Regina got home and was in shock that she had not been forced to sleep with some strange man this night. While a part of her was relieved, she also felt torn. Because whatever this was between Robin and her while great, was making her feel like he was basically paying for her time, which he was. Somehow it made her feel even cheaper, she had felt something upon meeting him tonight, there was some sort of spark between them. If things progressed between them, then she couldn't take money from him. She just couldn't. But what else was she going to do?
Meanwhile Robin was laying in his bed, he had already contacted the escort agency and booked Regina's 'services' for the rest of the month. He also made it clear to the woman he talked to that Regina was not to be loaned out to anyone else. It had cost him, but every cent was worth it and then some. Regina had awoken something in him, something he had never experienced before. A possibile relationship, a possibility of someone who could make him happy, a possibility of finding someone who could make him live and just not exist day to day. Robin had a good life, he knew it but a wise man had once said to him that A life without love is no life at all. And he was determined to have a life worth living.
Regina, just her name brought an intense rush of feelings from how he wanted her to be safe and not be forced to be with someone she didn't want to be with, he felt protective of her after only meeting her tonight, he was glad she had trusted him enough to tell him the truth about why she was an escort. Yes he was attractive to her, immensely attractive to her. But seeing that look in her eyes, knowing how this was the last thing she really wanted to be doing, it cut at his heart. He wanted to help in any way that he could, and he didn't give a damn how much it would cost him. This was not going to be someone who just floated into his life and was gone like that, Regina was different from any other woman he had ever met. Most wanted to be with him, for his money and what they could get out of him, and granted he had obliged in the past but not any longer would he engage in meaningless relationships. Not since Regina.
The next day Regina was just leaving her last class when her phone rung, she didn't recognize the number but decided to answer it anyways.
"Hello?" Regina said.
"Regina, this is Robin. I'm glad you answered," Robin said.
"How did you get my number?" Regina asked.
"I had to pull a few strings but finally got it. I'm sorry if this is a surprise to you. I hope it's alright that I called you," Robin said.
"It's fine, I'm just surprised to hear your voice," Regina said.
"I hope it's a good surprise," Robin said.
"It is," Regina said.
"I would like to take you to dinner tonight, if that's alright?" Robin asked.
"I would like to, I really would but I'm working tonight," Regina said.
"Regina," Robin started to say.
"At the diner! I have to work till ten tonight," Regina said.
"What about tomorrow night then?" Robin asked, clearly disappointed. He had wanted to tell her to ditch her work, that he would gladly pay for tonight for her and then some, but he could tell she was quite proud and didn't want to be that 'kept woman' she had spoken of to him.
"I'm off tomorrow so that will work for me," Regina said.
"Can I see you tonight though? Maybe just grab a cup of coffee?" Robin asked, he wanted to see her more than anything right now.
"Okay, how about we meet at Claire's, it's on the corner of twenty and three?" Regina asked.
"Okay, say around a little after ten?" Robin asked.
"I'll be there, the subway is just around the block from where I work," Regina said.
"Regina, can I please send my driver to come pick you up from work and bring you to the cafe? He can take you home later," Robin offered.
"I don't know Robin," Regina answered.
"Regina, its just a drive. I would feel so much better knowing you were safe and not traveling on the subway late at night," Robin said. "Please."
"Okay, okay. I'll see you later then," Regina said.
"Regina, please don't hesistate to call me if you need anything," Robin said.
"I will remember," Regina said as they said their goodbyes for now. Regina had a smile on her face until she reached her apartment, she changed quickly then headed for the diner. She arrived and clocked into work, she quickly started serving the customers. The night was passing pretty quickly, she had her back to the counter and was cleaning up just a little when she heard a male voice behind her.
"I'll be right there," Regina said as she grabbed her ticket order and turned, and promptly stopped in her tracks when she saw who was there.
"So what's the special?" Robin asked with a smirk on his face.
"What are you doing here?" Regina asked.
"Well when you told me that the cafe was near where you worked, I looked around and found this place. Have I upset you showing up like this?" Robin asked. He hoped that he had not, he wanted her to feel comfortable around him.
"No, not at all. I'm glad to see you," Regina said.
"I'm very glad to see you, now is there anything you can recommend?" Robin asked.
"The apple turnovers are quite good I must say," Regina said.
"Then I'll have the turnovers and a large iced tea," Robin said as Regina took his order and put the order in.
"How long have you worked here?" Robin asked as Regina came back out to him.
"Almost four months," Regina answered.
"How do you like it?" Robin asked.
"So far, it's been good," Regina answered.
"And how was your day at college?" Robin asked.
"Good, I'm anxious to get done and be able to find a job teaching by next fall," Regina said.
"You'll be a great teacher, I can tell," Robin said.
"How so?" Regina asked.
"Well you have this light in your eyes, that makes me think how much you enjoy life. How much you'll dedicate yourself to your teaching," Robin said. "So what made you decide to get into teaching?"
"I had a great teacher, Mrs. Wilson that inspired me to become a teacher, plus I love the idea that one day I'll insprire another child to become a teacher," Reginas said as just then Robin's order was ready, she got it from the window and handed it to him. The diner at this time of night was pratically empty. Just another couple over in a booth, and Robin at the bar with her.
"That's an admirable trait, and I have no doubt you will inspire someone else to become a teacher," Robin said as he started to eat his turnovers. He watched as Regina cleaned up just a little, before making her way back to him.
"If I can just get done with college then its just a matter of finding a teaching job and I should be all set," Regina said.
"Which I'm sure you will in no time," Robin said as a few minutes later, he finished his food and paid his bill, giving Regina a genorous tip.
"Robin, I can't take this," Regina said.
"Regina, consider it a make up for all the times you've been stiffed for a tip," Robin said.
"I don't know," Regina said.
"Regina, please," Robin said, thinking if she was going to be this stubborn over a little tip, how was she going to be with him paying for her for the month?
"Alright, but on one condition," Regina said.
"What's that?" Robin asked as he raised his eyebrows.
"You'll have to come over one night and let me cook you dinner," Regina said.
"Hmm, a homecooked meal with a beautiful woman for company? Now let me think for a minute before I make up my mind," Robin said as he tapped his chin with his finger, his actions causting her to laugh at him. "Alright, you've twisted my arm enough, I'd love to have dinner with you."
"How about Saturday night?" Regina asked.
"I'll be there, as soon as you tell me where there is," Robin said as Regina smiled and wrote down her address for him.
"There's one more thing I need to know," Robin said as Regina raised her eyebrows at him. "I need to know your last name."
"Mills, my last name is Mills," Regina said.
"Regina Mills, I like it," Robin said.
"Give me a few minutes and I'll be ready to go," Regina said as she finished her shift and clocked out and grabbed her purse and together they headed to his car, where they were driven the short distance to the cafe.
"Order whatever you want," Robin said. "I promise to not keep you out too late on a school night." Robin said with a smile on his face. They both ordered coffees, and started talking.
"So I want to be honest with you and not pretend otherwise, I contacted the agency this morning and you won't have to worry about having to entertain other men," Robin said as he watched the blush on her face creep through.
"Robin, I don't know what to think about this. I almost feel like this is cheapening whatever could be between us," Regina said.
"Oh? So you feel this spark between us as well?" Robin asked.
"I think that is more than obvious," Regina said.
"Good, I'm glad you feel it as well," Robin said as he grabbed her hand and rubbed it lightly with his finger over the top of her hand. "It's what made me act quickly, I couldn't stand the thought of you being forced to see someone else, which reminds me I need to call Killian and give him a huge thank you."
"I have to admit, that the thought of being around someone else gives me the creeps. I just don't want this to make it look like you're paying for my company," Regina said. "Which is why I don't want you paying for me."
"Regina, I have plenty of money, and this does not make me think that I'm paying for you to like me," Robin said confidently. "I look at it this way, I look at it as an investment for my future, for our future."
Regina raised her eyebrows at him, thinking how he seemed to already be making plans for them in the future. She had to admit, she hoped things would work out between them, there was something between them that could not be denied and did not want to be.
"And what do you see about our futures?" Regina asked.
"Who knows? But I do know one thing, I see my future in your eyes," Robin said as he leaned closer to her over the table as she leaned closer to him and together they kissed, neither caring that they were in public. They only cared that the other was there at the moment.
They talked for another few minutes, before Robin stood and paid their bill, he took her hand in his as they headed to his car. Regina gave her address to the driver and they were off. Robin pulled Regina into his lap and kissed on her all the way over to her apartment. Once they arrived, Robin escorted Regina up to her apartment door. Robin didn't want to voice, but he was concerned with the neighborhood that Regina lived in. He decided then to call a friend of his, just to make sure that Regina was not in any danger for him.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Regina said.
"I'll be here at six," Robin said as he leaned down and kissed her, pulling her close to his chest. What he had felt before had been child's play compared to this. Every fiber of his being being vibrated with an intensity he'd never experienced before. It was a sensual recognition, an instinctive, glorious knowledge of what would be theirs one day. He wanted her. Gods, how he desired her!
Robin wasn't aware of anything except the softness of Regina in his arms. When their kiss began it had been sweet, gentle, perfect...and it wasn't enough! This taste of paradise only whetted his appetite for more. Unable to help himself, his mouth slanted across hers in passionate possession, his lips urging hers apart so he could draw her very breath from her.
Regina gasped at the strange sensations sweeping through her. Heat radiating from somewhere deep in the woman;y recesses of her body. She felt lightheaded and clutched at his shoulders for support. When his hand sought the fullness of her breast, a small moan escaped her. Robin pulled her even closer, so that Regina could feel exactly what she was doing to him.
Neither of them spoke. They kissed, then kissed again. It was the beginning of something rapturous...a moment of ecstasy that defied all reason.
It was the sound of Regina's neighbor, an older lady coming down the hall that finally intruded on their bliss. For the first time since he'd taken Regina into his arms, he became aware of the fact they were in a dark hallway of her apartment. And while he wanted nothing more than to take Regina into her apartment, or better yet take her back home with him, he knew he couldn't press this. She wasn't ready, oh she had been responsive to him there was no doubt about that. But Robin knew if he pressed the issue, he would push her away.
"I better let you get some sleep," Robin said.
"Must you?" Regina said playfully causing Robin to chuckle.
"Unfortunately, I must," Robin said. "But I will see you tomorrow evening, until then, milady." Robin pulled back and took her hand and kissed it lightly on her knuckles.
"Good night, Robin," Regina said as she turned to open her door, but something changed her mind and she grabbed his arm and put her hands on his head and brought him down for a kiss, Regina found herself looping her arms around his neck to fit herself more tightly to him. She wanted him to know that she wanted whatever it was that was building between them. She pulled away and smiled at the look on his face.
"Good, night, Regina," Robin said as he moved back. He had to or he would have picked her up and to hell with their surroudings he would have taken her up against the wall behind her. Regina smiled and unlocked her door, she walked in and closed the door slowly. Robin smiled as he headed to his car, he was still smiling as he arrived at his home.
Regina was going to be in his future, and nothing could stop that.