Their hands are joined as he leads her throughout the tunnel but she cannot feel his skin, not with the fabric of her gloves in the way. She tugs at his hand and calls out his name for them to halt their journey. He turns around puzzled to look at her as she disentangles her hand from his.
"I do not need these, they are irritating me," she says with a laugh in her voice and Robin smiles in return. Regina removes both her gloves, delicate pearly white things, excessively expensive accessories that Regina rids herself of, feeling as if she strips herself from her royal status as she does.
Robin watches her wordlessly and when she is finished, she is the one who reaches for his hand and asks him to lead on. Most of the weight of her heart has been lifted. The tunnel remains dark and dingy but somehow with Robin's guiding hand Regina's former feelings about the place seemed to shift. She is excited, eager to see what he wants to show her. She also wants to know just how did he come to know this castle so well.
"Robin," she breaks the amiable silence that had spread throughout their walk, "Do you live in this castle?"
He looks back at her grinning and replies, "No, I don't."
"Then how come you know it so well?" she is intrigued, wants to know more about him, wants to know everything about him.
"Well-" he tries, "Let me put it this way, I do visit here a lot." He gives her a lopsided grin telling her that is not all there is to it.
Regina cannot help but smile at him, there is something he is not telling her, but then again she also is keeping quite an important piece of information from him.
"Here we are," he says bringing Regina back to reality.
She looks ahead and sees the tunnel come to an end, but not as a stony dead end. Robin encourages her to come closer to the large opening, one that led to what looked to be a mighty fall, Regina is rather reluctant to follow.
"It's alright," he says reassuringly, "I've got you."
Those words seem to ring deeper in her than they were supposed to, and with her heart racing, Regina allows Robin to lead her to the edge of the opening. To her surprise there is a staircase glued to the wall that leads down to the edges of the castle. Robin does not lead her to it; instead he sits on the edge – not so scary anymore since the danger of the fall was not so imminent – inviting her to join him. Regina does not think twice before accommodating herself beside him, so close that their sides touch and she feels the warmth of him.
"Look," Robin whispers point at the sky and Regina then notices it was packed with shinning stars, not a cloud in sight just deep, dark, blue infested with bright spots for her eyes delight.
Regina finds herself gasping at the beautiful sight, bellow them is Sherwood Forest, mostly darkened by the cover of night but the sounds of the wild very much alive. The moon is almost full and it illuminates the dreamlike view Robin has chosen to show her.
"You've never brought anybody here?" Regina asks still in awe of what lays out there.
"Well, me and my men did discover it together-" he starts, looking at her apologetically, "-but we hardly ever really use the route to es-" he clears his throat and Regina has to wonder if he was really about to say what she thinks he was about to say. "My point is, I am the only one who still comes here, for no reason in particular, just to-" he takes in a long intake of breath, "just to think, to feel a little daring…" he gives her another lopsided grin.
"Daring?" Regina looks at him curiously, "How so?"
He bites his lower lip looking at her thoroughly before replying, "Well, if I'm going to be completely honest with you Regina, I was not invited to this ball at all."
"I know," she knew a while ago, because every single person who had been invited to this awful gathering was one in the same; rich and pretentious. And even though Robin's clothes had clearly been tailor made, they have small holes, his mask, although beautiful in design, had cracked quite easily when it had made contact with the floor after she had removed it, plus Regina knew calloused hands like his did not belong in nobility. She remembered quite well how hard the skin of Daniel's palm had been, just like Robin's, but in different spots of the hand, which led Regina to believe he was not a stable boy.
"You do?" he raises both his eyebrows in surprise.
"I do." She says simply, "I'm actually glad you are not one of those pompous guests, they are not worth the air that they breathe." Regina moves a little closer to him and places her own on top of his.
"Nor the gold they possess." Robin states.
"I guess that too." Regina sighs, having never really thought about that side too much.
"Which is why it's my job to steal it to give it to the people in need." He states simply and Regina cannot help but jump in surprise putting a small distance between them as the hand that had been warming his goes to her chest, just above her heart.
"I beg your pardon?" Of that she most definitely was not aware.
"My mission here tonight was to keep an eye on the guards and guests so that my friends could go to work," he starts explaining turning to face her, Regina's mouth is hanging opened. "Although I did a pretty lousy job, since from the moment I spotted you I was completely useless to my cause." He tries to humor.
Regina blinks several times, mouth still rather agape, as she tries to recollect her thoughts and take in what he had just told her. After a few moments, she manages, "And what cause is that?"
"Steal from the rich and give to the poor." He says proudly and Regina's mouth – which had gone dry – finally closes as she swallows and the wheels in her head turn, pieces coming together.
"We were warned about you!" she says pointing an accusing finger at him.
"How so?" he asks, he frowns, he looks worried, as if he had just ruined this perfect moment they were having.
"They said there were thieves in the forest and that we should be careful" the hand clutching her chest fisting at the fabric of her dress,
"We only steal from the unjust milady." He states seriously.
"Robin-" she looks at him in wonder, "You are Robin Hood!" Regina finally states aloud, "You are nobility after all-" she smirks and sees his expression ease, "-you are the prince of thieves. You are quite famous in my kingdom; I have heard my maids gossiping about your band of merry men."
"Are you disappointed?" he asks truthfully, seemingly afraid of her response.
She finally takes her hand away from her chest and places it on his thigh whilst stating with a smile, "Not at all."
He gives her an incredulous laugh and Regina cannot take it anymore, she feels a pull to his lips and surrenders to it. Leans in and with all the acceptance and understanding her words cannot convey, she kisses his smiling lips.
The kiss is short but filled with promise as Regina presses her lips hard against his, he places two soft kisses to her lips before they part and says, "Well, I have never had that kind of reaction to revealing my true identity." They both chuckle and the movement brings their foreheads together.
Regina sighs, her heart is light, she feels so happy she could burst, "Is it selfish of me to say I'm glad for that?"
"Not at all," he brings one hand to cup her cheek; he runs his thumb along her soft skin, as he continues, "Is there anything you wish to share with me?"
Regina immediately draws back, "Like what?" she is scared, all of a sudden terrified, he knows.
"I think you know Regina," he says plainly.
"I-" Regina does not have the words, does he know about her magic? About her dark magic? About her association with Rumple? She tests the waters, "You know?"
"I do know," he answers.
"But how? Did you know the whole time?" she starts to fidget with her hands, draws away from him even further, foreheads had long lost their contact as she now stares at her lap.
"I did not know the whole time," he tries to ease things up by imitating her voice, which does manage to steal a small smile from her lips, "But you must admit that not many call their daughters 'Snow'," she looks up at him incredulous, "You had given a few clues before but after that I simply connected the dots."
He-
Oh
Regina is the Queen, he knows she is the Queen, no magical string attached, just the Queen.
"And still you pursued me?" Regina questions, not willing herself to believe this man would actually go after her fully knowing who she was, "Even knowing I was the Queen and the penalty of doing what we did is death, on both of us."
"Regina, kissing you,-" he brings his thumb and forefinger to caress ever so lightly at her chin, running the very tip of his finger about her lips, "- is worth every single risk."
She does not know who finally closes the distance but a second later their lips crash together once more and this time she can feel passion and fervor in his kisses. She tentatively runs her tongue about his lower lip and he opens up to her, deepening the kiss. This time, their tongues dance, tangoing, tripping over each other. She brings both her hands to cup the side of his jaw. Regina sighs against his mouth, content, butterflies flying about her stomach.
Kissing Robin reminds Regina a little of what she used to share with Daniel, although the pair had never gone past this stage of intimacy. But there is something oddly different about this thief, this outlaw, he brings a strangely welcome warm feeling down below, something Regina did not register ever feeling before.
It makes Regina press her legs tightly in order to try to soothe the tingling sensation whilst she kisses and kisses the man. She finds she needs pressure in a certain area she had hardly explored before, it being the place where the King claimed his ownership over her, a place she would rather forget existed. And yet now as Regina crosses her legs with determination, searching for that pressure and getting in return small flames dancing in her stomach, she wishes to do the unthinkable, craves to do things she never before looked forward to.
Robin's hands have come to rest on her waist, his touch had once been delicate but now he squeezes the flesh on her sides from time to time, which only helps in fanning Regina's fire more and more. She rotates her hips in order to satiate her newfound craving and lets out a sensual moan, a sound she cannot remember having ever fabricated before. She feels Robin groan at her outlet and part their kiss for a moment to utter her name before he hungrily claims her lips once more.
That exchange makes something in her snap and in an impulsive act; she sits on Robin's lap facing him, a leg on either side of him. Her dress proves to be a bit of a challenge but sooner rather than later she has her aching core pressed against him. They kiss as Regina sways her hips once more, delighted by the force he is using to clutch her just above her behind to help her with her sensuous movement and the noises he makes which she feels reverberate inside her mouth.
Regina burns, she burns as she has never before, her heart races fast, she grinds and grinds on Robin, who does not seem to mind her actions, but rather enjoy them. There had been no preparation for Regina when it came to being bedded by her husband, her mother had only informed her she was to do whatever the King wished, obey to his every order. She gathers her actions are pleasing to her as well as to Robin but an insecurity crept from deep inside her, a nagging voice telling her she was behaving like a fool, that she will never be good enough.
Her insecurities were apparently clear in her change of action for they did not go by unnoticed by her fervent partner. Robin pulls back gently from their passionate exchange to regard her, a smile on his lips, showcasing his dimples she has already learned to adore.
"Am I making you uncomfortable Regina?" he says while he brushes a few wisps of hair from her eyes, holds onto her waist tight with his other hand.
She realizes she is breathless when she replies, "No" it's a mere whisper, "I-" she bites her lower lip and blushes. She does not have the words, does not know to convey her insecurities, feels ashamed of her inexperience. She looks away from his adoring questioning gaze.
He reaches his thumb up to pull her lower lip from between her teeth, "Regina," he urges her gaze back to his, "you can trust me,-" his accent was painfully poignant, emphasizing his point to reassure her even more, "-I would never do anything you do not want me to."
Regina feels the red of her cheeks warm her skin in shame. She finds it hard to express her feelings but she manages, "I have never-" she stops, swallows before she continues with her eyes closed and her head slightly tilted back not wanting to meet his eye, "I have never felt this before."
She hears him take in a breath to speak but beats him to it continuing, "This warm odd feeling in the pit of my stomach, it makes me want to do things with my body-" she then opens her eyes to meet his, "-and I'm afraid." A single tear slides from her left eye which Robin catches with his thumb, his mouth his slightly opened as he processes what she has just disclosed to him.
She takes a deep breath before finally confessing, "I have never felt this way before when I'm with him."
His eyes widen at that last statement, "Regina, you've never-" but he himself cannot find the words, he closes his mouth and Regina is pretty sure she looks like a scared little mouse staring back at him.
"I know you must think I'm silly-" Regina tries to laugh away but the laugh isn't genuine, it has a bite, "Mounting you like a horse like this,-" she gestures with her hands at their current position, "-but this is entirely new to me."
The look he gives her then seems as if he is looking deep inside her soul, it halts her breathing. Then both his hands find her face, bringing it close to his and giving her a quick but searing kiss to which she hums in agreement.
He draws back and looks at her very seriously, and Regina notices that his blue pools have grown several shades darker, hosting something new in their depths.
"Regina-" he says, "I would like to give you something"
"What?" she asks, curious at his sudden change of subject.
"It's a-" Robin starts, "It's something that feels like-" but he can't quite complete his sentence, he tilts his head in thought a frown adorns his forehead.
"What is it Robin?" Regina wants to know
"Let me put it this way-" he starts, "-the way you were feeling, it's completely normal, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's a good thing Regina, I'm happy I was able to assist you feeling that way," she offers him a shy smile, "-but that was just a taste, you can feel so much more." he takes one of her hands in his, "If you will allow me milady, I would like to assist you further in feeling." He kisses her knuckles and Regina is careful not to faint at this display of affection, so simple and yet so special when performed by him.
She gasps and he continues, "I will stop immediately if you ask me to milady, I do not want to push you,-" he wets his lips, "-I want to see you bloom, as you are the most beautiful and captivating flower I have ever come across in all my years in this earth." She finally meets his eye, her own are watery and his are full of promise, "Do you trust me?"
"I trust you." she answers promptly.