BEFORE YOU READ: Make sure you've caught the last couple of chapters. For some reason this story didn't bump up in the OUAT archive when updated for a few of the chapters and the last couple are crucial to the story. Thank you for all of the encouragement from the reviews, I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter. Rating is officially switched to M...Well...I've kept you waiting long enough ;)
David hadn't realized it until the words were coming out of his mouth. He knew he'd gotten to know the Mayor better and their relationship had definitely evolved. He knew his awareness of her looks and his attraction for her had grown despite his best efforts to ignore it. But he didn't know the astounding truth resting within him until he was cupping her face and telling her and kissing her to let her know the sincerity of it. He hadn't realized how much he truly liked her, how much he wanted her and how he burned to see where this would lead until that goddamn pond.
The tension between them had felt mutual in Oz and he hadn't taken into consideration that she might not share his interest. He'd caught her looking at him in ways she hadn't before and she seemed just as startled by their physical contact. Though he had wondered if she was journeying to Oz to save Madeline because she still wanted to be with Robin, and the way she had pulled back from their kiss before jumping into the portal had given him an uneasy feeling. It wasn't confirmed until they had traveled through the portal, landing back in Zelena's yard and Robin had come running from the porch, taking Regina and Madeline into his arms. She didn't hesitate as a smile graced her beautiful features and she handed him his baby as if they were a family reunited.
David shoved his hands into his pockets, forcing a smile and a nod as Robin rambled on in thanks to the both of them before turning back to fawn over Regina. Jealousy bloomed within him at the thought of them getting back together, along with anger at the thought of Regina settling for someone who would allow her to put herself in danger alone. Just like the men before Robin, he didn't deserve her. Noticing Emma snapping awake from her chair on the porch where she and Robin had been waiting, he pushed his emotions down and opened his arms when she ran down the steps.
"Dad, oh my god, you're alright," Emma breathed, hugging David tightly as he wrapped his arms around her, "We waited here the whole time, I was so worried. Are you okay?" She asked pulling back after a moment, glancing him down to look for any injuries.
"I'm fine," He forced a smile, despite the sinking feeling in his stomach as he watched Robin hug Regina again. She was obviously still in love with Robin and despite what they'd just accomplished together, David was not her soulmate. The connection he'd felt during their banter, the intimacy he'd felt during their talk over Snow and the past, it had been in his head. It definitely wasn't reciprocated by the brunette standing with her ex and his child like David wasn't even there. He felt like an idiot, letting his loneliness take over and create something between him and Regina that wasn't even real.
"You sure?" A slight frown appeared on Emma's face as she looked at him before following his gaze to Robin and Regina, "What happened in Oz?" She asked, noticing David's forlorn expression.
He looked back to his daughter and mustered the most natural smile he could, "Exactly what we set out to do. I'm gonna go get Neal from Belle's and go home, I'm beat." He patted her arm before walking past her and through the side yard towards the direction of his own place.
Regina found herself sitting at Zelena's former table with Robin, Emma having left after ensuring she was okay. It was late, so Regina had decided to allow Henry to sleep and let him know she was back in the morning with a trip to Emma's. Robin had been so overcome with relief he had babbled on, not giving Regina the option to go home yet, so she had used her magic to transform herself showered and in a fresh pair of clothes. Her appetite hadn't yet returned though, so she turned down his offer to make something to eat and opted for glass of wine instead.
"I can't thank you enough Regina, what you did," Robin shook his head, his eyes full of tears and adoration as he sat across from her after putting Madeline down to sleep in the other room. "I wasn't fair to you, when I accused you it was just the grief talking. I was so worried-"
"Robin, I understand," She shook her head, forcing a smile when he took her hands into his own. She noticed the spark she used to feel at their contact was gone before she continued, "I've been there. The idea of your child being in danger makes you irrational, it's natural."
"I should've never stormed into your office," He swallowed hard and Regina could tell he meant what he was saying, "You put up with so much in the past year, sticking by me during Zelena's pregnancy. I took you for granted, I didn't address your feelings like I should've. You're always so strong, I guess I was depending on that to get you through the pain of Madeline being born, when it should've been me doing that. I never should've expected you to deal with it on your own."
Regina stared at him for a long moment, letting his words sink in. It had been everything she'd wanted to hear from him for months. His admittance of what he'd done wrong and taking responsibility for it. She'd waited for him to validate how much she'd supported him and stuck by him when she didn't have to. She'd just always envisioned herself to have a different reaction, "Robin…"
"I'm not done, Regina," He looked at her desperately, squeezing her hands, "I should've never slept with someone else so soon, I realize now how that must've hurt you, regardless of whether it was Marian or not. I'm sorry."
There it was, the last piece of the puzzle that she'd been waiting for. She'd thought hearing him admit to his betrayal and apologizing for the hurt he'd caused was what she needed from him if they were going to try again. She'd secretly hoped that their separation would pull his attention from his happy bubble with his daughter long enough to consider how Regina had felt. She'd wanted him to take just a minute from being so blissful to acknowledge her pain, but it wasn't until now he'd deemed her deserving of that consideration.
"I have to go," She blurted out, interrupting Robin's hopeful silence. She pulled her hands from his, pushing her chair back as she stood, "We're over, Robin."
"Regina-" He looked up at her in utter shock. He'd obviously been expecting her to cave and forgive him and that only made it easier for her.
"No, I deserve more," She frowned, "You betrayed me, you hurt me, you disregarded my feelings until it was too late and you never even apologized until your guilt kicked in from allowing me to clean up your mess. I'm done."
A weight lifted from her shoulders at the realization that she could truly let go of what she had with Robin now. The validation, encouragement and appreciation that she'd been seeking from him she'd already received, and it hadn't been from the thief. It'd been from Henry who lifted her spirits every day, from Emma who wouldn't let her sell herself short, and from the man who had risked his own life to accompany her on a trip to Oz. The man who kissed her like their journey had been worth every minute of the trouble.
David rustled around in his kitchen, cleaning up the things he'd gotten out to make himself a sandwich after putting Neal to bed and getting a shower. His son had definitely been happy to see him and it had warmed his heart, making the disappointment he felt from earlier sting a little less. He sighed as he put his empty plate in the sink, trying to avoid the thought of Regina and Robin together now. They were soulmates after all, and he had no right to be bitter over someone who didn't have feelings for him.
Besides the fact that his interest in Regina wasn't reciprocated, David had already been lucky enough to have one true love in his life. He knew some people lived their entire existences without experiencing it, so for that he was grateful. One was enough and he wasn't the type that was going to date or be with a woman just to avoid being alone. No, he wasn't necessarily interested in moving on and had never planned to be desiring someone else only seven months after Mary Margaret's death. Maybe it was for the best.
A sudden pounding on his apartment door interrupted his thoughts as he stood at the counter, making him frown in concern over who it would be at this time of night. He glanced down at himself only being in boxers, turning to go throw on a shirt and pants before a frantic, familiar voice called out his name from the other side of the door.
After a moment, Regina called out his name and he decided against taking time to dress judging from the urgency in her voice. Did Zelena somehow follow them back? Was Regina hurt? He made his way across his apartment to the door in a few quick strides, unlocking and pulling it open, "Regina?" He looked her over worriedly for any signs of a danger.
She was breathless, like she had just ran all of the way here, looking up at him with wide eyes. He watched her gaze travel down his bare torso and back up to his face as she closed the space between them. Her eyes had grown darker with desire when they locked with his again and before he knew what was happening she was pulling him down to her level. He felt her hand run up the back of his neck into his hair as she stretched up to meet his mouth with their height difference. Her full red lips were greedy against his own, causing him to groan at the feeling of her tongue pushing into his mouth to taste his.
David wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her off the ground as he walked backwards into his apartment and kicked the door shut behind her before pushing her up against it. He brought his mouth from hers to look down at her, a slight frown playing on his lips. "You and Robin?" He decided to ask quietly, his gaze searching her expression.
She shook her head quickly, "We're done," She answered with sincerity in her eyes that was quickly replaced by lust when she bit her bottom lip and scanned his upper body again. So they were over, but did she still love him? Was it her choice to end it for good or Robins? David decided not to ask, it wasn't fair of him to demand an explanation from her when his own thoughts and feelings were so jumbled from loss. They were as broken as each other, seeking comfort and chasing something that neither one of them understood yet.
Something inside of him snapped and he bent slightly to grip the back of her thighs, lifting her small frame up the door so she was eye level with him, "So I didn't make this all up?" He pressed himself between her legs as he pushed her thighs up and she hooked them around his waist.
Regina's breath caught in her throat as she felt him thick and hard between her legs, running her hands over his biceps before remembering to reply. She looked up at him but remained silent as she shook her head no. He kissed her again at her answer, the intensity of it growing urgent and needy and she ran her hands over his shoulders and neck. She felt how tense and rigid his entire body was, undoubtedly proving how long it'd been since he'd had sex. The desire to please him overwhelming her made it hard for her to believe she'd once hated this man.
He groaned in response when she moved her kisses down his stubbly jaw, nipping at his neck teasingly as she brought her hand down and slipped her fingers under the edge of his boxers. She lifted her lips from the muscles of his neck long enough to search his expression for any sign of hesitation before pushing her small hand past the waistband. She hadn't wanted to make an advance that he wasn't ready for, knowing intimacy was a big step after loss, but the look in his eyes and the way his hands massaged her bottom led her on. Her intuition proved correct when she gripped him and moaned at the way he throbbed under her touch. He wanted this just as much.
David's gaze found hers in a heated stare as she worked her hand along his shaft before he picked her up from the door, carrying her over to sit her on the edge of his dining room table. He stood between her perfectly shaped legs, gripping her shirt and tugging it over her head, groaning when she had to release her hand from him to get the top off. It was probably best anyways, he didn't know how long he could last if she kept stroking him like that.
Their movements turned frantic with the removal of her clothing, David becoming less of a gentlemen with each particle shed. She watched him pull her bra down her arms and throw it to the side before he looked at her with blue eyes that had grown a few shades darker, running his hand from her neck to the flat of her chest, pushing her back down against the table with his palm. He took in her topless form before leaning his tall frame over her, nipping over her breasts with small kisses as he undid her pants with haste. She moaned at the way his stubble scratched her skin, feathering her nails across the expanse of his shoulders as his lips trailed her.
His mouth found her nipple, teasing the perfectly shaped peak before letting go of it with a gentle tug of his teeth when he leaned back up to pull her pants and lace down. She bit her lip before smirking up at him seductively as she pressed her thighs together, taunting him. Her breath quickened at the lustful grin he gave her in return as his hands ran up the outsides of her calves and up her thighs before pushing them apart like he was about to devour her.
"Goddamnit," He cursed under his breath as he took in her bare form underneath him. He ran his hand over her abdomen before his thumb brushed through her slick folds, smirking when her hips bucked up towards him. She had thought about this just as much as he had.
"Just do it, Charming," She moaned out as his thumb began teasing her clit in small circles, her hips moving involuntarily at his skilled touch. Her face was flushed with arousal, lips swollen from his bruising kisses and her legs spread wide, beckoning him. His own heart was beating wildly in his chest as he pulled her hips to the edge of the table, feeling her hands come between them and tug at his boxers. He helped her get them down, freeing his erection as he stepped out of them and began rubbing his aching tip against her.
She let out a choked gasp when he took her fully, his hands on her sides of her thighs and a hint of a smile gracing his lips at the knowledge he was better endowed than her ex. "So arrogant," She smirked up at him knowingly before swallowing a moan as his thumb found her clit again, teasing it as he held still and allowed her to adjust to his size. He began moving when her body relaxed around him and her hips started to meet his thrusts. Her arm reached up to hook around his neck, making him lean over to meet her in a hungry kiss as his hands moved up under her bottom, tilting her hips towards him as he pushed deeper.
"Fuck," Regina hissed against his lips after a few moments, digging her nails into the back of his neck as she held onto it, her other arm propping her up on her elbow. She looked down between them where they were connected, watching him pump in and out of her. Her eyes fluttered close with each thrust as he began hitting her harder, reveling in each new little whimper she emitted. "Harder David," She pleaded, pushing her hand against his chest as she laid back on the table, crying out when he obliged.
Regina held tight to the edge of the table as their rhythm faltered when their movements became more desperate, biting down on her bottom lip to keep in cries that would undoubtedly wake his son in the other room. He growled when her eyes closed and back arched from the table, her red lips parting in a silent cry as he pushed her to her peak. Her legs clamped around his waist tighter, knees pressing against his ribs, pulling herself closer to him at the edge. He held her up to him as he pounded, feeling her tighten as he watched the muscles in her toned stomach constrict with each rock of her hips.
She was dripping by the time he sent her over the edge, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the edge of the table when her body spasmed. Her eyes closed, mouth opened in a silent scream as her back arched again and hips rolled when she came. He found his own release soon after, keeping himself inside of her deeply as they rode out the sensation. His hands let her bottom back down on the table gently before breathlessly leaning over her with a hand pressed to next to her head. She was panting when he lifted his gaze to look at her, a satisfied smile playing at her lips as she looked at him from heavy lidded eyes, causing David to almost laugh at his reasoning earlier. There was no way not being with Regina could've been for the best.