Bonjour Ruffletes! Day three, update three!

Do enjoy! This chapter came about as requested by a few readers because they wanted to see more #DimplesQueen and Regina & Robin riding horses. Some of you have asked if I shall still be taking requests for these chapters since Sir Dimples has become it's own story. I'd say yes! I now have a semi-plot line that I'm going to follow to make this into a well rounded fic, so I might not be able to do everything but if there is something you would like to see (and it works with what I am doing) - then of course I'll take it! You guys really are the best when it comes to requests - so creative! So feel free to send them my way, just leave them in the comments! I've already received one from nahbois68 which is adorable ( LOVE IT! I will try to add that! THANK YOU!) Also, thank you b for catching my mistake - Regina is of royal blood! Whoops! (See that's what happens when I don't have InquisitiveDreamer going over my stuff with a fine tooth comb!)

And if you're a guest leaving either a review or a comment, first THANK YOU!, second, leave me a name or something to call you by! Love doing shoutout's and I want you to know who you are if I leave one for you(:

Fun Fact: I despise horse riding! (So I am very much Robin here!) However I do think they are beautiful!

Ruffles

Chapter 3

The sound of birds chirping outside his window awoke him. He rolled over in the light sheets of his bed, humming as the sun rays warmed his skin. A smile smile grew on his face as he stretched, feeling the soft pops in his back. It was Sunday. Something about the day rung a bell.

Sunday. Sunday?

Oh Shite!

Roland's riding lesson with Regina!

Robin ripped off the covers, jumping out of the bed and running to wake his sleeping lad down the hallway.

It was half past 9 on Sunday morning, judging by the position of the sun over the fields. That meant they had about 15 minutes to meet the Queen out at the stables. And, knowing her Majesty, even if they arrived perfectly on time she would have already been there, counting the seconds. So they were already late.

When they appeared at the stables, 15 minutes later, heaving and splotched red, her Majesty was no where in sight.

"That is just like her," Robin said, under his breath, his eyes scanning the stalls to find each empty save for the horses staring back at him, "Bloody woman."

"I do hope that's not how you would address your Queen to her face."

Robin froze, his blood running cold.

The low, sultry timbre of her voice buzzed through him, leaving his body humming. He closed his eyes, praying that he had been wrong, but as he felt his son next to him turn towards the voice from behind him he realized that he was out of luck.

"'Gina!"

"Good morning Sir Roland."

Robin turned and nearly lost his breath. The sight of her was stunning. She was there, atop of a large white horse, and she looked jaw-dropping. She had scrubbed off most of the dark makeup she usually wore, going for a more natural and fresh face. The sunlight hit her at the crown of her head, highlighting her loose curls, which had been pinned back only at the top, letting her long hair drape down over her shoulders, the ends splaying in ringlets about her waist. She wore a grand bodice, complete with an elegant collar that accented her high cheek bones and long neck. It swooped low, dipping when it reached her breasts however it was built in such a way to give her more modesty than most of her apparel so she could ride, but it still garnered the same effect. The dress ended however when his eyes reached her lower half. Her legs were draped over the horse side saddle. On them she wore the tightest pair of leather pants that he had ever seen. However he could only make out the top, hugging her hips like a second skin, as they were cut off by the top of her boots which came up past her thighs. She looked every bit the majestic Queen that she was.

He completely understood why so many of his men were so taken with her, raving about her beauty round the tables at night, sharing fantasies about her if she were to take a liking to one of them. He had never partaken in the chatter. He wasn't blind, he could very well see that she was an attractive woman. But looking at her now, as she dismounted the large beast, picking up his giggling son with elegance and grace, lifting him into a sitting position on the horse, she had never looked more beautiful.

Then Robins stomach dropped as his heart shot from his chest to his throat. She had turned, mounting the horse behind Roland and Robin got a view of her from the back. There was a leather string that ran from the back to the top of her bodice, corseting the whole ensemble together. He suddenly found his hands itching to untie it and see the tanned skin that lied underneath.

When he realized that she had spoken to him he shook his head, trying to rid the thoughts of a less dressed her.

"Are you coming Thief, or are you going to be supervising from there?"

"Uh," He cleared his throat, finding his voice parched, "Well, what did her Majesty have in mind?"

Robin swore he saw a smirk curl at the corner of her red lips. Without a word she gestured behind her, looking over her shoulder.

From behind the Queen, and his son, came the neigh of another horse. A tall black one, with a long white mane and a white marking at the front of its face in the shape of a star. Robin stared confused for a moment before he caught her meaning.

"Oh, no. No I am fine supervising from right here, thanks! No need to ride along!"

"Afraid of horses are we Thief?" She taunted.

"No I-"

He began to retort when suddenly, "Daddy hates them! John says he's deathly 'fraid, that if he ever rides one that that would be the day pigs would fly."

The Queens eyebrows shot up so far Robin thought they might get stuck there and she might not ever get them back down.

"Really, Roland? Is that all?"

"Yeah," the boy said, "He never let's me ride them."

He saw his sons face droop, a sad frown marring his dimpled cheeks earning the Queens concerned expression.

Traitor.

The Queen shifted, calling the large black horse from behind her with a series of clicks from her mouth. The beast made its way round his son and the woman atop the other horse, and began trotting to him. Robin backed up suddenly as the large creature came closer to him than he would have liked. He must have made a noise of dislike for the Queen spoke again.

"Rocinante is the oldest of all of the horse I have. He is slow but faithful. I will not let harm you."

"It's not you that I'm worried about Milady," Robin said. The older steed came to a stop in front of him. When it bucked it's head at Robin his hands shot forward in protection. However the horse only stepped forward, pushing his wet nose into his hands.

Robin took a deep breath, frozen stiff to the spot.

"Stroke him, Thief." Came the voice of the Queen, but Robin was to paralyzed with fear to make out her words.

"What?"

"Stroke it Daddy!"

Robin looked up, over the horses head to see his son smiling widely and the Queen staring at him, expectantly. He swallowed and squeezed his eyes shut.

The horse that she had called Rocinante leaned into his hesitant touch, rubbing his long, narrow face along his hands. When the beast whinnied he heard the sounds of delight from his son followed by applause. He opened his eyes to see his son smiling brightly and the Queen caught somewhere between a smirk and genuine amusement.

He felt his face twist up into a gentle curve as well as the horse licked his palms. It was quite a disgusting feeling but he smiled through it. It wasn't all that bad. When the beast went for his face however he had had enough.

"Alright enough, mount him." The Queen spoke. Robins eyes snapped up as he tried to decipher what she meant but it was to late for she had already turned from him, spinning her horse round.

"Wait, you want me to ride him?!" Robin spoke. He had never wanted to smack himself as bad as he did when he heard the quiver in his voice.

The Queen turned only her head, her brown eyes alight with something mischievous. She nodded, almost as in a challenge before turning back round, making a different noise with her mouth that signaled her horse to go.

Robin sighed. He looked at the horse next to him who seemed to be staring directly back.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

Rocinante neighed.

xxx

It had been the longest two hours of his life!

When her Majesty before him had finally slowed down enough for him to catch up, he was out of breath and ready to disembark from their quest.

However it seemed that she had no intention of doing such as she waited for him to come along side her before she set her horse off into a trot again in a different direction.

Robin rolled his eyes.

He could tell she was enjoying this. She knew how much he despised the horse creatures, no thanks to his son for outing his heavy loathing.

So he had no doubt that she was taking them further and further outside of her grounds in order to keep him in misery, atop of the beast, for as long as possible.

He wasn't quite sure what horrible deed he had done to deserve this rare kind of punishment, so he dug his heels into his steed again, rocketing forward and lining himself up with her.

"Your Majesty, pray tell what it is that I have done to deserve such torture?" he spoke.

But no words came from her except for a loud whisper of silence. He was about to respond when he caught a glimpse over her shoulder. The little boy was dangling, his head lolled to the side, body limp, in her arms.

His son was out cold.

The Queen looked round, eyeing the thief as his mouth formed an 'o'. She nodded her head due left, signaling that they go in that direction. He followed.

It only took a moment to realize why she had taken them that way. From behind the dense foliage of the grounds came a clearing. He could make out the outline of a little home, and what looked to be stalls behind it.

Riocinante whinnied, picking up his trot in a direct line towards the stalls like he had an agenda of his own.

Robin turned to see if the Queen was following, as he realized that he had no control over the beast below him anymore. When he saw her however, with his son asleep in her arms he frowned. She had looked peaceful for most of the ride. She had let her horse run freely, gaining whoops of laughter and giggles from his son. He had watched as a smile had formed on her face, the sun seeming to hit her just right, as her long hair flew through the breeze.

She truly was a vision.

But now there was no smile on her red lips. Only a grimace. Her eyes darted about the grounds, lingering on the small house as if it held some meaning to her. Robin logged it away to question her later on its significance, but before he could find words to speak his horse seemed to have decided that the stalls were a perfectly fine place to stop. And stop he did.

"Your Majesty," Robin began. The Queens eyes snapped up, he a saw the trace of sadness and then all was gone. She raised a perfectly sculpted brow, "I do hope this was your intended location, for I believe my horse has stopped for the day and has decided he shan't be moved an inch further."

She let out what sounded like a small snort and Robin felt his face light up.

"Not bad for a man that hates horses." She retorted.

She rode up to where Riocinante had stopped, halting her horse, petting him and whispering something into his ear.

"It is not that I hate horses. It's just that I don't prefer to have something so strong and uncontrollable between my legs."

For a moment he would swear that he saw the Queens face light up red before she turned to face him.

"Is that so? And is there something different you prefer there more?"

He did a double take. Had she just asked him what he thought she did?

Robin blinked, but before he could speak, she was already making arrangements to dismount her horse.

Robin jumped off, ungracefully so. However, he made it just in-time to round hers and reach up to brace her as she began to slide off with his son in her arms.

For a moment he thought that she would be fine without him, but then her foot caught somewhere in the grand saddle that she had. She began to tilt backwards and his hands shot out to brace her. He reached her in the nick of time, her back colliding only slightly with his front.

For a second it seemed like time had stopped, when he held her. He could feel her heart beating through her back. Her soft hair had splayed along his cheek and neck, tickling him lightly. He held her tightly and he noticed how small the Queen really was. For a woman that struck so much fear into so many men's hearts, she was exceptionally petite.

He could feel her breath hitch, as his hand lost grip and slid up her side unintentionally. She began to turn when suddenly his son shifted violently in her arms and they both looked down.

Roland rolled over, cocooning himself further into the Queens embrace, tucking his curls into her neck.

She gripped him tighter and Robin lowered her gently to the ground, letting go once her feet were solidly on the dirt.

"Um-" he began, clearing his throat. She hadn't yet turned to face him, merely choosing to lower her head to the boy in her hands. From where Robin stood he couldn't make out what was being said, but it appeared as if she was speaking softly in his ear. She did that for a moment before swooping down and giving him a light kiss in his curls. The boy shifted, curling tighter and she held him close. Like a mother, Robin thought.

He had never seen the kind, nurturing side of the Queen until she held his son.

She truly had a gift. Every moment she spent with Roland, Robin would swear she got lighter. Her snarl, which he though was perpetually etched into her face, began to fade. The lines from years of frowning that now marred her brow receded, making way for her striking beauty to show through. She truly was beautiful.

She radiated a warmth that he had not seen in her before.

He found himself drawn in to the love that she poured freely and unreservedly to his son. Suddenly it felt like he had been watching her for hours standing there rooted to the spot. Riocinante whinnied next to his ear, making Robin jump, effectively breaking him out of his trance.

The Queen had moved, walking further into the stalls. She was in the process of tying up her horse. Robin turned eyeing the massive black steed breathing down his neck.

For a second he would have sworn the horse nodded his large head in her direction, signaling him to lead him into the stalls, before winking.

Robin blinked, he must be going crazy.

"Your Majesty," he said, gripping the reins around Riocinantes neck. "I believe I might require your assistance."

The Queen merely shook her head as he neared. Robin furled his brown, confused.

When she didn't respond, but turned and flicked her wrist and he stood in amazement. There in the corner of the stalls appeared a bed. He felt his breath catch in his throat as his mind whirled. He was utterly confused, however despite his racing thoughts he found himself slightly excited.

When she started to lower Roland to the mattress, he understood. He went over to her side, helping as she began to tuck the sleeping lad in. Roland tossed once, burring himself deeper into the blankets. Robin knew he would wear them for a bit, but they would soon be kicked off, cast onto the straw covered ground. Roland always was a hot sleeper. He was about to warn her of his sons habits when, all of a sudden, his words caught in his throat.

Robin looked up in time to she the woman before him with a soft smile painted on her face. She looked down at the boy with so much love it made his heart momentarily clench.

He had always held a pang of regret for not having a mother figure around when Roland was growing up. After his wife had died, he had been alone. Too bitter, his heart hardened towards the world, that he had closed himself off from the possibility of letting another person in for a very long time.

He watched as the Queen softly moved a curl out of the sleeping boys face, stroking her hands through his hair and he wondered for a minute what a mother for Roland would be like. He would be hard to resist surly, for any woman. His boy was perfectly adorable. And when he spoke in his slightly lisped fashion, even the hearts of his hard faced men melted. But there was a difference between adoration and love.

Most women that he had met along his journeys had held him once, remarking about his cuteness and wonderful manners. But none had ever stuck around. Figuring that a man with a small child was not the type of commitment that they were looking for.

The Queen however, hadn't been thrown off by Rolands' presence. In fact, the boy was the reason that Robin had even gotten a chance to see a glimpse of this side of the Queen.

Judging by their track record of previous encounters, there was no way he would have ever gotten to this point with her if it wasn't for his son.

Instantly he felt a surge of added affection for his boy as he watched him sleep soundly in the small bed the Queen had conjured for him.

The woman in question dropped another kiss amongst his brow, beginning to rise.

Robin followed. "I know my reputation of being a man of the woods may proceed me, but I really am hopeless when it comes to the Equus spices."

He gestured to his horse that was still standing in the middle of the stalls, grazing peacefully, still untied.

The Queen flicked her eyes back and forth from the steed to Robin before walking past him, towards the beast.

"Well, then I believe it's time that you learn." She said as she passed.

Robing watched as she made her way to the large animal that's ears pricked up when she neared. Rocinante raised his broad head. Registering the Queen, the horse neared her, resting his head along her neck as she stroked his nose.

When she turned however, not leading the horse to the stall where she had tied up the other, but towards him he blinked, confused.

"Aren't you going to tie him up too?"

She shook her head, her damned eyebrow raising again. "No woodsman." She said, still walking towards him.

A small, wicked smile formed on her lips and Robin felt it affect his nether regions more than he would have liked to admit.

She stopped in front of him, Rocinante lightly bucking his head in the reins.

"It's time for your lesson." She spoke.

Robin would have sworn that her voice dropped an octave, gaining a gravely, almost smoky quality. His stomach clenched, his hands beginning to sweat as he balled them into fists.

She was yet again standing in front of him and he found he had no words.

When she turned, stroking the horse, before hoisting herself on to his back. Robin watched in amazement at the grace she exuded in the act. It was as if she had been born to ride. She was flawless in her mount. Sliding skillfully over the top of the large beast with hesitation.

She flicked her long raven hair over her shoulder, letting it all fall neatly over one side and then held out a hand to him. Robin felt his throat run dry.

"Yo- you want me to.. to" he sputtered gesturing from himself to her to the horse. The Queen smirked, raising her damn eyebrow in silent mocking. Robin had a momentary fantasy of chopping off the offending appendage before the though quickly faded as she spoke.

"Yes Thief, you are going to learn how to ride today. Come on."

She flexed her hand slightly and he sighed. He gripped the saddle, hoisting himself with little to no grace onto the beast, forgoing her hand entirely. He swung his leg over, careful not to hit her as she scooted back. He had intended to slide in behind the Queen, however she maneuvered herself to the back of the horse before he could settle himself, plopping down in front of her at the front of the horse.

"Not really how I prefer to be ridden," he muttered under his breath.

"Oh?" She said.

Robin froze. He hadn't meant for her to hear his comment. He began to wonder just how long she would take his sass before he felt her scoot up, adhering herself flush against him.

He took in a shallow breath as he felt hers tickle his neck, making his hairs stand on end. She wrapped her hands around him, grabbing the fallen reins. The movement pressing her chest into his back.

Robin could feel the outline of her body entirely. Every curve, every indent. His eyes closed against his will until he felt her hands bumping his. She was handing him the reins.

"You want me to-" He began.

"Yes, Thief. You are learning, whether you'd prefer to or not. Take the reins."

Robin did as he was told.

She began to let out a series of clicks with her tongue, the horses ears picking up at the sound. However Robin cut her off mid way, peering over his shoulder to face his son.

"What about-"

"He will be fine." She spoke, understanding his question before he asked it. "Roheryn will watch over him."

So that was the name of the other horse, Robin thought. Interesting picks. The Queen definitely had a thing for 'R's'.

"You have a big trust in your horses?" Robin spoke.

"They aren't just any horses," she said offhandedly, making Robin wonder what it was that made them special.

But before he could ask, she had grasped his hands on the reins, finishing her clicking code, flicking them at the wrist in a sharp motion. Rocinante trotted forward smoothly.

For a bit, all he felt was the wind gusting around them. Every so often he would feel her thigh flex behind him, turning the horse with her legs. He was thoroughly impressed the way the beast responded to her littlest touch.

He found himself enjoying his lesson quite immensely. The animal wasn't so bad when it was following orders from a skilled rider. He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the freeing feeling when he felt the reins being forced into his palms.

"It's your turn woodsman."

"Oh, no. I was quite enjoying the sensation of before." He spoke before he could stop himself.

He felt her stiffen momentarily behind him, before shifting to adjust her seat.

She rubbed up against him as she moved and he immediately regretted his choice of words. The sensation of her hands lightly brushing up against his thighs and her cool breath on his ear were nothing compared to the feeling she was creating now. Her body moved and he instantly wished he had worn looser pants.

When she settled he had the sneaking suspicion that she had maneuvered herself longer than she had needed to to find a comfortable position. She must know the effect that she had on him. He took a deep breath. For a minute he worried if he would escape her lesson alive.

"Take a hold," she instructed. He did so and she proceeded to direct him on how to hold the reins correctly. Keeping his fingers displaced right as to not get them caught if the horse bucked. She then moved her leg behind his, teaching him how to direct the horse with the turns of his body. She had him practice at a trot. He was beginning to get the hang of it when she sneaked her arm around his midsection.

It may have been unintentional but Robins body did a double take.

It was a light hold, he wasn't even sure if she realized that she had done it. But her hand was nevertheless there, resting above his midsection.

He felt his heart pound a bit harder than normal, his breath catching in his throat. "Your Majesty?" He began.

"Hmm." she hummed.

He peaked back over his shoulder. He head was lolled back slightly. She looked peaceful, as if nothing in the world could touch her at the moment. The warm summer breeze blew around her, catching her hair, picking up the ends an making them dance around her face. Her clip had fallen out in places, her perfectly done mane slightly mused from riding. She looked exquisite.

Robin realized as he stared that that was the third time that day that he had stopped to admire her beauty.

When he didn't respond back her eyes opened. Slowly, the light catching her dark orbs, turning them hazel in the warm rays.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Hmm- oh nothing." He said, turning back.

"No," she said, the hand around him shifting. "You were staring. What were you thinking?"

He felt a small smile curve at the corner of his lip, she was quite the curious thing. "I was just wondering why Her Majesty asked me out here?"

She paused for a moment, temporarily silenced. "If I recall correctly it was your son that I invited here. You were the one who insisted you had to come along and supervise." she said with a snark.

"No, no your Majesty. I did indeed ask to come along on Rolands' lesson, however it was all you that suggested this detour."

He felt her body stiffen at his back, the hand around him clenching.

She was silent for a moment to long. Robin pulled back on the reins as he had seen her do, to stop the horse below them.

Rocinante shook his head, as if signaling that he was displeased with being stopped mid stride. Or signaling to Robin not to ask what he was about to, but regardless it didn't stop the thief.

He turned in the saddle as much as he could in order to get a better view of her face.

"You are truly wonderful with him." He said.

The Queen looked taken aback. She hadn't been expecting such a raw compliment, or any form of praise for that matter.

Robin quickly found himself wanting to tell her how much he had enjoyed watching her with his son. His boy was a joyful lad but he hadn't seen him so exuberant and full of cheer in a long while. It was truly heart warming. And it had all come about when he had met the Queen. She had quickly warmed up to his son, just as easily winning a spot in his heart.

He suddenly wanted her to know how much he appreciated what she had done for his son. But she was fidgeting again, as if uncomfortable with his words.

She moved, the hand around his waist loosened. In a blink she was off of the horse, landing nimbly on the ground. Robin turned to see her walking away. Rocinante neighed as he shifted himself down. She still hadn't taught him how to dismount with grace and he felt slightly clunky doing so.

"Regina?"

The woman stopped in her tracks, her foot still in step, paused in midair.

"I meant what I said. You bring out a joy in him that I haven't seen in years." Robin said, "I am greatly indebted to you."

She still didn't speak. Instead she set her levitating foot down, still facing away from him. He stepped closer.

"You seem to have the touch of a mother." He spoke.

He was close enough now that he could smell her perfume. He could make out the exact shades that made the rich color of her hair. He could see the rigidness of her shoulders. He saw her cringe as he said his last statement, as if she had been waiting for that exact comment all along.

"That's because I am one." She whispered under her breath.

The Queen moved, walking towards the tall apple tree near the edge of the field. She went up to it, running her hand down it's bark. Robin observed from afar, still rooted to the spot where she had been moments before.

She placed her palm on the tree, as if she had done it many times before, resting her head against the smooth surface of her hand.

She stayed there for a moment.

The sound of birds chirping and water rushing was mute in the distance. All Robin could focus on was the beautiful woman before him, seeming to take comfort in the old tree.

She exhaled, releasing a heavy sigh, and sniffed. When she turned around Robin felt his stomach flip.

Her beautiful brown eyes were rimmed red. A single few tears had trickled down her tanned face, leaving glistening trails down her pink cheeks.

She leaned against the tree, letting it support her as she didn't appear like she was able to do that for herself at the moment.

Robin felt his feet move before his brain caught up. All he wanted to do was comfort her. To tell her nothing but the good that he had seen come about because of her. He knew she was tough, he knew that she kept her walls up and reinforced them with rock and metal. But she had let him in. Even for the briefest of moments, and all because of his son. That had to count for something.

He saw her chest heaving as she tried to control her breathing. The light catching her tears, glimmering against her skin.

He was next to her. His fingers reached up on their own accord, dabbing at the newly fallen droplets. Her eyes flickered open as she gasped quite quietly at the contact.

"Is this about Henry?" He questioned quietly.

For a moment he thought that he had stunned her into silence eternally, until she nodded. She had forgotten that the thief knew about her lost son. She had opened up to him, however unintentionally, the first day that they had met. When he had offered to help storm the castle and she had gone off in search of the necessary ingredients to reenact her infamous sleeping potion.

She had told him about Henry. Explaining that he was the only good thing she had left in her life and now he was gone. Taken from her, right from her grasp. She had been in such a low point, she had been certain that she wouldn't be able to make her way out.

There was no amount of positive thinking or good deeds that could be done to make up for her broken heart. It had been shattered one to many times, and every time a small piece of her soul died until she had nothing but a sliver left.

But she had made it through. Somehow. Somehow she had found a way out of the darkness. Somehow she had made it without Henry in her life. He was in her heart, as Snow had said. She knew it was true but it didn't assuage the ache she felt inside. The big empty hole that seemed to feast off of the goodness that she found. It was a beast that lived on the inside of her, eating away at her very soul. Ripping her apart.

But yet she was there. Very much alive and very much whole. And that had to do with the little boy that had helped her to find her happiness again.

Through his giggles and his hugs, he had brought her back. Mending her broken heart, piece by piece. His laughter had been like glue, sticking her back together. The pieces were soaked and sopping, but they were there. Each in their correct spots, making what looked like a young child's messy interpretation of a human heart. But it worked.

And now she was there. In the fields where she had ran as a child. Under the tree that she had stood with with Daniel, trading kisses and sharing smiles. She was back. Not with her son. But with a new family. One that had taught her to open up again. To let love in. To love again.

She stared into the eyes of the man that was leaned over her. All she could see was blue. His eyes were cool, like pools of water. The longer she stared the more she felt like she was drowning, being washed away in his current, and she was okay with it.

"You asked why I brought you out here?"

Her voice seemed to snap the man out of his gaze, causing him to slightly shake his head as he searched her eyes.

His voice was barely more than a whisper when he spoke, "I did."

It only took a heart beat for her to decide.

Her hands, which had been bracing herself on the tree behind her reached up, grabbing collar of his jacket, drawing him to her. She felt his gasp as she lifted her chin up, connecting her lips with the mans hovering above her.

She kissed him. She felt her heart hammer away in her chest as she did. Her lips were closed but pressed to his for a moment, long, and hard before her brain came back to her.

Suddenly she let him go, releasing his lips from hers with a smack.

She wasn't sure what exactly had come over her. When she had called him out with her she hadn't intended for this to happen. She had merely wanted to teach him to ride... and to torture him slightly.

But she had never meant for this. She knew, somewhere deep down that she had developed a caring for the man whose child she had become emotionally attached to. She knew that she didn't hate him as much as she let on, either in meetings or around any of the council members. She knew that she found him semi-attractive. But she didn't know what it was that drew her to kiss him.

However, right now she couldn't seem to get enough of his lips.

She had tasted them, only briefly, but she knew it was a flavor she was not soon to forget.

He was different. His lips were warm. Smooth. They had felt right connected to hers.

Thoughts rushed through her head and she realized that as much as she was confused and wanted to know why she had kissed him, she wanted to kiss him again even more.

She looked up, finding his eyes searching back and forth between hers.

And, in a split second she would swear she saw a light click behind his eyes before he took in a short breath, tilting his head towards her.

This time, he kissed her. She felt his warms lips once again connect with hers, intoxicating her with his flavor. His scent surrounded her as his arms encircled her, pulling them close.

She could feel his heart beating away to the fast rhythm of her own. His lips slid over hers like honey. They were soft and sweet, and she ran her tongue out to taste them. He tasted like it too.

His breathing was ragged, their lips only breaking apart for little moments to gasp for air, before meeting again. One of his hands slid up her body, leaving a trail of shivers, as it found purchase in her hair.

It wasn't until she slid her tongue across his top lip, making him gasp, that she entered his mouth. She smiled into the kiss as he melted into her, moaning ever so lightly. She took a step back and he followed for a moment, before she pulled away. She kept her eyes closed as he held tightly to her, keeping their forehead connected, resting against each other.

They both tired to regain control of themselves but their breathing raged. His hand roamed up to her cheek, brushing away the hairs that had fallen into her face, making her shiver. She could tell he was looking at her and she felt her lips curve up as she opened her eyes.

"So that was why you brought me out here?" He said breathlessly.

She only laughed. A wide grin spread across her face.

do leave your burning requests in the comments and thank you for reading! a few shoutouts:

Anonim: here! MWAH!

Fand09m: so sorry love, but there is more cuteness to come, hope this helps(; MWAH!

OutlawQueen2012: you and me both! ha, i'm so glad you're enjoying! thank you for following/reviewing here! MWAH!

b: thank you! my bad! if you catch anything else, please let me know! MWAH!

ForeverJulie & dakota1979 & Rocinante0808: thank you loves! do enjoy! MWAH!

nahbois68: me too! (AWESOME REQUEST!) thank you for reading & reviewing! can't wait to hear more from you! MWAH!

kurotenshi-08: i'm so glad! MWAH!

Inquisitive dreamer: you and your commas! i'm going to sick a comma police dog on you(; thank you lovely! MWAH!

OH! And this was the last chapter that I posted in TQAHT... so you know what that means? muahaha x