Thanksgiving
When Regina insisted that she'd pick Emma up at her building, Emma didn't bother to argue this time. Not when she had much more pressing concerns rattling around in her mind. And it's not like she was ashamed of where she lived – far from it. It's just that nobody besides Ruby had really ever seen it before, and she liked to keep it that way.
But having Regina see where she lived wasn't nearly as stressful as the painful reminder her brain kept pushing to the front of her mind: Regina mentioned that her mother held high standards for her daughter. What would she think when Regina showed up at a family gathering with a woman on her arm? And if no man was ever good enough for Regina, by her mother's standards, then what made Emma good enough? She was bound to be walking in to an evening of public ridicule from someone who might possibly be more intimidating than Regina Mills herself.
Then there was the other pressing issue: the fact that Emma still had feelings for Regina that had gone unaddressed. But she got through 29 years of her life without stressing over feelings. She could handle ignoring them for another night.
When her phone rang, she expected it to be Regina letting her know she had arrived to pick Emma up. But when her phone's screen flashed an unknown number, she answered and spoke with hesitance in her tone.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Ben from the front desk. I'm just calling to let you know you have a visitor."
Emma sighed a breath of relief. Ruby must be enough of a regular that they would send her up without calling, but this was just standard protocol.
"I'll be right down," Emma replied.
"No need. I've sent the woman up to your unit. I was just calling to let you know."
Emma scrambled, feeling her palms grow sweaty. Her eyes peered around her apartment. She muffled a frantic thank you and hung up her phone.
"Shit!"
She wasn't sure why Regina was coming up. They had a car waiting downstairs. Why couldn't she have just informed her that she was outside of the building waiting?
While attempting to rummage around and tidy up, she only made it as far as putting away one or two items on the kitchen counter before there was a knock at the door.
"One minute," she called out. Placing a dirty mug in the sink, she rushed to the door. Emma swung it open with a long exhale. "Hi."
"Hello, Miss Swan. You look very nice."
Emma looked down, taking in the sight of her outfit. After spending hours trying to come up with an outfit that didn't feel like too much, she settled on black leather pants, heeled booties, and a tank top with a long fitted blazer. She felt confident in it, and hearing Regina's affirmation made her feel even better.
"It's not too much?" She realized she hadn't even asked what Regina was doing up here and why they weren't heading out right away. Regina mentioned that her parents had a winter home in Shelton, Connecticut. One Google search told Emma that it was the richest county in the state, and was also a two-hour drive from the city. They should be getting on the road. Yet, here they were, loitering in Emma's doorway and discussing attire.
"Well I certainly am enjoying it." Regina unashamedly let her gaze fall to Emma's chest and she smirked.
The flirty tone threw Emma for a loop. Telling Emma she looked nice and saying that she was enjoying the outfit were two very different things.
"Right. Well, then that saves me a trip back to my bedroom to change." Emma laughed and reached for her jacket.
"Not even going to give me a quick tour before we head out?"
"Hell no. My place is probably a mess by your standards."
Regina waved her hand, dismissing Emma's remark, and walked toward the kitchen in her own accord. Emma sighed, following directly behind her. She decided it didn't matter what Regina thought – she didn't need to impress her.
"Emma, your place is immaculate. And so nicely decorated," she paused to admire a piece of artwork hanging on the wall. Emma wouldn't tell her that she got it as a gift from a client a few years ago. Truthfully, the place was always tidy because Emma didn't own a ton of stuff.
"Thank you," Emma finally said. "Are you sure my outfit is okay? I know you said your mom is—"
"Oh, don't worry about my mother. She's all bark and no bite."
They finally headed out, with Emma's nerves raging. She just hoped she'd make it to the Mills winter home before the nervous sweat ended up soaking through her blazer.
The late-November air was crisp, but lacked its usual bite. For the first time, Emma wished it were colder. Maybe that would have helped calm her nerves as they made their way up the long cobblestone driveway.
Regina reached to ring the bell, which made Emma tilt her head. She wasn't sure why she'd expected Regina to just walk inside unannounced.
"Regina!" Henry beamed as he swung open the door and found his daughter and Emma smiling. "Come in, come in."
He closed the door behind them then leaned forward and pulled Regina in for a tight hug.
"Daddy. I'd like you to meet Emma Swan."
"Your home is beautiful, Mr. Mills." Emma reached out and shook his hand. "Thank you for having us."
"Oh, please call me Henry. And the pleasure is all mine, Emma. I love nothing more than knowing my darling Regina is happy."
Something about Regina's father put Emma's nerves at ease. He was warm and kind and Emma wondered why Regina seemed to dread spending time with her family if this is what they were like.
"Regina, dear. There you are. When you said 5:00, I didn't know you meant 5:20. I would have prepared the meals accordingly," Cora didn't bother to reach out for a hug or even offer a smile.
"Mother," Regina cleared her throat, ignoring Cora's remarks about their tardiness, and gestured at Emma. "This is Emma Swan."
Cora eyed Emma up and down slowly as Henry took both of their coats and hung them in the closet.
"When you said you were bringing a date, Regina, I had no idea you meant–" Cora paused and Regina raised an eyebrow, eager to know what words would come out of her mouth next. "–well. I just thought you meant an actual date and not some friend or coworker."
Emma pressed her lips together and searched the foyer for a place to fix her eyes on.
"Mother, Emma is my date. She's not a friend."
Emma hated that both of Regina's sentences were the truth. When she glanced over, she saw that Henry was still smiling at her.
"Mm, yes. Well, Emma was it? Welcome."
"Thank you for having me, Mrs. Mills. Regina told me so much about you," Emma flashed a courteous smile. She swallowed back her nerves, reminding herself she had nothing to lose if this night went poorly. Not to mention, Emma knew how to hold her own – she just needed to remind herself of that. "I brought you a bottle of wine. It's Regina's favorite, so I assumed it was a safe choice."
Cora accepted the gift with a forced smile, examining the bottle. "A 2016 Chateau?" She looked up at Emma then gave Regina a look of disapproval. "Honey, it seems your taste has drastically diminished."
Emma wasn't sure if that was a dig at the wine or at herself, but she bit her tongue. By the time they made their way into the kitchen, she was grateful that Henry was gesturing them over to the appetizers.
"What do you do for work, Emma?" Henry asked as they all took a seat at the large dinner table. He topped off her glass of wine and gave her a small nod that felt like he was silently reassuring her she was doing just fine.
"Emma is a bail bondsperson, Daddy," Regina interjected, smiling as if she were speaking with pride.
"Mm, fascinating." Cora finally started to warm up to Emma after a couple glasses of wine. "How did you end up in that area of work?"
"It's kind of a long story. I grew up in the foster system and never really had anyone who believed in me," Emma began.
Regina lifted her head, blinking. How had she never bothered to ask Emma about this? She had no idea.
Emma continued. "Most of my work consists of building a relationship with the defendant and their close family members to speed up the bail process. But I personally find it most satisfying when I'm dealing with attorneys and serving as an advocate for someone who might not have anyone who is on their side and believes in them."
She paused, but immediately continued when she realized all eyes were fixed on her. "Everyone deserves that. Someone who believes in them, even when they feel most hopeless."
Regina's lips parted, her eyes fixed on Emma. She felt breathless.
"That's very admirable, Emma." Henry spoke first.
"Oh, and the money doesn't hurt."
This comment made Cora laugh, and Regina glanced at her mother. For the first time, Cora looked back at Regina and gave her a slight tilt of the head. She knew it was her mother's way of saying she approved.
"You're quite an endearing young woman, Miss Swan." Cora's words didn't go unappreciated. Both Emma and Regina smiled at her, taken aback by the sincerity of the compliment.
Half way through dinner, Cora had decided to turn her attention to Regina again. Critiquing her, this time, for her work.
"Regina, dear. It's not that I don't approve of your work ethic. I do. It's just that– well, don't you think you'd be better off selling the company with the way your stock is trending? Perhaps it's time to accept that you've taken that company as far as it can go."
Regina frowned and looked down at her lap. Emma cleared her throat.
"With all due respect, Regina is the most driven woman I know."
"Well, she gets that fro—"
"I wasn't finished," Emma interjected. She didn't care if she was putting her foot in her mouth. Nobody should ever be ridiculed by their own family. Especially not a woman as talented as Regina. "Her firm is not only winning more business from the most notable banks, but they're gaining market share over their biggest competitors. While the stock price is lower than you'd like to see, once this quarter's numbers are out, it's projected to see a considerable rise in the firm's valuation. So, no. Regina should not sell a damn thing."
Henry gave Emma a satisfied smile. But none of that compared to the look on Cora's face.
Cora may have said something in response, but Emma didn't hear it. She was too busy looking at Regina.
Regina's mouth nearly fell open as soon as Emma interrupted Cora. When she finally was able to close it, a tentative smile formed that slowly grew. Nobody had ever stood up for her like that before.
With admiration in her eyes, Regina mouthed the words, "thank you." Emma nodded with a small, closed-mouth smile.
When Cora stood to get dessert, Regina offered to assist. Henry and Emma made small talk and Regina smiled when she could hear her father laughing from down the hall.
"You've found yourself a keeper, sweetheart," Henry said to Regina as she came back in the room carrying two plates of pie.
"Oh, did I?" Regina teased, smiling at Emma as she set a plate of warm apple pie in front of her.
It was getting late, and with the long drive back to the city ahead of them, they said their goodbyes after dessert.
"Come back and visit any time, Emma." Henry smiled and didn't hesitate before pulling her in for a warm hug. Emma was surprised – blinking before falling against his embrace.
"Yes, dear. You really must." Cora's words were genuine, and Emma felt her chest bubble with pride. "I've never seen my daughter smile so much in one evening."
The car ride home was quiet at first. They'd gone nearly twenty minutes in a silence that was both a relief after a long night and nerve-racking after what had happened at the dinner table.
"I believe in you, Emma."
The softness of Regina's voice snapped Emma out of her trance. Her eyes turned away from their fixed position out the window and toward Regina.
"What?" She blinked in confusion.
"Why didn't you tell me you grew up in foster care?"
Emma sighed. She should have known better than to think Regina wouldn't have picked up on that.
"Oh, that. I don't know. I don't really tell people. It's not like we're friends, remember?"
This made Regina laugh. "Emma, you're the closest thing I've had to a friend in years. I know that says a lot about me, but I'm beyond the point of caring about what others think about me."
Emma stayed silent, wondering where Regina was going with this.
"You said everyone deserves someone who believes in them. I wanted you to know that I do. And, after tonight, you've made it very clear that you believe in me. That was incredible, by the way. I don't think I've ever seen my mother speechless."
"Well, I was tired of hearing her trying to drag you down. You don't deserve that."
Regina didn't say anything. Instead, she leaned over and kissed Emma softly. It was tender – more of a thankful gesture than a kiss fueled by need like last time.
When Regina pulled back, Emma kept her gaze locked on the gleam in her eyes. With the glow of the city lights in the distance, Regina's features were illuminated despite the darkness inside the car.
"I had a really great night," Emma confessed. "This was my first Thanksgiving dinner where I felt like I belonged."
She wondered if it was the comfort of the darkness making Emma feel safe enough to open up, or if this was just how things always were between her and Regina and she'd just been avoiding acknowledging it.
"Emma," Regina spoke her name as if she was asking a question. "Can I ask you something?"
Emma tilted her chin up and nodded slightly.
"Why did you run out of my apartment after the night we spent together?"
The fight or flight instinct lit up like a firecracker inside of Emma. But in the confines of the backseat of the car going over the bridge, she had no other choice but to turn and face Regina.
"Because I have feelings for you." Present tense. No turning back now.
Regina could have laughed. She nearly did, but realized it would only seem like she was mocking Emma's feelings.
"So let me get this straight. You have feelings for me and that is why you ran out and didn't speak to me for months?"
Emma rubbed the back of her neck, shrugging and averting her gaze.
"Hey, look at me." Emma did, and Regina continued. "I have feelings for you, too."
"You do?"
This time, Regina laughed. "Yes, Emma. Of course I do. I like you. Is that really so hard to believe?"
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it had something to do with my inability to get a word in before you sprinted out without uttering so much as a sentence?"
"I– I didn't know how to handle it. I've never felt like this."
"Well, I can certainly relate to that last part." Regina huffed out one deep chuckle. "But you still could have said something instead of just running."
"It's not like you were reaching out and calling me!" Emma was growing defensive, and she was certain it was more out of fear than anger. She could feel herself getting worked up and looked out the window again.
"You ran out and made it clear that you didn't want to speak to me. I– I was afraid to reach out. I was afraid you never wanted to hear from me again and I'd just end up heartbroken." She scoffed. "Turns out, the alternative wasn't much better."
"What do you mean?" Emma's anger melted away and she turned.
"I'd spent months angry at myself. Blaming myself for pressuring you. I felt like it was my fault because I was the one who invited you to my place. I was the one who kissed you first. I felt like–" she paused and swallowed. "I felt like I didn't deserve another chance."
"Regina," Emma whispered. "You're not to blame for any of this. You didn't cross any boundaries or push me away. I ran."
"You made it clear from the beginning that you didn't want a relationship. You didn't want any romance. You didn't even want a friend. And there I was, drunk and kissing you when you explicitly asked me not to."
"If I didn't want you to kiss me, I would have stopped you. I wanted you." Emma looked away and then shook her head and looked back at her. "I still do."
"I've never been any good at relationships. I'd never be good enough for someone like you."
This part made Emma blink, and she scooted closer. The car made its way through Midtown but both of them kept their eyes fixed on each other.
"Not good enough for someone like me?"
"Emma, you have no idea how smart you are. Probably one of the smartest people I've ever met – which speaks volumes. You deserve someone who challenges you and–" She lowered her voice. "–you deserve someone who knows how to love properly."
Licking her lips, Emma's eyes looked like they were searching for something behind Regina's. She could feel her heart hammering in tandem with a fluttering in her stomach.
"Regina, you're brilliant. You're talented. You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. As for challenging me, well, nobody in the world could challenge me in the way that you do. You see something in me that nobody else ever has. I've never smiled like I do around you. You claim you don't know how to love very well? I don't believe that for a minute."
"You really think so?"
Emma nodded. "I do."
The car slowed and came to a stop. They both looked out the window. Emma's apartment was to their right and Regina's chest fell.
"I don't want to go another month without seeing you, Emma."
"Come inside."
"What?"
"I want you to come inside."
The door closed behind them and Emma hung both her jacket and Regina's before turning to face her.
"Do you want a drink?"
"Honestly?" Regina's lips curled up into a genuine smile and she took two steps closer to Emma. "I really just want to kiss you again."
Regina felt the impact of her back colliding with the cold wall as Emma kissed her without hesitation. The need—the desperate hunger—returned just as quickly as it did the last time they found themselves consumed in each other. There was no turning back now.
In the unfamiliar territory of Emma's apartment, it was hard for Regina to take control. Instead, she fell into it – letting Emma deepen the kiss. Sinking her teeth into Emma's bottom lip, she snaked one leg up and looped it around the back of Emma's legs to pull her impossibly closer.
Suddenly, the only thing Regina could focus on was the throbbing between her thighs and the way the layers of clothing between them were mocking her.
"Emma," Regina moaned softly, throwing her head to the side. "Emma." The second time, Regina's voice was less of a moan and more frantic. Emma froze.
When Emma pulled back, Regina admired the way her eyes were gleaming against the darkness of her pupils. Emma studied her, panicked that Regina was hesitating and she'd gone too far.
"You okay?"
Regina nodded quickly. "God, yes. But if I don't get you out of these pants in the next ten minutes, I'm going to combust."
In her head, Emma heard her own thoughts. Oh, thank fuck. She laughed softly—a mix of amusement and relief—and kissed her again.
Emma nearly gasped when Regina pushed her blazer off of her shoulders. As it tumbled to the floor, Regina smirked. Emma pulled her back in. Without the blazer, Regina's hands roamed freely. But the thin fabric of Emma's tank top still mocked her, reminding her that the smallest barrier still stood between her fingertips and Emma's bare skin.
Emma moaned as Regina's fingernails raked across her bare hip bone, the tank top bunching up higher and higher. Emma reached down to try and slow Regina's eager hands, wrapping her fingers around delicate wrists and pinning them to Regina's side.
"We have all night," Emma whispered against her lips. She was desperate to savor every moment – as if making up for lost time.
"Yes," Regina smirked, eliciting a deep laugh that sent a shiver down Emma's spine. She seized the opportunity to twist out of Emma's hold and pushed her backward until Emma was trapped against the ledge of kitchen counter. "We do have all night."
Regina brought her voice down to a raspy whisper, her breath warm against Emma's throat. "And I intend to spend it making you come over and over again until you're begging me to stop."
Emma gasped, and Regina bent her at the waist until her chest hit the countertop.
"Such a shame," Regina teased. Her fingers traced the outline of the sheer tank top as she continued to bunch it up. "All these clothes in my way, when all I want is to have my hands on you."
She bunched the tank top up further until the clasp of Emma's bra peeked out. Emma whimpered.
"Kissing you," Regina continued. She leaned in and kissed her lower back – soft kisses that only made Emma need more. "Tasting you."
She reached up and unclasped the bra and then pressed another kiss half way up her back.
"Look who's gone quiet now," Regina said with a harsh laugh that made Emma's cunt throb.
Emma groaned, trying to force herself upright so she could help Regina take off her clothes. But Regina pushed her back down.
"Oh, Miss Swan. There's no rush, remember? We have all night."
Emma groaned and finally gathered the strength to stand. She grabbed Regina's waist and lifted her onto the counter.
"You're cute when you think you have all the power," Emma caught Regina's lips and settled her weight between her thighs. With one hand, she gripped at the back of Regina's neck while the other tugged at the gold zipper that traced down Regina's spine.
As the fabric parted from her body, Regina heard Emma mutter.
"Fuck."
Regina smiled at Emma's reaction to the sight of her without the dress covering her chest.
"Right, what were you saying about having any power?" Regina taunted her, lifting an eyebrow.
Reaching out to tug Emma's tank top off, the bra slipped off with it. Regina wrapped her legs around Emma's waist and dragged her closer. Topless and writhing, Regina was aching for more. But she didn't dare to make it known until she made Emma beg properly.
With her mouth, teeth, and tongue, Regina tasted every inch of Emma's neck and jaw that she could access from her angle, leaving a trail of marks along the way. Emma leaned her weight in closer, forcing Regina's thighs apart.
Heat pounded through Emma's core. Her hand trailed up Regina's thigh until she could feel heat against her fingertips. She teased Regina, tracing one finger over the thin fabric of her panties as they continued their power struggle.
But when Emma dragged her tongue over the pulse point of Regina's neck, Regina let out a loud moan and her body rocked against Emma's hand.
"Mm, it seems the all-powerful Regina Mills has a weakness after all."
"Lead me to your bedroom before I make you fuck me on this kitchen counter."
Emma laughed against Regina's neck and then kissed her again just below her ear. Regina tossed her head further to the side to grant her better access – still writhing.
"Mm, that doesn't sound so bad. Watching you come undone and making a mess of my kitchen."
"Emma," Regina groaned. As much as she wanted Emma inside of her, she needed one thing more. "I need you."
"You have me," Emma whispered. She lifted Regina up, rushing them both toward the bedroom.
When they tumbled backward onto the mattress, Regina reached for the button on Emma's pants. "Take these off. Now."
"Demanding as ever," Emma smiled as she quickly stripped out of the constrictive leather. As soon as they were off, Regina pushed her back down until she fell flat on top of the bedsheets.
"Always," Regina muttered against Emma's lips. She kissed her slowly, wanting to take her time now that she had Emma exactly where she wanted her. She trailed her kisses downward, spending what felt like hours teasing Emma's chest before moving onto her taut stomach and over each hipbone.
Each time Emma writhed, Regina stopped moving completely. Emma could feel her own arousal dripping out onto the sheets. If it were with anyone else, she may have been embarrassed. But not with Regina. She just tossed her head back against the pillow and moaned, savoring every single sensation that felt as if it were being injected directly into her bloodstream.
When Regina made it to Emma's thighs, she nibbled down and Emma hissed between moans. Regina laughed at the sound, but also felt her own arousal pooling out and dripping down her thigh.
"Regina," Emma moaned, reaching to bury her hand in Regina's dark hair. "Please."
"Begging already? So impatient," Regina mocked against the dip at the top of her inner thigh. Before Emma could beg again, she felt the warmth of Regina's tongue dragging up the length of her cunt. They both moaned, and Regina decided, in that moment, that she'd never be able to get enough.
Regina wasn't sure who was moaning louder as she pushed two fingers inside of Emma and curled them upward. When Emma's body began to tremble, Regina reached up and grabbed her hand. With their fingers intertwined, Emma squeezed Regina tightly as her back arched off of the mattress in tandem with her orgasm.
"R–R'gina, mm." Emma sighed. "Come here."
But Regina only smirked. She hadn't had nearly enough of Emma yet.
Instead, she ignored Emma's protests and continued. Adding a third finger, she corkscrewed her wrist. Emma nearly cried as she gripped onto Regina. Despite the overwhelming fullness, she needed more.
Regina didn't need to wait for Emma to ask. She knew exactly what Emma needed, and she smirked at the way she was ready to take everything Regina had to give her.
The extra pressure filled her, sending Emma over the edge. She clenched her thighs instinctively as a second orgasm washed over her.
When her labored breathing slowed, Emma grabbed at Regina in desperation. All she wanted was to kiss her. She'd never needed anything more.
"I'm right here," Regina said softly as their lips collided again. Emma rolled them over without breaking the kiss. Regina gasped softly when Emma laced their fingers together again. It was tender, and Regina's stomach fluttered when she realized she felt needed.
Something stirred inside of Emma and she shifted her fingertips downward, stopping at Regina's wrists. She brushed over her skin gently for a moment before gripping them, pinning both hands into the mattress.
"Didn't you learn your lesson already about trying to pin me?" Regina laughed, smirking against Emma's lips. But when Emma dipped her head down and caught the skin of Regina's neck between her teeth, Regina could only moan. Emma soothed the tender skin with her tongue and Regina writhed.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Emma dropped one hand down to cup Regina's breast, teasing it for a moment before brushing over her nipple.
"Mm– Emma," Regina moaned as a shiver shot down her spine.
Shifting her weight, Emma pushed her thigh up against Regina's center and she gasped.
"Shit. Regina, you're so wet." Emma's mouth moved toward her collarbones, sprinkling kisses over her chest as if she were trying to press freckles onto her skin.
Regina tried to speak, but nothing more than a gasp came out as Emma rocked her thigh harder against her.
"I can never get enough of the sounds you make," Emma confessed between kisses.
"Mm," Regina practically whined. "You'd hear a lot more of them if you'd stop talking and fuck me."
"Demanding and impatient, I see."
Regina narrowed her eyes, attempting to glare at Emma. But when Emma leaned up and kissed her, they both laughed.
"Your death glares will get you nowhere," Emma murmured against her lips and, as she leaned in for another kiss, she pushed two fingers inside of her. Regina gasped.
Her mouth trailed down to Regina's chest again, teasing at her nipple while fucking her slowly. The pace was torturous and Regina whined.
"Emma. More." Regina bucked her hips. "Fuck."
When Emma's hand settled on her hip, Regina wasn't sure if it was meant to steady her or to pin her in place, but she didn't care. She wanted Emma's hands on her forever.
Emma pulled away for a moment to take in the sight below her. Regina's skin was glistening slightly, and her head tilted back further into the pillow with each thrust of Emma's wrist.
Regina whined, needing Emma's mouth on hers. She could feel her orgasm building and all she could do was grip onto anything she could reach. Without missing a beat, Emma added a finger and picked up the pace, kissing her again.
Regina's back arched off of the bed with a deep moan, and she shamelessly soaked Emma's hand as she came.
"Fuck," Emma moaned. She wanted to feel Regina coming again, and then again. "You're incredible."
Regina couldn't say anything. Instead, she pulled Emma back in for another kiss before they both collapsed onto the bed.
Hours later, when exhaustion finally came over them, Regina settled down with an arm over Emma's waist. She trailed her fingertips up and down over her hip and smiled, admiring every curve of her body.
"I could touch you forever, and it still wouldn't be enough" Regina said with a sigh. Despite the exhaustion, she refused to close her eyes. As if part of her was afraid that morning would come and Emma would be gone again.
When their eyes fluttered shut, Regina pulled Emma in tighter, afraid to let her go.
The sun had just peeked into the morning sky when Regina woke. Peering down, she smiled at the way her body managed to inch up against Emma in her sleep. Her arm still remained draped over Emma's middle – refusing to relinquish her hold.
Emma's warmth radiated off of her, and Regina uncovered a new level of comfort in it. She nestled closer, burying her face in the mess of blonde tresses. Finding the back of Emma's neck with her mouth, she pressed a delicate kiss there and then peppered her shoulder blade with even softer kisses.
"Mm, good morning." Emma's hand fell on top of Regina's, smiling when she realized how well she'd slept in Regina's arms. "I could get used to this."
"Oh, is that so?" Regina asked with a smile. She pulled Emma in, trailing kisses over Emma's chest and breathing in the lingering vanilla perfume on her skin.
"Mhm," Emma sighed softly. "I don't know how it's possible for me to sleep so well with a human radiator holding me all night long."
Regina laughed and caught Emma's lips with her own. "I didn't want to let go."
"I know," Emma laughed. "I had to pee in the middle of the night and when I tried to get up, you just made a soft whining sound and tried to hold me tighter."
Regina's cheeks reddened. "I did not."
Emma licked her lips, relishing the taste of Regina's lingering kiss. She nodded. "Mm, yes you did."
"I do not whine."
Emma raised an eyebrow, letting her gaze fall. She took in the sight of Regina's bare body on top of hers.
"I recall you whining on numerous occasions last night. Don't worry, though. Your secret is safe with me."
Regina shot her a look of repugnance, but followed it with a laugh that you'd only expect to hear from a giddy teenager.
"It better be. I know where you live, you know. I could destroy you if my secret were to get out."
Emma laughed and Regina brushed a stray hair out of her face, tucking it gently behind her ear.
"Shut up and kiss me," Emma smiled again.
Regina didn't argue. Their kisses were gentle but laced with so much desire.
"I really wasn't kidding when I said I could get used to this," Emma whispered when they finally broke apart.
"What do you mean?" Regina played dumb – careful not to jump to any conclusions when it came to Emma.
"What I mean is that I've never felt safer than I do when I'm in your arms. And I've never felt more wanted. And I don't ever want to give that up."
Regina's heart swelled, lips parting. She peered down at Emma, unsure if they were both on the verge of tears or if it was just her.
"You want to date me. Properly?"
Emma nodded. "I want to be yours."
She didn't even bother to stop the tear from sliding down her cheek. She was too busy leaning in to kiss Emma.