With the door closed firmly behind her, Regina stops and takes a steadying breath. She didn't offer tutoring positions to students until the second week of classes when she was able to gauge if they had true potential or a one-off hit, so why had she just offered it to Emma? She panicked. Which has her asking the next obvious question. Why had she panicked? She has only known the blonde for a little over 24 hours so there is no way she is developing feelings for her. She shakes her head and walks the few feet down the hall and into her classroom.
She makes her way to her desk and starts gathering the stack of Creative Writing 2 syllabus papers she has to hand out to her next class. She sighs and sits behind her desk, papers in hand. "What the hell am I doing?" she asks herself aloud. She closes her eyes for a moment and the words to the song she had listened to not long before begin to fill her mind. Before she knows what is happening the blonde appears in her dream world. She wears tight jeans that accentuate the curve of her ass as she stalks toward her. Her white tank top clings to her, revealing all of her delicious curves. She can see the erect nipples at the center of the blonde's perky breasts through the thin fabric. She tugs at the bottom of her tank top, slowly inching it up, teasing her professor with a smirk pulling at her mouth.
"Do you want more?"
"Gods, yes, please." The professor's response is soft and desperate.
"When does class begin?"
Regina startles, opening her eyes.
"What?"
With a huff, the student in front of her asks again "When does class begin?"
Regina blinks rapidly trying to clear her mind and come back to the reality surrounding her. She looks up at the clock which reads quarter after 1. "Now," she says as she gets up and takes her place at the front of the classroom.
She takes one final glance through the window in the classroom door to see the object of her fantasies walking down the hall. A small smile pulls at the brunette's lips, but her mind is anything but sure of what is happening. When the blonde looks away and walks quickly from the door the professor shakes her head. "Get it together," she thinks to herself as she regains her decorum and begins teaching.
Emma walks into the diner and drops the bag of garbage in the bin behind the counter when she sees a group of her friends sitting at a booth and goes to join them.
"Is there a party someone forgot to tell me about," she jokes as she pulls a chair over to sit at the end of the table.
"Hey, Swan." Killian Jones smiles at her.
"Emma! Long time no see." Anna quips.
"I just saw you last night Anna." The blonde rolls her eyes playfully.
"Yeah, but when the days drag on with classes that feels like forever."
"Anna, it's only the second day of the semester."
The group laughs.
"So, what did Professor Mills have to say?" Belle asks.
"She wants me to be a tutor."
"Really?!" Belle asks with a shocked expression.
"Yeah," the blonde nods. "She said that I have a lot of imagination and potential, know how to walk some kind of writing line well, and that my talent speaks for itself." Emma smiles brightly.
"That's really cool, Ems. So how did you weasel out of it?" Killian asks, elbowing her arm.
"Oh, I didn't. I said that I would do it." she shrugs.
All of her friends stop to look at her, eyes wide in shock.
"What?! It's only twice a week for a couple of hours each day."
"What about Henry?" Anna asks.
Emma gives Anna her most adorable smile and bats her eyelashes at Anna before asking, "What time do you have classes Tuesday and Thursday?"
"I don't have class on Tuesday. I get out of my last class at 2:30 on Thursday."
"Could you pick Henry up from daycare on those days starting next week?"
"Sure Em. You know I love spending time with the munchkin."
"You're the best!"
The group's attention is pulled to the center of the diner as Ruby spots Emma and yells out to them.
"You're back! I want details hoe!"
Everyone laughs as the waitress comes up to the table. Emma proceeds to repeat everything to Ruby. The group laughs and reminisces about days past until the blonde's alarm begins to sound.
Emma tells her friends bye and jogs back up the block to the college building - walking up the stairs this time. She isn't sure if she is supposed to meet her professor in the classroom or her office, so she knocks on the office door. She is about to walk back to the classroom door when she hears a rather exasperated "Come in." from the office.
"Am I interrupting something?" She asks as she pokes her head in.
"No," the usually chocolate irises of her professor are near obsidian in color now, "I was just reading over some stories from my class." It wasn't a lie. She was reading a story from her class. It just happened to be Emma's story and she hadn't kept a good eye on the clock after dismissing her class 15 minutes early thinking that she could find release from the ache between her thighs before 3 P.M.
"I wasn't sure where I was supposed to meet you." Jade eyes take in the sight of the frazzled-looking professor.
"Normally in the classroom but today I just wanted to take some time to speak to you about what is expected of you and look at prospective students for you to tutor."
Emma nods, taking the seat she occupied earlier in the day.
"Do I really need to bore you with the schematics of professionalism and not showing favoritism or romanticism in the tutoring environment?"
"No," the blonde's reply is terse but sincere.
"Right then, moving on. Some of my students in the past have feigned ignorance to get the tutor to do most of their work. I expect you to guide them, but the work must be their own. If they hand in a paper with something you wrote I need to know immediately. I won't bore you with the plagiarism details from the syllabus again."
As Emma listens to her professor, she finds her eyes drawn to her lips. They are painted a deep crimson and there is a small scar above her right lip. It is actually rather sexy.
"Emma."
Emma jumps slightly. "Right plagiarism."
"No dear, I've moved on from that subject. Are you alright?"
Emma notices the mocha hue has once again returned to her professor's eyes as her own connect with them.
"Yes, Professor Mills. I'm sorry you were saying?"
"I was asking if you are sure that you want to take this tutoring position. Now that you've had time to think about it, that is."
This is her chance. Emma can easily back out. She feels a bit guilty already for asking Anna to pick Henry up and just assuming she and Elsa will watch the boy until she is done. But … and there is a big but, she didn't want to do that. She keeps telling herself that she is playing recklessly if she does this. She has felt stirrings within herself for the woman already. But in less than 24 hours that can't be more than a purely physical attraction or infatuation. Right? She sighs, apparently audibly, because suddenly her professor is looking at her with what almost seem like sad eyes.
"I am sure, yes." She offers the brunette a genuine smile, which is returned to her.
"Alright then."
Regina gets up to retrieve some papers from a filing cabinet behind Emma and as she walks past, the blonde catches the scent of her perfume. It is absolutely delectable. The woman smells like apple cider, orchids, and something Emma can't place but it has her panties nearly dripping.
Regina returns to her desk and finds herself looking into emerald eyes, but why is the blonde's face so flush? "Are you sure you're alright dear?"
"Y-Y-Yeah. So, what are we looking at for students?"
"Actually," Regina pauses, "would you mind if we got to know one another a little better first? If we are to have a semi-work-related relationship, I would like to know a bit more about you, and I'm certain you'd like the inside scoop on the professor." Regina smirks but has nothing but sincerity in her voice.
"Sure. What do you want to know?"
"Anything really. What are your parents like?" Regina instantly regrets asking as she sees a flash of pain cross those jade eyes.
"I was in and out of foster homes until I was 14, almost 15 years old."
"I'm so sorry you went through that." She locks her eyes with Emma's not with pity in them, but with a sort of understanding.
"It's okay. Just before I turned 15 the Nolan's took me in."
"Did you age out of the system?" The question is out of Regina's mouth before she can stop herself, and she looks mortified.
Emma gives her a reassuring smile. "No, though I thought I would. They adopted me just before my 18th birthday."
"That's wonderful." her mocha eyes soften at the new revelation.
"Yeah." Emma suddenly finds something very interesting about her lap. "So, how about you? What is your family like?"
"Well," Regina's eyes harden for a brief moment, but when she sees Emma look up they soften once more. "My father passed away a few years back. My mother has never really been active in my life, though I did grow up with both of my parents. She is the mayor of a small town and was always too busy to pay my sister or me much in the way of attention." And there was the harsh reality of the understanding Regina had shown.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's quite alright dear. I've managed just fine in life." Regina smiles.
Without warning, Emma's stomach growls like she hasn't eaten in days, even though it had actually only been about three hours since she finished her lunch. Regina laughs and shakes her head. "Are you hungry dear?"
"Apparently?" Emma asks more than states.
"Come, I'll buy you dinner."
"I'm fi …" but the protest dies on her lips as Regina cuts her off.
"Nonsense. I promised you dinner for tutoring and so I shall follow through. Where would you like to eat?"
Emma thinks about going to Granny's for a second, but she isn't walking into that shit fest if her friends have decided to continue hanging out. It's like her mind has gone blank to anywhere in the city of Boston that serves food.
"Uh … anywhere you would like."
"Do you like pasta?"
"I LOVE pasta," Emma says practically drooling on the floor.
"Good, I'll take you to a little Italian place not far from here. They have the best pasta in town."
"Okay," Emma nods, "sounds good. Should I follow in my car?"
"If you like, or you can just ride with me, and I can bring you back after dinner."
Emma thinks for a moment. She's already come this far, does she dare push any farther? She sighs to herself. What is she doing and why is she allowing herself to do it?
"We can just go in your car." The blonde smiles at the woman in front of her, her jade eyes meeting that of her professor's whiskey-colored irises. At that moment she swears she sees a sort of elation in those eyes. "Stop it, Swan," she scolds herself.
Regina nods grabbing her purse and ushers Emma out of the office.
The drive to the restaurant is uneventful. They get into Regina's black Benz and are at their destination in about 10 minutes. What they didn't count on was the place being so packed. It is only 4 P.M.
They walk into the little Italian eatery and are met by a hostess.
"Table for two?"
"Yes, please," Regina speaks up as a crowd of people begins to bump into her and Emma. Without thinking she reaches out and takes the blonde's hand into her own. She looks down at their hands at the same time her student's jade eyes do, but she doesn't let go.
"It will be about 10 minutes and we will have a free table." the hostess says with a smile on her face.
"That will be fine." Regina looks back at the hostess nodding.
"So, uh …" Emma just lets the question linger.
"I'm sorry dear, I didn't want the crowd to push you into the wall behind you." Regina offers the best thing she can think of before reluctantly releasing the blonde's hand.
Emma feels a sort of disappointment take hold of her as she is freed of the brunette's grasp, but doesn't let it show. "Oh, thanks for looking out for me." She forces a smile bigger than she felt. She is grateful for the assistance, but … and here she goes again. "Head out of the clouds, Swan," she practically yells internally.
It isn't long before the hostess comes to show the two to their table. It is a small table in a dimly lit corner toward the back of the eatery.
"Here are your menus, and your waitress will be over in a moment to take your drink orders."
"Thank you." Regina acknowledges the hostess as the waitress appears beside her.
"Hi, I'm Ariel. I will be your waitress this evening. What can I get you to drink?"
"I'll have a glass of red wine please," Regina speaks first.
"Um," Emma looks at the drink selection, "just coke with no ice for me please." the blonde smiles at the red-haired waitress shyly.
"One red wine and one coke, no ice coming up," she says as she bounces off to fill their drink order.
"You could have ordered wine. We are outside of school, even if I am your professor within those walls."
Emma giggles. "I don't turn 21 until two weeks from tomorrow."
"Oh." It is the only word Regina can muster as she looks at the blonde.
"Oh, come on, you can't be much older than I am," Emma says matter of factly.
"Yes, and no. I will be 31 in December." the brunette admits.
"See, only 10 years." Emma offers her a toothy grin to which Regina can only chuckle.
"Red wine for you," the waitress says, setting the glass in front of Regina, "and coke, no ice for you," she does the same with Emma's drink. "So, what can I get you guys to eat?"
Emma hasn't even looked over the courses the place offers.
"Chicken alfredo for me please." Regina chances to reach over and squeeze Emma's hand, "What would you like my dear?"
"Oh, uh …" Emma can't think. She can barely breathe. The warmth radiating from her professor's hand overwhelms her senses. "I'll …" she tries again, "I'll have the lasagna."
"One chicken alfredo and one lasagna coming right up." Ariel bounces off again.
"Do you like lasagna?"
"I uh …" Emma trails off again, not daring to look at the hand that still holds hers for fear that it will be taken away again. "sometimes."
"Perhaps I could make some for dinner Thursday night then." Regina smiles warmly at Emma, and this time Emma can see all too well what is stirring behind those mocha eyes. Regina is mirroring her own confused inner workings.
"That would be awesome!" It is out of her mouth before she can even think.
They sit in silence for a long time, both afraid to look at their hands or even breathe too loudly for fear of the contact being broken.
When Ariel returns to the table with their food Regina finally releases Emma's hand, much to the blonde's disappointment. They talk about mundane things as they eat, and after Regina pays the check, stand to leave.
Regina walks up behind Emma, pulls her chair out for her, and places her hand on the small of Emma's back. Emma's breath hitches and Regina notices. She smiles at Emma and simply gestures to the door.
"Your carriage awaits."
This receives a shy smile from the blonde who walks ahead of the brunette and out the door.
Once in the car, Regina starts the engine and pulls out onto the road. She leaves her hand on the gear shift between the two of them though, wanting to be as close to Emma as possible. She notices out of the corner of her eye that her passenger keeps eyeing her hand as if it would either bite her or she wants to snatch it up. She truly isn't sure which.
A few minutes later they are pulling back into the faculty parking lot.
"Thanks for dinner." Emma stares at her lap as she speaks.
"You are quite welcome, sweetheart." Regina holds her breath. She hadn't meant for the endearment to slip out, but there it is floating in the air. She dares to look up and much to her surprise, there are those emerald eyes staring back at her, cheeks painted pink, and a soft smile spread across those light pink lips. She could have melted on the spot.
"So, I'll see you in class tomorrow?" The question comes out almost like a desperate plea.
"Of, course." The professor looks at Emma very confused.
Emma unbuckles her seat belt and begins to reach for the door handle when she suddenly feels a warmth surrounding her left hand. Regina has taken her hand for a third time that evening. She takes a deep breath daring to look back into those chestnut orbs. Her stomach begins to do tiny flips, the air around the two becoming heavy. Emma lets go of the handle and turns toward her professor. Her mouth suddenly feels like a desert.
"Have a good night, Em-ma." The blonde's name is a purr coming off the brunette's lips.
"Wait!" against her better judgment, the blonde has found an excuse to stay with her professor a bit longer. "What about the files we were supposed to go through?"
"It's after 6 P.M., Emma. I thought you would want to go home, and while I would be happy to go through them with you, I don't really want to stay in this building anymore today."
"We could go to Granny's."
"I would really like to be somewhere that I can relax and get these heels off."
"Yeah, those do look painful." the blonde agrees.
Regina looks at Emma, who now squirms in her seat trying to get her leg out from under herself. She had tucked it under her when she initially turned to speak to the brunette. Emma loses all sense of balance and stumbles forward toward the gear shift, and headfirst into her professor's chest. She stays there, stunned into a stupor for a moment, Regina's scent not helping in the least. That woman was more intoxicating up close. She fumbles for a holding to pull herself up. "I am so sorry! I just .. I …" and as she finally lifts herself up using the gearshift as leverage, she finds herself stumbling forward again. The gearshift is slippery under her clammy palm and suddenly her lips are millimeters from her professor's. There is a disconnect in the blonde's brain and she closes the distance, placing a soft kiss to the brunette's lps. Both women sit in shock for a moment before melting into each other. Emma moans softly against the plump red lips that now invade her own. Warm, gentle fingers move up her jaw and cup her face on either side. Her hands attach themselves to her professor's hips. It is a soft but desperate kiss that ends all too soon.
"I... I'm sorry." Emma quickly scrambles back into her seat.
"It's quite alright dear." Regina offers her a reassuring smile.
"I should … get going."
Regina's smile fades. "I suppose so. I will see you in class tomorrow."
"Yeah," Emma mumbles as she opens the passenger door.
"Have a good night, Emma."
"You too Professor Mills."
And with that Emma closes the car door and heads down the block to her own car.
Both women feel an absence that moment that the other can't know they each feel, but it changes nothing. They both resolve to keep their feelings hidden, and if possible shove them back down to wherever they have managed to escape from.