Right, I've had part of this chapter written since I began writing the story and it's finally time. Remember, baby steps but maybe at a slight jog now...Edited for formatting 211019
Previously in The Collar
"Good girl, you've pleased us," Mistress Swan murmuring, reaching in through the door to pet the slave's cheek before closing and locking the door with a heavy padlock. "Now rest."
"Yes Mistress, thank you Mistress Swan," the slave replying, settling down on her side arm bent under her head, pillowing it so she could watch the bed, only then noticing the scent of Mistress Black still coating her face.
Emma leaving the slave and rounding the foot of the bed to help Regina undress, sliding her robe off then removing her bra before slipping out of her own robe. "Shower or sleep?" Regina pausing to consider the options then noting the tired set of Emma's shoulders.
"Sleep I think. Come," Regina peeling back the covers and sliding into the large bed, holding them open for Emma to join her which she did. Both women relaxing into the luxurious mattress, muscles aching but enjoying the contact of skin on skin. It didn't take long before they had migrated to their usual sleeping positions and falling asleep under the watchful eye of 116 stretched out in her cage.
Xx
The night went quickly, too quickly for 116's tastes, only allowing herself to slip into the lightest levels of unconscious to rest her body and mind but remain receptive to any activity in the room beyond her cage; ever thankful that she be allowed the honour and not being dismissed directly after satisfying her mistresses and left to the care of her trainers who were competent but she held only minimal respect for them.
Mistress Swan and Mistress Black though -. 116 exhaling and steadying her breathing, replaying every moment of their evening together and resisting the almost overwhelming urge she had to touch the hot slick between her legs because she did not want to displease the women who had ruined her for anyone else. Instead of touching herself she distracted herself by playing with her collar, often an object of comfort for her with the leather soft under her fingers and it settled her, fingers eventually hooking under it to pull it tighter against her throat and the pressure sending a wave of relaxation through stiffening muscles.
She hadn't meant to fall asleep but when she woke she was met with the sight of Mistress Swan and Mistress Black readying to leave, showered and fully dressed and she wondered what sedative she had been given, not knowing that it was her own state of relaxation that had caused the deep sleep.
Regina was watching Emma watching the slave sleeping in the cage, the blonde's brow furrowed in a frown.
"You've bonded with her," Regina stating, coming to stand by Emma's side but Emma shaking her head in denial.
"No, but I understand what she needs," Emma leaning back a little into the hand resting her lower back, increasing the contact between them.
"As do I," Regina replying, not wanting Emma to forget her own role in their evening's entertainment.
"I know," Emma flashing a smile then reaching for the queen's hips and pulling her close, close enough to kiss and Emma lowering her mouth to Regina's, both sighing at the contact.
"Let's go," Emma the first to break free and sliding her hand from Regina's waist to tangle their fingers together. "We need to get back to my apartment, I need to sort a few things then we can go back." Regina simply nodding and noting Emma's lingering look at the occupied cage.
"Would you like a cage of your own," Regina's words purposely loaded (but only audible between the two of them), fully expecting the surge of aggression that had Emma pinning her to the wall, green eyes stormy as they studied her.
"Mind your tongue," Emma dipping to nip at Regina' bottom lip. "You do like to push me don't you?" Emma's voice low and husky as she pushed her hips into Regina's, a light roll to suggest so much more.
"I do. I find it a very enjoyable pass-time," Regina smirking before reaching down between their bodies to cup Emma's crotch (outlined in the tight 'jeans' she had pulled from the closet), thumbing over the seam above her clit. "And I play dirty so do not test me, pet." Emma snarling in frustration and slamming the heel of her hand against the wall just to the side of Regina's head. "Don't worry, I shall help you work that out later," Regina promising, blood red lips pursing and eyes narrowing as Emma stared her down.
"Come," Emma realising they were at a stalemate but needing to get back to her apartment, time was running out and she had a lot left to do.
"She's awake," Regina murmuring in Emma's ear and Emma turning to look at the slave stirring in the cage, both of them observing her stretch and eyes blinking open in slight confusion, tracking to the bed before searching the room and finding them.
"You did well," Mistress Swan praising, stepping toward the cage and crouching down so they were at eye level. "The cage is unlocked, you are free to return to your room. See the medic if you feel you need to," the domme instructing.
"Thank you, Mistress," 116 replying politely, noting the bag in Mistress Swan's hand. They were leaving.
"We must return overseas today," Mistress Swan explaining, noting the brief flash of disappointment before it was hidden beneath the slave's mask. "Otherwise I would have enjoyed training you further," Emma acknowledging.
"Thank you, Mistresses," 116 remaining in her cage, pressed against the bars at the back until she was alone.
"Mistress Swan!" The moment they left Emma's suite a security guard caught their attention. "A moment before you leave please?" Emma sighing but beckoning her over.
"This shouldn't take long," she apologised to Regina.
"Take your time, I believe I left my bracelet in the room and I should like it as a memento of our time here," Regina reassuring Emma with a gentle hand on her forearm before returning to the room to retrieve the item, it had indeed been a momentous night and one which she wished to commemorate.
"Find it?" Emma ridding herself of her duty just as Regina reappeared.
"I did, thank you. Are we leaving now?"
"We are. Come," the queen taking Emma's offered arm before making their way through the building at towards their waiting driver.
xxxx
They were both settled on Emma's largest couch after a pleasant luncheon Emma had prepared, each with a book in hand, music playing softly in the background and the fire blazing after Emma had finished the last of her preparations to return to the queen's kingdom. The couple waiting for Maggie to arrive with the last of the documents she required Emma to sign before they could leave.
An overall deceptively domestic scene. Or was it? And was that not the issue here? Regina musing, likening the setting to those quiet evenings spent in her chambers, the only difference being Emma's position as her equal, not her pet.
"Emma, may I speak with you?" Regina's voice breaking the comfortable silence, green eyes raising, curious but calm.
"Sure, what's up?" A smile greeting the queen, Emma closing her book and placing it on the arm of the couch. Regina following suit and turning more fully to face her companion.
"I know we have elected to return to my kingdom very shortly," Emma nodding her confirmation of their imminent departure. "I -," a pause, Regina struggling for words before inhaling and Emma noticing a familiar look settle over the queen, one of resolve. "During my stay I have come to realise the full extent of your role here, in this world," Emma completely taken aback by the topic but staying silent. It was so rare for Regina to open up she didn't want to interrupt. "You are as wealthy and respected as you claimed, however that is not a surprise. I have never known you to ever boast or spout untruths." Another pause and a deep breath, Emma exhaling when she realised she had been holding her own.
"I also know you to be extremely noble, the way you have treated me here. As your guest and with a consideration that is not forced, it is simply a facet of your nature. As is the way you submit to me in my realm. What I had not realised was the extent of your compassion for the weaker member's of your society. I must admit to finding this world extremely contradictory, some have so much and some so little. There are few common denominators. At least in my kingdom the orphans are well cared for." Emma nodding, knowing the high value the queen placed on their care and education. "What I wish to know is if you can continue to support them the way you do if you return with me?"
"Oh!" The question startling Emma. She knew that Regina had been supportive of her rescue of Lottie but not that the queen had been as invested as she obviously was. "Well, my answer would be yes. As long as the clubs continues to turn a profit that is. My income from them is more than enough to fund the shelter without requiring me to do any additional work. I work because I enjoy it, not because I have to. The club revenue doesn't seem to have fallen during my absence so I think it is safe to say things will continue to run smoothly without me around. Maggie hasn't mentioned otherwise and she would have raised her concerns with me."
"Good, I would hate those poor children to suffer," Regina tilting her head in way Emma had come to associate with the queen withholding certain emotions, the feigned disinterest a direct contradiction to her initial question. The room falling quiet, Emma knowing not to push Regina to talk, she would in her own time.
"I -, I have another matter of import that I wish to discuss with you, Emma," Regina's fingers knotting with each other in an uncharacteristic manner. Emma shifting, anxiety rising. "It has to do with my audience with Maleficent. The matters we discussed were varied but as you know my main intent was to discuss the bonding of our magic." Emma nodding, as one was prone to do when being a silent partner in a conversation, especially one being conducted with a normally truculent and stoic woman. "She was able to provide an answer which I have not yet shared with you."
"Regina!" Emma's voice bursting forth towards the queen with unprecedented force and Emma rising to her feet.
"Emma, I -. Please, this is not an easy conversation for me to have. May I request that you withhold your questions until I have finished? I promise to answer all honestly and to the best of my ability." Regina anxious to say her piece, to explain.
"Ok, carry on," Emma's frown belying her dissatisfaction with the idea but the blonde electing to stay silent, for now.
"Maleficent was able to provide me with an explanation for the anomaly."
"Anomaly?" Emma huffing, "Really? That's what you're calling it?" The blonde shaking her head, only Regina's unusually anxious look cutting her off.
"I - , she confirmed that the level of the bond our magic has experienced is extremely rare, and irreversible." The room once again silent, Emma absorbing the information before she spoke.
"What does that mean? For me?" Green eyes narrowing, gaze levelled at the queen and Emma crossing her arms defensively across her chest but remaining standing.
"It means that we are bonded together, to separate us would cause irreparable damage, even death. Emma, I am sor-."
"You're telling me this now?" Emma launching to her feet. "Why the hell didn't you tell me as soon as you found out? So that's what this trip was all about? Giving me time to settle my affairs before whisking me back to be your slave for eternity?" Emma was furious, pacing the length of the room, fists clenching, face set in an angry mask. "What about that fucking oath, was that your sick way of making sure I'd go back with you, to save your own skin? Was it?" Emma roaring, spinning to face Regina.
"No! I meant what I said about releasing you, I just -," Regina, reaching out before pulling her hand back and sinking deeper into the upholstery. "It would just give me time to find a way to break the bond, so you could be free to return here, if you want. It would just ensure that we, you were safe until that time." Regina watching as Emma's pacing stilled, green eyes coming to rest on her own.
"Seriously?" Emma's voice now a lot softer.
"Yes, I would never wish for you to come to any harm. I thought I could hide this from you but I cannot, will not. If the bond had not existed I would revoke the oath and give you the choice to stay here, but I cannot. Seeing you here, seeing the good you can do made me realise that although I enjoy your company and you are an extremely welcome addition to my bed and my life I cannot justify detaining you purely for my own selfish pleasure."
"Are you fucking shitting me?" Emma collapsing into the plush armchair opposite the queen, chewing her bottom lip, observing the other woman, searching for the lie. A slight twitch of the brunette's eyelid, there it was. "You're lying to me," Emma sitting forward, forearms resting on her knees, eyes boring into the queen's. "Why?"
"Because -." Regina being immediately cut off, the blonde boosting to her feet.
"No! Not why can't I stay here, I get that and I get that whatever fucked up shit has happened means that I'm stuck with you," Emma not missing the flinch from the brunette as she spoke. "I mean why us, why did the bond form in the first fucking place?" Emma noting the tightening of the queen's jaw,
"Are you going to tell me it's just something that happens all the time? Hmm?" Emma getting impatient for answers. "For all I've done for you, Regina, you owe me this." Silence falling between them, cold and heavy, suffocating.
"I do. I just cannot explain it in any way that makes any sense," Regina's emotions breaking through, voice rising, Emma never having heard that tone before, she was genuinely upset.
"Try, just fucking try, Regina!" Every word the blonde issuing was a growl, eyes fixed on the queen.
"It is a deep form of magic, binding on the deepest level and relatively rare, except among the faye, Maleficent says," Regina bringing her head to rest on her hands, knees resting on her thighs, the blonde's stare too much to handle.
"Then why? I mean from what I can remember it felt amazing, it didn't feel evil or bad. Regina, look at me," Emma locking her eyes on the brunette but her voice gentle and Regina looking up to meet her eyes. "Please? I need to know." A nod from the queen before she continued.
"No, it harbours no evil. It is a pure form of bonding, one that is recognised in the faye community as a marriage between willing parties," Regina sighing as the whole truth was ushered forth for whatever consequence should come.
"Fuuuuuck," Emma exhaling the word, collapsing back into her chair, both women staring at the other, Regina marvelling at how expressively the blonde's use of curse words came across "I need a drink!" A flurry of movement and Regina found a crystal glass being pressed into her hand, half filled with a dark liquor.
"Apple brandy, I picked some up for you at the store," Emma explaining, regaining her seat, this time relaxing back, legs underneath her as she curled into the chair. "And we can't change it ourselves?" Regina shaking her head.
"No, our magic has melded, it is why it is drawn to the other. Why we can feel the pull," the brunette dropping her eyes at her admittance, toying with the glass in her hand.
"You feel it too?" Emma querying softly, a nod from the queen who then took a sip of her drink and allowing the warmth to numb the hard edge of the currently latent conversation. The room falling silent as Emma followed suit.
"I can't say I find it unpleasant and well -, the sex is amazing," the blonde smirking at the queen.
"It is extremely satisfying, more so for me with my magic but that is because it is the core of my being. I find its reaction to you, unruly," Regina admitting, the alcohol warming and relaxing her from within, the fire from without.
"Unruly?" Emma brow arching at the confession and wishing to take full advantage of the queen's loose tongue. "Yes, it is quite persistent in finding its way to you. I dislike that, it is harder to control and therefore a risk!"
"I can see why that would bother you," Emma sighing, the queen sniffing, realising that she had revealed too much but to Emma it explained so much. The distance Regina had put between them before their journey here, the lashing out when she jumped to the (totally incorrect) assumptions regarding Emma and Red directly after the bond must have formed. Regina was scared and thought she'd been rejected so did what she did best to protect herself from further pain.
"I don't notice it too much but even before this happened I have always felt what I can only describe as a hum, I can't hear it but I can feel it and that has always been there, since you captured me. But it has always quietened when we are together. For that reason your company can be relaxing," Emma deciding to just get everything out there. She knew they had feelings for each other, they cared for one another out of a mutual respect and an innate understanding of the other's personality. But marriage? That was extreme.
"Mmm, yes Red has said as much on more than one occasion." Regina musing, eyeing the blonde as she took a long drink, slender throat bulging as she swallowed.
"So," Emma's thoughts completed, the blonde now ready to give them voice. "I shall accompany you back to your kingdom as promised, as your slave and in-line with the terms of our original wager. You will do your best to break this bond, without killing us both and when you release me I am still free to return here?" Emma laying out the facts, needing to know exactly where she stood.
"Yes, I give you my word," Regina pledging, extending her hand, Emma reaching forward, her own hand clasping the queen's. "Ok," Emma nodding, the deal was done.
"How will it work when we go back?" Emma asking, assuming the answer but needing to know exactly where she stood.
"You will resume your duties as before," Regina confirming with a short nod. "Although, your position is now well established so I shall not be required to be as harsh on you to convince the populace that you are worthy to be by my side."
"Harsh?" Emma shaking her head, "that's an understatement. But -," the blonde raising her hand. "In most cases I have agreed with you, had I been in your position I would have enacted similar punishment on me and the other slaves . They were harsh but befitting the crime. The ones you sentenced to death though? No, I cannot condone that. However, I also realise that the world you exist in that is the norm although I doubt that Queen Gabrielle reacts the same way?"
"No, she is much more lenient on her subjects than I, but I have never known the crimes committed to be as serious," Regina confessing, Emma listening intently. "It is, as you say, the norm, I would even add that my rule is much more lenient than that of the other kingdoms'.
"That doesn't surprise me," Emma sighing and shaking her head. "You just need to read up on the medieval period to understand that."
"That is the period you refer to in the context of my kingdom?" Regina wishing to fully understand Emma's referencing.
"Yes, the culture seems broadly similar, without the magic of course."
"Of course." the room falling silent again, Emma wondering how far to push the conversation, Regina having a topic on her mind but not sure whether to enquire further was admitting weakness.
"I –," both women starting to speak at the same time. Regina gesturing that the blonde should precede her. Now that Emma had made the decision to speak she was reluctant to backtrack so continued on.
"Whilst I am able to speak freely there are two incidents that I wish to protest," Regina frowning but nodding for the blonde to continue. "Firstly, and because I know it has been resolved, is the way you lashed out at Red, the way you treated her was cruel and unfair. But, I know that you have apologised for this so I will say no more."
"Yes, well -," Emma's raised hand cutting the queen off.
"Enough! She told me that you apologised so I'm not going to get involved. It's done," the blonde swirling the liquid in her glass before downing the remaining shot, or two, that was left.
"And the other?" Regina now on the defensive.
"The one that bothers me the most is how you treated Red when Greta first came to you," Emma's expression mirroring her disquiet.
"Oh, I can guess which incident you are referring to. Are you objecting on moral or professional grounds?" The arching brow challenging her companion. "I do not think it is the professional basis, no?"
"No." Emma agreeing, frowning at the fact she had been so well read (but when wasn't she by the queen?).
"Then what is your issue? Your friendship with my wolf? You are acting in her defence even though I suspect that you would behave in the way I did, hmm?"
"No, I would not have asked it of Red in the first place. The rest? Punishing me? Yes, I would have done the same but my games are a little less damaging than those you play, My Queen." The blonde mocking the title. "That was just to satisfy your ego. Nothing would be gained by forcing Red, except her mistrust in you."
"Of course, I knew this and I knew that you would step in with your moral code, play the saviour, protect Red and her relationship with me," Regina freely admitting her machinations.
"You played me." Emma, having previously reached that conclusion, was unsurprised to be vindicated.
"I did. And I got the results I wanted, mostly. The girl deflowered for one. But you cannot deny that you enjoyed the experience?" Emma scowling but knew the queen had accurately read the satisfaction she had taken in the acts.
"I won't deny it, Regina. You know I have a darkness in me that I don't always want to control. Which is why you baited me, why you were able to bait me in such a way," a resigned sigh coming from the blonde as she refilled their glasses, both had been drained dry but the conversation was not yet over.
"You need such release, your demons would conquer you if it was not granted. As would mine if I did not find an outlet that satisfied both my physical and magical energies," the queen's gesture encompassing them both in the statement.
"No, I can't imagine crochet would have the same effect," Emma chuckling to herself, the mental image strangely pleasing if very wrong.
"Crochet?"Regina frowning at the unfamiliar term.
"Creating intricate patterns with wool or twine," Emma doing a swift search on her phone and showing Regina the results on the screen.
"Oh," the queen wrinkling her nose at the very thought. "I abhor needlework and I cannot see that being much better," she sniffed dismissively.
"Not my thing either but it takes skill," Emma defending the craft. "It must but I prefer the pleasures of the flesh to fill my leisure time."
"Agreed," Emma chuckling before remembering what topic they had deviated from.
"You found that with the girl last night, the release, did you not?" Regina also recalling their previous path.
"You know I did," Emma relaxing back into her chair and crossing her legs at the ankle, palms flat over the curve of the arm rest. Regina giving a nod and silence falling.
"Please don't do that again, that's all I ask," Emma requesting with a sigh. "Mind games are fun but not when it effects a person's life, Regina."
"You mean Red?" Regina curling her lip, her ego resenting the interference.
"I do, not that I think you'd ever repeat that mistake." Emma shaking her head, knowing how Red's role in the palace had changed coupled with Regina's earlier admission of guilt. "But with others. Familial bonds are often weak or unfulfilling, so do not toy with the ones that are strong and pure." Emma's voice hardening and narrowing her eyes as she observed the queen.
"Agreed," the immediate capitulation surprising Emma causing her to lean forward in her chair. "I must admit that it was you I sought to break, not Red. My method was egregious and I support your reasoning," A slight incline of the queen's head physically acknowledging the fact.
A loud buzzing cut through their conversation startling Regina enough to exclaim aloud. "That'll be Maggie," Emma announcing, walking towards a silver metal panel on the wall that Regina had failed to notice before.
Xxxxx
Next in The Collar
"Ok, so yeah. I'd better go. Give me hug, loser," Maggie checking the time again and embracing Emma again. "Be careful and you -," Maggie turning to Regina, "keep her safe or I will hunt you down!" Regina arching her brow but not replying, silently impressed with the threat. This young woman had courage and obviously cared for Emma.