It was a herculean task, waiting five dates for sex, but Emma Swan did it, much to Regina's surprise. She had been sure that Emma would not be able to check her libido for that long, but apparently the Sherriff could be patient when she really wanted something. Regina was flattered to see that the thing Emma wanted, the thing she could wait for, was her.
That meant more to her than she thought. It meant that to Emma, this wasn't just a game. Regina was not just a fling to her, and that fact scared Regina a little bit. There was a reason neither woman had ever been in a committed relationship. It was the classic method of protection, never getting too close to anyone, and pushing them away if they tried to connect. It was amazing that they had managed to connect in the way they had, even though they had taken the long way around.
They had hated each other from the beginning, because of Henry, because of how different they were, because of how they perceived each other. It was a snap judgment on both of their parts. They had wasted so much time, making empty threats, giving hateful glares, fighting—sometimes physically. They fought because they did not know how else to deal with each other.
Regina tried to focus on her paperwork, but could not help herself from stealing glances at the clock above the doorway. It was a quarter to 6, and Regina was taking Emma to an art gallery featuring Van Gogh's works. It had taken her a month to get the tickets, and she was very excited. She loved Van Gogh's way of perceiving the world; the bright colors and intense images he painted were very moving to her. She appreciated artwork very much. She hoped that Emma would like the surprise. She finished reading a complaint about kids being too loud on Main Street, then threw it away. What did the person expect her to do? Sometimes the responsibility of being Mayor was just too much.
She stepped out of her office at 5:50 and nodded to her secretary. It was Regina's way of saying, "I'm leaving early, you can show yourself out."
Regina walked out to the parking lot and sniffed the air. It was early October and the air was oddly smoky, like a forest fire had ignited somewhere close. She coughed and got in her car, driving to Emma's apartment.
She knocked on the door, pulling herself up to her full height. Mary Margaret would not intimidate her; that little lamb couldn't if she tried. If anyone was going to be scared shitless, it would be the goody-two-shoes schoolteacher. Regina grinned evilly, thinking how interesting it was that she was dating Snow White's daughter. She shook her head. It was too weird to dissect too much. The only comfort was that she was 100% sure that she and Emma were in no way related. She had done a DNA test to make sure.
On one of their dates—they had been the car, in the dark (Emma's idea) and Emma had started to get close and put her arm around Regina. She let Emma bring her face closer, and they had started to make out, heavily. Regina had tangled her hands in Emma's hair and tried to be subtle—
"OW!" Emma's head whipped back and she looked at Regina, horrified. "What did you do?"
Regina tried to look as innocent as possible, which was difficult, under the circumstances. "What are you talking about?"
"You just pulled my hair! If you wanted me to stop, you could have just said—"
"I did not pull your hair. If I did it was an accident. Now is hardly the time to argue, we are alone, in the dark, in the middle of nowhere. So shut up and kiss me, you fool!"
Emma had gladly forgotten about the pain in her scalp as her mouth practically devoured Regina's. Regina had moaned—she couldn't help it—and put her hands on Emma's breasts, kneading them to hard mounds. She grinned as she felt them react to every move her hands made, pounding and pulsating to a beautiful rhythm. She kissed Emma harder, flicking her tongue in between the blond's teeth. Emma pushed Regina against the car window, unbuckling her belt—
It had been SO hard to stop. For both of them. But Regina had a rule, and she stuck to it.
But tonight was their fifth date. If Regina played her cards right, Emma Swan would be hers by the end of the night. She just had to get past Mary Margaret. She grumbled. That woman always stood in the way of her happiness, it seemed.
Regina breathed and raised her hand to knock on the door. Three knocks, sharp and authoritative. 7 seconds later,Mary Margaret flung the door open, her hair in a shower cap and her feet snuggled in a pair of blue fuzzy slippers. Regina couldn't help herself from smirking, not only at the schoolteacher's appearance, but at the 'I just shit a brick' look on her face. Her mouth was open in a little 'o' and her face was getting red. It was just too comical. The schoolteacher seemed to forget how to form words.
"Miss Blanchard," Regina greeted, smiling. "Is Emma here?"
A full five seconds passed before Mary Margaret answered. "Emma—oh, yes, Emma's just upstairs." The schoolteacher let Regina in and called for Emma. She did not know how to process what was happening. The mayor was in the middle of her living room, standing awkwardly, inevitably wary of sitting on any of the furniture. Or touching it. Why did she want Emma? Mary Margaret was immediately suspicious.
Emma strolled down the stairs, grumbling about having to wear a dress, then she saw Regina. Regina was wearing her usual outfit—a black pant suit with a white collared shirt. Mary Margaret rushed to Emma before she could talk to the mayor. The schoolteacher pulled Emma into the kitchen, which wasn't too helpful, because Regina could hear everything that was being said.
"What is she doing here? And why are you wearing…that?" Mary Margaret whispered.
Emma looked at her red dress and blushed. She had not thought about telling her roommate anything about her and Regina. It had slipped her mind entirely—she had been too focused on keeping busy with work. Now she realized that maybe she should have given a hint or two.
"Um…Regina is taking me somewhere…she told me to dress up so she doesn't look bad."
"So, she's taking you somewhere classy?" Mary Margaret narrowed her eyes. "I don't like it."
Emma laughed. "What are you talking about?"
"You two are enemies, and all of a sudden she decides to be nice to you? You know her better than that, Emma. She has an angle, some catch. I don't like the possibilities—"
"Sorry to interrupt, but we really should be going, I like to be punctual." Regina's steely voice cut through the schoolteacher's suspicious one. "Good evening, Miss Blanchard." Regina walked to the door, hearing Emma's footfalls behind her. She opened the door for the blonde and gave one last glare to Mary Margaret before closing it.
"You look nice, Emma." Regina said sincerely.
"Thanks. But why the hell aren't you wearing a dress? If I have to, it's only fair—"
"I would have, but I did not have time to change. The place I am taking you is only open for two hours, and we have to get there on time, or we may not get in." Regina opened her car door and practically sped out of the parking lot.
"You're speeding!" Emma gripped onto her seatbelt.
"What are you going to do? Give me a ticket?"
"I won't be able to if you crash and we both fucking die!" Emma's voice was panicked. "Where the hell are we going, anyway?"
"You'll see."
Emma pretended to be totally engrossed in every painting in the goddamn gallery. Not that she didn't like art—she enjoyed it, but she never knew Van Gogh painted so many pieces. There were at least a hundred paintings in the exhibit, and Regina was determined to look at every one, and stand in front of them, just staring at them, like they held some secret, some window that she could escape into. Emma stood by her and just watched her expression. At some paintings, Regina would point every difference in color, every paint stroke. It bored Emma to death, but Regina was so engrossed in it that Emma could not pull her away.
She enjoyed seeing Regina so passionate about something. It made her remember why she was head over heels in love with this woman. The art was beautiful, of course. Emma could not deny that. When the couple came to the painting Starry starry night, Regina stationed herself in front of it, tears welling up in her eyes. Emma freaked out a little, wondering what was happening to the usually so well put together mayor. She had never seen Regina this emotional.
Was it opposite day or something? Had someone turned the fucking world upside down, and she didn't notice?
After the gallery closed, Regina walked with Emma to her Mercedes. Emma expected to be driven back to her apartment, because somehow she had forgotten that tonight was their fifth date. When Regina turned onto a completely different street, Emma frowned. She realized all too late where they were going.
They pulled up to the Marriot, and Regina parked the car. She looked over at Emma, and Emma almost swooned. The mayor was looking at her with such sincerity that it knocked the wind out of the blonde's lungs. Regina knew how to work bedroom eyes, that was for sure. The dark orbs were screaming for Emma.
"Well, here we are." Regina broke the cloyingly thick silence.
"Um…yeah." Emma's brain had stopped working. "Is..is Henry going to be okay tonight?"
Regina rolled her eyes. "Of course. He is spending the night at Nicholas and Ava's house. Do you really think I would just leave him?"
"No—I just…"
"Enough talking. Tonight I want to do much more." Regina stepped out of the car and made her way to the passenger's side. She opened the door and held out her hand for Emma to take. Emma grasped it and they walked hand in hand to the door of the hotel, each of them with butterflies in their stomachs.
Regina took a shower while Emma sat on the bed, nerves overtaking her. She and Regina were going to make love. Tonight was the night, and Emma was not going to mess it up. She would not run, not this time. This would not just be a one night stand. It was a big step to take, the whole commitment thing. But Emma was sure if she did run, Regina or Henry would find her and drag her back to them, so there was really no point.
Regina came out of the bathroom in a black bathrobe (she had stowed an overnight bag in her car) and sat next to Emma. She sensed Emma's nervousness and gently brought her hand to hold Emma's face. It was so tender, so gentle. Emma smiled, and kissed Regina. The woman before her was someone no one else in Storybrooke had ever seen. Not even Graham.
Emma slowly pulled Regina's robe down, revealing a black bra and panties. She admired Regina's full breasts and stood up, pulling Regina up with her. She kissed her hard, determined to be in control, just for a little bit. She bit on Regina's lip, and so the battle for dominance began. Regina pushed Emma back, lust filling her eyes. She circled Emma, standing behind her. She began to unzip her dress and Emma slipped out of it quickly. She turned and started to kiss Regina again, but Regina would have none of it. She stepped back and started to undo her own bra, teasing Emma with peeks at her breasts. Emma slipped out of her underwear and soon, the two of them were totally naked. They met passionately, their lips, breasts, hands and thighs touching each other's.
Emma's skin was deliciously warm, Regina thought. She laid Emma gently down on the bed, feeling Emma's breasts with her fingers, watching as the mounds rose up on contact. She flicked her tongue on one nipple, and was rewarded with a loud moan from Emma's lips. She sucked down on her left nipple, then on the right. She trailed every inch of Emma's skin, watching Emma's rib cage rise and fall quicker.
Finally, her tongue found Emma's clitoris, and here she smelled the most entrancing scent. She had not known women could smell so good. It was new for her, but she appeared to be doing a good job, if Emma's physical response was any indication. She opened Emma's legs wide and fingered her center, exploring, experimenting. Soon, Emma was coming hard and full in an orgasm that left her breathless.
Emma flipped Regina onto her back. "Now it's my turn."
The next morning, Regina found herself pressed against Emma's back, while her own arms encircled the blonde. Panic overtook her for a second. She wondered if she had made a mistake. Maybe she had fallen too hard, too quickly. Maybe all this was for Emma was a fling.
While Regina was debating with herself over what she should do, Emma woke and turned to Regina, smiling.
"Good morning. Do you want breakfast? I can order room service."
Then Regina knew she had not made a mistake.