I'm not dead - yey!
I've been just way to busy with university. But now, I finally have 3 weeks of christmas holidays so I hope I'll be able to publish weekly.
Big thanks to my beta, Chris, who co-wrote this chapter (without her the steamy scene would have sucked)
Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
It was easier for Emma to blackmail Snow than it was for Regina to climb down the castle's walls. Turns out, the future Queen was deathly afraid of heights. Plus, it was easy to convince Snow to keep a secret. Snow loved being a part of it all. Lust. Romance. Mystery. All great parts to an epic love story
Soon enough, it became a routine for them. Snow would stay in Regina's room pretending to be having a sleepover with her cousin; the only thing she'd ask in return was for Regina to tell her everything about her romantic getaways. Their grandfather, happy to see the two girls getting along had ordered the family to not disturb them - the order was for everyone, including Cora.
Emma's secret place became theirs. And it was the sole witness to the princesses' forbidden love. The place was the witness to all the loving caresses and kisses, to all the moans and whispered promises. It was the only place where they could be themselves, without worrying that someone would find out about their relationship.
"I got you something" Emma nervously said as they rode away from the Mills' Castle. Emma sitting up front with Regina behind her, arms snaked around her waist. They always rode on Emma's horse, Blackjack, because it would be hard to explain Rocinante's absence in the stables.
"I thought the great Emma Swan doesn't give gifts to her lovers." Regina teased her. They had realized long ago that their relationship was nothing like their previous trysts.
"You're not my lover," Emma replied. "You are my Queen," she added, and it made Regina's heart flutter. Emma had given her at least a dozen of pet names, but none of it had ever expressed so much devotion as this one.
Holding Emma in her arms, the brunette felt so free, comfortable, and safe. No one had made her feel that way in her whole life, not even her father when he was still alive. She tried to push away the terms her thoughts gave to those feelings. But deep inside she knew, she was, undeniably and utterly, in love with Emma Swan.
They finally reached their secret hideout. It was a cave. At first sight, it seemed ordinary and wasn't worth mentioning. It was probably why no one had ever ventured into it except for Emma, and now Regina. But, few meters into the cave, the ceiling had some cracks through which few beams of light entered the grotto and shone on the rocks and the inner lake, making it all glow in a luminous scene.
Regina always marveled at the beauty of the hideout. It didn't matter how many times she visited it, the place always managed to take her breath away. It was, in a way of speaking, like Emma - always showing a new side, always shining differently under a varying light.
Emma got off the horse first, swinging her leg over the animal, and jumping towards the floor. Then, she offered a hand to Regina and bowed her head, "Your highness." They walked to an area filled with radiant light from the cracks. There were blankets and pillows brought from past visits.
"Someone in your family will hear you and they'll have your head for treason."
The blonde chuckled, "If I shall die for showing my devotion to you, then so be it."
"Can't you stop being so charming?"
"I've been told it's in my genes," she answered. "Which reminds me!" she added before she opened one of the pockets from Blackjack's saddle.
Regina saw her struggle a bit with whatever she had in her hand. It was obvious that Emma was not the type of lover who gave presents to whoever was warming her bed. Trying to ease the agitated woman, Regina took the blonde's hand.
"Emma?"
The blonde took a deep breath, looking into Regina's beautiful eyes. Then, she opened her hand and extended it to Regina. It was a small black stone hanging from a simple chain necklace.
"The lady in the old market told me it's called Star Tears because of how it looks," Emma explained as she held the stone under a ray of the moonlight from one of the cracks. Immediately, the roof was painted with tiny white dots that shined like the night sky. "I like to think it represents our love: it's pure and innocent, and it's perfect," said Emma with a hesitant smile.
"It's beautiful," whispered Regina, not sure why she was keeping her voice low.
"You are beautiful," Emma commented and it made Regina blush, something that she did only in Emma's presence.
Regina turned on her heels and raised her hair, to help Emma with putting the necklace on. The movement came naturally to her; she was used to receiving presents from her lovers. She was used to being this exposed to other people. This time, however, it felt much more intimate and real.
"Thank you," the brunette said taking a step away from Emma, she was already playing with her new pendant, "For the present and your words."
Emma was completely mesmerized by the other woman. Emma had believed many times she had found love; they turned out to be short lasting, disappearing as a falling star did while it crashes from the sky. But with Regina, it was different. She was the North Star, enduring and the brightest of the night sky.
It could be said that Regina was like a drug. Emma was addicted to her. But she was so much more than a simple drug. Regina was like the rain after the draught, or that first breath after being under water for a little bit too long - it was revitalizing.
And before the blonde could stop her train of thoughts, she spoke out loud "I think I want to marry you."
Regina stopped playing with the rock around her neck and looked at Emma, her eyes wide open. The admission had left her shocked.
"You… mean it?" the brunette managed to ask.
Emma stepped closer to Regina and took the brunette's hands onto hers. "Yes, Regina Mills. I'd be the happiest woman in this and all the other realms if you would be my wife."
"It's not good to start a marriage with such a big lie," Regina commented, and when she saw the confusion on Emma's face, she further elaborated, "I would be the happiest woman."
Emma flashed a grin that was so bright that could rival the moonlight. "I love you," she said. It was the first time she ever spoke those three words, and somehow, she didn't regret it.
"And, I love you."
And with those four words, Emma launched her body against Regina. Their bodies collided before crashing onto the blankets on the floor, but the fall didn't hurt them. Adrenaline was rushing through their veins, triggering sparks in every inch of their bodies.
As they kissed with such a passion, hands were wandering all over. Clothes were hastily undone and taken off with vigor. As soon as they were nude, Emma kissed the spot on Regina's neck, near the earlobe, while her hands were caressing the orbs and softly pinching the areolas. Regina let out a breathy moan and whispered, "Emma, darling… Please, don't make me ache too long…"
"As you wish, my queen…" Emma murmured as she left a trail of kisses and love bites from her neck to her groin. Emma heard a "Please…" from Regina just before she was about to sample the finest ambrosia from the gods above. Such erotic noises came from Regina as Emma did things with her tongue that had Regina seeing fireworks as she came.
Regina was panting a bit as she came down from her climax while Emma was moving around to be face to face. Emma gazed into Regina's unfocused eyes and kissed her shoulder. In a soft tone, Emma asked, "How did you like that?"
Regina was able to see things more clearly as she calmed down. "You were magnificent, darling. I love you, Emma Swan." Regina said as she really looked into Emma's eyes, "Now, I want to pick up from where we left off." Regina kissed Emma hard, biting her lower lip. Emma moaned, "Oh! Regina!" The lovemaking kept on going as Regina mirrored Emma's earlier actions with her signature touch.
The borders between darker and fairer skin were blurred as their figures came together. Lips on lips, fingertips against skin. The light from the cracks above was fading as they continued on their slow lovemaking. The gods above have never seen two lovers worship each other with so much devotion; they have never heard moans filled with so much of both lust and love.
Snow White closed the book and let a yawn out in the least ladylike way. Regina had left with Emma less than two hours ago and she was already bored. She looked around trying to find something to entertain herself. But, lately, she had been in Regina's room more often than in her own room and there was nothing new or exciting.
Maybe, she could arrange for David to visit her while Regina was away with Emma. If her cousin could have a secret affair, so could she. It was only fair.
Suddenly, the door opened with a bang and Cora Mills entered the room without announcing her presence.
"I knew she was not here!" the older woman said, a smile of satisfaction on her face, "Where is she?"
"Who?"
"Don't play coy with me, Snow White or you will never see your precious David" Cora pointed with her index finger as she closed the distance between her and her niece.
It came as no surprise that Cora knew about Snow's romance with David, she had ears everywhere. Snow often wondered why she didn't discover Regina's escapades sooner.
"I'll ask one more time," she grabbed Snow's chin between her thumb and index finger, but the gesture was not as threatening as her voice as she repeated the question, "Where. Is. Regina?"
"She's away with Emma Swan."
"Well, that just won't do," replied Cora as she pushed Snow away and walked out of the room. Leaving a distressed princess behind, who couldn't begin to fathom the dire consequences of her actions.