Crap guys sorry it took so long! I got a little stumped but I got it figured out now :) anywho I had a greatly amusing conversation with Grace de Gold yesterday and I couldn't not write this and it jus tied in so nicely with what is going on. Besides I'm sure you've all missed this about as much as they have ;) the next chapter should not take nearly as long to get up! Enjoy!


"Snow she isn't going to want to talk to you," he reminded her as he brought his hand up to his head once again, checking for blood that wasn't there as he brought his hand back down. Things had been going remarkably smoothly between him and Snow considering the way things had been broken off. They still couldn't stand very close but they could hold eye contact for longer periods of time now.

Agitated, Snow crossed her arms and let out a long huff, "I know a way I can talk to her."

"Why don't you let me talk to her? I'm sure she's got her reasons. Did she even say anything about the dagger?" He attempted standing again and to his relief his head didn't spin and his body didn't protest.

"No...but-" she was interrupted by a plume of purple smoke and both she and James started at the appearance and jumped back slightly. Her jaw clenched instantly when Regina's form was revealed.

"Snow," she acknowledged her presence politely with a small smile and then gripped James' bicep and the smoke returned.

"Whoa hey wait!" Snow stepped forward frustratedly.

"Regina what are-" his voice was cut short as the purple engulfed them and as it faded he tried again, "you can't just magic smoke me wher-"

No more talking. Before the remaining smoke had dissipated she slammed him roughly against her bedroom door and kissed him furiously as she pressed up against him. Her gloved hands gripped the straps of his gun holster over his chest and she kept him pinned as she waited impatiently for him to gather his thoughts and respond to her demanding movements. He released his breath through his nose and his hands pulled her waist in to him as she pulled away, her heart already racing as she hovered over his mouth, "what were you saying dear?"

"Absolutely nothing," he breathed the words out quickly before he leaned down and silenced her low laughter with another kiss. They hadn't gone at each other since her mother had shown up roughly a week prior. It had been too long. He pushed off the door in an attempt to spin them around but she slammed him back down hard, pushing the breath out of his lungs and leaving him without air as she pushed her body against his and deepened the kiss further.

He groaned in to her mouth as she pulled on the straps of his holster to pull herself closer, making it even harder for him to breathe. His head was spinning and his breath was short and heavy when she pulled away enough for him to finally breathe, "what has gotten in to you?"

"I'm angry."

"Excellent," he breathed out and gripped the sides of her face with his hands and pulled it up to his. He oh so loved it when she vented her anger in this manner. Slowly he trailed his hands heavily down her neck, fingers meeting the smooth fabric of the leopard print scarf as he pushed her head back in a forceful kiss. Using his full strength this time he gripped her upper arms and pushed her off him, going with her to give him enough room to spin them quickly and slam her hard against the door, any gentleness lost.

Her mouth opened in a gasp, he had never used such force with her. He had used force yes but there was always an underlying softness to his movements. Now he was just as hungry and desperate as she was. She loved it. With her mouth open he took instant advantage and his tongue slipped past her lips, the force of the movement pushing her head against the door with a thud. She moaned in to his mouth, their chests and stomachs pushing harder together with each attempt at finding air.

Before she could snap at him, his hands found her waist and unbuckled the belt accentuating her figure beneath the black coat. With an excessive amount of force he ripped the snaps open and then pressed his body against hers once again, pinning her firmly between him and the door as his mouth moved with hers and his hands pushed the coat from her body.

"You smell like the forest," he managed to get out before he found her mouth again and ground his pelvis against hers causing her knees to go a little weak and she shrunk as they bent before she gathered herself again and stood up straight.

No one but him had ever had such an affect on her, she both hated it and loved it, "spending all morning in the forest," their mouths met in another demanding kiss that took her breath away, "digging a hole for your mother that never needed to be dug in the first place because her new toy," she arched her back in to him, black silk moving against subtly striped grey wool as she kissed him hard and breathlessly, "wasn't there, will have the scent of the forest linger as well as make you very very frustrated," she growled and his mouth found hers again as he pulled the scarf from her neck.

Tossing the scarf to the side his hands went back to her neck, his thumbs moving slowly over the soft skin as he pushed a series of low moans and heavy gasps of air from her as he kissed her with a need he didn't know he had. Teeth pulled her bottom lip, biting down with more force than necessary, "new toy?"

"A dagger," she crashed her lips on his once again, ripping her black leather gloves from her hands so she could easily navigate pulling his clothes off.

"Dagger?" He replied breathlessly, his eyes focused on parted red lips.

"Mhm," she confirmed quickly before lifting her head from the door and catching his lips in a firm kiss only to have him reciprocate and push her head back against the door. She made quick work of pushing the holster from his shoulders but regrettably he had to let go of her for the weapons to fall to the floor but he kept his body pressed right against hers to her delight. Her fingers then found the hem of his grey sweater and the white cotton shirt underneath and pulled them both up quickly and roughly. Her breath caught in her throat and her lips parted in a moan when her knuckles moved over the defined muscles of his stomach and chest, warmth flowing through her and her heart fluttering in anticipation at the contact and the way he continued his assault on her mouth despite her momentary distraction.

He pulled away quickly and only far enough to help her get the clothing off his torso before he was back on top of her again. With only the thin black silk of her own top between them she could feel every rise and fall of every toned muscle against her own. The feeling had her melting in to him and wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his short hair in to fists as she pulled herself slightly taller and kissed him harder, "oh I needed this," she moaned and then his tongue was back in her mouth.

Still pinning her firmly against the door he moved his fingers around her waist, pulling the silk from her black skirt as he went, "why do you want the dagger?" He breathed against her mouth before giving her another knee weakening kiss.

"I don't," she whispered simply between their next break for air and then pulled him back down to her.

"Then why were you digging?" She pulled him down once again and he swiveled his head and pushed her head back against the white wood of the door.

A low laugh vibrated in her throat at the strength he was using, the sound was muffled by his mouth but was still easily heard. She dragged her nails heavily from his neck, down his shoulders and sides, likely leaving thin red lines down to the waist of his jeans, "getting a little off topic," she purred but did not close the topic off from discussion for the future.

He grinned down at her, their lips just grazing. Under any other circumstances he never would have dared and he would likely never live it down either once the lustful air had dissipated. Luring her with his taunting grin his fingers hooked between two closed buttons and then ripped the shirt open, sending buttons flying. It was like breaking a dam and she immediately closed the distance between them, the warm skin of their fronts finally touching and causing his heart to skip as she kissed him with her hands on either side of his face.

"Your mother," he was cut short by her mouth back on his and he didn't fight it, only moved his hands down to her hips and slid them around her to find the zipper of her skirt, "door," there was no point in trying to form sentences.

"Magic," she dismissed it quickly and deepened the kiss, feeling the zipper get pulled down quickly at her answer. She stepped out of the skirt and kicked it to the side after James had tugged the snug garment from her hips. He seemed to like what he felt, his mouth pulled in to a grin as he kissed her. She wanted to see the pure unbridled desire in his eyes so she dropped her hands from his face and gave him a firm push on his chest causing him to stumble backward and their kiss to unfortunately be cut short. He didn't disappoint her. A wide grin spread over his mouth and into darkened eyes as he shook his head slowly while he looked her over.

She smirked at him and he knew she was giving him a chance to stare. Heeled black boots ended just below her knees, black nylon stockings ended with lace at the middle of her thigh and thin black straps attached to both the stockings and the black lace around her hips over a black satin thong kept the stockings from falling down. Her hands rested against the door behind her back, arms bent at the elbows and her black silk shirt draping over one shoulder while the other side had fallen and was caught in the bend of her elbow. Her breasts were framed and pushed up wonderfully by the black satiny bra and her chest and stomach rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath.

Her lipstick was gone and her eyes were dark while her hair had been tousled by his hands. His eyes were drawn to the corner of her mouth when it pulled higher in a knowing smirk as she tilted her chin down just enough to make him groan, "Regina," he whispered her name and in a fluid motion that started with her hips and ended with her shoulders, she pushed herself off the door and slowly sauntered toward him with her head held high.

She stopped in front of him and pushed her hips forward against him and she allowed his hands to wander over the lace and satin as she ran her palms over his bare stomach and chest, enjoying how her wrists and fingers had to give way to the hard muscles. She hummed approvingly and watched her hands as they made his way to his neck, "I've missed this."

Just like that their moment of placidity was over and she dug her nails in to his neck and pulled herself up to him. Her aggression was back and his bold use of his strength returned and she found herself being turned and pushed backward toward the bed. They both fought over control over the kiss and to her pleasure he wasn't giving in like he had done in the past. She was expecting her legs to hit the bed and for him to push her down but quite suddenly his hands gripped her waist tightly and with a startled yelp that was tainted with laughter she was thrown in the air.

She landed on the bed and before she could gather herself he was on top of her again, his hands on either side of her ribs to keep from crushing her as he opened her mouth with his. Her hands pulled his head down, firmly holding him there and keeping him from moving anywhere. She only let him move when he insisted and even then she kept her hands on the back of his head, holding his mouth against her skin as he lowered his attention to her neck.

He lowered his mouth further to her collar bone where he took the slightly protruding bone between his teeth and bit down hard enough for her to hiss but not enough for it to really hurt. As he released the pressure she ground her hips in to his as she moaned at his hot kisses and firm bites on taut fair skin, marking her as his as he continued his path. "Regina," a kiss on her stomach, "Regina, Regina," another kiss a couple inches lower, "isn't this a better way to release your anger," his teeth grazed the skin above just above the top of her lingerie, "than enacting dark curses?" a firm bite to her hip bone caused her to moan and buck in to him.

"Oh do shut up dear," she huffed out quietly as she rolled her head back deep into the bed. She heard him chuckle and then sat up taller as he ran his large hands heavily down her thigh and lifted her leg at the knee as he unzipped the zipper of her boot.

...

She laid on top of him underneath the soft cream sheets, her chin was rested on her hands that laid flat on top of one another on his chest. She hadn't said much for awhile and that was fine, he quite enjoyed laying quietly with her as she watched him with a warm smile and peaceful dark eyes. His hands were on her bare shoulder blades, rough thumbs moving in small gentle circles over smooth soft skin.

He was already smiling back at her but the corners of his mouth curled up further at the beautiful woman on top of him. In return her smile widened so her teeth flashed white beneath soft pink lips and the corners of her eyes creased causing her eyes to narrow beautifully and the dark brown irises to sparkle in the afternoon sun beaming through cream sheer curtains.

"You make me happy," she smiled and nuzzled her chin further in to the back of her hand as she bent her legs at the knee and crossed her ankles in the air leaving the sheets to fall from her bare legs.

James adjusted his head on his pillow as he smiled back at her and removed a hand from her back to push her hair behind her ear, her eyes still lovingly watching him, "you make me happy too," and then they were consumed in a comfortable silence again. She never ceased to amaze him. She could be so cold and violent and then she could turn around be so gentle and loving and there was no limit to anything in between.

He didn't know how long they had been laying like this. He honestly didn't care. While he was being honest with himself, he was grateful that she had seduced him that first night. If she hadn't he never would have known how much he could have loved her and how much she could have loved him in return. So yes, for that night he was incredibly grateful.

Regina could always tell when he was thinking hard about something, his eyes would focus on something small and they wouldn't move for as long as he stayed on that thought. She cocked her head slightly and dark tousled curls fell over her shoulder, "you're very handsome when you're thinking," she brought her bottom lip between her teeth in a childish smile and switched which ankle crossed over which.

James closed his eyes and laughed softly, "you think so?" He opened his eyes again and smiled brighter at her purely childlike expression.

"I do," she caught the tip of her tongue between her teeth as she grinned at him, rocking her head on her hands as a quiet light hearted laughter filled the room.

"You're adorable."

Without lifting her chin from her hands she opened her mouth and scoffed as though he had insulted her with the comment but he only laughed more, "you take that back!"

Her eyes were lit up with a playfulness he was certain he would never get tired of seeing, "absolutely not," he lifted his head from the pillow and shook his head with a teasing smile.

"You do realize that if you were anyone else I would have your heart for calling me such a thing," she raised and eyebrow and lifted her head off her hands only a little.

"Oh without a doubt," he nodded and raised his eyebrows as he dropped his head back on the pillow. She only rolled her eyes in return and smiled as she rolled off him only to nestle herself right up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder as she shifted around to get comfortable on her back. His left arm snaked around her bare body behind her back and around in front of her so be could trail his fingers lightly over the smooth lines her hips, stomach, and breasts created.

When she stilled he rested his head on hers after laying a soft lingering kiss on her hairline. A wide smile came over his face when, without a word, she held her hands out and waited for his to fill them. He did so without a second thought and let his hand go limp in both of hers as small delicate fingers traced and bent large rough ones. It warmed his heart and he hummed softly and nuzzled the side of his face in to her hair.

Regina hummed softly in reply and sandwiched his hand between hers, comparing their size with a smile, "I am not really helping my mother, I need you to know that," she said quietly and moved her hands over his as she watched how every joint moved.

"Alright."

"I just don't want her to cause anymore chaos than absolutely necessary and me disobeying her or refusing her would not go well for anyone...especially not for me," she trailed her finger up and down his knuckles as his hand laid in her other hand. She frowned slightly, "I've found a way to keep myself from slipping and now I'm just...floating I suppose."

James nodded against her head, "what does she want?"

"Rumplestiltskin's dagger," she furrowed her brow and shook her head in small movements as she turned his hand over and began tracing the lines in his palm, "I have yet to figure out why exactly," she licked her lips and then started to laugh softly, "she believes she is bribing me with the promise of the death of you, Snow, and Emma," she shook her head and continued tracing like lines in his hand, "if only she knew I am in fact working to prevent that from happening."

"Well that's always a reassuring thing to hear," he smiled softly and trailed his fingers up and down her side.

"I need you to trust me."

"Of course I trust you," he whispered in to her hair.

"Thank you," she whispered and then with a smile, intertwined their fingers and turned on her side and tilted her head back to look up at him. Bright blue eyes looked back down at her and she was instantly put at complete ease. "I like this," she kissed his chest softly and leveled her head so her eyes focused on their hands.

Then the front door opened and Cora's voice was heard, "Regina?"

James frowned when she let go of his hand and moved her arm over his stomach while the other slipped underneath his back and she hugged him tight. He didn't want to let her go either and he returned the tight embrace, "have you considered telling her?" He asked quietly.

"Yes," she nodded in to his chest and then shook her head and sighed, "I just haven't decided yet."

"Regina where are you darling?"

Neither of them moved even when they heard her coming up the stairs.

"Are you here?"

"Yes mother," she replied loudly and then quieted, "I'm here."

The door was not locked but as James turned his head the door didn't open despite the knob being turned. He couldn't help but smile at the long annoyed huff on the other side of the door.

"Regina open the door."

"I'm busy," she grinned and looked at James who started to laugh under his breath.

"What could you possibly be doing in there that you would feel the need to keep me out?"

"Who not what, mother," she smirked playfully at James who was working very hard at swallowing his laughter at the dead silence on the other side of the door. After a few more moments of silence she could feel her mother's magic starting to try and work through the charm she had made herself and put around her room. She shook her head, her chin now rested on his chest, "I said I'm busy."

At the startled and pained yelp on the other side of the door James started to laugh and in one swift movement Regina was straddling his waist and clapped her hand over his mouth, "don't laugh," she whispered but her voice bounced with her own laughter as she hushed him.

"Regina!" The name came out as a stern hiss.

Her eyes moved to the door and she wondered if she had pushed perhaps a little too far. At the sensation of something warm and wet against the palm of her hand she drew it back immediately with a gasp as she stared at him wide eyed, "oh you did not!" She shrieked and looked at her hand and then back at him as he tried hard to bite back a laugh.

Her mother almost forgotten she made a sound showing her disgust but he only laughed, "you are such a child!" She snapped loudly but there was no anger, it was filled with shock and amusement at such an action from a fully grown man. At least he had the sense not to say anything, there was a good chance her mother would recognize his voice at some point in time.

She found herself starting to laugh with him and she pushed her lips together to keep herself from smiling. Quickly she got off him and gave him a firm push causing him to roll off the bed and hit the floor laughing with a loud thud, "get out of my bed!" She shook her head and laughed as she gathered the sheets around her bare figure. With a hand holding the sheets up over her chest she looked up to find him buttoning his jeans and buckling his belt as he laughed under his breath.

With his belt done up he pulled on his socks and then his shoes and as he pulled on his last shoe he quickly glanced up at Regina and then returned his gaze to her. She sat tall with her legs tucked to the side under the cream sheets that she held to her chest to cover her front. She smiled at him as she watched him get dressed and he stood up straight and walked up to her with a wide smile before bending at the waist and dropping on to the bed, his arms catching his fall on either side of her hips so he hovered in front of her.

After a moment of just smiling at one another, they both moved forward and kissed each other slowly and softly. She moved her tongue over his bottom lip and responded by deepening the kiss, a long and quiet moan resembling a purr vibrated deep in her throat. The instant he pulled away she missed the warm contact but she was left happy and relaxed, "I love you," she whispered through a smile, still a little nervous he may not return it.

James smiled and whispered back, "I love you too," at that her smile grew until her eyes were squinted and her teeth shone white. He couldn't help but copy her smile and she began to laugh quiet and happily.

"You should finish getting dressed before I magic smoke you out of here without a shirt on," she had grown fond of the name he had given that mode of transport, it was amusing to her and she had no desire to give him the correct term. With a low chuckle he pushed himself off the bed and turned to pick his shirt and sweater of the floor and she shamelessly watched the muscles move under his skin as he bent down and picked up the discarded fabric and then turned to face her as he sorted out which was the front.

When he looked back up at her he caught her staring and he grinned but certainly didn't stop her. He pushed his arms in the sleeves and then ducked his head through the neck of both white shirt and grey sweater, laughing quietly at the small pout that formed on her face as he pulled the fabric down over his body. As he shrugged on his holster he walked back up to Regina and whispered as he resumed his place with hands on the bed on either side of her hips, "am I still going to see you later today?"

"Of course," she smiled and kept her voice hushed as then hooked a finger in the neck of his sweater and pulled him down to her for another kiss. Just a short one but long enough and she let him go and he stood up straight and then cocked his head and tucked his chin in and she furrowed her brow, "what?"

"You're not going to magic smoke me to another field or anything are you?" He whispered quietly as he laughed.

Regina shook her head and laughed along, "no. No I'll put you back where I found you," she smiled up at him and then waved her hand and the purple smoke engulfed him and he was gone with one last shared smile. Regina sat for a moment like that, smiling to herself with one hand holding up the sheets and supporting her weight on the other as she let herself continue to be happy before she lifted the charm around her room.

She cleared her throat gently and straightened her posture and putting her hand in her lap instead of leaning her weight on it. She didn't need to push any more of her mother's buttons than absolutely necessary and lack of a proper posture was a big one. With her head held high she lifted the charm and almost instantly Cora opened the door and walked in, surveying the room as she did.

Her daughter's clothing was strewn all over the room, all of it black save for the leopard print scarf she had been wearing. She folded her arms as she turned to face her daughter, entirely unimpressed, "what are you doing?"

"Well right now I am not doing a whole lot," she answered simply and didn't move an inch. While she now had her own magic she was still wary of her mother's and had no desire for her to use it on her.

"I do not appreciate being locked out."

"I do not appreciate being interrupted," she countered with a thin smile.

Cora shifted her weight on to one foot and nodded her head forward as she raised her eyebrows, arms still crossed, "you zapped me."

Regina had to try hard not to flinch at the underlying sharpness to her mother's tone and couldn't help the hint of hurt in her own quiet but venomous voice, "well I didn't snap at you and tell you to be quiet and take it," her words had the effect she wanted but not the effect she had actually expected. Cora's expression softened sadly ever so slightly but she still noticed it for the moment it showed.

Cora cleared her throat quietly and her gaze hardened once again, moment of weakness passed, "who were you with?"

"Mother I am no longer a child, this is my home and this is my bed therefore I can bring whomever I please in to it whenever I so desire and I do not have to explain myself to anyone. Not even you. You are a guest in my home and my guests do not have the right to pry in to my personal life. If and when I decide to tell you it will be of my own accord," her voice had remained strong and steady from start to finish and not once did she break eye contact with her mother. The older woman's jaw clenched and unclenched repetitively as Regina spoke and while she noticed, Regina did nothing about it and did not soften her voice nor back down.

Thoroughly irritated by her daughter's tone and words but even more so at the fact that she was correct Cora gave her a smile that showed no pleasure, only irritation, "I am your mother darling, I believe I am more than a guest."

Regina mirrored her mother's smile and shook her head slowly, "no," she drew out the word sweetly, "you aren't," her mother's smile grew more menacing while her own grew more relaxed in her small victory. She was a guest, nothing more. It helped in keeping her footing.

Cora looked over her daughter, finding anger in every small thing. Hair out of place, lack of lipstick, small markings put there by her lover that remained uncovered by the sheet she held over her front, the fact that she was in fact bare beneath the sheets and still had the nerve to sit there and talk to her as though she wasn't, the clothing thrown carelessly around the room, the blatantly obvious fact that she did not need her to pick up the pieces because this man and her son had already started only they were putting them back in a manner she did not wish. Everything, be it small or big, "get dressed, we have work to do."