[For Robin]

[fondofapples]

[ continued from here ]

"Hmm, I was, actually. Something about you being my landlord?"

His head tilted to the side and he pulled away from her, threading their fingers together. He chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her as he tugged her down the hallway and out of the living room. That time in the vault had been one of the best moments of his life. He would never forget it or regret it.

With slow, sure steps, he led her to the room she had pointed out earlier as her bedroom, the master suite, he thought with a smile.

"So, you said a refresher course. Is this, like, many classes over time? You need lots of practice to really get good at something," he said with a smirk. "I might need a little help too."

Regina had been thinking that she had too much to tell him for this to happen right away, but now even though she knew the things she meant to tell him, she couldn't have chased down the words if she wanted to. She didn't want to.

She'd dreamed of this.

And now she could look down and see her hand in his. It didn't swirl away in the manner of dreams or fade in the way of memory. All of her senses worked together to tell her, this was no dream. He was here. Her Robin was here.

When they passed through the door into her--their--room (their room!), Regina pressed it closed with a gentle shove of magical force. Her spells would dampen any sounds from her room while letting them hear if Roland woke, but a boy raised in a forest would know which adult sounds to avoid.

So Regina turned to Robin again, put both hands on his chest and smiled up at him. "With two students, the refresher course will have to be twice as long." She smirked back at him, but it looked more like a smile, too soft and open for a real smirk. "Of course, there's also regular maintenance to consider."

Comments

[liontattoo]

It was hard to put into words just what Robin was feeling. Oh, he was full of a myriad of emotions. Most of them all wrapped up in her. Slowly, he backed up against the bed, his hands covering hers on his chest. "Right, of course," he murmured.

One hand reached up to brush his knuckles against her cheek. "You don't know how good it is to see those eyes again." His voice was soft and low as he stared at her. "I memorized them, saw them a dozen times in my mind, but... No memory compares to the real things." He sighed, leaning in close, pressing his forehead to hers. "I love you, Regina. I love you so much..."

His lips easily found hers, better than any word he could have spoken. Actions would always be louder.

[fondofapples]

Actions might always speak louder, but Regina did have a fondness for words. Those words, spoken by this man, and she did smile to hear them. The kiss caught her about to respond, about to tell him that she had missed the way he touched her, with love so infinite every caress was its own eternity.

But his lips closed over hers and she didn't want to talk anymore. She responded instinctually, her lips parting around his to offer him her open mouth to take. It wasn't provocative so much as a statement of fact: this won't end until we're naked in each others' arms and talking in low whispers about everything we've missed.

[liontattoo]

Words. They could be cruel and kind. They had power, more than most people might recognize. Regina recognized it. So did Robin. They were blessed with the knowledge of the worlds that they came from. Spells. Curses. Words could be deadly if someone meant it.

They could also be loving. Robin didn't kiss her too hard or too messy. He wasn't in a need or desire to hurry this along. They had all night, at least in his mind that they did. Robin pulled her to him and kissed her like they had been apart much longer that they had. It felt that way to him. Now that they were back together, he wanted the kiss to be the last kiss. He wanted her to be his, regardless of what may come.

He needed her in his life.

As urgent as he felt and as much as he wanted her, he was not going to rush this. Not after so much time apart.

[fondofapples]

Robin's attention felt so unlike any other; every glance, every touch, every tiny crinkle of a smile at the corner of his eyes took a sip of her breath and left her a little short, always on the verge of needing a gasp to catch up. The touch of his fingertips or his lips dizzied her, heat rising from her abdomen to her face to the top of her head.

She'd forgotten that she had no idea what to do with the weight of his regard, or the beautiful agony of a thousand flutterings and tremblings she'd known with no one else. It was as though every second they spent contained everything they were and everything they ever would be, and this kiss, this sweet, slow, intimate kiss all but destroyed her.

Because she felt too... too much to stand, she turned them until bending her legs let her drop to the bed to sit. Robin wasn't in a hurry and neither was she. In her life, she had known this with a man who loved her by his own choice, exactly once and there had been no bed, no morning, no taking as long as they wanted. The moments had been stolen, and now, finally, this time was theirs.

When the kiss had to break or Robin bend almost to the point of falling to continue it, she extended a hand to him. "Lie with me. My legs don't want to hold me and you'll do a better job of it." Besides, they would remember to take off their shoes this way, if they lay on the bed together, kissing and talking like teenagers.

[liontattoo]

Regina. The woman of his heart, the queen of his soul. There was no other way to describe it or to mention it. Regina, the woman who could drive him crazy with a simple stare. Or the way he dreamed of those red lips of hers, thinking of them even when she wasn't beside him. She was a strong, intoxicating woman that he could never get out of mind and he didn't want to either. She was body and soul. She was everything to him.

"Yes, well, technically the bed is holding us both," he teased gently. One hand started at her ankle, slowly stroking up her leg to her thigh. There was a dark, hungry look in his eyes as he crawled up her body, settling beside her and just wanting to touch everywhere. The vault had been an intense time for both of them, but the situation had warranted it. This was different.

Leaning in close, Robin brushed his lips against her shoulder, then slowly kissed to her neck. Soft lips ran down to her collarbone, then up to her earlobe. Oh, the breast was right there and it would be just so easy, but he didn't want easy. Not yet. One of his feet lifted and rubbed against her shin and yes, he did feel like a teenager again. "Did you change your hair," he whispered, his lips easily kissing up to her earlobe. "I like it," he purred.

[fondofapples]

"Technically, love, the bed is holding us up and you are holding onto me," she returned, voice already velveted from those clever fingers caressing her ankle and calf. Now his foot against her shin and calf retraced the path, stirring up memories of innocent necking.

She sighed, soft, quiet sounds of them drowning together in love, and shared those feelings with the stroke of her hand over his forearm and bicep, remembering the first time she'd felt the strength of them and appreciating it anew. "Only you would notice my hair in a moment like this," she teased him, and it was no complaint. "It's longer. I kept thinking if I grew it long enough, you'd have to come back to bury your hands in it."

Cheeks growing softly pink with the admission, she buried her face in his shoulder, then turned her head to press slow, warm kisses to his neck. "I've missed you and your strength, my Robin." One hand lifted, a single finger stretched out to stroke down the slope of his nose. "I've missed you terribly. But I love you even more."

[liontattoo]

"Oh, I will... Hold you. Kiss you..." Robin's hands moved up to cup her face, cradling it in his soft palms as his lips moved in to claim hers. As he kissed her, his hands slowly slipped back into her hair, massaging her scalp as he felt her soft locks brush against his knuckles. His eyes closed and he inhaled deeply, smelling her sweet and yet spicy scent.

He honestly didn't care how long her hair was, as long as there was something there to grab onto. "I notice everything about you," he moaned softly against her lips. "Your strength. Your desire. Your grace. Your beauty. Your curves." He chuckled, letting one of his hands trail down her spine to the small of her back. "Everything."

"Second chances, my lady." Robin smiled and leaned in, kissing her fingertip and sucking it lightly into his mouth. He was brief, before letting it slip out again. "You name it and I will be it for you."

[fondofapples]

"Mine," came her immediate, unstudied response, and she blushed for it afterward, embarrassed by the possessiveness of it but in no way inclined to take it back. Her dark gaze collected his and held it, the hunger in it no mere sensual thing but that of a soul yearning for its other half. "Be mine, Robin, my heart."

She tipped her mouth to his again, to claim him for herself, in a slow, tender, thorough kiss, her hand light on his jaw and thumb against his cheekbone. And after, when she drew back, it was only to kiss his forehead, his cheeks, his eyelids, and his mouth again.

"I'm sorry I ever sent you away." One foot hooked over his calf, another small move of both possession and inviting him back in. They were relearning each other; she was remembering how to give in to a love that made her shiver and tremble and yearn, and she loved him even more for understanding that she needed it like this. "I was trying to be good. Trying not to be selfish. Tell me I can be selfish about you."

[liontattoo]

"Yours." Robin had no problem being Regina's for as long as she wanted him. It amused him, the way she seemed to want to make sure he wasn't going anywhere. He had no plans to. The hunger in her eyes made his heart flutter. He was glad he was on the bed, because it made him feel weak in the knees. "And you, be mine, Regina. My heart. My lady. Queen of my soul."

Each kiss seemed slower, sweeter than the last one. There was a tender, soft grace in the way that they wanted to just be there, learning about each other again. This time with a depth that was something that was long overdue.

"You and I both were doing what we thought was right," he said softly. His lips kissed down her neck, nuzzling her as he made his way to her collarbone, then her shoulder. "We were trying to give Roland and Marian their happy ending. We had to sacrifice ours in the process."

Robin pulled back, staring into her eyes with a very firm and intense gaze. "That won't happen again. No more sacrificing our happiness for something else."

[fondofapples]

Tears sprang to her eyes at the unexpected promise in his words. No more sacrifice--no more innocent unicorns, no more father-valets, no more Grahams and Daniels--even if those weren't the ones he'd meant, they'd been on the same altar. Her lids lowered and she nodded, a profound and profoundly quiet agreement.

"No more sacrifices," she murmured while her fingertips traced the corded tendon of his neck beneath the collar of his shirt. They skipped to the hollow of his throat beneath his Adam's apple and stroked sweetly there,

At length, she pressed in against him, her lips replacing her fingers in that spot and tongue lapping delicately at it. She both wanted the taste of him, the salt and gentle musk and always present hint of green, and just for a moment, the feel of his arms strong and close around her. "I am yours. Without reservation."

[liontattoo]

"And I am yours." Robin smiled, kissing her in the slowest, most gentle way that he could. His hands were soft, tender as he took his time with her. They were each others and always would be. This is what he'd been missing, that spot in his life. This was why true loves kiss didn't work with Marian. His heart belonged to Regina.

He lost himself in her. Her scent, her touch, everything about her was intoxicating to him. He could easily get drunk on her and never want to move from the bed again.

One hand moved up to cup her cheek, using his thumb to brush away the tears from her eyes. "Regina..." He leaned up, kissing her eyes and her cheeks. No more tears. No more pain. He was here. She was here. Together, they could do anything. They had already proved that, in many ways. "Shhhh," he murmured, stroking her hair as he kissed down to her neck. "I love you."

[fondofapples]

For a minute, she clung to him, held on like someone was trying to take him away from her. But Robin's hands were kind when he touched her, his kisses soothed her hurts and inflamed her desires, and if she could, she'd spend the next month in his arms making up for the time that they'd missed.

Bit by bit, he unwound her, relaxed her until she hooked her arms up over his to rub her hands against his biceps like she could absorb his strength directly. "I thought it hurt when I lost Daniel, but this... " She shook her head, then stopped and just smiled at him. "But you're here now."

And then somehow his shirts were an offense against the love she bore him and one hand found its way beneath to rest against the flat plane of his abdomen. "I love you, Robin," and she planned to keep saying it until her voice got raw or they didn't need to say it anymore.

[liontattoo]

"We've both had a lot of loss in our lives. We've..." He sighed, staring at her, gently holding her like she was something breakable. In a way, he was worried he'd break her heart again. If he did that, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. "You see me for me, not my past, as I see you. Second chances..."

They could do anything as long as they were there for each other.

A shiver ran through him and he pulled away from her. His arms were quick, pulling the shirt up over his head and tossing it to the ground like it was nothing. He loved the feel of her hands on his skin, the way her nails raked over his flesh. He loved everything about her touch.

"I'm here. You're here..." He smiled and ran one hand slowly up her arm, his finger tracing lightly to her shoulder. "We should do something about that."

2nd thread - post smut (for now)

[liontattoo]

Robin blinked, slowly rubbing at his eyes as he began to wake up. He had a dopey, blissful smile on his face as he rolled over and gazed at the beautiful woman beside him in bed. Her bed, he reminded himself. As much as he feared it might be a dream, it wasn't. She was here beside him, real and warm.

Rolling over onto his side, he draped an arm over her stomach and just watched her sleeping. They had fallen asleep, cuddled next to each other after their reunion. Roland had not woken them up yet. It was peaceful. Quiet.

Something he wanted to cherish.

Re: 2nd thread - post smut (for now)

[fondofapples]

Regina woke as soon as he stirred, but she remained still with her eyes closed, a trick she'd learned when Henry was younger. If she didn't move, she could drop back into sleep, but today she didn't move because the muscular chest pressed to her back was Robin's, her sweetheart, her true love, and if she didn't move, he couldn't fade back into whatever dream she'd summoned him from.

But his palm splayed, big and callused and warm over her abdomen and she knew that he was real.

She smiled to herself, then scooted back until her ass was pressed to his groin and there was no space between their two bodies. He threw off more heat than a furnace and it felt...if only it weren't such a ridiculously sentimental word, it felt divine.

"Good morning, my love," she murmured, happier than she could remember being.

Re: 2nd thread - post smut (for now)

[liontattoo]

"Morning, beautiful." Robin easily pulled her close, arms wrapped around her and enjoying the lack of space. The way that they were together, his feet tangled up in hers and his hand firm against her body left nothing to imagination. He was not letting her get out of bed so soon.

Leaning in close, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "I trust you slept well," he murmured against her skin. He didn't even know what time it was, the window telling them it was still somewhat dark outside.

He'd never felt such bliss as he did in that moment. He never knew it was something he needed until she was in his arms. Now? Now he didn't want to live without her.

Re: 2nd thread - post smut (for now)

[fondofapples]

"I did." A little smile played across her mouth and she added, "That was the best sleep I've had in a very long time." Proof if he ever needed it that she'd replayed every moment of their time together as often as he had, to the point that it was engraved on her soul.

She rubbed her cheek against the shadow of his beard, not minding the rough scrape of it at all. In a week, there would be things that each of them did that the other wished they wouldn't. Not even True Love was perfect or perfectly blind. But for now, everything about him was perfect bliss.

After a moment, she rolled over in the tight space of his embrace and wrapped her arm over his hips. The smile she turned up at him was sweet, deliriously so. "You're still here."

[liontattoo]

"Love, did you really think I was going to disappear like some dream?" He really had no room to talk, as he had felt the same way when he woke up. One hand gently stroked her cheek, his fingers soft and tender against her skin as he gazed down at her beautiful smile. Soft, red lips that he could stare at forever and spend eternity devouring if he had the ability and time to do so. "Feel free to pinch me," he teased. "I'm still here."

It really was the best sleep he could remember as well. It had been ages since he had slept that peacefully. He had a sneaking sensation as to why, but he didn't dare voice it. "I think the last time I slept that good, I was in a vault," he teased.

Soft eyelashes fluttered against his skin as his eyes closed. His head tilted as he leaned down, kissing her temple. "I don't want to sleep. I fear I'll miss something," he whispered. It was easier to do when he wasn't looking into her eyes. He didn't want her to see how silly he felt just uttering the words.

[fondofapples]

Regina let him talk. He could say anything and what she would hear was you're beautiful and I love you. It didn't matter what she answered, because it meant much the same. Words were limited vessels when it came to this feeling, the soft, warm, fluttery feeling she hadn't known since she was little more than a child.

She caressed his jaw with her fingertips and kissed both of his eyelids when he closed his eyes. "Do you imagine I don't feel the same?" She sought his mouth for a kiss, slow and deeply sweet. "I've already missed every moment with you I'll ever allow."

[liontattoo]

"As have I, Regina." Robin returned the kiss, enjoying in it and lingering until he needed to pull away to breathe. As much as he meant every word and he didn't want to sleep, he knew that they would have to eventually.

For now, though, he wanted to revel in the quiet that they had before it disappeared on them. Soon, Roland would be awake and there would be no time for privacy. "Regina..." One of his hands trailed up and down her arm, fingertips gentle against her skin. "Well, we'll never miss another moment again. We should take each day and live it like it is our last. Fill it with adventure and passion, learn and share with each other and take it as it comes, together."

[fondofapples]

In response, Regina shifted them so that she could tuck herself into his arm and rest her head on his shoulder. "Passion, always," she murmured as she traced the planes of his chest and his abdomen, idly drawing protective sigils on his skin without being entirely aware she was doing it. "But the only adventure I want right now is the one that's loving and getting to know you."

And him petting her, because she loved the feel of his hands on her skin and in her hair, and the reassurance of his affections. "Tell me something that you like. Something small, a place you like to be kissed, or a way that I touch you that you like, so I can do it more."

[liontattoo]

Robin smiled and cradled her to him, gently rubbing her back as he glanced down at her. He tried not to shiver at her touch, but it was hard when she was touching him so lightly. "That is an adventure I would happily take with you," he murmured into her ear.

He pulled back, reaching up to brush a lock of hair from her eyes. He almost said I like you just to annoy her. He knew that was not the answer she was looking for. "When your lips brush against my ear," he said softly. "The way your silken voice whispers my name. Or the feeling of your teeth against my earlobe." He shivered just thinking about it. "That is a spot I am quite sensitive at. And you? Answer your own question for me?"

[fondofapples]

"Really?" Regina's eyes lit up with pure delight. Yes she'd asked, but it was such a small thing. She liked knowing that she could give him so much pleasure with such a small touch. She raised her head so that she could brush her mouth against his ear, and playfully touched the tip of her tongue to the lobe. "Like this, Robin?" she whispered to him in that voice.

And because he'd ask and she was there, she whispered her answer to him as well. "When you're behind me, and I can lean into you, the feel of you warm and strong and solid. Knowing I'm yours at the same moment I know, without doubt, that you're mine."

[liontattoo]

Robin let his eyes close, feeling her soft lips against his ear. His whole body quivered, not bothering to try to hide it from her. His grip around her tightened, just a little, and his head slowly nodded in agreement. "Yes," he moaned in reply. "That... Just like that."

He pulled back, smirking slightly at her. "I do love having you in front of me. It's like... Like there's an abyss and I'm clutching you, protecting you from falling into it. You are safe because I have you," he murmured.

Robin's smirk widened a little. "Favorite thing to say during sex. I mean, do you just cry out my name," he teased. "Would you prefer I start reading sonnets to you... Do you want me to be dirty..." Robin winked. "Enlighten me."

[fondofapples]

"Hm." She bent her head to his chest to place a kiss over his heart, before returning to rest against his shoulder. Tucked against him like this was rapidly becoming her favorite place in the world to be, maybe even more so than beneath him.

"Cliche, but my favorite thing to hear during sex is I love you, when you're saying it. Favorite thing to say--" A little smirk and eyes bright with mischief. "That has to be Fuck me, Robin." It had only happened twice, but both times he'd groaned with an amazing touch of surprise like he couldn't believe she was asking for what he desperately wanted to do. "You?"