. "Don't I know it. I'm still calling him."

"If I don't want you watching me puke, I definitely don't want him to."

Puffing out his cheeks in an effort not to scold her, he held her hands and kissed her knuckles. "It's either Jefferson comes and watches you or I don't go at all. Do it for me, please?"

She pursed her lips together but finally gave in. "You're going to call me every day, aren't you?"

He kissed her forehead with a grin. "Twice, if I can manage it. I wish you would change your mind and just come with me."

"Eh, California doesn't really suit me. Besides, I plan on spending quite a bit of time catching up on my work for my students."

His chest swelling with pride, Robin helped her walk to the bed before he flipped on the bedroom light and ducked into the closet.

"Robin?"

He turned back to look at her. "Yes?"

"I want you to bring me a t-shirt when you come back." Regina said with a somewhat smile.

He poked his head out as he slipped into his black slacks. "A t-shirt, like a cheesy tourist t-shirt? You're above that, I thought."

"Just think of it," she said as she dragged her toes up her bare calf, resting back on her elbows. "That t-shirt on this body and not a stitch on underneath."

He'd just reached her on the bed when her face slackened and she bolted for the bathroom again. "That's it! I'm not leaving, not now." He picked up his cell, ready to cancel his flight, when the retching stopped and Regina appeared in the doorway, holding the washcloth to her face.

"Don't you dare. Spouses get sick."

"Yeah, and good husbands stay behind to take care of them."

"It's a big event, you said so yourself," she argued, hiding her face behind the cloth. "If I get worse, I promise I will call you right away, okay?"

He ground his teeth but fell under the sway of those stormy eyes, dragging him into the whirlwind of emotions he could no longer ignore. "If you don't, I'll find out." Reluctantly, he finished dressing, watching her as she lay in bed, propped up, and fiddling with the remote for the bedroom TV. Reruns of Outlander popped up, and she settled back against the pillows. "I'll land around eleven," he told her as he smoothed her hair back from pale face. "Want anything before I go?"

"My legs still work just fine," she assured him. "But thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. This is what I do," he said roughly. "I'll have Jefferson swing by later today once he finishes at the office. It's Monday, so he might be a bit late."

"Go, before you miss your flight," she said and gave him a gentle shove. "I'll be right here when you get back and healthy as a horse."

"Just a week," he reassured himself more than her. The pang in his gut said he shouldn't leave. He was not a clingy man, but the idea of being away from Regina for so many nights gnawed at him. He wouldn't fly back until next Monday night.

Only a week. What could possibly happen in a week?

"I think you need to go to the doctor," Jefferson called to her through the bedroom door on Wednesday morning.

"I'm fine," she argued, flushing the toilet and collapsing against the wall.

"Bullshit. If Robin finds out you're lying through your teeth to him, he's going to be pissed."

He was right, but so far, she'd fooled Robin, just like she was going to keep fooling him and herself and Jefferson because the other option wasn't possible. Granted, two weeks ago, her period was so light it was a joke, and the morning sickness had started a few days before Robin had left for his trip. She slipped her hands to her belly, not ready to believe the impossible was happening. She wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant; every doctor she had been to had told her that. She would never be the mother of her own flesh and blood, and after a few months of crying into her pillow, she'd moved on and accepted it.

Now, she searched desperately for any other explanation for what was happening to her body. She was tired all the time and nothing sounded good except pickles, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which completely grossed Jefferson out. She was too scared to pee on a stick yet, but eventually, either she would start showing or an actual full-blown period would hit and she would know the truth. Did she risk waiting that long?

"Regina? What's going on in there?"

"You can come in," she said and pressed her head against the wall.

Jefferson stepped inside, his cell in hand already. "I texted Robin."

"What! You said you wouldn't tell him I wasn't better! Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"Regina, you've been puking since Monday, you're pale and weak, and frankly, a bit cranky," he muttered as she sat on the edge of the tub. "I'm taking you to the doctor because that's what he's going to tell me to do. Get your shoes and coat."

She kept her butt firmly planted on the floor. "No."

"This isn't up for discussion." His cell chirped and he held it out for her to see.

She let out an aggravated sigh at the all caps message from Robin saying to drag her to the doctor before he took the first flight out of LA and did it himself. "Can you please tell him to calm down? I'm not sick."

"Bullshit, again."

"Can you put the phone down for a minute while I talk to you? Please?"

He set it down slowly and crossed his arms over his chest. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you over my shoulder right now and take you to the doctor?"

She sucked in a shaky breath, then blew it out as a grin of shock spread across her face. "Because I need you to go the drugstore and buy me something first. Several somethings, actually."

His eyes narrowed. "I'm listening."

"I need to pee on a stick."

Jefferson's eyes widened, darting from her face to her belly and back again. "Holy shit," he gasped and clapped a hand over his mouth as he leapt to his feet. "Holy shit! You're pregnant? Oh, God, it all fits! That terrible shit you've been eating and the puking. Regina, that's great!"

"I don't know yet," she said, unable to contain her joy at the idea, though. "Technically I'm not supposed to be able to have children, remember? It could be a fluke."

"Or you could be pregnant. You have to tell Robin," he urged and handed her his phone.

"No, I can't. Not yet."

"Why the hell not?"

She held out her hand and he helped her to her feet. "I know he said he wasn't expecting kids, but the few times we've talked about it, I see that hope in his eyes followed quickly by the realization that the woman he married can't have them. If I tell him and find out I'm not… it would crush him. I can't do that to him, not when he means everything to me."

He kissed her cheek and guided her back to bed. "Your secret is safe with me. How many do you want?"

"Enough, I guess," she said. "Never thought I'd be doing this."

"Right. Just tuck in and I'll be back as fast as I can." He whistled in awe then waved over his shoulder as he left. "Don't move! And if you want anything else, just text me."

"Thanks, Jefferson!"

She thought she heard him yell back and then the penthouse was quiet. Pregnant. Could she really be pregnant? Her hands rubbed her belly, imagining a baby growing within her. Robin's baby. Tears pricked her eyes because she could be carrying a child for him.

As her eyes closed, she drifted over the last few weeks with Robin in her life—nearly two months now, and there were still mornings she woke up afraid it was all just a dream and she would roll over to not having Robin by her side.

Her cell went off and she picked it up without looking. "Hello?"

"You better be on your way to the hospital," Robin nagged.

"I told you I'm not sick. Jefferson's panicking over nothing."

"Three days, Regina. You've been sick for three days, and I think you were sick last week too," he argued. "For the love of God, woman, just go, please?"

"Robin, wait," she pleaded. "There's a flu going around at school."

"Since when?" he asked.

She sucked at lying, but maybe she would manage it better over the phone. "Since last week. Several of my students have been out." She said, knowing she was talking about last year and not this year.

"You're a terrible liar," he growled.

"How the fuck do you do that?" she whispered, sagging into the pillows.

"Magic." He muttered under his breath. "I will give you one more day, but you have to answer one question for me first."

"Deal."

"Are you… you're happy, right? With me and our lives?"

Regina sat up and pressed the phone harder to her ear. "Of course I am. You know that."

"I've been worried. You seemed very stressed right now."

"Robin Locksley, you listen to me right now," she ordered. "I have never been happier, or more satisfied or content with anything in my life than when I'm with you. Did you hear me? I want to be with you, Robin. I'm not depressed and the idea of leaving you makes me sick."

"I heard you," he whispered gruffly. "I'm still not buying the flu line, though."

"If you want to come home early, I won't stop you, but I swear to you, if I get any worse or if anything changes, I will tell you. Do you trust me?"

"That's not even a question," he stated. "Get some rest and text me soon."

"I will. Robin?"

"Yeah?"

She worried at her lip before she said, "This bed is too damn empty without you in it."

"Same. Talk to you soon, love," he said and hung up.

Regina set her cell aside and snuggled deeper into the covers. The deep pine scent of Robin surrounded her and lulled her to sleep. A nap wouldn't be a bad idea, at least until Jefferson returned.

"I'm coming for you, my sweet," a voice whispered, pressing his fingers to his lips then to the picture of their obsession on their bed. "Soon, we'll be together again. Very, very soon."

Jefferson paced outside the bedroom door, checking his watch for the tenth time. He'd bought four boxes of pregnancy tests, unsure of which kind Regina needed. "Anything yet?" he asked again.

"Will you just give me a minute?" she shouted back sharply.

"Regina, what's wrong?"

He expected her to yell again, but she opened the door a crack and he pushed it open the rest of the way. Her shoulders hunched, she stood at the sinks, leaning over the three sticks lined up in front of her. He waited for her to tell him to wait, but he stepped closer and she stepped slowly aside. Jefferson glanced down at them. Each and every single one clearly said exactly what her problem was.

"Regina?"

Her hands fell to her belly and when her gaze lifted to his, she smiled. "I'm pregnant."

"We're happy about this, right?" he asked, resisting the urge to leap forward and hug her.

"I think so, but I have to know for sure, so hold onto your excitement. I'll make an appointment for tomorrow morning at the doctor's office and then I'll know for sure." Her smile faltered, but the look on her face was pure awe. "I can't believe it's true."

"Have a little faith," he told her sternly. "You and Robin were just meant to be."

"I guess so. Don't you dare tell him," she added, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"I won't, not until you give me the green light."

Regina nodded slowly and sat down hard on the edge of the tub. "Pregnant. Well, this is definitely a new adventure. Maybe his mom will stop hounding him about grandbabies."

"There is that," he agreed. "Want me to get you anything?"

"No. No, I'll be fine. You have to get to the office."

Jefferson checked his watch. "I do, but if you need anything, text me or call Ruby. I'll make sure she knows you're under the weather and might need something today."

"Thanks, Jefferson," she said and he took her hand. "Thanks for being the friend I never had."

"I'll always be your friend, hon, never forget that." He hugged her before he left. Once he was safely outside the penthouse, he let out a loud whoop of excitement. Robin would be thrilled if she really were pregnant and could have a baby.

As Jefferson got onto the elevator when his phone rung. "Robin, boy, how's it going?" he said happily when he answered.

"What's wrong with her, really?"

"She's got a bug, man, nothing more."

"You're lying too. Why do you both think you can actually lie to me?" he snapped.

"Look, it might not be a bug, but I have been sworn to secrecy." Jefferson grimaced. "She's still figuring out a few things."

"That's not making me feel any better. I think I might have to take you to the boxing ring."

"If it makes you feel better." He laughed.

"Just tell me what's wrong."

"Nope, I have to get to the office. Have fun on your trip!" Jefferson hung up on him before he could cave and tell Robin everything. He promised Regina he would keep his mouth shut and he always kept his promises.

All afternoon, Regina walked aimlessly around the penthouse. She threw away the tests and hid the boxes in the other bathroom so Robin wouldn't find them when he came home on Monday. Surprisingly, she felt better, at least physically. Mentally, she was a wreck, shooting from happiness to worry to outright fear. She had been told several times the scar tissue was pretty bad, but none of the doctors had talked about what would happen if she did get pregnant. They all assumed she would never try. Though, to be fair, she hadn't tried. It just… happened.

Late in the afternoon, she gave up trying to focus on anything and camped out on the couch, watching a marathon of Golden Girls for the hell of it, nibbling on saltines and drinking water even though it made her have to pee every ten minutes. She was about to doze off when a key turned in the door and she sat up, expecting to see Jefferson checking on her, but his was not the body that stepped through the doorway.

"Robin!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing home?"

"So this is what you're hiding from me," he muttered as he dropped his suitcase and kicked the door closed behind him.

Regina gulped as he moved closer. "I don't know what you're talking about." Shit! Did Jefferson tell him? Please, God, don't let him know yet!

"You have a fetish for old TV shows, is that it?"

She glanced back at the TV then to him and shrugged one shoulder. "You caught me."

He held her gaze, making his way around the couch until he stood before her. Without a word, he drew her to his body and kissed her fiercely until she melted against him. His tongue delved into her mouth, and Regina forgot everything she was worried about.

"Why are you home?" she asked when she came up for air.

"I was worried, and you and Jefferson were not making me feel better." He held her face and studied her eyes and body. "You look better. Were you sick today?"

"Nope," she said too quickly. "Really, I think it's sinuses or something—all snot."

His lip twitched, but he didn't let her go. Instead, he scooped her up into his arms and walked to the bedroom. "A bath would do you good."

"A bath, huh? Whatever you say, Dr. Locksley," she teased.

When they reached the bathroom, he set her on her feet and turned the water on hot, poured some bubbles into it, and turned his hungry gaze to her. Regina shivered, his one look telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her before he even touched her. She glanced down at her baggy t-shirt, sweats, and fluffy socks, and regretted dressing for comfort today.

"You think I care about what you're wearing?" he said as he tilted her face back towards his.

"You might not, but I do," she said, tugging at the hem of her t-shirt.

"Don't be. You've been sick and you're comfy. I don't care what you wear, Regina. You're with me and we're together. At the end of the day, that's all that matters."

He kissed her neck languidly and she tugged his dress shirt out of his slacks, craving the touch of his warm, hard body. His lips left her neck long enough to relieve her of her t-shirt, growling deep in his throat to see she wore nothing under it. He rubbed his cheek against her breasts while his hands tugged at the strings holding her sweats up, Regina's breath coming in little bursts as he undressed her so carefully. Her pants slipped down and he helped her step out of them, socks and all, and guided her to the tub. She stepped in and sank below the bubbles, her eyes stuck on him as he unbuttoned his shirt.

"LA was so lonely without you," he informed her as he shrugged his shirt over his massive shoulders and kicked out of his shoes.

"Same here. I think I started talking to the walls."

"You do that already," he said with an arched brow.

"Going over my lesson plan is not talking to the walls," she corrected, speaking slowly. It was hard to focus when his hands undid his pants and he shoved them down his body, revealing every delicious bit of him she wanted to kiss and nibble. She licked her lips at his bobbing erection, wanting to taste him.

He climbed into the tub with her and dragged her back against his chest. "Next time I go out of town, you're coming with me, sick or not. I can't stand being away from you."

Regina rested against his body, comfortable in the cradle of his hips as he shut off the water. "I'm not used to missing someone this much either," she said, sighing when his hands slipped down her wet body to twirl in her curls. "You're making me dizzy already."

"Good, I want you dizzy," he whispered against her ear. "I want you wet for me, begging for me as much as my body begs for yours."

"My body always wants yours." She lifted her hips and his hand glided easily against her cleft.

His erection swelled against her back, and she wanted him buried inside her. Three days was too long without his touch, but he didn't let her turn around yet. He spread her lips, caressing them before his fingers thrust inside her. She groaned, digging her nails hard into his thighs as he worked to stretch her and find that one spot to make her scream his name. His thumb pressed against her clit as his free hand held her breast.

"I can't live without this." He licked her earlobe and sucked hard, teasing her nipple while his fingers ravaged her. Her hips bucked and she lost herself in the sensations pouring over her.

Every nerve was alight with passion. The water lapping over her skin was like a separate touch of his body, as if he was able to touch every inch of her while he brought her to the edge of climax then pulled back before starting over again. He teased her, and all she could do was hold on while he explored her body with such intricate care and detail, there wasn't a single spot he left untouched. She shifted back against him and rubbed his cock, but there wasn't a way to get a hold on him.

"Not yet," he growled. "I want to hear you scream first."

"Robin," she begged as he stroked her hard and fast beneath the water. "Oh, God! Robin!"

"Come for me, Regina. Cry out your release for me."

Her mouth fell open on a moan that built the harder he stroked. Her body twitched with the pleasure shooting through her limbs, his hand not ceasing as it tore every last bit of pleasure from deep within her depths. She shuddered one final time and collapsed against him.

"Not… fair," she muttered and spun around slowly in the large tub.

"I don't play fair, remember?"

"Neither do I." She straddled his lap, and before he could attempt to pull away and torture her more, she gripped his length hard and worked her palms down his swollen erection, rubbing her thumb over the tip. "Now, I want you to come for me."

His hands found her hips and he lifted her enough to thrust into her. Regina wrapped her arms around his neck as he captured her lips, kissing her hard and deep to match his thrusts. The idea of making love while she was pregnant with their child, set her on fire, and she had to be as close to him as possible, telling him without the words that refused to come how much she needed him in her life. He completed her; he was the missing piece she had sought her whole life. The water splashed out of the tub and onto the floor. Her laughter joined his as he made love to her the way a husband did to his wife.

"Robin," she tried to say, groaning with each drag out of her body, but she couldn't find the rest of the words. He filled her to the brim with love and fire, stretching her beyond what she ever imagined, and she held on for the ride.

When the orgasm tore through their bodies, he plunged into her one final time, spilling his seed as his hips bucked wildly and she took him all in, quivering from the sharp bursts of pleasure shooting from her sheath to her chest. They would be fine. In that moment, she knew it. No matter what came next, no matter how he took the news of her being pregnant, they would be fine.

The second Robin stepped through the door earlier, his gut told him something was wrong with Regina. He meant to corner her and make her tell him, but seeing her in her sweats and t-shirt, so comfortable in their home, shot all other plans out the window except to have her. Now, as they finished their steamy bath, he tucked her hair, curling gently from the water, behind her ears and kissed her as he pulled out.

"Damn," he groaned, the aftershock of pleasure catching him off guard.

"Satisfied that there's nothing wrong now?" she asked breathlessly, settling against the other end of the tub.

"For the moment," he grunted. "You would tell me if something was wrong, right?"

She smiled and reached for his hand in the water, holding it to her cheek as she leaned into his palm. "I will always tell you everything. Sometimes, it just might take a little longer, that's all."

Did he tell her now as she held his gaze so steadily, no fear in sight, no flinching away from him? His jaw worked over the words, trying them out in his mind, but they remained stuck fast.

"I told you not to come home," she said, but the light in her eye said she was glad he did.

"Up for eating tonight?"

"I think I can handle it. Whatever you're in the mood for is fine with me." She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the water. Her hands slipped to her stomach and Robin frowned, worried she was feeling sick again and maybe their exertions were too much, but she appeared peaceful.

He pushed through the water for one final kiss, lingering as long as he could before his cell went off and he hung his head against her shoulder. "I'll be back soon."

"I'll be here," she said and squeezed his hand.

Robin dried quickly and dressed in fresh clothes. He had to go to the hospital for a consult with a colleague. As he checked his casual dress one final time in the mirror, the hair on the back of his neck stood up and an icy hand dragged down his back. He spun around, but Regina was still soaking in the tub and he was alone. A voice whispered at him not to leave, but that was ridiculous. Regina appeared in good health and he would be back in a few hours. Everything was perfectly fine. He ignored the strange sensation, finished dressing, and squatted by the tub.

"I just have to stop by the hospital real quick, grab some food, and then I'll be home. Golden Girls marathon?"

"If you're up for it," she agreed with a smirk. "I'm pretty sure I've memorized every ending."

"No spoilers." He kissed her forehead then the top of her head and her lips for good measure. "Right, I'm going then."

"Hurry back."

"For you, love, I always will."

Regina stared at her smiling reflection in the mirror. After Robin left, she soaked for a while longer until she was pruney, then got out, wrapped herself up in a towel, and promptly fell asleep lying on the bed. The fire in her eyes glowed brightly, all because of that man. She thought of what she had to tell him.

She hadn't gone to the doctor yet since it wasn't even supposed to be possible, but her hand slipped to her flat belly and she glanced downwards. The hard-to-ignore morning sickness, the fatigue, the random bouts of crying at tv commercials… She was glad Robin had been gone on his work trip for the last few days.

Her mind racing, she drew her hair back into a ponytail and wiped her hands down her face. After slipping on blue jeans and a bulky sweater to be comfy the rest of the night, she decided to set the TV up for when Robin returned later, when a knock sounded at the door. She set the remote down and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Robin had his keys. They weren't on the table by the front door, and she was pretty sure Jefferson wasn't stopping by until later that night.

She waited to see if the person would go away, but there was another knock, more insistent. Another knock sounded and she clutched the phone in one hand as she crept towards it. Leave it to Robin to be the only idiot in the city without a damn peephole on his door.

"Who is it?" she called out.

A high-pitched man's voice replied, "Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Locksley. I'm just dropping off some files Mr. Locksley wanted delivered."

Quick, just be quick, she told herself. She opened the door, forcing her lips into a smile, but it quickly disappeared with the gun pointed into her face.

"You never deserved him," Marian growled and forced her back inside.

Their takeout in hand, Robin strolled down the sidewalk on his way back to the penthouse. When he passed the window of a jewelry boutique, he tucked his cell away and let his heart guide him for once.

"Evening, sir," the woman behind the counter greeted him. "Something I can help you find tonight?"

He set the food down at the far end of the counter and smiled. "Yes, I think you can. I'm in need of an engagement ring."

"Ah, and who's the lucky lady?" she asked.

Robin grinned wider as he realized how weird this would sound. "My wife."

The woman frowned. "Your wife—you need an engagement ring for a woman you're already married to?"

"It's a long story, but let's just say I couldn't get her the ring she deserved, but now, I can."

"Well, now, I'd be more than happy to help you with that, sir," she said and waved her hands over the glass cases around the small store. "Where would you like to start?"

Robin pictured Regina in his mind's eye—her dark eyes, her dark hair, the way she smiled at him. "White gold, I think," he said tentatively, knowing how much she hated gold. "And no diamonds."

"No diamonds?"

He shook his head. "Rubies. She's a ruby girl."

"Then right this way, sir," she said and guided him down three cases. "Do you know her size? If not, you can always come back with her after the special reveal and we'll get her all fixed up."

"Tiny, that's all I know." He chuckled, picturing her small hand in his, but damn, how that tiny hand packed a punch. His eyes danced over the sparkling ruby rings and he tried to imagine each one on the hand of the woman he loved. "Let's try that one."

Gulping, Regina debated her chances of darting around Marian for the door, but she would never make it. Marian yanked the phone from her hand and threw it in the sink, smashing it to pieces.

"I don't want you calling anyone," Marian snapped, and she backed away quickly.

"What do you want?" she demanded fiercely.

Marian's sadistic grin fell at her sharp tongue, and Regina forced herself not to flinch away from her furious glare. "I want Robin back."

"He doesn't want you." Regina said.

"He did once upon a time. With you no longer around, he will again." Marian snapped, slapping her with her free hand. Regina's head snapped to the side, when she looked at Marian she was smiling and waving the gun at her. Automatically, her hands slipped to protect her belly and Marian's nostrils flared. "No—no, it can't be. You bitch!"

Regina froze when she heard the front door open and keys jingling.

"Regina? I'm back."

Fire coursing through her body, she threw her elbow back into Marian's side and tried to run. "Robin!" she managed to scream before it was cut off on a yelp of pain. Marian snatched her by the hair as Robin sprinted towards her.

"I'd stop if I were you," Marian warned and pressed the gun against her temple.

Fuming, Robin skidded to a stop at the end of the hall, his hands curling and uncurling at his sides and his lips screwed up in a snarl. He slipped one into his pocket, but Marian's hold on her hair jerked her head back and she lost sight of whatever he did. "Let her go," he whispered harshly.

"Why would I do that?" Marian asked.

Robin's gaze softened as it shifted to Regina's. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," she muttered through gritted teeth.

"Everyone will be fine," Marian said happily, "once she's gone."

"You really think I'm going to let you walk away with my wife?" Robin's hand brushed against his pocket and his eyes glimmered as he stared intently at Regina.

She frowned. What was he telling her? She squinted at his pocket and realized his cell was in there—had he called the police?

Regina squirmed and Marian lowered the revolver to her stomach and she gasped. "No, don't, please."

"Why not? He put it inside you, now I have to take it out."

Robin took a half step closer. "What's she talking about?"

Regina smiled through the tears forming in her eyes. "This is not how I wanted to tell you, but you're going to be a father."

"But I thought you couldn't have children," he whispered, shocked.

"I thought so too. Apparently, I was wrong."

Marian pressed the gun harder against her stomach, and Robin flung curses at him to let her go. "Put the damn gun down and step away from my wife and child!"

"This is how this is going to go, I'm going to get rid of this little problem. And then you and I Robin, we'll have everything." Marian said.

As if on cue, the elevator doors dinged out in the hallway, a sound that echoed through the penthouse since Robin had left the door wide open in his rush to get to her. His eyes locked on hers and he nodded. Regina pushed her fear aside, and with a yell, shoved away from Marian, stepping on her foot hard to throw Marian off balance. Robin rushed forward at the same time, stretching his hands out for hers. Everything happened in a blur. Several cops rushed in through the front door and yelled for Marian to drop the gun.

Marian screamed as Robin quickly curved his body around hers in the hall. "No!"

A shot went off and Robin grunted in pain, their bodies hitting the floor hard. More gunfire erupted, but Robin tucked Regina's head down, keeping her safe with his body. Then there was silence, a loud thud, and it was over.

"Robin?" She shifted in his arms, trying to move him, but he didn't budge. "Robin? Damn it, say something! Robin!"

Two police officers rushed over and helped drag Robin off. He grimaced in pain, and Regina ran her hands up his chest, searching for wounds. He reached up to catch them. "Fine," he muttered. "Perfectly fine…"

"Robin!" She held his face hard in her hands. "Open your eyes, Robin!"

Her eyes searched his body for any sign of a wound when she spotted the blood on the floor beneath his back. One of officers was already on the radio, calling for an ambulance and the coroner. Another cop rushed over to put pressure on the gunshot wound.

"Is he going to be all right?" she gasped. "Tell me!"

"I can't tell where he was hit," the cop told her. "I'm sorry."

Robin's grip on her hands loosened and his eyes slipped closed again. "No, look at me." She kissed his lips hard. "Robin, please, you have to be all right, you can't… you can't leave me now."

His lips twitched. "Pocket."

"What?"

"Pocket… coat pocket."

Fumbling with his leather coat and cursing vividly under her breath until he laughed with a wince, she found a small box and pulled it out. "This? What is it?"

He squinted one eye open. "Yours…"

Confused, she flipped the box open to find a sparkling single ruby stone set on a band of white gold. It was shaped in a circle, the band twisting around it. "A ring?" He nodded stiffly. "You got me a ring… what… why?"

"Propose to you… the right way."

She laughed through the tears pouring down her cheeks. "You damn idiot. You had to wait until you got shot to propose to me?" She stared at the ring, running her finger over it in disbelief until his head slumped to the floor. She dropped the box with the ring and scooted around to hold his head in her lap. "Robin, please. You have to open your eyes. We're getting married—for real this time—and you're… you're going to be a father and I can't… I can't do this without you, okay? I can't."

The cops close by whispered under their breath, but what they said, she didn't understand or care. She only had eyes for Robin, could only listen to his ragged breathing.

"I didn't think I could love until you came into my life." She smoothed his hair back from his face, tracing his scar. "You taught me what it meant, you saved me twice, and it's not fair… it's not fair for you to just go out like this so you have to make it. Please, God, you have to make it."

His hand raised slowly, cupping her cheek as his lips curled into a smile.

The paramedics arrived and she was pulled to her feet and out of the way as they loaded him on the stretcher. The police said they needed her statement as the paramedics checked the wound on her face. Her eyes shot to Marian's body, and words failed her as she swallowed hard. She was dead. They covered her body and she blinked a hard few times before quietly telling them she was pregnant, and the second set of paramedics escorted her to another ambulance to get her checked out as well. Numb, she let them direct her where to go and told the police weakly what had happened. There were questions and she thought she answered them, but her only care was for Robin and seeing him open those blue eyes again.

She was walking towards the ambulance when the events of the last twenty minutes took their toll and the world went dark.

He floated in a world of shadows and voices whispering to him. Robin cringed as bright lights flashed overhead before disappearing. Beeping… so much beeping, and then silence. He thought he heard crying—Regina, maybe? He thought he'd reached for her, swore she'd gripped his hand, but there was nothing there.

How long he was out, he wasn't sure, but when he attempted to open his eyes, pain flooded his body and he winced against the light filling the room. It was dim but still hurt, and he tried to turn away from it, grimacing at the pain ricocheting up his back.

"Careful, Mr. Locksley, you'll rip your stitches," a man said and two hands eased his shoulders gently back. "How are you feeling?"

Robin blinked to clear his vision so he could see a young man's face staring down at him quizzically. "Feeling? Pain… does that count, doc? Hell, are you even old enough to be a doctor?"

The man laughed. "Afraid so. I'm Doctor Lennet. I've been out of school two years now."

"Two years, great. I have to get up."

"Do you remember what happened?"

Robin sank against the pillow and shut his eyes tight. What had happened? He had gone out to the office then to get dinner for him and Regina… came back and… and… "Regina! Where is she? Is she all right?"

"Your wife is just fine," Dr. Lennet said and putting a finger to his lips, nodded towards the chair in the corner. "She and the baby are doing well."

"Baby?" That's right, she was pregnant with a miracle baby. He laughed in disbelief. "The penthouse and Marian…..she shot me."

"She did, but lucky for you, she missed any major organs. You lost a decent amount of blood, but you'll recover soon enough. From what the police told me, you saved your wife's life. That bullet would've hit her and probably killed her and your baby." He patted Robin on the shoulder as tears welled in the large man's eyes. "They're safe, Robin. You all are."

He wiped his eyes quickly and muttered a gruff thanks to the young doctor. "And Marian?"

Dr. Lennet's eyes fell and he shuffled his feet as he set Robin's chart back at the foot of his bed. "Shot dead by the police once they arrived. Rest, Robin. I'll have a nurse check on you again in a few hours."

The doctor left, and Robin watched Regina sleeping, curled up in the chair across the room. Her head rested on her arms, she'd kicked her shoes off, and from this angle, he could see the black eye where that bitch had clocked her. His back throbbed, but he pushed the pain aside. If anything happened to Regina or their baby, he wouldn't be able to live with himself, probably wouldn't be able to live at all. She was his world now, and all he had in his life that he cared for. He pushed himself up in the bed, and the change in angle gave him a view of something red and glittering on Regina's left hand. She wore the ring he'd picked out to propose to her.

Unable to stay away from her any longer, he gritted his teeth and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His weak legs gave out when his feet hit the floor, and he cursed, falling into the wall with a loud thud.

"Robin? Jesus, what the hell are you doing?" Regina snapped as she rushed to his side. "Get your ass back in bed right now."

He sat down hard on the bed but wrapped his arms around, holding her close and breathing her in. "Thank God you're all right," he muttered roughly, tears pricking his eyes again. He held the back of her head, kissing her forehead as she clung to him in turn.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "We're… we're both fine, but you have to lay back. You were shot, remember?"

He did as she ordered, chuckling at her fierceness. She sat on the bed beside him, holding his hand and smiling at him, but the longer they stared, the worse the pain in her eyes became before she collapsed against his chest, sobbing against him.

"This is all my fault. I'm sorry," she wailed. "You never would've been shot if…"

Robin hushed her and dragged her against his body so he could hold her in his lap. She was so small, and he cradled her securely, wiping the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "No, it's that dead bitch's fault. She tried to destroy your life and she failed. If I had to do it all again, I would," he said forcefully. "I do not regret a moment of our time together, do you understand me?"

"But—"

"No," he growled and crushed his mouth against hers, needing to taste her lips and know she was really there and this was going to be his future. The kiss deepened until he tried to move and his stitches tugged. He hissed. "Damn."

"I guess we should hold off on a proper reunion," she mused and kissed his nose.

"Afraid so." He lifted her left hand and admired the ring. "Is this a yes, then?"

She tilted her hand this way and that, batting her eyelashes as she said, "Nah, I just thought I'd keep the ring and run off." She hugged him close. "Of course it's a yes, Robin."

"Good, because you're getting a real wedding," he promised. "One fit for a queen." A flicker of worry appeared in her eyes and he rested his forehead against hers.

Smiling softly, she took his hand and settled it on her stomach. "You ready for this, too?"

Robin hated how his eyes grew blurry again, but he couldn't help it. His love for this woman and the babe growing in her belly was too much. "I never thought I'd actually find a woman I loved before you, never imagined actually have a child. Now, I have everything I could ever ask for."

"Good, because you're stuck with us both for a very, very long time."

She settled against his chest as he closed his eyes, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "God, I hope so."

Three Months Later

Regina rubbed her hand over her quickly growing belly as she stepped out of the car with Grams by her side. Robin had been busy all day, working on plans for their new house, so she took the time to work on more wedding plans with her friends.

"I still can't believe this," Grams breathed, staring at the ultrasound picture.

"I know. You think Robin will handle it well?" She leaned over to stare in awe again.

"He's going to fall over, that's what he's going to do."

"Nah, he'll just be pissed you got to be there instead of him, but with so many appointments, I know he can't be there for them all." She was a high-risk pregnancy because she wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant. What she found out today was only going to up the ante even more, and if Robin wasn't a worry wart already, he would be now. "At least we'll get free baby advice from you right?"

Grams leaned over and pressed her cheek against Regina's belly. "Of course."

"We're back!" Regina called out. "Robin?"

"Out back!" he replied through deep-throated laughter.

"Good sign. He's in a good mood," Grams pointed out.

"Here we go," she said. They strolled through the large house towards the back patio. It was January, but the men stood outside, grilling as if it was July. The heaters were on full blast as the sky darkened. Snow was supposed to fall at some point that day, but the weather was not one of Regina's biggest worries. Robin spotted her and set his beer down so he could wrap her in his arms. "How'd the house plans go?"

He kissed her full on the mouth as Jefferson hooted and hollered close by. "Perfect. We'll able to move in at the end of March."

"Great, I'm excited," she said and averted her gaze.

Instantly, his face fell and he clasped her chin gently. "Regina? What's wrong?"

"Well, we went to a doctor's appointment today."

"The baby," he whispered. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, no need to panic. Just another checkup, but I do have some news."

His eyes wide, he bent lower so his face was level with hers. "And?"

She held up the ultrasound photo in front of his face. "See for yourself."

He took the photo and squinted his eyes at it until his mouth feel open and he gaped at her.

"Well? Man, what is it?" Jefferson asked as he reached over and took the photo. "Holy shit! You're having twins!"

"Twins," Robin repeated as Regina nodded. "Twins?"

She leaned in close and whispered, "Twins."

His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Then he leaned down and kissed her hot and deep, showing his love for her again. She laughed in his arms as Jack wiped tears of joy from his eyes nearby.

"What's all this then?" Rachel Locksley and Grams asked as they joined them on the patio.

"I'm going to be the father of twins," Robin informed her proudly.

Rachel Locksley squealed and rushed forward to hug Regina close. "Oh, darling, that's wonderful! Will you be all right?"

"There's more risk, but the doctors say everything looks good so far." She held onto Rachel's hand.

After Rachel let her go, Grams walked up to Regina and took her hands in his. "I'm so happy for you both. I told you how you two were perfect for one another. Just like Raina and Robert."

Robin strolled over and took her hand, leading her back inside. She leaned against his arm, loving the warmth radiating from his body and flowing into hers. "Who's Raina and Robert?"

"A tale my Grams told me about two soulmates. Like us." Regina said.

"Think we're ready for this?" he asked, resting his hands on her hips in the living room.

"No," she replied honestly with a light laugh. "But with you? I could take on the world."

Robin bent and brushed his lips across hers. "Then let's go conquer the world together," he whispered, and she melted into his arms—safe. Finally safe and finally home.