Thanks for the reviews! As much as I want Regina and David to just hook up already, I want her to make him work for it a little… So I hope you enjoy me torturing David!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 7

Despite the gnawing guilt, David could not help but analyse every small detail of their kiss. Her lips were fuller than Snow's and incredibly soft under his. Her short hair felt like silk between his fingers and she was surprisingly light – he continued to be astounded by her size. She had always seemed so tall and fierce, but every day he was more aware of how petite she was. She was smaller than Snow, she could almost fit right under his shoulder. He hated himself for kissing her and hated himself even more for comparing her with his beloved wife. What he hated himself for even more, was the desire to kiss her again – to feel her tremble in his arms, her lips under his… He was upstairs before he was even aware of the fact that his feet were moving and he stopped in front of her bedroom door. She was seated on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands quietly.

"Regina?"

She looked up through stormy eyes and he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Can I come in?"

Regina shrugged and pursed her lips.

"It's not like you've asked permission for anything else today."

He sighed and moved in, sitting down next to her.

"I suppose I deserved that."

"You think?"

Her hands twitched in her lap and he found himself studying them. Small hands with the ability to rip hearts out without a second thought.

"Regina, I am sorry."

She lifted her chin and stared up at the roof, trying to prevent David from seeing any emotion whatsoever.

"Of course you are."

He bent over slightly and covered his face with his hands. Regina glanced down at him, casually observing the muscles on his back, rippling under his shirt.

"I don't know what's happening to me."

His voice was muffled by his hands and Regina frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

David moved up and shifted closer to her. He pressed his hand against her cheek gently before running it through her hair.

"I wasn't lying about what I said earlier, Regina. I can't stop thinking about you. I can't get you out of my mind and right now… as much as I shouldn't, as horrible as it is, as guilty as I feel… the only thing I can think of is kissing you again."

Shock registered on her face and he looked at the wide eyes and parted lips so close to his.

"Mom, I…"

Henry's excited voice stopped as he noticed the pair sitting so close together and he approached them hesitantly.

"What's going on?"

David groaned inwardly. It seemed as though he could not catch a break today, Henry had a way of noticing almost every mistake he made. Regina covered his hand with hers and attempted a comforting smile.

"David was… apologizing, Henry. He…"

"I felt really bad about hurting your mom, so I came here to see if she was okay. I thought… I owed her an apology."

Henry nodded reluctantly.

"Mom, are we still going to Granny's?"

"Yes, dear. Of course. I'll be right down."

A grin appeared on his face.

"I'll go get your keys so long."

He ran down the stairs quickly, and David took his chance to turn to Regina again.

"Thank you. That's the second time today that you've saved me…"

"Don't get used to it."

She stood with a small smile and he grabbed her hand, keeping her in place.

"Regina…"

Again he leaned in towards her and Regina's breath hitched in her throat. Even if he wasn't holding her in place, she still wouldn't have been able to move. His lips brushed against hers – gently this time, lightly caressing them. Regina suppressed a moan when he forced her lips open with his tongue and she wrapped her hands around his neck, unable to resist his seductive kiss. David groaned against her mouth as she responded to his kiss and he pushed her toward the bed, tumbling down on top of her. Her hands travelled from his neck to his
back, over his chest, to his cheeks, into his hair. She pulled away from him after what felt like an eternity and looked at him with eyes clouded over by lust. She could feel the evidence of his arousal against her thigh, she could see the desire in his eyes. David bent his head down again, nibbling at her ear and neck. He pulled her shirt from her pants and carefully slipped his hand in under the material, exploring the soft skin of her stomach. His hand moving over her skin broke through Regina's resolve and she gave up every semblance of self-control she had, pushing her body closer to his. David moved his hands back down and ran them over her thighs, allowing her to wrap her legs around his lower body. He pushed against her harder and his lips moved back to her mouth, his tongue clashing with hers fiercely. Somehow a semblance of logic shocked through them and they pulled away from each other, breath racing. David rubbed his nose against hers with a sigh.

"Regina…"

She moved to sit, pushing him away gently. David did not relent, but moved closer to her and pressed soft kisses against her neck.

"David, no…"

She pushed him away again and took a shuddering breath.

"Henry is downstairs. Even if he wasn't… this shouldn't happen."

David didn't respond. She was right, of course she was right but he could feel the same desire that had been rushing through him for days now within her too.

"Regina, do you want it to happen?"

His voice was thick with desire and she closed her eyes, willing all thoughts of love, lust, vulnerability and desire away.

"It doesn't matter if we want it to happen, David. It shouldn't."

He nodded slowly and allowed the reality of his desire to settle in him.

"You're right. Of course you're right. I'm sorry, Regina. I don't…"

She held a finger up to his mouth to silence him.

"Don't. Just… don't."

Some things were better left unsaid, he realized this. He also realized that she thought he was using her as a replacement for Snow, just like he thought she was using him as a replacement for Daniel. Even deeper down, there was the glimmer of a realization that perhaps it was not true. Perhaps there was something more. Perhaps he did not desire Regina as a replacement for Snow.

Perhaps he desired Regina simply for herself.

Just like the previous time, the group of three received a lot of strange looks when they entered Granny's. David awkwardly ignored the stares, while Regina pointedly stared back – clearly unaffected. They settled into a booth quickly, ordering food from a reluctant Ruby. Henry's eyes moved from one to the other endlessly, noticing the awkward looks they kept sharing.

"Do you have a plan yet? To get back Emma and Snow?"

His question surprized them and David gave Regina a warning glance. He stopped her when she opened her mouth to answer and shook his head.

"We're working on it, Henry. We came across a few… dead ends. Nothing that's going to work."

Regina pursed his lips, trying to push her fear down. She knew without doubt that David would convince Henry that the idea of creating a portal was too dangerous, so she opted not to mention it. Instead, she reached for Henry's hand with a soft gaze.

"We'll find a way, Henry. I promise."