A/N: What can I say? I'm on a roll. Thank you so much for the HUGE amount of love for the last chapter. I am so glad you liked it.
I had a very definite plan for this little story in the beginning but "simmering" sort of derailed all that. So... who knows how long it will be or how it will end. I certainly don't.
As always, thank you for reading and reviewing and sharing this story around. It means a lot.
"If you will turn to page twenty-seven in the proposal booklet, you will see a flow-chart of the information we just went over. Now…"
Regina rolled her eyes and tuned out the monotone voice of Storybrooke's Director of Finance, Roger Hopkins. Why hadn't she cursed someone with personality to work in town government? Hearing him go on and on week after week for over thirty years was more like a curse on herself.
The Mayor sighed loudly and hoped Roger would take a hint. Her eyes drifted over to the chair usually occupied by the sheriff in these meetings. Emma would have proved a delectable distraction, sitting there in her red leather and skin tight jeans. But, duty called this morning and the beautiful blonde was down at the waterfront, trying to settle a dispute between two cannery workers that had turned physical.
Regina imagined Emma taking control of the situation, squaring back her shoulders, flexing her defined biceps. I wonder if she will take off that jacket? She has such beautiful, strong arms.
"Madam Mayor?"
Regina's wondering mind was called back to the meeting by a weak and apologetic voice. Roger was looking at her expectantly. "I'm sorry, Roger. Would you repeat that?"
"I just asked if you would like to break for lunch and come back since we still have a lot of ground to cover on this. What do you think?"
I think I should have cursed us to country that allowed royal dictatorship so I wouldn't have to listen to this crap to get anything done. "I think lunch sounds wonderful. Shall we reconvene at—" Regina glanced at her watch "—let's say two o'clock?"
The conference room cleared, and Roger hung back to talk to Regina but she merely held up a hand to stop him before he started.
"Roger, I hope you are not about to talk business when you just requested we adjourn for lunch." Regina picked up her copy of the report and started toward the door.
"Uh, no. No, that isn't it. I was wondering if…" The man suddenly blushed furiously and shoved his hands into his pockets.
Oh my god. He's going to ask me out.
Roger cleared his throat and straightened his back. "I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch… with me." He paused studying her face. He looked terrified. "Like, not for work but… um… you know, maybe…"
Regina felt her eyebrow arching of its own volition. But rather than dismiss him completely, something inside her made a smile appear on her lips. "Roger…" she purred. "Are you asking me on a date?"
The man gave an "aw shucks" grin and bounced on the balls of his feet. "I guess I am, ma'am… uh Miss Mills. Regina."
Regina placed a hand on his arm and gave a gentle squeeze. "I am flattered that you would ask me, Roger and frankly I am impressed that you have the balls to do it. Not many people would ask out their Queen. However, I'm afraid I have to say no. But thank you for asking me."
Roger's face immediately fell. "No? But… why?"
Regina didn't try to stop her eyebrow's disapproving stance now. She'd been nice. She'd given her answer. She was in no mood to be questioned.
"Well Roger, if you must know… you aren't my type." That was the truest thing she could say without being cruel.
"Oh." He said, looking down for his pride which he had surely dropped on the floor. "Well, if I'm not, I'm not. I sorta thought you might say no but, I had to try."
She couldn't believe she was about to prolong this painfully awkward conversation, but Regina's curiosity was piqued. "Why did you think I'd say no?"
Roger rubbed the back of his neck and started to back away from the Mayor toward the door. "Well, to be honest I've seen you around town lately with the sheriff and I sorta got the impression you might be… you know."
"No. I don't know. Enlighten me." Regina stepped closer even as Roger backed away. If she were to tell Archie about this exchange, he would make her do some journal writing to uncover the source of her enjoyment at making this man uncomfortable, but she couldn't help herself. Roger's meeting was boring. He owed her this.
"Well," he laughed nervously, looking for any other person in the vicinity who might rescue him. "I just thought you might be a… uh, you know. A lesbian. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I mean, obviously there isn't. I know they make a big deal about it in this world. But I don't judge you. Or, or, or the sheriff for that matter. Both of you are fine, attractive women. Not to suggest that lesbians can't be attractive. Not at all. Or that I have ever noticed you both being beautiful women. I'd never objectify you. Either of you. Nope. Especially since we work together. That would send me straight to HR. That's not the point. Um. So, I guess I'd better be going, Madam Mayor. See you at two."
Roger turned and made a dash for the door. Regina could barely contain her laughter… but she did for just a moment more.
"Oh, Roger. Before you run off, don't you want an answer to your question?" She smiled brightly and butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
"Oh. About you being a lesbian? Yes. Yes I would." The eagerness in his voice, in his stance made Regina wish she could set him on fire. The nerve.
"To your concern that I or Sheriff Swan may be lesbians or that we may be in some way involved with each other all I can say is… you'd be wise to mind your own damn business." There was no mistaking the Evil Queen when she appeared, and at this moment, Roger was standing toe to toe with her. "Enjoy your lunch, dear."
Regina laughed right out loud as the poor man ran from the room. Her laughter began to die out and her mind began to process what the man had said. Were there others in the town who wondered as he did if she and Emma were involved?
The Mayor made her way down the hall to her office. She would have to send Barbara over to Granny's and pick her up a salad. She was in no rush to cause Roger any further discomfort.
"Barbara," Regina began as she made her way into the outer office of her personal domain. "Would you please go to Granny's and pick me up a grilled chicken salad? Also, has the sheriff called? I was hoping she would make it for the remaining portion of the meeting."
"Actually, Mayor Mills, Sheriff Swan was here just a few moments before your meeting broke for lunch. She said she brought something for your lunch and I let her in your office to leave it on your desk. Do you still want the salad?" Barbara was looking with disinterest at her employer, the very thing that made Regina keep her on.
"She brought me lunch?" Regina couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Yes, she left it on your desk." Barbara stood now and pulled her purse from her bottom drawer. "Would you still like the salad? Because if not, I will be taking my lunch break now, as well."
Regina waved the woman off distractedly. "No, I don't need the salad. You go on and enjoy your lunch. Thank you, Barbara."
Regina opened her office door and thought of something else. "Oh, Barbara, one more thing. Did Emma… Sheriff Swan say whether she was going back to the station or not? I'd like to thank her for the lunch."
"No, ma'am. She didn't say. Well, good afternoon. I'll return before your meeting resumes." With that, Barbara marched away with all the lightness and grace of an elephant. She was a solid woman. She was cold and professional to a fault. But she was an excellent assistant.
Regina closed her door and nearly skipped to her desk, excited to see what Emma had left for her. On Saturday night, when they had cooked soup together, it had taken every ounce of self-control Regina had not to rip Emma's clothes off right there in Snow's kitchen and do decidedly non-kitcheny things to her.
But the brunette had restrained herself. She wanted to do this right. She wanted to woo Emma, to make Emma feel loved and wanted and special. She wasn't in this for a quick fuck. Regina was in this for… well, she was in it for forever.
Snow barging in had been a blessing. Regina had felt pretty confident that Emma would respond well to her kiss, but she hadn't expected quite the welcome she had been given. The blonde's arms around her waist, pressing her into the counter, moaning against her mouth… it had all felt somehow otherworldly. Regina had never felt the connection to another person as she did to Emma in that kitchen.
It was more than an attraction. It was more than a physical desire or an emotional linking. Regina didn't know what to call it, but all she knew was that when Snow stepped between them and opened the soup pot, it had felt like a giant pair of scissors on some spiritual plane had severed a cord binding her to Emma.
After spending some time playing with Neal and making small talk with his mother, Regina had gotten a text from Henry. He and Paige were finished with their project and he had promised the girl that his brunette mother would give her a ride out to the mansion she shared with her father.
Regina had said her good-byes and slipped on her jacket. Emma jumped up and insisted she walk her out. The blonde had grabbed Regina's hand on the landing before she could descend the stairs.
"Wait. Don't we need to talk about… that… amazing kiss?" Green eyes had beamed at Regina, full of hope and longing.
"We will. I promise." Regina had grasped both Emma's hands in her own. "It was amazing, wasn't it?"
"Yeah." Emma had blushed so beautifully then that Regina had made a tiny sound she was certain had never escaped her before. She felt like a teenager with her first crush. She was supposed to be strong and sexy and confident, sweeping Emma off her feet but she felt like a swooning maiden with her first sweetheart. It was wonderful.
"Well, we will talk. But I'm sorry, I do have to go now. Henry…"
"Oh. Yeah. No, I know. I know you do. I just…" Emma rubbed her thumbs across the backs of Regina's hands. Stepping toward her timidly, Emma kissed her on the corner of her mouth—half on her cheek, half on her lips—as if she was unsure which would be appropriate for saying good-bye.
Regina's heart had soared as she made her way down the stairs and to the street. She hadn't even minded the long drive to Jefferson's home. She hadn't complained when Henry had wanted to order Chinese take-out instead of having her cook for him that night. Even when that damned pirate had prevented her from seeing Emma and having their talk about the kiss on Sunday, she hadn't thought of killing him. She had only smiled knowing that his days were numbered.
Regina Mills was as in love as anyone ever had been and nothing could destroy the sensation of euphoria she was feeling.
That same feeling welled up in Regina now as she opened the brown paper sack on her desk and pulled out the lunch Emma had left for her. It was a bowl of their chicken soup. And taped to the top on a scrap of paper was a note.
I really enjoyed your lesson on simmering the other night. I wonder what else you could teach me? I look forward to finding out. –Emma
Regina closed her eyes and held the note to her chest. She was looking forward to it too.
~ (SQ) ~
Emma Swan sat with her arms folded on her desk, her chin resting on top of them staring at her cell phone.
Ring. Please ring.
Since leaving the Mayor's office, the blonde had been waiting impatiently for Regina to call or text or email… to reach out in some way and tell her the soup was a nice surprise. But so far, no word had been heard and Emma was beginning to second guess herself.
The two cannery workers whose fight she had broken up were each sitting in a cell across the room from her, brooding and angry, one with a black eye, the other a bloodied nose and busted lip. Emma had left them both, handcuffed and bickering, in the cruiser while she dropped off Regina's soup. She had no intention of letting the men and their altercation mess up her surprise.
It had been a busy day already and Emma was tired. David was on his way in to relive her of duty so she could go to the remaining portion of the meeting she was missing. The sheriff sighed and spun her phone around. Why wasn't Regina calling?
Emma glanced at the time. It was nearly two o'clock already. David needed to hurry up. It wasn't that the blonde relished the idea of sitting in a meeting all day, but the thought of being there with Regina made it suddenly important. Roger Hopkins was possibly the most boring person Emma had ever been in a meeting with but even that she would endure to see the brunette.
Roger Hopkins. Just thinking of him made the sheriff mad. He obviously had a little crush on Regina. How was it possible after one real kiss that she could be so jealous of someone taking an interest in the Mayor? And yet, she was incredibly jealous. One kiss… but what a kiss it was.
Being jealous of Roger really was ridiculous. He was harmless. He would never have the balls to approach Regina no matter how much he was crushing on her. And if he did, no way in hell Regina would go out with him. He didn't have that something extra… that unnamed quality that would catch the former queen's attention.
But apparently I do.
A swell of pride puffed out Emma's chest and she closed her eye to savor it. How was it that someone like Regina would even look at someone like her? The blonde couldn't figure it out but she wasn't going to question it too far.
Emma stared hard at the phone willing it to ring. Maybe Regina didn't like the soup. Or maybe the note had been too much. Was this over before it had even started?
Her phone rang, the words "Mayor's Office" flashing on the screen.
"Well, hello beautiful." Emma smiled into the phone.
"Oh, uh. Hi Barbara. I'm sorry. I thought this was… well, it doesn't matter who I thought this was. I just… so what can I do for you?" Emma dropped her head on the desk with a thud. She would have to be more careful.
"Sure, I will be there as soon as my deputy arrives. Thanks for calling." Barbara had called on behalf of the Mayor to let Emma know the meeting would reconvene at two and she should come even if she was late. It sounded like Regina wanted to see her too. But why hadn't she called or texted? All the old insecurities Emma tried to fight seemed to be clawing their way to surface.
"Sorry I'm late, Emma. I hear you had quite a morning." David interrupted her thoughts and smiled his trademark lopsided grin at her.
"Yeah, it was something. I will fill you in when I get back, but right now I have a meeting. Madam Mayor has already summoned me." The sheriff stood and gave her father a half-hug. "Thanks for handling this. I'll be back in a few."
Emma dashed over to the town hall and took the stairs two at a time to the meeting room on the second floor. Once she was at the door, the blonde took several calming breaths so no one would notice her rush to get there. She wanted to seem cool, unaffected by the Mayor.
Slipping quietly in, Emma made her way to the conference table and took a seat across from Regina. The blonde smiled brightly at the other woman, but she merely nodded her acknowledgment. Emma frowned. Regina seemed to be distant and professional. Maybe she regretted the kiss. Roger Hopkins, for his part, stopped and smiled awkwardly at the sheriff in greeting. He blushed and fumbled with his laser pointer.
What's up with this guy?
Emma didn't consider Roger for long. Her real concern was Regina. They hadn't spoken since the kiss. Other than the call from Barbara and the note with the bowl of soup, they had had no contact at all. Was Regina regretting everything now? Had the kiss been a mistake? What if Regina just got caught up in the moment?
Emma's phone buzzed twice in quick succession in her pants pocket, startling her. She had to shimmy it free and tried to be discreet. Maybe something was wrong at the station.
Regina: Thank you for the soup. And the note.
Regina: I am quite interested to find what we might learn together. (Winky face emoji)
Emma felt a blush creep up her chest and neck. She glanced up at the Mayor but Regina was dutifully listening to Roger and taking notes. Emma tapped out a return message.
Emma: So when do you think we could have another "lesson"? (Smiley face emoji with halo)
Emma looked back to Roger but snuck a glance to Regina every few seconds. The brunette finally looked down at her phone in her lap. After a moment, a warm smile moved across her face. She lifted her eyes and, finding Emma watching, she bit her bottom lip. It was precious and sweet and so damn sexy.
Regina: My, but aren't you an eager student.
Emma was trying to form a sassy reply when another message dinged.
Regina: Are you free tonight? Maybe you could come for dinner.
Regina watched Emma read and frown. She waited for a response.
Emma: I can't! (Weeping emoji) I already told mom I would watch Neal for her to go to a booster club meeting. And dad is taking the night shift. (Sad face emoji, sad face emoji, sad face emoji)
Regina: So bring Neal with you. Henry will be there too. I'd just like to spend time with you... whether or not we have a lesson.
No one who was looking could have missed the one thousand watt smile that brightened Emma's face. She winked at Regina and tapped out a reply.
Emma: In that case, Neal and I will be there at six.
Regina: I can hardly wait.
Emma: Ha! Says the woman who loves to simmer. (Winky face emoji) Now pay attention before my boss catches me goofing off and punishes me.
Regina: Your boss sounds like a real hard ass.
Emma: Yeah… but she's beautiful.
Regina blushed reading the words but made no reply. It was her turn to lead the meeting. Emma would have to wait until tonight to be rewarded for the compliment.
~ (SQ) ~
"Wa-gina!" Neal's squealing voice filled the kitchen as he threw his body at the brunette's legs.
"Hey buddy." Regina ruffled the boy's soft hair and smiled down into his adoring face.
"Me an' Emma came to see you." The boy released her and thumbed over his shoulder toward his sister lingering in the door.
The minute their eyes met, both women shared a nervous, shy smile. "Well, I am glad Emma brought you to see me. Now, let's get you out of this coat and see if you can help Henry set the table." Regina pulled down the zip on the Neal's coat and slipped it from his arms.
Emma had taken a bold step and let herself in to the mansion tonight with her key. Regina was expecting them. It was perfectly acceptable. At least, that was what the blonde kept telling herself. Before she could take off Neal's jacket or her own and hang them in the front closet, the boy had dashed off to find his favorite person in all the world.
Now, Neal and Emma trailed behind Regina to the coat closet were she hung up the boy's tiny jacket. Henry appeared from the living room and his mother sent the two boys to gather the plates and flatware to set the table for dinner.
"May I take your coat, Sheriff?" Regina purred, turning back to the blonde when the boys disappeared into the kitchen.
"Barely here five minutes and already trying to undress me." Emma spoke before she weighed her words. It was something she would have said in a teasing tone without worry before the kiss. But know she wondered if it was too much.
She needn't have worried.
"Patience dear… good things come to those who wait." Brown eyes raked over Emma making her shiver. Regina pushed the red leather from Emma's shoulders and slid her fingers down her toned arms. "Such good things…" she mumbled to herself, hanging the coat up.
Just then, Henry and Neal tramped into the dining room, the smaller boy carrying the silverware and asking his nephew a million questions. Henry for his part was patient with the boy and went on setting the table.
"So, are we going to make soup? Or maybe you know some really sexy way to make mac and cheese. Mmmm. That's sexy all by itself." Emma wiggled her eye brows at Regina, trying to speak quietly enough as to not be overheard.
"Not in front of the children." Regina brushed her hand against Emma's and began climbing the few steps to the landing. Throwing a wink over her shoulder, the brunette led the way back to the kitchen.
"So, what are we cooking?" Emma leaned against the counter by the stove.
"Nothing tonight. I have already prepared something I thought everyone would enjoy—"
"Aww, man. I was looking forward to it." Emma pouted and it was adorable.
"Well, I thought you would prefer some time on the sofa, cuddling with me under a blanket, while the boys watch a movie. But if you'd rather chop onions…" Regina gave a dismissive sigh at pretended to be offended.
"No, no. I would much rather do that than chop onions! So, when can I eat?"
Regina turned and gave Emma a gaze that made her knees weak. "All in good time, Emma. At least buy me dinner first."
Emma blushed when she realized what she had said and how Regina had decided to respond. She had never been one to blush. She wasn't shy about romance or sex or her body. But she couldn't stop the constant parade of color on her chest and cheeks when it came to Regina.
Aside from Neal flat out refusing to eat his vegetable, not even for Wa-gina, dinner went by very well. The conversation was about safe topics—work, school, Henry's new comic book—but Emma was having a hard time concentrating on any of it. Every time Regina raised her fork to take a bite, the blonde thought about the time her finger tips had been on the menu.
She wanted to think that Regina was unaware of these thoughts but she knew that simply wasn't the case. She knew. Oh, she definitely knew. A few times the brunette had caught Emma watching her and had deliberately made a show taking a bite, always keeping her eyes on green orbs. The fact that Regina knew she was having an effect on her and seemed to be enjoying the power somehow made it even sexier to Emma. She liked the confidence, the way the brunette appeared comfortable in her own skin. It was very attractive.
Henry, for his part, pretended not to notice. He had seen the change in his brunette mother over the past few weeks and he had been enjoying the increased visits to the mansion by Emma. He wondered why Regina hadn't mentioned to him exactly what was up but he dismissed that thought pretty fast. Naturally she wouldn't want him to get his hopes up in case anything went wrong with… whatever this was. It was a little embarrassing at his age seeing them making eyes at each other across the table. He was old enough to know—or at least to think he knew—what the looks and little smiles meant. But if it meant an end to all the crying and sad music and angst, he was willing to endure it.
Everyone pitched in on clearing the table and putting away the remaining food. Neal collected all the cloth napkins and dutifully put them in the hamper in the laundry room. When the boy reappeared in the kitchen, he had both hands on his little hips and a questioning look on his face.
"Wa-gina? What is our tweat?"
Regina looked away from Emma's warm smile toward the boy. "Our what?"
"Our tweat! Will we have a cookie or a bwownie or ice cweam?" The boy, for the first time since he had existed on this earth, suddenly made Regina remember he was related to Snow White.
"Oh, a treat. I see. Well, if you remember buddy, I said little boys who don't eat their vegetables do not get a special treat. Did you eat your vegetables?" Regina squatted to be at his eye level. Emma felt ashamed that this during this sweet exchange all she could do was focus on Regina's rounded rear end.
"No, but I don't wike dem, Gina." The boy began to whine. He was definitely Snow's son.
"Well, I tried to get you to just taste them and you wouldn't. So, I'm sorry buddy but no treat tonight." Regina reached out a comforting hand but she had no intention of giving him what he wanted even if he cried and wailed and made a spectacle of himself.
And that is exactly what he did. He flopped onto his bottom, fell back onto the tile floor and began throwing a tantrum the likes of which Regina had never seen. Henry, even at this age, had always been reasonable. His tantrums were few and far between.
Seeing her brother in such distress, Emma reached for the red-faced, kicking noise in a pull-over sweater that had once been Neal. Regina placed a gentle hand on the blonde's arm and shook her head.
"He's acting like a spoiled brat. Let him cry. He will calm down in a minute." The brunette went back to stacking plates in the dishwasher. Emma looked between the woman and the boy. Henry ignored them all and headed back to the living room.
"But… he's… Shouldn't we do something?" Emma was worried the boy might actually explode.
"Emma, trust me. In a minute, he will dry up those tears and want to cuddle with us on the sofa. But if we give in to him just because he is demanding something he wants, he will never learn that he can't always have his way. He loves you. He loves me. One cookie denial won't change that." Regina started the dishwasher and stepped over Neal and toward the door. "We are going to watch a movie buddy. When you get ready, I have a comfy spot for you."
Emma watched, dumbfounded. Her mother never left Neal to scream. She usually caved right away. Unsure of what to do, Emma stepped over her brother and followed the brunette across the hall to the living room where their son was already setting up a DVD. Tonight would be Cars, something the three year old still screaming in the kitchen could enjoy.
Before Lightning McQueen found himself in Radiator Springs, Neal was laying on his tummy on the floor beside Henry, snuggled under a blanket, pointing out his favorite characters. It was as if nothing had happened. Emma shook her head and grinned at Regina sitting close to her on the couch. The women were under a blanket of their own.
"I would've given in and let him have a cookie." The former Dark One whispered so as not to draw the boy's attention to them.
"I honestly thought about it there for a minute. I'm not heartless and he was crying so hard." Regina winked, turning her face toward the blonde and finding Emma was much closer than she had thought.
The two women sat looking into each other's eyes a moment, barely a hair's breadth between them. Piercing green eyes flicked down to Regina's lips and back again. "Are tears the only thing that make you give in to someone's desire for a… treat?"
Regina chuckled darkly. "Well, I think you already earned a treat today by being so thoughtful and bringing me lunch."
Secreted away under the blanket, Emma felt Regina's index finger trace lightly up her forearm, circle on the sensitive skin in the bend of her elbow and slide down again. Goosebumps spread up her arm from finger tips to shoulder at the sensation.
"I've been bringing you lunch for years…" Emma whispered, an evil grin tugging at her lips.
"Indeed you have. My… so many treats you've earned, Miss Swan." Now the single finger became two slipping along Emma's skin. The use of the old moniker from the days they had hated each other didn't bother Emma in the least. It felt somehow naughty coming from Regina in this present situation.
Emma said nothing in reply. Instead her tongue nervously wetted her lips and her eyes again fell to Regina's perfectly pouting mouth. Regina's fingers continued their languid journey across porcelain skin and, whether by accident or by design, the back of the brunette's hand brushed momentarily against Emma's breast causing the blonde's breath to hitch.
Regina's dark eyes peered at Emma as if on the verge of offering a silent apology for the touch but finding it was welcomed, Regina merely switched from finger tips to her palm moving along the arm. Her fingers wrapped around and gave an occasional tender squeeze but Emma made no sounds despite her pleasure. Both women were aware of the two boys laying a few feet away.
Regina leaned closer and with her lips nearly touching Emma's earlobe, her hot breath caressed the blonde's skin. "I'd really like to kiss you again, Emma."
Emma's eyes fell closed at the sensation. Regina didn't pull away so Emma whispered back breathlessly "I'd really like that too."
The words were barely out of her mouth before she felt soft lips pressing gently against that most tender spot on her neck just below her ear. Her first impulse was to moan out her enjoyment at the tender kiss, but she dared not bring attention to them.
She felt the tip of Regina's nose nuzzle tenderly against her ear, followed by the husky voice that was fast becoming her favorite sound. "It's all I've been able to think about since that night. And god, Emma, you smell so good. Are you trying to make me crazy?"
Emma swallowed hard at Regina's sexy confession. She had long suspected the woman could be quite a temptress given half a chance, but she had never thought she'd be on the receiving end of her sensual whispering. Emma was afraid to move and found she was actually holding her breath.
Again, Emma felt those soft lips against her neck before teeth grazed her earlobe. She didn't stand a chance of stopping the groan that came from her then. Afraid the boys had heard, they sprung apart and stared straight ahead. Neal was already asleep and Henry had in his earbuds, scrolling through the contents of his iPod.
Emma chanced a glance at Regina in her periphery but the brunette was not as cautious. She was facing Emma and biting hard on her bottom lip. The sight made Emma's already rapid heartbeat increase exponentially.
Glancing down again at the boys, Emma spoke at a normal volume. "I think I want something to drink. Where do you keep your soda stash?"
Regina frowned at first. Emma knew where everything was in the kitchen. Green eyes tried to help her along and Regina took the hint. "Here, let me show you."
The women stood casually and started toward the door.
"Hey, where are you going?" Henry called quietly so as not to disturb Neal.
"Um… to get a… um… soda?" Emma stumbled nervously and phrased it more as a question than a statement. "Do you want one?"
Henry rolled his eyes. He didn't even want to know what was going on. "No. I'm good. I think I'll just go up to my room and pretend I'm not here."
Emma grinned, embarrassed and somehow proud that her son wasn't stupid. "Ok. I'll come tell you goodnight before I go."
Henry nodded to her, didn't make direct eye contact with either of his mothers and bounded up the stairs. As soon as his bedroom door shut, the two women just stood in the hall, neither sure if they should go on to the kitchen or stay put.
"So…" Emma started.
Regina took a deep breath and let it slowly out. "So…"
Emma reached out a tentative hand and intertwined her fingers with Regina's. "So. About that soda?"
The former queen offered up a deliciously wicked smirk. "Yes. Let's have one."
Standing in the darkened kitchen, Emma giggled quietly and she slipped her arms around Regina's waist.
"What's funny?" Regina asked, sliding her hands up Emma's arms and around her neck.
"Just that I never thought of the kitchen as an exciting place until very recently and now I can't even make a sandwich without feeling flush all over my body." Regina quite enjoyed the new roughness to Emma's whispering voice.
Regina nuzzled again into Emma's neck with her nose and whispered. "If you think the kitchen is bad, just imagine what I can do to a bedroom." She nipped again at Emma's ear.
This time the blonde responded by pulling Regina closer to her. "Believe me, I've been imagining."
Immediately Emma wished she hadn't said that. She sounded like a pervert. But Regina was constantly surprising her with her responses and this was no different.
"Have you, Emma?" She husked, sliding her hands slowly back down Emma's arms and leaning back to look her in the face. "And what did you imagine?"
Full red lips brushed lightly against pale pink and again Emma moaned. "I assure you, anything I have dreamed was nothing compared to the reality. One kiss and I can think of nothing else."
Then, without fanfare or discussion, Regina's mouth covered Emma's and the two women staggered back against the island, the blonde pinned between it and this wild creature before her. Emma felt very brave and let her hands ease down Regina's body toward her firm ass, stopping just short and pulling the woman closer.
Still, for all the touches, heavy breathing and sexy whispers, Regina managed to keep the kiss from moving beyond lips caressing and teeth nipping. The desire to prolong the inevitable was strong in her. She wanted to explore her feelings, her hunger and enjoy learning every part of her love. Emma seemed to be happy with her pace and followed her like a weary traveler to an oasis.
Regina leaned back, gazing into turbulent green seas and was about to override her desire to take her time when a tiny voice called from the hallway.
"Wa-gina? Henry? Emma?" Neal sounded on the verge of tears. "Where'd everybody go?"
Reluctantly the two women separated and Regina called to the boy. "We are here buddy, in the kitchen."
Frustrated with the situation, Emma couldn't stop herself from pacing about the kitchen. She wasn't a brat like Neal, but she wasn't in the habit of denying herself what she wanted either.
"Are you having a tweat? I falled asleep." The blonde little boy reached up for Regina and she scooped him up in her arms. "Why you gots all dat on your face, Gina?"
Regina looked to Emma for help in knowing what was amiss. Emma laughed and covered her own mouth feeling sure she was in a similar state. Realization dawned on Regina. She probably had lipstick smeared across her face.
"Um… why don't I get you a cookie?" Regina said, setting the boy down on the floor and wiping at the edges of her mouth.
Cookie in hand, Neal tried to climb onto the bar stool at the island. Emma laughed again and whispered to Regina. "Did you just try to distract the munchkin with a cookie?"
Regina shrugged with great disinterest. "I never yet met a Charming who wasn't a sucker for a sweet taste of something."
Emma slid her hand gently down the brunette's arm and smiled at her. "To be fair, you have the sweetest taste of all."
Regina returned her smile. She wanted to take the blonde in her arms and just hold her close. Once more, she intertwined their fingers and gave them a gentle squeeze.
"Well, as much as I don't want to—and you have no idea how much I don't want to—I should probably go. It's getting late and I am sure my mother is wondering where we are."
Regina frowned but she knew Emma was right. They still hadn't had their talk and it looked like time was only adding to the list of kisses they needed to discuss. "I suppose you are right but I really hope next time you won't have to rush off."
Next time.
Those two words kept Emma awake for most of the night. No matter what else happened… there was the promise of a next time.