Regina woke up the next morning feeling tired, achy and sore. The memory of last night flooded her being. Robin and her making love to one another, with one another. She went hot all over, the events of last night a scorching and all too vivid remembrance.
She had wanted Robin to take her and she had expected the kind of forthright hunger he'd shown, because that was how she felt, as though nothing in this earth mattered as much as making love with Robin. They were in love, engaged now and soon to be married. She felt him stirring behind her, and smiled when he kissed her bare shoulders.
"Good morning," Robin said lightly into her ear. The way he said it sent shivers down her spine, and caused her to smile.
"Well look who's finally woken up," Regina said.
"I apologize but that was the best...making love I have ever had." as he rolled her over so that Regina was on top of him. What followed was without time, without definition, without words. He was with her, so completely with her that she no longer knew him from her. He touched her and moved with her so that it felt as if they were part of the air, the earth, the sky. Beautiful, Regina thought.
She gave into the warmth, the touch, the exquisite pleasure. It was thrilling being so close, so healing, too. The energy was intense, the heat be held like this, touching like this, loved like this.
Loved.
She felt naked for a moment, and stiffened. But Robin caressed her breast and drew her head down and kissed her. "Don't stop moving," he whispered, lips brushing hers. "You'll like this, I promise."
She wasn't sure and she felt a little awkward but Robin clasped her hips and shifted her a little and suddenly it all made sense. The heat was back, the tension building. The self-consciousness receded, the strangeness disappeared. She was his again. He was hers. They were together, neither was distinct, and as she moved against him light flashed against her closed eyes. Hot liquid sun, hot summer sun, red hot, so hot and Robin held her tighter, moved her faster. Regina didn't think she could stand it, the tension growing, her muscles clenching, but he couldn't let her escape.
"Robin," she choked, the heat so great, her skin so hot, beads of moisture forming everywhere.
He rose up to meet her, driving hard, fierce, and she couldn't contain it any longer, couldn't control it and with a cry she felt launched into the sun. Waves of light and heat rolled through her, waves of light and heat and pleasure until she shuddered from head to toe.
"I can't hold on much longer," he said, voice hoarse, muscles knotted hard.
"Then don't-" she whispered.
He quickly lifted her off him, drew her down to his side. Groaning, he held her as he came.
Regina waited a moment before gently touching his face. "You didn't have to pull out."
He leaned on his elbow and looked down at her, his expression gentle, rueful. He pushed back a damp lock of her hair from her forehead and kissed her warm brow. "Yes I did. I really wanted to be in you, but it wouldn't be fair."
She stared at him, into his eyes. His dark lashes were so thick they cast shadows on his face. "You've changed your mind about marrying me?"
He pulled her back on top of him, slid a hand up to the length of her back. "Not at all sweetheart, call me selfish but I wouldn't mind having you all to myself for a little while before our kids start coming. So you can live a little."
His lips were creating havoc on her skin. His hands were tracing the shape of her spine. Her body was stirring to life again. How could he still make her feel so much? Want so much?
"Live a little?" she gasped as he drew a nipple in his mouth. The warm wet feel of his mouth, the pointed flick of his tongue was driving her crazy, making her need and want and ache. Her breast ached. Between her legs ached. She was dying to feel him inside of her again.
"Live," he said, his breath fanning her wet breast. "Experiment. Do all the things you've always dreamed of doing. With me."
"I think...I think..." she said, voice breathy, faint, as he flipped her over onto her back and parted her knees with his own.
He smooth the hair back from her face and trailed his hand from her breasts to her belly and back to her breast again, his touch light, tantalizing, maddening. "Yes?"
"I think I'm..." she exhaled as he entered her again, his body so hard, his tension barely leashed. "...doing them."
And it was, she thought, as he filled her body, and filled her heart, the most beautiful experience she'd ever known. The reality of making love with Robin was far better than anything in her wildest imagination.
Later that morning, Robin was in the shower while Regina was getting dressed. She was just about done when she saw her bracelet on the bedside table. She walked over to it and felt of it, where before it had felt like it was a part of her, now it just felt cold to her. Not that Daniel was cold to her, just the bracelet now.
Robin came out of the shower, wearing only a towel, he was smiling as he saw Regina standing there. His smile dropped when he saw what she was focused on exactly. He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling her jump slightly.
"You alright?" Robin asked.
"Yes, sorry about this," Regina said as she placed the bracelet back down on the table.
"Regina," Robin said as he turned Regina to face him. "He was someone who was very important to you. A lost love, but someone who will always be important to you."
"I shouldn't still be wearing this, not around you. Not now, it doesn't seem fair to you," Regina said.
"Regina, you took it off last night when we made love. He's not a ghost between us. He helped make the woman who made me fall in love with and for that I'll always be grateful for," Robin said.
"I just realized this morning, when I was holding it how wrong I was to have your ring on my finger and his bracelet still on me," Regina said.
"Regina I don't mind that you wear his bracelet, as long as my ring is on your finger. I'm not going to be upset about it if you want to wear it. It's your decision and one I respect," Robin said.
"You're so good to me," Regina said as he smiled and leaned down to kiss her. They spent the next few days, enjoying the sights of Venice, they did some shopping while they were there and also making love to one another, with Regina making good use of that black baby doll she had packed which, when Robin had seen it had made his jaw drop and he had taken her to bed immediately.
Before long they were going back home, Regina was anxious to see how her mother was doing. She had spoken to her daily over the phone with Cora telling Regina how she was in the process of divorcing Jonathan, which pleased Regina to no bounds.
Once they arrived home, Regina went in to see her mother while Robin brought in their things. Regina headed upstairs, only to find her mother's room empty. She quickly went back downstairs to find out from one of the maids her mother was out on the patio out back.
"Mother," Regina said as she went to her mother, who stood up and hugged her daughter.
"Regina, oh it's so good to see you," Cora said as she looked into her daughter's face.
"You look so good," Regina said.
"So do you, you are absolutely glowing Regina," Cora said as she said with a knowing look. "And I bet this fine gentleman coming up behind you is the reason." Regina turned to see Robin walking up to her, and placing his hand on her lower back.
"Hello Mrs. Cora," Robin said.
"Cora, Robin. Call me Cora," Cora said as she then looked down at her daughter's left hand. "Or better yet, you can call me Mom." Cora said as she looked at Regina who nodded with happy tears and the two women hugged again while Robin watched them, finally Cora pulled him in for a big hug.
"Thank you, Robin. You've made my daughter so happy, and I couldn't ask for a better husband for my little girl," Cora said.
"Thank you, for such a special gift, Cora," Robin said as he nodded at Regina.
"We have such big plans to start making," Cora said.
"Mom, slow down," Regina said.
"When is the date?" Cora asked.
"We haven't set a definite date, but soon," Regina said as she smiled at Robin who winked at her.
"So we have a dress to get, a cake, invitations, a venue, and a church to look into,"Cora said.
"Mom," Regina said laughing, it made her feel so good to see her old mother like this.
"What? I have one daughter and she only gets her first wedding once," Cora said.
"And her last wedding," Robin said as he gave Regina's waist a slight squeeze.
"Exactly, Robin," Cora said. "Oh, Regina let's have an engagement party here, you can announce it to all of our friends and family here. We can have it next weekend."
"Mom, I don't know," Regina said as she looked at Robin who just smiled.
"Regina, do whatever you wish," Robin said.
"Then let's do it, just don't go overboard mother," Regina said.
"When have I ever done that?" Cora asked as she walked into the house.
"Vacations, graduations, holidays..." Regina said as her mother just stopped and rolled her eyes at her but continued to go inside the house.
"Well looks like we have a party to get ready for in a few days," Robin said as he pulled Regina into his arms.
"I hope you're ready for all this," Regina said.
"I'm a patient man," Robin said as Regina raised her eyebrows at him, causing him to laugh. "Okay, a semi-patient man, but if it means I'll get to call you my wife soon, I'm ready for anything."
"I love you Robin Locksley," Regina said.
"And I love you back, Ms soon to be Regina Locksley," Robin said as he kissed her lips as they then went into the house to help start planning for the engagement party.