Chapter Four

Getting to know you

Regina's took a deep breath which allowed her lips to creep into a small smirk. "If you mean the horse, yes." She turned around feeling her back pressed into the wooden stall door. Her heart began racing when he put his arms at her side, caging her in.

"What else did you think I meant?" He tilted his head to one side like a confused puppy. His voice did not sound welcoming like a puppy.

"Well, in case you meant your hand." She forced herself to keep the smirk, though, she wanted to frown at him.

"Are you a virgin?" He asked.

"No." Regina's eyes widened at his blunt question.

"So, if I took you in the hay, you wouldn't bleed?" He leaned closer to her, hot breath trickling down her face.

"Okay, I haven't bedded a man before…" Regina's words fell out, so fast that he barely understood.

"A woman?" He rose a brow.

"No!" Regina gasped.

King robin stepped back away from her, his gaze cloudy and jaw tight. Regina didn't move from her spot. Seconds that felt like hours past and soon enough something caught his focus. He looked down the long row of stalls. Horses neighed, snored and whispered between the staff echoed softly throughout the stables. She turned to looked at the stallion behind her in the stall. The stunning horse did not pay any attention to either of them. He's only care was about the hay in his feed box.

"Do you want to see the new colt?" He asked.

"Of course." She nodded her head. Her shoulders relaxed and her breathing did too. He did not seem mad for her little fib. Unsure of the King's mood triggers, she didn't bring up her virginity anymore. King Robin led her all the way down the stables to the last stall on the right. A beautiful palomino mare stood grazing on some fresh hay with a muscular buckskin colt at her feet. The colt sleeping, so Regina stayed at the stall door cooing under her breath. King Robin watched her admire the colt.

"My stallion, sired this colt." He said.

"Oh my… he throws stunning babies. What's this one's name?" Regina asked.

"I haven't picked up one out yet. Nothing came to me." He reached out rubbing the mare's mane.

Regina studied the colt, her face lit up when the colt woke up and tried to stand up. Nameless colt wobbled and fell at his first try. He snorted and succeeded with his second attempt. The mother turned licking his forelock making it stand straight up like a troll doll. Regina giggled at the sight.

"What about Sun?" Regina asked. "You named your stallion, Night."

King robin pondered the suggestion she gave. "The mare's name is Star… I like Sun." He nodded.

Her lips curved into a toothy grin. "You're decided on Sun?"

King Robin nodded his head. "Sun"

She reached out fingertips grazing the rump of the colt. He didn't even seem to notice; he was head deep from nursing. She scratched his butt for a few seconds and patted the mare's shoulder. "You're doing a good job." She praised Star. This made her miss her horse at home.

"Do you have a horse?" He asked.

"I do, a bay gelding with a star on his nose." Regina sighed.

"Maybe one day, we could bring him here.' King Robin said.

What did that mean? Why would the King want her horse here at the royal stables? Did he want her to be the future queen? Regina couldn't find words, she blinked a few times and nodded.

"Would you not want that?" He asked.

"I suppose I would if I were to stay here awhile." She whispered.

He showed her the rest of the stables, the tack room, feed room, bathing stations for the horses, and the upstairs hay loft. The loft must have been one of her favorite places so far. The large window in the back of the loft overlooked the lush green hilly pastures filled with many pretty horses.

The King led her back inside for lunch time. The sun high up blazing down on them as they walked back. She hoped for some refreshing tea or even a glass of lemonade. She felt his eyes on her body. Their hour did not end short, and she worried if she rather it had ended short like the others. She didn't want to marry for title or money, but one day for love. The silence tension built between them, but luckily Robin broke it.

"Do you enjoy drinking?" He asked.

"I do enjoy a red wine with a meal." Regina's voice smooth as silk.

"Oh, not a pint or some whiskey? Rum?" He pondered.

"I've had a pint before, and it was alright. Never had whiskey, I didn't care for rum much." She smiled softly. Wine was her favorite and appealed more to women.

He nodded his head a few times in deep thought. He finally spoke up. "Okay, you will have whiskey tonight for dinner."

Regina nodded her head. "Alright, sounds great."

That evening came quick, the other women were there dinning with the King and Regina. The other women whispered amongst themselves. Once again Regina felt like she did not belong. Her home may not have been fancy, but she had a roof over her head. Her wealth and title did not manner to her. She met a man after her first love die, and now she wasn't sure if she would see him again.

King Robin ordered everyone to have a glass of whiskey with him for dinner. Dinner was announced to be ham, potatoes, spinach, rolls and gravy. The whiskey a light golden-brown color in a glass only one fourth of the way full. Regina thought that little to be served seemed odd. She smelt the glass first, and the scents of floral, heavy and smokey. She felt eyes on her, so she looked up meeting everyone's eyes. A pink flush crept on Regina's cheek. She then took a drink of the whiskey and her eyes widen as if she saw a ghost. The taste burnt going down her throat and sparked a flame once it hit the pit of her stomach. This whiskey was not smooth like her red wines she drank back at home. Only a little left in her glass, she set it down to focus more on the food getting served in front of her. She looked up towards her King, and he was smirking at her. The other women sipped theirs as if the whiskey were smooth as wine. He looked back at Regina's glass.

"Did you not like it?" He asked.

"It's different." Regina forced a smiled. She looked back down at the whiskey. Yes, she could finish it, but it wouldn't be enjoyable.

"I see, we have some that are shooters and sippers." King robin lifted his glass and waved it in the air. The maid came to refill his glass all the way to the top as he asked. "If anyone else wants more, serve them." He looked at the maid as he spoke.

The maid went to the other women. Carol passed up on the offer for more, but Alexa took a little bit more. Regina didn't want to be rude by passing up the offer. She noticed how Robin glared at Carol for refusing anymore. The maid looked at Regina for an answer.

"Just a little more." She whispered as she poked her spinach with a fork. She knew the best way to get it over with was to down it. Like the King said, sipper or a shooter. She took a big bite of food to help cover her taste buds, prepping for the heavy whiskey. With one deep inhale she picked up the glass throwing her head back and gulped afterwards. King Robin looked up at her when she slammed the glass down.

"I guess you do like it?" He chuckled at her reaction.

Regina had been quick to put food in her mouth to wash out the taste. Water did not wash the after taste away.

"It's strong." She forced a smile. The other women giggled and rolled their eyes at her. She focused more on her food; she didn't need to get caught up in drama. A cat fight may give an excuse to leave, but the risk of pissing off the King held greater. The food's taste never let her down. The whole plate clean soon enough, maids came cleaned up the mess and announced dessert would be peach pie. Regina wasn't sure if she could eat anymore. The whiskey in her stomach swirled and bubbled about. She knew that feeling from drinking a few glasses of wine. Not drunk, but a little buzzed she finally relaxed.

The king got more whiskey in his glass. Regina wanted wine instead, yet she feared to ask. She got some water instead. The women to her right were chatting to themselves; mainly about their lives back home, but Regina hardly paid them attention. They bored her, and she disliked simple minded women. She knew a wife's place wasn't behind a husband, nor did a woman need to marry before thirty.

"Did you want something you are more familiar with?" King Robin looked at Regina. Moments past, and no answer from anyone. He clapped his hands twice, and Regina jumped within her seat.

"Familiar as?" Regina asked him. She looked over at the women and both were covering their mouths.

"Wine? Red or white?" King robin scoffed at her.

"Red, my king." Regina nodded and bit her lip. He got the maid to serve Regina red wine and offered to the others. The wine, a deep red smelt strong, but fruity. She took a sip; it was very rich and strong. A little on the dry side for her taste, but it wasn't bitter. She nodded her head with a soft smile. Dinner ended after a few more glasses of wine and whiskey.

Regina held onto the table when she went to get up, knuckles white. The room spun in her mind because she didn't realize how much she drank. The women stared at her, and she found her balance quick to avoid awkwardness. She headed down the hallway, hiccupping along the way. King Robin looked over his shoulder to see who was hiccupping, and soon his lips twisted into a dark smirk.

"Regina! Are you okay?" He asked.

Regina spun around on her heels seeing the King and his twin. Wait! What? The King didn't have a twin; Regina was drunk.

"Yes!" Regina nodded and hiccupped again.

He stretched out his hand for her to take. "Come with me, let's sit in front of the fireplace in the study." She nodded her head and took his hand. She mainly wanted it just in case the room started to spin again. He led her to the study with a fire already going. He laid down a blanket for them. Regina plopped down with a thud and looked up at the King.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Oh, I keep whiskey in here too." King Robin smiled down at the bottle in his hand. He grabbed two small glasses as well. He sat beside her and poured them a shot.

"Have just one with me… privately." He smiled at her, but his eyes said something else darker. Regina grabbed the glass. "Of course." They lightly tapped their glasses together before both throwing the shot back. He rubbed her shoulder. "Mmmm you look so stunning in that dress Regina."

Regina felt heat in her cheeks, but not sure if it was a blush or her being drunk. "Thank you… it's one of my favorites."

"Well, you have wonderful taste." He leaned a bit closer to her. Regina didn't notice because her stomach bubbled. Her hands on her stomach, gaze at the flaming fire that kept her warm.

"Did you hear me?" His hot breath tickled down her neck. Regina got chills from that and leaned back to looked at him. "Yes, sorry… Thanks." She looked at him and hated to admit his good looks were outstanding. Especially, up close in person.

Thanks you so much for all the wonderful reviews.
I am so sorry that it could be a couple of weeks to post this new chapter. A lot has been happening due to covid-19, and I hope you all are staying safe!

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