A/N: I didn't want to leave all my lovely readers without an update, so here it is. After this chapter, there will be one more and this sequel will reach its end. BUT, expect a link the Part 3 posted in the Author's notes of the last chapter. (Ch. 36). I hope you enjoy this extra long update.
This chapter is Rated M. ;)
Emma pauses outside the playroom. "You're sure about this?" she asks, her gaze heated yet anxious.
"Yes," Regina smiles. Because yes- she wants this. She's as sure as when she said yes to Emma's proposal.
Green eyes soften. "Anything you don't want to do?"
Her mind goes into overdrive, only one thing coming to mind. "I don't want you to take photos of me."
Emma stills, and her expression hardens as she cocks her head to one side. She eyes the brunette speculatively. "Okay," she murmurs.
Regina is relieved when she doesn't ask why. Her heart accelerates as soon as she hears the lock of the door click before the door parts open slowly.
Emma stands aside, ushering her girlfriend inside, watching her as Regina slowly steps inside. She turns and closes the door in place. Placing the gift box on the chest of drawers, she takes out the flash drive, plugging it up. She presses a few buttons on a device Regina had never laid eyes on until now, and the music slow, sensual, and erotic. Ariana Grande starts to sing soon after. It's perfect to make love to.
At the soft beat of the song, which Emma remembered well to be Dangerous Woman, the song Regina was dancing to in her kitchen, when she spent her first night here, she walked over to the brunette, her hand tucking underneath her chin, raising her head up to meet her eyes.
"What do you want to do, Regina?" She murmurs, planting a soft chaste kiss to the corner of the woman's mouth.
"It's your birthday. Whatever you want," Regina whispers. Heart is pounding, her blood is racing through her veins with such desire.
Emma's brow creases, "Are we in here because you think I want to be in here?" Her words are soft spoken.
"No," She whispers. "I want to be in here, too."
Her eyes become darker, growing bolder and it feels like she takes an eternity to speak. "Oh, there are so many possibilities, Ms. Mills." Her voice is low, excited. "But let's start with getting you naked." Her hands pull on the sash of the brunette's robe so that it falls open, revealing the woman's silk nightgown, then steps back and sits down nonchalantly on the arm of the couch.
"Take your clothes off. Slowly." She gives Regina a sensual, challenging look.
Regina feels a puddle form between her thighs already. She removes the robe, slowly sliding it off of her shoulders, her eyes never leaving lustful green ones. Emma's eyes burn at the sight of the robe falling to the floor, pooling beneath the brunette's feet.
She slips the spaghetti straps of her gown off of her shoulders, releasing them. The nightgown ripples softly and slowly down her body, pooling at her feet. And there she stands, naked and oh, so ready.
Emma pauses for a moment, a carnal expression is displayed over her eyes, that Regina gladly welcomes. Standing up, she makes her way over to the chest and picks up her silver gray tie- their favorite tie. She pulls it through her fingers as she turns and strolls casually toward the brunette, a smile playing on her lips. She stands in front of her.
"I think you're underdressed, Ms. Mills," she murmurs. She takes Regina by surprise by placing the tie around her neck, tying it expertly and slowly, making a fine Windsor knot. She leaves the wide end of the tie long, long enough so the tip skims Regina's sex. "You look mighty fine now, Ms. Mills," she says and bends to kiss her lips.
It's a swift kiss, but it leaves Regina wanting more.
"What shall we do with you now?" Emma says, suddenly picking up the tie, she yanks it sharply so that Regina is forced forward into her arms. Her hands dive into jet black hair, pull her head back and her lips really kiss her this time, hungry, hard, her tongue unforgiving and merciless. One of her hands roams freely down her back to cup her behind. When she finally pulls away, both are left panting, breathless and wanting.
"Turn around," she orders gently and Regina obeys. Grabbing a hold of the brunette's hair, she quickly braids it and secures it. She tugs on the braid so that her head tilts back. "You have beautiful hair, Regina," she murmurs and kisses her throat, sending shivers running up and down Regina's spine. "You just have to say stop. You know that, don't you?" She whispers against her fiancee's throat.
Regina nods, her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of the blonde's lips on her skin.
Emma turns her around once more, picking up the end of the tie. "Come," she says, tugging gently, leading her over to the chest where the rest of the box's contents are on display. "Regina, these objects." She holds up the butt plug. "This is a size too big. As an anal virgin, you don't want to start with this. We want to start with this." She holds up her pinky finger.
Regina's eyes grow wide. Fingers? Up there?
Emma smirks. "Just finger- singular," she says softly with her uncanny ability to be able to read the brunette's mind.
How does she do that?
"These clamps are vicious." She prods the nipple clamps. "We'll use these." She places a different pair of clamps on the chest. They look like giant black hairpins but with little jet jewels hanging down. "They're adjustable," Emma murmurs, her voice laced with gentle concern.
Regina blinked. How on earth would she ever come to remember or even know about all this? Emma seemed to know a lot more. She was like some sexual mentor.
"Clear?" she asks.
"Yes," Regina whispers. "Are you going to tell me what you intend to do?"
"No. I'm making this up as I go along. This isn't a scene, Gina."
"How should I behave?"
Emma's brow creases. "However you want to."
Oh?
"Were you expecting my alter ego, Regina?" She asks, her tone vaguely mocking and bemused at once.
Regina blinks. "Well, yes. I like her," she murmurs.
Emma smiles, her hand coming up to caress the brunette's bottom lip. "Do you now," she breathes, her thumb caressing along her upper scar. "I'm your lover, Regina, not your Dom. I love to hear your laugh and your giggle. I like you relaxed and happy, like you are in Daniel's photos. That's the woman that fell into my office. That's the woman I fell in love with."
Regina's mouth falls open, jaw to the floor. She feels her heart explode with joy- pure joy.
"But having said all that, I also like to do rude things to you, Ms. Mills, and my alter ego knows a tick or two. So, do as you're told and turn around." Her eyes sparkle wickedly.
And that very sight sparks Regina with the most heavy of needs. Regina turns, doing as she's told. She can hear as Emma opens one of the drawers behind her and a moment later she's in front of her again.
"Come," Emma orders and tugs on the tie, leading her toward the table.
As they walk past the bed, Regina notices that all the canes are gone. Were they gone when she came in here yesterday? She couldn't remember. Did Emma have them removed? Did Mrs. Lucas remove them? Emma interrupts her thoughts.
"I want you to kneel up on this," she says when they are near the table.
Regina feels Emma lift her up onto the table, and she folds her legs beneath herself, kneeling before her, surprised by her own grace. Now they are eye to eye.
Emma runs her hands down the brunette's thighs, grasping her knees, she pulls her legs apart and stands directly in front of her. "Arms behind your back. I'm going to cuff you."
Regina does as she's told, watching Emma take a pair of leather cuffs from her pocket, she reaches around her.
Regina can't help but plant a kiss against Emma's jawline, then another, inhaling her sweet intoxicating scent.
Emma's eyes close, she stills at the feel of the brunette's tongue against her skin. "Stop. Or this will be over far quicker than either of us wants," she warns, pulling away.
"You're irresistible," says Regina, pleased to see the blonde smile at her.
"Am I now?"
Regina nods.
"Well- don't distract me, or I'll gag you."
"I like distracting you," Regina whispers, and Emma's brow raises.
"Or spank you."
The brunette tries to hide her smile this time. There was a time, not very long ago, where Regina would have been subdued by this threat. She would have never had the nerve to kiss her while they were in this room. She finally realizes she is no longer intimidated by her. She grins mischievously at Emma, and Emma smirks right back at her.
Emma has come a long way too. There was a time she wouldn't have allowed any of their submissive's to even laugh in this room. But, Regina… she was allowed that and more.
"Behave," she growls and stands back. She approaches her again once Regina falls to attention again. "That's better," she breathes, leaning behind her once more with each cuff.
Regina resists touching her, but still inhales her scent of the body wash they used last night in their shower. She expects Emma to cuff her wrists, but she doesn't. Instead she attaches each cuff above her elbows, making her back arch upward, pushing her breasts forward, though her elbows are by no means together.
Once she's finished, Emma stands back to admire the beautiful sight. "Does that feel okay?" She asks.
Regina can tell you, that this isn't the most comfortable of positions to be in, but right now she is so weak with want that she nods. She wants to know what Emma thinks of next.
"Good." She pulls the mask from her pocket. "I think you've seen enough now," she murmurs. Emma slides the mask over the brunette's head, covering her eyes.
Regina can't understand why not being able to see was so erotic. She could still hear, and picked up the song being on repeat. Emma must have set it as so.
Emma steps away, opens up one of the drawers, reaches for a small bottle and comes right back to stand in front of the brunette.
Regina can't make out what she grabbed, but picks up on a rich, lavender scent lingering in the air.
"I don't want to ruin my favorite tie," Emma murmurs, slowly undoing the knot and removing it from around her neck.
Ruin her tie? What is she planning on doing? Regina inhales sharply with the feel of the tie tickling against her skin as it is removed. She gasps, feeling the almost cold liquid run down her skin, being poured on her slowly. She released a moan, feeling Emma's extended hand run down her neck, it felt slick and slid smoothly across her chest, past her breasts. She feels more of the oil being poured down on her naked body, followed by Emma's skillful hands kneading away at her shoulders.
Oh, a massage. This wasn't something Regina expected, but she can't complain one bit about it. She groans, feeling Emma's hands caress at her breasts. Her body arches, wanting to urge Emma to touch her more, but Emma's skillful hands slowly move past her breasts, directly to her sides. She groans again of desire and frustration.
"You are so beautiful, Gina," she murmurs, her voice low and husky, her mouth next to the brunette's ear. Her nose follows along the brunette's jawline, her hands continue to massage her- beneath her breasts, across her belly, down… She kisses her lips, then runs her nose down her neck, her throat.
And Regina is on fire! Her ears hang on to every sound Emma's voice makes, hangs to her every word.
"And soon you'll be my wife to have and to hold," she whispers.
Oh, yes… her wife… to have and to hold… forever.
"To love and to cherish."
Yes…
"With my body, I will worship you."
Regina moans, feeling two of Emma's fingers begin to slowly massage away at her clitoris.
"Mrs. Regina Swan," she whispers, her fingers continuing their sweet, sweet torture.
Regina groans.
"Open your mouth." Emma breathes, her fingers never stopping.
Her mouth is already open from her panting, but she opens wider, and she feels a cool metal object between her lips. Shaped like an over sized baby's pacifier, it has small grooves or carvings, and what feels like a chain at the end. It's big.
"Suck," Emma commands softly.
Regina groans, but does as she's asked, sucking on the metallic object. She groans even louder, wanting to object to Emma's fingers coming to a stop on their massaging. No! Don't stop!
"Don't stop sucking." Gently, she rolls the brunette's nipples between her thumbs and forefingers, and they harden and lengthen under her expert touch, sending shocking waves of pleasure all the way to Regina's groin. "You have such beautiful breasts, Gina," she murmurs, feeling her nipples harden farther in response.
Regina's body arches up, feeling the warmth of the inside of Emma's mouth wrap around her hardened nipple, kissing away, sucking, biting and sucking again. When suddenly, she feels the pinch of the clamp.
"Ah!" Her groan is muffled by the device inside her mouth, the feeling is exquisite, raw, painful, pleasurable… Gently, she feels Emma's tongue sooth and leave her nipple, and as she does so, she applies the other. The bite of the second clamp is equally harsh… but just as good. She groans loudly this time.
"Feel it," Emma whispers.
I feel it, damn it, I do.
Emma tugs gently on the ornate metal pacifier in the brunette's mouth, and Regina releases it.
Regina gasps, feeling the blonde's hands slowly caress their way toward her backside, to the same rhythm of the music. What is she going to do? Her body jerks to the sudden feel of the blonde's fingers between her butt cheeks, teasing.
"Hush, easy," Emma breathes close to her ear and kisses her neck as her fingers stroke and tease her.
The brunette feels Emma's other hand glide down her belly, toward her sex, her entire palm cupping her, while two of her fingers ease their way inside of her. She moans loudly, appreciatively.
"I'm going to put this inside you," she murmurs. "Not here." Her fingers trail between her butt cheeks, spreading oil. "But here." She moves her fingers around and around, in and out, hitting the front wall of her vagina.
"Ah," Regina moans, feeling her restrained nipples swell.
"Hush now, baby." Emma removes her fingers and slides the object into her. She cups her face and kisses her lips, her mouth invading Regina's.
Regina hears a faint click. Instantly the device inside of her starts to vibrate- oh! She gasps. The feeling is extraordinary- beyond anything she's felt before.
"Ah!"
"Easy," Emma calms her, stifling her gasps and moans with her mouth. Her hands move down and tug very gently on the clamps, making the brunette cry out loudly.
"Emma, please!"
"Hush, baby. Hang in there."
This becomes too much. All the overstimulation, everywhere. Regina feels her body starting to climb higher and higher, and on her knees. Will I be able to handle this? She wonders.
"Good girl," Emma soothes.
"Emma," Regina pants, sounding desperate.
"Just feel it baby, don't be afraid." Emma's hands are now on her waist, holding her. They move from her hips, down and around, slick and oiled, touching, feeling, kneading away at her skin- kneading her behind. "So beautiful," she murmurs and suddenly she gently pushes her pinky finger inside her, into her backside.
Fuck! Regina's body arches, being held still by Emma's strength. The feeling was so alien, so full, so forbidden… but oh… so… good.
"So beautiful, Gina." Emma's pinky moves slowly, easing in and out, while her teeth graze at the brunette's upturned chin.
Regina is flying skyrocket high, plunging back onto Earth. She can't hold on no more, she screams as her body convulses and climaxes at the overwhelming fullness. As her body explodes, she's nothing but sensation- everywhere. She feels Emma release one clamp after the other, causing her nipples to sing with a surge of sweet- sweet painful feeling, but it's oh-so-good and her orgasm goes on and on without any indication of stopping.
"Agh!" She cries out, feeling Emma's finger remain where it is, easing in and out. She feels the blonde wrap herself around her, holding her as her body continues to pulse mercilessly inside.
"No!" She cries out, pleading, feeling Emma take the vibrator out of her, along with her finger, too, as her body continues to convulse.
Emma unstraps one of the cuffs so that Regina's arms fall forward. She feels the brunette's head lay against her shoulder.
Regina is exhausted, spent, shattered in all pleasurable ways. She feels as Emma lifts her up, carries her over to the bed and lays her down on the cool satin sheets. After a moment, she feels Emma's hands- still oiled- gently rub the back of her thighs, her knees, her calves, and her shoulders. She feels the bed dip as she climbs it.
"Ah!" She moans, feeling Emma plunge into her, her hand resting against her neck, holding her down against the bed, while the blonde's hips kept up their punishing rhythm harder and harder, faster and faster.
Emma's eyes were on fire, watching as her strap on made its way in and out, in and out, faster out and into the brunette's soaked sex. "Fuck, Gina!" She moaned her name again and again like a chant, until her own body convulsed and exploded with the most intense orgasm both women had ever felt. "Ah!" Her hips slowed down as her body laid exhausted on top of Regina's, until it rolled on its side, next to the woman she dearly loved, spent.
"Mmm…" Regina is humming sweetly. She feels Emma remove the mask from her eyes, but her eyes remain closed, too tired to open. And when she finally does, she finds Emma's soft gaze, staring right into them.
"Hi," she whispers, smiling. "Rude enough for you?"
Regina nods and gives her best grin. "I think you're trying to kill me," she mutters.
"Death by orgasm." Emma smirks. "There are worse ways to go," she frowns, as if remembering her almost death due to her accident.
Regina reaches up and caresses the blonde's face. "You can kill me like this anytime," she whispers. Her fingers bury themselves into the messy ponytail of blonde hair, and she pulls Emma in, capturing her lips in a kiss.
Emma kisses her briefly, then stops. "This is what I want to do," she murmurs and reaches beneath her pillow for the music center remote. She presses a button and the song changes, the soft strains of a guitar echo around the walls. "I want to make love to you," she says, gazing down into loving brown eyes.
Regina can see Emma's green eyes burning bright, her loving sincerity shining. Softly in the background, a familiar voice starts to sing the words to The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. And their lips collide together again.
After everything. After how things started, so complicated, so stressful, so challenging. This beautiful, kind, sweet, broken woman would be hers. Regina had said yes and she doesn't regret it. She loved her. Dear God, she loved her, and she would have the rest of her life to show her that, to feel Emma's love for her. Yes, they were moving fast, but they had both come a long way and Emma had changed so much for her. Especially inside this room. She had gotten rid of a lot of things- for her. She loved her. Only her.
"Hey," Emma whispered, her thumb wiping away at a fallen tear, running down the brunette's eye. "Why are you crying?" She asks, her eyes looking at her adoringly.
"Because I love you so much." Regina whispered, her hand resting against the blonde's cheek.
"And I you, Gina. You make me… whole." She kisses her gently again, as the song continues to play out around them.
Both are sitting upright on the bed, their legs tangled together, their arms wrapped around each other, their hands constantly caressing their bare backs. They were wrapped up in the satin sheet like a royal cocoon from their waists down. Neither of them are sure how many hours have passed, but they were engraved in a long conversation about each other, and when they met. Emma was a ball of laughter at Regina's impersonation of Belle the day of the photo shoot at the hotel.
"To think it could have been her who came to interview me. Thank the Lord for the common cold," Emma murmurs and places a kiss to Regina's nose.
"I believe she had the flu, Emma," she scolds her, trailing her fingers idly through her hair now, her finger playing with a strand of blonde hair. "All the canes have gone." She comments.
Emma smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind the brunette's ear, "I didn't think you'd ever get past that hard limit."
"No, I don't think I will," she whispers. Her eyes find themselves staring at the wall with the whips, paddles, and floggers.
Emma follows her gaze. "You want me to get rid of them, too?" She's amused but sincere.
"Not that flogger… or that one." Regina points to each one.
"Okay, those stay." The blonde smiles. "Why, Ms. Mills, you're full of surprises."
"As are you, Ms. Swan. It's one of the things I love about you." She kisses her gently right on the corner of her mouth. Her hand caressing away at the side of her bare breast, and she's surprised Emma's tolerating the contact well.
"What else do you love about me?" Emma's head tilts, curious, her eyes displaying that same curiosity. And Regina knows, this is a big deal for her. What didn't she love about her? She loved it all. Even her many shades of fuckedupness. Yes, even that.
She knows that life with Emma will never be boring.
"This." She strokes her index finger across her thin lips. "I love this, and what comes out of it, and what you do to me with it. And what's in here." She caresses her temple. "You're so smart and witty and knowledgeable, competent in so many things. But most of all, I love what's in here." She presses her palm gently against her chest, feeling her steady beating heart. "You are the most compassionate woman I've met. What you do. How you work. It's awe-inspiring," she whispers.
She loves all of that? All of me? Emma smiles. "Awe-inspiring?" Her face is filled with amusement, and her arms wrap tighter around the woman that will soon be her wife. "You know what else I love about you?" Her hand comes up, her thumb brushes gently against her upper scar, "This," she whispers, her lips place a soft kiss right against that scar.
And Regina loses herself in a passionate kiss, her lips melting right into Emma's, until they pull away.
"Hungry?" Asks Emma.
"Hmm… famished." The brunette smirks.
"Me, too." Emma sports a smirk of her own.
"It's your birthday, Ms. Swan. I'll cook you something. What would you like?"
"Surprise me." Emma runs her hand down the brunette's soft back, stroking her gently. "I should check my phone for all the messages I missed yesterday." She sighs and starts to untangle herself from Regina's body, standing from the bed.
Regina of course, hates that their special time is over, but it doesn't mean they won't have more.
"Let's shower," Says Emma.
The brunette smiles. Who was she to turn down the birthday girl?
Regina danced in Emma's kitchen, showered and dressed in a dress that was Belle's, given that it was a little too short from the hem. She was cooking up a storm for Emma, salmon with a French dressing her mother showed her how to make to perfection. She was on cloud nine, smiling, happy and engaged. Emma was on the phone talking to someone- she didn't know who- so she figured a little music would keep her company. And Gold- who showed up standing behind her as he entered the kitchen, causing her to quickly remove her earbuds and jump a little in surprise.
"Hi, Gold." She smiles shyly.
"Gina." He nods.
"Is your daughter okay?"
"Yes, thank you. My ex-wife thought she had appendicitis, but she was overreacting as usual." He rolls eyes. "Sophie's fine, though she has a nasty stomach bug."
"I'm sorry." It still surprised Regina that this man was a father. He looked so serious at times, and he was private with his life too, except with Emma. "Has Charlie Tango been located?" She asks.
"Yes. The recovery team is on its way. She should be back at the field late tonight." He smiled at that.
"Oh, Good."
"Will that be all, ma'am?" He asks kindly.
"Yes, of course." She smiles, watching him scurry back into the great room. Could she ever get used to this? Having people around to tend to her and calling her ma'am? She could hear Emma was still engraved in a deep conversation, and while waiting for the potatoes to broil, she decided to check her phone, finding a text message from Belle.
B: See you this evening. Looking forward to a looooong chat!
She texts back.
R: Same here.
She couldn't wait to talk to Belle. It will be nice to catch up. It brings a smile to her face. She hurried her way into Emma's office, who she soon discovered was talking to Ivy, scolding her about something- God knows what. But, just as she walked right in, knocking to alert the blonde to her presence, Emma's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
Regina mimes an eating gesture, which causes Emma to grin.
"I'll see you later." She hangs up. "One more call?" she asks.
"Sure."
Green eyes quickly scan Regina from head to toe, "That dress is very short," she adds.
"Do you like it?" Regina gives her a quick twirl. It was one of Belle's old dresses that she never used anymore, it was blue and very adjustable to the body. It was more a dress for the beach, but given that it was such a lovely day. Why not?
Emma's face falls. "You look fantastic in it, Gina. I just don't want anyone else to see you like that."
"Oh!" Regina scowls at her. "We're at home, Emma. No one but the staff."
Emma's mouth twists up but Regina can't tell if she was just trying to hide her amusement or she really didn't think it was funny. But eventually, she nodded, reassured and Regina headed back into the kitchen.
Five minutes later, Emma was in front of Regina again, holding out the phone to her.
"I have your father for you," she murmurs, her eyes wary.
Regina's eyes grow wide, she snatches the phone from her hand, covering the mouth piece. "You told him!" She hisses.
Emma nods, surprised by the brunette's reaction.
Okay, so she knew they couldn't exactly fly out to Florida to see her parents, especially after the blonde's accident, but she didn't expect for her to call them up so soon either. She was expecting maybe after the whole party deal. But as always, her fiancee was four steps ahead of her.
"Hi, daddy." She takes a deep breath, bracing herself.
"Emma has just asked me if she can marry you," Henry says.
The silence lingers between them, as Regina desperately thinks of what to say. Especially when her father remained quiet on the other line, waiting for her response.
"What did you say?" She breathes again.
"I said I wanted to talk to you. It's kind of sudden, don't you think, sweetheart? You two haven't known each other long. I mean, she's a nice girl, knows her fishing… but so soon?" His voice is calm to Regina's surprise.
"Yes. It is sudden… hang on." She moves away from Emma, walking toward the great window and outside into the balcony. If she was going to do this, she couldn't do this with Emma's prying eyes staring at her. "I know it's sudden and all- but… I love her. She loves me. She wants to marry me, and there'll never be anyone else for me." She's blushing. Jeez, since when has she been this true about her feelings before? She can't remember even being this true about Daniel.
Was this it? What they called love? Did it actually turn you into a sappy, love struck fool?
Her father is silent for a moment, until… "Sweetheart… I know Emma lives well and is eligible, but marriage? It's such a big step. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Oh, daddy, not you, too, please…
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. You know me. I never go for anything that I am not a hundred percent sure of. And this isn't about her money, daddy… she's my happily ever after." Regina smiles proudly. "She's my everything."
Finally, she hears a chuckle out of him. "Happily ever after, huh? You are your mother's daughter. She's going to cry tears of joy when I give her the news. She's out and about right now, but I'll be sure to tell her when she comes home. You're an adult, and you've always been headstrong about what you want."
Regina smiled, "Thank you, daddy. Will you give me away at the altar?"
"Oh, honey…" His voice cracks. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure."
"I'll hand you back to Emma. Be gentle with her, hm?"
"Of course, my darling. Come visit us soon and bring Emma with you."
Regina enters back into the apartment, handing the phone back to Emma, who looks amused and quite happy as she takes the call. All Regina could do was stare at her as she spoke with her father, beautiful as ever and with bright green eyes. She could stare at her all day speaking on the phone, or even just sitting there with a concentrated look to her brow. It was really happening. They were engaged and soon this beautiful, broken woman would be her wife. To have and to hold. Until death do them part.
"You're a great cook, Gina." Emma takes the last bite of her salmon, raising her glass of white wine in praise.
"Better than the one we had at your club?" Regina smirks.
Emma chuckles. "Much better. You could certainly teach them a thing or two on cooking."
Regina frowns, because it's too bad she will only get to cook for her future wife on weekends. Or would she? Being Emma's wife, surely she would have a say around the kitchen. Then it occurs to her, she should have baked her a birthday cake. Damn! She glances down at her watch. She still had time to do so.
"Gina?" Emma interrupts her thoughts. "Why did you ask me not to take your photo?" Her questions startles the brunette, all the more because Emma's tone is deceptively soft.
Shit. Did she have to ask me this now? Regina hesitates to answer, not wanting the evidence of those photos that still lingered her mind to cause a fight between them. She didn't exactly want to bring it up now.
"Gina, what is it?" Emma asks again, her head cocking to one side.
Here goes nothing. Regina draws in a breath. "I found your photos," she whispers.
Emma's eyes widen in shock. "You've been in the safe?" She asks.
"Safe? No. I didn't know you had a safe."
Emma frowns. "I don't understand."
"In your closet. The box. I was looking for your tie, and the box was under your jeans… the ones you normally wear in the playroom. Except today." Her cheeks flush.
Emma stops breathing- literally- her hand runs across her hair, brushing back the fallen strands which just fall back into place around her eyes. She looks appalled, perplexed.
Finally, after a minute's silence, she speaks.
"It's not what you think. I'd forgotten all about them. That box had been moved. Those photographs belong in my safe."
"Who moved them?" Regina's brow furrows.
Emma swallows. "There's only one person who could have done that."
"Oh? Who? And what do they mean, Emma?" She takes one good look at the blonde, who actually looks embarrassed. As she should be. She can't even remember a time where Emma's cheeks were this red. Her hand continuously rubbing away at the back of her neck.
"This is going to sound cold, but- they're an insurance policy," she whispers, steeling herself from the brunette's response.
"Insurance policy?"
"Against exposure."
The room grows so quiet, they could both hear a pin drop.
"Oh," Regina murmurs, because she can't think of anything else to say. This was it. This was her fucked up side, the darkest of all her shades of gray. "You're right." She nods, staring into Emma's frightened green eyes. "That does sound cold." She stands to clear the dishes, not wanting to hear anymore.
Emma stands, walking behind her, "Gina."
"Do they know?" Regina turns to face her after dropping the dishes in the sink. "All these women… all these subs?"
Emma frowns. "Of course they know."
Well, that's something, at least.
The blonde reaches out for her, pulling her close. "Those photos are supposed to be in the safe. They're not for recreational use." She stops. "Maybe they were when they were taken originally. But-" She stops again, this time imploring the woman she loved. "They don't mean anything."
"Who put them in your closet?" Regina asked, seeing the sincerity in Emma's green eyes.
"It could only have been Lily."
"She knows your safe combination?"
Emma shrugs. "It wouldn't surprise me. It's a very long combination, and I use it so rarely. It's the one number I have written down and haven't changed." She shakes her head. "Look, I'll destroy the photos. Now if you like."
"They're your photos, Emma. Do with them as you wish. They were before me, right?"
"Of course they were. Don't be like that," she says, taking her hand in her own and holding her gaze. "I don't want that life. I want our life, together."
How does she do that? How does she know that beneath my horror regarding these pictures is also my paranoia? Regina blinks.
"Gina, I thought we exorcised all those ghosts this morning. I feel that way. Don't you?"
Regina smiles, because she feels it. "Yes." She nods. "Yes. I feel like that, too."
"Good." Emma sighs, she leans forward and kisses the brunette's lips, holding her in her arms. "I'll shred them," she promises. "And then I have to go to work. I'm sorry, baby, but I have a mountain of business to get through this afternoon."
"It's fine. I have to call my mother anyway. Then I want to do some shopping and bake you a cake."
Emma's brow lifts but her eyes light up like a small child's. "A cake?"
Regina nods.
"A chocolate cake?"
Regina grins. "Do you want a chocolate cake?"
Emma nods.
"I'll see what I can do, Ms. Swan."
Emma kisses her once more and then she's gone to shred the pictures.