Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

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
- 14
- 15
- 16
WARNING: this chapter contains anal sex. If it freaks you out, upsets you, turns you off, do not read that section. HOWEVER, there is important plot stuff after it. So if you want to skip the anal, but read the plot, go directly from the “***Scene***” to the bold *Plot”

Regina flat out refused to move into his bedroom. He also had significant trouble getting her to sleep in his bedroom. Some nights he gave up and let her go. Others, a few moments of cuddling and caressing convinced her to stay. It was easier in her bedroom. She had no choice but to stay. And she’d never asked him to leave.
At this rate, he didn’t care if she loved him or not. They’d created at least the basis for a friendship that involved a healthy level (and sometimes unhealthy amount) of intimacy. If it never went further than this, he’d be happy.
July passed with more rain and clouds. It was more of an extended spring than summer. Every now and then a day would come where the sun would stay out and it was actually warm enough to stay outside.
            It was one of those days that Charming surprised Regina with the orchard. He’d put it in the back part of the garden, where she’d never gone anyway. At this time of year it had taken him forever to round up full-grown apple trees that could be transplanted. But now she had a space full of a dozen varieties of apples to do with as she liked. She’d been thrilled. And he was happy to see her happy.
            He was sitting on a garden wall reading a book. A few feet away, Regina was picking apples and placing them into a basket. Every now and then, he watched her from the corner of one eye.
            His eyes snapped up as she approached him. Regina held out an apple to him in the palm of her right hand.
“What’s this?” He smiled as she settled onto the wall beside him.
“What does it look like?” She placed the basket beside her.
“I don’t know. There’s something about you with an apple that’s a combination of sexy and frightening.”
He took the apple before reaching into his pocket for a knife. He sliced the apple and ate a piece directly from the knife blade.
            “It reminds me of you.” He told her. Regina raised her eyebrows questioningly.
            “How so?”
            “It’s sweet, but not sickeningly so. It makes you want more. But it isn’t nauseating.”
            Regina gave him a look that was a combination between a frown and a laugh.
            “I’m not sure if I’m infuriated or amused.”
            “Perhaps a bit of both?”
            “Perhaps.” Regina leaned in, kissing him. “You’re right. That is sweet.”
            “But not overly so.” Charming stroked her cheek. Regina smirked.
            “Just like me.” She leaned up for another kiss. Charming didn’t argue. He kissed her again, and again, until he heard a coughing sound behind them.
            Prince Henry stood at the garden entrance watching them. He shook his head. Regina laughed as she rose to her feet, crossing over to kiss her father’s cheek.
            “Henry. Good to see you as always.” Charming got up to shake the older man’s hand.
            “The staff said you two were back here….” He glanced from one to the other. Charming still found it frightening how much the Prince knew of his relationship with Regina.
            “You should show your father your orchard.” Charming rubbed the back of Regina’s arm.
            “I think that’s a lovely idea.” She held out her hand to her father. “Let’s go.”
            She led him off.    Charming intentionally remained put. He always liked to give them time alone. He knew they’d catch up later. What they talked about he didn’t know, and didn’t ask.
            He met both in the dining room later that evening for dinner. Regina smiled at him from beneath dark lashes, but didn’t move from her place at the table. The look on her face registered intimacy that had never existed in their relationship. He wondered if Prince Henry noticed.
            They ate and made conversation. Charming felt as though the tension had finally lifted between the three of them. Some of their earlier dinners had been down right awkward. Regina was so much more at ease. Her dark eyes kept glancing over at him. Every now and then, she gave him a soft smile.
            After dinner, Regina walked her father out. Charming watched as the two chatted softly beside the carriage before the Prince embraced his daughter. Regina withdrew from him, kissed his cheek and came back to Charming.
            “All yours.” She brushed her fingers lightly over his arm. Charming watched her leave before heading to Prince Henry.
            “Bit of a difference, eh?” He leaned against the carriage. Prince Henry stared after Regina, his head shaking slightly.
            “I have to tell you-I never thought I’d see this progress between you two. This is the most content I’ve seen her in….” He shrugged. “I can’t even say.” Charming smiled.
            “She’s been much more receptive lately. I suppose saving someone’s life will do that.”
            “Well,” Prince Henry patted his shoulder as he turned into the carriage. “Keep it up.”
            Charming returned to the castle. Regina was standing in the doorway, her arms folded over her breasts. Charming didn’t resist the urge to lean down and kiss her.
            “What’s on your mind, my dear?”
            “Have a drink with me.” Regina smiled as she took his hand.
            “Just one?” Charming let her pull him inside. “It’s early.” Regina’s easy chuckle floated back to him.
            “Then maybe we’ll have two.”
*****Scene*****
                                                Charming opened his eyes as a clap of thunder shook the windowpane. It was a moment later before the rain began to beat against it. His mouth was dry, and his head hurt. Beside him, Regina was curled on her left side, facing away from him.
            Two drinks had turned into two bottles of wine (there may have been more, Charming wasn’t certain). It had rapidly escalated into they’d both had too much to drink. The remainder of the night was sketchy. The one thing he knew was that they had fallen asleep in his bed.
            Beside him, Regina groaned.
            “Mm, good morning, your Majesty.” He turned his head in her direction.
            “Is it morning?” Regina mumbled. Charming wasn’t certain. It was still nearly pitch black outside, but part of that may have been the storm.
            “Maybe.” He rolled over, wrapping one arm around her waist. “How do you feel?”
            “My head is killing me. I need coffee.”
            “You hate coffee.”
            “It’s all I can think of right now to stop this headache.”
            Charming agreed and rang for the maid. Regina moved over, resting her cheek on his chest. He stroked her back as the maid entered.
            “Is everything all right, your Majesty? It’s very early…even for you.” Charming wondered if she meant for Regina, who did everything in her power to avoid hours before noon.
            “What time is it, Elaine?”
            “Not quite 7.” Ah. So it was as early as he thought.
            “Just coffee for now. I’ll send for you later if we need anything else.”
            “Coffee…for….both of you?” She glanced at Regina, who was burying her face into Charming’s arm.
            “Just this one exception.” Regina barely lifted her head. “This won’t be an every day event.”
            “Of course, your Majesty.” The maid nodded before turning and slipping out of the room. Charming laughed, shifting to his side so he could hold Regina to his chest.
            “You’re going to end up with coffee every morning.”
            “If I do, you’re firing all of them.”
            He didn’t respond, just snuggled closer to her. His own head was pounding just as badly as before. Idly, he stroked her arm, letting his eyes close.
            The maid brought the coffee and left them quickly. Regina sat up, picking up her cup and taking a slow sip.
            “Ugh.”
            “It’s not that bad.” He pressed a kiss to her temple as he sipped his own. “You might learn to like it.” Regina rolled her eyes at him, but kept drinking.
            They finished most of the coffee before both decided sleep sounded better. Regina let him wrap her in his arms and they both dozed off.
                                                When Charming awoke next, it was still raining. He groaned, not caring what time it was, and snuggled deeper into Regina’s shoulder.
            “What time is it?” She murmured into the pillow.
            “I don’t know. Nor do I care.” He hugged her tighter. “I just wanted to lay here like this with you all day.”
            “Mm.” She reached for the arm that was draped over her waist to link her fingers with his. “Is that an option?”
            “Would you like it to be?” He kissed her temple gently. It was the first time she’d expressed that sort of interest.
            “Maybe.” She glanced over her shoulder and he saw the faint smile on her lips. Charming chuckled, liking the look on her face.
            “All right. So this is all you want to do today?”
            “Maybe.” Charming caught her, rolling her calmly onto her back.
            “That’s two maybes. Tell me what you want to do today.”
            “Honestly?” Regina turned on her side, arching an eyebrow at him. When he nodded, she responded: “I’d like to try….” Hesitation, a long pause. “Anal sex.”
            Charming’s eyes widened at the same time his mouth opened in surprised. Arousal snaked through him, but he fought that back. He had to remind himself that-if she was serious-she’d had a bad experience once already.
            “Are you serious?” He stared at her. Regina nodded. He saw a bit of nervousness in her eyes. “Are you sure?”
            “Yes.” She nodded again, firmly. “You said you can make it feel good.”
            “I can.” He answered cautiously. “But you have to listen to me-let me control things. Ok?”
            “Ok.” Regina assured him. “I want to…try.”
            “Ok.” Charming sighed, reaching out to stroke her cheek gently. “Ok. So let’s talk about this. Lubrication, preparation, and positioning are key. We can do this two ways: one, we can stay here and you can let me find a good position. Two, we can go downstairs to the playroom. I’ve got toys that I can use to get you ready for me; they’ll help loosen up your muscles. Also, it might work well if you’re lying on the table.”
            Regina considered for a moment. Charming traced a stray lock of hair across her forehead. His mind was racing. But he had to calm down. He couldn’t turn her off to this…again.
            “Here.” She finally answered. “You can still do it here…right?”
            “Of course. You trust me to do it the best way I know?” She looked away. He’d used a word she didn’t much care for.
            “Yes.” She shifted slightly closer to him. “I trust you.”
            “Ok then.” Charming rolled over. Reaching into the nightstand drawer, he rummaged. He pulled out a small glass bottle of oil. “Lubricant. That’s key. Anal can’t be done properly without a lot of it. You can never have too much.”
            He reached into the drawer again. He’d started keeping a variety of sex toys up here…just in case. He came up with a few he felt were too large for the first try. Finally, his hand found a white ivory plug. Turning back over, he held them both out to her.
            “This one is fairly small. I have much larger ones downstairs. We are not going to start with those. This will help. Fingers work well too. I’ll go slowly. That I promise.”
            Regina was eyeing the items he’d produced. She nodded, flicking her tongue over her lips.
            “Ok.”
            “I’ll stop if you want me to.” He rubbed her cheek gently. “Nothing too intense. If it hurts, we stop.”
            “Charming, you’re making me more nervous.”
            “I’m sorry.” He leaned in, kissing her lips lightly. “I just want you to be prepared.”
            “I….know.” She rubbed her fingers over his jaw. “Will I…..”
            “Come?” He kissed her forehead. “It is my intention that you do.”
            Charming rolled on top of her, pushing her onto her back and pinning her.
            “I’m worried we’re getting too serious about this and losing the moment. Let’s see if we can’t make it more natural?”
            Before she could answer, his tongue slid into her mouth. As his tongue worked her mouth, his hands slid over her breasts. He tugged her nipples lightly with his thumb and index finger. He cupped them, squeezing and pressing them against her.
            He slid down her body, pushing her back against the bed as he moved between her thighs. His mouth sealed over her clit, and he smiled to himself at the sound of her cry.
            He didn’t want her to come-not yet. So when he heard her moans become more intense, he lifted himself off of her.
            “Lie on your stomach.” He told her. “Just lay still. Relax.”
            She rolled over, folding her arms under her head and pillowing her head against them. Charming stroked her back gently, kneading her shoulder blades.
            He reached for the small bottle. Holding it in his left hand, he opened her ass to him.
            “Tell me if you want me to stop.” He rubbed some of the oil onto his fingers and began slowly, carefully, rubbing it onto her skin.
            Her face was turned to the left. He watched her eyes close, watched her back move with her slow breathing. Gently, he eased just the tip of his index finger into her.
            “Yes?” He asked, seeing that her eyes were now open. “Ok?” He wasn’t in deep, only to the first knuckle. He could stop easily.
            “Yes.” She nodded. “It’s ok.”
            He pushed his finger in deeper. Regina raised herself up on her arms.
            “Ah ah ah,” Charming shook his head. “Lay down. Lay still. Don’t try to do anything just yet. Just get used to it. If it starts to feel good, then you can move with me. But not yet.”
            She nodded and lay back down. Charming leaned down, pressing kisses to her back. He pushed his index finger the rest of the way into her. He let it rest.
            “Still ok?”
            “Yes.”
            “Ok.” He began moving his finger. He felt her tense a bit. “Easy. Relax.” He began moving his finger faster, steadier.
            She seemed to be taking this fine.
            “Second finger.” He breathed, easing his middle finger into her. Regina made a faint sound, but she didn’t tense. “Good girl.”
            He wanted her badly. He was trying to ignore the pulsing and twitching of his own need. But he couldn’t rush…he had to be different. Had to show her he cared more for her than his own desires.
            “Ok,” he kept pumping his fingers inside of her, “try the plug?” Regina nodded, her dark eyes remaining closed.
            He withdrew his fingers and grabbed both the plug and the oil. He slathered it down and applied a bit more to her. The plug was a little thicker than his fingers. She’d done well so far. He had no doubt she could take this too.
            He eased just the tip of the ivory plug into her. Regina let out her breath slowly.
            “That’s my girl.” Charming murmured, looking for signs of serious discomfort on her face. “How’s that?”
            “Yes.” Regina’s eyes were open, her face unreadable. He pushed it the rest of it in. Regina made a soft sound, but he was fairly certain it wasn’t in discomfort.
            Now that the plug was all the way into her, Charming leaned over her.
            “Let’s leave that in for a while.” He kissed her shoulders, her arms, and down her back. His mouth moved over her back, gently sucking small bits of skin into his mouth. Regina groaned as Charming kissed the small of her back. Before he could touch her ass, he sat up.
            Nudging her hip, he flipped her over onto her back. Regina gasped as his lips fell onto hers. He ran his hands over her body as he kissed her mouth. Then he pulled back.
            Charming climbed to his knees between her thighs. He placed her feet flat on the bed before bending her knees so he could move her heels back against her ass.
            “There we go.” He breathed. “Spread wide open for me.” His fingers moved down, moved the plug slightly inside of her. Regina whimpered a little.
            Lying down, he settled between her thighs. His tongue traced her entrance. His fingers never left the plug. He moved it in and out of her gently, twisting it inside of her.
            Regina cried out as his mouth closed over her clit. Charming rocked the plug from side to side inside of her. He intentionally left her sex empty. He wanted her to feel something different.
            Her fingers laced in his hair. She held him to her as her orgasm rapidly approached. Charming didn’t stop. He licked and sucked all the while moving the plug until Regina screamed. He opened his eyes to watch her face as she arched off the mattress against him.
            “Do you know what you just proved to me?” He asked as he raised his head. Regina shook her head, panting. “That you can come during some type of anal play.” Her eyes opened, taking in the realization. Charming smirked.
            He rolled her onto her left side. Lying down behind her, he wrapped his arms around her.
            “Like this?” He asked, nuzzling her neck. “Does this sound ok?”
            “Yes.” Regina nodded.
            “You still want me to?” Another nod, so Charming retrieved the bottle of lubricant again. He slathered his cock with oil, making sure he put on more than necessary.
            Once he was ready, he withdrew the plug and laid it aside.
            “Nice and slow.” He whispered into her ear. “We’re going to go slow. If it hurts, tell me to stop. Ok?”
            “Yes.” Charming nudged her right leg. She bent the knee, pulling it up towards her stomach. “Good.” He kissed her shoulder.
            Opening her, he positioned himself at her back entrance. He pressed the tip against her before he pushed ever so slightly into her. He was thicker than the plug, so she would need some adjustment time.
            “That’s my girl.” He breathed, pushing a bit more into her. “It’s not going to hurt. I would never hurt you.”
            He was about halfway in. Stopping, he lifted his head to see her face. Her eyes were closed. Her mouth was open in a silent moan.
            “You’re doing perfectly.” He kissed along her throat. “I’m almost all in. You can take it. Take me all the way into you, love.”
            He pushed himself the rest of the way in. This time when he stopped it was for his own wellbeing. He wanted nothing more than to flip her onto her stomach and fuck her hard. But she’d had one bad experience with this. She needed to enjoy this…to see how good it could really feel.
            “I’m going to start moving,” he told her as his right hand groped her breasts. “Tell me if it hurts.”
            “Please.” Regina whispered.
            “Please what? Please fuck you or please stop?”
            “Please…I need you, Charming.”
            That was all he needed. He began to move in and out of her. She felt so good. He could have come instantly.
            “You feel so good.” He whispered thickly. “You’re so tight. You’re so incredibly hot.”
            He watched her fingers slid over her stomach, down to her pussy. He smirked as she traced her fingers over her sex. Reaching out, he caught her hand.
            “Mm, what are you doing, love?” He kept up his movements inside of her. “Is this making you feel so good you need someone to touch you?”
            “Yes!”
            “Good.” He let go of her hand only to replace it with his. His fingers spread the wetness he found through her folds. His tempo picked up. He pushed two fingers into her, liking the sound of the moan it warranted. His thumb quickly found her clit.
            “You’re going to come with my cock in your ass.” His breath was warm against her ear. “I’m all the way inside of you, love. I can tell you like this. You’re so close. You’re going to come aren’t you?”
            “God, Charming-.”
            “Are you? Tell me how close you are.”
            “I’m so close. I’m so fucking close.”
            He was as well. He sped up his thrusts into her. Regina’s entire body clamped down on him. That was all it took and he was groaning against her.
            “Yes.” He buried his face into her neck. “Yesyesyesyesyes.”
            When his body was spent, he removed his fingers and pulled away from her. Regina collapsed onto her back, gasping in air. He had never felt her come like that.
            He lay on his stomach for a few moments, dragging in deep breaths. Finally, he lifted his head. Regina was still sprawled on her back with one arm draped over her eyes.
            “Regina, are you ok?” He pushed himself up on his elbows.
            “I’m fine.” She sighed, moving her arm. “Was that supposed to be that good?” Charming chuckled, reaching for her.
            “Who cares how it was supposed to feel as long as you enjoyed it?” He stroked his hand over her hip gently. Regina stared up at the ceiling, shaking her head.
            “I just didn’t think I’d-.” She shook her head. “I just didn’t expect to like it.”
            “I understand.” Charming watched her. “But it’s also why I wanted you to try it again.”
***PLOT****
            Regina smiled. And it was genuine. Sweet. She looked away from him for a moment, sighed, and then spoke.
            “Leopold used it when he was angry. Not necessarily at me, but at anyone. I think he felt it was a stress relief….that if nothing else, he could dominate me.”
            “That’s not how it should be.” Charming settled onto his left side, facing her. “Not any kind of sex, and especially not this kind of sex. This kind of sex doesn’t have to be dominating. You can just do it because you enjoy it.” Regina nodded, staring up at the ceiling.
            “I’ve never liked it before. Initially, I didn’t plan to ever let you do it. But it felt….” She shrugged. “It felt surprisingly good.”
            “Obviously.” Charming leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I hate that Leopold hurt you.”
            “It wasn’t always bad,” Regina admitted. “I mean the first time hurt-obviously. But find me one woman whose first time didn’t hurt. There were the times during the month when my body was craving sex. Those times, I could have had sex with anyone. Those times it at least felt somewhat satisfying. The rest of the time….” She closed her eyes. He watched her fight away the memory. “I just waited for it to be over.”
            Charming frowned, reaching to pull her closer to him.
            “I’ll never let that happen between us.” He assured her as one hand raised to stroke her cheek. “Darling, I could come from anything you do. What matters to me is that you enjoy it.”
            Regina sighed, never taking her eyes off of him.
            “How did you get like this?” She asked as she brought her hands up to cup his face.
            “What do you mean?” Charming smiled at her touch. “How did I get like what?”
            “Like….this.”   Regina shrugged. And he noticed that for the first time, her smile was genuinely meeting her eyes. “How did a sweet shepherd boy find such a passion for this type of sex?”
            Ah, that was what she meant. Charming’s fingers moved up and stroked through her hair.
            “All right,” he leaned in to kiss her softly, “all right. I’ll tell you everything.”
            He’d never told the story out loud. And in truth, he didn’t know why his body responded to this type of sex the way it did. Maybe it was because it was his first encounter with sex, so that was what his brain knew. Maybe there was just something strange about him. Maybe some event really had scarred him. He didn’t know. But he did know that if he liked it-and if Regina liked it-then he didn’t care.
            “So you know that I was a shepherd…before I was recruited to be a prince.”
            “Mmmhmmm.” Regina’s fingers were stroking his arm.
            “Well,” Charming draped an arm over her waist, “that meant spending a great deal of time out doors. And when you’re outdoors so often, sometimes you encounter…different…groups of people.”
            “Such as?” Charming paused.
            “Gypsies.” Regina laughed.
            “Gypsies? Do you mean to tell me that Prince Charming learned his tactics from roaming gypsies?”
            “That’s what I’m telling you.” Charming nodded. “Gypsies are a creative bunch.”
            “You lost your virginity to gypsies?”
            “I did.” He remembered that well. At 18, that gypsy girl had nearly blown his mind. He’d never imagined anything so erotic. In addition to erotic, she’d been patient. He’d learned quickly. “And trust me, it was fabulous.”
            “So they just started….teaching you?”
            “And showing me. Well, I can’t lie, they did let me drink a bit on occasion. That probably helped. Don’t look so surprised. Gypsies are a friendly group of people. And they saw a naive young boy and they….”
            “Took advantage of him?” Regina suggested.
            “I-. Well-. I guess. I mean, I never would have explored it otherwise. But still, it was consensual. I let them do everything. Nothing was ever forced. And I’ve tried everything-which is how I learned.”
            Regina pushed herself up on one arm. There was a look of amazement on her face.
            “So you’ve had sex with women….and…?”
            “And men? Yes.” That he’d certainly never said out loud. Actually, he’d never mentioned that to anyone else ever. “And you’re the first person I’ve told that to.”
            Regina shook her head.
            “So that’s how you know all of this. That’s how you can-.”
            “Yes, because I’ve done it all. And because I’ve had it done. I’ve learned how things can feel good if you’re open to them. But I’ve seen the worst of it too. Some of these men see women as object and they just use the sex to torture them. Women do it too. And there are some who use it as a punishment. Rape a woman? Now you’re her toy. Cheat on your husband? Now you’re his property.”
            “Wait. So they punish cheating?”
            “Just because they have a unique sexual lifestyle doesn’t mean they’re totally amoral.” Charming liked watching her face as she learned more. He reached out to tug her to lie down beside him again. When she was tucked against him chest to chest, he continued. “They’re ok with consensual partner swapping, but not cheating. They do take marriage very seriously.”
            Regina stared at him in amazement.
            “I just….” She gave him a bewildered look. “This story is unbelievable. So did you get all of your toys from them?”
            “I did. When I was formulating my plan, I went to them. Trust me, you don’t want to know some of the suggestions I received.”
            “I’m guessing not.” Regina moved a little ways back from him. She rested her head on her curved right arm. “I imagine the idea of anyone using the Evil Queen in that manner might be too good to pass up.”
            Charming stroked hair out of her face. He intentionally let his fingers linger along her skin. She was so soft. He could have pulled her to him and held her for the next five days.
            “There were many that had relationships like ours. They’d switch the level of dominance. But I promise you,” he leaned in to nuzzle her forehead, “I will never do some of those things. Our time should be for fun that we both enjoy. Not for one of us taking skin off of the other with a whip that takes a week to heal.”
            Regina made a face. Charming didn’t blame her. He reached for her. One hand moved to cup the back of her head. His fingers laced into her hair as his thumb stroked her cheekbone.
            “Regina, forgetting everything else, this is what I want. I want us. If we’re going to rule this kingdom, I want it together. I want it to be you and I-forever.”
            Regina looked at him with a surprising amount of tenderness in her dark eyes. Gently, her fingers rose to stroke his wrist.
            “Then we need to talk about something.”
            He hated those words from hers. Absolutely hated them. They could mean anything. And to make it worse, this time he heard a tinge of tears in her tone. What had her so near crying already?
            “You can tell me anything.” He told her calmly. “I’m here for you, Regina. Talk to me.”
            Regina closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened them, she blinked back tears she barely concealed. Charming waited patiently. Finally, she let out a slow breath.
            “How far do you plan on taking this?”
            “How far do I plan on taking what?”
            “This relationship.” Her eyes were no longer wet, but they were serious. Charming stroked his hand over her face.
            “Darling, if you’re asking about marriage, I told you we’d handle that. I’m not afraid to lie to the entire kingdom.”
            “It’s not that.” Regina murmured. Her eyes gazed down at the pillow. “Married or not, if you’re going to be king, you’ll eventually need an heir.”
            He hadn’t thought of it in those terms. He’d thought eventually that he and Regina would have children. It fell into his fantasy right after she married him because she loved him and couldn’t live without him. But something about the thought of an heir obviously had her upset.
            “I thought….” His voice trailed off. What did he tell her? He decided quickly that honesty was the best policy. “I had hoped that eventually we’d get married, and have children then.”
            Regina’s eyes instantly fell closed. She breathed out a heavy sigh and shook her head.
            “Regina? What is it?” His hand pulled her closer to him. “Talk to me, darling. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
            “It won’t happen.” She whispered, opening her eyes to look at him. “It won’t.”
            “Why won’t it?” He asked gently.
            “Because I can’t get pregnant.” The words left her lips. Instantly Regina looked away. She seemed to be waiting for his anger. So Charming did the only thing he could. He leaned over, brushed his lips against the tip of her nose and responded:
            “Tell me what happened.”
            “Leopold wanted an heir.” Regina began. Charming settled his head onto his left arm. His right remained on her cheek. Her left hand had moved up to cover his. Charming was still in awe of the tenderness in this moment. Had he reached through to her? Or was she simply so upset now she needed comfort?
            “Why did he want an heir?” Charming’s knuckles stroked her cheek.   He was already nervous. Any story that started out like this had to have a terrible ending. “He had Snow. And he loved her. I thought he was dying for her to be queen.”
            Regina snorted. Her face formed a humorless smile.
            “Leopold loved Snow, that’s certain.   He wanted her to be queen-but not of his kingdom. He wanted to marry her off to some prince and join forces with another kingdom. What he really wanted was a son who could take over his kingdom when he died. That was where I came into play.”
            It made him sick. The thought of Leopold seeing an innocent young woman as nothing more than a breeding cow made his stomach seize. Charming had to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her and hold her tightly just to protect her from the past.
            “I was young.” Regina continued, not really looking at him. “So everyone thought it would be easy. We only needed one heir, and I had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, so what could go wrong? And even another girl wasn’t the end of the world. That would mean another prince to marry her to, and another kingdom to acquire. Either way, we won. I just had to do my end.”
            She stopped talking as tears threatened again. Charming waited. Had she ever told this story before? Prince Henry had to know. But he’d certainly never mentioned it.
            “I did get pregnant quickly.” He saw the shudder that washed over her at memory. Charming pictured King Leopold on top of her. He could almost hear the panting of breath. And he could see Regina-terrified-beneath him.
            “I lost that baby almost as soon as we found out I was pregnant.” She whispered, looking tearfully up at him.
            “So you tried again.” Charming said gently.
            “It’s not uncommon to lose the first one.” Regina nuzzled her head deeper into her pillow. “It happens. Everyone knows that. It took longer to conceive the second one.”
            He knew what had happened. It was obvious. There was no child scampering around her. He wondered if her actions would have been different with a child. He thought perhaps not.
            “I lost that one a bit later. Almost three months. But that time the bleeding was heavier. They called in real doctors to see me-not just midwives. The doctors began to believe there was something wrong with me-something I’d been born with that I just couldn’t carry children.”
            “Please don’t tell me there was a third time.”
            “There was a third time.”
            “Oh god.” Charming’s left hand clenched into a fist beneath the pillow. He wanted to go back in time just to kill Leopold himself. “What made him think-?”
            “He thought it was women’s job in this world-their one job.” Regina’s sad dark eyes met his. “He was sure that if we just kept trying, we’d conceive again and he’d get his heir. I mean, each time I carried a little long. So it stood to reason that eventually I’d carry one to term.”
He didn’t want to know what happened. He didn’t want to hear this.
            “I lost that one just over three months.”   Regina’s hand slipped down to tighten on the sheets. “That was the worst. I bled, and it hurt, and the doctors didn’t know what to do. Finally, they agreed they had to try some sort of surgery that could keep me from getting pregnant in the future. It would prevent any further danger to my body. They assumed I was actually important to the king.” That made her laugh again. “But at the end of the day, Leopold refused to allow the surgery. He said if we just kept trying, I’d conceive and finally carry to term.”
            “Please, please, tell me there wasn’t a fourth.”
            “There wasn’t.” Regina looked up at him. “Not for lack of trying on his part. In fact, he started trying harder. But my body was so damaged from the third loss that nothing would take. Hence the reason we haven’t had any issues.”
            Every now and then, it crossed his mind that they should be careful when having sex-that he should pull out of her or something. But it always felt so good he got lost in the moment and forgot about it.
            “So you can’t conceive.” Charming turned her face to his. “Not at all.” Regina shook her head.
            “If I could, we’d be pregnant by now. And if I was to get pregnant, it would kill me. The doctors warned Leopold of that. But it’s easier to save a baby than a pregnant mother. Leopold could get his heir and I’d be dead. He’d still need a new queen, but I was replaceable. That was the easy part. The heir was harder.”
            “God, he should have just had a baby with some mistress and named it heir and left you alone.” Charming was angry. Regina apparently saw it because she reached for his hand.
            “I tell you this because if you’re looking for an heir, you won’t get one. Not from me. If you want one, it’ll have to be from someone else.”
            “Never.” Charming told her. “If I can’t have children with you, I don’t want them at all. I only care about you. I’m just glad there wasn’t a fourth time.”
            That made Regina quiet again. When she spoke, it was very, very softly.
            “He didn’t live long enough for that.”
            And that brought up another topic Charming needed to hear her answer. Taking a deep breath, he tilted her chin up to his face.
            “I need you to answer a question for me, and I need you to answer it honestly.” Regina nodded. Tears still shimmered in her dark eyes. “Did you kill Leopold?”
            The rumors had been running in the villages for years. He knew everyone said it, but no one had proof.
            Beside him, Regina was staring up at the ceiling.
            “What will you do to me if I tell you yes?”
            “Absolutely nothing.” Charming stroked her jaw. “Tell me, Regina.”
            “Murder of a king is extremely serious. Worse than that of a peasant.”
            “Regina, the way I feel right now, I want to go back in time and kill Leopold myself. Just answer me: did you kill him?”
            “Yes.” The word was flat and emotionless. “I did it to save myself. To save my sanity. To find some semblance of future. Because I was miserable. And because he needed to die.” She looked back at Charming. Anger had formed in her once sad eyes.
            “This is the type of woman you love, Charming. One who murders to accomplish something. One who can’t do the simplest thing a woman’s body was meant to do. Get out while you can.”
            Charming moved his hands from her face. Swiftly, he rolled her onto her back. Landing on top of her, his hand slipped back up to hold her chin.
            “Regina, listen to me: I loved you when you were murdering simply because you were out of things to do in a day. I loved you when you were nothing but rage and hurt and anger day and night. I sleep beside you at night without any fear. I love you, Regina. And that’s that. I don’t care about your past. Just come to me. Give me your future and we can make everything better.”
            “But I can’t-.”
            “I don’t care.” He told her firmly. “I don’t care about an heir. I care about you. If we’re old, and we need an heir, I’ll pick a child I like and name him heir to the throne. We’ll find another way. I’m not Leopold. What I care about is you. I will do nothing to put you in danger.”
            That made her cry. Charming’s thumbs intercepted tears from the corner of her eyes, trying to catch them before they ran down into her hair and ears.
            “I mean it, Regina. I love you.” He kissed her lips gently. She shook her head against his. Tears were still filling her dark eyes.
            “Charming…I….I wish I could tell you that I loved you.”
            “You don’t have to.” He murmured as he laid his forehead against hers. “I’m not worried about the words so long as you’re meeting me in the middle. This is what I need from you: openness, trust…affection.”
            Regina’s hands caught his. She stroked them gently. Her eyes still seemed to be searching his. Charming finally broke the silence, sitting back on his knees.
            “Come on. I’ll call the maid to fill the tub. We can take a bath.” Regina shook her head as she pushed herself up on her hands.
            “You’ve spent all morning in bed with me. The maid will know what we’re planning to do.”
            “I don’t care.” Charming kissed her again. “I want to be in a tub of warm water with you.” A faint smile flickered over Regina’s face. Charming laughed and pulled her to him. His hands slipped up into her hair. “I like you better when you’re smiling.”
            “Stop it.” Regina pulled back, but she was still smiling. “Call the maid.”
            He did, and they ended up making love in the warm water. Charming let her control this time. The water sloshed around them with every movement she made. When they finally came, he held her tightly to his chest as the water covered them like a blanket.
            Afterwards, they deemed the day a waste. They ate lunch on the window seat watching the rain beat against the sills. They eventually moved back to the bed where they both fell sound asleep tangled against one another. When they woke up, it turned into spontaneous heated sex that was done by two people who were both half asleep and hormonal driven.
            They ate chicken, rice and peas for dinner with gingerbread for dessert in front of the fireplace. Charming taught Regina to play dominos. He found she was a quick learner-and extremely competitive (neither surprised him). He was ready to switch to a card game when Regina stretched.
            “It’s late.”
            “It is.” He glanced at the clock. “We should think about getting some sleep.”
            “If it’s all the same,” Regina licked her lips, “I’m not in the mood to sleep alone tonight.”
            Charming got up from his chair and went to the bed. Yanking the covers back, he patted the mattress.
            “My bed is your bed, my dear, for as long as you want it.”
            He fell asleep cradling her against his chest. Twice during the night, she woke up crying. Each time, he felt for her, unsure of when she’d pulled away. He quickly pulled her back all the while whispering soothing comforts into her ear. When she fell back asleep, he kept hold of her.
He had no idea what had caused the nightmares. He thought he might ask in the morning, but finally decided to let it alone.
- 14
- 15
- 16
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Capture and Release