DISCLAIMER:: do not own. just borrowing for purpose of creative expression. no profit obtained.

A/N:: again, this august and emma behaviour is pulled from that of me and my roommate. thank you charlie for the inspiration. you always are a right ass when you want to be and you wouldn't hesitate to pull a stunt like august if given the opportunity. angsty at the end, i know, but i'm planning on making up for it. enjoy and review.

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-Chapter 37: When You Refuse Me You Confuse Me-

"You're going to be late if you don't wake up soon Emma." August poked the lump curled under his covers again. She had told him the night before about her breakfast plans and he knew she'd kill him if he didn't wake her up, but she was stubborn, even in sleep. "Come on Emma." He pulled the duvet off her and she groaned in response. "Good morning Sunshine."

She sat up and managed to roll her eyes at him. Her hair was sticking up in crazy angles and she looked exhausted. "What time is it?"

"A couple minutes before six."

She nodded. "I have to go home and get ready." She slipped out of bed and grabbed her jeans, pulling them on over the boxer shorts. "I'll wash your boxers and return them later."

He smirked at her as he held open the door. "No rush. Have a good day Emma."

She frowned at his tone, like he knew something she didn't. But she didn't have time to dwell on it. She was already behind. Probably just the assumption that her and Regina would be screwing like rabbits later, which, if she had any say, would most definitely be happening.

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"Where were you last night?"

Emma rushed up the stairs. "With August. No time to talk. Running late." It was already six ten and she still needed a quick shower.

Mary Margaret filed away her questions for later when the blonde wasn't in such a rush. She put on some coffee for Emma as she heard the shower turn on.

Just as it dinged that it was ready, she heard the shower switch off. She grabbed one of the travel mugs out of the cupboard at the same time as a shriek emanated from the bathroom. Mary jumped, dropping the mug. She rushed to the bottom of the stairs. "Emma? Are you alright? What is it?"

The bathroom door opened and Emma stormed out, her face red with rage. "Oh it's nothing… I'm just going to kill August the next time I see him!" She let out a frustrated growl. "I don't have time to deal with this now. I'm late as it is." She turned and marched into her room, slamming the door.

Mary, completely confused, returned to the kitchen, picking up the dropped travel mug as she went. She finished pouring the coffee into the mug and screwing on the lid just as Emma came thumping down the stairs in a fresh pair of jeans and a new wife beater.

She grabbed her blue leather jacket from the arm of the couch and took the mug Mary offered her. "I'll see you later okay? Thanks for this."

"Have a good day Emma."

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She stepped up to the door just as the clock ticked to six thirty. At least she'd be spared the lecture about promptness.

Regina was there to open the door, just as she always was. She ushered Emma in. "Good morning Miss Swan."

Emma sighed. "I wish."

Regina frowned as she shut the door. "Excuse me?"

"Sorry, yes, good morning Madam Mayor."

Regina eyed her suspiciously. "Henry's just setting up the table."

Emma wandered in the general direction of the dining room. "What are we having?"

"Pancakes. Henry's choice." She trailed behind Emma. Something was off about the blonde this morning, she just couldn't put her finger on it. She looked… almost nervous.

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Breakfast went quicker than usual, leaving Henry fifteen minutes to go upstairs and read his books before they had to leave.

Emma helped Regina carry the dishes to the sink. As Regina went to collect the remaining cups from the table, Emma leaned over the sink and flipped on the hot water.

And that's when Regina saw it. Emma's wife beater had ridden up to the small of her back, revealing the tiniest flash of black over her jeans. Well this was a new development. "Miss Swan, you have a tattoo?"

Emma whipped around, pressing her backside safely against the edge of the sink, yanking her wife beater down, a look of utter horror on her face. "Nope, no tattoos. None whatsoever." She tried to chuckle it off, rather unsuccessfully. "Wow, seeing things much?" She had been caught and they both know it.

Regina deposited the dishes in the sink and grasped Emma's denim-covered hips. "Alright Miss Swan, let's see it."

Emma shook her head back and forth furiously, pressing herself even heavier against the sink behind her.

"Really Miss Swan, I'm going to see it eventually. You might as well get it over with now."

Emma again shook her head, just as furiously as before, her blonde waves flying. "There's nothing to see."

Regina crossed her arms across her chest. "You will let me see it Miss Swan."

Emma gulped at the certainty in her tone but managed to shake her head once more. "Nope, I'm good."

Regina felt the anger flare in her stomach, hot and bright, as it always was with Emma. But just before she unleashed her fury on the blonde, she decided to change tactics. After all, one caught more bees with honey than with vinegar. She reached forward and undid the blonde's jeans.

Emma glanced down in alarm at the unexpected change of events. "What are you doing?"

Regina's hand slid down into Emma's underwear. "What does it look like I'm doing?" A second later her long fingers were teasing the blonde's entrance.

Emma bit back a moan. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to fight her mutinous body, keep it from responding to the brunette's attentions. "If you think this is going to work…"

"I don't think Miss Swan, I know." Regina slipped her fingers into her and Emma had to fight not to rise to meet the thrust. Regina kissed her neck up to her ear. "Don't fight me." She traced the shell of her ear with her tongue. "I only want to make you feel good." She continued to thrust shallowly into and back out of the blonde, just enough to get her going but hardly deep enough to send her over the edge.

Emma fought against it with everything she had, staving off her urges until she thought she would burst. And then finally, inevitably, she gave in. Her body moved away from the safety of the sink to meet the mayor's thrusts.

Regina did not waste a second, gripping the blonde's hip with her free hand and spinning her around. She kept her one hand buried inside the blonde, though her thrusts ceased for a moment.

Emma braced her hands on the edge of the sink and waited for the inevitable humiliation. Man, she was going to kill August.

Regina's free hand hooked in the back of Emma's jeans and dragged the material steadily downward, revealing the black ink inch by inch. Once fully revealed, her fingers traced over the black letters. Her eyes widened in surprise at the words, but once over the initial shock, her mouth fell into a smirk. She squeezed the inked flesh of the blonde's ass. She pulled the woman up and back against her, pressing her body hard against the blonde's back, resuming her thrusts, harder now. They had only a few minutes before Henry would be back downstairs. "Are you my property Miss Swan?" She nipped at the blonde's earlobe.

Emma tried to pull away, but the brunette held her firm. She felt her orgasm building inside her.

Regina used her thumb to apply pressure to a ready and waiting clit.

Emma resisted the urge to cry out as she ground down on the brunette's hand. It took another minute but finally she felt herself clench around Regina's fingers, a sigh escaping her lips as she sank back against the body behind her.

Regina placed a languid kiss against her neck. "There now dear, that wasn't so hard, was it? You really must learn to just submit to me."

Emma finally managed to get her legs to function properly and she zipped her jeans back up. She turned to meet the smug gaze of the woman behind her. She considered telling her that August had wrote the words in Sharpie across her ass cheek as she'd slept in his bed last night. It would certainly trigger Regina's jealous side and when the mayor got jealous, she became all sexily possessive. But besides earning her some rough sex so Regina could re-establish her territory, it wouldn't benefit any party involved. Though she had big plans to flog her former best friend herself, it would be cruel to expose him to the undue wrath of Regina Mills. She could be a real witch when she wanted to be. So instead she shrugged. "I am not your property…"

"Your ass tells a different story."

Emma scowled, narrowing her eyes at being interrupted. "I am not your property, however, I am yours."

Regina frowned. "I don't see the difference."

Emma smiled. "I know, but one day you will. And I'll be waiting when you do." She turned back to the nearly forgotten dishes.

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It was her turn to retrieve lunch from Granny's and Emma was happy. If August had slunk his way out of the bed and breakfast, that would be where he'd be. But as she entered the little diner, she found him surprisingly absent.

"Hey Ruby."

The younger girl looked up with a wide grin. "Hey Emma. The usual."

Emma nodded, leaning against the counter. "Heavy on the cheese for me."

Ruby gave her an apologetic look. "Been one of those days, huh?"

Emma sighed. "You have no idea." She watched the flirtatious waitress put in her order. "Have you seen August today?"

Ruby nodded. "He came in for breakfast like he usually does, then said he had stuff to do today."

Emma nodded. "Figures."

"He said not to expect him back because he'd be too busy."

"Yes, more likely because he values his life."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Boy troubles?"

Emma shook her head. She was saved from having to elaborate any further by the prompt arrival of her order. She paid, thanked Ruby and headed back for the station.

She headed straight for Graham's office, handing him his burger.

He motioned over her shoulder and she turned to find August staring at her from where he was casually leaning against her desk.

Emma had assumed she'd calmed down. But apparently she hadn't. She saw red and tossed down the bag with her lunch on Graham's desk, storming out into the main room. "You're brave showing up here when I'm armed."

August shrugged. "I figured it was safe. You can't kill me in front of the Sheriff."

"Graham?" Emma called over her shoulder without taking her deadly gaze off August.

Graham held up his burger. "Sorry, I'm on lunch. I only handle crime on the clock."

She smirked. "Still feeling safe?"

"Come on Swan, it was just a joke." He held up his hands defensively.

"She saw it August! She saw Property of Regina Mills written plain as day across my ass!"

"Huh, so that's what she meant when she said the Sheriff's Station was obviously back under her control." Graham sounded thoughtful.

Both August and Emma turned their gazes on the Sheriff. "Not helping Graham," they said in unison.

"I can go to her and explain…"

"No!" Emma shook her head. "You think I'm gonna kill you… you have no idea what Regina would do to you. Just let it blow over. She'll make digs at me about it for a while, but then she'll get over it." She frowned. "But make no mistake, you owe me, big time."

He grinned. "And I know just how to start paying you back."

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"You can do this Emma." She stared at her reflection in the mirror of the master bathroom. Regina was down the hall putting Henry to bed. She had been thoroughly enjoying picking fun at the blonde all night with comments like "your ass is mine" and other immature (yet somehow still hot coming from Regina) puns. August had explained his plan to her. It was a simple age old one, but he seemed determined to see it work. But the first step was doing something she really didn't want to do. She knew the mayor would just laugh in her face for even suggesting it. But she needed to do something to make the brunette fall for her, and fast. Time was precious and it was dwindling. She looked down at her hands, each with an iron grip on the sides of the sink. She could do this. It was just one stupid little question. Besides, it's not like the brunette hadn't said no to her countless times before and that was the worst she could do... well, except maybe laugh. She took a deep breath, stealing her nerves and exited the bathroom.

Regina was waiting for her, her shirt and slacks already discarded.

Emma's mouth went slack. The question could wait. No, it couldn't. If she waited until after the mayor's mouth was on her, she'd lose her nerve. "Before we… Regina, would you like to have dinner with me?" She cringed at how awkward the words sounded.

Regina raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that what we do every night dear?" She took another step towards Emma.

"I mean… just us… like, you know, a date."

Another step closer. She was almost close enough to touch Emma now. "Are you unsatisfied with our arrangement, Miss Swan?" The smirk on her lips said she obviously didn't think so.

Emma shifted uneasily. "No…. I mean, sort of. I love you Regina. I've told you that countless times. There's only so much of this I can take before I need… more."

Regina's progress halted and the smirk fell from her face. "More?"

Emma nodded. "I want to spend time and have a cuddle and… I don't know."

Regina scoffed. "I'm not your girlfriend Miss Swan."

At that was the truth of it. She was the new Graham, Regina's new plaything. She was a sex buddy, nothing more. Her extenuating circumstances, aka Henry, kept her closer than most of Regina's toys, but in the end maybe that's all she would ever be. She was sick of it. "You know what? Forget I asked. Have a nice night Madam Mayor." She pushed past the brunette, who was already scrambling for her silk robe. She went down the stairs as fast as she could, hoping to just be done with the conversation for the night. Fate was not on her side it would seem.

"Miss Swan!"

Emma froze halfway down the walk. She turned.

Regina was standing in the doorway, hugging her robe about herself. "What do you want Miss Swan?"

"Don't you get it by now? I want you!"

"Every time you lie to my face it insults me and my intelligence Miss Swan."

Emma shook her head. "I have no reason to lie! If you took a moment to pull your head out of your ass, you'd see that!" Emma rubbed her temples, mentally reminding herself that she loved this woman.

"You're here to take away everything I hold dear."

Emma shook her head once more. "You're paranoid." She reached up, running a hand through her hair. "You've barricaded yourself so tightly behind those walls you put up around yourself that you're suffocating." She turned back up the walk. "If you decide that maybe, just maybe, you want to let something in, to possibly get back what you once lost, go ahead and let me know."