Thank you for the reviews on the last couple of chapters. It's good to know you're still reading! By the way, please check out the new story I posted, Back To Black. It's not OQ or EC, it's a different idea that will be full of angst and smut, and I'd like to see where it goes if there is interest. :) Now enjoy some EC smutty fluff for your Sunday reading pleasure. xoxo
Regina walked through the corridor of the castle with Violet laying against her shoulder, softly patting the baby's back on her way. It became routine for her to check every entry way and room after nightfall when everyone was getting ready for bed, making sure her home was secure.
On her way up the rounded staircase, she noticed one of the windows open. The moon was bright tonight, though storm clouds covered up the stars as they made their way across the night sky. The moonlight glistened over the crop in the field, shining off of the small bean sprouts that began to surface.
Everything seemed to be going as planned. Killian and David worked tirelessly on the new crop, doing everything by the book. As long as they didn't experience any harsh weather and were able to protect the land from outsiders, Regina expected them to be able to harvest and travel home in less than a month's time.
The thought of leaving was bittersweet for Regina. Since coming back she'd renovated the castle and turned it into a home. She had a house full of loved ones, something she never thought the walls of this place would see. It was a stark contrast to the loneliness she'd experienced here before.
Though, it would be safer for her family in Storybrooke. In this realm she was feared, even hated. While they were somewhat secluded from danger in the privacy of the castle, with the people of this realm unaware of their presence, she didn't want to stay too long. If they were discovered and something happened to put her family in danger again, she'd never forgive herself.
Closing the shutters with her free hand, she smiled as Violet nuzzled her small face into Regina's neck. She'd drifted to sleep on her mother's shoulder during their nightly chores. David had taken Neal to the nursery Regina had created for him earlier that day, in an attempt to get him sleeping in his own crib again.
She was sure Emma and Killian were already in bed asleep...or whatever they were doing. While Regina wouldn't change Neal or Violet for the world, she and David had never gotten to experience the time early on in a relationship where you could stay wrapped up in one another, like Emma and Killian were now. In many ways, she and David had had to put that on hold because of what happened, not to mention their focus then became about their children. Though she found that in their cherished moments alone, they still made each other giddy and she was thankful that the rocky beginning their relationship had hadn't made them lose their spark.
She made her way to the second story and padded down the hall quietly in bare feet. Peering in on Henry she saw him asleep on his bed, an open book laying on his chest. He had grown so much, he was as tall as her now, but still in the slim and lanky teenager phase. His frame suggested he would grow to be taller than her and a decent sized man. It made her heart thump a few beats faster at the thought of him growing up. It seemed like just yesterday he was Violet's size and teaching her what motherhood was all about.
Next she made her way over to Neal's room. She'd used dark wood for the crib and other furniture, accenting it with a flannel printed crib blanket and pillows. She'd placed stuffed animals around the room, and one of Snow's childhood favorites in the corner of his crib. No one knew but Regina where that teddy had come from, and she'd never admit that she'd kept one of Snow White's childhood toys for sentimental reasons during her reign as the Evil Queen. The truth was she'd loved Snow, deep down, throughout it all.
Neal was already asleep in his crib, his face illuminated by the small lamp mounted to the wall near him. His features resembled David's for the most part, except his large eyes and darker hair that were undoubtedly Snow's. Regina felt comforted by the fact that she could still hold a piece of her departed friend close, and it was an honor to help raise him.
While Neal was old enough for his own room, Regina still kept Violet in a bassinet in she and David's. Her baby required a couple feedings during the night and it was easier to have her close. She felt her daughter limp with deep sleep as she carried her into their room, gently shutting the door behind her.
David wasn't in the main part of her bed chamber, but she could hear him in the bathroom connected to the room. She laid her daughter in the crib, tucking her swaddling around her and kissing the baby's soft hair. The infant gave a hint of a smile in her sleep, warming Regina's heart as she straightened and made her way over towards the bed.
She stripped down to her shift and scooped up her clothes to drop in the hamper on her way to the bathroom to wash up before bed. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, she made her way in where she heard the sound of pouring water. The corners of her mouth tugged into a surprised smile when she saw David glance up, steam rising behind him from the large tub in the middle of the room.
"There you are," He smiled, setting the wooden bucket down near the tub, wiping his hands on his boxers to dry them. She bit her lip, eyes traveling over his toned body, bronzed from the sun and bare except for the shorts.
"What's this?" Regina shook her head at the bathtub full of water and the room lit by the soft glow of a few antique lamps. The bathroom was far from the conveniences of modern plumbing, therefore drawing a bath had consisted of David making multiple trips up the servant stairs after heating buckets of water to fill the basin.
"Emma said Neal had been quite a handful today while I was working outside, I thought you may want to relax," He shrugged, coming over to her and reaching out for the tie on her shift.
Their gazes met as he pulled the string loose from the tie, a slight smile playing on his lips when he noticed the heated change of her expression. She loved that he sensed what she was feeling. He seemed to read from her eyes every thought that she had.
"Join me?" She suggested with a slight tilt of her head, seeing his blue eyes darken a few shades. She could tell his good intentions hadn't been self serving by the way his breath visually quickened at the thought. He'd done this for her simply for her own comfort, not expecting anything in return. It only made her want him more because of it.
"Violet?" He asked with a raise of his eyebrow as he pulled the string of her shift completely undone, letting the fabric part between her breasts.
"She fell asleep while I carried her up," Regina nodded before biting down on her bottom lip, parting the fabric even more and letting the shift billow on its way down to pool at her feet. She watched his eyes travel down her body, hovering just a second more at her breasts and hips than the rest.
It made her smile somewhat self consciously, knowing she was thicker than she used to be after the baby. Her stomach had smoothed out back to normal, but her breasts, hips and bottom were rounder than she'd ever let them be. David's eyes returned to her own, seeming to notice the slight insecurity she was feeling.
"Do you know how hard it is to keep my hands off of you when I know this is what's under your clothes?" He half groaned, lifting his hands to her hips before sliding them around the curves, gripping her bottom and pulling her closer, "You've never looked sexier," He admitted and she believed him due to the hoarse, low tone to his voice.
She smirked playfully up at him when his words made her insecurity dissipate, reaching out to hook her fingers on the waistband of his boxers, pulling them down. She glanced down as she did so, watching the strong lines of his groin area appear as she pulled the fabric down. He was more muscular than he'd ever been and it made her stomach swirl with arousal, soft throbbing beginning between her legs.
He surprised her by picking her up with ease and stepping out of his boxers when they reached his feet. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his as he carried her over to the tub, her hands gripping his upper arms as he swung one leg over the side and then the other. He grinned at her as he began to lower them both in the water, a bit splashing out when he finally sat down all of the way.
She sat straddling his lap as David reached down to her delicate wrist, removing the one modern convenience she couldn't do without. He smiled as he took the hair band, putting it halfway on his own hand before reaching to begin pulling her hair up. His hands were gentle and made her scalp tingle, causing goosebumps to spread over her arms and her nipples harden. David threaded his fingers through her hair until he had it gathered at the top of her head, wrapping the band around it until it was secured in a loose, messy bun.
"Hmm," He murmured when he looked her over again, satisfied with his job, "Adorable," He muttered with a grin as he leaned in, beginning to kiss at her neck slowly. She let out a whimper of appreciation as the stimulation of his mouth devouring her neck and the hot water on her skin mixed deliciously.
Tilting her head to the side to give him easier access, she moaned when his hands squeezed her bottom and he sucked down on her earlobe. She ran her own hands up his arms and over his shoulders to his back, scratching her nails and making him groan in appreciation. She felt him hardening underneath her as she began slowly grinding her hips on him, creating a wave in the water that rocked up and lapped at her breasts.
One of David's hands followed suit, running from her bottom up over her hip and cupping her left breast, massaging his thumb over her nipple. Regina let out a slightly louder moan, lifting her head and gripping the back of his hair, pulling him from her neck. She smiled at him for a moment before leaning in to kiss him at a leisurely pace.
"I love you," Regina murmured against his mouth without hesitation, her free hand traveling down his chest and stomach, exploring the hard muscles. She never imagined she would be this comfortable expressing her feelings with a man again after Robin's betrayal. But that felt like a lifetime ago, and her connection with David was entirely their own.
"I love that you can say it first now," He replied before kissing her harder and deeper, scooting towards the middle of the tub so she could wrap her legs around his back tighter. Regina practically growled at the feeling of his erection pressing against her, arching her back and pushing her breasts against his chest. They both moaned at the friction before Regina gasped as David's fingers found their way between them, teasing her clit with expert strokes.
She moaned as his fingers stroked and circled the bundle of nerves, her hand grasping the back of his neck as her other pressed against her chest. Regina braced herself as he pushed his fingers inside of her slowly, starting to grind her hips on his fingers as he curled them, evoking a guttural moan from her.
The storm outside seemed to grow in intensity, paralleling their arousal. It rained harder on the roof, the wind creating a faint howling in the distance where the thunder struck, approaching them. Regina closed her eyes as her nails dug into his shoulders, pressing her face into his neck as her focus became riding David's hand harder.
She could feel his gaze on her even with her eyes closed, knew he was watching her intently, felt his free hand on her lower back spurning her on, helping her move harder. He liked to watch her come before he took her, he'd told her it aroused him like nothing else. The end result was always worth it for both of them, she was more than ready and he was hard enough to last as long as she needed him to.
She lifted her head to lock gazes with him, her mouth gaped and breathing heavily, making a devilish grin appear on his face. She smiled back at him before a strangled moan cut it short, her eyes closing as a quiet but bright flash of lightning illuminated the room. His grin quickly faded, his expression growing heated when her orgasm made her body tense, muscles clenching his fingers firmly enough to make him groan.
Her stomach contracted with the waves of her release as he slipped his fingers from her body, gripping himself and positioning underneath her. Her eyes opened under heavier lids, watching him in all seriousness as she lowered herself on his erection. David's head fell back against the edge of the tub, his hands running up to the rounded curves where her hips met her bottom, allowing her to sit still on him for a moment while he watched her.
Regina smiled warmly at his look of utter appreciation as his eyes scanned her body as much as the water would allow. She pressed her hands against his chest at his reclined angle, tucking her legs under her thighs as she sat on him, beginning to grind her hips. The water moved, threatening to splash over the sides at their slow but momentous rhythm.
She liked taking the lead to please him, leaning down and running her hands over his shoulders and neck, kissing over the skin of his chest. She ran a tongue over his nipple as she rocked her hips, feeling his own jerk underneath her in reaction.
"You feel so good," She purred against his skin before biting down on the rounded outer edge of his chest muscle, hearing his breath hitch as his grip tightened on her bottom. Regina straightened up then to watch him, one hand gripping his side and the other clenching the back of the tub beside his head to leverage her movements. She rocked harder, moaning under her breath as she did the work to build them both up.
The water now splashed freely over the lip of the tub, though neither one of them cared at this point. Flashes of lightning lit their faces from time to time, allowing them to see each other more clearly, thunder vibrating their beings. Regina whimpered as her body threatened to come sooner than she wanted it to, though she couldn't help chasing the feeling.
Her other hand came up to grip the edge of the tub as well, allowing her move harder and rougher. The room was filled with the sounds of thunder that was considerably closer, and heavy breathing mixed with choked moans from both of them.
David thrust his hips upwards as he watched her, squeezing her ass and pulling her down firmly on him at the same time. Her eyes fluttered closed at her impending explosion, arms stiffening as the grinding of her hips became sloppy and anxious near the peak of her orgasm. She cried out as her body contracted around him and her head fell back, causing David to let out a deep moan as he found his own release, hips jerking and jolting them where they were connected.
When she lifted her gaze she saw his lazy smile and relaxed posture, boosting her confidence at how thoroughly she could please him. She relaxed against him, laying her chest on his and nuzzling her face in his neck.
"We should really be more careful," He said, his voice still low and hoarse from arousal as his hands reached for the soap and cloth on the wider edge of the tub.
"What do you mean?" She smiled against his skin, feeling his hands at work behind her lathering up the washcloth before running it over her back.
"You just had Violet," He replied, washing her gently with the cloth, lathering her arms and chest as she sat up to allow him easier access, "You've got enough to handle right now without adding another Mills-Nolan to the family just yet," He smiled at her.
"Hmm you're right, I want you to myself as much as I can have you for a while," She said playfully as she helped him rinse her off before taking the cloth to wash him.
"I have to admit I've enjoyed our time here," He stated as he watched her do the same to him, making her smile again.
"I was just thinking that..." Regina gave a slight shrug while she ran the cloth over his shoulder and down his right arm, "You don't think it's too dangerous here?"
"It hasn't been so far," He let his head lean against the edge of the tub, outstretching the opposite arm for her, "I've been considering going into the nearby villages to see what it's like here now. Of course you'll have to fashion something a little more prince like for me to wear," He grinned.
"I don't know how I feel about that," She raised an eyebrow at the thought of him going alone. David was beloved by the people of the Enchanted Forest, but it had changed since the curse and their previous time here. "Why were you thinking of that?"
"I thought it might be nice to come back here from time to time," He suggested, his gaze reaching hers with curious eyes, "I've noticed how good this has been for you."
"To be honest, I've been doing some research on enchanting," She admitted with a sheepish smile, "The mirror I have, if I could add Storybrooke to it, we could travel realms without using any magic beans..."
He nodded with a charming smile at the fact she had been considering the idea too, "This place is a part of us, it's where we came from...the kids love it too, Henry always wanted to explore here."
"You really want to try and make this happen?" Regina studied him for a moment, biting her bottom lip as she rinsed the soap from him.
"I think so, but we have to make sure it would be safe first," He nodded before scooping her up, standing from the tub and stepping out of it. "What do you say, Queen?"
"Hm, okay," She grinned, stretching her arm to pull a linen from the hook and wrapping it around them to absorb the water on their way back into the room.
"It looks like the thunder woke someone," Regina smiled, looking over his shoulder to their daughter who laid wide eyed in her bassinet, "It didn't seem to scare her though," She noticed as David sat her on the edge of the bed, allowing her to wrap up in the linen as he grabbed a fresh pair of boxers to slip on.
"Of course it didn't, she's her mother's daughter," He smirked, handing Regina a shift from her drawer before going over to scoop up Violet.
She pulled the dress over her head before scooting back in their bed as he carried their daughter over to get in with them, "She's changed her looks so much already," Regina smiled, watching David sit down and lay Violet in between them.
"I know, I was hoping she'd resemble me in some way but she keeps looking more and more like you," He laughed softly, watching the baby stretch her limbs and gaze up and the both of them, "Apart from her eyes."
Regina watched David roll onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow to watch their daughter. It still put her in awe that they were hers, that she finally had something she'd coveted for so long.
"You know if we do manage to come back here, you could teach her to ride horses," David added, bringing Regina from her thoughts and causing another warm smile at the idea.
A loud rumble of thunder rattled the shutters, making Violet jump slightly at the loud noise and Regina's brow furrow, "We should go check on Neal."
"I don't think that's necessary," David raised a brow at their door being pushed open and the pitter patter of small feet on the stone floor as Neal appeared, dragging his blanket behind him.
Regina saw his bottom lip puckering, sitting up immediately to reach down for him, "Did the thunder wake you, my prince?" She cooed, scooping the toddler up into her lap where he snuggled into her instantly.
"It's all right buddy, you can stay in here tonight," David reached over to run a hand over his sons hair as his head rested on Regina's chest.
"Sleep mommy?" He asked in a most pitiful small voice that made David and Regina look at each other and suppress smiles.
"Of course baby," Regina answered, pressing a kiss to his head before a loud crack of thunder and flash of lightning caused him to hide his face in her chest again.
The creaking of the door brought their attention to it again as Henry slipped in, "I was just uh...checking on Neal," He said with an expression of fake confidence as he stood there awkwardly.
"Come on in," David spoke up, obviously noticing the boy was unnerved and not wanting to admit it, "Neal's not so sure about this storm, maybe we can distract him."
"Yeah, we could use your help," Regina played along as David picked Violet up onto his chest so Regina could scoot over and make room for Henry on the bed. He smiled in relief, giving them a nod as he came over to get under the covers beside his mother.
"Don't worry Neal, it's not as scary as it sounds," Henry advised him, causing the toddler to raise his head and give an unsteady smile to the teenager. "Mom maybe you should show him what you used to show me?"
Regina glanced at David before nodding once, "Okay, we'll see if it helps," She said, raising her free hand as she kept the other wrapped around Neal.
David and Henry watched closely as magic glowed from her palm, sealing the room from outside noise and creating a mirage of a night sky on the ceiling. Neal's head turned a little in interest, seeing the moon and sparkling stars appear.
"Look buddy, isn't it pretty?" David smiled at Neal slowly coming around, turning Violet to lay on her back on his chest so she could see what was happening as well.
"Now watch Neal, it's called lightning and its actually neat to watch," Regina cooed, running her hand on him over his head. The ceiling of her bedchamber was high, creating the illusion that the sky was far away from them so the toddler felt safe.
With a twist of her wrist, she made a soft bolt of lightning dance across the moonlit sky, complimenting the stars. Neal watched with wide eyes as he seemed to process the scene above him.
"That's all that's happening outside, buddy," David said as Regina added the sound of a soft rain to the scene above them, "And that's the rain. Not so scary, hm?"
Neal looked at the sky before sitting up on Regina's lap, his fear dissipating, "Where boom?" He lifted his hand in question.
"It's called thunder, and it can't hurt you in here," Henry shrugged with a smile, his head still tilted to watch the sky above them. Regina allowed the lightning to continue dancing across the stars with the sound of the rain, getting the child used to it.
"Ready to hear the boom?" She asked with a warm smile down at Neal, wrapping an arm around his tiny midsection securely.
"Boom," He nodded in response, tilting back to watch, the back of his head resting on her shoulder. She added a soft rumble of thunder then before creating a shooting star, distracting the boy from the thunder.
"Star!" The toddler pointed up at the sky on the ceiling, his finger following the path of it. Regina added another slightly louder rumble of thunder, sensing the boy understood it wasn't something to fear now.
"Boom!" He clapped his hands at the sound with a happy grin when he heard it, making them all erupt in laugher. Violet cooed then, with her arms outstretched towards the vision above her, adding to their amusement.
"I knew it would work," Henry states as he rested his head on Regina's shoulder, watching the storm continue above them on the ceiling. Regina cherished the moment as it reminded her he was still a boy in so many ways.
Neal continued to watch the storm, absorbed in the visuals and the sounds. She and David exchanged a smile when he reached over to rest his hand on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze in appreciation, "Look," He mouthed quietly to her, averting his gaze to Violet.
She laid on her back in David's chest, still reaching for the sky, cooing and squealing at the cracks of thunder and lightning. Regina noticed when her daughter reached towards the ceiling, the stars glowed a little brighter. Her eyes shifted to David again who had noticed this as well, biting her lip in an attempt to contain her proud smile.
Her daughter was powerful and David loved them even more for it. Her family had bonded, and for once she wasn't waiting for something bad to happen. She wouldn't allow fear to ruin these special moments for her, for she wasn't alone anymore and anything they faced would be together.