The sound of the coffee machine sputtering the last of the morning brew into the pot was something I thrived on. It lets me know my weekend has started. The pleasant aroma is the rhythm of the day, another anchor in my routine and I enjoy the sense of normalcy. Predictability. After I poured myself a cup I brought my lips to the edge sighing when the warmth grazed my mouth, touching lightly and then heating up my body from the inside out. Aroma curls under my nose and I sighed, content and genuinely happy for the day off.
I hit the gym earlier this morning and got a good pump in, had a great shower, and even made some breakfast without burning down my place. Today was going to be a good day. Walking over to the living I set my coffee next to my breakfast sandwich. My phone on the left of it and my PS5 controller on the right, already turned on with the game loaded. Plopping down I took a bite of my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and grabbed the controller, ready to play when my phone buzzed loudly, annoyingly in comparison to the light music coming from the home screen of the PlayStation.
Feeling the irritation festering inside already from the thought of the person texting me so early, I slowly reached forward and grabbed it. After unlocking the touch screen I opened my messages and read-whoa! Regina? I blinked a few times to make sure I was seeing it correctly. But there it was, her bold name proudly displayed on my phone.
After taking a deep breath I pressed on her name and read: Hey you Thanks for coming by last night. We raised enough money for Kyle's funeral and I even sold a few drawings.
I smirked at the last sentence and drifted my eyes to the drawing sitting tall on the easel. Leaning back against the couch I stared dumbly at my phone. Finally, my fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Congratulations. Glad enough money was raised for the funeral. He may not have had one if it wasn't for you.
That was casual, right? I know after last night in regard to her random disappearance probably meant that I had come on too strong. So, now I gotta keep it light. I bounced my foot up and down constantly checking my thread as if the words would magically appear. Tossing it to the side I reached over to pick up my controller and focused on my mission. Which was beating the level in this game. As soon as I began to play my phone vibrated and I'm surprised I didn't drop the controller from fumbling with it so quickly to put it down.
No, he may not have had one if it wasn't for you. You're the one who convinced me to go with it. That whole speech about 'it's harder to break out on your own then do what's expected of you', really hit home. And sorry I didn't see you before you left. Kinda missed you.
She missed me? No, don't do it. Keep it light. Keep it light. For fuck sakes just keep it light. I bit my lip as I stood and paced in front of my TV, thinking of a clever response. Without having her right in front of me it should be easier for the wittiness to come out.
Glad I could help but you did the work. Take the credit! And I looked for you before I left but you seemed busy and I didn't want to bother you. Plus, if I talk to you too much you might get tired of me. Haha.
Ha-fucking-ha? Dear God I'm worse through text. So much worse. What I said wasn't even funny.
I could never get tired of you In fact, I feel myself going through withdrawals right now. What are your plans for the day?
So I'm like her drug and what, she needs a fix? Something about that thought made my clit throb. Heat swelled in the base of my stomach causing the need to release grow tenfold.
Playing videogames, cleaning my apartment, and then Banshee. So if you're looking to come over your fix is ready to be had.
I don't even know if that sounded great but with the quickness of her response I didn't care. My entire mood lifted to utterly giddy when I read: On my way!
Shooting up from my seat I did a once over of my place, putting some random clothes in the laundry basket, cleaning any dishes that were left in the sink, wiping down my counters to make everything was in an organized clutter and placing her drawing in my room, blocking off the view to my bed by closing the shutters. There's no reason why we should end up anywhere near my bed. That would be very dangerous. And dangerous is not what I'm going for.
It was only a few minutes later when a knock echoed loudly. My head shot up and I stared at the door. There is no way she would've gotten here that fast unless she left before I told her to come over. Yea, that sounds like a move she would make. With an extra switch in my hips I glided to the door and pulled it open.
"That was fa-Shit!"
"Aw, no good morning kiss?" Neal asked with little humor as he pushed his way past me and into my place. Um…
I leaned out the door looking for Jefferson but didn't see him, nor did I smell his wonderful cologne. The door to my fridge opened and after closing the entrance I walked to the kitchen, seeing Neal bent over, digging through my food.
"Sure, help yourself." I muttered, gently pulling him back so I could slam the fridge shut. "To what do I owe the stalking?"
"Do you have something fizzy?" He asked, reaching for the fridge handle but I stepped in front of it, blocking his attempt to raid. He huffed and held a hand over his stomach. Alright, whatever the reason he's in obvious discomfort so I grabbed him a Ginger Ale from the cabinet. Room temperature for people who just barge in. He offered a quick thank you then popped the can open and chugged heavily, burping loudly after.
"Neal, what are you doing here?"
Running a hand through his hair it limply fell in front of his eyes. Leaning forward, he rested his arms on the island to stand on the other side.
"I remember the first time I heard your name come out of her mouth. Regina said 'Gah, that Emma-girl is so obnoxious. I wonder if those jurassic pick-up lines actually work'. But then for two weeks you were all she could talk about 'Emma Swan this' and "Emma Swan that', 'She's misunderstood', 'It was improper for me to judge her', 'She's got a tough exterior but a kind heart', blah blah blah." I didn't respond and did my best to keep my face impassive, I know this story is far from over, "I knew you were trouble the first time we met and you haven't disappointed me yet."
"At least you can't accuse me of being inconsistent." I muttered, folding my arms over my chest.
"Consistent when it comes to breaking hearts."
Knitting my eyebrows together I felt myself automatically go on defense, "What are you talking about? To date I've done nothing but show up for her and Jim."
"I've never said you weren't there for her. You've been there too much. Giving her extra tidbits of affection to make her believe that maybe you'll slip up and make a move."
Um…why would that matter? She's married, unless…unless… "Wait…What has she told you?"
For a split-second Neal's eyes widened, he opened his mouth but then shook his head, "Look, I'm asking you to stop flirting with her. We all know about your reputation for breaking girls in."
"Did she ask you to do this?" Doubtful, very doubtful.
"No, but this isn't what she is." He pressed, finishing the last of the soda he squeezed the can narrowing his gaze at me.
"What she is? This about you, not her. And until it comes from her then Regina and I are good." I rolled my eyes at the thought of this silly 'I'm telling you to back off' macho brother routine he's got going on here.
"She's telling you, you're just not listening. I'm trying to protect her, she's not some notch in your belt or a fucking trophy to win. She's my goddamn sister, Emma," Walking around the island he closed the distance, obviously annoyed at my casual and lenient demeanor, "Besides, even if she did have any feelings for you that weren't platonic there's no way you could give her what she wants. Regina wants…no needs romance. Now tell me, how can you do that for her when you don't even have a heart?" He seethed, brown kind eyes that I'm used to seeing were now cold.
"Regina is a grown woman and what she does with her free time really isn't any of your business."
"She is my business. And she's going to be my business long after you're gone."
Shaking my head slowly I let my arms fall to my side, straightening my posture I leaned in so that our faces were only a couple inches apart, "And how are going to do this? By forbidding her to see me? That's not how you're going to keep her. That's how you're going to lose her. And if you think a little bit of flirting from me is the reason Jim and Regina are rocky then you're kidding yourself." A light knock on my door cut down the tension between us, or should I say distracted. I sent him a crooked grin as I stood up straight. "Now if you'll excuse me, my throat is a little dry. Think it's about time I quench my thirst."
Brushing past him I went to my door and slid it to the left, welcoming the beautiful sight that was Regina. She immediately pushed herself up on her toes and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me in for a hug. I purposely slid my hands underneath her shirt and caressed her low back. Her skin is soft and smooth, and as I brush my thumb down the base of her spine, my breath catches in my throat. The feel of her breasts pressed against mine and the heat rolling between our bodies was arousing. Regina had a fresh, wholesome fragrance that reminds me of Eliot's grandparents apple and orange orchard. My eyelids flutter shut when I inhale, committing her scent to memory.
"Hey cutie." She whispered, her tone soft and warm was music to my ears and the hug she squeezed me with was tight with hints of desperation.
"Hey Regina." Tilting my head to the side I placed a chaste kiss against her cheek and felt her body stiffen, probably because she was usually the one showing affection. But I couldn't help myself, especially not when Neal was taking this all in from right behind me.
"Neal…?" Regina pulled away from me to step inside, slipping off her jacket and showing off the sweatshirt I let her borrow she gave a quizzical look to her brother, "What are you doing here?"
Resting my shoulder against the cold metal I smirked, "Yea Neal, tell Regina what you're doing here." The muscles in his jaw clenched setting a hooded gaze at me, but as quickly as it came it was wiped off when he focused on his sister and walked over to her.
"I could ask you the same thing." He embraced her in a limp hug. I wonder if his dick is limp too. Like his hair and his hugs. Fucking asshole.
"Well, I'm here because Emma invited me to spend the day with her." Oh the day? I wasn't aware that we were spending the whole day together. That's really gotta get under his skin.
"And Jim?" he pressed.
"Oh, you know, Jim is playing Rugby with his police buddies today."
"He passed up a day to hang with you?" Neal asked, reaching out to tuck some hair behind her ear. An ache sank into my chest. The movement was so small but made such an impact on me that the feeling lingered long after he let his hand fall from her face. "You could always hang out with Jefferson and I."
Regina scoffed lowly, taking a step away from Neal, "And be the third wheel, again? No thank you."
His shoulders visibly dropped but he nodded, placing a kiss on her forehead as he moved around her and over to the door. Neal then pulled me in to a hug, which was surprising considering our latest interaction. This one was tight and a little uncomfortable but I played along since Regina was watching us so closely.
"I'm just asking that you avoid hurting her." He lowly said. If I breathed at the same moment I would've missed it, "She's had enough pain in her life." Neal let go, patted my shoulders and walked out the loft. He didn't bother to look back at us, just trotted down the stairs, completely defeated. Shit, now I feel bad. Because his tone wasn't threatening, it had a sense of despair like he was losing his grip on the relationship he built with his sister, and it scared the living shit out of him. It was clear he only wanted the best for her. And big part of me knew he was right about one thing; Regina was a relationship kind of person. She wants romance.
I can't offer her that.
She wants flowers and hearts.
I don't do that shit.
Matter of fact…What am I doing? Why did I invite Regina into the lion's den? Or maybe she's the lion's den and I'm a magnet for danger.
As she took off her sweatshirt the white top underneath rose up. Her toned stomach flexed under the movement and my throat dried at the sight. When she finally got it off and tossed it over a barstool her innocent, honest brown eyes met mine. Holding out her arms to the side she cocked her chin, smiling broadly, "So, what's first on the agenda?"
Regina smashed the buttons on the controller, eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed almost to a pout. It was then when Kato did a fatality move on her character Katana, plunging his hand through her chest and ripping out her heart.
"No!" she shrieked and threw the controller to the ground.
"Hey!" I said with naive innocence, immediately picking it up from the floor and checking for any damage. It's a little scuffed but to be honest that could've been from me.
"This stupid Immortal Ring Fighting game is rigged." Forcefully she sank into the cushions of the couch and folded her arms over her chest like a child. I couldn't help but smile at her grasp on childhood nuances and lack of self-consciousness, even at the age we are at just stepping into our thirties.
"It's called Mortal Kombat. And the game isn't rigged, look…" I controlled the character with excellent precision, beating Kato with a flawless victory both rounds only using a fatality move at the very end, "It's all about timing and knowing which buttons do what…" I was so wrapped up in the game that I didn't realize how closely Regina was examining me. Taking my eyes off the screen we stared at each other. Me and her. No words, just eyes, that's all we ever needed to connect, "What?" I asked, letting a small smile pull my lips upward.
"You're adorable." Reaching over she took the controller out of my hands and shut off the console. After putting it on the coffee table she grasped my hand, pulling me to my feet, "Come on, I haven't had the tour yet."
The tour? Without questioning her curiosity I showed her around the space that she had already been in once before. We already had in depth look into the kitchen because we had just put a homemade pizza in the oven and damn did it smell delicious. We then moved towards the patio followed by my little nook off to the side. Regina said nothing but nice things, of course, and when we finally made it back inside her eyes kept drifting to the closed glass shutters that circled my bedroom.
"So, where do you sleep?"
The question caught me off guard. I didn't like it, I'm usually prepared for everything, "In a bed."
She dramatically rolled her eyes, "Obviously. But where?"
"You hate that too? Like when someone asks what are we eating and the response is food. So annoying." I murmured, stalling for time.
It felt like I was moving outside of myself. My primal subconscious-self took over, confidently striding over to the glass panes. Pressing a button the panels vertically turned, revealing the California King size bed, neatly made, the blue neon lights above and below shining brightly even in the daytime, and my seven pillows were neatly stacked at the head of the bed. Regina slid through the doorless opening and with each step she took I did the same from the outside, watching her take in my space.
A throb screamed inside of me as she pressed her palm against my deep blue Eiderdown comforter then slid her hand along the fabric. Her eyes were brought to the erotic, sensual art hanging on the walls then to the easel with her drawing and even from where I was standing I could see the blush seep through on her cheeks. I was happy that I was wearing dark sweatpants. If I was in shorts or a lighter color she'd be able to see how wet I'm getting just from these simple, minute actions. And as if a part of her read my mind she turned around and sat down on the bed.
"So, this is it, huh? Your bed, aka the pit." Regina smiled softly, her brown eyes till roaming around.
"The pit?" Chuckling at her choice of words I slid through a gap, still making sure to keep a few feet of distance between us.
"Yea, this is where it all goes down, all those lucky ladies in the long list of casual one-night stands." After a second, she looked at me. Her pupils were so dilated that it darkened her gaze, like she was giving me the come hither stare. I could see her evaluate the distance from my body to hers but she didn't voice discomfort nor make any effort to move. The tension that is becoming a familiar friend started to crackle and pop in the space between us.
"Lucky?" I don't know why but a small frisson of annoyance cracked my dreamy head space.
"Yea, when most people hook up it's a lot of 'how am I doing?', 'are they into it?', 'will they stay or go?'. But with you I get the sense that you're like 'who gives a fuck what you think, you're lucky to be with me'." Regina did her best impression of me but she made me sound like Shrek and I know I don't have an accent. Laughter bubbled up from my chest and I held my hands over my stomach. "Shut up!" she whined, but soon after was joining me.
When we calmed down and I wiped the tears from my eyes I leaned against the sturdy frame of my doorway, sliding my hands in my pockets, feeling the waist band of my sweats tug down slightly. Brown eyes darted to the exposed for a second and then were back to meet my gaze.
"Thank you for that wonderful impression, Regina."
"Anytime I can lend my talents to help a fellow friend out is a blessing."
DING!
She jumped at the sound of the oven timer going off and with a soft laugh I turned around and headed to the kitchen. I pulled out a couple plates, then grabbed mittens and slid the pizza out of the oven. Oh my god it smells delicious. I'm basic and wanted a simple pepperoni topping but then she convinced me to add arugula, mushrooms, and red onions. Thank God.
The space from her also gave me a chance to reset my self control. Turns out, I have a lot of it and I'm proud of myself. Regina was in my bed and I didn't try to get her out of her clothes or pounce on her.
Smiling, I shook my head slowly.
I can't believe she called my bedroom 'The Pit'.
"Looks like you really didn't need my help. You basically made that thing by yourself." Regina said from behind me.
"Yea, I do know my way around a kitchen. Besides, if we were at your place I'm sure you'd be the same." I responded with a grimace. Did I just invite myself over to her place?
She was quiet for a second and I wondered if she was watching what I was doing. Please don't let me fuck this up. Don't spill anything. Don't drop the pizza. Just breathe and operate like a normal human being.
"Do you have anything of the alcohol variety to drink?" she asked, finally breaking the silence growing between us.
"Um if you want something hard then check the freezer. If you'd like something a little softer Ruby left her Seltzer Water here. It supposedly has alcohol in it."
Regina chuckled lowly as she walked to the refrigerator and reached inside for the seltzer. Snapping open the can she came up beside me and leaned against the counter with her elbow, "So, what else do you have planned for this weekend? Throwing any huge parties?"
"Hell no." I snorted. I would've loved to see her reaction but I was using most of brain power to not burn myself as I cut the pizza, "I don't have the patience for that shit."
Bringing the can to her lips she took a sip, intently watching what I was doing as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world, "What do you have the patience for?"
Apparently you. "I have the patience for very few things in life. My friends. My son. My job."
"The Banshee."
"Oh no. Even that can be a little too much."
My jaw tightened as images of Regina and I dancing at the club played in my mind's eye. Fuck. My grip constricted around the pizza cutter as I attempted to breath through the painful throbbing in between my legs. I didn't want Regina to leave but fighting with intense arousal was almost becoming too much to handle.
I slid three pieces of pizza for each of us on separate plates and walked to my table in the dining area. Turning on the Bluetooth speaker I played some soft lo-fi beats in the background and we both chowed down without hesitation. My eyes dropped to her lips with each bite she took. God, I wish I was that pizza, touching so lightly upon her lips. Touching so lightly then entering her sweet abyss.
"Truth or Truth." I asked without thinking, watching as she choked for a moment on the bread then grabbed her seltzer to help.
"Truth." She responded with teasing eyes.
"How's your sex life with Jim been?" I asked and watched as she coughed on the second sip of her drink. Jesus, I swear I'm not trying to kill her.
"I wasn't expecting that." Obviously, "It's been okay. Better, but…I don't know I guess when you've been with someone for so long things can get a little stale." She pulled her lips into a smirk as she gazed at me.
"No orgasms yet?" C'mon Jim. Get your shit together. If you don't please your wife there are plenty of other people willing to do it for you. And I put myself at the front of the line for that.
"I've had a few. I just bought a new vibrator." Now it was my turn to choke on my food. I sputtered and coughed, knowing my face had to be beyond an attractive rosy color as I dislodged the pepperoni from my throat. Her light giggle floated over to me and through watery eyes I could see her staring at me with a heavy gaze. "Did that make you uncomfortable?"
I shook my head, reaching for her drink and chugging some of it down, "Sorry. No. I have a very vivid imagination. So when you said that-"
"You imagined me pleasuring myself." Her tone was calm and collected like she were answering a question about the weather. A strange grip around my throat tightened and my core began to heat up. Regina's voice had dropped a few octaves and again her pupils widened, like she could take me in fast enough. "Truth or Truth?"
Nerves buzzed underneath my skin, "Truth." And I prayed it wouldn't be a follow up question to her previous comment.
"Have you ever fucked someone who was married?"
Whew! "Oh yea." I answered with enthusiasm.
"Really? And it doesn't bother you? You don't feel guilty."
"Feeling guilty would imply that I have a conscience." I joked, it did earn a smile from her but there wasn't any happiness behind it, "But no. It's not my problem it's theirs."
She nodded, biting her lip and placed a reassuring hand on top of mine, squeezing gently.
"You play like you're this heartless asshole, but you can't fool me, Emma. You're none of the things you like to pretend you are." She said it with so much seriousness that I almost believed that she meant that. But Regina doesn't know me, not really anyway. Every time I'm around her I work to be on my best behavior, to not slip up.
"Maybe you just don't know me enough." I don't know why I said that out loud, but it was too late to take it back.
"Maybe not." She leaned forward, her fingers rising higher and higher up my arm and it was a battle to bury the reactions her touch elicited, "But I think I'm starting to get an idea." Regina winked before pulling away from me completely, leaving a trail of goosebumps in the absence of her touch, "Are you done?"
I nodded and she stood, taking the plate and dumping the contents of what was left in the trash. Slowly I stood, thinking over her comment. I love that she wants to get to know me, the real me, but I'm afraid my self-sabotage tendencies may not allow it. She finished her drink then promptly reached in the fridge to grab another, chugging half of it right away.
Moving to stand next to the sink we adopted a method of dish washing where I would rinse and she'd load the dishwasher. We started up some idle chatter, but mostly cleaned in silence. Normally I'd hate the quiet but with Regina I was comfortable. The drinks seemed to be working their magic in making her relaxed. She would kid around and make jokes or embarrass herself and all I could think was how could anybody be so cute.
Though that thought quickly dissipated when I felt cool drops water spray my collarbone. I turned my head to glare at her but she had the most adorable childlike grin on her face that I couldn't even pretend to be mad. Instead I just splashed some of the water in the sink at her. She shrieked and just laughed.
"I don't think you want to start this, Emma. I hit back twice as hard." Regina warned, but a playful undertone did little to scare me off.
"Oh, I'm shaking." I sarcastically returned and she pretended to be offended. A couple of minute passed of us working and I thought her threat had gone away. That is, until I turned my attention to change the song and a full glass of warm water was poured over the top of my head. I gasped feeling the warmth seep through my clothes while her laughter rang through the loft.
"Told ya!"
Oh bitch. It's on. "Okay. That was a cheap shot but okay."
"Cheap shot? That was stealth at its finest." She gloated while leaning down to set a plate in the bottom rack.
"Sure. Hey, can you hand me the soap. I'm empty." I pointed to the large bottle of Dawn tucked in the corner and she leaned forward and stretched, her shirt riding up in the back. This only egged me on more, so I readied the nozzle and as she turned around I sprayed hot water all over her chest to her thighs. This time she really shrieked, immediately spinning away from me which allowed me to get her back too.
I laughed hysterically, probably the hardest I've laughed since we hung out last.
"That was a cheap shot." She teasingly accused, coming at me pretty aggressively.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Ripping the nozzle out of my hands she sprayed me down from my head to my toes, running me right out of the kitchen. Planting myself on the opposite side of the island I held up my hands in surrender, but not listening she sprayed my face head on. Oh, what a sore loser.
"Staaahp!" I yelled playfully and finally the water ceased, along with her giggling. When I wiped my eyes Regina was staring at my chest, her face beet red. Looking down I noticed that my soaked white shirt was completely see-through and I wasn't wearing a bra, so my the outline of breast and nipples were very clear. She was also in a white shirt, her bright red bra and tight, flat stomach pressing against the clothing. Her breasts looked so perfect, round, and soft.
My mouth watered as I wondered what they would taste like.
"Yeah…can I borrow some clothes? And we call a truce."
Arousal surged through my core and all the way up to my mouth. Fuck, it would be so easy to take her right now and eat her out right on top of this island.
"Um, what?" I mumbled, staring at her fit abs.
"A shirt? Please?"
My own shirt started to feel like a wet blanket so I led us to my clothes. Inside the octagon of glass shudders was my walk-in closet beside my bed and I worked to control my breathing as I heard her breath hitch behind me. Digging through my clothes I found an old pair of cotton booty shorts and a zip-up hoodie, "Regina," spinning around I tossed the clothes at her and she held them out, giving an approving nod to the design.
"The Leather Ball…" she whispered to herself. As I searched for something else to wear a smile plastered across my face as memories of that wonderful weekend tumbled through my mind. "Was it fun?"
"Oh yea. That was a night I'll never forget. Except for some pieces because I was too high to remember."
She giggled lowly followed by the sounds of shuffling. I found a pair of boxers and long t-shirt, and spun around just as Regina was lifting her shirt up, slowly.
Ohhhhhh. My. God.
"Shit. I'm sorry." I faced the corner and began to slip off my shirt and swear I heard a moan from behind. But maybe it's my mind playing tricks on me. We both changed in our perspective areas and finally I turned around when she was zipping the hoodie up, stopping in the center of her sternum.
"How is it? Does it look good on me?"
God I could get use to seeing her in my clothes. It was like a symbol that she was mine. I've let Ruby borrow my shirts and pants before but never felt anything close to this. I shifted through several inappropriate answers to her question until finally, I landed on one that was acceptable.
"Looks great."