A/N: Hey y'all! I can't believe how quick I am posting this chapter... but as I just said to a reader via PM, somethings need to come out and cannot be made to wait. So, I really hope you like this. It was one of my favorite things to write... ever.
I appreciate each one of you and the time you take to read and comment on this story. There are literally thousands of other SQ fics you could read, so thanks for letting this be one of them.
I really need to send some love to Jenn today. She read this update while at work and it left her... fidgety. I'm sorry. I will try to warn you next time.
So, if you like this... tell me about it. I'm curious to know how you feel about the return of Regina-Fucking-Mills!
Emma leaned back in her swivel chair and propped her feet up on the desk. This had been an unusual two weeks. Glancing at the homemade pastry on her desk next to a cup of steaming cocoa, she smiled. Unusual but I'm not complaining.
After she left Regina's house and spent another week getting back in good health, she had been eager to get to work. She wanted to busy her hands and her mind with something—anything—so she would stop thinking about the time she'd spent with Regina. But she couldn't seem to shut out the tenderness, the words of affection, or the sight of the brunette sitting straddle of her in the bed, pinning her arms down.
Emma shook her head and laughed to herself. If the time spent with Regina while she was sick had caused her brain to be flooded with thoughts and feelings she didn't quite know what to do with, these last two weeks had only made it worse. Everywhere Emma looked, she saw the Mayor.
The sheriff picked up the pastry and took a bite. Homemade pastries. Twice a week a box of them had appeared on the counter in the station's little kitchenette with a note from Regina. It said the sweets were in appreciation of the commitment and hard work of the town's fine law enforcement team, but the pastries themselves were all Emma's favorites. The blonde licked her fingers, sugary sweetness filling her mouth.
On her third day back to work, Regina had floated into the room, wearing maybe the sexiest and least sensible pantsuit Emma had ever seen and presented Emma with a fancy coffee machine that made not only coffee but decadent gourmet hot chocolate. It put Granny's to shame. There was even a shaker of cinnamon and a can of whipped cream to go with it. Regina had huskily commented she personally had taste tested the whipped cream and it was delicious.
The blonde shivered, remembering the image those words had conjured up. Emma took another bite of her pastry. Almond. This one is definitely almond.
Last Friday, on their regularly scheduled trip to Granny's for lunch, Emma had noticed that Regina was wearing the swan necklace she had given her. The blouse she was wearing that day, straining at the third button, revealed the charm hanging just above her cleavage. The blonde was embarrassed to mention the charm because she knew it meant she was staring at Regina's chest, but in all the months since she had given it to her, this was the first time Regina had worn it. She had to say something.
"I see you are wearing the swan."
"Oh. You noticed? Yes, I decided the best way to keep you close to my… heart… was to wear this." Regina leaned forward a bit, causing the blouse to reveal more than Emma had expected. The charm was swinging freely now, but Emma's eyes could only see the lacy edge of a wine colored bra.
"It looks, uh… it looks great on you."
Emma set her feet down on the floor and wiped her hands. She should feel guilty for having less than chaste thoughts about her best friend. Especially since she was getting married in four weeks. But somehow the guilt was staying away.
That same lunch, Ruby had come over with the bill and asked if they wanted any dessert. There was no apple pie that day, only cherry. Regina had grinned wickedly at Emma and asked if she wanted a piece of hot cherry pie.
"I love hot cherry pie. Don't you, Emma." Her voice was like honeyed velvet. Ruby's eyes looked like saucers at the clear innuendo.
Emma could only nod. She did enjoy a nice piece of pie. Actual pie and…
"Miss Lucas, do be a dear and bring us a piece of pie. We can share. Can't we, Emma?"
Again, Emma could only nod.
It had been like that now for two weeks. Regina showering her with attention and unexpected and amazingly thoughtful gifts. She had spent an unusual amount of time at the mansion as well. Regina had asked her to dinner with Henry at least three nights a week. An endless parade of Emma's favorite dishes had poured out of the kitchen. When the meals ended, the three of them had cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher and cuddled on the couch together like a family.
Emma smiled. We are a family.
On the most recent dinner visit, Henry had gone to bed early, claiming a headache although Emma had her doubts about it. She and Regina had just sat there on the couch, talking about nothing and everything. Regina had been interested quite a bit in Emma's day, how work was going. It was nice to be asked. Hook never asked about her work.
While she had shared every little detail of her day, including helping Archie pick out an invisible fence option that would keep Pongo safe without causing him to feel trapped, Regina had eased to the opposite end of the sofa from the blonde and pulled the sheriff's feet into her lap. Emma had stuttered over her words when she felt Regina's warm and surprisingly strong hands begin massaging her feet.
Emma had looked up, surprised by the care, but Regina had only asked if Emma thought the department needed another deputy. She suddenly found money in the budget for it if Emma needed it. Emma nodded along, she could use the help but her focus was on the tender and yet forceful fingers on her feet. The savior was putty in the brunette's capable hands. She had to fight not to imagine what else those hands could do.
So, armed with the knowledge that the sheriff's station may be growing sooner than she expected, Emma had sent a large stack of papers to Regina's office by way of an inter-office courier. She crossed her fingers and toes and hoped against hope that the Mayor wasn't joking. Emma really wanted to hire another person so she and David didn't have to keep rotating shifts. A third officer would mean Emma could stay on first shift most of the time.
Emma glanced at the stack of papers that had come back to her just yesterday. That had been the strangest thing to happen so far. And for the two weeks she had been living, being the strangest thing of all was no small accomplishment.
The sheriff walked to the kitchen area and rinsed out her mug. She filled it again with water and took it back into her office. She poured most of the contents of the mug into a beautiful crystal vase filled with a dozen blood red hot house roses. They were a gift from Killian.
The flowers had arrived just after ten in the morning yesterday with a very sweet note. Emma had felt like a queen, her heart fluttering at being sent flowers. Sure, roses were not her favorite. And of all the roses in the world, red were least original between lovers. But it was the thought. And this thought definitely counted.
Emma knew Hook was jealous of the time she had been spending at Mifflin Street. She had tried to appease him by insisting this was just normal behavior for friends who would not be able to be together as much once the marriage was final. He had nodded lightly, but she knew he wasn't buying it.
The flowers had been a nice touch. A gentle reminder that he loved her and was thinking of her. Emma had been so pleased.
Emma turned with a smile from the roses and poured the last drops of water into a small plastic cup with "Cops do it by the Book" printed on the side. Its contents had arrived yesterday too.
Just after lunch, the courier had come in with the paperwork from Regina's office. Emma had been so excited because she just had a feeling Regina had approved the request. The blonde had worked diligently to be sure everything was perfect before sending the forms in. The young intern had smiled at Emma, declined her offer of a pastry and headed out. Before the door shut behind him, Emma opened the file.
There had been a note on top written in Regina's elegant script on a sheet printed with "From the Desk of Mayor Mills." Everything looks great, Emma. The budget is approved. Hire away. Love, R.
Emma had stared at those last words like the answers to all life's questions were found there.
Love, R.
Tearing her eyes away, Emma saw under the note a single daisy. It was perfect and crisp, the white petals all intact. Daisies… daisies were her favorite.
Emma had picked up the flower and laid it and the note on her desk. For nearly an hour she had questioned what they meant. When she heard her father come in, she had put the note in her desk drawer and dropped the flower in the cup. Somehow, it meant more than all the roses and crystal vases Killian's money could buy. Emma wasn't ready yet to address what that could mean.
Emma sat heavily down at her desk. Since her sickness, she had been a confused ball of emotions. She loved Killian. They got along… most of the time. And he made her laugh. But she loved Regina too. She could admit that. She loved Regina.
If she thought there was any chance in hell Regina loved her, then she would be in real trouble. But she wasn't sure. They often flirted. Regina often made double entendres just to get Emma to blush. Having family time wasn't odd. But something was different. She wasn't sure just yet what that meant.
Emma was pulled from her thoughts by the staccato tapping of stilettos coming toward her office. She looked up in time to see Regina, in a tight black pencil skirt and red silk blouse swaying in the door. Oh god, not the red blouse.
"Good afternoon, Sheriff." Regina's dulcet tones cut through Emma like a hot knife in butter.
"Madam Mayor." Emma replied with a smirk. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Regina advanced around the desk and pulled herself up on it, crossing her legs. Emma's eyes trailed openly up the expanse of golden skin. It was only then that she noticed the beautiful gift in the former queen's hands.
"Why, I came to bring you a present, dear." Regina extended the package to Emma.
"A present?" Emma took the box and shook it by her ear. "Not that I don't love presents, but the shower isn't until 5:30, Regina. Shouldn't you wait to give me this?"
Emma's illness had pushed back the original date of her wedding shower. It was planned for the first Sunday afternoon of her battle with the flu originally but obviously had been cancelled. Now, with the time slipping away and the wedding drawing ever nearer, it had been moved to today, after work.
"Oh, this isn't for the shower. This is just for you, Emma." The brunette nudged Emma's leg with her foot, encouraging her to open the gift. "Well? Aren't you going to open it?"
Emma shook it again and grinned like a kid at Christmas. "I don't know. Is it a trick? You didn't buy me something dangerous did you?"
"Hmmm, well, I suppose it could lead to something dangerous depending on what you do with it." Regina leveled a challenging look at Emma. It had been years since Emma had seen this version of her friend. Confidence oozed from her pours, a sexy pout on her face.
"That sounds… exciting." Emma winked and pulled the ribbon free. She slipped her fingers under the tape on one end of the package and freed it quickly from its paper prison. Wiggling her eyebrows, the blonde lifted the lid off the box.
Inside was a queen sized set of gray sheets. Emma looked up at Regina in question. "Are these…?"
"Egyptian cotton? Yes. Although they are not exactly like mine. Apparently they no longer carry the ones I have." Regina slipped down from the desk and headed toward the office door.
Emma ran her fingers over the soft cotton and was immediately transported back into Regina's bed. "These are amazing! Thank you, Regina."
Regina smiled at the blonde and shrugged. "It's nothing, dear. You deserve the very best." She stepped out of the office and Emma looked back at the sheets with a grin. A movement by the door drew her attention back to the brunette.
Regina's gaze alone sent a warming shot of arousal through Emma, but it was her words that made the blonde's mouth go dry with desire. "By the way, if you ever miss the real thing, dear… you are always welcome in my bed. See you at the shower… Emma."
Before she could catch her breath, Regina was walking away. Emma watched her swagger confidently out of sight.
What the hell was that?
~ (SQ) ~
"Emma. I mean it. You put that platter down or…"
"Or what? You'll punish me? We've been over this, Regina. So far, I haven't had a single punishment to report." Emma winked at the brunette who was washing dishes in Snow's sink.
"This shower was for you. You should not be cleaning up after it. It's just in poor taste. So please, stop. Your mother and I can handle this." Why on earth had she agreed to have the party in a house without a dishwasher?
"Listen to Regina. She's right. You shouldn't be helping. And I promise, I will do my part… just as soon as I take these last few things up to Emma's room." Snow smiled and kissed her daughter on the cheek.
Emma rolled her eyes and sat on a stool at the island while Regina continued to wash the cups, plates and platters left in the wake of her wedding shower. "I don't see what the big deal is. We could get this knocked out faster if you'd let me help."
"Stop pouting, Emma. Just enjoy the moment. Soon enough you will be back to picking up after yourself… and the pirate." Regina flicked her soapy wet fingers at the blonde.
Emma couldn't help but smile. Regina looked downright domestic in her apron, her shirt sleeves rolled up and her hands in the soapy sink. So many sides to this woman and Emma was growing to love them all more than she thought she could—the tender bits right along with the complicated ones.
"What?" Regina looked at her quizzically.
"What what?" Emma said with a curious frown.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have suds on my face?" Regina wiped at her nose and chin with the back of her wrist, holding her dripping fingers away from her.
Emma laughed at the sight. "Well, you do now. Come here." The blonde leaned across the island bar and brushed away a few bubbles from Regina's cheek. She hand lingered there a moment and her eyes searched enigmatic chocolate pools.
Realizing she was still caressing Regina's cheek, Emma gave an embarrassed laugh and sat back on the stool. "Wish you'd let me help."
"Wish you'd stop asking…" Regina grinned and kept washing.
The shower had, by all accounts, been an amazing success. People had crowded around the loft and eaten hors d'oeuvres and sipped punch and wished Emma well. The blonde had been overwhelmed by the generosity of her guests. She had received linens and towels and dishes and everything she could ever want to set up a house. Some had been sentimental and handmade. Some had been modern and sleek and clearly expensive. But everything had been given in love.
Emma had never felt so much care and affection from so many people at once.
Watching Regina rinsing what had once been a platter of cheese, Emma giggled to herself remembering Regina's gift—a toaster. When Emma had peeled back the wrapping paper she had been nervous about what would be in the box. Just a few hours before a gift from Regina had set her heart racing. What would this one do?
Seeing a picture of the toaster on the side of the box, Emma had burst out laughing and sought out Regina's eyes. Did Regina know why it was funny? Did she get the joke or was this just a coincidence? Finding Regina watching her, her eyes filled with mischief, Emma had her answer. Of course she knew.
"You know, I was thinking about your gift…" Emma began as she reached for a mini quiche on the counter.
Regina raised suddenly very black eyes to meet green. Emma felt her stomach flip. "No, not… that gift. The shower gift. The toaster."
Regina offered a crooked grin. "Oh? And what were you thinking about it?"
"Well, besides the obvious—" Emma tried to see any revealing spark in Regina's face. "—I was thinking about another toaster. You have no way of knowing this, but when I first came to town I basically destroyed mom's toaster one day because I was so frustrated with you."
Regina chuckled. "Really? And just what had I done to make you the terror of small kitchen appliances city-wide?"
"I dunno. I think… maybe it was during the election when you thought Sidney Glass of all people would make a better sheriff than me. Sidney. Jesus Regina. You must have really and truly hated me." Emma ate another morsel. This time it was a tiny apple tart.
"Well, I wouldn't say I hated you. My feelings were… complicated then." Regina shrugged her shoulders.
"Then?" The brunette's choice of words caught Emma's attention.
"Well, yes they were complicated then." Regina continued to wash and rinse as if nothing were amiss.
"And now?" Emma eased closer to the edge of her seat at the bar.
Regina looked up and for a moment, love shown in her dark eyes. "And now… I'd say my feelings about you are decidedly less complicated but no less complex."
Emma wasn't sure what to make of that answer and was silent for a moment. "Is it ironic?"
"Is what ironic?" Regina looked up and stopped her washing.
"That you gave me a toaster after you indirectly caused me to destroy one. Is that irony? I never get irony right." Emma picked up another hors d'oeuvres and took a bite. "Oh my god! This is delicious. How did I not get one of these earlier?"
Regina raised an eyebrow as the blonde moaned in delight. "Must be remarkable for that reaction."
"It is! Oh my god! Seriously, Regina. This is just… it's indecent. No food should taste this good." Emma leaned across the counter again from her stool and held the nosh out to the brunette. "Here. You need to taste this."
"Emma, my hands are wet. I can't—"
"You don't have to take it. Just… here. Take a bite." Emma held the last bite in front of Regina's mouth.
"Alright. I'll bite." In an instant the game turned from playful to seductive and the brunette wiped one hand dry on her apron and reached to lightly grip Emma's wrist.
Emma swallowed hard as Regina's gaze raised from the nibble of food to green eyes. She didn't make a move to look away as she guided Emma's hand toward her mouth and parted full red lips. There was something damn near orgasmic about the sight of her tongue wetting her lips in preparation. Emma couldn't look away as Regina closed her lips not just around the treat, but around the tip of the blonde's index finger and gave a gently suck before releasing the finger with a moan.
"You were right, Emma. Delicious." Her voice had managed to drop deeper and was barely above a whisper.
Emma felt flush from head to toe, her hand still in front of Regina's sinfully erotic mouth, fingers still grasping her wrist. They both stared long and Emma felt her body clamoring for the gentle caress of Regina's mouth once more.
"Sorry that took so long. Who knew Emma would need so many coffee mugs." Snow's voice preceded her down the metal stairs and Regina released Emma's hand, but not her gaze.
As if sensing the tension in the air, Snow stopped on the bottom step. "Am I… am I interrupting something?"
Emma wanted to look away, to assure her mother that nothing was awry, but her eyes were forever locked onto Regina's. She couldn't force them away. She wanted to feel those pouting lips against her own. She wanted to taste the warm honey waiting beyond them.
No one had yet answered Snow White. "Ok. I think I will just run check on… something… I um… I'll be back."
The pixie-haired woman turned and made to dash back up the stairs but Regina's voice stopped her. Without breaking eye contact with Emma, she spoke. "Don't rush off, Snow. Emma was just telling me how tasty this hors d'oeuvre was, right Emma?"
"Uh… yeah. Yep. That's it. Tasty little morsel." Emma felt hot even on the tips of her ears.
"Oh." Snow said, easing back toward the kitchen. "Yes. Those were very good. Regina made them."
Emma arched a brow at the mayor. "Oh she did, did she? You didn't mention that."
Regina shrugged and went back to rinsing dishes. "I didn't think it was relevant."
"Here Regina. Let me finish up those dishes. David is on his way back with Neal and I just know he will want a kiss from his Wa-gina before I put him to bed." Snow pushed her former enemy away from the sink and started to reach in the soapy water.
"Actually, I'm all done here. But I will happily wait for a kiss… from my favorite Charming." Regina winked at Emma and made her way around to the other stool at the bar.
"I thought I was your favorite?" Emma whispered to the brunette with a pout.
"I didn't say you weren't, dear." Regina addressed Snow while Emma's face managed a new shade of red at the former queen's less than subtle flirtation. "Snow, did you know your daughter wants to learn to cook?"
"No, I did not. Why didn't you tell me, Emma? I'd be happy to teach you." Snow smiled at her daughter and gave Regina a mental high-five. Looks like somebody is stepping up their A-game.
"Oh, uh… I don't really want to learn to cook. I just loved the soup Regina made me while I was sick. I thought she was going to teach me but so far…" Emma gently elbowed Regina.
"Oh! I just had a wonderful idea!" Snow's face lit up like the fourth of July. "David is working tomorrow and I have a playdate for Neal with the Mommy's Morning Out group. Why don't you come teach Emma tomorrow and then I won't have to worry about making dinner."
Regina gave Snow a satisfied smile. Sometimes Snow's meddlesome ways served Regina's end game perfectly. "I think that sounds delightful. Henry will be at the library most of the day with Paige working on a history project anyway so I'm free. What do you say, Emma. Feel like cooking something up with me?"
Emma eyed her mother suspiciously for a moment and answered to the affirmative. "Sounds like a plan."
~ (SQ) ~
Emma rolled onto her side and squeezed a pillow tight to her chest. She had put the new sheets Regina had given her on the bed without even bothering to wash them first. She didn't even care. She just wanted to feel close to Regina and the sheets had helped… for a while.
The blonde curled her knees up toward her chest and lay there in a near fetal position, thinking about the recent turn of events with the brunette. There was no doubt in her mind that Regina was flirting with her. In fact, she had turned up the heat on their flirting game so high, Emma's skin burned just thinking about it.
She rolled her thumb and forefinger together remembering the sensation of Regina's lips closing around them. She closed her eyes and tried hard to call up the gentle tug of suction against her finger tip. She was almost certain the point of Regina's warm tongue had flicked against her skin before releasing the finger.
Emma looked around the room as if someone were lurking in the dark and could see her thoughts. Embarrassment wasn't enough to stop her from ghosting across her own lips with the finger. Her whole body had been in a heightened state since that moment. Even after Regina had gone home and she had helped her mother put Neal down for the night, Emma had felt like every nerve ending on her body was on fire.
No one had ever made her feel like that. No one.
Closing her eyes tight, Emma tried to replicate the sensation and sucked gently on her own fingertip. It felt good but it wasn't the same. Her mind was full of Regina's eyes, her sexy smirk, her bold declaration that Emma was welcome in her bed… anytime.
Emma flopped onto her back and threw an arm across her eyes. She sighed into the darkness. If only she could be sure that was true. She'd slip out the door right now and let herself into the mansion. Regina was probably already asleep but Emma suddenly knew a million delicious ways to awaken her.
Regina had certainly awakened something in Emma.
The savior let out a frustrated sigh. There had been a tension building between them for the last several weeks and the more interest Regina showed her, the less interest she seemed to have in… um… in…
Killian. Dammit, Swan. His name is Killian.
In fact, he hadn't been very secretive in his desire to relieve his own tension with Emma that very night. But she had told him an outright lie to keep from going to the ship. She said she had gotten a mild case of food poisoning and didn't think she could keep out of the toilet. She could practically hear his face crinkle in disgust.
Good. Maybe he won't ask again for a while.
But now, in the dark, alone and aching to be touched, Emma wondered if she should have gone to Hook. It wouldn't have been the first time she thought of someone else. The blonde sighed heavily again. No, that wasn't even an option at this point.
She needed to sort this out. She needed to think. But how could she when all she really wanted was to hear that rich, dark voice moaning out her name. How could she when her mind was full of images of dark locks splayed out on her pillow, golden skin glowing with a sheen of sweat and writhing with pleasure beneath her.
Emma sat up abruptly. She needed a run. Or a cold shower. Or a gallon of rocky road ice cream.
Green eyes settled on her cell phone. No, what she needed was Regina.
"Hello?" The deep timbre of Regina's sleep wearied voice filled Emma's ear.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Emma? Is something wrong?" Emma heard movement on the line. She imagined Regina, in that gray silk nightgown shuffling over to see the time on her bedside table.
"No. Nothing's wrong. I'm sorry for calling so late. I just…" Emma paused. She had no good excuse for calling. Shit.
"You just thought you'd call and say hi at 1:30 in the morning?" Regina's tone wasn't irritated. In fact, it was almost teasing.
"No. I… um. I just called to say thanks again for, you know, the sheets. They are really great." Emma face palmed herself. Oh my god, you idiot.
Regina made a quiet sound that conjured up images of her stretching like a cat in the afternoon sun. "Well, I'm glad you like them but they don't seem to be doing a very good job of helping you sleep."
Emma laughed awkwardly. "No, I guess not." She rolled onto her side again and burrowed into the covers. "Really, I don't think they are what is keeping me awake."
"Oh? And what do you think is?" The brunette's voice poured like honey out of the phone and over Emma's aching body, soothing every place it touched.
"I think there was a lot of… excitement today. And then the… um… the… what's the word? I'm thinking about the future. The—"
"Anticipation." Regina supplied. Emma's eyes fell shut at the sound.
A breathless voice answered. "Yeah. Anticipation. I think that is partly to blame."
"Well, that is to be expected. So many possibilities await you. It is only natural for your body to respond. I might be able to help though. Close your eyes, take a deep breath… are you doing it Emma?" Regina's voice was like a melody in her ear, lulling her, seducing her, calling her away from her worries.
Emma closed her eyes and took an audible breath. "I am."
"Good girl," Regina soothed. "Now, think of the place you'd most like to be this moment. Imagine it in as much detail as you can. How does it feel? How does it smell? Do you see it, Emma?"
Emma did see it. She was mentally in Regina's bedroom. She could feel the soft sheets and the enveloping mattress. She could feel warm silky skin against her. Her nose was suddenly filled with the scent of Regina. Not just the soaps and lotions… but the very essence of the woman whispering in her ear.
"Yes, I see it." Emma couldn't stop the quivering desire in her voice.
"Alright. Now, just let yourself go. Let go of the loft, the new sheets, the sounds of people sleeping downstairs. Let go and hold on to my voice. Can you let go for me, Emma?" Regina could feel her own heart pounding as she whispered to the blonde through the phone. She had meant to calm the woman but all she seemed to be doing was making herself stirred with passion.
"Yes, Regina. I'll let go for you. Will you let go for me?" Emma slid a hand across her bare stomach and shuddered. This phone call wasn't helping at all.
Regina bit down on her bottom lip to stifle a whimper. Emma's question had created a familiar drawing in her low abdomen. What was this woman doing to her?
"Will you?" Emma whispered again.
"Yes." Regina breathed into the air.
Both women remained silent for a long moment, listening to the other breath. Emma imagining her wandering hand to be Regina's. She fought hard to keep her breathing steady but she could hear the same laborious effort coming across the line.
Regina brushed her thumb lightly across her bottom lip, remembering how Emma's slender finger had felt there. She could hear Emma's breathing and she knew Emma would come to her immediately if she asked. She knew Emma would ravish her and make her feel things she hadn't dreamed possible if she only said the word.
"Emma?" Regina whispered into the phone.
"Yeah. I'm here." Emma held her breath hoping Regina would ask her to come to her. She wanted so badly to put her hands on the woman, to feel skin on skin.
"I better say goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, dear." Regina bit her lip again. She had a feeling she could predict both of their dreams tonight.
"Sure. Tomorrow. I look forward to it. Goodnight, Regina." Emma held the phone to her ear until Regina disconnected the call.
She wanted to relieve the tension that the phone call had only made worse but she pulled back her hand from her heated skin. She thought she might learn to like it. What was the word?
Anticipation.
~ (SQ) ~
"Careful, Emma. You want to dice the onion but not your fingers." Regina slipped behind her student and reached around her, covering the blonde's hands with her own. "Here. Take your time and rock the knife like this. We aren't in a hurry."
Emma had no idea making soup would be this labor intensive—or this sexually frustrating. She had found herself pinned between the counter and Regina's body three times already as Regina tried a hands on approach to cooking instruction. She would never look at soup the same way again.
"There. That's it. Nice and easy, Emma." Regina coached as she released Emma's hands.
"So, you did all this for my soup the other week? You must like me." Emma concentrated on the onion as she spoke. She didn't want to disappoint her teacher.
"Yes. I did all this. And yes, I am quite fond of you." Regina turned her attention back to the chicken. She had Emma sauté the breasts when she first arrived so they could cool a bit. Now she began to cube the meat into bite size portions.
"Fond of me? What am I, a little kid?" Emma grunted at Regina's choice of words.
The brunette reached around Emma once more, adjusting her grip on the knife. "Oh, no dear. I am well aware you are all woman."
Emma dropped the knife with a clatter on the cutting board. "Um…. sorry." She felt like she might actually be losing her mind with desire.
"Slow and steady wins the race, Emma. Be careful. As I said, I have no interest in seeing those lovely fingers injured." Regina returned to her task.
She wasn't sure exactly what she thought might happen today, but she was open to something happening. The late night call from Emma had told her everything she needed to know about her recent decision to pursue the blonde. Emma wanted her. Of that, she had no doubt.
But want, desire… they didn't equal love. Regina felt pretty certain Emma felt something for her like love but she wouldn't be sure until she heard the words come out of those soft, pink lips. If that happened to be while Regina was kissing every inch of her porcelain skin, then so be it.
"Ok. Onions all done. Now what?" Emma didn't want to push but she was literally on the verge of exploding. She had no patience for all this food prep when all she really wanted to sink her teeth into was currently cubing chicken breasts next to her.
"Now, we need to cook the onions and celery a bit with the butter. Normally I would add carrots but…"
"But I don't do carrots. Right. So, onions, celery, butter. Then what?"
Regina tried to refrain from smiling at Emma's obvious impatience with the process. "Then we make a roux with our flour and the veggies and butter. That will serve to both color the soup and thicken the broth." Regina began stirring the vegetables to keep them from sticking as Emma watched. "Alright now. Add the flour."
Emma did as instructed. If she weren't so distracted by the way Regina's neck was exposed to her with her hair tucked behind her ear, she would probably feel proud of herself for her part in this process. She wasn't a "from scratch" sort of cook.
In another pot, Regina had already started the broth and chicken pieces to heat up. Now, she had Emma pour in the rice and cover that pot while she stirred the roux. "Good work, Emma. You may be a fine cook yet. Now, while I stir, slowly pour in the cream."
The blonde smiled at Regina's suggestion she would one day be a good cook. Maybe Regina would be willing to teach her some more dishes? "Like this?" Emma asked as she gradually poured in the cream.
"Yes. That's perfect. We have to do it slowly so the milk doesn't curdle or scorch. That would be bad." Regina turned her eyes away from the roux and looked at Emma. The blonde had a crease in her forehead from concentrating. Regina felt a tingling sensation in her lips. She wanted to kiss away the crease, kiss pinked cheeks, kiss soft lips.
"Regina? Hello? Now what?" Emma waved her hand in front of Regina's eyes. She had gotten lost in her thoughts.
"Um… well, now we add the cream mixture to the other pot and stir them gently together." Regina stepped back and let Emma do the honors.
Emma stirred the soup, making sure the rice wasn't sticking. "So, now we can eat it?"
Regina chuckled. "No, we cannot eat it. Not yet. We have to wait."
Emma groaned. "Wait?! This is taking forever. Why do we need to wait? Everything is cooked and all mixed up together."
Regina stepped up behind Emma again, reaching past her to turn the heat under the pot to low. Emma stopped stirring and stepped to the side. They were much too close for friendly chat, but neither tried to create any distance. "This seems like a good time for a lesson in timing, Emma. Here, taste this."
The brunette offered Emma a taste of the soup, placing the spoon in her mouth for her. Pulling the spoon back, Regina waiting for a response. Emma shrugged. "It's ok. Not like what you made me the other week… but good."
"Good but not… what was it you said about my soup? 'Better than sex'?" Regina's voice purred across the word sex and Emma's body instantly responded.
"Yeah, I think I said something like that." The blonde bit her lip, mildly embarrassed.
"Indeed, you did. The difference is really very simple. This is very important so pay close attention." Regina deliberately lowered both the timbre and volume of her voice. She noticed Emma inch closer, hanging on her words.
"I'm listening." The savior whispered.
"The key to good soup is the same as the key to a good romance. Do you know what that is, Emma?" Regina leaned toward Emma ever so slightly, holding her gaze.
The blonde swallowed audibly. How could talking about food have her so turned on? "No. What is it?"
"Simmering." The word slipped from Regina's mouth like the wisdom of the ages. "You could turn up the heat, get things boiling and satisfy your… hunger in a rush. But I find it so much more satisfying to take my time, to let everything heat up slowly and just when I think I can't wait another moment…"
Emma was vaguely aware of the room around her. But the only thing she could focus on was the undeniable magnetic pull radiating from Regina's body. She felt herself falling, tumbling end over end into deep chocolate pools, begging for a chance to drown in the depths of desire she knew she saw there.
"Everything is just right and I can finally have a taste." Regina knew it was now or never.
The brunette reached up a trembling hand and touched Emma's cheek, slipping her thumb gently across her lips. Green eye fell sleepily closed and puff of air rushed from the blonde's nostrils acknowledging the pleasurable sensation. Regina leaned in slowly, raising her free hand to Emma's hip, guiding the blonde toward her.
And then it happened.
Regina brushed her lips gently against Emma's provoking a moan from the blonde. Encouraged by the sound, Regina pressed her full lips against soft pink ones with a little more force, slipping her hand into blonde curls. She felt intoxicated with want.
As if suddenly awakened from a stupor, Emma went into action. Her arms slipped around Regina's waist and pulled the brunette flush against her. She tilted her head and kissed the woman in her arms, the woman in her dreams, the woman occupying all her thoughts and filling every inch of her heart.
Neither woman made a move to deepen the kiss, somehow relishing the sensation of each other's body, of soft caresses with tender lips alone. Regina pulled gently at the curls in her fingers and drew Emma's bottom lip between her own. She suckled gently on the lip before nipping it with her teeth and releasing it.
Emma turned them so she was pinning Regina against the counter. She couldn't get close enough to the creature who had lit her soul on fire. Pale fingers slid up Regina's silk covered back and down again, stopping just below her waist, pressing the brunette hard against her hips.
Now it was Regina who couldn't stop a moan. Both her hands were in luxurious hair, guiding Emma in the kiss. She never wanted this moment to end.
And then, suddenly, it did.
Outside the door, Snow was reprimanding her small son for some infraction or other and trying to get her key in the lock. Before the door swung open and the Charming pair stepped in, Regina and Emma flew apart. They stood in front of the stove, soup happily simmering away, and watched each other intently.
Snow, still wrestling with her son and his many belonging seemed blissfully unaware. Regina tried to calm her breathing but her chest continued to rise and fall in rapid succession. Emma laid a hand over her own heart, hoping to somehow still the hammering pulse that she felt all over her body. They couldn't take their eyes off each other and they both wore the tell-tale signs of passion—kiss swollen lips, flushed skin, desire blown pupils.
There would be no hiding this.
But somehow, Snow remained oblivious as she came chirping into the kitchen rambling on about her day and how wonderful the soup smelled. It wasn't until she physically stepped between the women and lifted the pot lid to view the fruits of their labor that the connection seemed to break between them and they returned to earth.
"This smells so delicious! Can I have a taste?" Snow smiled, looking between her daughter and her former nemesis.
"N…no. Not yet." Emma tried to regain control of her voice.
Snow frowned. "Why not?"
"Because…" Regina began.
"It has to simmer." Emma finished, locking eyes once more with the object of her desire.
Regina held Emma's gaze and knew that what was happening between them couldn't simmer much longer. It was about to boil over.
And she couldn't be happier.