Fortunately, the trip to the club would only take around fifteen minutes as Emma and Regina settled into the back of taxi. "Hey, I've been thinking," Emma whispered as she leant over the middle seat to talk quietly to Regina. "Let's use signals for tonight." Regina looked at her quizzically.
"You mean like sign language?"
"Kinda, but more like stuff we just make up for now as I don't know any, do you?" Regina dropped her head and shrugged. Emma lifted her chin up straight away. "Hey, what is it?"
"I did look into taking classes; I'd have to go elsewhere in Maine to learn though."
"Why didn't you? I mean, I can see you mostly get by, but nights like tonight and when we are in louder, more crowded places, surely it would be useful and, as you've said, you never know how things will progress."
"Oh I agree, but… it's always seemed pointless if you're only learning to talk to yourself." A wave of realisation swept over Emma.
"And Leo wasn't keen to learn."
"No, though he has been coming round recently, and I have to be fair to him, not that that matters now anyway, does it?" She turned to look out of the window after offering a final shrug to see they were turning on to Main Street, they'd be there soon. It was already dark outside. The nights were drawing in and the winter nip had reached their shore. It was the one thing that always irritated Regina about nights out, the need to wear clothes and jackets that weren't weather appropriate. She was pulled from her train of thought as Emma caught her attention again.
"Well I for one disagree, wholeheartedly." The furrowing of Regina's brow was all the response she received. "They'll be at least two people you could talk too?" Regina still looked puzzled, but then remembered what they'd been talking about and a flash of hope crossed her features. "If you're going to learn, I am going to learn and if I am going to learn, so is Henry."
"Really! You'd want to learn, and you think Henry would want to as well?"
"Oh I think he'd be delighted, plus he's young and more of a sponge. Between the three of us, I think we'd be able to do it. What do you say?" Regina said nothing; instead, she pulled Emma towards her, their lips clashing as a tear, slowly slipped out. They could both taste the salt as it met their entwined lips. Emma instinctively moved her hands to Regina's head, but quickly thought better of it and pulled away.
"Dear Lord woman!" She rested her forehead against Regina's as their breaths met. "I take it my lips are a darker shade now?" Regina quickly pulled away at the realisation and began wiping at the edges of Emma's lips. Emma smirked as the brunette pulled out a wipe to clean the smeared edges before pulling out the two shades. Emma grinned like a Cheshire cat. "You bought mine too?" She mused as Regina handed her the lighter one.
"Of course dear, I noticed it never occurred to you." They busied themselves straightening out their hair and makeup.
"Okay, so if we are separated for any reason, let's just thumbs and up or down and keep your phone on you, though I can't see anyone managing to pull me away from you." Regina resisted the urge to pull her in for another kiss.
"Emma, I'm not five. I'm sure it will be fine… Come on."
They arrived at the entrance to the new club. It was very unassuming. From the outside it merely looked like an old converted, red brick factory with blacked out, grey windows. An electric, blue strip surrounded an unmarked, steel double door in the corner. There was no signage or name to even indicate what the place was. They shared a curious look as they walked up to the bouncer on the door.
"Leroy! Glad to see you're working again." Queried Regina as they walked to the table near the entrance where the grumpy, sour old soak stood. He had to do a double take.
"Mrs White, umm, welcome… sorry, I wasn't expecting to see you here… ever, I guess."
"Oh, why not?" He edged closer and raised an eyebrow.
"You know what this place it right?" He said in a half whisper, but he made sure he was close enough so she could hear. She assumed it was a strip club, but that had only been her guess and Ruby hadn't really elaborated.
"Probably not, please elude."
"It's a strip club, you can hire escorts too, but it's very exclusive and they are only available to very high end clients. Well, that's not strictly true, but few else could afford them. They usually disappear for 'weekend engagements," he added with a wink. Whether this business was legitimate or not, it was by far the most 'scandalous' thing as far as Storybrooke was concerned. "That's why this new branch is here in Storybrooke, no-one will ever suspect anyone coming to a small fishing town in Maine."
"By escort, you mean?" He put his hands up, taking a defensive stance.
"Hey, look, I'm just doing my job, as far as I know they are just escorts and it's all above board." Regina sighed, unsure why she thought Leroy would know anything anyway. "Who's your friend anyway?" Leroy added, probably just to change the subject.
"Leroy, Emma. Emma, Leroy. Emma is new in town and my neighbour. We're having a girl's night out to introduce her to more people." They shook hands.
"Tell me, does it usually get busy in here? I can't imagine many folk from this town venturing in?" He chuckled at her keen observation.
"You'd be surprised. The club's only been open a few months and there's already been a few interesting encounters. Honestly, the best incidents I've come across have been due to people recognising one another or discovering there significant other was here. I could tell a few tales, that's for sure, but I won't because I'm a professional and I really need to keep this job. To answer your question properly though, it does get really busy. It's only open Thursday through Sunday night and Friday and Saturday's are usually the busiest. I'd say it's generally thirty per cent townsfolk, with the rest from elsewhere in Maine and some further beyond too. If I don't know someone, I always ask for ID. You'd be surprised how far people travel to come here."
"Interesting! Thank you, Leroy. May we go in or do you need to… search us or something?" Wondered Regina, garnering another chuckle.
"For you two, I'll just check your bags. I'll let you off the pat down." They both tried not to look too relieved as they handed over their bags and he quickly rummaged through them before nodding them though. It was just as well, a small queue had now formed behind them.
Emma placed her hand on Regina's lower back as they walked through the entrance. "You know what this means?" Emma whispered directly into her ear, talking a moment to appreciate the fresh apple and rosewood scent as she did so. She liked to pretend for a second she knew just what the smell was, but she had noticed the bottle when Regina had finished applying it, after finding herself curious at what such a beauty would choose as her scent.
"What?"
"We could probably get away with sneaking our own alcohol in?" Somehow she managed to sound like a horny teenager as she shot Regina a cheeky look and lowered her hand to her arse, not resisting a small, slow squeeze and accompanying growl. Oh how she just longed to jump her there and then.
"Ms Swan, we are not teenagers and may I also remind you that you are still married and around thirty per cent of the patrons here are from town. If they don't know you yet, they will soon." Emma rolled her eyes and raised her hand, though still kept it on her lower back.
"Okay fine," she huffed like a petulant child as they walked through a wide, spot lit corridor and placed their coats in a shared, manned locker. Regina took charge of the little token, placing it in her bag, not trusting Emma to look after it for one moment.
They stepped through the double, frosted glass doors into a large lounge and bar area. They both looked aghast; neither would have envisaged this. It was elegantly lit with real, panelled wooden flooring and steampunk accents. The bar looked like something straight out of a Jules Verne novel, as though it belonged on a blimp or something. They walked across the room. It was maybe twenty per cent full, which was quite a lot considering it was only just gone seven in the evening. To the left of the lounge was a raised, circular stage area with a few, obviously reserved-for-important-people, booth areas adjacent. The far end of the lounge backed onto a dance area which had a few poles along the back wall which itself was a large mirror. They both smirked at the amount of padding around the bases. They could only imagine the stupid things people would attempt when drunk, especially if they'd been inspired by an earlier act.
"I take it back, Ruby was right. I am impressed." Regina said to no-one in particular. Emma nudged her to get her attention and pointed to a sign over the doors to the side of the bar. One was the restrooms, the other marked, appointment only. They could imagine where that led too. They'd walked around the entire lounge and couldn't see the others, so assumed they hadn't arrived yet. Regina grabbed Emma's arm and took her to the bar.
"Hey ladies, what can I get you?"
"August? You work here too?"
"Oh, hey Regina, you are… not who I'd be expecting to see here… not that that's a problem of course." He quickly added. Regina was beginning to feel a bit offended.
"Why? Am I that boring and predicable?"
"No, gosh no, I didn't mean to imply anything, I just… well, I've never even seen you in the Rabbit Hole, that's all."
"That's because it's the Rabbit Hole, hole being the descriptive word." He couldn't help a little chuckle.
"Kudos to that and, for the record, I just pick up one or two shifts a week, the wood shop only provides so much custom. So, who is your friend and what can I get for you?"
"August, Emma. Emma, August. Emma is my new neighbour and August is an old friend, he went through school with me."
"Well, you could say that, but you could also say that you sailed through school and I basically stayed and lived for shop!" He added with a wink and sarcastic tone for Emma's benefit.
"Sounds like you and I have something in common then, shop was about all I was interested in too. I'd tune a car any day over write an essay." As they were conversing, they noticed Mary Margaret enter and waved her over. Emma quickly looked to Regina. "Is Mary Margaret really as prim and proper as she seems?"
"Yes!" Responded both August and Regina simultaneously.
"Hmm, in that case, ten Silver Bullets and I'll have an IPA please. Regina?"
"Oh, um, I'll have a glass of Pinot please." Just as she placed her order, Mary Margaret arrived.
"Wow, this place is!?" She was practically blushing as she spoke and she looked so sweet in her black and white, floral summer dress. Okay, so it was more like something you'd wear to a wedding than a strip club, but it was very smart."
"At least it's fairly quiet," added Regina.
"You won't be saying that from nine onwards, that's when the fun begins," added August as he placed the shots on a tray. Mary Margaret ordered a white wine spritzer and they found a booth near the stage to sit at. They noticed some folk were eating and there were menus on the table. It seemed food could also be ordered, last orders being eight thirty, Emma thought it best to place a few orders of fries.
"Hey girlies!" Ruby attracted not only their attention but everyone else's in the lounge too. Belle skulked into the booth, very quietly. She was clearly embarrassed by her friend's outlandish behaviour. Ruby leant over the table, her skirt was far too short, Emma could only imagine the view the folk behind her were getting and she couldn't imagine the fishnet tights hid much either, hell, she didn't know Ruby very well, but she wouldn't be surprised if they were crotchless. Their view on the other hand - she looked round to find the others gapping too. Her breasts bulged, practically spilling from her black corset with red string that complimented the red streak in her hair.
"Dear Lord Ruby, are you here to hang out or apply for a job!" Trust Regina. Ruby just laughed as she scooted beside the older woman, offering her a sweet peck on the cheek. It wasn't the first time Emma had noticed Ruby turn oddly sweet when dealing with Regina.
"Tell me I was right though?" Ruby raised her eyebrows up and down quickly whilst leaning further into Regina, demanding a response.
"Ugg fine, I will admit Ruby, this is… far more up market than the Rabbit Hole." Ruby rolled her eyes.
"I will take it. Hey!" She exclaimed, noticing the shots. "Who ordered these?"
"Guilty," said Emma, raising her hand as though she was in school.
"You, you ordered these… yes! I can't tell you how long I've waited for someone like you to come into my life, honestly, had you not been in the equation as it was, I could never have seen myself managing to drag this lot here. It'd probably have had to be a dying wish or something." Ruby thumbed one of the shots. "I take it there are two each!"
"Yep," affirmed Emma as they began to pass them round.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly," added Mary Margaret.
"Uh uh, no way Mary Margaret, if we have too, you have too," insisted Regina. Mary Margaret looked to Belle thinking she'd be the only one who may support her." Belle just shrugged as she picked up her first shot.
"Bottoms up!" Emma was surprised to hear an Australian accent.
"So, you have to confirm a rumour Regina," said Ruby whilst ensuring she had the brunette's attention. "Apparently it comes from the horse's mouth, but just in case it's been too far down the telephone wire, have you and the Mayor split?" Regina cleared her throat. She'd only really told Emma, but Leo had told his secretary, Anna. She knew exactly why he had too. It would mean he wouldn't have to tell anyone else. It would have been like her telling Mary Margaret, except she'd spent the latter half of the week avoiding everyone. He just let the grapevine do the work.
"Yes, we've split Ruby." No one said anything, so she looked around. Emma looked annoyingly condoling and the others were waiting for her to continue with bated breath. She huffed.
"I'm afraid there's nothing interesting about it." Emma tried not giving anything away in her expression or mannerisms as to how blasé her friend was treating the last few weeks of her life, but she also understood that this was the last thing she would want to talk about right now. It also occurred to her how tipsy she was already feeling. She was definitely going to have some water next.
"Regina, you've been together for what, nearly twenty years, there has to have been something?" Mary Margaret was terribly nosy.
"It's been seventeen, but no, we just… it was mutual, whilst we are friends, it's not as though we've ever truly loved one other. It was more of an... amicable business deal than anything else, you know that." There were a few more moments of silence accompanied by slanting, questioning gazes.
"Oh my God! Regina, have you met someone else!" Asked Ruby, trying to read between the lines.
"What… no." She looked to Emma as she said that and it pained them both how feeble her no sounded.
"You have!" Said Belle, totally hearing her wobble. Regina began to feel flustered and a bit trapped. Why she hadn't anticipated this from them she had no idea.
"I haven't okay! Can… can we just drop this? I do NOT want to talk about it!" She stood up, not a one of them said anything, knowing full well she meant business. Regina refused to look at Emma again, not wanting to see any ounce of sympathy, or worse. Fortunately, they were all saved by the sound of the PA system beginning to blare. The music switched and turned up, and a man in a top hat wearing a waistcoat and monocle took centre stage. Regina sat back down from her little outburst and Emma placed her hand on her thigh under the table. Regina placed hers on top in acknowledgment.
As the evening progressed they were all impressed to see this was not just a pole dancing or lap dancing club, it was far more dramatic. Emma had noted a total of seven dancers in tonight's performance. They seemed to be telling a story that started as a meeting between folk, to falling in love and then ended in a night of passion, all told through the medium of dance. There were elements of ballroom and Latin as well as aerobatics and pole dancing. It ranged from beautiful and artistic to very sultry and at the end definitely crossed the line of what some would view as suggestive.
There were four woman and three men. The last scene – if you were meant to read it the way Emma had – involved two women coming together after having been kept apart for so long, though the reasons were your own to elude too. The red head in green lingerie straddled the pole and began to rub against it whilst the other one watched on as they began their scene. Emma felt herself begin to throb. She still had her hand on Regina's thigh and began to rub in time with the woman now thrusting on the pole. She risked a glance at Regina, who was also transfixed. She could tell their breathing was mirroring one another's and both were containing their desperate want to grind. Regina slowly began to roll her hips and Emma wondered if she'd started pooling too, God how she wished she was alone with her right now. She turned her attention back to the stage as the brunette woman had now pinned the other against the pole and was grinding over and around her. Emma risked it and slipped her hand higher until it slipped neatly between Regina's legs.
Emma was extremely slow and cautious, ensuring Regina was not unhappy with that she was doing. The second she was uncomfortable, she would pull back. Regina let out a small gasp as she realised what Emma was doing and turned to look at her. She smiled and Emma knew instantly Regina was okay, more than okay.
It surprised the blonde as to how wet the brunette was. Emma began slowly massaging her nub. Both women instinctively leant forward, thankful the others were still transfixed by the entertainment. Regina placed her head in her hands desperately trying to stay focused on the entertainment ahead, but gradually found it harder and harder as she felt herself begin to swell. She now needed to concentrate on not letting out a moan, or worse. Emma could feel her tensing and throbbing. She had slid her panties to the side and was using the ends of her fingers to slowly pump in and out of the entrance with her thumb still rubbing swollen nub. She could now feel Regina struggling to take a regular breath, until, suddenly; a hand came to join hers. It quickly removed her hand, placing it on her own lap.
"Ms Swan, I do not wish to look as though I cannot contain myself in front of Mary Margaret, whose eyes can't help but roam." Emma snickered at the thought. "If you so wish though, be my guest," she added as she playfully rubbed Emma's own fingers against her folds, only causing Emma to snicker more. They were saved, again, but this time by the end of the entertainment. It was now 9:30pm and the routines were scheduled for an hour after the previous one finished to enable the dancer's sufficient rest, though Ruby had decided it was time they all hit the dance floor anyway.
They moved to a booth adjacent to the dance floor. Ruby didn't even bother taking a seat, instead she found a young man who was more than willing to allow her to thrust her arse into his pelvis as she doubled over, happily allowing him to grope and spank her.
Emma leant into Regina, the only way she could make out anything anyone said to her now, was if they directly spoke into one of her ears and she had to plug the other with her finger, it was only thanks to Emma's constant presence that she didn't feel so isolated. "I can't figure it out. Is Ruby into men or women?"
"I don't think she has any real preferences," Regina offered. "I'd say she's just into humans." She added with a shrug. Emma leant in again.
"I take it Mary Margaret and Belle are straight?"
"I don't like to assume, but if ever I were going too, then that would be my guess. They are both married to men, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are completely straight." They both looked to Mary Margaret who seemed completely out of her element. She was chewing her nails and nervously watching Ruby dance. Belle, however, seemed to be taking everything in her stride, to the point she grabbed Mary Margaret's hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. The difference between Ruby's and these women's dancing was marked. Mary Margaret and Belle flipped between dancing as though they were at a medieval ball, twirling each other around, and dancing like two awkward dads who knew little more than to move their hips from side to side and bob their hands. Ruby and her new fella were extremely 'handsy' now and probably needed to retire to a room somewhere.
"Come on," insisted Emma as she took Regina by the hand and led her to the floor. Though it wasn't quite a slow dance, there was no way Emma could pass up being as close to Regina as possible when she could get away with it. She slid her hands to her hips and they began swirling harmoniously. They remained on the dance floor for a very long time. Mary Margaret and Belle had returned to their seats after acquiring another round of drinks and shots, Emma assumed Belle must have persuaded her somehow.
It was clear after another few shots that Mary Margaret was very tipsy, at best. It was now her turn to drag Belle to the dance floor, but she didn't stop there. She bee-lined straight to the poles and immediately began spinning around one. Belle and a few onlookers were now watching her. Emma and Regina followed Ruby hand in hand, just to keep an eye on things. She certainly wasn't a natural, but fair play to her; she was giving her all as she tried to do a few pirouettes and spins. Much to Emma's relief, everyone was seeing the fun in it; she'd garnered a few harmless wolf whistles, mainly from Ruby, and a few merrily drunk men.
Looking at how tired Mary Margaret and Belle now appeared as they returned to their booth, Emma didn't think it would be long before they called it a night, though she wasn't quite so ready yet. She turned around and thrust her arse into Regina's pelvis as the song sped up and the two women were now back in sync as Regina placed her hands on Emma's hips. It wasn't long before Regina was startled as someone appeared to join them, placing their hands on her hips from behind, but a quick glance settled her racing heart when she saw it was only Ruby. Ruby had no reservations whatsoever, and clearly fewer limits or boundaries than even she realised. Ruby lent into her ear. "Don't tell me you are into women," she whispered as she gave her arse a playful slap. Regina threw her head back in laughter, refusing to give into the younger brunette's taunt and definitely not allowing time for speculation. After a little while, Ruby left them to it with a wink to both as she went to join the others for a much needed break. She'd been dancing for nearly an hour straight. She sat, for once extremely grateful for the pitcher of water they shared. Belle and Mary Margaret were now contentedly chatting amongst themselves and watching the dancers have fun.
"So what's going on between Regina and Emma?" Ruby shot out. They both turned their heads to her.
"What do you mean?" Said Mary Margaret who looking appalled. Ruby rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on, they can't keep their hands of each other and you must see the way they look at one another?"
"I think Emma's just a sweet friend and looking out for Regina, I mean, this is probably quiet disorientating for her. I think she's doing great. Anyway, you were all over everyone too and you were with Regina, she was just as happy to have you, umm, touch her." Belle guffawed at Mary Margaret's coyness.
"You really think that's all it is?" Ruby asked again with one eyebrow raised.
"I think that it's none of our business and she's just split up from her husband, maybe she's letting off some steam. Either way, don't go starting rumours, Emma's married." Whilst Mary Margaret was one for a good gossip, she liked her information to be solid.
"Oh don't worry Mary Margaret, I'm not that mean; I still think there's more to this though." Ruby proclaimed before talking a swig.
Emma and Regina were still hard at it on the dance floor and had resumed their grinding. It wasn't long before another set of hands made their way around Regina's waist, dangerously close to her breasts. At first she assumed it was Ruby and playfully began wiggling and mirroring the moves on Emma. It wasn't until she felt a stiff member press itself between her buttocks that she realised it wasn't Ruby as the hands began to wander higher, now cupping the bottom of her breasts. She began to panic and grasped Emma's arms. She hated the way she now froze at the touch of a man; she never thought she'd be this pathetic. She'd always imagined she'd fight or at the least give a shove and a mouthful. Maybe she would have – before. Emma instantly felt Regina tense behind and spun around to see what was happening. Without thinking, she dug her nails into the wrists belonging to the hands that were now massaging Regina's breasts. The man stepped back and cried out. "Bitch!" As he sucked on an area her nails had penetrated. Emma gently spun Regina and placed a protective arm around her waist, the others were already by their side.
"What the fuck!" Said Ruby, who was not too afraid to get in his face. The man seemed to have composed himself now and stepped back, raising his hands in submission at the sight of the line of women that now stood before him as August and Leroy both arrived to see what all the commotion was about.
"What's going on here?" Asked Leroy, surprisingly authoritatively as he pulled what appeared to be a baton from his waist and flicked it to length.
"Hey, it was just a misunderstanding," said the guy.
"No! A misunderstanding is bumping into someone in Walmart." Mary Margaret chipped in. Ruby had never seen her so furious looking. "THAT was sexual assault!" Emma led Regina to the restroom as she felt the woman begin to tremble in her arms.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Asked August, having seen the middle-aged, ruggedly handsome man around several times over the few months since the establishment opened, though he never ordered anything or spoke to anyone that he could see.
"I'm Robin and this..." he gestured around, "...is my Club." He said with a mildly, cocky expression directed to his employees. August squared up to him.
"I don't give a shit who you are. Don't think you can come into our town and assault our women." Robin's eye's narrowed; clearly not expecting this insubordination. He was clearly used to people shrinking away.
"As I said, it was a misunderstanding. As far as I could see everyone was dancing with everyone else, I was merely joining in."
"No, these friends, who trust one other, were merely having a good time with one another... I saw the same things you did."
"Again, I apologise, it was a misunderstanding. Now, unless the lady plans to inform Sheriff Jones and press charges, you will excuse me."
"You know the Sheriff?" Mary Margaret found that hard to believe since he'd only been on the job a week.
"I've introduced myself. I've an exclusive club, in a small town. I acquainted myself as soon as he was appointed. Now, bartender..." he mockingly aimed at August, "…do offer this group of women a free drink and, as I said, feel free to phone the Sheriff. I'm sure this can be sorted, amicably, should she bother to take it further." He abruptly turned and left through the door marked 'appointment only.'
With that said and done, Ruby and Belle returned to their booth and Mary Margaret said she'd check on the others so as not to overwhelm Regina. She entered the restroom to find them embraced in a tight hug. She had to admit they did seem odd together for friends who'd only known each other for a few weeks; it was like they were long lost sisters or something. She could see Regina's face in the mirror and that she'd been crying. She was now resting into Emma's neck with her eyes closed. She mouthed, 'is everything okay?' to Emma who nodded and gave a reassuring look, letting her know she had this. She then quietly whispered that he'd gone to Emma knowing Regina wouldn't be able to hear. Satisfied enough for now, Mary Margaret returned to the others.
Emma pulled Regina away and made her look up. "Hey, talk to me, please, I don't like how you always freeze and then try and forget about these… 'encounters'. Boy did she feel foolish using that word.
"I don't know, I feel pathetic." Emma almost interrupted, but didn't want to stop her from sharing. "The first time, I… I fought back. The second time I tried to talk him out of it and when he became forceful I, I just froze until it was too late and he had me trapped. God! If I hadn't frozen I think I had a chance to get away, but my brain just…" Emma continued to give her space as she saw her struggling to process her words, but none came.
"What happened just then? I mean, I turned to see him… groping you, but you were already frozen."
"It was my fault," she said as tears fell again. "I thought it was Ruby and just carried on. Hell, I even used it as an excuse to touch you. It wasn't until I felt his… his penis between my…" she indicated to her arse "… that I realised it wasn't her and froze." Emma placed her hands to her shoulders, squaring her up.
"Listen, nothing about what just happened was pathetic okay. It was a perfectly normal reaction and secondly, it was not your fault. He wasn't invited and you didn't ask for that. He obviously hadn't come over to harmlessly dance either." Regina nodded and they hugged for a few minutes before something seemed to shift. She pulled away, turned to the mirror and began to fix her makeup. Emma watched on, partially admiring the shift and partially concerned as Regina turned and took her hand.
"Let's go home?" Suggested Emma.
"Soon, I want to finish dancing first."
"What! You want to go back out there?"
"If you fall of a horse, you have to get back on. I'm not leaving here like this." Emma bit her tongue not wanting to argue. She didn't feel it was quite the same thing, but she got the sentiment and wanted to let Regina lead.
The others weren't surprised to see the women leave the restroom, but they were surprised to see them head straight to the dance floor, though their dancing was nothing as it had been before, they slowly swayed together instead.
"What are they doing?" Asked Mary Margaret."
I know," said Belle simply. "Come on, let's join them." With that said, the three women joined their friends in solidarity and defiance, encircling them as if to say; come near us and God help you.
The taxi ride back home was fairly quiet and they'd sobered up quite a bit in the last hour. Regina snuggled into Emma who had her arm wrapped around her. She hadn't let her go all night.
"Do you want to stay at mine?" Emma studied her from the corner of her eye. The big brown orbs looking up at her were practically pleading.
"If you want? It's 1am, I'm pretty sure both the guys will be long out of it." Emma reasoned and Regina nodded satisfactorily, sniffing in the comfort that this woman had provided her all night as she lowered her head to her bosom as the taxi pulled into the driveway.
It didn't take the women very long to enter the bedroom, Regina went straight to the bathroom as Emma began throwing the make-up that was still strewn around in various bags and placing them on the dresser. She figured Regina would probably kill her later; it wouldn't even occur to her that these things may need to be ordered or may have specific places, but she didn't care, she thought it would be far more irritating to grapple around in the dark, whilst desperately needing a pee and having to step on all that shit. That was when she realised just how sober she was, sober and getting older, and dare she think it, almost mature. She heard the door squeak open as Regina stepped through dressed in grey, silken pyjamas. She presumed she kept a supply of nightwear somewhere in there.
"Help yourself to Pyjamas if you wish," offered Regina, gesturing to the open door. The older woman then settled on top of the bed before her eyes narrowed at the sight of her makeup bags and boxes placed haphazardly on the dresser. It took a lot for her to fight the urge to sort through them.
It wasn't long before Emma emerged in a pair of black, silken Pyjamas. Her hair tousled elegantly and she'd washed her face too. Whilst the sight of Emma with make-up was beautiful, without it she was breath-taking. Regina wondered for a moment if she'd always been a lesbian. Perhaps that was why she struggled to find any of her mother's suggestions amenable. If she thought about it, most women would surely have been happy with any number of them. She threw the thought away, not really caring either way as Emma settled beside her.
The two women lay on their sides with their heads in their hands, staring at one another for a moment before Regina placed her arm on Emma's shoulder and slowly stroked it down her arm, before flopping it onto her waist and then down and around her buttocks, before it finally came to a rest on her hip.
"Regina, what are you doing?" Emma was met with another brow furrow.
"What do you mean?" Enquired Regina, before leaning in to kiss the blonde. Emma cautiously moved back.
"What's wrong?" Asked Regina, not overly offended, more perplexed. Emma sat up, taking Regina's hands in hers.
"Nothing, I just... I'm not sure we should do this tonight?"
"You don't want me?" Now she was verging on being offended, possibly insecure.
"Are you kidding!? No, that's not it Regina. I just, I think you should take some time…" Regina grinned.
"You mean, not just jump back on the horse?"
"Yeah, I… I guess…" Regina leaned in and kissed her again, this time with unrivalled passion. Emma moaned and tensed as Regina licked her lips to wet them and gain entry. Their tongues battled for a few moments as their breaths became more staccato. After a few moments, and because it was needed, Emma pulled back again.
"Regina… I…I don't want to do this if you don't want it for the right reasons." Emma gasped out whilst trying to regain her breath.
"Oh God Emma, I just want you, you are not a horse, there are no other reasons." Emma could sense her longing as Regina leaned into her releasing a frustrated groan. She watched as her dark silky hair bounced over her shoulders and she caught a whiff of its coconut scent as a shiver went down her spine. She felt herself begin to leak. If Regina was sure, there was no way she was going to deny her as she felt her core begin to warm up.
"Okay, ground rules then. When we were in the living room that time, you panicked. I need to know why and what you… what you don't want?"
"Just… just don't pin me down or trap me." Emma nodded, pushing aside the sick feeling that rose at the thought of someone hurting this amazing woman. Luckily, her lust began to override those thoughts as Regina began to rock and play with her lapels suggestively whilst biting her lip.
"Okay, if you get uncomfortable at all, you are not battling through, just tell me to stop, promise?" Before Regina could barely nod her acknowledgment she threw Emma to the bed and began unbuttoning her top. She stopped suddenly at the sight of Emma's bare chest, taking everything in and letting out a guttural moan.
Emma gently removed Regina's top and couldn't resist a small, shuddered gasp. She ignored the fading bruises on her arms, having already braced herself, knowing they were there; she was pleased to note they were very pale now. The gasp was solely for the full breasts that now wobbled before her perfectly as Emma slowly rocked on the bed; purposely making them jiggle and gasping at the sight of them wobble again. She took in the beauty before her as electricity shot through her core. Her nipples were darker and slightly larger than Emma's, dang she was perfect. Emma slowly bought both hands to Regina's breasts, fully aware of what happened earlier tonight. She kept an eye directly on Regina's looking for any hint of discontent as she slowly cupped and began needing, satisfied she saw no distress.
It took a while, but Regina began to relax and they explored one another with gentle vigour. Emma eventually moved to collapse beside her for a good few minutes of needed rest.
"You. Are. Amazing!" Emma eventually whispered to Regina, who rolled over, placing her hand to Emma's face.
"I don't deserve you." Regina replied, her eyes glistening with untold joy and contentment.
"That makes two of us." They smiled at one another through eyes alone before Emma started to giggle.
"What!" Uttered Regina, as she whacked Emma with a pillow.
"I really hope Leo is a deep sleeper." Emma voiced, causing Regina to snicker. Their simultaneous thoughts were that the other was so adorable.
"Don't worry, he sleeps like the dead." It was moments such as this, when you are in your most vulnerable state, that time seems to stand still, and for both women, right now, it did. The universe never seemed so small and contained, trapped within the soul of the person lain bare before them. Their eyes were the window and their flesh the vessel. For the first time in their lives, both women knew what it meant to belong to another in a true and wholesome way. Neither felt like they could possibly breathe for another human before, but here they were, staring into the face of the person that somehow made them whole.
After a while, their weary bodies caught up with them and both women puffed their pillows. Still no words were needed as they snuggled under the quilt together, needing to replace their slowly decreasing body heat. Emma naturally became the big spoon. After the events of that evening, she didn't think she'd ever allow Regina to be the big spoon. Never again would she allow someone to violate the woman that had taught her what it meant to be loved in such a way that pierced her heart and made it ache with such longing.