#post-it verse

He’s scheduled them a quickie during working hours, set for precisely four o’clock. A quick glance down to the corner of her screen shows 4:03 on the clock, and she bites her lower lip and looks back to Robin.

Lifting one brow, Regina looks up at him with simultaneous interest and bemusement. “Really? Here? Now? Robin, it’s the middle of the afternoon.”

“So?” he counters, grinning widely and wickedly as he rounds the desk and reaches out a hand to pull Regina to her feet, until her body is flush against his. One hand lifts to run his fingers through her hair while the other traces patterns at the small of her back.

It’s not as if they’ve never taken a bit of personal time during the work day before, memories of several delicious soirées in the supply closet coming to mind. And he wants her, has been wound up all day thinking about her in this outfit. She knows what those tight pencil skirts and plunging necklines do to him. Watching her dress this morning, and just the glimpse he’d caught of her in the kitchen on his way into a meeting earlier, hadn’t been enough, and he’s been chained to his desk since.  

It’s a busy time for them both, working on major accounts, taking on new ones and they’ve done nothing more than collapse in the evenings after checking off the basics of dinner and bath time and reading until Roland conks out for the better part of a week now.

There’s been no time for just the two of them. He misses her. Being with her, and Robin doesn’t see why they shouldn’t indulge themselves a bit.

And he’s free now (for today at least), has just submitted the final draft of a campaign to Gold and is ready to celebrate in the best way he can think of. Plus, thanks to Ashley, he knows Regina’s nothing left on her calendar for the day, no meetings or appointments scheduled. There’s a bit of a thrill to the idea as well, taking her here, in her office, on her desk. Robin’s hand drops to skim along her hip now, thumb stroking as the other inches downward toward her ass, cupping it in his palm with a knowing little wiggle of his brows.

They shouldn’t. It’s entirely unprofessional. And she needs to get these sketches finished.

But, god, she wants him. Misses him just as much as he’s missed her. It’s been over a week since the last time they’ve had sex and while reasonably she knows that’s not all that long, it does nothing to dissipate the dull throbbing between her thighs at the mere idea.

“I want to take you on this desk, finger you until you’re wet and just on the edge and then make you cry out while you come around my cock,” he continues, licking his bottom lip distractingly. “What do you say, milady?” Robin questions, “You up for it?” giving her ass cheek a squeeze for good measure.

She hesitates another few seconds, considering. But, well, who can resist an offer like that?

Fuck. Why the hell not?

“Fine, but we have to be quick,” Regina orders, voice already breathless with anticipation and desire as she presses herself closer to him, tugging him backward by the tie around his neck as she sits down on the edge of her desk.

Robin doesn’t need to be told twice. He dives in for a frantic kiss, teeth dragging along her bottom lip as he groans against her mouth. Something he’s waited all day to be able to indulge in. His fingers make quick work of the top three buttons of her blouse while Regina deepens the kiss. Her nails scratch bluntly at the base of his neck, gripping onto the short hair there.

Then Robin pulls away, moving to suck hot, open-mouthed kisses to the underside of her ear, along her jawline and down to her neck where Regina’s pulse thuds beneath his lips. His tongue does a lovely swirl against her skin, in the hollow of her throat, and she can’t stop the low moan that escapes as she lets her head fall back in delight. “Mmmm, yes. Feels so good, babe.”

Thoroughly focused on his task, Robin smiles, stubble tickling her skin as the corners of his mouth tip up and he repeats the action one more time before he’s moving lower, licking over the swells of her breasts. She’s wearing a lacey bright red bra and the hint of it beneath her navy blouse is a tantalizing sight.

Her hands are busy as well, roaming the expanse of Robin’s back and shoulders, down along his biceps and up to his head to hold him in place. Her legs wrap around his waist, and the hard press of his erection to her center when she tightens them around him even more, one heel slipping off her foot to fall with a thunk to the floor, has that well of need demanding more. Greedy for every sensation he’s capable of creating inside her.

Regina’s fingers fumble for the buckle of Robin’s belt as he leans her further back on her desk, crushing papers and sending her pen rolling across the surface to slip over the edge. His mouth covers hers again, and Regina sweeps her tongue into his mouth, moaning softly as the taste of him fills her, one of his hands cupping her breast while the other edges the hem of her skirt a little higher.

One of his hands slips between her thighs, inching upward and upward toward where she’s already wet for him, where she needs his touch the most. Regina’s just managed to slide the zipper of his slacks down, knuckles brushing over the hard bulge of his cock through his boxer briefs when the distinctive click of her doorknob sounds.

“Hey, sister, what the hell is—” Leroy’s voice echoes through the room, coming to an abrupt halt when he catches sight of them laid out on her desk in such a compromising position.

Shit. They’d forgotten to lock the door.

“Jesus! My eyes!” he exclaims with a grunt, quickly covering them as a scowl covers his face and the two of them frantically try to right themselves, pulling zippers and shirts closed as Robin’s hand retreats from beneath her skirt. “Don’t you two have any damn dignity? How the fuck am I supposed to unsee that? Keep it in your pants till working hours are over for Christ sake.”

He slams her office door with a bang, muttering something about indecency under his breath, and Regina squeezes her eyes shut in mortification. “I’m never going to be able to look him in the eye ever again.” Robin merely chuckles, shoulders shaking as he tucks his face into her neck. “It’s not funny, Robin!” she scolds, smacking him on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, lifting his head to meet her eyes, though he doesn’t look apologetic in the least, “but it’s a little funny.” Robin steps between her legs again, cupping her cheek in his palm and adding, “At least it wasn’t Gold. Or Mary.”

Oh god. Okay, alright, that would have been even more embarrassing, so, yes, it could have been worse, she supposes. She’ll take Leroy catching them over either of those options. “I guess you’re right,” Regina concedes, lifting a single brow when Robin’s hands begin to caress along her side again, over her thighs. “What are you doing?”

Robin’s thumb circles her hip bone, dipping his index finger between the band of her skirt and her blouse. It takes a minute before he answers, hands brushing lightly over her and stirring her senses up again, “I don’t believe we were finished, love.”

Regina’s jaw slackens as she stares at that damn adorable smirk on Robin’s face. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am quite serious,” Robin counters, dipping his mouth to kiss along her jaw up to her ear where he swirls his tongue over her lobe, sucking on it gently and making her shiver. “Despite the… interruption, I still want you. Just like this.” He draws back then, looking down at her and the adorable flush to her skin, the way her shirt gaps open still to reveal teasing glimpses of her lingerie.

Need tightens sharply in his belly.

She’s the picture of temptation. Seductive and desirable without even trying, and Robin finds her damn near irresistible, location and circumstances be damned. “You’re gorgeous,” he tells her reverently, adoringly, “And I love you,” as he moves in for a kiss to sway her.

How is it that this man can distract her so easily?

Regina hums into it, palm grasping at his cheek while heat slowly spreads through her limbs, heating her blood with renewed vigor. Clearly, she’s lost her mind because she’s actually considering it. Or maybe she’s just so needy, has missed feeling him like this so much she doesn’t care.

Her resolve wavers. Damn him. She’s still wet, still wants to feel him inside her, to be taken the way he’d promised her. When Robin nips at her collarbone in that way that she loves, Regina gasps and relents.

She’d gotten dressed quickly, settling on a pair of crisp white shorts and a red v-neck shirt, had slipped on her navy and white striped bikini beneath, just as Robin’d requested, and had smirked as she tied the knot around her neck. She may or may not get into the pool, but she can certainly torment him with the knowledge she’s wearing very little beneath her clothes.

Then she’d been off, heading down the block to where John’s house resides, and Regina can hear the dull hum of people chatting and laughing already as she slips through the side gate and rounds the house to the backyard.

Rather impressed, Regina takes in the way that they’ve transformed the usually lackluster view. There are red, white, and blue streamers strung all around, wrapped around the trees, through the railing of the deck. Tiny American flags line the edge of the backyard along the fence and they’ve set up a long, patriotic clad table as a sort of buffet for food and drink along one edge. The pool is bright and clear, a few of John’s friends splashing around with beers in their hands as they laugh and float in the water, along with the smattering of kids joining them in play.

She spots the man himself, standing around the currently empty fire pit, chatting with a woman Regina assumes is the one she’s heard he’s been seeing, but hasn’t yet met and smirks as her gaze wanders around, looking for her significant other and his little boy.

It’s no more than a minute later that a tiny ball of wild energy and bouncing brown curls dashes out of the screen door with a whoop, clad in only his Lightning McQueen swim trunks and his inflatable swimmies.

“Roland! No running by the pool!” Robin’s voice calls out in warning, causing the little boy to skid to a stop and turn around sheepishly, muttering a, Sorry, Daddy! before turning on his heel and quickly striding to the edge of the pool where he jumps straight in, kicking at the water until he reaches a boy with chestnut colored hair who looks to be about a year or two older than Roland.

Their little fish, Regina thinks to herself, grinning as she watches him flap about. They don’t have too much to be worried about, with his inflatable arm bands ensuring he can splash around to his heart’s content, but Robin still stands there and watches him with a cautious parental eye.

His attention shifts to her when he catches her moving toward him and a deep, dimpled grin breaks out over his face, the one that never fails to make Regina’s heart trip over in her chest. “Hello, milady.” Robin greets her, reaching out a hand to grip her hip and leaning down for a quick smooch.

“Hi,” she responds in kind, hooking an arm around the back of his waist. “Quite the shindig you’ve got going here. Is it always like this?”

Robin’s eyes scan around the crowded yard, notes Will in the corner of the deck, fiddling with the music coming from the speaker on the railing, Ana rearranging the ice in the cooler that houses their soda and beers for the day, while Tuck and his neighbor toss a rice filled sack back and forth on the corn hole boards. There are neighbors and friends scattered all around, and the grin on Robin’s face becomes even wider as he tells her, “Yeah. We like to go all out.”

“I can see that,” Regina responds in amusement.

Robin squeezes her to his body, thrilled that he gets to share this with her this year. Another holiday they get to spend together, as a couple, building a life together. They’re racking them up and he’s never been happier. “Come on,” he says, jerking his head in the direction of their host, “I’ll introduce you to John’s new girlfriend. He’s positively smitten.”

Following Robin across the swishing grass, hands joined together, Regina can’t help but chuckle quietly as she gets a better look at Robin’s best friend and the gorgeous woman with her arm threaded through his. She’s tall and slender, has lovely dark chocolate skin and pretty features that remind her a bit of a wood nymph.

“Regina! You made it!” John calls happily, goofy grin on his face as he waves his free hand widely in a gesture of greeting. He’s got a beer in his hand and she pauses briefly, wonders how many he’s had already, but says nothing as she laughs and steps in to give him a kiss on the cheek.

She and John have become friends of a sort over the last few months, her affection for the hulk of a man exceeding beyond his involvement in Robin and Roland’s life. They banter with one another and never pass up an opportunity to tease and embarrass the other if the occasion arises, but it’s all in good fun. Frankly, she kind of considers him to be a bit of an older brother. Yet another thing she’s never had in her life that she’s now been blessed with.

“I’d like you to meet Tiana,” he tells her proudly, face split into a huge smile as he beams down at the woman beside him. Next to John, she looks positively petite and adorable. A total contrast in her pretty blue sundress with bright red posies splashed across the material to John’s own plain white t-shirt, frayed along the edges, and dark jeans, but they look cute together.

Smiling, Regina offers her a hand, “Nice to meet you, I’m Regina.”

“Robin’s girlfriend,” Tiana supplies automatically, taking Regina’s offered hand and shaking it. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise,” Regina replies. Her eyes dart back and forth between the two of them and she asks, “Tell me how you two met again?”

“She makes the best damn beignets in the entire world.” John’s answer is immediate and Regina has to fight a snicker, sharing an amused look with Robin from the corner of her eye.

Luckily, Tiana expands upon that to explain, “I own a bakery not far from here. Specializes in cajun desserts. My mama and I used to live in New Orleans when I was younger, before we moved to Boston for her job. I haven’t been able to get the taste for southern cooking out of my system.”

Her stomach grumbles at the mere mention of it, and Regina suddenly becomes very aware of the fact she’s yet to eat anything today. Something she’ll have to rectify soon but keeps her attention on Tiana as she continues her story.

“This one,” she tips her face up to grin at John, “Used to come in every other day and sample half the menu. Plus a beignet. Sometimes two or three.” There’s a wealth of affection in the tone, and Regina’s taken at once with the enraptured expression on both their faces. He’s looking at her as if she were sunshine itself and it’s not something she’s seen before. Honestly, it’s rather adorable. “It took him over two months to finally ask me out.” Tiana finishes, glancing back to Regina and Robin.

Her response is quick and teasing as she comments, “Only that long? Must be true love,” and grins playfully at John.

He harrumphs, narrowing his eyes at her. “But she said yes at that point,” John jokes, his belly shaking as he grins down at his girlfriend and captures her mouth in a kiss, making her giggle.

“Alright, alright, I can’t take much more of this sickeningly sweet exchange.” Robin interjects, shaking his head, obviously teasing.

Smirking, John responds, “Takes one to know one, mate. Now you know what you looked like trailing after Regina with stars in your eyes for months after Christmas.”

His gaze shifts from the pair in front of him to the love of his life, catching the slight blush that rises up the back of her neck. Robin’s hand reaches for her own again and uses it to tug her body flush against his, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Yes, well, I’m clearly the luckiest man on the planet.” Bending his neck forward, Robin pecks a kiss to Regina’s mouth, enjoying the fruity flavor of her chap stick against his lips. Then he’s turning his attention back to John and Tiana and informing them, “Now if you’ll excuse us, I think it’s time we find ourselves some of those burgers and crisps.”

Then he’s dragging her toward the tantalizing scents of corn on the cob and patties frying from the grill, carefully manned by Tuck now that they’ve finished their game, and Regina’s mouth waters in gratitude.  

He stops a few yards away at the end of the long row of tables piled with food. “May I offer you some refreshments, milady?” Robin asks her with a flourish, popping open the cooler and waving his hand at the various bottles and cans nestled in among the pounds of ice. They’ve got pop and water, some lemonade for the kiddos and adults not partaking in alcoholic indulgences, and enough beer to last them through the next several hours.

Leaning in closer so he can whisper into her ear, enjoying the slight shiver that racks her body, Robin adds, “I heard talk of firing up the blender for margaritas as well, if you’d prefer.” Robin has a pretty good idea of what she’ll choose and isn’t disappointed when he sees Regina’s eyes light up as she requests, A margarita. Definitely.

Chuckling, Robin tells her he’ll be back in a moment, wanders inside and spies Ana at the kitchen counter measuring and blending ingredients. It isn’t long before he’s back out in the baking sun, offering Regina a festive, blue plastic glass they’d picked up at the party store for today.

“My savior,” Regina jokes, winking at him in that squinty way of hers that makes him want to kiss her because it’s so damn adorable. Always.

So he does just that. Angles his mouth over hers after she takes a sip and hums her delight with the drink. He can taste the salt on her lips, licks a few crystals off with the tip of his tongue, mixing with the sweetness of the alcohol and Regina. Robin’s hand slides smoothly up the back of her spine to the nape of her neck and he tugs lightly at the bikini tie peeking out over the collar of her shirt. “I see you took my suggestion.”

Regina smirks, that teasing look in her eye that Robin’s become accustomed to. “It seemed wise.” Her voice drops into a low, arousing timbre as she adds, “If for no other reason than to tease you all day.”

Images of her clad in the bikini she’d worn a few weeks ago when they’d come over for a lazy Sunday afternoon with Roland filter through Robin’s mind. Her wet and glistening from the pool, drying off with the sun reflecting off every inch of her perfect body. He’s been unable to get the vision from his mind since and he grins naughtily at her. “Now that’s just unfair. Torturing a man that way,” Robin groans.

Regina takes another long sip of her drink, tipping her head back slightly to do so and distracting him while he watches the muscles in her throat quiver as the cool liquid slides down it. As she licks her lips and takes a step closer to him, resting her hand just above his heart and scratching her nails over his cotton shirt, Robin struggles to focus on anything other than the way he wants her. Now is not the time.

It proves to be a difficult task as she replies tauntingly, “But it’s so much fun to torture you.”  

Robin shakes his head, hooks one of his fingers through the belt loop of her shorts and tugs her body the few scant inches between them until their torsos are touching. His mouth presses against her ear, muttering, “Minx,” into it before he sinks his teeth into the lobe and trails the tip of his tongue around the shell.

It’s not entirely appropriate for a backyard barbeque, but, well, he’s a weak man where Regina Mills is concerned and his willpower is lacking. But he’s so happy. It’s actually really rather ridiculous. That one could feel this content in his life. He has his son and loyal friends, the most incredible woman at his side, and Robin can’t think of a better way to celebrate the birth of the country he’s come to call his own than exactly what they’re doing.

Regina giggles, tilting her head back with a pointed look and a muttered, “Behave,” but she doesn’t shift away from him. Instead, she takes a large gulp from her glass, drinking up the rest of her margarita, catching up a bit with everyone else that had started before her. “And this is excellent,” she adds, lifting her now nearly empty glass in a salute.

“I’ll tell Ana you said so,” Robin grins. “Will’s been teaching her to bartend.”

“Well he’s doing a damn fine job of it. She might just give Ella a run for her money, and that’s saying something.”

Robin chuckles, “How about I go get you another one of those margaritas, it might warm you up to the idea of a dip in the water,” he adds, wiggling his eyebrows at her suggestively and making her laugh, “while you fill yourself a plate of some of this delicious smelling food?”

The corner of her mouth tips up, “I think that’s an excellent idea.” And Regina giggles silently as she watches Robin’s retreating back head into the house once again, turning toward the table clad with stars and stripes cookware and decorations, and laden with food.

“Hey, Regina,” Mulan greets her as she offers her a paper plate. “Happy Fourth!”

“You, too!” Regina replies, smiling happily as she and the brunette chat for a few minutes, catching up since the last time she’d seen her. She and Aurora have been busy moving into a new apartment and she’d just changed jobs a few weeks ago.

Then it happens.

It’s the worst sound she’s ever heard. The miserable wail of the little boy that’s stolen her heart out from under her without any conscious effort. Regina turns instantly from where she’s piling watermelon and potato chips on her plate to scan the backyard for Roland. She sees him over by the cement border surrounding the pool, clutching his knee to his chest, face scrunched up in pain as tears rain down his cheeks.

Her heart catches in her throat, stopping dead before picking up once more in a rapid staccato as she abandons the patriotic themed paper plate and dashes quickly across the yard to his side. “Roland, baby, what happened?” she questions immediately, crouching down beside him, drawing him into her lap as she sits on the burning concrete.

“I— I—waaas chasing— Michael and— I—  tri— tripped,” he just barely hiccups out, voice wobbly and thick as he buries his face into the crook of her neck. He’s all wet from the pool, dampening Regina’s shorts and shirt as she cradles him to her, Roland still holding his knee tightly to his chest, whimpering, and it breaks her heart.

“Oh, baby, it’s okay. It’s going to be alright. Why don’t you let me take a look?” When Roland only shakes his head and snuggles in closer to her side, Regina lets out a imperceptible sigh. Her hand rubs soothing passes up and down his back as she urges once more, “Come on, Roland. I promise I’ll be very gentle.” Her tone is soft and soothing, motherly.

Reluctantly, he relents, uncovers his wound to allow Regina to give it a once over. Once she has a clear view of the injury, the vice like grip around her heart loosens ever so slightly. It’s just a scratch. Not even that deep from what she can tell, but it’s bleeding pretty heavily and she’s certain it smarts for such a little boy. Tiny rivulets of blood slide down from his knee and over his shin, mixing with the chlorine droplets clinging to his skin.

Taking a deep breath, Regina smiles down at him lovingly, brushes his wet curls back from his face and assures him, “See, it’s not so bad. Just a little cut.”

“It— it hurts,” Roland whines and Regina’s heart clenches in her throat at his wobbly tone.

“I know it does, baby,” she tells him, her fingers resting gingerly just beside the wound on his knee. “How about we go and get this cleaned up, and I’ll kiss it better. Then we can get you a popsicle. Does that sound good?” Regina asks him, willing to do anything to ease his hurts.

Roland bites his lower lip, fat tears resting on his eyelashes, and looks just like Robin as he does so, but he answers softly, “Okay, R’gina.” She lets out a breath of relief and moves to stand with him still in her arms, done with a level of skill far too natural for someone that’s not technically his mother, and turns toward the house.

That’s when she spots Robin just coming out of the backdoor, stilled where he stands, her fresh margarita glass in hand, watching them with a mixture of concern and adoration in his eyes. But she doesn’t stop long enough to consider it beyond a passing thought, simply asks him as they meet, “Will you grab the first aid kit?”

He nods, cupping the back of Roland’s head for a moment and asking, “Did we take a tumble, my boy?” Roland nods from where he has his head tucked against her neck, body curled into hers. “Well, it’s lucky we have Regina here to take care of you, isn’t it?” He mumbles a tiny, mmhmm, as an answer and a small smile tips up the corners of her mouth.

Once they’re inside, Regina settles Roland onto the toilet seat in the bathroom, kneeling down so she’s at eye level with him and can tap an index finger beneath his chin. “Let’s get you all patched up, sir.” It makes Roland giggle a little and Regina smiles as she tears off a few squares of toilet paper and dabs lightly over his broken skin, cleaning away the blood that’s already started to clot and slow. “You know you’re not supposed to be running around the pool, Roland. It’s wet and slick and that’s how we fall and get hurt.” Regina scolds him softly.

Pouting, Roland sniffles and answers, “I know. I’m sorry, R’gina. Michael and I were playing tag and I wanted to catch him.”

She sighs, “That’s fine, but you could have gotten really hurt, Roland, and I don’t want that. So no more running by the pool, is that clear?”

Roland nods solemnly, his gradually drying curls bouncing against his face just as Robin clears his throat from the doorway, holding out the white first aid kit. Regina reaches for it, muttering a quiet thanks as he looks down on them. There’s something in his expression, the way he’s looking at the two of them still that makes her blood pound quicker through her veins. But she ignores it for a moment, focused on Roland as she takes an alcohol wipe and a waterproof band aid from the kit and gets to work.

When his cut is all clean and she’s blown softly on the wound to soothe the stinging and fresh bout of tears that well in Roland’s eyes from the antiseptic, Regina smears a bit of neosporin over it and covers it with the band aid, leaning down and pressing a light kiss to his knee while grinning up at him. “There. All better.”

Roland smiles, his tiny dimples little pin points in his cheeks, and exclaims, “Thanks, R’gina,” bouncing up and tossing his arms around her neck for a hug. All the pain and tears forgotten with the resiliency of a child as he asks if he can have his popsicle now.

“Why don’t you go on back outside and see if Ana will get you one?” Regina chuckles, standing and ignoring the creaky ache of her own joints after being crouched for so long. He starts to dart out of the bathroom and Regina’s voice warns sharply, “Walk, Roland.”

Then it’s just her and Robin. No longer distracted by Roland’s injury, she can fully focus her attention on him and Regina blushes slightly at the worshipful glint in his eyes. He reaches out a hand for hers, Regina placing her own in his palm, and pulls her flush against his body in a practiced move, leaning down to rest his forehead against hers. “You’re wonderful with him.” Robin exhales, his warm breath ghosting over her lips, making Regina shiver.

She jerks her shoulder in a little shrug, replying, “He makes it easy.”

Drawing back enough so that he can meet her eyes, Robin shakes his head. “No, you’re just so natural with him. He’s never really had a motherly figure in his life and was so young when Marian passed…” Robin pauses, as if gathering his thoughts before he continues. “I’m just so grateful he has you now.”

It nearly makes Regina cry, her eyes watering precariously as she tries to control the fierce tide of emotions that suddenly swamp her. She’d never really thought of herself as mother material before, not until Roland had snuck into her world and captured her heart with post-its and paperclips and insistent holiday traditions. They’ve come a long way in the last six months, have become closer than she ever thought possible and there’s no denying what she feels.

“I love him so much,” she chokes out wetly, heart squeezing inside her chest.

Robin’s fingers thread through her hair, cupping her cheek as he tells her, “He loves you. I love you,” before lowering his mouth to hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. It’s nothing passionate, just a soft press of his lips to hers. Firm and slow. But it’s everything.

“I love you, too,” Regina replies, voice thick with emotion when they pull away.

Nuzzling his nose against hers for another minute, Robin strokes his hands down her arms before saying, “We should probably get back to the party.” His voice drops, taking on that tone that always has her body quivering in anticipation. “Even if I would rather sneak off with you to one of the guest rooms upstairs.”

He wiggles his eyebrows at her suggestively and Regina laughs. “Tempting as that is, I think it might be best we go supervise your son.”

Robin chuckles in response, but bows his head in concession, gesturing for her to lead the way even as the word ours echos through his mind.

. . .

The dusky darkness of twilight settles around them. It's getting closer and closer to ten o’clock, when the city fireworks are scheduled to start going off. Luckily, John’s house is positioned perfectly to witness the show without them having to deal with the hassle of shuffling an entire party of people out of the house to the park, finding parking, and navigating their way through the crowd. This is much better and decidedly more intimate.

Regina’s curled up on Robin’s lap in one of the chairs around the fire pit, the flames crackling and giving off just enough of a heat to kiss along her skin in the chilly summer evening. Her head rests on his shoulder, fingers stroking absently up and down his forearm that rests over her thighs as his hand mirrors her movements up and down her spine.

It’s been a lovely day, perfect.

As much as Regina wishes it wasn’t coming to an end, she’s sleepy. Is ready to tuck Roland in for the night and then curl up in Robin’s bed with him and drift off to dreamland. They’re watching him play with a few of the other kids, his new best friend, Michael, among them, tossing firecrackers against the cement and shrieking when they pop and echo in the night. John and Tiana are lighting sparklers and letting the kids play with them until they fizzle out.

That hand that had been rubbing up and down her back, tangles in the edges of her hair as Robin presses a kiss to the crown of her head and asks quietly, “You gonna make it to the fireworks, love?”

He can feel the weight of her limbs atop his, relaxed and content. Just as he is. It’s been an exhausting day, between the heat and overstimulation, not to mention Roland’s little mishap earlier, but Robin isn’t quite ready for it to be over so soon.

Just a little while longer to hold onto the magic of the holiday. That’s all he wants.

Regina’s sleepy response, a mumbled, mmhmm, makes him grin, placing another light kiss to her brow and tightening his arms around her. For the next ten minutes they stay just as they are, eyes closed and breathing in time with one another as they listen to the sounds of the party winding down around them.

The fireworks will start any minute now, after which, he and Regina will gather Roland up, dragging him away from his new friends, and will spend the following half hour getting him ready for bed. Robin supervising the brushing of his teeth as Regina pulls out his pajamas, the both of them listening intently as he repeats every second of his day, even though they’d been there for all of it. Gradually getting him to settle down so he can sleep.

Despite her exhaustion, Robin knows Regina will climb into Roland’s tiny toddler bed with him and weave a tale of magic and mischief until his eyelids droop and his breathing evens out. Just as she’s done with him nearly every night for the past two months. Hardly ever misses it.

Except on the now rare occasion she ends up sleeping at her own house rather than theirs, that is.

The thought makes Robin frown slightly. Granted, over the last several months they’ve been spending less and less nights apart. More out of habit than conscious thought, really.

But now that he's thinking about it, half of his closet holds her clothes, their shirts mingled together and two of his dresser drawers serve as a home to her things. Her essentials are scattered over his bathroom. The cream she slathers on her face every night and tubes and brushes of this and that for her to get ready in the morning. The fancy water she prefers stocked next to Roland’s juice boxes in the fridge. She’s practically living there.

Robin’s eyes open, glancing down at Regina where her head is tucked against the curve of his neck and shoulder, breathing evenly. Snippets of their day flutter through his memory, the sense of absolute rightness he'd felt as he'd watched Regina kiss away Roland's hurts, the ease with which she'd mingled with his friends, knowing they'd end up just as they are now. How his heart had swelled with love as he'd kissed her brow and left her sleeping soundly in his bed this morning.

It hits him suddenly, a culmination of all the little moments that have become second nature in the last six months, that that's exactly what he wants for their future. Waking up together, their possessions finding homes beside one another, Roland knowing the woman he worships will be there to pick him up whenever he falls.

Robin’s head over heels in love with her, and there's absolutely no reason that they shouldn't go for it. Shouldn't make that leap.

“Regina,” he murmurs, nudging her slightly and brushing a few errant strands of hair from her face as she stirs and looks up at him from beneath her lashes.

“Hmmm?”

He grins at the sleepy tone, fingertips dancing along her bicep. “I want to ask you something, love.”

That makes her sit up a little bit straighter in his lap, meeting his gaze as she nods, curious expression on her face, a little scrunch to her nose and that crinkle between her brows he finds adorable. “What is it?” Her gaze flickers around her, blinking the sleep from her eyes from the little catnap she'd been taking against him.

Inhaling sharply, Robin asks, “Would you consider moving in with me? And Roland. Full time. No more occasional nights apart.” He smiles at her, fingers playing with the tips of her hair just brushing the tops of her shoulders. “I want us to start a life together, officially.”

He’s babbling, his voice a bit sheepish, nerves unexpectedly bouncing around in his stomach. It’s silly. It’s not like he’s proposing marriage, not yet anyway (though the thought has crossed his mind a time or two). Besides, she’s practically living with them already, his question is really just a formality. Surely, she'll agree. Still, his stomach gurgles and swoops in his gut as he waits for her answer.

For a moment, she looks stunned, taken aback, and Robin worries that perhaps he's overstepped some boundary. That she might not be quite as ready to fully and completely share her life and space with he and his son as he thought.

Then the most stunning smile he's ever seen grace her features erupts and she's laughing, winding her arms around his neck and looking at him like he's said the most foolish thing in the world, but she answers immediately. “Yes,” shaking her head at him, Regina leans in and kisses him hard, fusing their lips together for a solid minute before pulling away. “Yes, I would love to move in with you and Roland. Though you might regret that when you see the entirety of my shoe collection,” she jokes.

“Never,” Robin replies without hesitation, heart swelling as he laughs and swoops in to take her mouth with his again.

The loud and earth shattering boom of the first fireworks explode in the night sky above them at precisely that moment. Bursts of colors and sparks flying and dissolving into nothing but smoke wafting through the atmosphere.

Regina and Robin chuckle against each other’s mouths, tipping their foreheads against one another as Roland’s shout of excitement sounds from across the yard, and he runs over to where they’re seated. He climbs into Regina’s lap immediately, no regard for how she’s perched on Robin’s at all, and she and Robin grin at each other.

Wrapping his arms around the both of them, Robin sighs contentedly as the three of them watch the fireworks light up the starlit sky together.

The other woman is already seated as he and Regina walk hand in hand into the restaurant and she gives Regina a tiny wave, not even really, just a quick lift of her hand, before the pair are making their way over to the booth Mal sits in.

“Hello, darling,” she drawls as Regina slides in across from her, Robin following her.

“Hi,” Regina grins back.

“I ordered us a pitcher of margaritas.” She informs the pair of them and Regina’s eyes light up.

“The spicy ones?”

The corner of Mal’s lips twitch in amusement as she replies, “Are there any other kind?” It draws a laugh from Regina, light and airy, Robin’s favorite sound. Save perhaps for the way she moans his name when he’s deep inside her. But that’s not an entirely appropriate thought for dinner, so he shakes those memories off and offers up a smile of his own as the blonde turns her attention to him. “And how are you, Robin?”

Seated next to Regina in the booth, casually running his hand up and down her bare thigh, exposed by her sundress, once without thinking about it and answers, “I’m well. Yourself?”

“About to be fabulous,” Mal answers as she spots the waitress returning to their table, pitcher in hand and a trio of glasses balanced impressively in the other hand. “These are fantastic. Will change your life.” Regina’s laughter sounds from beside him again but she nods her head in agreement, and Robin grins as Mal’s clear blue eyes glint as their drinks are poured. With a flourish, she lifts her glass in a toast, Robin and Regina following suit as she tells them, “Happy Cinco de Mayo.”

The three of them clinking in a toast as they echo Mal’s sentiment.

Robin takes a sip of the yellow tinted liquid, pleased when the spicy sweet taste explodes on his tongue. He can taste the tequila, not in an unpleasant way, but the drink is certainly strong and all of a sudden he wonders just where this night might end up.

Both women are eyeing him, waiting for his reaction and Robin smiles that dimpled grin at them and says, “Delicious. I can see why you two like this place.” He takes another sip, scooping up a chip with a healthy portion of salsa and asks conversationally, “How long have you two been coming here?” before plopping it in his mouth.

Regina hums before answering, “About ten years. Right, Mal?”

Mal nods her head in agreement, sipping on her margarita. “Correct. We started coming here after exams as a reward during our senior year. I suppose you could say it’s become our go to place.”

Smiling at that, Robin continues with, “Tell me how you two met again?”

He’s alternating his gaze between Regina and Mal, but most of his attention is on the other woman at the moment as he makes the effort to get to know her, listening intently as she speaks. It makes something inside Regina go all warm and tingly. Seeing the two of them together. Two of the most important people in her life. Or maybe that’s just the tequila that’s beginning to swim around in her empty stomach. It’d been a busy day, and except for a protein bar she’d scarfed down in the kitchen between meetings, she hasn’t had much to eat today. Munching on a chip, Regina listens as Mal explains to Robin how they’d been paired together for an assignment their sophomore year. And been inseparable since.

“Sounds like a lucky turn of fate,” he replies smiling. “I’d love to have known Regina at that age.” Glancing over at her, he smiles and squeezes her hand that’s intertwined with his beneath the table, making Regina blush slightly.

“I wasn’t all that interesting. A real bookworm.”

Mal’s laughter is rich and sultry as she shakes her head in disagreement. “Oh now, I wouldn’t say that. A bookworm, yes, but you were plenty interesting, Regina. Especially after you met me. I have stories.” Mal says, shifting her attention from the brunette seated across from her back to Robin, the corner of her mouth tipped up in a grin.

He chuckles, “Do you? I would love to hear some of them.”

Before Regina has a chance to feel truly embarrassed they’re briefly interrupted as their waitress comes back to take their order. Unfortunately, the reprieve doesn’t last very long.

As the alcohol flows more freely, stories of their youth are tossed around. Drunken escapades, poor fashion choices, and even poorer dating choices. Thankfully, none of them are too terribly embarrassing and as the three of them continuing knocking back margaritas, refilling their glasses at a rapid pace as they wait for their food to arrive, all of them loosen up. Like old friends. Which, of course, she and Mal already are, but it warms her heart to see the two of them warming up to each other.

Even after their platters of fish tacos for Regina, a burrito for Robin and fajitas for Mal arrive, she keeps up the reminiscing. And Regina supposes it is a good way for them to get to know each other. Mal asks after some of Robin’s own time in college and he informs her (both of them actually) about some of his own ill thought out experiences. One in particular involving breaking into their professors office to steal back the organic chemistry test they’d all tanked and proceeding to burn them, that has Regina and Mal in stitches, Regina taunting him with a joking, You little thief. Robin also reveals that he and Will had been fraternity brothers during school and how that’s how he’d met most of the people he considers his closest friends today.

“Really?” Regina interrupts at the mention of this. “I didn’t realize you were in a fraternity.”

He smiles at her, his eyes a tad glazed with the alcohol swimming through their systems, mirrored in her own she’s sure, but his voice is steady enough as he says, “Yes. Alpha Delta Phi. Will and I were in the same pledge class, John was my big brother,” he informs her with a grin and an amused arch of his brow.  

“Oh my, Regina. You’re dating a frat bro. Whoever would have thought it would come to this.” Mal jokes, winking at Regina and giving Robin a flirty smirk.

It makes Regina chuckle, a bit drunkenly she will admit but suddenly she finds the entire idea rather hilarious. Thinking of Robin as a clichéd drunken frat guy, and she can’t help but giggle. “Clearly I’ll have to break up with him now.” She teases, grinning at Robin’s indignant protest of, Hey now. Regina cuts him off before he can say anything else though, leaning heavily against his shoulder from her position next to him and capturing his lips in a kiss.

He tastes salty and sweet, a kick of the jalapeño that’s been in their drinks all evening, and that familiar flavor that is entirely Robin himself and Regina moans into the kiss. Her tongue swipes along his bottom lip, dipping briefly into his mouth as she angles her mouth against his, Robin’s hand slipping up to cup her cheek, fingers threading through her hair as he returns her affection. It’s not at all appropriate for a public family restaurant. But they’re all a bit drunk and she can’t help herself.

That is until Mal clears her throat and tsks, “Alright you two, you’re going to make the rest of us jealous,” in a playful tone and Regina and Robin slowly pull apart.

Regina chuckles, dropping her forehead to Robin’s shoulder for a minute as she helplessly tries to contain the giggles that want to escape her throat, and then turns to look back at Mal. “Sorry.” She’s really not, and Regina knows Mal isn’t truly bothered by it at all. Especially not after four glasses of margaritas.

She laughs and waves it off.

They’ve finished their meals now, are relaxing back into the squishy leather of the booths as they work through their second pitcher and the blonde continues regaling Robin with tales of their stupid college decisions. Like the time Mal talked Regina into skinny dipping with her while they’d been on spring break.

That one catches Robin’s attention and he tips his head down to where she’s nestled against his side now, amused expression on his features as he wiggles his eyebrows at her. “Skinny dipping, huh?”

Regina sinks her teeth into her lower lip, looking just a tad sheepish as she admits, “We were drunk. One too many tequila shots and that one dared me.” She informs him, jerking her head toward her best friend across from them.

Said friend smirks, “That’s all true. But I’m not the one who dove head first into the ocean completely naked.”

“Now that I am saddened to have missed. I’d have been right behind you.” Robin replies playfully, bringing his glass to his lips to hide the undeniable grin that has those knee melting dimples peeking out at her. A mistake as Mal’s next words reach his ears.

“That is a shame. I bet you’d have a cute butt streaking out into the ocean.”

Robin sputters the sip of margarita he’d been taking, losing his grip on the glass while trying to set it back down and undershooting the surface, hitting the edge of the table instead. His glass falls from his hands, toppling toward their laps and spilling all over Regina’s crotch, darkening the cotton of her dress instantly.

“Mal,” Regina scolds as Robin apologizes profusely, hastily grabbing at the stack of extra napkins their waitress had left on the table, and thank god for the foresight of that, as he sops up sticky liquid and lightly pats at Regina’s thigh where he’s clumsily spilled his drink.

The blonde merely smirks, a twinkle in her eye as she watches Robin from across the table and her gaze flickers between the two of them before her rich laugh fills their cozy booth. “I’m merely teasing.”

Regina is more than used to Mal’s sense of humor, knows she means nothing by the comment, but Robin is not. And it’s not like Regina can really blame her for noticing how attractive he is, for checking out the assets. After all, she’s squeezed said butt in her hands and it more than lives up to expectations. Who can fault the other woman for taking a peek?

The thought makes her chortle into her hand as Robin continues to try and soak up the drink he’s spilled over her, pressing napkins between her legs, which is rather distracting in it’s own right.

“I’m so sorry, milady.” Robin repeats for about the third time, drunken embarrassment settling over his face.

Regina merely smiles at him, cupping his jaw with her palm and reassuring him, “It’s alright. It will dry.”

She covers his hand with her own on her lap, stilling his movements and their eyes meet for a heated moment. In the span of a few seconds the slowly simmering desire she’s felt building for him all night, now unintentionally egged on by his rather adorable attempts to clean up his mess, passes between them. Robin smirks at her, squeezes her thigh discreetly and rubs his thumb more intentionally along her inner thigh.

“I do think that’s our cue to go, though.” Regina finishes, shaking herself from the bubble the two of them had been in for a minute.

One look at Mal, as Robin gestures to their waitress for the check, and Regina knows that the intimate moment between them hasn’t gone unnoticed. She says nothing though and the three of them make small talk for a few minutes while they wait. Regina asking Mal what her plans for the weekend are, Mal asking Robin how Roland is.

“It’s been a lovely evening.” Robin tells her. “Hopefully we can do it again. Minus the rather embarrassing accident.” He blushes again as he says it, remembering the comment that had caused his reaction in the first place, but is pleased when Mal agrees easily.

Just as they’re slipping from the booth, leaving Mal to finish the last of her margarita in peace, she gets in one last teasing and all too knowing comment that has Regina laughing.

“You kids behave yourselves.” Mal smirks, the corner of her lips twitching as she twirls the straw in her drink idly and adds as an afterthought, “Or go home and get naughty. Whatever works.”

Regina’s snicker lasts all the way through the restaurant as they weave their mildly unsteady gait through tables, leaving Mal to eye the pretty brunette with red streaks in her hair that’s been serving them all night and continue flirting with her.

She leans on him as they exit the restaurant, arm slung over his shoulder with her head tipped down onto his shoulder as they step out into the breezy evening air. They are decently drunk at this point. That second pitcher of margaritas hitting both of them a bit more than they had anticipated. Not exactly responsible, but it’s a holiday after all, and with the way work’s been for them the last several weeks, they both deserve a break.

So when Regina’s mouth makes its way up to Robin’s ear, leaving a few open mouthed kisses along the way and whispers, “Let’s take a cab to my place. We can carpool tomorrow and I’ll drop you off to pick your car up tomorrow night,” Robin agrees easily. Neither of them are in a condition to drive after all. And it will only take a quick text to John to have him stay the night with Roland.

As they’re waiting for the cab to arrive, the pair of them end up canoodling a bit in front of the restaurant. Thank god for the posts framing the entrance as Robin finds himself leaning against one of them for support as his girlfriend maneuvers her way between his thighs. Blunt nails scratch over his cotton t-shirt, causing shivers every now and then as their lips meet lazily. Over and over again.

Gods, he wants her.

More than anything Robin can’t wait to get her home and devour her. All that teasing they’d had through dinner has finally caught up with them and it would seem the both of them are a bit frantic for the other. His hands squeeze at her hips. “Mmmmm, Regina—“

“Do you have any idea how amazing you smell?” she interrupts him, shifting to suck along his neck, her nose rubbing over his skin. “Like pine and mint.” She pauses for a second, laughing at whatever thought has crossed her mind. She’s giggly, giddy even as she leans a bit more heavily against his body, her hands trapped on his chest between their bodies. She snickers again and tells him, “You smell like forest. Who knew trees could be so sexy.”

Laughter erupts from Robin, his own amusement with the sight of a giggly Regina Mills after two pitchers of margaritas too heightened after his own helping of tequila. He tucks his face against her neck, mirroring her position and kisses her neck, humming, “Hmmm, you smell rather delicious yourself, milady. Good enough to eat.” Robin punctuates his words with a light bite just below her jaw to which Regina lets out a low moan.

A shrill horn startles the couple from their own little world and they glance over to see the cab that’s pulled up into the parking lot. The driver’s annoyed expression apparent even through the dark windows. Regina laughs and steps away from Robin, letting her hands slide down his arms to thread one of her own with his. Pulling him along behind her, walking backwards toward the cab so she can still she him, she tells him, “Come on. Take me home so you can ravish me.”

Oh how he plans to, Robin thinks to himself, sliding into the vehicle behind her.

“No funny business.” The driver calls back, glaring at them once Robin’s shut the door behind him. “Where to?”

Regina rattles off her address, hesitating a second when she forgets the name of her street momentarily in her drunken haze, and then snuggles in against Robin’s side. His arm is wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close, her leg draped over one of his and he can’t help settling his hand atop her thigh, stroking over it.

She’s wearing that delectable dress after all. It’s light and springy and she’s paired a light cardigan with it for the temperamental early May weather, but it’s a bit shorter than some of her others. And it’s risen just a tad on her thigh. Enough to tease him with her smooth, caramel colored skin. His thumb slides against her skin, his hand slipping up her thigh a bit higher than what might be appropriate. But their driver is focused on the road and dammit she looks amazing. He’s resisted her all night and Robin finds his ability to keep his hands off her dwindling minute by minute.

All she does is smirk at him, shifting every so often when he gets a bit closer to where she’s aching for him. She’s going to fuck him like crazy and then pass out. Her eyes are droopy, brain fuzzy and the edges of her vision are starting to go a bit blurry, but his body is warm and tempting beside hers and it’s distracting. Never has she been more grateful to live so close to all the best spots in Boston than she is when they arrive at her house a mere fifteen minutes later.

They’re through the door in no time at all, Robin’s mouth descending on her the second it shuts behind them, letting his hands stroke down her spine, cupping her ass in his hands as he presses their hips together. She can feel his erection between them. Hard and hot and all hers as she drags his bottom lip between her teeth.

“I want you. Now.” Regina demands against Robin’s lips, breathing harshly and groaning as he pulls her even more flushly against him, pushing her cardigan off her shoulders. Wonderful, tantalizing images of dragging him straight to the floor where they stand wander through her mind. They could have their clothes off in no time at all. Wouldn’t even have to undress fully.

Robin’s hand slides around from her ass to the outside of her thigh, further still until it can dip under the hem of her dress to rub between her legs. She’s wet, her arousal dampening the lace panties beneath her dress and he moans as he feels her. “Gods, Regina—” He sneaks a finger under them, stroking through her wetness and rubbing over her clit, sending pinpricks of pleasure through her.

“Ohhhhh,” Regina gasps, rocks into his hand and slips her own hand between their bodies, rubbing over Robin’s erection. She teases open the button of his jeans as their mouths devour each other, skimming her fingertips lightly along the edge, enjoying the ripple of his muscles at her actions.

As tempting as the idea of them taking each other right here and now is, Regina still has enough of her senses to realize that’s a poor idea. They’re drunk and once they’ve satisfied their physical need, she has no doubt they will both be out like a light. She wants to collapse in her own, soft, comfortable bed with her egyptian cotton sheets against her naked skin. A night sleeping on the foreroom rug does not sound at all appealing.

Instead, she mutters, “Upstairs. Bed. Now.” against his lips, biting into his lower lip again just to tease him a bit more.

“Happily, my love,” Robin replies, his hand slipping from between her thighs as he bands his arms around her and kisses her fiercely for another moment. Then he’s dragging her up the stairs, hand threaded with hers as they stumble their way up and down the hallway, pausing briefly outside the bathroom as Robin kisses her again, unable to keep his mouth from hers for long. Both of them are giggling and Regina feels lighter and happier than she has in weeks.

Tonight was a good idea.

An excellent idea, in fact, she thinks, as they finally reach her bedroom and Robin leads her to lay down on the bed. Immediately, he’s on his knees in front of her, stroking his hands up her thighs, back down, eyeing her mischievously as his fingers inch higher and higher until he can tug the waistband of her panties down and toss them aside.

Thankfully, he gets right to work, settles his head between her thighs and licks a slow line straight up her folds. Regina moans helplessly, her legs tightening around his face as she holds him where she wants him. He’s so damn good at this. She’s a blessed woman to be able to have Robin Locksley regularly between her thighs.

Her mind wanders a bit, staring at the stippled pattern of her ceiling, brain hazy, her world narrowed down to physical sensations in her inebriation, and Regina lets herself revel in how Robin is making her feel. His hands hold her hips in place, thumbs rubbing over her hip bones as he licks and sucks at her. He’s dipping his tongue inside her, flicking it up and around in that way that he knows she loves, driving her wild. “Oh, god, that feels so goooood,” she moans.

Regina can feel Robin’s chuckle more than hear it as he keeps up his movements. Flick, lick, flick, lick. Over and over again until she’s a squirming mess of hormones, moaning loudly. Who the hell can hear her other than Robin? That’s when he switches what he’s doing, choosing to suck at her clit, swirling his tongue around the sensitive bud and driving Regina straight to the edge.

She hovers there for a few minutes, riding the border between pleasure and pain as Robin’s mouth does wonders to her body. But that’s all it takes. Robin sucking at her clit, digging blunt nails into her skin and Regina is toppling over into orgasm, Robin happily lapping up her gushing release.

Gradually, her breathing returns to something normal, and Regina lets her limbs melt into the mattress for a few seconds, savoring the warm, tended to feeling that he’s gifted her with. Robin presses a few light kisses to her thighs and then he’s standing up, grinning down at her like a kid in a candy store and Regina can do nothing but grin back at him dopely and chuckle.

“Pleased with yourself are you?”

“Mmmm, quite, milady.” Robin answers immediately, leaning over her to kiss her, tangling their tongues together for a minute as she runs her fingers through his hair affectionately.

Not for long though. Shoving at his shoulders lightly, Regina watches as he rights himself and sits up along with him, telling him with a smirk, “My turn.” His muttered prayer of thanks makes her laugh as she quickly lifts the hem of his t-shirt and Robin aids her in lifting it over his head as she releases the zipper of his jeans, pushing them down off his hips and letting them pool to the floor.

In nothing but his boxers, obviously tented with his desire, Regina grins at the sight. “Someone’s happy to see me,” she comments, voice a little slurred, and Robin laughs heartily.

“Always. I’ve wanted you all evening.” His fingers push a stray lock of hair behind her ear before his hand rubs affectionately down her shoulder and bicep, reaching around to tug down the zipper of her dress and loosening the material enough that it falls down her arms.

“Me too,” she tells him, wiggling out of her dress, letting it land at the foot of the bed and quickly reaching behind her to release the hook of her bra, tossing it carelessly across into the dark depth of her bedroom before focusing on her task once more.

Robin groans at the sight of her naked before him, but is quickly distracted as she sheds him of his boxers. Her hand wraps around his hard length, stroking firmly. It feels wonderful. The way she swipes her thumb over his head, swirling the tiny bit of liquid pooled their, squeezing lightly around his shaft. Then she smirks up at him from beneath her lashes and blesses him with the heavenly sensation of her lips wrapping around him and Robin’s muddled mind goes blank except for visions of Regina’s lovely mouth.

Her tongue slides along the ridge of his shaft, tracing the exposed veins before circling around the tip of him again. Then she sucks at him gently, squeezing at the base of his cock before she takes him deeper. Regina’s mouth is warm and wet. Absolutely perfect and Robin gives himself over to the incredible sensations she’s eliciting in him.

She’s bloody marvelous.

Telling her so, Robin sifts his fingers gingerly through her hair, scratching lightly at her scalp and moaning on a particularly strong, wet suck. “Mmmm, love, your mouth is amazing. Love it when you do this.” He’s gasping, a bit too out of breath, but well, can you blame him? This incredible woman is sucking at his cock, eyes twinkling up at him as she takes him deeper into her mouth. His already lethargic muscles tighten and strain as she licks up and down his cock, sucks him back in and repeats the delicious torture all over again.

“I want to be inside you, Regina.” Robin tells her. He’s getting closer to the edge and as lovely as it would be to release himself into her mouth, let her swallow his seed and then cuddle her close, he’s waited all night to feel her wet heat around him. It’s not something he’s willing to pass up.

Regina keeps it up for another minute, bobbing her head up and down on his cock before releasing him with a pop and stroking up and down lazily as she grins up at him. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Robin growls, bending down and taking her mouth with his, nipping at her bottom lip and tugging it between his teeth.

She chuckles when he pulls back and replies, “I guess we better get to it then.” Releasing his cock, Regina scoots further back on the bed, angling to the side a bit as she demands, “On your back, thief,” remembering the story he’d told them earlier and snickering a bit. Robin rolls his eyes and shakes his head but complies with a soft laugh.

Grasping him in her palm once more, Regina strokes him another few times. He’s hard as steel, thick in her grip and a shiver of anticipation ripples through her body when she thinks about how incredible he is going to feel inside her. Still wet and aching, despite her earlier orgasm, she’s more than ready to ride him into her mattress.

Quickly straddling his hips, Regina leans forward, her breasts brushing against his chest, nipples hard peaks that tingle as his chest hair tickles them, and whispers a soft, drunken, “I love you,” to him before kissing him.

Robin’s hands skim over her body, up her spine, fingertips dancing across her skin as they both sink into the kiss. Lips meeting and parting, bodies rocking against one another before Regina pulls away just enough to smile down at him, nuzzling her nose against his, and he has the chance to reply, “I love you, too.”

The smile that lights up her face makes his heart soar, and not for the first time, Robin thanks his lucky stars that this woman has been placed in his life. This is where they belong. Together, bound, madly in love. The tequila is making him sappy and before the accolades floating through his mind can escape his lips, Regina is sinking down onto him, and Robin stops thinking altogether.

Her back arches as she takes him inside of her body, using her hands on his chest as leverage as her hips rut into his. Robin’s hands find their way to her breasts, pinching her nipples between his thumb and forefinger and Regina groans. “Yes, mmmm, ooohh.” Her eyes are squeezed shut, focused on the wet friction happening where they are joined together, the way Robin stretches her muscles, filling her over and over again as she sets the rhythm.

“That’s it, love,” Robin murmurs to her, “enjoy yourself.” The room is dark and intimate around them, only a tiny sliver of moonlight illuminating them. Just enough that Robin can appreciate the sight above him, Regina Mill’s face twisted in pleasure as she rides his cock. It’s exquisite.

He levers himself up from the mattress so their torsos are nearly touching as he wraps his arms around her waist and fills one hand with her hair, cupping the back of her head, and the other massaging her tit, enjoying the heavy weight of it in his palm. It shifts the angle of him inside her just enough to have Regina gasping out in pleasure. Her knees sink into the soft mattress, helping her thrust against him as he leads her mouth to his.

Regina loves it like this, in this position. She feels close and protected with him while still being in control of their movements, of the pace at which she’s driving them toward the peak of bliss. His cock rubs against her clit with every stroke, every thrust, quickly pummeling her closer and closer toward another orgasm. The muscles in her body tingling as Robin’s tongue sweeps through her mouth, letting the flavor of her roll over him.

That hand that had been at her breast snakes it’s way between their slick skin and Robin circles two fingers gently over her clit, applying just enough pressure to shoot sparks through her. Regina moans, breaks the kiss and breathes heavily against Robin’s lips as she tips her forehead down to his.

“That’s right. Oh, god, Regina, you feel amazing. Hot, wet, tight.” Robin’s voice surrounds her in the miniscule space between them, shrouding her in a cloud of love and affection, and Regina is almost there, so very, very close. “Come for me, baby,” he whispers to her, pecking a quick kiss to her lips as she arches her back and hips into him.

He’s thrusting up against her now too, their hips meeting each other in tandem. Her head spins, tequila and Robin melding together as she finally tips over the edge, her body pulsing and throbbing everywhere, centered right at her core where he pushes himself inside her. Gasping, Regina buries her face in Robin’s neck, moaning tightly as she lets the waves of pleasure wash over her, loosening her muscles, the quick pounding of Robin’s cock as he joins her on the cusp of absolute euphoria with a firm jerk of his hips.

Gradually, she begins to come back into her senses, aware of the way Robin’s hands are stroking up and down her back, his heavy breathing in her ear as he struggles to catch his breath. Regina places an open mouthed kiss to his throat, rubbing her nose against his stubble for a moment before lifting her head and meeting Robin’s hooded gaze with her own blissed out expression.

“Well,” she grins, letting her fingers play with the hair at the base of his neck, sweaty from their laborious activities, “that was one hell of a way to end the holiday.”

Robin’s laugh shakes his whole body, Regina’s as well as they are still pressed tightly together. “That it was, milady.” he replies, kissing her again, hard and long before collapsing back on the bed and bringing her with him. They untangle their limbs, Robin slipping out of her, maneuvering until they can ruck down her comforter and settle beneath it once more.

Spent and sated, she rests her head on Robin’s shoulder, her leg tossed over his hip and his arms securely cradling her, as Regina begins drifting off to sleep. It feels a bit like she’s in a dream already, her head still buzzing with the after effects of alcohol and orgasm, but she smiles sleepily as Robin kisses the top of her head and mutters, “Happy Cinco de Mayo, love.”

She turns yet again over to her other side, facing the two men she loves more than anything in this world and runs her fingers through Roland’s messy curls, mussed from sleep. He’s precious. Youthful excitement radiating from him in waves and it’s damn near infectious. Even before she’s had her coffee.

 Robin’s slitted gaze moves from Roland to Regina, dimples creasing in his cheeks as he smiles at her and his son. “Morning, love.” He leans over to kiss her, squeezing Roland between them as their lips meet for a chaste, light kiss of greeting, and they chuckle against each other’s mouths as Roland squirms and wiggles in protest, though they each catch the sound of his giggles. Then he’s letting out another frustrated sigh because they are clearly not moving fast enough for him and they grin at each other.

 “Alright, my boy, you’ve been very patient.” And Robin appreciates the fact that he’s waited to go searching about the house for his prized basket until he’d come to wake them up. There’s nothing Robin loves more than to see the joy on Roland’s face as they play this game. “Let’s go see if we find anything.”

 The three of them shuffle about, Roland hopping up and out of bed, dashing toward the door as Regina and Robin extricate themselves from the covers a bit more leisurely. They meet at the foot of the bed and Robin grins at Regina’s bed head for a moment as he wraps his arms around her waist. He’s seen her countless times first thing in the morning at this point, but it still fills his heart with joy. Has it leaping and fluttering with the amount of love he feels for this woman.

 Pulling her flush against him, he kisses her again, weaving his fingers through the strands of her hair and drawing her close, morning breath and all, for several drawn out seconds. It’s only when Roland pokes his head around the door frame again, whining for them to, come oooooon, that Regina and Robin part, grinning stupidly at each other before following him out of the room.

 It’s a hunt through the house after that to discover where the Easter Bunny has hidden his basket. Regina follows Roland around as he begins digging through his closet and beneath his bed, scattering animals and cars out of his toy chest onto the colorful rug adorning his floor with no success. He abandons his bedroom in favor of Robin’s again and quickly repeats the process.

 “Are you sure he’s come, my boy?” Robin questions teasingly from the doorway, leaning casually against the jamb as his son ransacks his room. He’s grinning at Roland and Regina can’t help but chuckle at him as Roland gasps, Of course, Daddy! He’s just tricky.

 Then he’s darting back out of the room to head for the bathroom and Regina meanders after him, stopping just beside Robin. “Where on earth did you hide the thing?”

 He smirks, tilting his head so he can see Roland rip the shower curtain open as he whispers back to her, “It’s down in the den. Can’t make it too easy on him.”

 She merely shakes her head. As entertaining as this is to watch, her brain still feels fuzzy, and her body is desperately craving the sweet, wonderful caffeine she knows is waiting for her downstairs. Robin’s coffee is a God send. Honestly. She can practically taste it’s seductive flavor as Roland huffs and declares it’s not up here and they head for the stairs.

 Thankfully, his next stop is the kitchen and Regina is able to head straight for the pantry where heaven awaits her. As she swings the cabinet door open, however, Regina pauses, tilting her head in confusion as she’s greeted with the sight of a tiny green wicker basket instead of the usual bag of java. Her gaze flickers over to Robin’s as he stands in the doorway grinning at her before returning her puzzled expression to the object before her and pulling it out.

 “Did you find it, R’gina?” Roland asks, both anxious and a touch disappointed as he eyes the basket she holds in her hands.

 Regina shakes her head, “I don’t believe this one is yours, baby.” If not for the fact that Robin has already told her where he’s hidden Roland’s, this basket contains nothing that would excite him anyway. It’s filled with packs of post-it notes, a few of her preferred pens, the nice kind that don’t bleed and smear when she uses them, and a bit of her favorite Cadbury chocolate.

 “The bunny brought you a basket too?” Curious, Roland scampers over to her, rising up on his tiptoes to peer over the edge of the basket in her hand. “Why’d he bring ya post-its?” he asks, a tiny little crinkle forming between his brows, quite similar to the one that Regina gets when she’s confused.

 Robin’s chuckle sounds from across the room and Regina grins up at him from under her lashes. As silly as this may be, she can’t help but feel amused as well.

 “Regina must have needed some new ones for the office.” Robin tells his son, biting down on his lower lips as he does his best to stifle the chuckle that wants to break free. Accepting that answer with a nod and slight shrug of his shoulders, Roland returns to his task with new determination and runs out of the room for the living room.

 Picking through the basket a little bit more, Regina lifts her eyes to Robin and then smiles as she walks over to stand in front of him. “What’s all this?” She questions once she’s come to a stop.

 “You deserve to be spoiled a bit too.” He tells her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and letting the tips of his fingers brush lightly down the side of her face. “Happy Easter.”

 Her laughter is joyous and echoes around the kitchen as she shakes her head at him. “You’re ridiculous.”

 “But you love me,” Robin counters. The words are still new and exciting for them, barely two weeks since they’d first said them to one another, and neither one of them can help themselves from bringing it up whatever chance they get.

 “Mmmmm, indeed I do.” Her fingers pluck one of the plastic wrapped packs of the paper squares, a lovely lavender shade that’s fitting of the holiday, out of the basket and holds it up to him, smirking as she tells him, “And one can never have too many post-its.”

 His laughter rumbles out as Robin pecks a kiss to her lips. “Certainly not, milady.” Leaning back, he tips his chin in the direction of the cabinet beside the fridge. “I moved the coffee over there. Why don’t you make a pot while I lead Roland in the right direction.”

 Nodding, Regina turns and does just that as he makes his way in the direction of Roland’s shuffling through all their possessions. She sets the basket on the counter, giving it a little grin as she find the coffee grinds and goes about preparing the delicious brew. She’s just contemplating what they should have for breakfast, perhaps she’ll make french toast, it is a holiday after all, the coffee pot finishing up the last few drips when Roland bounds back in, holding up his prized Easter basket for her to see.

 “R’gina! R’gina! He came! He brought me a basket too!”

 Turning from the counter, Regina bends down to Roland’s level, admiring the contents of said basket. “Well look at that! What are you gonna do with all that candy?”

 “Eat it!” Roland exclaims merrily, clearly ecstatic over the whole thing and Regina merely laughs and ruffles his mop of curls.

 “One piece. Then breakfast.” Robin commands, grinning down at both of them. Roland nods and then rushes over to settle in at the table, digging through the plastic grass Regina is positive they will be finding around the house for months to come to determine what candy he wants first and to dig through all of it. The sound of him cracking open plastic eggs and jelly beans raining down rings through the kitchen as she and Robin move to poor themselves mugs of coffee. The excited shrieks every time he finds a new little toy in the basket are too adorable and Regina leans back against the counter and admires the sight before her for a moment. Beyond grateful that she gets to share this experience with them this year. In a matter of a few months they’ve managed to make the holidays something she looks forward to rather than dread.

 Before long, Roland is munching on a chocolate covered marshmallow egg and running off to the living room to play with his new hot wheels cars and then she and Robin go about starting breakfast. Settling on that french toast as Robin scrambles up some eggs for them. It’s something they do all the time now. Lazy Sunday morning breakfasts. Their movements are practiced and natural as Regina hands him a spatula from the drawer and he hands her a bowl of egg whites and yolk all mixed together for her to dip the bread into.

 They flirt with each other as they prepare their meal, teasing quips and a few light touches here and there. Robin skimming his fingers along the small of back and Regina sliding a hand down his bicep and forearm. And then he’s pinned her to the counter beside the stove, captured her mouth with his and Regina revels in the feel of his tongue tangling with hers. The flavor of strong coffee and a hint of chocolate exploding on her tongue. Apparently, he’d snagged a bit of Roland’s candy for himself when she hadn’t been looking.

 Her arms wrap around his neck, drawing him flush against her body. They’re still in their pajamas, only the feel of soft cotton between them as Regina presses her lower half against him and lets her head fall back so Robin can trail kisses along the column of her neck. “The toast is going to burn.” She mutters distractedly and it elicits a light chuckle from Robin, a breath of hot air puffing out against her throat.

 “Hmmmm, wouldn’t want that.” Robin responds, though he doesn’t stop kissing her, merely shifts down to swirl his tongue in the hollow of her throat and then makes his way back up to her mouth, ghosting his hands along her back and down her hip as he kisses her.

 For the sake of their breakfast, they are thankfully interrupted a moment later by Roland’s tiny voice. “Can I have some juice?”

 Robin and Regina break apart, turning to glance at Roland in the doorway. He eyes them with a curious gaze, but nothing more. He’s become quite used to seeing his father kiss her at this point after all. And Regina laughs a bit breathlessly and answers him, “Sure, baby.”

 She goes about pouring him a glass of apple juice, using his favored plastic Nemo cup and then settles down at the table with him to break in his new Easter themed Go Fish game while Robin finishes up breakfast.

 A perfect start to their day.

 . . .

 Today has been everything he could have hoped for. Easter isn’t an overly important holiday for them, Robin’s never been very religious, but he likes to honor and respect the traditions behind it. And in the years that Roland has blessed his life, he’s done his best to make it fun for his son. So they’ve created their own traditions on this day, things he and Roland do every year, even if he’s only just fully coming to appreciate them at his young age.

 He’s finally old enough that they’d been able to dye easter eggs this go around. Something that had turned into both one of the messiest and enjoyable activities he’s done with him. Letting him color over the hard boiled eggs with a white crayon, his imagination running wild as Regina had explained that it would form a picture once they dropped it in the dye. Roland had wanted an egg in every color and Robin had helped him lower it into the cup.

 Once he’d felt like he had the hang of things Roland had started dropping them in like crazy, getting a little over zealous until fat drops of liquid dye had started splattering over the newspaper covered table, landing on his hands and forearms, even one on his tiny little nose. Regina had merely laughed, that beautiful, pure sound of delight, and run a wet paper towel over his face, chastising him to be careful and smiling at Roland’s sheepish grin.

 The entire experience had resulted in the desperate need for a bath and he’d watched from his seat on the lid of the toilet as his son and the love of his life had played in the water, throwing bubbles at each other. Robin thinks they may just have found a new tradition to add to their list of must-do Easter activities and leans down and busses a kiss to her temple, whispering a quiet, I love you, to her and muttering about showering himself. Clearly the two of them have this well handled.

 Regina has inserted herself into their rituals so seamlessly it feels as if she’s always been with them. Briefly, his heart aches for Marian and all the moments she is missing out on. Roland had barely been a year old when she’d passed and she’d never gotten to watch him run around the house searching for a basket or spill jelly beans all over the carpet. Never will.

 However, the gratitude that he feels in equal measure toward the woman cuddled on the couch watching a movie with his son as he prepares dinner is astronomical. She’s incredible. Wonderful. A miracle that’s come into their lives and Robin is so in love with her it hurts sometimes. Today he thanks God for bringing her to them.

 The doorbell chimes suddenly, ringing through the house, breaking Robin from his musings as he chops up carrots.

 “They’re here!” Roland exclaims, jumping up from the couch and barrelling toward the doorway to greet his uncles.

 While the whole lot of them come piling in, Robin continues his preparations as he listens to Regina and Roland greet John and Tuck, Alan not far behind him. Will and Ana will be by later he knows, after they spend some time with her mother.

 “Happy Easter, man” John pronounces as he wanders into the kitchen. “Little lady got you doing all the cooking?” He asks a bit cheekily, a chuckle rumbling and rocking his belly as Robin gives him a snarky reply back and informs him beer is in the fridge.

 It’s not long after that dinner is ready and as he sits down with his friends, his love, and his son, that Robin is once again grateful that his life has been so incredibly blessed by these people. It’s a nice afternoon. Simple and relaxed. Just as it should be. Good company and a pleasant meal. Luckily for them all, Robin is quite the chef and their dinner of pork chops and mashed potatoes, stuffing and carrots is filling and satisfying. And the jello eggs. They can’t have Easter without jello eggs according to Roland.

 However, as time wears on his boy becomes more and more restless, eyeing the storage bin filled with plastic multi-colored eggs filled with treats as Regina eyes his plate and insists he eat one more bite of pork and three more carrot slices, plus another bite of potatoes before he can be finished. It makes Robin grin, always does, watching how easily mothering comes to her, how effortlessly both she and Roland have slipped into those roles. Especially when the little boy pulls a face but dutifully stabs his fork into a carrot and pops it into his mouth. But he adores her, Robin knows.  

 “Is it time yet, Daddy?” Roland mumbles after another bite through a mouthful of meat.

 “Don’t talk with food in your mouth, Roland.” Robin chides him before following it up with, “Time for what?”

 Roland swallows dramatically and huffs out a breath of annoyance in a manner only a four year old can pull off and Robin struggles to keep the grin from his face. “The egg hunt, Daddy! You didn’t forget right?” He looks aghast at even the possibility, eyes flickering over to the colorful collection once more.

 “Ahhhhh, yes, the egg hunt,” Robin hums, taking a leisurely sip from his beer, using it to hide the slight smirk as his eyes twinkle when they catch Regina’s. She knows how much Roland is looking forward to that particular activity. He’s talked of nothing else since the excitement of his basket had worn off. “I’m not sure we’re quite ready for it yet, my boy. We’ve the dishes to see to first. And you haven’t finished those bites yet.”

 The pout that comes over his face is precious, his chest deflating as he realizes they are going to force him to wait even longer for his fun. However, Regina’s never seen the boy scarf down mashed potatoes so quickly. And now he’s been bouncing around while they clean up their plates, Regina and Robin tackling the dishes while Will does his best to entertain him while he fidgets. From her place loading the plates and utensils into the dishwasher Regina watches him glance over to the collection of eggs and back to the magic tricks Will is performing in front of him over and over again.

 “He looks like he’s about to burst.” Regina laughs and meets his gaze.

 Robin glances over his shoulder to his son, grinning. He’s got such a look of anticipation about him, Robin can’t help but be entertained by it all. He probably shouldn’t be. It isn’t very nice to take any pleasure in son’s discomfort, but it is rather amusing watching the way his son keeps darting glances toward the bin, a little pout forming on his face. And he can’t wait to watch him run around collecting them once they finally lay everything out. So he’s enjoying letting the build up grow. As is a parent’s right.

 “I suppose we shouldn’t keep him waiting any longer.” Robin replies as he closes the door of the dishwasher. He presses a light kiss to her brow before making is way to the living room and shifting Roland’s attention to himself. “Alright,” Robin claps, and Roland’s eyes light up, his head snapping up as he looks at his father eagerly.

 “Is it time?” He asks, practically vibrating.

 Chuckling, Robin nods, “Yes. And you know the rules. Upstairs while we hid the eggs and then you can scour away.”

 Roland nods his agreement, a few of his curls bouncing in his face before he jumps up off the sofa and grabs Regina’s hand insisting she wait with him. Robin winks at her as she follows Roland up the stairs, makes her grin over her shoulder at him as he scoops up eggs from the bin John holds out.

 They can’t be upstairs for more than ten minutes but Roland talks her ear off, listing all the candy he got from his egg hunt last year and asking her if she’ll look for them too. He informs her that Uncle John and he normally race and he always wins because he’s the fastest. As he’s giving her tips about all of Daddy’s sneaky hiding places, like inside the gnome hat in the garden and up in the trees in the back yard when she her amusement with the entire situation finally wins out.

 “You gotta think like a thief!” Roland says matter of factly, smiling from ear to ear with is information and being able to pass that knowledge along to her. “Well, that’s what Daddy says,” he adds as an afterthought. Regina can’t help the chuckle that escapes, even as she tries to choke it down, not wanting to discourage Roland’s enthusiasm.

 Thankfully, Robin pops his head around Roland’s door frame a moment later and asks, “You two ready?”

 Roland whoops in excitement and is racing out the door instantly, slowing at his father’s insistence as he reaches the top of the stairs and then hurrying the rest of the way as soon as he hits the bottom.

 Baskets are distributed, the sight of John holding a pale yellow easter basket inciting quite a bit of ribbing from Will. Well, until Ana shoves a pink one at him and insists that Roland has decreed he has to hunt for eggs too. With chuckles all around they begin.

 Regina participates for a few minutes, casually dropping a few of the brightly colored plastic eggs into her basket, more for Roland’s benefit than anything else, before she stops and just watches him for awhile. He’s adorable. Running around the back yard on a mission. Already, his basket is near to overflowing and they’ve only been at this for a few minutes, but then he’s set on winning.

 It hits her then. The entire day culminating in this one moment of pure, innocent joy. It’s perfect.

 She feels a pair of arms come around her waist. Familiar. Comfortable. He settles his hands along her lower abdomen, fingers locking together as his chin rests on her shoulder. Regina smiles, places her own hands over Robin’s and leans back into him as they watch Roland run around.

 Robin’s voice whispers into her ear, his mouth pressed against it and his warm breath on her skin making her shiver slightly. “I’m so glad you’re here. That you get to share today with us.” She can hear the unspoken emotion behind the words, his love for her and this little family it would seem they’re creating together. It would seem that the weight of the moment is hitting Robin as well.

 Tipping her head back so she can meet his eyes, Regina smiles and replies, “So am I. Thank you for including me.”

Happy April Fool’s, my dear.

Rolling her eyes, Regina continues to grab and toss the post-its into her recycle bin beside her desk, steadily amounting quite the collection of wasted paper. Beneath another row she finds a second scribbled message.

Before you get angry…

Well, it’s too late for that now, isn’t it? Though glancing around her office, as annoyed at she is at having to turn it back into any sort of workable condition, Regina does have to admit it’s a rather silly joke. And fitting for Robin to think she’d find amusing. Their little post-it exchanges have yet to subside in the last four months they’ve been together. The next note she finds has a different tone, though still playful.

Know this is no joke, but true…

The insults that had been running rampant through Regina’s mind come to a halt when she notices the last message scrawled on one of the post-its in the center of her computer screen. Hidden beneath several others. And for a moment, her heart completely stops.

I love you.

Her mind goes blank beyond reading those three little words over again. One more time. Then two and three, four… as she struggles to comprehend them. They haven’t said that to each other yet. Have been dancing around it for the last few weeks, in fact. Ever since that fight they’d had on St. Patrick’s Day and their inevitable making up. Something had changed for them that night, had cemented their relationship and their feelings for each other in a way neither of them could have expected or anticipated. Weathering that first storm, she supposes, and coming out stronger. For the first time, she’d believed they could handle anything as long as they did it together.

Things have been back to smooth sailing since then. Happier than ever in fact. She’s been spending more nights with Robin and Roland, falling asleep in the comforting and safe embrace of Robin’s arms. More late night discussions and whispered secrets. Learning more and more about each other every day. They’ve been having sleep overs at her house as well, much to the little boy’s delight. Everything has been going swimmingly.

And more times than she would care to admit the words I love you have been on the tip of her tongue. But it’s only been four months. It seems like it’s too soon. That she shouldn’t be feeling everything for this incredible man and his son that she is. Not without knowing him better. But, then, she knows the important parts. The ones that truly matter. Perhaps that’s enough. Apparently Robin has determined as much.

Forgetting her task, Regina pivots on her heel and skirts around her desk out of her office, heading by Leroy and Ruby’s desks toward Robin’s office. His door is open and as she peeks her head in Regina discovers it to be empty, a disheartened expression forming on her face as she frowns and turns to glance around.

Light blonde hair and that navy blue suit she loves on him capture her attention. He’s headed into the supply closet when she catches sight of him (Lord only knows what other sort of pranks he’s planning to pull with the arsenal in there), and Regina quickly strides after him.

. . .

The door clicking open and shut behind him immediately after he’s stepped into the dim closet, has Robin turning curiously. Though his expression shifts from one of confusion to delight as his gaze falls on Regina. “Good morning, darling.” He’d expected her to storm into his office a good half hour ago, when she’d come in to find his little display in her office.

He hadn’t meant any harm by it, thought it would be a good bit of amusement, and when he’d been planning it, he’d hoped that his calling card might soften her up a bit to his antics. One look at her standing there holding up the post-it with his words of affection between her index and middle finger, saying nothing, confirms her reason for following him in here.

A slow smile spreads over Robin’s face, the dimples that make her weak peeking out as his gorgeous blue eyes twinkle at her. “Ah, I see you found my surprise.”

“Robin,” Regina says, exasperatedly. Because this is not the time for him to joke with her. It feels like her heart is going to beat right out of her chest, pounding painfully against her ribcage. And she wants to hear the words from his mouth (spoken in that lovely accent that does delicious things to her), not merely written down. “What is this?”

He tilts his head, smirking at her, clearly enjoying himself. He’s been looking for the proper time to tell her for weeks. Has felt the sentiment for quite some time now. Bidding his time until he’d felt that she was ready to handle it. But they’re in a good place. Happy and content. And Robin hadn’t been able to resist expressing the depth of feelings he holds for this woman any longer. The way in which he’d gone about it might confuse some people, but it had seemed fitting for them.  

“It would appear it is a love note.”

Regina whines his name again, and Robin can’t contain the chuckle anymore, letting it rumble and echo through the tiny space they’re in. Grinning, love shining in his eyes, his hand comes up to cup her cheek in the palm of his hand, letting his thumb stroke over the apple of it. Sweeping the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip, Robin mirrors the position of his hand with other one, holding her face between his palms as he tells her sincerely, “I love you, Regina Mills. I want you to know how much you mean to me, how important you’ve become to me and my son. How much I want you in our lives.”

He says it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. As if he’s telling her what he had for breakfast this morning or the latest quip Roland has come up with instead of a declaration of his devotion to her. Despite herself, tears well up in Regina’s eyes, shimmering in the corners of her vision for a moment. Her hands lift to grip his wrists, holding his palms to her face as she laughs softly, face lighting up as she answers, “I love you too.”

The smile that erupts over Robin’s face has her heart lifting and swelling, fluttering madly in her chest again as his mouth swoops down on hers. Her own opens to him, allowing his tongue to slide along hers, tasting the bitter flavor of his morning coffee. Stumbling backwards, Regina’s back hits the door and she moans into Robin’s mouth as her arms wrap around his neck to pull him closer to her.

“You’re incredible. Do you know that?” Robin murmurs against her lips, peppering kisses over her cheek and down her chin, sucking at that spot just below her ear that always has desire stabbing low in her belly. His torso is pressed against her, the beginnings of his own arousal bumping against her as his mouth returns to hers and plunders.

Regina moans, hooking her calf around Robin’s as she indulges in their semi-privacy for a few minutes to rub against him as they make out. Her fingers stroke through his hair, scratching at his scalp and holding him close to her as they continue to lick and nip at each other. Biting at his lower lip, tugging it between her teeth, Regina groans and arches her hips against his. “Say it again.”

Now that it’s not hanging in the air between them, she wants to hear it over and over again, to repeat the words back to him as often as she can. It should scare her. The depth of feeling she has for him. But Regina has never felt anything but safe with this man and their admission only strengthens that emotion.

“God, I love you so much.” Unable to keep from kissing her, Robin’s mouth latches onto her throat again, sucking gently. He knows better than to leave a mark. Especially here, while they are at work. Oh, lord, they should not be doing this here. They are bound to get caught or have someone hear them as they walk by. She hadn’t exactly been subtle about following him in here. I mean really, how long can it possibly take to find something in this tiny little closet?

But he’s whispering how much he loves her against her skin, how long he’s wanted to tell her, and Regina is helpless to resist him. Maybe they can be quick.

Directing his gaze back to hers with two fingers beneath his chin, his rough stubble scratchy under her touch, Regina breathes heavily, mirroring Robin’s heaving chest as she stares into his eyes. “I love you, Robin. You and Roland. Getting snowed in with you was the best damn thing that ever happened to me.”  

Hearing those words from her lips, the reflection of them in her eyes, is more than Robin ever could have asked for. He has no idea what he did to deserve this woman, but he’s so grateful she’d stumbled her way into his life. Can’t imagine not having her in it.

That elusive, yet satisfying smile, plays over her lips, lighting up her whole face. It makes his chest ache with love an affection for her, and all Robin wants is to show her how much he loves her. Leaning in to capture her mouth with his again, Robin groans at the gentle press of their lips together. He can taste the mint of her toothpaste and something entirely Regina and it makes him hungry for more. Despite their location.

He’s fully aroused now, the hard length of him grinding against her as Regina lets her head fall back and circles her hips along with his. They’re working each other up. And it’s entirely inappropriate. They can’t do this here. Now. But Robin’s never been very good at resisting her.

She’s so turned on and happy. She wants him. To feel close with him when they’ve just taken their relationship to the next level and she doesn’t think she can wait to have him.

What’s a little quickie in the supply closet?

She presses closer to him, letting her hands roam over his back, down his spine, and over his ass, squeezing pointedly.

“Regina…” Robin moans warningly, though it doesn’t stop him from bucking his hips into hers, nor does the desire darkening his eyes dissipate. The hand gripping her hip tightens, his fingers digging into her skin through the layers of clothing. Something they are wearing far too much of.

Her husky whisper of, “I want you, Robin,” in his ear is enough to abolish every thought of propriety from his mind. It doesn’t matter that they’re at work. That anyone could wander by and hear them. Who is he to deny the woman he loves what she wants?

Nodding once, Robin’s mouth drops down to her neck again, mouthing open kisses along her skin as he makes quick work of the first few buttons of her blouse, opening it enough so the swells of her breasts are revealed to him. He groans as her lacy, wine colored bra comes into view. She’s gorgeous. Stunning. Incredible. And most importantly, his.

Robin’s mouth journeys lower, kissing over her chest until he is sucking a hardened nipple through the sheer material, palming her other breast with his hand. Pulling away for a brief second, Robin tugs the cups down so he can admire her naked breasts. Moving a hand to twist and tease her nipples while sucking on them some more. Regina’s breathy moans of encouragement only spurring Robin on.

It’s another minute of him lavishing attention to her tits before he’s suddenly gripping beneath her ass and lifting her up, turning to set her down on the tiny table just beside the shelving unit. The move dislodges a few boxes of paperclips stacked there, falling to the floor with a quiet clatter. There’s not a ton of space, and what there is of it is mostly crowded with supplies. But there’s enough that they can make do.

Robin drops to his knees in front of her, smirking up at her from between her thighs as his hands brush along the outsides of her legs. Grabbing the hem of her skirt, he pushes the material up. Higher and higher. Revealing each new tantalizing inch of her lightly bronzed skin. When her skirt is banded around her waist Robin takes a moment to appreciate the sheer lace of the matching panties she wears today. What a picture she makes. All disheveled and rumpled from his touch, half-naked and panting in anticipation. He runs his nose lightly up her thigh, over her sex and down the other leg.

Where he would normally draw this out, peppering kisses over her skin and teasing her until she’s begging for him to give her attention where she needs it, a quiet whine from Regina reminds him that they don’t have time for that.

Chuckling, Robin hooks his fingers around the waistband, urging Regina to lift her hips as he pulls the flimsy material down her legs, tossing it aside and focusing on the vision before him. He tugs her to the edge of the table, draping her thighs over his shoulders and kisses along her the soft flesh of her inner thigh.

When he lets his tongue lick a slow line up her sex, Regina and Robin’s moans mingle through the room. “Mmmmm, you’re so wet, babe,” he mutters before returning to his task. Flicking his tongue against her, in and out of her. Lapping up the evidence of her arousal as he torments her.

She tastes exquisite. Soft and warm and wet, mewling as he sucks at her clit, circling his tongue around the tiny sensitive nub. After months of doing this to her, he knows what she likes, what movements will have her keening for him most quickly, and time is of the essence. So Robin uses his knowledge to both his and Regina’s advantage. Eating her with a fervor.

Sparks of pleasure erupt over her skin, tingling as Robin continues to suck at her clit. He’s driving her crazy. Her mind a hazy, jumbled mess of sensations and babbled words of pleasure Regina’s not sure if she’s speaking aloud or merely shouting within the depths of her mind. She hopes to god she’s keeping her moans to a reasonable level. The sheer mortification of someone overhearing them going at it in the middle of the work day has a blush rising to her cheeks. It’s not enough to make her tell him to stop though.

But they don’t have much time and as delicious as his mouth on her sex feels, she wants him inside her, wants to feel him joined with her. Regina’s thighs tighten around his head, squeezing on a particularly hard suck that has her gasping and crying out, her fingers gripping his hair tightly.

“Oh, god, Robin—“ He licks at her harder, switching down to flick his tongue inside her again. It takes all of Regina’s willpower to pull his mouth away from her, looking down at him through heavy-lidded eyes as she tells him, “Inside. I want to come around you.”

The groan he lets out at her words sends a shiver through her, the vibrations rippling against her sex. He nods, knows they don’t have the sort of time he would like to be able to make her come twice, and he wants to feel her squeezing around him just as badly. Robin dips his head down to press one more kiss to her clit, one more final suck before he’s standing again, quickly shrugging out of his suit jacket and letting it drop to the floor.

Regina’s hands reach hurriedly for his tie, tugging him closer to her with it, positioning him between her thighs as they wrap around him, her ankles resting just below his ass. She brings her mouth up to meet his in a frantic kiss as they work together to rid him of his clothing. Robin releasing the knot of his tie as her fingers slip the buttons of his dress shirt free, her hands raking over his toned abdomen once she’s undone the last one. Scratching her nails over his skin, the light smattering of hair covering him, she groans into the kiss.

Letting her fingers drift lower, Regina snakes a hand between their hips, releasing the button and zipper of his slacks as she reaches a hand into them to grab him. Robin grunts as her fingers wrap around him, lightly stroking up and down a few times. He’s hard as a rock and aching to be inside her. Rocking his hips into her touch, Robin breaks their kiss in favor of sucking kisses down her neck, scraping his teeth over ther soft flesh.

“God, I want you so much, Regina. Do you have any idea what you do to me?” She smiles at that, tightening her grip as she pushes his pants over his hips, letting them pool to the floor while Robin murmurs words of endearment into her skin. Her thumb circles around his head, spreading the tiny drop of liquid there as she angles him toward her entrance. “Mmmmm, I love you.” Robin says a moment before he’s driving into her, sheathing himself into her warm center.

Regina lets the words settle over her like balm, heating just beneath her skin and shimmering through her veins like an elixir. She wraps her arms tightly around his neck, bringing their torsos flush against one another, her breasts flattened against his chest and the coarse hair tickling her pebbled nipples. Turning her head slightly, she licks along his earlobe, whispering huskily into it, “I love you.”  

Then the two of them are moving together, Robin driving his hips harder into hers with every inward stroke, only to pull out more slowly, tauntingly. So she can feel every inch of him as he fills and stretches her. Every damp slide of friction igniting sparks throughout her body.

One of her hands slides up the back of his neck, tangling in his hair as she breathes in the scent of his cologne and sweat while sucking at the skin where shoulder and neck meet. She dots kisses along the side of his neck, up along his jaw, enjoying the scratchy feel of his stubble against her skin, as her mouth finds its way back to his.

A good thing too, as they are able to swallow each other’s moans while he thrusts inside her, hips pistoning back and forth as they settle into a steady rhythm that works for them both. It won’t take long. Not like this. Not with the way he’s filling her. Desire is a tight coil that builds deep in her womb, threatening to burst as Robin hits that one spot inside her over and over again.

“You’re bloody gorgeous.” Robin tells her, tugs her lip between his teeth as he growls out the words, pounding into her. When he caresses a hand over her thigh, hiking it high around his waist and pressing forward, forcing Regina to lean back against the wall, pleasure blooms within her.

It changes the angle just enough to have him sliding against her clit on every inward and outward stroke, just right, to have Regina ripping her mouth from his and letting out a wail. Much louder than she should allow considering where they are, but she can’t help it. One hand darts out to the shelf beside her for purchase, shoving an entire stack of staples boxes to the floor, while the other grips at Robin’s shoulder to ground her.

She’s so close. A mere few inches from the edge of absolute delight. “Uhh— yes, please. Mmmm… Robin, I’m—“ Her words are a incoherent mess as heat and fire consume her where they are joined.

Thankfully, he knows her body well, can tell how close she is. “Mmmm, yes. Come for me, darling. That’s it.” Robin slips his other hand between their bodies until his thumb finds her clit and circles it a few times. It’s exactly what she needs. That extra sensation to have her body tipping over that fine edge.

Regina shudders and pulses around him, her inner walls fluttering around his cock as she climaxes. “Yes, yes, yes—“ She cries, Robin’s mouth swooping down to capture her moans of intense pleasure as he continues moving inside her, drawing out her orgasm for another minute before he increases the tempo of their hips.

A few deep, hard thrusts later and Robin is spilling inside her as well, shuddering and burying her face into the crook of her neck as he comes. Regina tightens her legs around his waist, cradling him to her as they both gradually come down from their highs.

Both of them are panting, struggling to catch their breath, but every inch of her feels golden and loved and Regina can’t help the grin that spreads over her face as Robin pulls away from her neck to smile down at her. He leans in to kiss her lightly, a gesture of affection, and nothing more as he pulls away and says once again that he loves her. It seems now that they’ve said it, neither of them can contain the words anymore as Regina answers in kind.

Then she’s letting her legs drop from around his waist as Robin pulls out of her, looking around them and assessing the damage they’d caused. There are boxes scattered all over the floor. A heap of paper clips that had fallen out of their box piled on the tile. Somehow a box of pens had been caught in the cross hairs of their lovemaking as well and have rolled all over the floor.

Regina chuckles, staring at the office supplies around them before her amused gaze returns to Robin’s matching one. “We made quite the mess.”

“Indeed we did, milady.” He grins, biting his lower lip in that way that drives her crazy, before leaning in and kissing the tip of her nose lightly. “Worth every minute of it too.”

She laughs, full bellied, as she moves to stand, shimmying her skirt back down over her hips, wincing slightly at the stickiness between her thighs. She’ll have to take a trip to the ladies room once they leave here. Buttoning her blouse once more, Regina then runs her fingers through her hair, doing her best to comb it out into something that doesn’t make it look like she’s just been fucked against the staplers and labels. Without the benefit of a mirror though it’s a pretty hopeless task. So she straightens her blouse and now slightly wrinkled skirt, trying to smooth them out as best as she can while Robin tucks himself back into his slacks and begins buttoning his shirt once more.

“Presentable?” She questions of her appearance as her eyes rake over him.

A smirk slides across his lips, tipping up the corners of his mouth as his gaze travels over her from head to toe. She certainly looks disheveled. Her lips swollen from his kisses, a light flush to her cheeks that is unmistakably the look of someone who’s been well tended to. Robin can’t resist leaning in to press his mouth to hers again, tangling his tongue with hers for a deep kiss and threading his fingers back into her dark locks, effectively undoing all her efforts to tame the strands.

When they part, Regina whines, “Robin…”

He rests his forehead against hers, chuckling, his warm breath exhaling over her lips. “You look fine. A little rumpled is all.” He answers her, finishing up with the rest of his buttons and leaning down to grab his tie and blazer from the ground. Regina watches him, leaning back against the door as he finishes dressing. He’s a bit worse for the wear too, his suit jacket wrinkled from where it had been crumpled on the floor, but not too terrible.

Though she supposes they aren’t going to fool anybody as to what they’ve been up to in here.

With a sigh, she moves to right the supplies scattered over the ground. “We better clean up.” As she’s dumping those paper clips back into their box Regina spies her underwear crumpled beneath the shelving unit and blushes, quickling snagging them and standing up, placing the box back on its proper shelf.

Rather than put them back on, however, Regina grins and brushes against Robin as he places the last of the supplies back on the shelf. She slips her panties into his pocket, giggling at his raised eyebrow as he realizes what she’s done. “Something to make you think of me through the day.” She tells him cheekily.

Robin lifts a hand to brush a lock of hair away from her face, replying truthfully, “I never have any trouble with that, I assure you.”

It pleases her greatly and Regina smiles and rises onto her toes to plant a kiss to his lips before turning away. She bends to pick up the tiny yellow post-it remaining on the floor, the one with the words I love you written in Robin’s familiar handwriting. He’s grinning at her when she straightens once more, but says nothing.

As discreetly and quietly as possible, the two of them slip out of the closet and head back down the hallway as if they hadn’t just been getting up to naughty activities during working hours.

“I’ll see you for lunch, Ms. Mills.” Robin tells her as they part ways at his office you.

“You shall, Mr. Locksley.” She answers him, can’t help the grin on her face as she turns and heads back to her office, dutifully ignoring the raised eyebrow and knowing look that Ruby tosses her way as she passes her desk.

. . .

Regina arrives home later that evening only to be greeted with a heap of boxes gathered on her front porch. Frowning, she searches around until she finds a label on one of them, the clear Staples logo evident. She hadn’t ordered anything. And certainly not this much of anything. Sighing, she unlocks the door and starts lugging boxes into her foyer. Dropping her purse to the table, she begins opening the boxes.

A hundred pounds of printer paper. Ten boxes of paperclips. Packages and packages of every color of post-its imaginable. And who on earth would ever need a hundred highlighters? Regina stares bewildered as she opens each new box. What the hell is she supposed to do with all of this? Where did it even come from?

Though, even as the thought crosses her mind the answer comes to her. Robin. Her adolescent boyfriend and his silly April Fool’s jokes. Abandoning the rest of of the boxes, Regina rolls her eyes and heads upstairs.

. . .

Regina dresses with care come the morning of Valentine’s, choosing a red, flattering blouse that she’s certain Robin will appreciate, taking a bit more time with her make up and finishing off the look with a bold red lip.

When she gets to work, however, she’s immediately pulled into a meeting and doesn’t get a chance to show off for Robin.

After an hour and a half in Jefferson’s office going over their latest account for West Guard Global, brainstorming and creating a few mock up ads they can refine for the presentation next week. When she gets back to her own office, Regina’s jaw drops for several long seconds as she comes to a halt in the doorway, staring at the far wall where there’s a tack board set up.

There’s a heart outline created from light pink post-it notes, scribbles over each of them, and a single iris in a slender silver vase sitting on her desk beside her monitor.

Once Regina’s gotten over the initial surprise of the little display, a slow smile spreads over her face, warmth rising up within her belly as she takes a few steps toward the board. Robin must have snuck in here and put all this up while she’d been otherwise occupied. She should have expected it of him, especially when she knows his fondness for decorating her office with the little squares, but she’s still startled by her own reaction to sweet gesture.

Stopping a step away, Regina leans forward to read what he’s written on the notes today and her pulse begins to quicken, heart swelling with affection. Her eyes race over a few of the notes, catching several words here and there before they land on the one at the top, the bottom point of the two symmetrical arches. My favorite things about you…

Regina takes more care to read each and every one of them after that, her eyes roaming from one to the next following the path of the post-its around the heart. Your smile. The way you laugh with my son. Threading my fingers through your hair. That spiced apple scent of your shampoo. How you tuck your nose into my shoulder. Waking up with you.

They go on and on. Compliments and observations that he’s gathered and hoarded over the time they’ve been a couple. It overwhelms her for a moment, as she realizes how much thought and care Robin had put into making this. Clearly it’s something he’s been planning for a while now.

Turning to her desk, Regina reaches out to feel the petals of the flower between her fingers, soft and smooth and the smile on her face grows even wider. They’re her favorite; unique and so much better than the generic roses one usually receives for Valentine’s Day. The fact Robin both knows and embraces that tiny detail of her personality, cares enough to give her something special, only strengthens the feelings growing within her. She bends her head to sniff at the bloom, letting the familiar scent fill her nostrils.

Immediately turning on her heel, Regina quickly marches back out into the hallway, past Leroy and Ruby’s desks straight into Robin’s office. He’s on the phone, but smiles at her and holds up an index finger as she nods and silently shuts the door behind her. She waits there while he finishes up with the person on the other end of the line, her hands grasped on the door handle at her back, leaning against it as she watches him.

“Yes, I will have the designs sent over to you this afternoon, Mr. Xavier.” Robin scribbles something on the notepad beside his keyboard, nodding along with whatever the man is saying. “Of course. I think you’re really going to love them.” Nodding, Robin’s eyes move from ink and paper to land on Regina again, roaming up and down the length of her body admiringly.

She’s wearing a silky red blouse that dips into a v down her chest, perfectly modest enough for work, but showing a nice amount of skin as well. The black pencil skirt she’s paired with it molding to her curves and hugging her hips, her stiletto heels showcasing her toned calves. It’s festive enough without being overkill and the desire that whips through Robin’s clear blue eyes when they meet hers after his perusal is enough to have heat spreading through her. It was a solid choice this morning.

“The same to you. Have a great day, sir.” Robin states, his eyes never leaving Regina’s as he lays the phone back in it’s cradle and grins at her. “Good morning, lovely.”

Without saying a word, Regina releases her hold on the door and strides over and around Robin’s desk as he spins in his chair to face her. Leaning down over him, she crashes her lips to his in a heated kiss. Her arms wrap around his neck, resting on his shoulders as one of her hands inches up into his hair at the back of his head. Robin lets out a quiet moan in the back of his throat that Regina swallows into her own mouth with an answering one of her own.

Tilting her head slightly to the side, nose brushing over his cheek she deepens the kiss for another minute, molding her mouth to his and allowing her tongue to peek out and play with his. Coffee and peppermint mixing in an odd, but appealing combo. When she pulls away, she nudges his nose gently with hers, affectionately, grinning when Robin chuckles and a burst of hot air gushes over her lips. “Well, hello to you too. What was that for?”

“For being the wonderful, kind man that you are.” Regina answers, shifting until she can sit on his lap, her arms still entwined around his neck. She doesn’t even care if it’s an unprofessional and silly move, not when Robin’s arms circle around her waist in response.

He smiles up at her warmly, one hand reaching up to toy with the ends of her hair, brushing over her shoulders. “I take it you saw my display then.” At Regina’s nod, Robin’s smile brightens several notches and that hand slides deliciously down her spine to rest on her hip once more. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“You romantic sap.” She chuckles, though still deeply moved by the words that he’d written about her. And those three pesky little words that fill her heart, but aren’t quite ready to be set free yet, bubble up on the tip of her tongue as she alters them a degree and whispers to him, “I loved it, Robin. Thank you.” In fact, Regina is so pleased with the entire gesture and Robin, that there is barely even a twinge of the embarrassment she thinks perhaps she ought to feel at him so openly demonstrating their relationship. He had done it at work after all and nothing about it or what they are doing is at all professional. They aren’t breaking any policies, and every damn person in the office has figured out that the two of them are together by now, but it’s still not entirely appropriate. She doesn’t care though. Couldn’t bring herself to take it down even if she wanted to, not yet.

“Good.” Robin replies, beaming. “Mission accomplished.” And then leans forward to buss his lips against hers again, lighter, less passionate than the one she’d given him, but with no less feeling. When he withdraws, Regina chuckles at the smudge of deep red lipstick that’s stained the skin around his mouth and licks her thumb before rubbing it over his lips and chin in an attempt to wipe it away.

“You know Ruby is going to tease you mercily for it though.”

Shrugging a shoulder, finger tips drawing lazy, random patterns over her back, Robin states, “I can take it in order to see that smile on your face.” They both laugh and then Regina leans in to kiss him again, slower this time, savoring every second.

Slowly extracting himself from Regina’s intoxicating mouth, Robin smiles at her. “Since you’re here… do you have any plans this evening? I’d like to take you out if you’re up for it. I made us reservations at that bistro you like, thought perhaps we could have a fancy dinner out.”

“Actually,” Regina draws, stroking her thumb on the side of his neck, just below his ear, “I was thinking I might make you dinner instead.” Regina slips a hand down to lie on his chest, playing with the knot of the blue silk tie he’s wearing today, noting how the shade matches his eyes quite handsomely. Her voice is a bit hesitant as she admits, “I would kind of like it to just be the two of us tonight. Alone. Rather than at an overcrowded restaurant,” she blushes, “ I’d like to do something special for you for a change.”

Robin shakes his head jocularly, assuring her, “You do that every day. I don’t need anything else.”

“All the same,” Regina laughs, “I want to plan something for you rather than the other way around.” Angling her neck to brush her lips over the shell of his ear, she whispers into it, “I might even have a few surprises in store for you.”

“Well that sounds quite a lovely way to spend the evening.” Robin answers, desire stabs sharply in his gut as her breath tickles his ear and her breasts press against his chest. He wants this woman with a fiery passion and if it weren’t the middle of their work day, coworkers milling about outside of the too thin walls of his office, he might indulge them both in a little mid morning romp. Instead, he teases them both, one of his hands kneading over the curve of her ass in his lap while the other trails a fingertip down the neckline of her blouse, over her exposed skin to hook lazily over the top button just between her breasts. “There’s just one minor hiccup, however.”

Her confused expression meets his, a little crinkle caved between her brows, “Hiccup?”

“Roland.” Robin answers with an amused twitch of his lips, explaining to her, “He asked to see you this morning before I dropped him at preschool. Apparently, he’s been working on a present for you in class.”

Regina’s heart melts, murmuring, “Really?” almost too quietly for Robin to hear.

“Yes. He’s quite excited about it as well.” He answers. Though Robin hasn’t a clue what his child has concocted to give his girlfriend, the thought behind the gesture, that he’d chosen Regina to create something for, both amuses and delights him.

Considering for a moment, Regina tilts her head to the side, her dark locks falling over her shoulder again, before she offers, “What if I went with you to pick him up today? I could see him and then you could come over around seven? That should give me enough time to put everything together.”

“That,” Robin says, placing a quick peck to her lips, “is an excellent plan. Roland will love that.”

Regina grins. “Great.” Then another thought occurs to her and she frowns a tad and asks, “Do you have someone to watch him tonight if you come over?” Granted, he’d already been planning to take her out and Robin is a responsible father so surely he’s lined up some form of babysitting for the evening, but Regina can’t help but make sure.

He nods, then smirks at her with a touch of playfulness to his expression. “Yes. John has graciously offered to look after him.” Wiggling his eyebrows at her, Robin adds a suggestive, “All night, should the need arise, I was told.”

One dark, thin eyebrow lifts as she studies him, “Planning to get lucky are you?”

Robin’s rich and deep laughter is too much for Regina to maintain the straight face she’d been attempting when he replies, “Those were John’s words not mine.” lifting both hands in surrender before winking at her and adding, “It is always my hope though, I will admit.”

It’s obvious that he’s merely teasing, having a bit of fun with her, and the open, light-hearted reaction it draws from her is only another reason that Regina finds herself falling for this man. “Well you’re off to a good start.” She tells him honestly, thinking to the post-its decorating her office now.

A knock on the door breaks them out of their little cocoon, dragging them back to the reality of work and responsibilities. Robin calls out for whoever is on the other side to wait one moment as Regina reluctantly climbs off his lap, smoothing out a few wrinkles on her skirt as she smiles down at him. “I’ll meet you up front at four?”

He nods, reaching out to grip one of her hands in his for a moment, bringing her knuckles to his lips and placing a light kiss to the soft skin there. Regina is positive there’s likely an adolescent, love-sick look on her face at the moment, but she doesn’t mind, not when Robin brings her this much happiness.

When she draws her hand from his grasp and turns to stride back to the door, twisting the knob and swinging it open, Ruby glances between her and Robin, an impish expression on her face that Regina chooses to ignore as she slips past them and heads back to her office.

. . .

It’s unseasonably warm today, and the sun is shining, the last vestiges of bright, shining rays of light before it dims into the beginnings of twilight. So she waits by the car while Robin runs inside to retrieve Roland. They’d agreed that it would be more fun for her to surprise him that way, rather than her walking in with his father. Her hands are tucked into the pockets of her pea coat as she leans against the side of Robin’s Audi, her own Mercedes parked right beside him. For a few minutes she daydreams a bit, staring up at the fluffy white clouds and clear blue sky until an enthusiastic squeal of her name draws her attention to the little boy sprinting across the sidewalk to her.

“R’ginaaaaaaa! You’re here!” Roland takes a running leap toward her and she just barely manages to extract her hands from her pockets to open her arms to catch the brunt of his weight as he collides with her. It makes her laugh, burying her face against his neck for a moment before he’s stepping back and bouncing eagerly. “What are you doing here?!”

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

His dimples pucker in this cheeks as a grin spreads across his face. “Yes! I made you something!”

“Did you?” She gasps in mock surprise, smirking up at Robin as he finally joins them, standing just beside Roland on the sidewalk as he frantically squirms out of his backpack and drops it to the ground, kneeling to dig inside of it, searching for something.

He pulls out a handful of crumpled papers that Robin sighs at as he watches his son squeeze them, further wrinkling them before dropping them to the side walk. Then it’s a fistful of candy and paper valentines that Regina is positive will have Roland bouncing off the walls before bedtime tonight. Good luck with that one, John, she thinks to herself before the boy finally lets out a whoop of glee, brandishing a large pink piece of paper.

Popping back up on his feet, Roland opens the construction paper, holding it out to her with both hands proudly. It’s been cut into the shape of a heart, with different red and blue colored paper stips woven into it to form a sort of quilted patchwork. There’s a smaller heart cut out in the very center, a carefully written note in thick black marker.

Valentines, valentines,

Pink, red and blue,

I've made a pretty one

Just for you!

“Will you be my valentine, R’gina?” Roland asks her seriously, tilting his head and biting this lip the same way that Robin does, and her heart completely shatters and bursts with love for this little boy. It’s possibly one of the sweetest things anyone has ever made or done for her, both the simple children’s craft and his charming offer. Thinking of the pink post-its adorning her tackboard, Regina can see where Roland gets it.

Dropping down to one knee so she’s at Roland’s level, Regina gingerly takes the paper heart from him, holding it between her fingers and admiring it. Her gaze lifts to his, a sunny smile lighting up her face as she tells him, “Of course I’ll be your valentine, Roland! I would be honored.” She looks back down to the valentine, asking him, “Did you write all this yourself?”

“Uh-huh. Well, Miss Belle helped. I did all the strips by myself though!”

Drilling a finger in his belly to tickle and make him laugh, Regina grins. “Well, you did a wonderful job. I love it. Thank you very much.”

Robin is smiling down at them, eyes filled with love and affection as he watches the two of them interact. Roland’s never really had this before. A mother figure. A woman that he can look up to, who cares for him. He’d been only a year old when Marian had gotten sick. Not enough time for either one of them. So while  he’s heard the stories of his mother, loves her as much as a toddler who’s never really known her can, he hasn’t had this sort of female attention and affection. It would seem that now he does though.

It's only been two months of being together, of getting to know one another on a deeper level and there’s still so much to learn and discover. But Robin thinks he just might be falling in love with this woman. Perhaps he might have even started the descent long before that night they'd spent stuck in their office.

Brought back from his musings, Robin blinks at his son, stutters a confused, “What?” at the twin stares of indulgence from them both. Roland giggles and Regina smirks knowingly at him. Caught. A light blush tinges his cheeks as he listens when Roland repeats his question asking if Regina can come over and play with him. As much as it saddens him to deny him, Robin shakes his head. “Unfortunately not, I’m afraid. We need to let Regina get home.”

Pouting slightly, Roland looks between his father and Regina, his lower lip welling up. Before he has a chance to protest, however, Regina grabs his attention and promises, “We can have a play date this weekend. How does that sound?” Looking quickly to Robin for permission, to which he nods his agreement.

Roland thinks for a few seconds, internally debating whether that is a sufficient compromise before he nods, curls bouncing. “Okay!”

Her clear laughter rings through the late afternoon and then she’s telling him, “Come here. Valentines get kisses.” Regina informs him matter of factly, both arms sneaking out to grab him about the waist and tug him closer to her, so she can pepper noisy kisses all over his face, smacking her lips dramatically, causing Roland to chuckle and squeeze his eyes shut.

“Alright. Time to go.” Robin says, as reluctant as he is to break the two of them up.

Regina watches at Robin maneuvers Roland into the car, helping him into his booster seat and strapping him in, tossing in his backpack to land on the seat beside him. When he shuts the door and turns to her, she slants her head to the side and smiles, letting him reach for her hand, jerking her so their bodies are flush against one another.

“I’ll see you at seven?” She asks, leaning her body into his and tilting her chin up for a kiss.

Robin bends his neck so his mouth meets hers in a quick kiss and replies, “Definitely.” They part ways, Robin opening the driver's door as Regina blows Roland a kiss as he rapidly waves his hand at her from his booster in the back seat.

. . .

Everything is perfect. Exactly as she’d imagined it.

Not that she’s been imagining this evening a great deal. Well, not much anyway. But Regina’s put a good amount of thought and care into creating a romantic setting for herself and Robin for the night, and she’s rather proud of the end results. Especially when she knows Robin is the type to appreciate the work that went into everything.

The table is set with a ruby red cloth, two tall white taper candles placed on silver candlestick holders in the center, a fragrant bouquet nestled between them. She’s set out her good china because why shouldn’t she use it every now and again? That’s what it’s for right? There are other candles scattered around the room, short fat ones, taller, thicker ones, that create a flickering glow that is both cozy and flattering. A playlist she may have spent more time creating than she would willingly admit to plays softly from the speaker in the living room, bleeding into the kitchen and dining area.

Turning to check on the lasagna dish in the oven, she slips the door open a crack as a gush of hot air flies up into her face. A quick glance shows the lightly bubbling layer of cheese on the top and Regina nods in satisfaction as she shuts the door again and turns the oven off. The dish should stay warm enough trapped within the confines of the oven until they’re ready for it. Robin should be here any minute as it is. Regina’s already opened a bottle of red wine, letting it breath on the counter as she turns to double check her appearance in the reflection of the microwave, fluffing her hair a tad, soft curls falling around her face. She rubs her hands down the sides of the tight black dress she’s wearing. The sleeveless one that boasts a deep neckline and a slit that runs from the hem just above her knees upward, stopping just a few inches short of her hip. She hasn’t worn this one for him yet, has been saving it for a special occasion and Regina can’t wait to see what his reaction to it will be.

She hopes it knocks his socks off.

The doorbell chimes, ringing merrily and echoing through the house as Regina grins in anticipation, just a touch shy of over eagerly making her way to the front door. When she swings it open to reveal Robin standing on her porch, she allows herself a moment to take in his appearance. Despite the low-key aspects to a dinner at home, he’s dressed up for her. Wearing that blue suit that’s somewhere between the realm of royal and navy blue, a crisp white shirt, and thin black tie to complete the ensemble. Lord, he looks sexy. Heat pools in Regina’s belly at the mere sight of him and the fleeting thought that perhaps they could skip dinner altogether and she could just take him up to her bedroom fickers along the outskirts of her mind for a moment.

He’s smirking at her, his own eyes raking over the form fitting dress she’s donned for the evening, heat flaring through and darkening those blue eyes she adores. “Good evening, milady.” Robin greets, flourishing a bouquet of purple irises for her enjoyment, the same as the one he’d given her earlier today.

Regina chuckles, reaching out for the arrangement and burying her nose amidst the blooms for a minute, fluttering her eyelashes flirtatiously at him as she responds, “Thank you.” and gestures for him to come inside.

As soon as he does, Robin sneaks an arm out to hook around her waist, drawing her body flush against his, crushing her flowers between their chests, but when she catches the look in his eyes, Regina doesn’t really mind. Then his mouth swoops down on hers and every thought she has flies straight out of her head, brain emptying like a lemonade pitcher on a hot summer day, only to be filled with the taste and sensation of his lips against hers. Teeth scrape and nibble along her bottom lip, eliciting a low, arousing moan from Regina.

By the time Robin swipes his tongue one final time through her mouth, teasing her before pulling away, her head is spinning. A few loose blooms fall slowly to the floor between them as Regina struggles to regain her sensibilities.

“You look absolutely stunning. Thought I would get that out of the way so we can focus on dinner.” Robin tells her cheekily. And Regina scoffs, as if she’s not going to be thinking of that kiss, of everything they could be doing to each other all through their salad and pasta. Though, if Robin’s not-so-coy expression is any indication, that had been his plan all along, despite his attempts to say otherwise. At least she knows the dress is a hit.

Raising an eyebrow at him, she jokingly retorts, “That was one hell of a greeting.”

Robin chuckles, shrugs his shoulders and lifts his palms innocently, something she knows him to be anything but. “You’re a hard woman to resist, Regina Mills.” Is all he says as way of an explanation. As far as they go though, Regina thinks that is a fair one to be made.

The two of them stand there grinning at each other like fools for another thirty seconds before Regina lifts the bouquet in her hands. “I should put these in water.” She heads for the kitchen, certain Robin will follow.   Sure enough, as she turns to look back over her shoulder to inform him, “Dinner is almost ready. I just have to toss the salad together.” and just like that, he’s trailing after her.

He sniffs at the air curiously and Regina chuckles again, but is quite pleased when recognition comes into his eyes. “Is that your lasagna I smell?” He asks hopefully, not quite able to mask the reverence from his voice.

“Indeed it is.” Regina replies, heading straight for the cabinet to the far left to retrieve one of her crystal vases. Robin’s murmured Bless you, causes her lips to tip up as she turns to the right L of the counter and holds the vase beneath the faucet. “Feel free to pour that wine if you’d like.”

Moving further into the kitchen, he brushes a hand across the small of her back lightly, absent-mindedly on his way to the cabinet to her left, grabbing two glasses from the shelf and turning to round the counter on the other side of the sink to face her once more. Regina arranges the irises into the vase and then sets it to the side, moving to pull out the makings for their salad. Lettuce, tomatoes, olives, some shredded carrots and mozzarella cheese. Laying it all out in front of her as Robin pours them each a generous helping of wine and watches her work.

“How was Roland when you left? On a sugar high from all his Valentine’s candy from school by the time John got there?” Regina asks as she works, looking up to meet Robin’s light blue gaze when he makes a slight sound of uncertainty.

“A tad upset I’m afraid.”

Regina frowns as she drops tomatoes into the large bowl she’s tossing all the ingredients into. “Why?”

“He didn’t realize I was seeing you again tonight when we parted this afternoon. Was a bit surly over the fact I get to have a playdate with you before he does.” Robin says it in as serious of a tone as he can manage, but there’s a gleam in his eyes, a silent play on words that neither one of them can keep from laughing at.

A playdate indeed. Regina thinks as her lips twitch and she struggles to contain her amusement. “Well perhaps I’ll have to come over sooner than this weekend to appease him.” She answers.

Robin grins, sipping from his wine before replying, “I think that is an excellent idea. You’re welcome. Any time you’d like, Regina. Roland and I would both love to see you more.”

Eyeing him from beneath her lashes, sprinkling the last of the cheese over the other veggies, she comments, “You see me every day.” They work together. She and Robin have some sort of interaction on a daily basis. Granted that doesn’t extend to Roland all the time necessarily, but Robin is not deprived of seeing her.

“That’s at the office.” He says, setting his glass on the counter and stepping around it once more now that she’s finished. Weaving his arms around her waist,   Robin interlocks his fingers together at the base of Regina’s spine as her arms wrap around his neck. “It’s not the same. We’re busy and in meetings. There are always people around. It’s hard for me to do this whenever I want to.” He mutters quietly, lowering his mouth to hers, pressing their lips together firmly. Robin’s tongue runs slowly along the seam of her lips, urging them open and then lightly massaging into her mouth when she grants him access. His embrace tightens, squeezing her body marginally closer to his, so that they are pressed together entirely, before he breaks the kiss to tell her, “I can’t get enough of you, Regina. I always want more time.”

It’s ridiculous the way her heart flutters and picks up speed. A combination of his heady, addicting kisses and his sweet, genuine words. She wants that also, to feel like this forever. Cherished and appreciated. Wanted. In more ways than one.

Eventually, she regains her voice enough to tell him softly, “I would like that.”

“Perhaps we can arrange it then.”

Nodding, swallowing the sudden lump of emotion lodged in her throat, Regina clears it, smiles and then steps out of his arms. “I’m sure we could.” Glancing down to the bowl of lettuce to her left and then back to him, she says, “Let’s eat.”

Robin helps her set the remainder of the table while she pulls the lasagna out of the oven, transferring two squares of it to their plates before they take their seats. Side by side, Robin on the end while Regina takes the seat on the adjacent corner rather than the one across from him. They’re closer this way, it’s easier for them to have a conversation, and for Robin to toy with her fingers in between bites, stroking his thumb over the top of her hand, hooking his fingers around hers. He keeps it up until halfway through their meal when he threads their fingers together, curling his around her hand, palm to palm and smiles at her.

“Tell me a story from your childhood.”

“What?” Regina asks, puzzled. It’s an abrupt change of topic from the latest Alessia Cara music they had been discussing and how Regina has listened to it a countless number of times. “I want to know you better, Regina.” Robin answers, smirking at her, pleased to have thrown her off course it would seem. “To learn something new about who you are, what made you who you are today. How you became this fascinating woman I am absolutely smitten with.”

Well she can’t very well argue with that, can she? Her heart beats a quick rhythm in her chest and Regina picks up her wine glass, taking a long sip before asking, “What do you want to know?”

“Anything. Whatever you’re willing to share with me.” His voice is quiet, patient. There’s no pressure. And if she decided that she didn’t want to tell him anything, Regina knows he wouldn’t push her. But she wants the same thing, for him to know her on a deeper level. Regina trusts herself to be open with him. And, truthfully, she’s just as smitten as he is.

But they’re having a pleasant evening, a wonderful dinner, in fact, and she doesn’t want to ruin the mood. So she won’t share any of the painful parts of her past. The uncomfortable and hurtful spats with her mother, the loneliness she struggled with as a child. No, she’ll save those for another day. Oddly enough, Regina doesn’t think that she would be ashamed to share that part of herself with him though. She hasn’t had that feeling or inherent certainty that she’s safe to be vulnerable with anyone for a very, very long time.

Settling on a memory that never fails to make her smile, Regina begins with, “I loved astronomy as a child. Went through a phase when I was about… oh, probably, ten or so, when it was my absolute favorite thing. I was totally obsessed and my father loved to indulge me, particularly when I showed such a keen interest in something.”

Robin’s eyes are focused on her, his hand still joined with hers, thumb stroking along the outer edge of her palm. “Astronomy, huh? I never would have guessed.”

Laughing, Regina grins at him. “Yes, well I eventually grew out of it. Took up horseback riding instead and that ending up being my main focus. Although, I still enjoy learning about the stars and space. The galaxy is a fascinating place.” She takes another quick bite, as Robin follows suit and does the same before continuing. “Daddy took me to visit The Natural History Museum one weekend. We spent the whole day there in the Hayden Planetarium. I couldn’t get enough. Begged him to stay until they kicked us out.”

Regina smiles at the memory, the excitement and wonder that she had felt that day, sharing it with her father. It had truly been a perfect day. The familiar ache of missing him flashes through her for a short moment. It only lasts for a minute, thankfully, but Robin must see it on her face because he brings their joined hands to his mouth, pressing his lips to her skin softly. “He sounds like a wonderful man. I wish I could have met him.”

“So do I.” Regina tells him. Daddy would have loved Robin. Particularly, how happy he makes his daughter. She can picture the two of them, sitting together in front of a football game on a Sunday afternoon, laughing and bonding, Roland helping her in the kitchen, trying to talk her into one more cookie. It’s a lovely image. And a pang of longing shoots through her before she shoves it down.

Clearing her throat, Regina withdraws her hand from his and takes another drink of her wine, tilting her head at him as she asks, “What about you? What were you like as a kid?”

A mischievous smirk slips across Robin’s features as he says, “Oh I was a rather delinquent child.”

Regina arches her eyebrow, “A troublemaker were you?”

“Oh most definitely.” Robin laughs, making her grin and shake her head at him as she takes another bite of meat and cheese and pasta, scooping it up onto her fork and popping the delicious combination into her mouth. “I had something of a ragtag gang in my youth. John and I used to like to steal trinkets from our parents’ rich friends and then sell them for cash.”

That surprises her, it’s not something she would have expected from him. Robin is generous and kind, doesn’t seem the type for criminal activity. But Regina responds with her initial question first, “John? I didn’t realize you two had known each other for that long.”

“Oh yes. He’s been my best mate since we were five. Met on the playground our first day of kindergarten and have been inseparable ever since.”

She smiles at that, happy for him that he has someone who knows him like that, who grew up with him. The oldest friend Regina has is Mal and she’s only been in her life for the last thirteen years, let alone nearly three decades. It’s sweet though.

“So what did you two do with the cash after you hocked what you stole?”

“We donated the money to local food banks.” Ah, and that sounds more like the Robin that she knows. The one with a huge heart. Still, it surprises her some to hear that’s what he’d chosen to do with large amounts of cash as a teenager. Many would not have.

Leaning forward, resting one of her forearms on the table, Regina tells him, “You are a very special man, Robin Locksley.”

He grins at her, mirroring her pose and replies, “So are you, Regina Mills.”

They spend the remainder of their meal all smiles, laughing and changing the subject to other lighter topics. What they might do this weekend. Regina thinks it would be fun to take Roland to the new children’s movie that’s playing, and Robin cheerfully agrees.

When Robin scoops the last bite of his lasagna into his mouth, with a satisfied hum as Regina watches him, sipping on her wine, she asks, “Would you like any more?”

Wiping his napkin at the corners of his mouth as he chews, Robin shakes his head. “I’m quite full. It was spectacular as always, milady. And as you know my favorite. Thank you for making it.”

“You’re welcome. There are brownies for dessert.”

There’s a naughty glint in Robin’s eyes as a slow chesire cat like grin forms on his face. His hand finds hers once more, teasingly running the tips of his fingers over the back of her hand as he tells her, “I had something else in mind for dessert, actually.”

Oh. Well then.

Heat settles in the pit of her stomach, moving even lower at Robin’s words. “There’s a fire going in the living room. Would you like to move this in there?” Regina asks, her elbow resting on the table as she leans toward him again, wine glass in one hand as she tilts her head at him before taking a sip. Dinner has been lovely and she’s feeling loose and happy. Two things she’s never really experienced before on Valentine’s Day. Well, once. That year that she’d had Daniel in her life. But never again since that one day.

That dopey, adorable, kissable grin that has Robin’s dimples winking out smiles back at her and Regina’s stomach flips. She wants to do that. Kiss that smile off his face until she’s driven him wild. “That sounds lovely.” Robin answers her, standing to hold out a hand for her own. They’ll do the dishes later, she decides and places her palm within Robin’s open one.

They bring their wine glasses with them, and the bottle, topping off the raspberry colored liquid as they settle in on the couch, but it isn’t long before they are long forgotten in favor of focusing all their attention on one another. Robin’s hand rests on one of the thighs Regina has tucked beneath her, slowly and teasingly rubbing his thumb back and forth over her bare skin, inciting goosebumps across her flesh, as he kisses down her jaw, along her neck.

Regina hums, angling her head to grant him more access to her sensitive skin when he starts to suck lightly at her throat. Shifting closer to him, her hand grasps onto his hair, steadying herself.

“You are so bloody beautiful.” Robin breathes after a few minutes, his eyes roaming all over her body, settling on her face as his hand on her thigh ventures upward some to cup her hip and pull her closer to him.

It’s not enough though. She wants to feel him, more of him than she presently can at least. So she smirks at him and then tosses her leg over his hip, adjusting until she can straddle his waist. The hem of her dress rises dangerously high, that slit expanding and exposing even more of her leg to him, the edge of her red lace panties just barely visible over her hip. “You may have mentioned it.” She teases, rubbing her hands up and down his chest as he groans at their new position.

His palms slide up and down her thighs, heating her skin as Regina rocks subtly against his growing arousal. Fusing his mouth to hers again, Robin lets himself drown in the warm, delicious flavor of her mouth, tasting the bitterness of the wine they’ve been drinking and something that is completely Regina. He’s addicted to it and her.

Their mouths mold against one another, tongues swirling against each other, and Robin feels himself getting harder with every grind of her hips on top of his. He needs her desperately. A little tipsy himself, his movements are slightly fumbled as he rakes his hands over her body. Thankfully, Regina doesn’t seem to notice or mind much. One palm rubs over her thigh as the other inches its way up her torso until he can cup one of her breasts in his hand, squeezing gently and loving the tiny moan the action wrenches from her.

When she breaks away from his mouth so they can both gulp air into their burning lungs, Robin makes a disgruntled sound. Before he can kiss her again though, Regina drops her forehead to his, panting heavily as she asks quietly, “Are you staying tonight?”

He supposes they never had come to a final conclusion about that, had they? Had teased each other, been subtly implying it throughout the day and evening, but had never firmly decided. Robin had been planning on it, if Regina wanted him to, unable to bear the thought of not being in her bed tonight. And he’d packed a bag just in case, had left it in the car upon his arrival. “Do you want me to?” Robin asks.

Regina’s breathless snort and teasing, “Is that not obvious?” accompanied with another roll of her hips over his, makes Robin chuckle and groan simultaneously.

“Then I would like that very much, milady.” He answers, gripping his hands beneath her thighs and standing quickly, much to Regina’s surprise as she instinctively wraps her legs around his hips. The move aligns his erection with her aching center more directly and they both moan quietly as Robin begins walking in the direction of the stairs.

He gets distracted at the bottom step, however, Regina’s lips on his throat driving him crazy, and he has to take a minute to press her against the wall, bucking his hips against her as he brings his mouth back to hers. Regina’s ankles are locked around his hips, just below his ass and she uses her grip to push her hips against his in response. Their kiss is a bit sloppy, decidedly needy, but neither one of them can bother to give a damn when white hot desire is coursing through their veins.

“I want you so much, Robin.” Regina moans into his mouth, licking at his bottom lips. There’s hot, liquid fire pooling between her thighs with each passing minute.

Briefly, Robin considers taking her right here. Fucking her against this wall before taking her upstairs to ravish her for a second round. But that’s not what he wants this evening to be about, as much as it would probably please them both. He wants to have her in her soft, comfortable bed, to worship her body. Still, he reaches a hand between their bodies, rubbing lightly over her clit through her panties, the bottom of her dress now bunched around her hips, and Regina’s head falls back against the wall as she gasps, her mouth dropping open.

Robin’s teasing is affecting him just as much as Regina, and he’s painfully hard in his slacks now. He wants her out of this dress. Now. So he readjusts his grip on her and plants his lips on her neck, biting lightly once before he’s taking the stairs as fast as he can manage without killing either one of them.

By now he’s familiar enough with the layout of her house that it is quick and easy to find his way down the hall to her bedroom, nudging the door open with his foot and letting it swing back all while Regina swirls her tongue along the outer edge of his ear and tortures him just a bit with images of her using that tongue other places.

It seems Regina has similar ideas because as soon as he stumbles to the bed, falling down on it with her, she’s switching positions with him, straddling his waist again as she kisses him. Her teeth scrape along his jaw, over his chin, then bite into that tempting lower lip of his as she whispers seductively against his mouth. “I’m going to have my wicked way with you.”

Thank god.

Robin thinks, his mind going blissfully blank except for the feel of her body atop his as she starts to pepper kisses down his throat, using her tongue and teeth to drive him wild. Though a part of him is torn between wanting to enjoy whatever it is she is about to do to him and the strong desire to do the same to her.

He at least wants her naked. All that creamy, olive skin on display for him. So he grips the hem of her dress, dragging it upward before she can wiggle out of his reach in her descent. Regina laughs, aiding him in its removal. She sits up fully then, sitting on her feet and calves between his legs as his eyes rake over the red lace bra that does wonders for her tits, piling them high and spilling over the edges. Rosy nipples strained and visible through the material. Those blue irises darkening to a deep navy shade with desire.

She lets him look for a minute, smirking at him and tossing her hair a bit flirtatiously as she asks, “Do you like it?” He hasn’t seen this particular piece. It’s new. Purchased specifically for this moment. But if the way he’s looking at her is any sort of gauge, Regina’s little stint into the lingerie department the other day had been well worth the trip.

Robin sits up then, closing the distance between them once more until his face is a mere few inches from her own, his voice rough and aroused as he tells her, “I love it. Looks fantastic on you.” One finger trails a path along the edge of her bra, starting at her shoulder and down the strap, across one breast and then the other before he cups them in his palms and thumbs at her nipples through the thin fabric.

It creates a delightful bit of friction that Regina groans at. But she has other plans and will not let Robin distract her for long. Shoving at his shoulders, he flops back down to the bed, and she laughs when he raises an eyebrow at her and gives her a wry expression.

“I’m having my way with you, remember. No touching.” Robin nearly pouts at that and Regina snorts as she pulls the hem of his dress shirt free, suit jacket long forgotten on the living room couch, and begins to deftly slip the buttons. Inch by inch, his toned abdomen comes into her view. Golden skin and the smattering of light blonde hair that starts just below his bellybutton and continues downward.

God, he’s attractive, Regina thinks to herself when she’s released the last button and pushed his shirt off his shoulders, observing as Robin wiggles out of the sleeves and let’s it drop off the side of the bed. Running her hands over his arms and biceps, Regina admires the firmness of the muscles, the ripple of them when she makes a sweeping gesture and slides them down his chest and over his stomach. How on earth she managed to resist and deny her attraction to this man for so long she will never know. Not now that she knows what she had been been missing.

Her attention shifts to the button of his slacks, releasing it and teasingly sliding his zipper down, lightly brushing over the bulge in his pants. She strokes a fingertip over it, smirking when Robin tries to bite back a moan. Regina enjoys this, teasing him. He so often does the same to her, she’s learned it’s one of his favorite activities in fact. To tease and arouse her, slowly, drawing out her pleasure.

With a bit of help from Robin and a brief maneuvering in their positions, they rid him of his slacks and boxer briefs together. His erection springing free. Reaching for him, Regina strokes up and down the hard, solid length. His skin soft beneath her palm, veins pulsing. Her gaze lifts to meet his where he’s watching her through heavy-lidded eyes.

A wicked gleam flashes through her own a moment before she lowers her mouth to his cock. Swirling her tongue around the head before taking him deeper into her mouth. Robin groans, a guttural sound that echoes her own arousal, wetness gathering between her thighs. She enjoys doing this to him, having him at her mercy, bringing him the type of pleasure he so thrills in bestowing upon her.

And Regina had wanted to do something special for him tonight, to show him a bit of extra attention. This seems a fitting way to achieve that goal.

She scrapes her teeth lightly over his skin, a mix between something salty and male filling her mouth when she wraps her lips around him again. Her nails scratch lightly over his thighs, adding to the stimulation she’s giving him. Quiet moans rise up out of his throat, growing louder and clearer with each up and down motion of her mouth on his cock.

When she adds one of her hands, gripping it around the base of his shaft and begins to twist up and down while sucking him harder, hollowing her cheeks, Robin nearly loses his mind.

It feels incredible. Warm and wet. Liquid heat that engulfs him, so reminiscent of how it feels to have her wrapped around him, their bodies joined. Her tongue is unbelievable, drawing indecipherable patterns along his shaft, sliding down to lick at his balls as she strokes him up and down, squeezing gently around him.

Engulfing her mouth around him once more, Regina sucks firmly, focusing on her task with renewed vigor. Her tongue runs along the underside of his cock as she bobs her head up and down, faster and faster, harder and all of a sudden it’s too much, Robin can’t hold back any longer, gut tightening, his reign on control a thin tether that is a second away from snapping. “Fuck, love. Feels so good. You need to stop. Please. I’m... Regina— “

She releases him with a wet pop, smirking at him knowingly from where she kneels between his thighs. His head is thrown back, chest rising and falling rapidly with the effort it takes for him to keep himself in check, hands fisted into her sheets. Satisfaction whips through her, mounting when he tips his chin down and opens those intense eyes to find hers.

Lifting himself off the bed enough to circle his thumb and index finger around her wrists resting on his thighs Robin pulls her to him for a fierce kiss. Stealing the breath from Regina’s lungs. “You’re going to be the death of me.” Robin pants when their lips separate, hot air ghosting over her mouth while they catch their breath. Her laughter is breathless an amused as he quickly rolls them across the bed, her legs wrapped around his waist as they end up with Robin on top of her.

He devours her mouth then. Hotly, passionately. Robin could happily drown in the taste of this woman and he wants all of her all at once, hands stroking quickly over her bared skin, sliding beneath her back to skillfully unclip the hook of her bra, releasing it with quiet pop. One of his hands rests beside her head, bracing his body over hers as the other pulls the material from her body and tosses it across the room, continuing to kiss her. His hand palms her breasts, pinching her nipples and tugging at the hardened peaks. The way Regina arches her spine into his touch, gasps into his mouth, it’s just as painfully arousing as her mouth around him had been.

Moving to suck and lick at her pulse point, Robin rocks his hips against hers, his cock rubbing over her clit through her panties. And that’s something that needs to go. Slipping a hand between their bodies, he rubs over the lace between her thighs. She’s soaked. Her panties damp and ruined as he hooks his index fingers around the material and drags them down her hips and legs, tossing them aside.

Then he runs his index fingers between her folds, her hips bucking up into his touch as Regina moans, hands gripping at his shoulders, moving up and down his biceps. “Mmmmm… yes. That feels good.” She cries when Robin circles her clit with his thumb, slipping two fingers inside her.

Pumping lazily, Robin crooks his fingers, thumping against that spot that he knows drives her crazy, a mewling sound of pleasure breaking free as she moves her hips against his hand, seeking more friction. “That’s it, love. Just enjoy it.” Robin doesn’t disappoint when he adds a third finger, stretching her, warming her body up for what’s to come.

“Robin—“ Regina pleads, desperate for release.

Christ, she’s beautiful like this. Hair messily scattered across her pillow, eyes screwed shut as she absorbs the pleasure he’s giving her. He’s not given her near enough attention so far. Something he vows to rectify immediately.

Robin starts to return the oral favor, the overwhelming urge to taste her nearly impossible to deny himself of, particularly after the way she’d toyed with him. He wants to make her scream, to hear her pant and moan while he licks and sucks at her warm cunt. Pulling his fingers out of her, Robin slides down to rest between her open thighs. But Regina’s needy whine of, “No, no. I want you. Now. Please, Robin. I want you inside me.” stops him in his tracks.

Torn, Robin hesitates. She’s gasping, chest heaving as she stares down her body at him, a light flush over her skin. He wants that too, but he can see how wet she is, glistening in front of his face and he’s desperate to run his tongue over her. More than anything and he knows she’d been getting close, it likely won’t take long for either one of them once he does that. So he tells her, “I want to taste you. Let me make you come this way, darling. Then I will fuck you silly.”

Oh god. The phrase repeats itself several times in her head as Regina struggles to string coherent thoughts together. Her body is aching, pulsing, throbbing with a deep need and all she wants is Robin, to have him thrusting inside her while he brings her to those heights of pleasure. But how is she supposed to resist an offer like that? She would have to be a complete fool and the last thing Regina Mills would ever be described as is foolish.

So she nods, only twice before Robin’s lips wrap around her clit and suck forcefully. She moans, frantically grabbing at the wrinkled sheets around her, just as Robin had earlier as a futile attempt to ground herself. It feels amazing. He’s so damn good at this. Hands splay over her thighs, opening her to his attentions more as he switches from sucking to flicking his tongue over the sensitive nub. And she’s close. So very close.

Robin’s tongue drifts down, dips inside her and thrusts into her a few times, the sensation of which sends shivers through her entire body, reverberating from where his mouth is on her sex to the tips of her fingers and toes. “Oh— Robin, mmmmmm.” Her thoughts are a jumbled mess as he licks at her, unable to focus on anything other than how he’s making her feel.

When his fingers find their way back inside her, driving into her as he circles his tongue around and around her clit  licking over it with the flat of his tongue in a way that produces mouthwatering sensations, Regina nearly loses it. Another minute of that, the dual stimulation and she feels herself tipping over, walls fluttering around his fingers as her thighs tighten around his head instinctively, trapping him between her thighs. She comes with another cry of his name, while Robin continues licking at her, letting her ride out her orgasm and lapping up the new burst of wetness that gathers.

Lord, she’s sexy. A goddess. Perfection. Everything that he could ever have asked for and more and Robin has no idea what the hell he’d done to be so lucky to be here with her. For her to be his.

He pulls away from her, panting lightly and peppering kisses to the soft, heated skin of her inner thigh as he catches his breath. Painfully, hard now, he takes a minute to muster up some control before he kisses his way up her body and fuses his mouth to hers.

Regina can taste herself on him, an arousal in and of itself, and she groans, clamps her arms around his neck and holds him close to her. Hooking a leg over his hip, she gyrates her hips against his, reveling in the way his cock is nestled between her folds, sliding against her clit.

Burying his face into the crook of her neck, Robin moans. There are three words on the tip of his tongue that want to escape, but neither of them are ready for that quite yet. Now is not the time for that little revelation. It’s too soon. But they are there all the same.

Instead, he whispers into her ear, “You are incredible.” Bites her earlobe and then makes good on his promise, reaching a hand between their sweaty and slick bodies to grip his cock, angling it at her entrance. Taunting her for a minute by pushing in an inch and then withdrawing, doing it a few more times before Regina’s whiny moan of his name makes him chuckle and Robin thrusts deep and hard inside her.

When their bodies are joined, they both let out matching groans. It’s perfect. Exactly right. Every time they come together like this it’s better than the last, produces a feeling inside each of them that this is exactly where they belong. Robin begins to move, a few shallow thrusts at first, letting Regina adjust to him before he draws farther back and then in again.

Each delicious pass of his cock inside her feels amazing, a wet slide that has desire gathering deep inside her again. Sparking from where their bodies are joined and filtering out. Through her belly, her breasts, her thighs, heating her skin. She’s just come, but already Regina feels herself getting closer and closer to that peak once more.

Her nails scrape over Robin’s hip, digging into the skin there as he enters her over and over again. He’s keeping his pace even and steady at the moment, something Regina enjoys, even as she craves something a bit harder, a touch harsher. Wants more, more of him, of the razor edge of pleasure they are teetering on. One of his hands strokes through her dampened hair, pushing it away from her face as he looks down at her, such affection and care in his gaze that it revs their love making up a notch.

Bending his head down, he kisses her, tongue sweeping into her mouth, echoing the movement of his cock inside her and Regina surrenders to the sensations building within her body. She rubs her own tongue over his, tasting him as he moves inside her over and over again. Their chests and torsos are pressed together, the coarse hair on his chest tickling her aching nipples as they brush over the hard points.

She wraps her legs around his hips, changing the angle at which he’s driving into her, and the shift has him dragging over her clit with each thrust, causing a deep moan to fall from Regina’s lips as she breaks the kiss.

Robin’s mouth immediately moves to her neck, sucking at her skin that tastes of salt and just a bit like the perfume she’d been wearing earlier in the evening, less prominent now with their activities. “You feel so good, Regina. Magnificent. Spectacular. Fantastic.” Praise sputters from Robin as he pounds into her faster, he’s getting close, wants to make her come again, around his cock this time so he can feel every jaw-dropping second of her walls constricting around him rather than his fingers.

His voice drives her crazy, particularly when he’s spilling compliments at her, when he’s thrusting deep and hard inside her and Regina groans, her fingers tugging a touch violently at the hair at the base of his skull to anchor herself to him.  

“So do you.” She tells him, voice deep and raspy, which only serves to make Robin growl, biting into her skin. “I love the way you make me feel, how you feel inside me.” His hand squeezes her breast, slips lower to rub at her clit as Robin’s mouth kisses down her body to take one of her nipples into his mouth. It moves them from this gratifying drive of pleasure into overdrive. “Oh god, yes, yes, Robin. Mmmm...harder, faster, please. I’m so close.”

Doing exactly as she says, Robin pounds into her harder and faster, her passage nearly dripping as he slides easily and effortlessly in and out of her. He sucks at her nipple, circling his tongue around it and biting lightly, flicking his tongue over the nub. Between that, his thumb rubbing over her clit and the feel of his cock inside her Regina is completely helpless to the onslaught of sensations assaulting her body. It only takes a few more thrusts and then she’s crying out and clenching tightly around him as she comes.

Robin’s hips continue moving inside her, rubbing at her as he helps her ride out her orgasm, forehead pressed between her breasts, struggling to hold himself back as her walls flutter around him. It’s a lost cause though, particularly when Regina uses her grip on his hair to pull his mouth to hers for an intense kiss and then Robin is following right behind her, coming with a low, desperate growl into her mouth as he spills inside her. The two of them riding the last waves of release in sync.

Collapsing on top of her, they lay there for a few minutes, trying to regain their breath after the intensity of what they’d just done, Robin softening inside her. His head rests on her neck as she lazily strokes her fingers up and down the toned muscles of his back. She feels phenomenal. Like her entire body is liquid and golden.

Mind-blowing sex will have that effect.

Eventually, Robin musters up enough energy to roll off her, settling back on the sheets beside her and reaching for her. Regina happily turns back into his arms, resting her head on his chest as his arms wrap around her.

“Wow.” Robin’s voice mutters quietly into the night around them. They hadn’t bothered with the light when they’d come in, too preoccupied with each other to care or think about such things. The room is dark, only the silver of the moonlight illuminating it.

Regina smirks against his skin. Wow is right. She’s warm and sated in his embrace and it’s been a wonderful day. The best Valentine’s that she’s had in her entire life. “Mmmhmmm.” She hums sleepily, slumber dragging her under as they lay there.

Laughing, Robin presses a kiss to the crown of Regina’s hair, the subtle apple scent of her shampoo still lingering, and he smiles. “Happy Valentines Day, lovely.” As he pulls the sheets back up over them, Regina snuggles closer, adjusting to the most comfortable sleeping position and tossing a leg over one of his, her arm draped over his chest. Then echoes the words back to him.