(Special thanks to a friend for the art work for the 31 prompts and to Bekki for beta reading these. And thank you to all who read, review, follow and fav this.)
Day 14-I Dare You
(A/U Setting)
Regina Mills had just arrived at her best friend Mary Margaret's wedding, she was making her way to where the bridal party was to meet, when she turned a corner and immediately ran into something, or rather someone. She felt safe, sure hands reached out to steady her as she had began to fall backwards.
"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry to get to the bridal room," Regina was saying, and promptly stopped after looking up at the face of the person who she had run into.
"Please tell me you're not Mary Margaret," the man said, causing Regina to chuckle.
"I'm afraid not," Regina said, aware that the man still had his hands on her forearms, feeling his thumbs caress her skin as he held her.
"Thank goodness, I was about to have to go see my old friend David Nolan," the man said, his eyes twinkling.
"And what is that?" Regina asked with a smile.
"I was going to have to tell him, he wouldn't be getting married today," the man said,"as I would be kidnapping the bride to be."
"You're a friend of David's?" Regina asked, curious.
"You could say that," the man said.
Regina laughed at his flirting,"Well, just so you know," Regina said as she stood on the tips of her toes and whispered into his ear,"I wouldn't have minded being kidnapped." she said rather boldly.
When she leaned back and looked at the man, he was smiling so much, his dimples were showing, those things should be outlawed, Regina thought to herself.
"But for now, I must go," Regina said as she moved from his grasp and headed towards her destination.
"I'll see you later," the man called out, causing her to look back at him, she bit her lower lip as she continued her way to the room. If she wasn't so rushed she would have stayed and talked with the man...wait, what was his name?
"Damnit," Regina said as she walked into the bridal room.
"Well, I always have to give you credit Regina," Mary Margaret said, surrounded by others,"you always know how to make an entrance."
"Oh hush," Regina said with a laugh, and she couldn't stop the smile that was on her face as she thought of her encounter with the stranger in the hall.
"Regina, if I didn't know better, I would say you look smitten," Mary Margaret said.
"And if I didn't know better, I would think you were smitten with a chicken with all those feathers you have in that dress of yours," Regina said, talking about Mary Margaret's wedding dress.
As the women were getting ready for the next few hours, with hair and make up and all the normal pre wedding activities, the men had just arrived into the groom's staging area.
David and his groomsmen were standing around talking about the old days and giving David a hard time,"No more going to the strip club," Killian Jones said with a chuckle.
"I have no need for those anymore, I'm going to marry the woman I love," David said as the men all rolled their eyes at him. "And I couldn't ask for a better bunch of men to celebrate this day."
Just then the door opened and in walked,"Robin! I was beginning to wonder if you would make it," David said as he walked over to hug him.
"You can't get married without your old chap here, I've seen you at your worst and well your worst," Robin said as the two men laughed. He had his tux in a tuxedo bag, over his shoulder.
"Come, let's get you ready," David said as he showed Robin to a changing room, a few minutes later Robin came out and David handed him a glass of scotch.
"To the best group of old lads ever assembled," Robin said to David, Killian, August, Jefferson who all cheered and clinked glasses.
"And here is a token of my appreciation," David handed all the men a cigar, as the men enjoyed a few smokes. Robin walked out onto the balcony to overlook the back of the old plantation house that the wedding was taken place at. Robin closed his eyes, and smiled as he pictured the beautiful woman he had run into earlier, she had to be in the wedding or a guest here. He hoped to be able to find her later.
"Penny for your thoughts," David said as he came up behind Robin.
"Just thinking," Robin said.
"Let me guess, over a woman," David guessed.
Robin smiled as he once again thought of the woman,"You're right, I literally ran into someone who literally took my breath away. She was beautiful, no stunning, and quick on her feet,"
"Wow, she really made an impression on you," David said, seeing the way his old friend spoke of this mystery woman,"so, who is she? Are you going to see her again?"
"I don't know, I was so awestruck that I didn't get her name, but I think she is a guest here or maybe one of the bridesmaids," Robin said, "she knew who you were."
"Describe her to me," David said.
"She's about five, five. About one hundred and twenty pounds, she had dark brown hair that goes below her shoulders, and these dark brown eyes that I lost myself in," Robin said.
"Robin, the romantic? Who are you and what have you done with my friend?" David asked as Robin sighed.
"Well, I have good news for you, she is in the wedding party," David said as he saw Robin perk up at his words,"She's Mary Margaret's best friend, she's the maid of honor, her name is Regina Mills."
"Regina," Robin said her name, more to himself.
"Come on, let's get me married, and you with your dream lady," David said as he patted Robin on the shoulders," and who knows, if things work out, I'll be your best man at your own wedding."
An hour later, Regina was standing with the other women getting ready to head down the aisle. She had found herself many times today, thinking about her encounter with the handsome man she had run into. She shook her head, thinking how silly she must be. Surely the man was already dating someone, men like him never stayed single.
The doors opened and she was up, she started walking down the aisle to the lyrics from the song „Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli. She smiled as she saw David standing there, as her eyes started to move, she was captured by these intense blue eyes again, blue eyes she had been thinking about often since she had first seen them. She was so mesmerized by him, that she almost stopped in the aisle, she gathered herself and marched to her post at the front. The whole time, her gaze was locked with his, he had a soft smile as he watched her.
For Robin, he literally couldn't take his eyes off her. She was stunning, that beautiful mouth. A perfect rosebud, that seemed to beg for a kiss. She looked beautiful in her red dress, that matched her red lips. Her hair was down, in loose curls and he arched to put his fingers in those silky tresses. A few minutes later, the bride made her way down the aisle, and Robin had to force himself to tear his gaze from Regina. Mary Margaret was a beautiful bride but in his opinion the maid of honor out shined the bride.
The rest of the wedding continued with the usual exchanging of vows, rings, and so on. During the wedding, Robin frequently looked at Regina, who was, he noted, often smiling at him, she was smiling regardless but he did catch her eyes on him. Finally the preacher announced that David and Mary Margaret were man and wife, and they preceded to kiss and head down the aisle.
Which meant it was his and Regina's turn to go down the aisle. Robin smirked to himself as he thought of that sentence, as he moved forward and offered his arm to Regina, he whispered,"Milady."
Regina smiled as she placed her arm in his and together they started down the aisle. As Regina was walking, she caught a whiff of his scent, it was a woody, clean scent but very alluring. Quite like the man himself. As they entered the beautiful ballroom, with Regina on his arm, he turned to her,"I was hoping to see you again."
"Is that so? You know before we go any further I need to know one thing," Regina said.
"What's that?" Robin asked.
"Your name?" Regina said.
"The name is Robin, Robin Locksley," Robin introduced himself.
"Regina, Regina Mills," Regina said to him.
"I'm enchanted," Robin said as he bowed lightly to her, and took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles with his mouth.
"The best man," Regina said.
"In more ways than one, for the most stunning woman here," Robin said .
"That's the bride typically," Regina said to him.
"Not this day, this day I have the most beautiful woman right in front of me," Robin said.
"But not any longer, as I'm being waved over," Regina said as she headed towards where Mary Margaret was waving her over.
"David, told me it was Robin you met in the hallway," Mary Margaret said, smiling. "He's kinda cute yeah?"
"If you like that type," Regina said.
"He's your type, Regina," Mary Margaret said, "I do hope you give him a real chance, he's a really nice man."
"We'll see," Regina said as they all settled down to eat, the bridal party was at one long table. The bridesmaids were on Mary Margaret's right, while the groomsmen were on David's left. Robin hated not being closer to Regina, and would often look around to gaze upon her.
After dinner, Regina was returning to the ballroom after going to the powder room. She walked into the ballroom and felt as if an electric current was pinning her in place. Robin Locksley stood there, and he was looking right at her.
Regina grabbed a champagne flute from a waiter and took a hasty sip of it. Regina smiled weakly and watched as Robin made his way towards her, threading through the well heeled crowd with an arrogant assurance, seemingly indifferent to the people mingling around him.
"Dance with me milady," he said as he held out his hand to her, not a question but a statement.
Regina smiled and placed her hand in his larger one, watching as his fingers closed around hers and led her to the dance floor. Once there, one of his hands rested low on her waist, his fingers splaying across her hip.
The band that David had hired were playing a slow song for the couples to sway to.
Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
and there it goes
I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
There's just no rhyme or reason
only this sense of completion
and in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I found my way home
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe
Regina kept her gaze focused on Robin, and vice versa. They were so close, less than six inches apart, and this was no boring dance. She could actually feel the heat of his body, smelled his cologne. He was a good dancer, he swayed really well, his movements sure and sexy. His hands guided her with a calm measure of confidence.
"You're very graceful," Robin said to her as he continued to dance with her.
"So are you," Regina said, as the dance floor began to get crowded.
"Let's go out on the balcony," Robin said as he brought them outside, there were candles all over the outside to give them a soft glow as they looked at one another.
"Did you really mean you would kidnap me if I had been David's bride?" Regina asked.
Robin smiled as he recalled their earlier encounter,"In a heartbeat."
"Why?" Regina asked.
Robin was thoughtful before he chose to answer,"You felt it when we met earlier, didn't you?" he looked at her eyes and could tell she did, when she nodded he continued,"There's something between us, a spark, an attraction. You are attracted to me, aren't you?"
Regina took a deep breath at the direct question. There could be no getting around this,"Maybe," she answered cooly.
"I suppose," Robin murmured, "I'll just have to convince you how attracted you are to me"
Regina realized she had issued a challenge to him without even knowing she had. She decided, despite the wild beating of her heart, to see it through,"And how do you intend to do that?"
"Well," he smiled and brushed a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. His fingers didn't linger but they caused Regina to expel a breath. "perhaps I should start by kissing you."
Regina let out a shaky little laugh,"I dare you."
Robin looked into her eyes, and put his hands on the side of her face as he lowered his head. It was a kiss unlike anything Regina could have imagined. There was nothing tentative about this kiss, nothing tenuous or tender or hesitant. This kiss was hot, hard and searing to her soul.
Her mouth parted slightly, enough that she gasped as his tongue entered inside. Regina was on fire inside. Liquid fire seemed to be pulsing through her veins. Her hands reached up and grasped his shoulders, pressing closer to him, reveling in the feel of his body against hers.
Robin broke the kiss with a smile, Regina could feel his smile against hers lips. "Don't stop," Regina whispered.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Robin said as his lips possessed hers once more, as the sounds of the party inside drifted out to them, but neither caring about anything but
This Moment...