A/N: Really sorry, things got busy and they prevented me from updating last night as I had promised I would. But, I stayed up late until I finally was able to finish this next chapter and update it for you all to read. For any mistakes that you might spot (though as of right now, the chapter looks well written and clean) I apologize. I type really fast sometimes and my eyes are exhausted. I hope you all enjoy. Happy reading! :)
Love Bites by Def Leppard played in a low volume inside of August's garage. He loved his classics, and Emma didn't mind them one bit. Especially when helping him out in his garage on any old car, crazily purchased by his father- both being lovers of classic cars.
Like today, he had Emma working underneath a pale blue '65 Convertible Mustang while he fetched them two cold beers from inside of his mini-fridge. Popping the caps off of both.
"So, let me get this straight…" August flicked the second bottle cap with his fingers, hearing it clank in the distance across the garage. His eyes fell on Emma as she rolled from underneath the car and sat up, reaching for her beer. "You're telling me… That you had a chance to get laid, and you did nothing?"
Emma nodded after taking a sip of her beer and swallowing. "It's not like I didn't do anything."
August rolled his eyes at her words. "Oh, yeah. You watched while she practically touched herself in front of you." His brow lifts, "which, okay- yeah- that is actually pretty hot. But, still, Em!" He reached out to offer Emma a hand, pulling her up to her feet as she took it. "You had her there, I mean she wanted you, why- why'd you stop?"
"Because it wasn't the right time, August." Said Emma, taking another sip of her beer.
Once again, August didn't refrain from rolling his eyes. "Oh, come on! Regina didn't seem to think so."
"Believe me, Aug. I wanted to." Said Emma, leaning her hips along the car door. "I mean, Regina, she's… She's really something. More than that. She's…" She lets out a deep sigh. "I just don't want to push her, you know? I want her to reach that level of comfort before she decides she's ready."
"Well, shouldn't it be up to her to say when she's ready? What if she was ready last night?"
Emma's brow lifts. "Why are you so eager about me and my sex life?"
"Because I'm your best friend, Em. And as your best friend, I worry about you not getting laid."
A smirk starts growing on Emma's lips. "Is that really it, or do you just want me getting laid in hopes of telling you all about it in detail because we are two women?"
"Both." August admitted, seeing Emma roll her eyes. "But, I am interested as a friend."
"Uh-huh," Emma shoved him playfully and chuckled.
"No, but seriously, Em… How long has it been since you…?"
"A while." Emma shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle on my own."
August takes his first sip of beer. "So, where is the future Mrs. Swan now?" He asked, earning a quizzical look from Emma.
"She's with my parents. Actually I dropped her off at Belle's earlier, but after that she said she would go to my parent's."
"Who's Belle?" August's brows knit.
"She's a friend of Regina's. A good friend." Emma threw him a warning glare once she saw his brows lift and a grin appear on his face. August always found an opportunity to ask a pretty girl out, and Belle was exactly that. "She just moved to Portland, and is in need of a car, I told her you could help her out."
"And you gave her my number?" August smirked.
Emma rolls her eyes, "Yes, I did. But don't go giving yourself any ideas about her."
"Aw, don't tell me she's also gay." August's face falls.
"No. But she was married for a long time, and from what I gather, recently separated from her husband. I doubt dating is the last thing on her mind right now, Aug."
"Alright, alright." August raises his hands in defeat, taking another sip of beer in the process. His eyes land on the car. "Well, shall we give this bad boy a spin?"
"Yep." Emma wiped her hands down with an old rag, tossing it aside as she ran toward the passenger seat.
August took over the driver's side, hearing the engine roar to life as he grinned. "Sounds good. Now, let's see how it runs." He fiddled with the gear shift and eased the blue convertible out of the garage.
After visiting Belle, Regina did decide to head on over to Emma's parent's house, and given that Belle wanted to tag along, once August found out who jumped at the opportunity of driving Emma back to her parent's house, neglecting her yellow bug at his father's garage.
After two hours out on the road testing out the pale blue convertible, August parked right by the road, in front of Emma's parents house. Of course she knew why he had done it. As said before, August would jump at any opportunity when it came to meeting a pretty girl.
"You better return my car intact." Said Emma.
"Em, come on. Don't you trust me? Don't answer that." August made his way out of the driver's side and caught up with Emma.
"Now remember- August, are you listening to me?" Asked Emma after seeing August fidget and straighten his black leather jacket about a hundred times, not to mention tucking in his white t-shirt while they caught up to the front door of her parent's house.
"Yeah, I'm listening."
"Remember," Emma held up a finger in warning. "Belle is off limits to you. At least until she settles into town a little more. You don't want to spook her."
August's brow rose as his eyes fell on the single digit that had been placed inches away from his face. "Dating an older woman is really turning you into a mom figure, huh?"
Emma shook her head and inserted her key into the lock of the door. "Hello?" She called out, smiling at the sight of her mother poking her head out of the kitchen entrance, which was in view of the living room.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret neared her daughter and placed a kiss right on her cheek. "Hi, August."
"Mrs. Nolan." August smiled and took a whiff of whatever it was that was baking. "My, I don't come around here often, but with a scent this heavenly lingering in the air, I just might."
"Oh," Mary Margaret waved a hand in the air. "Well, I can't take all the credit, I'm afraid." She turns to look over her shoulder as Regina is coming out of the kitchen, unwrapping an apron from around her waist. The same sexy waist Emma watched buck upward last night.
Emma was in awe of just how beautiful Regina looked as she walked out of that kitchen with a smile from ear to ear.
"Regina is showing me how to make her famous apple turnovers." Mary Margaret beamed excitedly. "Emma, you never mentioned that she could bake, too."
Emma remained silent. Smiling at Regina as she caught up to join them. Somehow, sharing an intimate moment with the person you're in love with will do that to anyone. "You should try her apple pie." Was all Emma could murmur.
"That's what she said," August whispered to Emma as he leaned in, grunting after earning himself an elbow to the ribs by Emma.
"Regina, you remember August." Emma glared at him, a typical 'behave' look.
"Of course, August." Regina smiles, stretching out her hand to capture his in a greeting handshake. "How are you?"
"As handsome as ever. Just like you are as beautiful as ever." August winks and sees a small blush appear on Regina's cheeks. "It's great seeing you again, Mrs- uh…" He looks over to Emma. "Sorry."
"It's quite alright, dear. You may call me Regina." Regina smiles once more.
"Regina." August tries it out as he nods. His eyes soon follow on Belle who is also coming out of the kitchen.
"This is Belle. I'm sure Emma has already mentioned her to you." Regina introduces them, beckoning Belle to move in closer. "Belle, this is August, Emma's friend."
Belle pauses and her eyes lock onto August's. "Hi." is all she can produce out of her words.
"Hi." August stretches out his hand. "August W. Booth." He grips Belle's hand once she allows him access to it, and he smiles. The biggest smile Emma had ever seen on him.
"Belle Gold- uh, French." Belle quickly corrects herself with a smile. She had been introducing herself as Belle Gold for as long as she had been married to Robert that it became a familiar habit. "It's a pleasure to meet you, August."
"Believe me, the pleasure is all mine, Belle."
"Emma," Mary Margaret breaks the silence that takes over the room for a short moment- at least for them- gaining her daughter's and Regina's attention. "Come try this pie. It is to die for!"
"Sure." Emma chuckles, sharing a knowing look with Regina as they both head into the kitchen, leaving August and Belle alone.
"So, I hear you're new in town and are in need of a car." August finally said.
"That's right." Replied Belle.
"Oh, what's your story? If I may ask."
Belle chuckles, more to herself than anything else. "I'm in the process of a divorce." She wants to frown but holds back. "Uh-"
August's scoff interrupts Belle's thoughts, "Asshole," but nothing interrupts her more than what he uttered under his breath.
"Um…" Belle wants to smile but holds back.
"Oh, not you. I meant your soon-to-be ex-husband. Not to offend, just he had to be for hurting someone as beautiful as you, right?"
This time Belle smiles, "Wha- what makes you think he hurt me?"
August shrugs, "Wild guess. I mean, I don't know you all that well yet, but I am a good observer."
"Are you?" Belle's eyebrow rises as she sees August nod. "Emma mentioned that you are also a good mechanic?"
"Did she?" August smirks. "Because she told me you are in need of a car. You know," he pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "I actually came in a classic Mustang Emma helped me fix up. I could show it to you."
"Really?" Belle grins.
"You made these?" Emma's eyes grew wide as she chewed her way through a warm apple turnover.
Regina grinned. "It was no trouble at all."
"I never knew these could be so simple to make. You think your father will like them?" Mary Margaret asked.
Emma nods, taking her last bite. "Are you kidding? He'll love them." She turns to Regina and smiles, holding absolutely still once Regina takes her thumb to wipe away a crumb that had found a home at the corner of Emma's lip.
Mary Margaret's eyes can't help but do a little sideways glance, quickly minding her business as she feels her cheeks grow warm. "August!" She called out, turning to see August quickly run into the kitchen. "You will be staying for dinner, won't you?"
Belle followed behind him, leaning against the edge of the door frame, her eyes remaining on August.
"If that will make your day brighter, Mrs. Nolan, I'd love to stay for dinner." He grins, seeing Mary Margaret's eyes shine bright.
"Mom, are you sure you want to have him over for dinner?" Emma's hand lands on August's bicep. "Remember, he likes to go for seconds."
"Oh, look who's talking." August shoves Emma playfully, hearing her laugh. His eyes land back on Belle. "Belle, will you be staying for dinner?"
"Oh," Belle suddenly feels the spotlight on her as heads turn in her direction. Clearly, she's taken aback by the sudden invitation. "Well, this is really family time, I wouldn't want-"
"Nonsense, Belle! You are welcome to stay. I know David would love to see you again." Mary Margaret smiled in a welcoming manner.
Regina smiled and nodded her head toward Belle, who smiled back.
"Well, in that case, I'd love to." Belle's eyes move over to August next, who's smile grows wider.
Dinner was by all means fantastic. They chatted away about Emma's school, August's writing, which Belle was fascinated with. Regina couldn't help but actually feel like part of a family. And to be back in Portland with Emma was everything. And of course, August insisted on taking Belle to the hotel where she was staying and was even blunt enough to offer her a place to stay at his apartment, which had earned him a quiet kick under the table by a certain blonde.
They said their goodbyes, Regina waving a hand in the air before she turned to look at Emma, who stood beside her. "Well… It would appear that Belle made quite an impression on dear old August."
"Oh, God," Emma rolled her eyes playfully, hearing Regina chuckle as they headed toward the front door of the house. "I'm so sorry, but you should know, there's a chance Belle will end up corrupted by him."
Regina smirks and stops by the front door with Emma. "I wouldn't be so sure of that, dear. Belle may look like your typical bookworm, but trust me, she can surprise you."
Emma's brow lifts as she sees Regina nod. "Well, if she can handle August, then my hats off to her." She pauses, taking a moment to allow her eyes to drink in Regina's beauty. "So, what would you like to do tonight? Where would you like to go?"
"Oh, no, Ms. Swan," Regina shook her head with a smug look to her. "I'm afraid you are heading inside to finish working on that term paper of yours."
"Aw, Gina, come on," Emma's shoulders fall. Literally. "Do you realize how much I've missed you?"
"I don't see what that has to do with your term paper, Emma." Regina's brow lifts.
"That I want to spend every waking moment with you, not work on some stupid paper that I'll probably get a failing grade on, anyway."
Regina chuckles. "We are still spending time together, dear. Who do you think is going to help you write it down to its perfection?"
Emma's brows skyrocket. She didn't mean to seem so surprised, but she was. "So, out goes Gina, and in comes Professor Mills to play, huh?" She wiggles her eyebrows, laughing as Regina rolls her eyes in a playful manner.
"Get inside." Regina urges the blonde who is laughing playfully at the pink shade against the woman's cheeks.
Music played at low volume through Emma's laptop. Even against Regina's protest, she allowed it because she was convinced by Emma that music helped her think better. David was in the shower after a long day at work, while Mary Margaret sat on the couch, knitting away on a new, unknown project. The house was quiet, except for Emma's room which was filled with the low music followed by the clacking of the keyboard underneath Emma's dancing fingers.
Step by step, she had followed Regina's advice on the perfect words to use for her term paper. And truthfully, had it not been for her help and the music playing in the background for them, Emma would have gone crazy.
Saved under one USB stick later, Emma sighed with content as she smiled at Regina, who sat beside her on another chair.
"And you're done." Regina smiled.
"Now, I knew you were a smart woman from the first moment I met you. But you taking your time, and helping me with this masterful and brilliantly written term paper… That just proves it all the more." Emma smiled.
"You're welcome." Regina reached for Emma's shoulder and massaged it in response. "I'm just glad I could help and make it less of a pressure for you."
"Maybe you should teach this literature class, instead of that old spot-liver."
Regina laughs lightly. "God… Me, teach again? And at your school?"
"Why not?"
The brunette scoffs this time, "That'll be the day."
"You did study for it, right? One good thing Chief Irons did allow you to do."
"Yes," Regina breathes. "But, I never actually put my wheels in motion toward practicing it." She chuckles and shakes her head. "What good would it do me now?"
"It could do you a lot of good, Regina." Emma's head tilts, locking eyes with Regina so that she could see she was being serious. As if her tone of voice wasn't serious enough for Regina to notice.
She noticed it so fast, so quick that Regina's reaction was to frown and let out another light laugh. "It's absurd, Emma."
Emma stands to plop her butt against the desk, sitting face to face with Regina this time. "Why would it be absurd?"
"Because… Because… That would mean that I-"
"Because that would mean that you want to have a life of your own? Without hiding behind four walls the entire time? Or fearing for your life every second of the day? Without Leopold to hold you back?" Emma sees Regina frown again, and her ears pick up on the song that comes on next, playing out of the laptop. After the opening melody of a piano, Rihanna's vocals lightly fill the background to her song Stay.
'Without Leopold to hold you back.' Those words hit Regina like a wrecking ball to a brick wall, knocking at her heart piece by piece.
"Come on, Gina, don't tell me that you've never thought about what life would be like without him in it." Emma shook her head, keeping her voice soft.
Regina's eyes start to burn with tears she refused to let free as she locked her gaze with Emma's. Her voice was equally soft as she replied, "Of course I've thought about it, Emma. But every single time I dared to think about that, about how much better my life would be without him in it- he would always remind me that that wasn't possible for me."
"But it is," Emma whispers, her hand rising up softly to cup along the brunette's perfect jaw. Her thumb stroking along her bottom lip like a rich memory. "I promise you, it is-"
"Don't." Regina shakes her head, and finally her voice breaks. "Don't promise me that. Not that." Despite the pain taking over her heart of the thought of never being free from Leopold, Regina can't help but lean into Emma's gentle and careful touch.
"Regina, I've told you before and I will keep repeating it to you until the day I draw my last breath." Emma swallows down a lump that forms in her throat. It killed her to see Regina still this broken. "You can do anything. Anything. You set your mind to." She wipes away a fallen tear from the brunette's cheek. "And even in death, I will make sure to write that down for you in a hidden letter somewhere as a reminder."
Regina can't help but let out a light laugh. Her hand comes up to cup itself around Emma's wrist, allowing the skin on her fingers to caress along. "You have too high of an opinion of me, Ms. Swan."
"That's because I know the kind of woman you are, Regina. In here," Emma points a forefinger right at her forehead. "And in here." Her hand lands against Regina's heart, feeling the brunette's hand rest right on top.
"Do you want to know a secret?" Said Regina, seeing Emma nod afterward. She made sure to lock eyes with her favorite pair of green ones as she said, "For a long time… I stopped. I stopped trying to envision a life for myself, away from him. And everything that represented him. Except my daughter, of course." She paused. "But, ever since you came into my life, and we started having… This," she places her own hand against Emma's heart, leaving it there. "Ever since I realized that I had fallen in love with you, Emma. I haven't been afraid to dream anymore, and actually picture what a life without him would be. With you by my side."
Now it was Emma's eyes turn to feel a slight sting. "And how does it look?"
"Like everything I've always wanted." Tears abandoned Regina's eyes again, and Regina isn't shy to accept the embrace and warmth of Emma's lips as they capture hers in a kiss that screams a love beyond passion.
As Regina's hand finds warmth as it cups itself along the side of Emma's check, a single tear finally escapes its way out of the corner of Emma's eye. Emma was never one to imagine a life with the same girl by her side for years to come. She was never one to plan that far ahead in her life, because she was never even sure if whatever relationship she gave herself a chance with would even last. But with Regina? All that changed once this broken but beautiful woman smiled at her in greeting.
Emma could see it all with Regina by her side. And she wanted it- with all her heart- she wanted this. She wanted her, not just for years to come, but forever.
There was no way Emma could ever dream of kissing another pair of lips that didn't belong to Regina Mills. Or touch any other woman that wasn't Regina Mills.
This was it.
This was true love.
Regina hadn't realized when she had stationed her body in between Emma's legs, but there she was. Her arms stretched out so far, until they reached and wrapped around Emma's neck, forearms resting against the blonde's shoulders, holding herself in place. And to Emma- there was no better feeling than this. First it was Emma's hands that gently squeezed away against Regina's waist, definitely finding it harder and harder not to feel her sex throbbing and turn into a puddle, her neurons begging her senses to reach out and allow her touch to explore a new place on Regina's body. But before she could allow her sex-drive to do the thinking for her, Emma's instinct was to wrap her own arms around the older woman's waist and pull her more in.
And all it took was that little sound in the back of Regina's throat to sing after their lips pressed more against each other, and Regina allowed Emma's tongue entrance into the comfort of her mouth. All it took… Was a gentle stroke given to Emma's tongue by Regina's own to make Emma weak at the knees.
This was new. She had never felt Regina's own tongue gain entrance into her own mouth before. And what a gloriously delicious discovery it was. So much, that Emma's mind began to swim with thoughts about them on top of this desk. Even with her parents just outside her bedroom door.
And if that wasn't surprising enough, what Regina pushed herself to try next surely was.
Regina wasn't sure where it came from. She just knew that her desire to try something new, something hopefully Emma would enjoy the change of, had become unhelped. Like a task that couldn't go on without being complete. Her lips parted from Emma's thin and breathless panting lips only to map out a following kiss along her jawline, following its fine sculpted line, all the way down to her throat. Leaving her kisses to be nothing far from gentle, and not entirely open mouthed.
But no matter how Regina kissed her, being kissed on the neck was always Emma's weakness. So much that her eyes rolled to the back of her head for a short moment, until she was able to process out a few words directed at the brunette.
"Regina," she breathed, panting out, and thanking God, Regina stopped almost immediately to be able to lock eyes with her. "As amazing as this feels, I must warn you that kissing my neck is a deadly fuse that right now would become an atomic bomb."
Regina chuckles, smirking almost proudly. "I'm sorry."
Emma groaned out a chuckle, "Somehow I doubt that."
Regina's brow raised, "Are you calling my bluff now?"
"I believe I am, yes." Emma grinned.
"I must admit, maybe I did get a little carried away with myself." Regina shook her head, her eyes still locked onto Emma's.
"A little?" Emma scoffed, hearing a light laugh escape Regina's throat.
"What has become of me with you, Emma? How can I go from wanting nothing to do with any sexual experience of any kind, to starting to reconsider everything about it?" Regina chuckles and tries her best to hide a blush from happening. "You sometimes make me forget that I am a forty-one-year woman, not to mention a mother. And yet, here I am like a hormonal teenager, with her mind swimming in thoughts of…" A blush happens.
"Of what?" Emma's head tilts quizzically.
Regina bites her lip, quite attractively before she says, "Of what my first time will be like. With you."
Her first time. Their first time. Together. Emma thought of that, too.
"Our first time together, Gina… It will be patient…" Emma places a kiss along Regina's left cheek. "Strong…" she places a kiss along Regina's right cheek. "Passionate…" She places a kiss along Regina's lips. "And above all, it will be the safest, and most breathtaking moment in the world, filled with every ounce of love and devotion. Like a promise."
Regina leaned in, feeling her lips melt away along with Emma's just like her heart melted away with her words. Sometimes words weren't needed.
Three fast and heavy knocks came from the other end of the door, "Emma-" followed by Mary Margaret who as she barged into Emma's bedroom, saw two tangled bodies quickly dissolve to turn into two women again. Both flushed along their cheeks, swollen kissed lips, and panting for a breath. Their eyes wide and frightened. Hearts pounding inside of their chests as if they had been just a couple of teenagers getting caught.
"Jesus, mom," Emma breathed, all while Regina cleared her throat and straightened out her clothes, even when she didn't have to.
"I'm sorry-" Mary Margaret's eyes were wide as they quickly looked away, her cheeks becoming victim of their own shade of pink coloring.
"This isn't what it looks like." Said Regina, feeling as if her heart was about to jump right up her throat and come out of her mouth.
"No," Mary Margaret shook her head, her eyes falling on Emma and Regina once more. "Never mind that." She looks at Emma. "You need to come outside for a minute. The back porch, to be exact."
"Why? What's going on?" Emma quickly hops off of her desk.
"Just come with me." Her mother urged with a pleading look.
"Alright," Emma grabbed a hold of Regina's hand and began marching out of the room, only to be held up by her mother's hand, splayed on her chest. Once again, Emma had a quizzical look stationed in between her brow.
"Just you." Said Mary Margaret, her eyes turning to Regina. "I think it's best if Regina stays in here."
"Mom," Emma scoffs out a chuckle. "That's crazy, why would Regina stay-"
"Because you have an unexpected visitor." Mary Margaret glares at Emma before her eyes fall on Regina once more. "It's Audrey."
Regina's heart stops, as does Emma's and they both share a startled look.
A/N: Before any of you start freaking out. Friendly reminder: This is a slow burn and I want Regina and Emma to enjoy a few more moments together before Audrey actually finds out. So no, this is not THAT chapter. Enjoy that cliffhanger, though. ;) Stay tuned for tomorrow's update!
