As promised, the next chapter. I uploaded it as soon as I could. Love all you guys for your patience!
"Ms. Swan!" Regina called, "You're going to make me late. And I will have your badge if you do." Regina stood impatiently by the front door in one of her signature form-fitting black, white, and gray dresses. She glanced out the window and watched several cars pass by her hedges.
"Ms. Swan, guests are already beating us to the party I'm hosting," Regina warned.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Emma shouted, taking the stairs two at a time. Regina turned around, hearing the footsteps and her mouth ran dry, knees threatening to give out. Emma had asked to borrow one of Regina's dresses, but she didn't expect THAT one. It was black and extremely revealing. Regina kept it in the back of her closet for really special occasions.
"What? Is my lipstick smeared?" Emma asked, uncomfortable with the way Regina was staring. Regina swallowed, moisture returning to her tongue.
"Um... no," Regina gulped, eyes glued to the blonde's cleavage. Somehow, Emma didn't notice.
"I... we need to go," Regina said, tearing her gaze away and opening the door. She strutted confidently to her car and got in. Clutching the steering wheel like it was her only anchor, she squeezed her eyes shut and breathed. When she opened her eyes, Emma had just finished locking the door, but she dropped the keys. Bending down, Emma's dress hiked up a bit and Regina found herself straining her neck to stare. The blonde turned around and Regina glanced back to the wheel. Emma maneuvered around the hood and sat shotgun.
"Ready?" Emma asked, fixing her hair. Regina nodded and shifted gears. The drive was only several minutes, but the awkwardness was evident, so Emma was relieved when they had parked in front of town hall. There were already several cars strewn along the sidewalk.
"This is what happens when you make me late," Regina growled, ascending the stairs with perfect balance. The same couldn't be said for Emma.
"Oh, for god's sake, Ms. Swan. Can you not walk in heels?" Regina remarked, climbing back down to help the woman. Emma supported herself against Regina and they walked awkwardly up the rest of the stairs. When they reached the top, Emma pushed the door open and they walked into a darkly lit room, colorful streaks dancing across the walls and loud music spilling out of the speakers.
"What the hell is all this?" Regina asked Emma, raising her voice so it would carry over the music. The blonde caught a flash of red and she caught the owner's arms.
"Heyyyy, Emma. Tight is really your thing, girl," Ruby slurred, then looked to Regina, eyes threatening to bug out of their sockets.
"Oh, no you didn't! You brought Mayor Mills as your date!" The mayor was about to protest, when Ruby continued with her rambling.
"You look fucking sexy, Mayor. Honestly, I'd so do you right now," she laughed.
"Ruby!" Emma snapped.
"What? I would," the waitress smirked, licking her lips.
"Ruby, what's going on?" Emma interrogated, the waitress only grinning mischievously back at her, clearly intoxicated.
"Don't you love it?"
"No, not really," Regina said, anger flaring up, "What did you do?"
"You wanted a party, didn't you? I just gave it to you," Ruby winked at the brunette before stumbling off somewhere else.
"I swear, I will..." Regina started.
"Hey, she's right. You did ask for a party," Emma said.
"Sheriff, don't take her side on this! I had it all planned out! There was supposed to be classy music, elegant lighting, delicious food, and limited alcohol."
"Well, Madame Mayor, you can't have everything," Emma smirked, "Just enjoy it." Regina opened her mouth to object when a familiar tune came through the speakers. Emma grinned at the controversial song and seized Regina's hand, dragging her to the apparently designated dance-floor, if the mob of people hopping in one area meant anything.
"Ms. Swan, what are you doing?" Regina asked, getting a bit nervous. Emma grinned wider.
"God, do you people not know how to dance?" Emma laughed, sliding her heels into a corner. She let the music take control and by the time she realized she was dancing, the other guests were moving along with her. Regina just stood, crossing her arms across her chest and looking on with a disapproving expression. Emma sang along with the song, interpreting the lyrics with her own situation, sleeping with the woman in front of her. Thank god Katy Perry understands, Emma thought.
"This was never the way I planned, not my intention," It really wasn't.
"I got so brave, drink in hand, lost my discretion."
"It's not what I'm used, just wanna try you on," Or maybe more...
"I'm curious for you, caught my attention," From the day I met you.
By this point, the chorus had begun and Emma smiled knowingly at Regina, who looked like she might break any second.
"I kissed a girl and I liked it," Emma sang, winking at Regina, who was blushing.
"The taste of her cherry chapstick."
"I kissed a girl just to try it."
"I hope my boyfriend don't mind it."
"It felt so wrong," Emma continued, smiling as Regina started to dance along. Emma was surprised to find the mayor was actually good at it.
"It felt so right. Don't mean I'm in love tonight," Regina beamed shyly at the blonde, an expression Emma had never seen on the brunette before. It made her heart swell with emotion, she just couldn't place which one.
"I kissed a girl, and I liked it," Regina's bashful grin had turned into a seductive smirk as she sang the last words of the chorus. Everyone danced until the song ended, and there was a brief break before the guests moved on to the next song. Emma retrieved her heels and went over to the tables littered with food, Regina close behind. The blonde grabbed a glass of wine and turned to face her date.
"Hey, I never knew you could dance," Emma commented.
"That's because I don't," Regina said, grabbing her own glass. Emma's eyes widened.
"No way you made that up just now."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You don't know what you just did?"
"Was I... did I look foolish?" Regina asked, concerned about her image as mayor. She couldn't afford to lose it.
"Absolutely not, you were awesome," Emma complimented, noticing a tint of red travel up the mayor's cheeks.
"Well, to be honest, you weren't so bad yourself, Sheriff," Regina coughed.
"Uh huh. Thanks," Emma said distractedly, looking over Regina's shoulder, "Hey, I'm gonna go mingle. Y'know, like you said. Answer people's questions, take care of any concerns. The whole drill. So... I'll uh, see you later." And with that, Emma disappeared into the crowd, leaving Regina alone with the food. She searched through the crowd, looking for Emma. Regina's eyes caught her blonde hair. The woman who was supposedly her date was talking with a handsome man. They had clinked their glasses and were now sipping their beverages. It made the mayor sick just looking at them.
Regina watched as the good-looking man flirted and laughed with Emma. And for some reason, she wanted to punch him in the face. Jealousy built up inside Regina as the man touched Emma's arm. The mayor compulsively came to a decision and she made her way through the crowd and passed by the pair, purposely bumping into the man hard. He lurched forward and Regina heard a gasp as liquid splashed on Emma. Then she swiftly returned back to the food tables, pretending to fix the platters, but still keeping an eye on the situation.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" the man apologized nervously. Emma bit her lip.
"Yeah, no problem. I'm just gonna go get cleaned up," she said and sulked towards Regina. The man followed and she finished, "Alone." Dejected, he returned back to the crowd, hitting on the other women. Regina smirked and continued to play with the platters. Emma walked over, and slammed her hands down on one of the tables.
"Hey," she said. Regina looked up and smiled.
"Ms. Swan, why aren't you in there enjoying the party?" Regina asked innocently. Emma gestured down at her dress, which had a damp and shiny alcohol stain on it.
"I'm so sorry, but some idiot just spilled champagne on your dress. I'll pay for the dry-cleaning, I swear," Emma said.
"It's importance isn't significant. You need to go clean it up?" Regina questioned.
"Yeah, I would go by myself, but I still don't know my way around town hall. I was hoping maybe you could lead me to the bathroom," Emma said, dabbing the dress.
"Of course, just follow me," Regina said. The mayor showed Emma her destination and turned to leave, but the blonde had grabbed her arm.
"Can you wait? I don't know the way back," Emma said.
"Don't tell me you're that drunk."
"Just, please."
"Fine," Regina sighed and she leaned against the wall. It had only taken Emma several minutes, but by that time, the song had changed again. This one was slower, and Regina recognized it immediately, swaying to the melody. Poking her head out of the bathroom, Emma looked at Regina.
"Hey, I know normally you wouldn't accept my invitation. But, we're alone, and I love this song. So, do you um... do you wanna dance?" Emma asked, extending her hand. Regina smiled softly and took it in hers, pulling Emma out of the bathroom.
"Lyin' here with you so close to me, it's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe." The two women began to move to the song and Emma heard Regina hum in tune to the music.
"Caught up in this moment. Caught up in your smile." The corners of Regina's mouth turned upward and her eyes twinkled.
"I've never opened up to anyone" Emma sang, as if admitting it the brunette. In a way, she was, "So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms." Regina rested her chin on Emma's shoulder, embracing her closer to her body while still swaying.
"We don't need to rush this, let's just take it slow." Regina closed her eyes and sighed as Emma's hand caressed up and down her back.
"Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight." Regina's eyes opened and found Emma staring at her face.
"Just a touch of the fire burning so bright." Emma's hand cupped Regina's cheek and the pair was mesmerized by the moment. Time stopped and Emma leaned in, stroking the brunette's cheek all the way.
"No I don't wanna mess this thing up." Their lips met and something exploded in the back of Emma's mind.
"I don't wanna push too far." Regina surrendered and opened her mouth, admitting Emma's tongue.
"Just a shot in the dark that you just might..." Regina's arms rested on Emma's shoulders and she moved in even closer.
"Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life." They stopped to breathe and Emma felt her heart stop when a strange tenderness appeared in Regina's eyes. She was even more surprised that the same look reflected on her own face.
"So baby, I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight." Emma's eyes shined wet with tears, because she knew that tomorrow they'd end up ignoring each other again, and it'd be like this had never happened. So she held Regina close. She knew this moment wouldn't last forever, and she had to make the most out of it. Maybe it was the loud music, or maybe it was her thoughts that drowned out everyting, but Emma missed Regina say the words, "Don't let me go."