A/N: HERE THERE BE A LOOOONG CHAPTER FILLED WITH HET SMUT. IT IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE PLOT. SWAN QUEEN IS ENDGAME IN THIS STORY.
Daniel can't explain why he goes back to the park, instead of returning to his apartment. He has a fistful of pencils and a large scratch pad and is drawing vigorously, unsure of the cause of his sudden compulsion, as if guided by something or someone else. He settles that his inspiration is due to his new fondness for the mayor, and he lavishes in the new imagery he has been inspired to flesh out on paper. He leans back into the park bench and eyes his most recent picture. A horse, brown as he imagines it but black and white in its realization. He knows his night will be filled with thoughts of the professionally clad mayor and he smirks to himself as he remembers her lunging for his lips with such wanton.
Regina is reluctant to leave the comfort of the magic in the clearing, but she doesn't need her mother showing up again. She starts walking, intending to go home, but ends up finding herself in the park. She flushes hotly at the memory of what she's last done in this very park, and a part of her wonders where Daniel lives and what he's doing. She chooses to wander the park, hoping it'll bring her some sort of comfort while she determines the course of her life and the others held in the balance.
The park has been quiet since his arrival so the footsteps draw his attention upward. His face flushes with heat and he sets his work down harshly as he stands to his feet. Seeing the mayor in much more casual clothes puts him at ease as he waves casually from ten yards away. "Fancy seeing you here, Madam Mayor." He smiles charmingly at Regina.
Regina is so lost in her thoughts, she's startled by someone addressing her. And then the voice registers as Daniel's and she smiles at him. "Hello, Daniel! I didn't expect to see you here," she says as she walks closer. "Taking in the lovely fresh air?"
Daniel pushes his hand into his pockets in a way familiar to Regina. "Something like that, I suppose." He shifts awkwardly as the mayor approaches, hating the possibility of upsetting her again. "Just out for a little inspiration, not that this morning wasn't enough." He gives her a sweet half smile.
Regina smiles shyly at Daniel's reminder of their earlier walk, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She spots his sketchbook as she come closer, stretching out a hand toward it. "May I? I'd love to see how you work." She catches the innuendo of what she's just said and blushes. "I mean, I'd love to see your work, if you don't mind."
Daniel's staggers nervously as he quickly swings to pick up the pad. "It's nothing really." He hands her the sketchbook. "Very rough. I kind of just let my hands take over, it's a hobby really." He pauses and runs his hand through his hair. "I am ranting, aren't I?"
"Not at all," Regina replies, sitting on the bench to flip through the book. She stares at the most recent sketch in surprise, heart clenching in her chest. "Where- Daniel, have you seen this horse before?" She glances up at him from the corner of her eye for a bit, but her eyes are drawn back to the reproduction of her childhood steed. "This looks just like the horse I had growing up."
Daniel takes the seat beside her. "I truly have never seen a horse. I am glad you like it though, my heart pangs with jealousy that you ride." He smiles proudly and his finger runs over the mane of the horse, tingeing his fingerprint with black. "In my mind I see it brown though, coloring has never been my forte."
"You've never been on a horse?" Regina asks curiously. "Well, we'll just have to remedy that, Daniel. It's an exhilarating and peaceful thing to be atop such a powerful animal. I don't do it nearly enough anymore." She watches his fingers trace the horse's mane, remembers them in her own hair like that. "My horse was a beautiful sorrel with a blaze like this. You've captured him perfectly. It's almost as if you knew him." She glances up at his face again, lip caught between her teeth. She knows what she wants to do; she also knows that it will damage her relationship with Emma, possibly irreparably. But she has five days to decide, and she needs to have all of the facts. Mind settled, she reaches up to stroke Daniel's cheek.
Daniel smiles against the mayor's palm, warmth courses from the spot, and he grows bolder. He leans into her, placing a soft kiss on the mayor's lips. His hands are quick to find her torso, and he presses his finger tips into her warm body. He moans softly as he slips his tongue over her bottom lip and brushes her teeth, demanding entrance.
Regina somehow sets the sketchbook aside without damaging it, caught up in the heat of Daniel's fingers seeping through her clothes to warm her skin. She parts her lips readily to deepen the kiss, groaning as his tongue tangles with hers, and slides her hand from his cheek back to clutch at his hair. Her other hand traces the length of his torso and back. Sensory memory takes over as she traces the shape of his left shoulder blade, wondering if he's still ticklish there.
Daniel smiles hard into the kiss and lifts his hand to catch her wrist; he slides it down his shoulder and over his own heart, which is beating rapidly. Her moaning echoes in his mouth and he can feel his blood rush to his groin as he reciprocates her humming. His free hand moves up to catch a fistful of Regina's hair, tugging softly to allow him access to her neck. His mouth latches hard onto her pulse and he lavishes his tongue over the spot gratuitously.
"Oh, Daniel," Regina moans, head falling back as his lips and tongue tease at her throat. She can feel the pounding of his heart beneath her hand, desire flooding between her legs as it matches her own. Her fingers clutch at him, needing to be closer. "Missed this..."
The two of them are entirely too caught up in each other to realize that they're being watched. From a safe spot in the trees some fifty feet away, Cora studies how her daughter interacts with her young lover and smiles broadly. "That's right, Daniel," she says softly, fingers waving in an intricate pattern before her. "Help Regina remember the love and passion she lost with you. When she once again feels your body against hers, she'll forget all about Swan and the curse. I can finally achieve my dream."
Daniel smiles at the woman's eager wanton and surprises himself by pulling hard on her hips, dragging her up to straddle his lap, closer to his questing hands and mouth. He is so consumed by the mayor he ignores the possibility of onlookers as he moves his hands up Regina's back and slides under her shirt. He kneads at her, pulling her collarbone back to his mouth. He is delicate as he scrapes his teeth on the hard surface. He groans lightly into her flesh, "You are gorgeous, Regina."
Regina sucks in a breath as Daniel's hands stroke across her back. She arches into his touch, whimpering as his teeth scrape across her collarbone. She can feel his arousal and another flood of desire soaks her panties. Without thought, she rolls her hips into his with a happy groan. She dimly hears a noise, remembers where they are, and stiffens. "Not here," she says, breathless with need and memories. She briefly considers taking him home, but that would only make things worse. She'll share HER bed with no one but Emma. "Your place?"
Daniel grunts disapprovingly as the mayor stops the friction. He is surprised as he stands to lift the mayor up off the park bench and sets her down on the ground, his mouth not releasing until they are both upright. He leans to grab his supplies and grabs her hand, tugging lightly with a smile towards to grocery store. "The place is a mess, but I understand the mayor not being able to be seen with a bagboy in her home." He pulls her to his car, an old beat up Mustang, and pulls the passenger door open to let her in, before taking the driver's seat.
"I don't mind the mess," Regina lies and follows Daniel to his car, wanting nothing more than to have this time alone with him, time to get back what she's missed all these years. She wants to forget everything else she has to deal with in the next five days, just for a little while.
Daniel starts the car and shoots a gleaming smile at Regina as he pulls out of the parking lot. His hand works to rest on her thigh as they drive to what seems like the edge of town. After a small trek up a dirt road they arrive at what looks like an old duplexed cabin. "It isn't much, but it is cozy, I promise. He turns the car off and hops out, making quick to the mayor's door to open it. He leads her hastily but gently to a side entrance which he unlocks quickly and pushes open. The room is dim, but the smells of charcoals and parchment fill the air. Daniel leans to click on a light, forcing the mayor to take a step inside, before shutting the door. The furnishings are rustic and country styled, matching the cabin's exterior and most of the home is contained in one large studio room. Finished pictures hang on parchment and litter the walls. Daniel smiles sheepishly and he doesn't even ask her opinion of his shanty before he gestures towards the kitchen. "Can I offer you a drink?"
"A drink would be lovely, thank you," Regina replies, looking at all of the pictures around the room. "You're really good at this, Daniel. You should try to do something professionally with them." She turns to study Daniel for a long moment. "Have you considered drawing people?" She can't believe how transparent she's being, but she doesn't care.
Daniel moves quickly into the kitchen, dropping his keys and belongings on the counter, and moves to open the cabinet, digging through it as he begins, "Never really had a knack for it." He turns and is holding a bottle of Merlot he has been saving for a rainy day, or one such as this, and two glasses which he begins to pour. "The muscles are different." He gestures towards the wall. "Switching has proven difficult." He blushes lightly as he catches his eye dropping from hers and slipping down to her thighs. He averts his eyes back to the glasses and scoops them up, walking confidently over to the mayor and extending a glass.
Regina nods, eyes watching him closely as he pours the wine. She smiles when she catches him checking her out, but accepts the glass and takes a sip. "Mmm, this is a lovely merlot," she says and moves to sit on the couch, patting the spot next to her. "I don't bite, Daniel," she says teasingly. "Well, not unless you want me to."
Daniel obliges with a smile and takes a deep swallow as he sits. He chews his bottom lip nervously until the liquid quickly warms his body and his courage. "Your muscles in the park today, the way they shift, the way they grind, that did speak to me, you know?" He takes another gulp and lets his hand rest on the muscle in question, her firm thigh. His fingers squeeze softly, more in adoration than lust, as he flicks his eyes back up to the mayor.
Regina grins and covers his hand with hers after setting her glass aside. She traces the back of his hand with a fingernail and up along his arm to his chest. For half a second, she swears she can hear her mother laughing, but she fights to ignore it. She needs to know everything to make her decision. "So why don't we stop beating around the bush, Daniel?" she finally asks. "There's something that happened between us in the park, something I think I'd like to continue. The question is whether or not you want to."
"I figured you one for formalities, I guess there isn't much in a title anymore," he says softly with a smirk before setting his glass on the table. He leans slowly into the mayor and, if being sarcastic to her comment, continues where he left off, scraping on her collarbone. Daniel's strength becomes apparent as he shifts in front of the mayor, dragging her hips around his waist as he picks her up and carries her the few yards to his bed. His mouth moves to land a hungry teeth-clashing kiss onto her mouth before letting her fall slowly back onto the mattress. He stands over her and, despite the heat rousing at his center, he eyes her with complete awe and adoration.
Regina groans into the kiss, returning it with enthusiasm, and tightens her legs around his waist. As she falls to the bed, she stares up at him from beneath her lashes. Taking a deep breath, she shifts up enough to remove her shirt, then crooks her finger at him, beckoning him closer. "There's a time for formalities, my dear Daniel, but this isn't one of them." She slips her hand down to stroke across her stomach, biting at her lower lip.
Daniel drops his head down to her stomach, gripping her thighs tightly. He is quick to tongue the length of her digits before lavishing her navel. His hands reach up, dragging slowly up her back to urge her up to unclasp her bra. He discards it quickly and gasps lightly at the sight of the mayor's full breasts. His hands reach to cup them forcefully as his thumbs graze over her peaked nipples in deep firm strokes.
Regina gasps at Daniel's tongue on her stomach, squirming beneath him. When his hands cover her breasts, she arches up into his touch, fingers clutching at his hair to hold him close. She grabs one of his hands with her free hand, bringing it up to her mouth to kiss and nibble at his fingertips. As she sucks one into her mouth, she hums in pleasure, hips rolling up into his body.
Daniel relinquishes the mayor slightly to remove his own shirt. He pushes his bare chest into hers as he presses a hard, demanding kiss onto her lips. One hand grabs at her wrist and pushes it firmly above her head while the other travels down to press into the warm heat between her thighs. He moans into her mouth as he feels the degree of wetness soaking her pants. He can feel his arousal pressing against the mayor's abdomen and groans at the friction.
The heat of Daniel's hand between her legs makes Regina groan into the kiss and buck up into him. When she feels his erection pressing into her stomach, she shivers in anticipation. "Daniel, please..." she moans and nips at his jaw, hips still rolling up into his.
Daniel is glad for the mayor's choice of clothes as her loose pants and panties slip easily onto the floor. He pulls back and unbuckles his belt which he discards quickly as his pants fall on top of the mayor's. He strokes himself purposefully and, as he lowers back down over the mayor, easily thrusts his cock between the walls of her sex with a firm pump. His hands dig into her hips as he finds his rhythm.
Regina drinks in the sight of Daniel naked in front of her, remembering the few times they'd slept together before. Whatever else her mother may be or do, she certainly got Daniel's body correct. When he thrusts into her, Regina cries out and clutches at him with one hand. She leaves the other wrist above her head, where Daniel had left it, and leans up to kiss him hungrily.
Daniel grunts into the mayor's mouth before biting her bottom lip harder than expected and tastes a trace of iron as he shifts to nursing it with hard sucking motions. Daniel keeps one hand firmly planted on her hip and moves the other to deliver hard twists to her nipples. He smiles into the kiss at her various whimperings, which drive his cock harder into the mayor. He can feel himself hitting her back wall and seeks a more direct approach. He shows his carnal strength again by flipping the brunette over with firm guiding hands and then ripping back into her. Both hands dig into her hipbones as he pulls her onto him, and he grins as he leans to kiss her shoulder at the further pressure he is allowed to dig into her g-spot.
Regina cries out as Daniel pounds into her, a combination of pain and pleasure that blurs into a kind of keening wail. She tries to remain upright on hands and knees, but drops to her elbows, forehead pressing into the mattress. She knows there will be bruises on her hips from his tight grip, but she doesn't care as she pushes back into his body. She doesn't remember him being this forceful back when they were first lovers, but it doesn't matter as long as she has just this one chance with him before she has to decide. She shifts her balance to one arm, other hand snaking down to press desperate fingers to her clit in fast, hard strokes that match Daniel's pistoning hips. "Fuck, Daniel, don't stop!"
Daniel smiles through gritted teeth at the mayor's beckon. His hand reaches up to firmly grasp a handful of the mayor's hair. His other runs along her back, fingers mapping her tightening muscles up her thigh and back. He can feel her slick walls quiver around him and he growls, "Oh sweet Gina." He can feel his release approaching, but years of prolonging himself keeps him steadfast and he beats hard into Regina. He tugs at her hair for support as his exploring hand pulls back to lay a swift smack onto her taut ass.
The minute Regina feels Daniel's hand in her hair, she moans and clenches around his erection. It won't take much more to push her over the edge, and she doesn't want to fight it. Her fingers slide across her clit faster and she moans with each deep, hard thrust. When his hand lands sharply against her ass, Regina shudders, dancing on the edge of her orgasm. "Yes..."
Daniel senses his lover's brink and he can't withhold any longer as he commands sweetly, "Let me hear you, Regina." He moves both hands to her midsection and rides her with fast, hard strokes. As he can feel her cunt clench around him, he shoots hard into her with a loud groan and digs his fingers into soft flesh.
At Daniel's request, Regina succumbs to her orgasm. She trembles against him, muscles clenching tightly around his cock, and lets out a loud shout, not even realizing that she's calling out Emma's name instead of Daniel's. Tears fill her eyes at the energy coursing through her body, an image of Emma dancing behind tightly closed eyelids. She lets out a soft moan that almost sounds like Emma's name again, immediately followed by Daniel's. With a shaking hand, she reaches back to clutch at one of Daniel's hands for stability.
Daniel is quick to steady the mayor, pulling her up onto her knees in front of him and he pulls out slowly. The wet spot on the bed beneath them is blatant evidence of their mixed sex. He hums into her ear before guiding her down onto the soft pillow. He spoons her from behind and his hand caresses her sweat-laced skin. He nibbles softly at her shoulder and punctuates it with a kiss as he pulls her in closer. He whispers his next few words slowly, softly, and doesn't even know the source, "Do you still have the ring?"
Regina leans back into Daniel's solid warmth, grateful for the grounding sensation. Hearing him mention the ring makes her stiffen in his arms for the briefest of moments. "Yes," she whispers raggedly, tears falling harder. "I've always kept it; it's my only link to you." She turns to face him, stroking his cheek tenderly. "I have never stopped loving you, Daniel."
He leans into her for a deep warm kiss and smirks. "You ride quite the same." He reaches his thumb up to drag away her tears. He coos in a comforting manner as warm memories of Regina flood his body. His eyes shut tight as a momentary migraine of information hits him. When his eyes open, they are filled with complete adoration of their youth and the woman before him. He is too overwhelmed to question anything as he speaks, "I love you, Regina."
"I love you, Daniel," Regina whispers, seeing recognition in his eyes. A tendril of fear oozes down her spine as she wonders how he could be remembering all of a sudden. Clearly her mother is trying to influence her decision. But she shakes her head to banish the thought, needing to be in this moment with Daniel. "I will always love you, no matter what."
Daniel pulls the mayor into her chest, remembering their final moment in a land far from here. His heart beats heavily and no words are required as the mayor's ear presses against it. He breathes deeply and lavishes in the air he finds. Their sex permeates the air and the smell drags even more memories into him as he closes his eyes again. His arms pull her in, bent on never letting her go. The flood of memories and physical exertion make his weariness hit him hard and, before lulling to sleep, he digs his face into her hair.
Regina lies there, curled into Daniel's body, and lets the tears fall. Daniel remembers! He clearly remembers everything now, and she's not sure what that means. Has her decision to sleep with Daniel caused her mother to already decide that she's chosen Daniel over Emma? Regina isn't even sure what she's decided yet. All she knows is that she's broken her vow to protect Emma and Henry by sleeping with Daniel, but she'd do it all over again if given half a chance. And what does that say about her? "Oh, Regina," she whispers to herself, "what in the hell have you done?" But rather than dwell on that, she lets sleep overwhelm her.
Daniel sleeps hard and scenes of his previous life dance behind his eyes. When consciousness returns, he smiles, eyes still shut, at the weight of the mayor against him. He opens his eyes and reaffirms his lips onto her head. He slides out of her grasp slowly and pulls himself out of bed. He grabs a fresh piece of parchment and a worn set of charcoals and sneaks back into the bed on his stomach. He is careful as he slides the sheet down to her waist and smiles as she shudders at the cold in her sleep, sweeping a warm hand across her back before settling into his work.
Regina murmurs softly in her sleep, shivering from the cold. For a moment, she flashes back to the night she spent in the clearing and whimpers. The touch of a warm, familiar hand gliding down her back calms her fears and eases her back into dreams. She relives moments from her relationship with Daniel, including his death. With a startled cry of his name, Regina wakes up and stares in confusion at her surroundings. "Daniel?" she whispers. "Oh gods, please don't let it all have been a dream."
Daniel's tools slip from his hands and he moves to comfort his lover. "I'm here, love." He glides his hands over her back and blushes slightly at the light black streaks he leaves. He levels his face with her and sets a light kiss onto her parted lips. "Wouldn't dare leave." He strokes her hair, his fingers combing through her dark locks.
Regina smiles and leans into Daniel's touch. "I worried my mother..." She stops and shakes her head. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. I'd much rather spend as much time as I can with you." The unspoken 'until I am forced to decide' hangs between them, even if Daniel doesn't understand its implications. She smiles and kisses him lightly again. "What have you been doing while I slept?"
Daniel smiles and rolls slightly to collect his things. He produces the parchment and reddens, embarrassed, as her eyes catch it. It is Regina exactly as she lay just moments before. "Your hair is shorter that I remember. I will never forget again, Regina."
Regina studies the drawing and feels her cheeks warm at the obvious skill and adoration in the black lines and smudges on the paper. "Oh, Daniel," she murmurs, "you are an incredible artist. You-" And then his words about her hair sink in. "You remember that? I cut it the minute I was settled in Storybrooke. I couldn't bear to have it long anymore. But I'd consider growing it out again." She feels that pang of guilt and regret in her heart again, wondering if Emma would want her hair long. "How can you be so sure that you love me, Daniel? You were dead. I don't even know how you came back to life, let alone how you remember." She swallows past the lump in her throat at the lie.
Daniel retreats slightly at the questioning of his affection, but he speaks softly with a smile, "I could ask you the same of your love, but I can't and I won't. You know my heart is beating as it always has, and only for you." He pulls her hand to his chest to feel the thumping again.
The steady beating of Daniel's heart under her hand both calms and frightens Regina. She can already feel that her heart is returning to the intensity of the love she shared with Daniel oh so many years ago, but it's competing with the equally intense love she shares with Emma. She wishes there was a way to have both of them in her life, but knows that would be incredibly selfish. "Daniel, I..." She has no idea what to say, so falls back on what feels right. She leans forward and kisses him again, hand gliding down his chest.
Daniel's tongue dances with the mayor's as he groans into her mouth. His hand reaches up to find her hair and he caresses her scalp firmly with his fingertips. He makes sure to memorize every movement, every pass of tongue, eager to preserve and relive their love. He tangles their feet up quickly as they lay side by side, eager for whatever closeness he can envelop.
Regina moans into the kiss, hands moving along the length of his chest. She sucks a breath in as she feels Daniel's erection stirring against her thigh. Her hand glides down to wrap around his shaft, falling back into an old habit from their younger days. She traces the length of him lightly once, twice, then tightens her grip a bit. "Mmm, you seem to be easily aroused, my dear. Just from drawing me while I slept?"
Daniel's head presses back into the pillows at the mayor's firm strokes. His eyes slam shut and he can reply only in a guttural moan, "...missed you." He can't help but firm in Regina's hand and his hips shift to allow her full access. His grip on her hair tightens as she works his cock perfect to his memories. "Oh gods, Gina." He can feel himself tugging her hair, urging her forward in the familiar process.
For a split second, Regina wants to refuse what she knows Daniel wants, but she doesn't. She realizes that she wants to experience everything with Daniel again, every last wonderful memory of their life. She kisses her way down his chest, nipping playfully at both of his nipples, pressing a sucking kiss just below his navel. She shifts again to kneel between his legs, pressing a kiss to the head of his cock before engulfing it in her mouth. It's warm and velvety smooth, just like she remembers, and she feels an answering quiver between her thighs as she eases more into her mouth.
The anticipation of Regina's warm lips slipping down his torso ricochets blood to his erection. The moment her can feel her breath against his member, he inhales, exhaling only when her moist mouth encircles him. "Oh gods, Gina." He resists the new Daniel's urge to push her head further onto him. His Regina is aware, she knows. His hands rise above his head and he grips the edge of the mattress as he begins slowly rocking his hips into her mouth.
Regina uses both hands and her mouth to tease and torment Daniel toward orgasm. She remembers everything from the first time she'd tried this on Daniel, which is nothing compared to what she's learned and perfected since, most recently on Graham. Her tongue presses up against the vein on the underside of his shaft, teeth lightly grazing the top until only the head is still in her mouth, then she sucks roughly, before sliding down to engulf him in her mouth again. She repeats this several times, sometimes slower, sometimes faster, one hand on the base of his cock, the other on his balls. She hums around his cock as she tastes the first traces of his semen.
With Regina's pleasure and need for his longevity not in play, his concern for holding out is at bay. The mayor's movements are precise and skilled, and he appreciates her dutiful process with a groan. "Remind me." He feels himself losing control and his hands cant commit to restraint as he reaches down to grip her hair. As he feels himself hit the back of her palette for the last time, he shoots hard in the back of her throat with his own loud, "Fuck!" ringing in his ears.
Regina knows just beforehand that he's going to come. She relaxes her throat, reveling in the feeling of his hands in her hair, and lets him thrust into her mouth as he needs. When he comes with a loud shout, she swallows greedily. Her hands continue to stroke him, milking his orgasm for all it's worth. She slows down and pulls back to press a delicate, teasing kiss to the tip of his cock. With a smile, she leans up to study Daniel closely, taking in every subtle movement and nuance. She crawls up to stretch out atop his body. "I've missed you so much," she says, "and not just because I remember how much fun we had like that."
Daniel's chest heaves as his lover pulls up onto him, and he smiles with eyes closed at her comment. "You will never be given reason to miss me again, my love." His arms wrap around her and he delivers a breathy kiss onto her skilled lips. "Gods, you are amazing," he says finally, locking eyes with hers.
Regina smiles and flushes hotly at his praise, once again feeling like the seventeen-year-old virgin who fell in love with him in the first place. She hides the arrow of pain that she may well have cause to miss him again, and part of her considers asking her mother to wipe his memories if she doesn't choose him. "You're not so bad yourself, Daniel. Where did you learn how to fuck like that? You never did that before..."
Daniel coughs softly and stiffens as he fumbles to explain. "Well I, new Daniel, he may not be as lonely as you would think a poor bag boy should..." he trails off. It's a small town and she is the mayor, her temper is known, and her power is a force. He pulls her in, both seeking the heat of her body and avoidance of the answer.
Regina stiffens a bit at the thought of other women sharing her Daniel's body. And then she remembers that she's slept her own way through certain members of this town, so she can't really be casting any blame. She lets Daniel pull her closer, nuzzling into his neck. "I have to wonder what else 'new Daniel' has learned from his conquests," she says in a teasing tone.