"Damn." Emma swore under her breath when one of the manila folders sliced across her index finger. A thin line of blood pooled along the cut and she sucked the offending scratch into her mouth, filling it with the tangy copper taste. She closed her eyes trying to stem her irritation.

She had been wrestling with boxes all day again though it wasn't the work that was bothering her. The sheriff was actually glad for the work. The crates had been thrown down into the basement with no system whatsoever it would seem, which should be the source of her frustration but it provided a distraction that didn't send her hurtling towards a panic attack. She shuffled and organized, focusing on the burn in her muscles, the fascinating mechanics of her body lifting each box. Occasionally pulling out some of the old documents to read some of the old reports. It looked as if that Storybrooke had always been a sleepy little town, nothing more exciting than disorderly conduct and traffic tickets. It was almost unreal.

"Is that sanitary?"

Emma whipped around to see Regina standing there poised and elegant as ever. The blonde realized she looked a state again in her black tank top having lost her shirt amongst the piles forever ago. Her hair was probably mussed from dragging her fingers through it repeatedly. She quickly pulled her wounded digit away, "It's just a paper cut. I'm sure I won't contract anything fatal infections."

"How unfortunate." She said drolly.

"Ha, ha." Emma rolled her eyes, swiftly tying her hair into a ponytail as if that would magically give her some semblance of order to her appearance. "What can I help you with Madam Mayor?"

"I'm just checking to make sure my sheriff's station isn't taking on water."

"We're ship shape here captain." Emma gave a mock salute.

"Then why does it look such a mess in here?"

"Marco is working downstairs. He should be done soon. And this," Emma gestured to the papers that littered every surface as she distracted rifled about the cartons, "Is organized. Well more organized than it was. Filing wasn't Graham's strong suit."

"Forgive me if I'm doubtful." Regina said wryly. Emma was ready to argue back but she stopped short when she turned back to the brunette who she expected to be staring her down in her customary superiority. But instead her dark eyes were appraising her form in a new appreciative way, lingering especially on her shoulders and biceps. She subtly flexed and she could practically see her pupils dilate from across the room and Emma's thoughts were sent scattering to wholly inappropriate images. If the whole thing flustered her less, she would be feeling more full of herself and the apparent effect she had on the older woman. However, as it stood, her own emotions were so jumbled that all satisfaction she may have gotten diminished significantly.

She gave a tight-lipped smile, "You'll just have to trust me."

"Perhaps…"

This was why her arduous task was so gladly welcomed as it gave her reprieve from her mind turning to the steamy events that unfolded in the mayor's study. It still felt like a dream to her. The truce between the two women was more of a stalemate, or a tentative cease-fire rather than a peace treaty. Even now they backslid into grating against each other's nerves, their relationship was based on tension so it shouldn't have surprised her really that it inevitably bubbled over.

It had happened once before; a release in the energy that built dangerously between them, except it had been a violent exchange when they traded blows in the cemetery, an ill-conceived cat fight over Graham. Now the scale had tipped again only this time their weapon of choice was pleasure. And god had it been pleasurable. They inflicted each other with kisses and stroking hands and so much more. Emma begrudgingly admitted to herself that it had probably been the best sex she'd ever had. Regina was in a word divine with her olive skin and curves that could kill. Her throat dried and she felt a sympathetic jolt between her legs just at the idea of her. Of course after the fact she wobbled out the house as fast as her pleasure-drunk limbs and whiskey-laden mind could manage. Part of her wanted to stay and demand answers from the woman, but old habits were hard to kick. She took her opportunity and fled. The sheriff wrangled her thoughts determining to keep her cool in front of the other woman no matter how out of sorts she felt. "Was there anything else?"

"Yes, there is." Regina brushed invisible lint from her coat; acting like the whole conversation bored her to death.

"Yes?"

"Henry is usually fast asleep by nine." The statement seemed to come from left field. Her brow crinkled in confusion.

"Okay…"

"I'll be leaving my front door unlocked tonight from 9 to 9:30. No later. If you care to join me this evening."

"Join you? As in…"

"You know very well Ms. Swan. There's no need to be dull about it."

"Excuse me Madam Mayor." Emma glared hard. "I didn't realize being the sheriff made automatically made me your booty call."

"There is no need to be crude." Regina frowned in distaste.

"And I'm not your lap dog that will come running just because you call."

"Honestly, so dramatic." She grumbled. Emma opened and closed her mouth unable to find the words to her indignity. Regina elaborated before she could find her tongue, "I'm not commanding you. I simply found last night enjoyable and if you found it to be enjoyable then we could go on enjoying it."

Emma fixed her with a hard, suspicious stare, searching for a lie. But her self-proclaimed super powers didn't detect any deceit. Regina spoke plainly with her matter of fact tone. There was no calculation in her eyes, instead a certain frankness and spark of desire, though while restrained spoke volumes. Before she could answer another voice interrupted them, "Everything is all set Emma. Should be good to start moving everything back downstairs… Oh, Madam Mayor."

Marco was startled when he realized the imperious woman was standing there, a mildly irritated expression settled over her features. "Please, by all means, interrupt."

He looked sufficiently cowed as her back away slightly. "I'm sorry I didn't know…"

"I'm finished here any ways." She brusquely announced. "Get this taken care of… and think about what I've offered Sheriff."

With a dramatic flash of her long dark coat she breezed out of the office, leaving a terrified handyman and the even more conflicted sheriff.

/

This was a monumentally bad idea Emma thought as she stood on the front porch of the mayoral manor. For the rest of the afternoon, and actually up until 15 minutes ago, the blonde had debated the pros and cons of accepting Regina's invitation. There relationship was complex enough without adding sex into the mix she had tried to reason with herself. They could barely stand each other, she was Henry's mom, and technically her boss; the list went on. But god she craved the other woman more than anything she had in her entire life. No matter how many things she could think of that told her not to go, it came down to the simple fact that she really wanted to. Emma was drawn to the other woman like a moth to the flame. There was something about being around Regina, even when they were fighting, that felt oddly right, like she was right where she was supposed to be.

Ultimately, she pulled on her boots, tiptoed passed Mary Margret, and briskly walked down the abandoned streets, white with freshly fallen snow. She had hoped to convince herself to turn back around. She lit up her phone screen for the third time since arriving. It was 9:25 and her window of opportunity was dwindling. Jamming the device into her back pocket, she shuffled around and took in a deep breath. Her first instinct was to knock, but she was sure that if she woke Henry there would be hell to pay. Regina must have given her specific times for a reason so bracing herself she turned the brass handle and pushed her way inside. The foyer was dark and quiet. There was no sign of the older woman. She unzipped her riding boots and left her coat by the door to avoid tracking snow into the house. Cautiously venturing forward, "Regina?"

"You shouldn't keep a lady waiting." Her smoky voice drifted down the curved staircase and Emma swallowed hard at the sight of Regina lazily walking down the steps, stopping half way. She was wearing a black negligee made of all silk and lace that clung enticingly to her body. Her eyes riveted to where the scalloped fabric played across her breast. The blonde ignored her statement in complete awe of the gorgeous woman.

"You look… great." Her compliment fell flat and she internally cringed at how lame she had sounded.

"You look… the same." Regina intoned with her air of indifference. Emma fought the urge to fidget uncomfortably, suddenly feeling like she should have put forth a little more consideration into her clothing before deciding to depart. She was still wore her red flannel top from earlier in the day, more comfortable than fashionable, and black jeans tightly encased her legs plainly.

"Yeah, er… Sorry." She mumbled.

Regina curled her lips mockingly, "You're quite the wordsmith."

The sheriff huffed. She didn't come here just to be insulted or intimidated. Emma wasn't going to let herself be pushed around the bedroom even if the idea was a rather hot one, especially with Regina. She gathered her confidence and snipped back with her usual cheekiness. "I wasn't under the impression that we would need to be talking this evening."

Regina's smile could have lit up the room, "Indeed. If you'd follow me Ms. Swan."

She turned and headed back up the stairs, her hips swinging dangerously. Hypnotized, Emma pursued her a few paces behind. The brunette ducked into a room and she lost her from view for a moment. When she was in sight of the older woman once again, it was only a spilt second before she was pinned to the bedroom door. Lips furiously sucked and nipped at her neck. She caught up quickly, her hands roving over the luxurious silk that covered her torso and finger toying with hardening nipples through the material. She nudged the side of Regina's head seeking out her lips but the woman shook it negatively. "The same rule applies. You can't kiss my lips."

Emma furrowed her brow. Last night she thought it had been an exciting game that Regina liked to play. It had been rather hot being denied one of the most basic expressions of two people connecting physically. However now it felt like a slight. She almost pulled back ready to protest but she had yet to win a fight with the mayor. And still, her body yearned to be touched by this woman in whatever capacity she would allow, the heat between her legs already becoming unbearable. She shoved off the door, spinning them so Regina was backing up towards the bed. Emma barely took notice of her shirt being practically torn away, and relented in kissing down the woman's sensitive shoulder for only the amount of time it took to pull her tank top over her head. She had nearly gotten to the bed, preparing to push Regina onto the plush surface, when the woman managed to switch their positions again.

The back of Emma's knees hit the mattress and she fell onto the down comforter. She looked up, Regina standing over her grinning wickedly. "Comfortable?"

The manipulative bitch, Emma thought getting prepared to make a comeback but Regina was sinking to her knees, kneeling between her legs that hung-over the edge of the bed and all notions flew out of her head. Her hands clawed up and down the dark denim as she leaned forward to trace patterns with her tongue on her abdominals. Regina popped open the copper button, suddenly yanking the pants from her hips none to gently. The blonde helped, kicking the article off her feet, trying to avoid jostling the woman between her thighs. She felt hot breath puffing against the crotch of her underwear. She tilted her hips into the sensation, but the woman kept her distance. Emma glanced down to see her infuriatingly coy smile. She growled and Regina chuckled, "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"

Fingertips still dragged up and down her thighs distractingly but she tried to hold onto her higher brain function. She considered what would get her companion to cease her teasing. Regina generally wasn't a fan of her bluntness but she hoped it would serve her now, "You can get your hot mouth on me right now and make me come."

Regina's eyes flashed with something dangerous and exhilarating. Emma heard the sound of shredding fabric as her underwear was literally ripped off of her. She couldn't care less though as the perpetrator sent her tongue delving through her folds. Her mind clouded as the older woman licked broad stroked and sucked on her heated, wet flesh; time becoming completely irrelevant. Regina's deft pink muscle demanded her pleasure as she drew circles around her clit. Emma let the electric feeling build inside, refusing to give her the satisfaction of begging. And then the brunette was pulling the sensitive bud into her mouth; strumming her tongue over it so quickly it almost felt like a vibration, "Oh god, Regina."

Her orgasm shot through her limbs, splintering all coherent thought. As she came back to earth, Emma could feel Regina grinning into her stomach, again asking, "Comfortable?"

"Very." She breathed out. Quickly though she shook off the light-headed feeling and launched herself at the mayor. She grabbed the woman and tossed her to the head of the bed. Regina looked surprised at the sudden shift but also delighted. The blonde crawled up the bed and hovered over her. Their noses brushed together softly before the younger woman remembered herself and moved to kiss the skin by her ear. She hummed in response, turning her head to grant more access, and started trailing her hands over Emma's shoulders.

The sheriff drew away, capturing her roaming hands and pinned them to the mattress with her own. The thigh that settled between Regina's legs pressed harder as she began grinding her hips into the other woman and resumed kissing along her clavicle. Emma let go of one of her hands to massage the full breast still covered with the lingerie that was just too sexy to remove. She rolled her nipple through the thin material and Regina brought hand to thread through Emma's hair. Immediately the younger woman stopped her ministrations and tugged the offending hand free from her hair putting it back on the mattress. She went to put her hand back on Regina's body but the brunette stubbornly found its way back to Emma's head. Their hands fought against each other in a brief struggle before the blonde got both of Regina's hands over her head, curling them around the wrought iron bars of her headboard. "Move them again and I'm going to stop everything and leave."

"You wouldn't dare." Her eyes narrowed.

"Try me." Emma quirked an eyebrow up challengingly. Regina accessed her with a glare, and then miraculously conceded with a tick of her head, hands tamely held fast to the black rods. Satisfied with her compliance, Emma took full advantage to her prone form. Her hands wandered the curves unhindered. Regina moaned and arced into every touch. Finally she gave mercy as her hand slipped under the sinfully short skirt and cupped the older woman's wonderfully bare sex. Her fingers wasted no time plunging into the tight heat. Emma groaned along with her at the feeling of Regina clenching around her, desperate for release but powerless to do anything. Emma watched mesmerized. She was beautiful like this, unfocused eyes, parted plump lips, umber hair splayed strikingly against the white bedding.

The blonde strived to make her come even more undone thrusting harder into the tight, silken canal. Regina actually whimpered, her hips meeting Emma's fingers with each push. She wanted so badly to kiss the lips so close to hers while she was deep inside this enigmatic woman, connected in such a painfully intimate way. Instead Emma abruptly halted her actions to swiftly lower herself down the woman's body, shoving up the skimpy negligee to attach her mouth to Regina clit then rapidly restarting her hand's unforgiving rhythm. The brunette cried out with pleasure, rocking into Emma until her body was sent over the edge, spasms shooting from the muscles in her core out to the rest of her body.

Emma watched and waited in awe until her breathing slowed and Regina seemed calm once again. But the brunette was too tempting, too alluring for her to not have the woman again. She extracted her wet digits, immediately replacing them with her tongue. Regina sighed at the gentle, exploring movements as she avoided the areas that she was learning had the most sensitivity. Desire began radiating from her center once more, as she fully tasted the sweet, musky essence of the older woman. She couldn't stay there long, coming up to prop herself over Regina who opened her legs wider for the blonde. Their cores lined up perfectly. Emma started a slow, sensual thrusting motion with her hips.

Regina forgot the previous command to keep her hands put and raked them up and down her back encouragingly. Emma didn't mind, getting entirely lost in the feeling coiling in her as they became wetter moving with less and less friction each passing moment. They pushed and pulled against each other, grabbed and stroked, becoming more and more frantic. Emma felt the tug of her orgasm but she knew Regina was right there with her as hands gripped her ass holding on tight as they rode it out together. "Oh god, Emma!"

"God Regina." She came with a blinding intensity, feeling as if she may blackout, as all her nerves sparked with pleasure. She collapsed on top of the woman, both their chests heaving from excursion.

She didn't know how much time passed before she could roll off Regina. She looked over apologetically but the woman didn't seem to mind too much of anything at the moment, still pleasantly dazed. The silence stretched out between them, as relaxed and heavy as their sated forms. Emma nearly drifted off to sleep when she felt a prod, "It's late. I have an early morning tomorrow."

Her voice was slightly hoarse. She opened her eyes and saw the brunette sitting up, pulling the skirt of her negligee back down and trying to fix her tousled locks. The magic was over and she was turning back into a pumpkin. She looked at the elegant silver clock on the nightstand. She could just make out the hands seeing that it was well passed midnight. She resisted telling Regina that tomorrow was already happening. The brunette continued, "You can go through that door to shower. There is a towel on the counter."

Of course the mayor had already carved out a tidy little escape plan for their evening of debauchery. Emma was both miffed and grateful. Without a word, she climbed out of the bed, gathering her clothes with the exception of her now useless scrap of underwear and made a beeline to the bathroom. Before she made it through the door Regina called to her, "Oh and Ms. Swan?"

"Yes?" She turned clutching her clothing protectively to her chest.

"Next time the door will be locked at 9:15. I don't like to be kept waiting."

"What makes you think I want to do this again?" She stuck her chin out stubbornly.

"Do as you wish. Good night Ms. Swan."

"Night." She whispered telling herself that in the future she would find the will power to stay away. Though even as she rinsed the sweat from her skin in the warm spray of water, she secretly knew she would be promptly at the mansion by 9:00 for their next tryst.