To Jess, from your OQ Secret Valentine! Sorry for the delay, and I hope you enjoy it!
She can't handle this.
She'd known he'd be here, what with him being the best man and all, and so she'd known they'd be sharing space this weekend. She'd prepared for it, told herself that it would be fine, that it was only three days, that she could just give him a polite hello and spend the rest of the time pretending he didn't exist. She'd told herself all of this enough times that she'd actually started to believe it.
But for him to have the nerve to look at her like that. Like he still wants her, like he didn't break her heart and left her to pick up the pieces all on her own. That she was not expecting.
Serves her right for accepting her role in this wedding. Stupid Mary Margaret and her big wide Disney princess puppy eyes.
Regina had known coming to her friend's wedding would be trouble. She had tried to stay away, made up excuses (like having to work, and money being too tight for her to fly out to Hawaii, and most importantly, her simply not wanting to go), and the bride had responded by making her maid of honor, an offer Regina could not turn down when she found out Robin would be best man.
Because then he would think she rejected the whole thing because of him, and she would not give him the satisfaction.
Robin Locksley is the most frustrating man Regina has ever met. He's smart, and confident (a little too confident if you ask her), and incredibly handsome, and her blood boils at the mere thought of him.
They'd been introduced to each other by David, Mary Margaret's soon-to-be husband, during Mary's birthday party just over a year ago. Regina had been charmed by Robin's...well, everything, really. The irresistible British accent, the delicate dimples when he smiled, the gray streaks that mixed with the caramel color of his hair, those blue eyes that seemed to just sparkle when he was near her...
He'd been a hard man to stay away from, and he seemed just as enamored with her, so they had started seeing each other outside of group gatherings, having a beer here and there, enjoying some coffee before work, texting in between dates. Before she knew it, Regina was staying at Robin's apartment more days than at her own, and it seemed things were heading in a good direction until...
It's not fair. It's not fair that he broke her heart; that he was so unaffected by it; that he still agreed to be the best man at this wedding; that he's here in the hotel lobby just as she's checking in. That he looks so unbelievably sexy in those dark green swim trunks that fall just below his waist as he all but saunters toward her, those dimples on full display as he greets her with a simple, "Hello, Regina."
She grouses back some non-greeting, then turns to the nice receptionist—Marian, Regina reads on the girl's name tag—, and takes the key card she offers.
"Fifth floor and to your right," she explains, pointing toward the elevators. "You've got one of the best views in the place, you're gonna love it."
That actually makes Regina smile. At least she'll be able to relax.
"I can attest to that," Robin says then. "I'm on the same floor."
Great. Just great.
Regina thanks the receptionist, levels Robin with an eyeroll that, to her annoyance, only makes him flash her that sexy little grin of his, and walks off to the elevators, hoping he won't dare to follow.
Her room is marvelous. All cool tones and fresh sheets and the welcoming aroma of the sea coming in through the open balcony, white gossamer curtains billowing with the soft breeze. It's so soothing she almost forgets encountering her shirtless ex boyfriend at the lobby.
The rehearsal dinner is a fun affair for everyone. But an open bar will do that, Regina supposes. She's chosen to stay sober tonight, however, so the merriment doesn't reach her. Instead, her anxiety begins to climb. There's too much around her, too much noise, too much laughter, too much food, too much light, too much Robin.
He's just... there. Dancing with everyone, including that pretty receptionist from this morning, who he seems to have roped into attending the party with him.
It hurts, seeing him like that. So free and joyful while she's still trying to heal the cracks he made in her very soul. He'll probably sleep with that girl tonight. It's what he's best at, sleeping with random women, sometimes he'll sleep with them even when he's dating someone he claims to have feelings for.
The sting of that truth hits her like a brick every time she thinks of it. She still can't believe that he went and slept with someone else eight months into their relationship. It was so uncharacteristic of him, Regina still has no idea why he did it. Not that it matters. There's nothing that would justify him cheating on her.
Still, it bugs her that he did it, that he seems so unbothered by it and continues gallivanting with pretty receptionists all over their friend's rehearsal dinner. It's rude to just bring a plus one to a party without notice, and that's truly what bothers her, Regina says to herself. Not that he's happy and having fun with someone else, it's the fact that he's using their friends' wedding as his own personal episode of The Bachelor. David deserves better from his best man.
"You're scaring her, you know," Robin's voice startles her out of her internal grumbling. She jumps, a hand flying to her chest as she turns and finds him standing next to her, his right hand offering her a glass of champagne.
"No thanks," she says curtly, waving away the drink.
He shrugs, downs his own glass and sets it aside before taking a sip of the one he'd offered her.
"Don't stare so hard at the poor girl, she's starting to think you want to rip her heart out," he says then, tilting his chin toward Marian, who is now chatting with one of the waiters, smiling sweetly while stealing glances at Robin where he stands next to Regina.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Regina says.
"Right," he replies, giving her that stupid grin that melts the wall of ice around her heart just a little. "Well, for what it's worth, I didn't invite her here."
That catches her attention, has her lifting an eyebrow in slight disbelief.
"David, he, um, he thought she and I would...get along, so he asked her to come, paired us up the second we got here. You were helping Mary get dressed so you didn't see his terrible attempts at matchmaking."
He says it with a slight tinge of exasperation in his tone, and it makes the corner of Regina's mouth twitch as she asks, "Oh?"
Robin nods, putting on an American accent and matching his voice to David's as he mimics, "Er, so Marian, er, Robin here really likes pineapples, um, maybe you can take him on that pineapple tour."
She laughs, shaking her head a little at David's antics.
"God, I've missed that laugh" Robin whispers then. She doesn't think he meant to say it out loud, not with the way his eyes widen when he realizes she's heard him, but he sighs at her acknowledgment, sets aside that second champagne flute and moves to take her hand.
Regina moves it away, a broken Robin escaping her.
"I miss you," he insists.
"Don't do this," she starts, but he's already running with it.
"I was an idiot, and I'm so bloody sorry, Regina. If there is one thing in my life that I could do over, I... part of me says I should just let things be, because you deserve so much better than me, but every time I think about letting you go and moving on, it... it tears me up inside because I lov—"
"No!" she interrupts, her mask of ice back in place. "You don't get to say that to me. Not when you're here with a date."
"I already told you, I didn't bring her," he grouses. "David set us up."
"I don't see how that matters. Setup or no, you seemed pretty cozy with her before you came over here to tell me how much you miss me."
"I was being friendly! There's nothing going on!"
"I honestly don't care." She cares. She cares so much, and internally curses herself for it. "Though Ruby might, does she know you're here acting like you're single?"
His eyes narrow at that, and he exhales deeply and slowly as he tries to find the words to reply. In the end, all he says is, "Ruby and I aren't together. We never were."
"Ah, so you ruined everything between us for a one-night stand, then. Good to know," she says sarcastically, readying herself to leave.
When he chases after her, she turns, standing solid by the door and stopping him in his tracks. "Your date is waiting," she reminds him, jutting her chin out in Marian's direction before she takes her leave, the thud of the fist he slams into the venue door echoing in her ears as she goes.
The wedding takes place at sunset, right by the water, with waves close enough to almost lap at their bare feet as they stand by the exquisitely decorated driftwood arch, the salty breeze enveloping them all as David and Mary Margaret exchange their vows.
Regina hates every single bit of it.
For one thing, it's hot, and she's starting to sweat through her makeup. The breeze, though a welcome respite in the warm summer afternoon, is blowing away petals from the delicate hydrangeas in her hand, ruining the bouquet. That same stupid breeze is also shoving sand up her nostrils, into her hair, and through the cleavage of her dress. And the waves are so loud, she can't hear what the minister or the bride and groom are saying.
The most annoying part, though, is that Robin is right smack in her line of sight, wearing light gray pants and a white linen button-down that's just a little wrinkled around the collar, and it's driving her insane. She wants to fix it. She wants to rip it off and kiss all the gorgeously tanned skin she knows lies underneath.
The worst part, though, is the way he's looking at her. With so much longing and desperation that it's making her heart shrivel up and expand to the rhythm of his breathing.
He'd knocked on her door last night, after their little fight at the rehearsal dinner, but she'd ignored him and forced herself to read her book until her eyes were drooping.
Today, though, today is a different story. Because her best friend is getting married and all Regina can think of is how much she wanted all this with Robin. How she wanted forever with him. How easy it was—is—to love him. It's always been so easy with him. Easy to let go, easy to feel safe, easy to almost forget that he had sex with the girl from the pub down the street from his work...
Before she knows it, there are tears falling from her eyes, and thankfully it happens at the same moment David and Mary Margaret share their first kiss as husband and wife, so Regina can disguise it as being moved by the ceremony, as happiness for her friends, but Robin is watching her with a too-knowing look, and it makes the knot in her throat tighter, has her giving Mary a quick congratulatory hug and sprinting away from the whole event when she's sure no one will notice, the remaining flowers of her bouquet left to float away on the nearby waves.
There are too many thoughts tumbling around in her head for the solitude of a hotel room, but she still needs a minute, needs to subdue the pain that's bubbling out of her. So instead of following the procession of guests and well-wishers back to the hotel, Regina makes a left, away from the glamor and the lights and the happy atmosphere, and lets herself cry.
The reception is in full swing by the time she gathers herself and rejoins the celebration. Mary Margaret and David have already made their entrance and shared their first dance, and the guests have now joined them on the dance floor, the fancy champagne and upbeat music making everyone bouncy and cheerful. That's when she spots him.
Robin, sitting at his table, smiling and chatting with Marian.
Regina's had enough.
She doesn't care that she looks demonic with her makeup half washed off her face and her hair messy and full of sand, doesn't care that she hasn't put her sandals back on, doesn't care that this is her best friend's wedding. She doesn't care about anything as she walks toward Robin, ready to unleash hell on him for toying with her emotions like this.
"I'm curious," she asks when she reaches him. "Were you going to beg me to take you back before or after sleeping with this one?"
"Excuse me?!" Marian snaps, and Regina knows she should apologize, that none of this is the poor girl's fault, but she's too far gone now, too angry, too hurt.
"That's not fair, Regina," Robin says then, and she scoffs in reply.
"You've got a lot of nerve, talking to me about fair," she tells him. People around them are turning their heads. Good, let them watch.
"I made a stupid mistake, and I'm sorry for it, but Marian isn't to blame for that," he insists.
"Robin Locksley, such a gentleman," Regina spits. "Where was that chivalrous spirit when you slept with Ruby?"
The music has stopped now, and even Mary Margaret and David are watching intently, Regina notices. It occurs to her this is probably the first time they're hearing the reason for her and Robin's breakup. They had never explained to anybody what had happened, just that it was over.
One glance at Mary's face full of pity tells Regina she's right. It's the first they're hearing about this. Might as well air the whole thing out then.
"I fucked up!" Robin is exclaiming. "I fucked up and I hate myself for it! You were the best thing that ever happened to me and I messed it up! I've been beating myself up over it every single day we've been apart."
"And yet here you are, on a date with someone else, for the second time in as many days. Funny how that works, isn't it?"
"We're not dating!" he shouts back, and the music has stopped now, everyone is caught up in this, watching the argument unfold and hanging on to every word that passes between them.
"Neither were you and Ruby," she reminds him.
"I've said I'm sorry!"
"Yes, I heard," she says calmly.
"You're insufferable, you know that?" he tells her then, and it makes her blood boil, but before she can reply, he continues.
"I was scared, and I had a few drinks, and I made a fucking mistake, Regina. I came clean right away, I apologized, I gave you your space when you asked for it, I am still apologizing now because it was a messed up thing to do and because I care about you. And you know that I do. You know me. You know I can't lie to you. Look me in the eye and tell me I'm lying."
She does. She looks him straight in the eye, and knows one hundred percent that he's telling the truth, that he's hurting too, but it doesn't matter. She can't trust him anymore.
"When are you going to understand that it doesn't matter how many times you apologize? You cheated on me, Robin! And then you come here, and you tell me you miss me, and then start gallivanting with some other woman like it's nothing! Like I'm nothing!"
"I'm not gallivanting with anyone, Regina," he snaps. "And if it bothers you so much that I've made a new friend, that's not my problem!"
"Aww, you're friends? Like you and Ruby were friends?" she mocks.
"Stop bringing Ruby into this!" he bites back.
"You brought her into this when you fucked her behind my back!" Regina yells, and what few guests hadn't heard the reason for their fight have most definitely heard it now.
Silence envelops the room, and Regina finally realizes what she's done.
Turning to Mary Margaret with fresh tears in her eyes, she blubbers a heartfelt, "I'm so sorry," and runs out, not stopping when both the bride and David call after her.
The waves and wet sand feel great on her bare feet, squishing between her toes, her panic slowly draining away with the ebb and flow of the water.
God, she can't believe she did that to Mary Margaret and David.
After all this time making every effort to help make this wedding perfect for them, she's gone and ruined it with her own selfish outburst.
She'll apologize again in the morning, and hope they'll forgive her before the trip is over. Right now, though, right now she tries to focus on the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, on the feel of the wind blowing around her, on the moonlight that shimmers on the water.
A small item thuds near her hand, and Regina turns to find a familiar looking little red book.
"Page 57," Robin tells her, his voice gentle, cautious. She doesn't reply, but takes the book, touching its cover reverently as she lets herself remember.
He'd given this to her for the only Valentine's Day they had spent together. He'd bought it at some cheesy Hallmark type store as a bit of a joke, but it had turned out to be quite special. Each tiny page has an action or gesture they could ask of each other on any given day, from "Cook dinner naked" to "A day of pampering" to "Hold me when I've had a bad day," little things that would help them reconnect or understand each other better.
"You kept this?" she asks incredulously, still not opening the book.
"I kept everything, Regina," he says softly. "Page 57, please."
She huffs, but opens the book anyway, flipping through the tiny white pages until she reaches the one with the little red 57 at the bottom. The suggested action is only three words.
Listen to me.
"What do you want, Robin?" she asks, exhausted.
"You," he says simply. "It's always been you, Regina."
"And yet..." she starts, but doesn't have the energy to finish that sentence, to call him out on his cheating yet again.
"I know," he admits. "I'm so sorry."
"Why were you scared?" she asks then, remembering his words from before. At his raised eyebrow, she clarifies, "Earlier. You said you were scared."
He sighs then, caught, and begins, "Do you remember what you did that day? When I... the day it happened."
She shakes her head, because all she remembers is Robin showing up on her doorstep with a grave face and the dreaded We need to talk that nobody wants to hear.
"You had lunch with Mal," he says then, and ah, right.
"I was leaving work, and I saw you sitting outside that cafe you like on Madison. I knew you were meeting with your ex, but seeing it, seeing you smiling and holding hands with her—"
"So you cheated on me because you were jealous?" Regina interrupts, already rolling her eyes and starting to stand.
"No, it wasn't jealousy so much as...panic. You had just told me the day before how much she meant to you, and why it was important that you meet with her and—"
"Because I wanted to clear the air with her, be friends again, not because we were getting back together."
"Yes, well, I don't hold hands with my friends, Regina."
"So now it's my fault?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying—"
"That's exactly what you're saying—"
"I thought I was losing you!" he finally blurts, standing up at the same time she does. "The entire time we were dating, all I heard from our friends was how perfect you and Mal were for each other, how sexy she was, how clever, how determined, how successful. I knew if she told you she wanted you back, I had no chance. And when I saw you with her, I thought..."
She's crying again, shaking her head as she exasperatedly asks, "And you thought that the solution to all this was sleeping with the bartender two blocks down?!"
How dare he?, she thinks. How dare he do this to them? How dare he ruin what they had over something as idiotic as jealousy? He could've talked to her, he could've asked, he could've—
"It was a stupid choice," he admits. "The worst I've ever made. And I regret it deeply."
"Because you got caught?" she throws back, too tired to inject the usual venom in her voice.
"Because it cost me the love of my life."
That surprises her. They had said their I love yous, of course, but to be referred to as The One is...different. It shocks her a little, makes her turn to look at him, arms crossed over her chest.
"I'm the love of your life?" she asks, and he's nodding at her with this look on his face. Like it's a no-brainer, like he can't believe she didn't know this all along.
"Page 22," he whispers then, and she looks down at the little book in her hand, flips back to the requested page as quickly as possible.
Let me kiss you even when you're mad at me.
A sob escapes her as she nods at him.
The moment he takes her in his arms and crashes his lips to hers, Regina is home.
Heat flashes through every part of her, warming her up from the inside as she sinks into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck and holding him tightly to her. Robin lets out a surprised little moan when she kisses him back, and he holds her even tighter, his lips growing desperate, like he can't get enough of her.
Regina gasps into the kiss, then wraps her lips around his bottom one and sucks lightly before letting her tongue peek out to tease him. Robin moans again, and it's his tongue in her mouth now, delicately caressing hers even as he roams his hands wildly over her back and tangles his fingers in her hair.
The salt of her tears mixes in with the champagney taste of him and the woodsy scent of his cologne, an intoxicating mix that has her yearning for more, so much more.
They break apart with a small wet pop, and his forehead falls gently on hers as he whispers brokenly, "I love you. And I'm so sorry I cocked everything up. Please give me another chance."
It's only then that she notices the salt she tasted wasn't from her tears, but from his. His breathing is shaky as he holds her, as if he's terrified of letting her go.
Pulling back slightly, she looks into his eyes, the moisture shining in them as he watches her, his lips slightly parted, his cheeks flushed, and god, she can't resist him. She really can't.
She wants him, despite everything. She truly does. And that's the worst part, isn't it? That she's so willing to let him back into her life, to risk the possibility of him hurting her again—
"Fuck, I miss you so much," he adds then, stopping her thoughts. His hands are still roaming, still touching her everywhere. "Please don't turn me away, Regina. I can't bear it."
"Marian is—"
"A friend," he cuts in. "And a very nice woman who has been listening to me pine for you the entire time we've been here."
Regina sighs, silent tears still falling. Robin wraps his arms around her and pulls her in, her head resting on his shoulder, his hand losing itself in her hair again, rubbing at her scalp in that incredibly soothing way she likes so much.
"I should apologize to her," she admits, and feels Robin's chin digging slightly into her hair as he nods.
"I'm sorry I made you think there was more going on," he tells her. "The truth is, David only set us up because he was tired of me being a morose sod. I don't think he intended for me to spill my guts to poor Marian about how much I miss my ex. Or gush to her about how stunning you look in this dress."
That makes her chuckle into his shirt, her hand grasping that wrinkled collar as she holds onto him.
"You think I'm stunning?" she murmurs.
"In every way," Robin affirms immediately. A beat passes in silence, and then he adds, "And you're quite a good kisser."
She smiles at that, and his hand moves up to the side of her face, fingers threading through the hair behind her ear as his thumb rubs at her cheek.
"There it is," he grins. "There's that elusive but satisfying smile I think about every time I close my eyes."
Another kiss follows, slow and deep and perfect. His lips wrap around hers, the warmth of him seeping into her as he tightens the arm he still has around her waist and presses closer.
A faint melody can be heard around the beach, a ballad playing at one of the small restaurants by the shore, the sound floating in the wind and enveloping them. Robin is still holding her, and begins rocking them slowly to the music, that arm still around her while the other holds her hand close to his chest.
It's the most peace Regina's felt in months.
"Let's get out of here," Robin leans in to whisper in her ear, his breath hot on her skin as he moves to nuzzle her neck.
He pulls back then, watching her, his thumb rubbing gently over her hand as he waits.
Regina answers with a kiss.
The second they make it into her room, his hands are busy ripping apart her gown. Airy, light blue fabric falls in a heap beneath her, leaving her in the strapless bra and sensible underwear she'd chosen to wear today. It's not exactly sexy, but Robin seems... mesmerized.
He stays there, watching her, his hands shaking slightly as they land on either side of her, resting gently at her waist before slowly making their way up to her ribcage and back down.
"You..." he says, moving closer and landing little pecks all over her shoulder and neck as he speaks, "have no idea... how much I've missed you."
Another kiss, this time punctuated by a delicate lick on the crook of her neck. "Your skin..." kiss, "your scent..." kiss, "the way your breath catches when I touch you..."
In that precise moment, he pushes a hand down between them, cupping her over the lace and pressing a finger to her clit over her underwear. Regina gasps, her forehead falling into his shoulder as he moans and tells her Yes, like that.
It feels so good to be with him like this again, to feel him, smell him, to surrender to that unbelievable sensation only Robin has ever been able to elicit in her.
He catches her lower lip with his teeth, pulling slightly before he kisses her fully, tongue lapping at hers in time with every pass of his finger over her clit, the lace growing wetter and wetter by the second as Regina holds on tighter and grinds down onto his hand, begging for more.
Robin doesn't make her wait long, shoves the fabric aside until his finger can sink into her. A low Fuck escapes him when he feels her, slick and slippery and ready.
"God, I've missed this so much," he whispers, slowing down the cadence of his hand. He's got her with her back firmly against the door now, leaning into it for purchase as he curves that finger inside her and slowly seeks out that perfect spot that makes her see stars.
It doesn't take him long to find it, but he slows his movements down, teases her as he adds a second finger and moves them both in and out of her at a snail-like pace. Regina is desperate for more, but there's a reverence in the way he does this now, a moment of appreciation and worship that makes her blush.
He's still fully clothed, and that just won't do, Regina thinks, moving to pull at the buttons of his shirt until they rain down on the hotel room floor. The movement makes it difficult for him to hit the right angle, and she whimpers at the loss of his fingers as he stands back, his now ruined shirt falling open and revealing the sun-kissed plains and valleys of his torso.
When they're both finally naked, the world stops.
For a long moment, they just look at each other, reacquaint themselves with each other's bodies, admiring and lusting after what they've both missed for so long. She can see the hunger in his eyes as they roam her form, and she lets the heat of his gaze scorch her from the inside out.
He walks to her slowly, one hand rising to the level of her breast.
"May I?" he asks, and Regina nods, almost laughing at the absurdity of him looking for approval after he's already had his fingers inside her. But the atmosphere has shifted somewhat, an air of serenity taking over as she offers herself to him, and it dawns on her that he's nervous, scared of messing up this new opportunity she's given him.
Robin kneads the swell of her breast oh-so slowly, his breath labored as he runs a thumb firmly over the nipple.
Regina shivers involuntarily in reaction, and a strangled moan escapes him before he slams her body against his and kisses her.
He tastes of champagne still, of the salt from his earlier tears and the sweat that's already begun to build up on his skin at their actions. He's warm, so warm, so strong as his arms tighten around her and bring her closer, his lips deepening the kiss, tongue begging her for entrance.
She opens for him, lets the tip of her tongue caress his, moans when he sucks at her upper lip and goes back in for more of that, more of him.
His cock is firm and smooth in her hand when she grasps it, his shallow breaths mingling with hers as their mouths hover over each other, both too caught up in the feeling of her hand on him to do much else.
Regina gives the shaft a little tug, runs that hand all the way up to the tip and back down again in a tortuous motion, delighting in Robin's little moans and curses as he looks down at what she's doing.
"Fuck, I love you so much," he blurts out, finally looking up and cradling her face in his hands before he kisses her again, fingers threading into her hair and pulling slightly. Regina moans against him, kisses him deeper, harder, pushes herself closer to him when his hands dip down to cup her ass. The action has their bodies pressing flush together, his cock pushing right up against her.
At some point—Regina does not know how—they make it to the bed in a tangle of naked limbs and wandering hands. She's on her back against the sheets, her hair fanned out over the pillows as he climbs over her, kissing up from her belly button to her mouth, his lips almost desperate as they catch and taste hers over and over again.
A choked Mmmh escapes her when he dips his head away from the kiss and pulls her right nipple into his mouth, sucking at the stiff peak until it hurts just a bit, then soothing the little stab of pain with a long, slow lick. God, she's missed that.
"Again," she begs, and he greedily obeys, sucking at her other nipple and calming the little sting with warm, wet passes of his tongue. He does it again, and again, alternating from one nipple to the other, and on the third pass, she feels those two fingers make their way back to her navel and continue further south, until they can sink into her just as they did earlier, and she's so wet now, so, so wet, she can feel them sliding against her inner walls, going deeper and deeper, his mouth still working her nipples.
When Robin begins to draw his hand back, then pushes in once more, Regina starts undulating her hips in time with the sensual, measured thrusts, meeting him as he pushes those fingers into her over and over again at the most unhurried pace.
He then lets her nipple pop out of his mouth, his lips swollen as he looks up at her and moans.
"God, I can't take it anymore," he says then. "Need to be inside you. Feel you come on my cock. Please, Regina."
She's been nodding furiously since he started talking, but somehow the begging gets to her, has her whimpering out a Yes! that spurs him into action.
He runs to the closet, knowing exactly where the condoms are in her bag, and comes back with one already out of the packet.
She's never seen a man put a condom on so fast. It makes her laugh, breaks the intense atmosphere just long enough for him to flash her that boyish grin she loves before he settles atop her. Regina opens her legs to welcome him, and silence falls once again.
All she can hear is their labored breathing, then the loud thumping of her heart when he starts teasing her entrance with the tip of his cock, and it feels amazing, drives her absolutely wild. Especially when he bites his lip as he finally, wonderfully, finds home inside her.
She feels him slide in inch by inch, moans at the delicious pressure of him stretching her, filling her, and she doesn't realize what she's saying until she hears him whisper, "I know, babe, I know, you feel amazing too. Can't wait to watch you come."
He won't have to wait long, not if he keeps talking to her like this while he pulls back slowly and Fuck! dives back into her like that.
So good. It feels so good. And it's not just the physical aspect. The undeniable connection they share comes through when they're like this, intimate and uninhibited, and she can feel it, that thread that pulls them together, tensing and relaxing with every thrust of his hips, shining brighter and brighter with every look, every word of affection.
When she comes, it's with his name on her lips and her hands on his ass, pushing him deeper into her, urging him to go faster, to fall over the edge right along with her.
Robin picks up the pace, fucks into her harder, quicker, gasping and cursing before he drops his head down to hover over hers, his breath puffing out against her mouth before he comes with a near-primal growl that has her reaching up to kiss him, tongue licking wildly at his before he rolls off her and falls to her right on the mattress, both of them spent and thoroughly satisfied.
"You should've talked to me about Mal," Regina tells him a while later, when they've cleaned up and jumped back into bed for a bit of rest. She's half draped over him, with her leg between both of his and her arm hugging him around the waist, head pillowed on his chest and lips brushing his skin as she speaks.
"I know," Robin agrees, kissing the top of her head while she draws little circles over his chest with her hand.
"And for the record," she clarifies then, "You weren't going to lose me."
She lifts her head then, wanting to look him in the eye when she explains, "Mal and I cleared some things up, yes, and we have great affection for each other, but it's all platonic. When I talked to her that day, I told her how happy I was, how happy you made me. And then to hear you tell me about Ruby that same night..."
She turns her face away from him, fighting back tears, but Robin hooks a finger under her chin and coaxes her to look back at him, eyes full of regret and the many apologies he's already voiced a million times. Apologies Regina's not sure she wants to hear again.
Thankfully, he doesn't say the words, only kisses her. A sweet, lingering peck that serves to ground them both. Regina sighs as she sinks back down to his chest, her finger resuming those little circles over his bare skin.
"I love you," he tells her then.
"I love you, too," she whispers. "But it may not be enough, Robin. I... tonight's been wonderful, but the fact remains that you broke my heart. I let you in and you broke my heart. I don't know how to fully trust you again after that."
"Are you willing to at least try?" he begs, squeezing her tighter.
"Yes. But you have to figure out what you want. You have to be sure."
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," he tells her.
"Don't just say that to appease me—" she starts, but he cuts her off.
"Regina, you are my future," he says fervently.
"Just think about it," she insists. "Take some time and... and truly think about it. Decide for sure if this is really what you want."
"Regina, I choose you," he says again.
She doesn't say anything back, but cuddles closer to him, dropping a kiss on his chest before she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, content for now to be in his arms, lulled to sleep by the steady beating of his heart.
Regina wakes up alone the next morning.
She'd think she imagined everything, were it not for the scent of fresh pine aftershave and sweat that still clings to the bedsheets. Her bed smells like him, like everything they did last night.
God, this is going to complicate things.
Stretching out her arm onto the pillow next to her, she hears the rustling of paper as her knuckles collide with it. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it's two of the pages from that fortuitous little romance book Robin had been clinging to.
The actual tiny book is nowhere to be found, and she notices that the little ripped pages have some extra writing on it, little words scribbled in blue ink from the hotel-branded pen on the nightstand.
For when you're ready, the first one says, right next to the page number and the suggested action.
23. Give me a second chance
Regina lets out a laugh, her eyes welling up with tears as she grabs the second page and reads the handwritten message. For a rainy day.
42. Breakfast in bed
She stares out at the island that stretches out beyond her balcony, bathed in warm, shimmering sunlight as the blue sky announces the arrival of yet another perfect morning.
With a grin, Regina gets up, washes her face and brushes her teeth, puts on the white bikini she knows Robin loves, and throws on a cover-up before stepping out of her room, the two little pieces of paper clutched tightly in her hand.
His room is six doors down from hers, and when she knocks on his door, her whole body tingles with excitement.
He comes out with a towel wrapped around his waist, looking disgruntled at the interruption, but his face lights up when he sees her, that handsome smile peeking through as he scratches the back of his neck and looks her up and down, eyes roaming her body appreciatively before he takes another step.
Regina lets him draw her in, and hums pleasantly when he runs the tip of his nose down the bridge of hers, his forehead falling onto hers softly as he hesitantly asks, "Raining already?"
She knows that's not the page he's really asking about, but plays along anyway, smiling and dropping a short, sweet kiss on his lips before she gives him her answer.
"Pouring."