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Capture and Release	By : TaylorKing Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time Views: 9639 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I own nothing Once Upon a Time related, or its characters, and make no money from it

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Night:
                                                The butler stood at the open door as Prince Henry entered the house.
            “How was your trip, Sir?”
            “Very well, thank you.” Prince Henry handed over his coat. “Seems like Mr. Simons is on the mend. So how are things here? Did my daughter and the king kill each other?”
            “As far as I know, no.” The butler chuckled. “But I haven’t seen either of them in some time, so it might have happened.”
            Prince Henry checked the downstairs room with no sign of David or Regina. He made his way upstairs. Regina’s bedroom was empty, so he went back down the hall to David’s. As he raised his hand to knock, he heard voices from within.
            “God, Regina.” David’s voice, followed by a whining gasp that could only have been his daughter.
            Prince Henry took a step back from the door. He had absolutely no doubt what was happening on the other side of that door. And he wasn’t sure which of the two he was more disappointed with.

*****Scene*****
Morning:
                                                Regina awoke earlier than usual, fresh from a nightmare. Just the mention of Leopold could send her into a downward spiral. There were times he had stuck so firmly into her memory that she’d spent days in bed simply thinking.
            Now she sat up, pulling the sheets around her against the early morning chill, feeling the same sickening nausea that reliving her life with Leopold brought forth.
            Their first time had hurt-obviously-but it hadn’t been horrible. The other times had been worse. The other times hurt when she wasn’t ready, when he hadn’t taken his time with her-which was frequent. Many times, he had decided they were having sex when she had no interest in it. Those were the times he simply held her down. When the good, supposedly kind, king showed his true colors.
            Regina had learned about sex not from love, but from force. She’d learned at an early age to appreciate rough sex, because it was all she had. And when she’d taken the steps to create her own sex life, she simply followed suit. So it was not hard for her to leap into Charming’s world of rough sex. What she didn’t understand was how he jumped so calmly from one level to the next. Last night had been different.
            Regina drew her knees to her chest, resting her forehead against them. Charming. Since she’d awoken from the fever, things had been confusing. It was impossible to hate a man who had risked his own life to save yours. But what did she feel for him?
            She didn’t know.
            She did not hate him, that was for sure. But she did not love him either. So what was between not loving and not hating? She had no idea how friendship worked in this situation. And if she told him that’s all she could do, how would he take it? For some reason, she actually cared if she hurt him.
            Could she do friendship? Was that possible? Did she know how to be friends?
            She didn’t think she did, which made this more confusing.
            Anger had been an easy emotion for her to understand-she knew what made her angry. And she knew how to handle anger. Whatever it was she was feeling, she could not handle. Anger and rage had never upset her like this.
            Regina wiped a tear from her eye. She was crying and she didn’t know why. Yes she did. She was crying because it was her natural reaction when Leopold got into her head. He’d been gone for years, and he still made her cry. She shuddered again at the thought of him, wiping away tears as they slipped down her cheeks.
            And she was crying over Charming. Because she didn’t know what to do. And she had never been afraid of hurting someone before.
            Her eyes fell on her bedroom door. She could get up, go to him, crawl into his bed. He would hold her, ask what was wrong, and she could tell him. He’d tell her not to cry, tell her that everything would be all right.
            But she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t use him for comfort like she was using him for sex. She knew that’s what she was doing. She’d been doing it since day one. At first it was just for human contact, for some type of companion (she was never going to admit he was right about that). Then it had switched to sex-plain and simple. She’d used him like she’d used the guard and the huntsman. But the difference was that Charming was willing, that he wanted her.
            Because he loved her. That she couldn’t deny anymore. Charming loved her. One did not try to save a woman one did not love. Leopold might have sent a guard or two to try and find the cure, but if they’d failed and Regina had died, oh well.
            Regina was lying on her back, and she realized tears were running down her temples, collecting in her hair and in her ears. She hurriedly wiped them away before rolling onto her stomach, burying her face in the pillow.
            Sleep came again, but she wasn’t sure when. The next time she woke, the morning fog had burned off and bright sunlight was spilling in through the French doors at the balcony.
            There was a knock on the door.
            “Your Majesty?” Rose. “Are you awake?”
            Regina sat up, rubbing sleep and the remnants of tears from her eyes.
            “Yes,” she called back, wondering how bad she looked.
            Rose entered the bedroom. Regina realized that Rose had come to know her. She did not waste either of their time with good morning, unless it was after eleven. She did not bother with chitchat. She was straight to the point, which Regina appreciated. Regina had no patience on a good day, especially in the morning.
            “How did you sleep?” Rose breezed into the room, closing the door behind her.
            “Fine.” Regina lied.
            “Excellent.” Rose moved to lean against the end of the bed. “So what do we think, your Majesty? Are we getting up, or shall I bring your breakfast here?”
            The idea of slinking back into her bed, pretending that the world didn’t exist for a while sounded incredibly enticing. But Regina wasn’t sure she could handle another minute alone in this room.
            “I’m getting up.”
            “Good. Then I’ll get your bath.”
            Regina bathed in the tub Rose filled for her. The maid washed her hair in shampoo that smelled of mint, and Regina knew by now that Rose made from boiling water and freshly made soaps.
            “Tea, your Majesty?” Rose asked as she dried her hands. Regina nodded.
            “Please.”
            “Done.” Rose disappeared.
            Regina lounged in the water for a bit longer, her brain continuing to swirl through her thoughts. After deciding that was exhausting, she got out of the tub and dried off. She wrapped herself in a white silk robe before returning to the bedroom.
            Rose was finishing making the bed. A cup of tea was settled on her dressing table. Regina sat down on the velvet cushioned bench and picked up the cup, sipping.
            “Is it all right?” Rose joined her. Regina nodded.
            “Fine.” She took another sip before holding the cup back, swirling it in her hand.
            Rose reached over to pick up a silver comb. She took a handful of Regina’s hair, settling it over one shoulder before dividing the rest over her other shoulder. She began running the comb through the part she’d left hanging down Regina’s back.
            “So,” Rose glanced into the mirror, meeting Regina’s gaze, “I thought perhaps you had gone to bed early last night. But when I came up to check on you, you weren’t here.”
            Regina frowned, but covered it by raising her teacup to her lips again.
            “I was around…for a bit. I didn’t need you checking in on me.”
            By the way Rose was staring at her, Regina knew the other woman knew. But she was going to keep her cool. She was an adult. If she wanted to have sex with Charming, that was entirely acceptable.
            “I didn’t go right to bed.” Regina shrugged. “I wasn’t in the mood.” The look on Rose’s face could only be deemed a smirk, which angered Regina. No one dared give her that look.
            “To be fair, your Majesty, I know exactly what you were doing last night. As does much of the household.”
            Regina clicked her teacup down too hard against the saucer. She both felt and saw the blush on her face.
            “How dare you-.” Rose held up her hands in defense.
            “Please, your Majesty, I have known for some time what has been going on between you and the King. I only bring it up for one reason.”
            “Which is?” Regina snapped.
            “As you’ve heard me say, the Arenrose is a fierce poison. And while you don’t seem to be having any symptoms of it, it can still wreck havoc on your body. Your Majesty….your body could not handle a pregnancy right now.”
            Regina’s hand shot up, and she quickly intercepted Rose’s before she could continue combing.
            “Let’s make one thing clear immediately: do not ever mention pregnancy to me. Do you understand me?”
            “Perfectly.” Rose began combing Regina’s hair again. “Your hair needs to dry before we can do anything with it.   Did you have something in mind to wear or should I use my best judgment?”
            “Use your judgment.” Regina muttered into her tea. Rose disappeared into the closet. Regina stared into the tea, watching it swirl in the cup. She heard the maid rummaging in the closet, flipping through gowns. She returned a few moments later, carrying a midnight blue gown over her arm.
            “This gown is nothing but wrinkles, so I’ll need to heat up an iron.”
            “If I had magic, my hair would be dry and that gown would be ironed.” Regina shrugged as she sipped her tea.
            “Well, perhaps.” Rose laid the gown on the bed. “But regardless, they both need done now. I’m glad we’re going back to the King’s estate, or else you’d be recycling outfits. I can’t imagine that would be enticing.”
            “It’s not.” Regina put down her teacup, reaching for a jar of moisturizer. She opened the jar, dipping her fingers in and smearing some on her skin.
            There was a knock on the door. Regina glanced up at Rose as the other woman went to the door.
            “Well, good morning your Majesty.” Charming. Regina’s eyes shot to the door, and her heart leapt to her throat. What on earth was the matter with her?
            “I’ll see.” Rose pushed the door partially closed to look over at Regina. Regina nodded, not sure why, but she knew she did want to see him. For some odd reason.
            Rose turned back to the door, pulling it open again.
            “Well your Majesty, you’ve been approved. Come in.” She stepped back.
            Charming entered the room, dressed in black trousers, a white shirt and a blue jacket. Regina wondered if he owned shirts in colors other than white.
            “I’m going to heat up the iron.” Rose called past him. Regina nodded, motioning her out of the door.
            When the door had closed, Regina finally met Charming’s eyes.
            “What brings you by so early?” She asked calmly.
            “I didn’t like how we left things last night.” He came towards her, concern in his light eyes.
            “I’m fine.” Regina told him, holding his gaze steady. She wouldn’t let him see how the morning had affected her. She didn’t want to talk about it-to him or anyone else.
            “Are you sure?” Charming asked gently. “Leopold-.”
            She didn’t want to talk about Leopold.
            “I said I’m fine, Charming.” She smiled. Charming studied her in the way he seemed to have perfected.
            “Also,” he conceded, “I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”
            Typical Charming. It was exactly what she expected him to say. Charming with his over the top, overstated cheesy lines. But today, things were different. Today she hadn’t been able to stop thinking of him either.
            “I’ve been thinking of you as well.” She hated herself for admitting it as soon as it was out of her mouth.
            Charming smiled. He looked entirely too pleased with her statement. Regina wondered why, in this instant, she’d decided honesty was a great idea.
            “Really now?” Charming reached for her hand, pulling her onto her feet. “Do I have that much appeal for you?”
            “Hardly.” She smirked. “I just like reliving the men I’ve….conquered.”
            “Is that all I am to you?” Charming pushed her back against the wall. “A conquest?”
            “Yes.” Regina smiled. “But if it makes you feel better, you were one of my favorites.”
            Charming’s arms slid around her. He pressed her against him. Regina’s breath caught. She hated how he was making her feel. Why did she want him so close to her?
            His lips fell to hers. Regina groaned for a moment, and then let her arms find their way around her neck. She kissed him back, drawing his tongue into her mouth to brush lightly against hers.
            “Rose is coming back.” She whispered, pulling back.
            “Send her away.” Charming murmured, bringing her mouth back to his. His kiss was deeper, more intense. She could feel the passion rising to simmer between them. Her hands left his neck to roam across his chest. His found the edges of her robe, pulling it open.
            “Stop.” Regina breathed. “Rose already knows what we did last night.”
            “I don’t care.” Charming pushed open her robe. His mouth drifted down her throat, skirting over her left breast before finding the nipple and sucking it into his mouth.
            Regina moaned. Her eyes closed involuntarily as her hands slid up to tangle in his hair.
            For a split second, she didn’t care. She did care what happened, who knew, or about anything else. She just wanted him.
            But reality clicked. They couldn’t do this. Not here. Not now.
            “Charming-stop.” She tugged at his hair.
            Charming let go of her nipple, only to lazily drag his tongue across her sternum to find her right one. Regina whined louder.
            “Stop. I mean it.” Charming sighed against her skin before lifting his head.
            “You don’t sound like you mean it.” He stood up so his lips sought hers again. There seemed to be no stopping her body. Her mouth instantly began to open as his descended on it.
            The doorknob clicked.   Regina shoved him back before yanking her robe closed.
            Rose entered the room, shooting a quick glance at them.
            “The iron’s heating downstairs, your Majesty. It shouldn’t take long.”
            “Excellent.” Regina nodded. “The King was just leaving.”
            “I was?” Charming shot Regina a quick look.
            “Yes, you were.” Regina pointed to the door. “Go.”
            “As you wish, your Majesty.” Charming started for the door. “I will see you later.”
            “Goodbye, Charming.” Regina sat down at the dressing bench again. When the door closed, Rose glanced over at it.
            “Well, your Majesty, let’s see what we can do with your hair.”
***Scene****
                                                            Charming wasn’t one hundred percent sure what to think of this morning with Regina, but he decided it wasn’t bad. He was feeling rather pleased with himself as he entered the dining room.
            Prince Henry was already seated at the table, reading through some correspondence. He glanced up as Charming entered the room before returning to the letter in his hand.
            “Well, how was your evening last night?” Charming settled himself into the chair to Prince Henry’s left. He left the older prince to have the head of the table. It was his home, after all. And Charming didn’t care that much about being king.
            “Clearly not as eventful as yours.” The older man looked over the top of the letter at him, his eyebrows raised in a knowing gaze. Charming felt heat creep along his cheeks.
            “I-. Last night was-.” Was what? Hot? Passionate? His daughter had basically seduced the King? “Quiet.”
            Again, Prince Henry gave Charming firm stare. The older man knew what had happened. He knew what had been going on in his bedroom.
            “It didn’t seem so quiet last night.”
            Charming officially wanted to die. He wanted to die right here, right now. He could feel the heat on his skin.
            “Henry-.” But the prince raised his hand.
            “Are you sure that was a good idea? What were you thinking, actually? Regina nearly dies and two days later you’re….” Prince Henry apparently couldn’t say the words. “Think about her health.”
            What was he supposed to say? That it had been Regina’s idea? That he wouldn’t have touched her if it wasn’t for her insistence? (Not that he hadn’t been more than willing.)
            “Regina was….” Charming’s tongue was frozen awkwardly in his mouth. This was by far the worst conversation he’d ever had. “Regina was…fine. Well, not fine, but she was-.”
            He didn’t mean “fine” the way he’d said it. She’d been fabulous last night. But how do you say anything other than that? Did Prince Henry take another meaning? How did get out of this?
            “She was ok last night. She was healthy.”
            “She nearly died, David. Perhaps there was a better time?”
            Charming closed his eyes. He did not want to have this conversation. He did not ever want to ever have this conversation. An awkward silence filled the room between them. Charming pretended his cup of coffee was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen.
            And absolutely nothing was helped when Regina entered the room. Her hair was twisted up on her head in an elaborate knot. Her gown was elegant, and neatly dotted with pieces of expensive looking jewelry. Charming swallowed hard.
            “Ah….Regina. Your father and I were just….discussing. How quiet it was in the house last night.”
            Regina’s face colored and her mouth opened. She obviously picked up his meaning.
            “I….ah….yes.”
            Prince Henry shook his head as he went back to his letter. Regina glared at Charming as she sat across the table from him. He gave her a bewildered look and shrugged. Regina rolled her eyes and began pouring tea from the pot at her place setting.
            They ate in relative silence. Charming watched Regina dissect a roll with her fork.
            “What are you going to do today?” Charming looked over at her. Prince Henry looked up from his food. Regina closed her eyes and shook her head. Charming let the comment drop.
            After several more moments of awkward silence, Regina dropped her fork onto her plate.
            “Ok, that’s enough.” She got up from her chair, pushing it into the table. “Charming and I had sex. It was not the first time. We are adults. These things happen. Are we clear on this matter?”
            “Quite.” Prince Henry shook his head, pressing one hand to his temples.
            “Then we never have to discuss this again?” Regina started towards the door.
            “Please.” Charming looked up.
            “Gladly.” Prince Henry didn’t look at her again.
            “Wonderful.” Regina opened the door and left the room, letting the door slam behind her.
*****Scene*****
                                    Charming found her an hour later in the garden. Rose was carefully applying polish to her fingernails. As he approached, he saw Regina watching him.
            “Go.” She motioned to Rose. Rose glanced at the King, and then back at Regina.
            “Are you certain, your Majesty? You have eight black nails and two plain.”
            “You can finish them later.” Regina motioned again. “Go.” Rose went, giving Charming a quick smile.
            Charming dropped into the chair across from her. Regina sighed boredly.
            “What do you want?”
            “Breakfast was quite possibly the most awkward conversation I have ever had.” He told her, resting his head on his hand
            “Why on earth did you admit we slept together?” Regina exclaimed. “Why couldn’t you come up with a better lie?”
            “I’m sorry, I haven’t mastered lying to your father.” Charming leaned back, watching her reaction. “And what was I supposed to tell him? He knew very well what we were doing!”
            “I could have covered, if you hadn’t made it so obviously uncomfortable!”
            “Fine. The next time your father catches us having sex, you can explain it to him.”
            “Who said there would be a next time?” Regina batted her dark eyes playfully.
            “Oh there will be.” Charming let the lazy sly smile slip onto his face. “You know you can’t stay away.”
            “I didn’t mean that.” Regina was smiling sweetly at him. “I just meant he wouldn’t catch us again.”
            Charming chuckled as he stood up. Crossing to her, he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
            “Good. Because I’d go crazy without you.” He watched the look at the washed over her beautiful face. It was mild horror mixed with the pink of a blush mixed with lust.
            “Send Rose back. I can’t handle my nails undone.”
            “As you wish, your Majesty.” Charming chuckled as he began to leave her alone.
            “Tell me,” Regina called without looking over her shoulder, “do you own anything other than white shirts. Black perhaps?”
            Charming froze, a small smile framing his face.
            “Why do you ask?” He answered without looking over his shoulder.
            “Because I get tired of seeing you in white,” came the reply from behind him. Charming chuckled.
            “I’ll have you know I have many black shirts. And I look stunning in them.”
            Silence. Then:
            “That’s yet to be determined.”
******Scene******
                                    By dinner, things had calmed down. Charming noticed the tension was lighter almost as soon as he entered the dining room. Regina barely glanced at him from the other side of the table.
            “When are you two planning to leave tomorrow?” Prince Henry asked him. Charming glanced up. He’d spent all day working out guards, where everyone was going, and how they would break up the actual protection. He was now convinced he finally had the correct people in place.
            “What time are we leaving tomorrow?” Charming looked across the table at Regina.
            “Around noon.” Regina responded, not looking up from her dinner.
            “Around noon.” Charming inclined his head to Regina while he looked at her father.
            Prince Henry glanced between the two, shaking his head. He didn’t ask any other questions. Trying to sort out his daughter’s relationship with the King was entirely too complicated. Actually, that was the one thing all three people in the room had in common-not one of them understood what was going on.
****Scene*****
                                    Regina had retreated alone to the parlor. It was the one place she typically went to think, it always had been. Tonight she needed a few minutes alone, because her brain had not stopped swimming since that morning.
            She did not like how confused and conflicted she continued to feel. She did not love Charming-that was certain. And she could not love him, because it was impossible to love someone who had started a relationship with you by keeping you as prisoner.
            Or was it? Could she ever love him? Did she want to?
            With Leopold it had been bad-but simple. Sex when he wanted it, public appearances, look pretty-done. With Charming, she had no idea what to think. If he didn’t love her, he wouldn’t have saved her-unless it was some elaborate scam. Which told her she didn’t fully trust Charming-which was wrong if what he was saying was true and his actions just.
            One thing was certain: she did not trust her father on this matter. He had been convinced they could trust Leopold-he was wrong. He had handed her over to a man twice her age with no thought on the subject. She could not trust his judgment with Charming. Whatever she decided, it had to be because she decided it-no one else.
            Regina rubbed her temples. Her head ached from the exhaustion of all this thought. She was sure the fact that she’d been poisoned, and most likely hadn’t regained her full strength, was not helping either.
            What if she found it in her to love him, and it was a scam? What if she ended up hurt again…or worse? Love was so much risk…too much. Daniel had been the only man who had truly loved her. Or not? She couldn’t be sure. She couldn’t swear to it. The entire situation was agonizing enough to bring her to tears, and she physically had to fight them to keep from falling.
            “Regina?” Her father’s voice. She didn’t want him here. She didn’t want to talk to him, or to anyone. She wanted to think and rethink her situation and its possible outcomes.
            “What?” She asked, not turning to face him.
            “Do you love him?” He asked gently. Regina felt an icy stab in her stomach. She did not want to talk about this.
            “Who?” She knew, but she felt like asking.
            “You know who. The King.” Regina turned now, finally facing him.
            “Are you here to give me some lecture on premarital sex? Because I’m in no mood. Besides, I’ve already lost anything I had to give to Leopold. What does it matter who it’s with?”
            “That’s not why I’m here.” Prince Henry raised his hands in a calming gesture. He didn’t want to see her lose her temper over this.
            “Then why are you here?” Regina sighed, sitting down on the couch. “I have a lot on my mind right now.”
            “Regina, it’s a simple question. Do you? Do you love him?”
            “No.” Regina sighed, leaning back on couch. “I don’t.”
            “Regina-.”
            “Please do not lecture me.” Regina turned to face him as he sat down beside her. “I don’t want to hear from you how I should feel. Things did not work when you gave me this speech the last time.”
            “I’m sorry.” Prince Henry laid his hand on her arm. “Regina, really. I had no idea what he would be like. And your mother…. We both know how she was. She had it in her head how she wanted things. I regret not protecting you more from her. But for all I know, she might have killed us both.”
            Regina heard him, but she simply stared at the floor.
            “You don’t understand.” She shook her head. “You just don’t understand. The entire situation left me a mess. I can’t love Charming, I can’t trust him either. I can’t open myself too far. I’m afraid.”
            “Regina.” Her father reached for her, and she let him pull her into his arms. Her face buried into his shoulder. “Regina, you can’t close yourself off. You can’t live in fear of others. You want love, happiness. Darling, you’ll never find it with anyone if you shut down completely.”
            “Everything’s so complicated now.” Regina pulled back, resting her arms on her knees. “It’s been so complicated since I recovered.”
            “Complicated why?”
            “Because I can’t sort out how I feel, or how I should feel.” Regina twirled a ring on her finger.
            “Why don’t we start with how you do feel?” Prince Henry pressed gently.
            “I don’t love him, but I don’t hate him either.” Regina looked up, facing her father. “But I don’t know if I can trust him either.”
            “Regina, the man road into a thunderstorm to a swamp to save your life.”
            “And maybe he has some other game he’s playing!” Regina exclaimed. “Maybe saving me is so he can kill me himself, or so that Snow can. How am I to know-.”
            “Regina.” Prince Henry took her hands. “Do you hear yourself? Do you hear how paranoid you’re making yourself? If you don’t hate the man, relax. Let him in a bit. You don’t have to marry him. Just….try and like him.”
            Regina closed her eyes sadly. She took a deep breath. Was she just paranoid? Was she unjustly afraid? Was she worrying about things that didn’t matter?
            She did know one thing: when she wasn’t with Charming, she thought of him nonstop. He weighed heavily on her mind, and she didn’t understand it. But could she like it? Was it ok? Was it ok to go to a man she wasn’t sure if she liked?
            “I’m going to bed.” She got up from the couch, straightened her gown.
            “Are you really?” Prince Henry raised a suspicious eyebrow.
            “No,” Regina murmured, “I’m not.” Prince Henry smiled.
            “Go.” He advised her. “Just…be careful.”
            “What’s that supposed to-?”
            “I know you know.” Prince Henry’s face suddenly turned serious. “Regina-.”
            “We are not having this conversation.” Regina held up her hand. “We are not discussing what happened.”
            “Does David-.”
            “Know? No, he doesn’t. And we’ll leave it that way.”
            “But what if-.”
            “It can’t happen. And it won’t. You know that. But regardless, he is not to hear one word about it.” Regina gave her father a warning look. Reluctantly, Prince Henry nodded.
            “I won’t say anything. It’s not for me to tell. But you-.”
            “Don’t tell me what I’m going to do anymore.” Regina turned, heading for the door. “Good night, Father.”
***Scene***
                                    At the bottom of the stairs, Regina encountered Rose.
            “Ah, your Majesty.” The maid was one of the few people who gave her a genuine smile. “Ready for bed? I can go get your room ready.”
            “No, I-.” Regina glanced around. “I’m not tired. Have you seen the King?”
            “At last, he was in the library catching up on some correspondence.” Rose nodded in that direction.
            “Thank you.” Regina turned and started down the hallway.
            “Just call me when you’re ready, your Majesty.”
            “I will.” Regina didn’t look back.
            In the library, Charming was settled at the huge table, sealing an envelope with his wax stamp. He looked up, and Regina saw his smile.
            He was another who looked genuinely happy to see her.
            “So what do I owe the pleasure?” He stretched as he leaned back in his chair.
            “I….” Regina fought the urge to be snarky. “I don’t know.” She answered honestly. “But I wanted to see you. I needed to.”
            “Really?” Charming smiled sweetly. “What brings this on?”
            “I don’t know.” Regina murmured, crossing the room to him. “But I keep thinking about you. I have all day.”
            “And what did I do to deserve that?” Charming got up from his chair and strolled over to meet her.
            “Stop looking so smug.” Regina folded her arms over her chest. “If you’re going to make this into such a huge deal, I’m leaving.”
            “I’m sorry.” Charming leaned against the table beside her. “Let’s try this again: how are you?”
            “Fine.” Regina laid the word out firmly. “What are you doing?”
            “Writing a week’s worth of letters that I had let pile up.” Charming glanced back to the stack of papers on the table. “But I’m tired of it. And I could use the distraction.”
            They were silent for a moment. Regina still wondered why she’d come…why she was standing here. She was with him, so what did she want to do? She didn’t want to talk to him, not seriously at least. Did she want him to touch her? She always wanted that. She couldn’t do this.   This was too hard. She wasn’t wired for this.
            She thought briefly of Daniel. What would Daniel want? Would he want her to open up to this man-to any man? Would he want her to love again?
            Charming ran his fingers along her cheek, jolting her out of her thoughts.
            “You left me there for a minute.” He smiled. “What’s on your mind?”
            His hand on her cheek solidified it. She liked his touch. Say what she wanted, he had won her over with his touch.
            She kissed him. It was so fast he barely noticed until her lips were on his. Charming gasped in surprised, but wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him.
            She pulled her head back, feeling him gasping for air beside her.
            “I need you.” She whispered. “I need to feel you. Touch me.”
            “Are you-.”
            “Sure? Yes.” Regina pulled his mouth back to hers. In one motion, Charming lifted her and placed her on the edge of the table. His hands were seeking over her chest. He made an attempt at tugging down the bodice of her gown, but no luck. The bodice on this dress was tighter than yesterdays, but not quite corset tight. Even so, it held as effectively as a corset.
            “I hate these dresses.” Charming grumbled against her lips as his hands squeezed her breasts through her gown. “What would be so wrong with women wearing a shirt and trousers like men?”
            “Corsets and bodices are supposed to keep things covered and secure-from men like yourself.” Regina nipped his upper lip. “”Apparently this gown is doing its job.”
            “I still hate it. But you do look wonderful in it.” Both of Charming’s hands slid under her jaw, holding her mouth to his as he kissed her over and over again.
            Since he couldn’t reach her breasts, his hand slipped down and gathered up her skirts, tangling them around her waist. His hand slid under them, frowning when he encountered underwear.
            “I’m not in favor you wearing underwear again.”
            “Tomorrow.” Regina assured him. “Once we’re home.”
            “Did you just call my estate ‘home’?” Charming pulled back, smiling.
            “Do we have to discuss this now?” Regina sought his lips again.
            They didn’t. Instead Charming kissed her back as he pushed her underwear aside. Instantly, he encountered heat and wetness. He rubbed her clit a few times, making her cry out.
            He reached down, opening his pants just enough to free his length. He slipped between her thighs and positioned himself, thrusting into her. Regina gasped, clinging to his shoulders.
            Charming thrust into her a few times, not building a rhythm and simply enjoying the feeling of her. But while there was never a chance she wouldn’t feel good, the position wasn’t working quite as well as he would have liked.
            “Wrap your legs around my waist.” He whispered. Regina did, and her arms around his neck.
            Charming picked her up, moving to press her against the wall beside a row of bookshelves. The change in angle made him slid deeper into her. They both moaned simultaneously.
            “This is much better.” He breathed against her lips. Regina nodded, closing her eyes as he began thrusting into her.
            He felt so good. He felt unnaturally good. No man should feel this good in a woman. She craved his hands on her body, his penis inside of her, his mouth on her skin. She was addicted like some were addicted to the drink. She needed him, badly.
            Regina cried out as she came, wanting him deeper inside of her. He let out a breathy “oh” as he came after, his orgasm releasing inside of her in waves of pleasure that registered on his face.
            Charming held her tightly. Finally, he pulled her back from the wall and over to the sofa, where he set her down carefully before collapsing beside her.
            “You know, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I’m not complaining.” Regina let her head fall backwards.
            “You can’t blame me for liking what feels good.”
            “I certainly can’t.” Charming nodded, fixing his pants. “Are you all right?” He reached over, stroking her hand gently.
            “Fine.” Regina stared up at the ceiling.
            “Do you have answers beside that?”
            “Not at the moment.” Regina sighed. She sat up, adjusting her clothes. “I should go.”
            “You get that I see what you do, right?” Charming got up as she stood. “You’re ok with the sex, but you have to get out before we get too intimate.”
            “True.” It was. She couldn’t deny it. Intimacy meant too much. She couldn’t let that guard down with anyone. As they’d tapped last night, she’d never been “intimate” with anyone.
            “I’ll break down that wall.” Charming caught her hand. Slowly, he raised it to his lips. “You’re going to find that I’m not so bad.”
            “I never said you were.”
            “Not in the last week.” Charming winked at her. “Go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
            He reached for her, pulling Regina close to him. His kiss was soft, sweet, against her lips. She drew back and met his gaze. Charming nodded, giving her a faint smile.
            Regina detangled herself from his arms and left the room. On the other side of the door, she leaned back, touching her lips.
            Were they reaching the point she missed him? She hoped not. Missing him raised a whole host of other questions.
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Capture and Release