"It's freezing out here, Emma."

Regina's skin pebbles over the instant she sets foot outside.

"Call me crazy but I needed some fresh air."

It hadn't been a conscious decision but somehow on automatic pilot, Emma had walked towards the staff exit Tina had showed her upon her arrival.

Her arms too are covered in goosebumps but she's too worked up to really feel the cold. Internally, Emma is very warm. She leans her back against the icy wall of the back of the building and turns her head to the side, slowly letting her eyes slide upwards over the approaching woman. Taking her in.

She's wearing a dress, revealing smooth, shiny calfs and dark high heeled shoes. The dress is green, velvet, high-cut, sleeveless.

The woman in it, stunning. Her make up is impeccable, hair short cropped and naturally wavy. And her eyes… render Emma breathless.

"I'm sorry." Regina says, slightly fidgeting with her hands.

"No, don't be." Emma shakes her head and allows a small smile to play at her lips.

It's instantly returned by the other woman who then sighs and hesitates before saying "I tried."

"I know." Emma nods and then frowns. "I can't believe how dumb I am."

"Stop that."

"No, really. I should have figured it out, right?" Roughly she rubs a hand over her face and rests it behind the back of her neck, regarding Regina closely as the woman tentatively walks towards her.

"No. You could have. But it's also very understandable that you didn't, darling."

"Really?" Emma can't help but doubt that. Knowing what she does now, she feels spectacularly dense and embarrassed about it. The sweet way in which Regina addresses her though, does just the trick so she doesn't completely want to dissolve into thin air.

"Out of all people to match with, the founder of MATCH is something you'd probably least expect."

Regina smiles at her. Soft and sweet and an iddi bitty playful.

"Fuck." The blonde groans. "We are so different, you and I."

Regina can't help but find the light blush coloring her cheeks extremely endearing.

"That's not how I meant that." The older woman smiles, rolls her eyes and adds. "And you like that we're different, remember?"

"I know. I do. But" Emma's not sure what she wants to say. She holds her breath and squints her eyes and can't believe that the woman she's been growing so found of is finally standing right in front of her. Close enough to smell her perfume. Close enough to touch and not really close enough until that's happening.

Emma looks down at how her own hand reaches out, searches and finds Regina's.

Careful fingers find a warm hand and trace a slow pattern in its palm.

"But what?" The woman's rich though shaky voice pulls her attention back towards the conversation. Her head snaps back up and she stares at Regina as she courageously asks

"Are you sure you still like me?"

To which the other woman can't help but chuckle lowly. She confidently intertwines their fingers then.

"Emma Swan, I more than like you."

"That's crazy." Emma's laughter fills the air. The breath she's been holding in comes out in giddy relief.

"It's crazy you'd second guess that."

"I more than like you too, but you know that right?" Emma shrugs and smiles at the other woman with a cheeky glint in her eyes. It's not like she's been subtle about it anyway.

"I had a hunch." Regina grins widely and then there's something slightly predatory in her look that has Emma swallow thickly. Excitedly. "But I certainly don't mind hearing it slip from between those lips of yours."

"You are evil." The girl chokes out. Red as a rose.

"And you are cute." Regina chuckles, teasingly leaning forward so their noses almost touch. Almost.

But it's enough to light a fire.

So really all Emma can do anymore is act upon impulse and kiss that smirk off of Regina's face. In one movement she leans forward and pushes her lips against Regina's, capturing the moan that erupts from them upon that very first contact. The older woman's hands settle on her waist steadying both herself and the blonde. She pushes back. Softly but decisive, Regina's lips part Emma's before she claims the upper hand and turns the girl into putty by entering her mouth with her tongue right at the exact moment that she brings her left hand up to the base of her neck and pulls her in completely.

Emma groans into the other woman's mouth, happy that, at least her match can't be focussing on how extremely flushed she can feel herself grow.

Not that she believes Regina's one to be fooled when it comes to how she feels about her. The woman reads her like a book. But Emma can't bring herself to mind that… feeling like the absolute number one on the all-time bestsellers list when Regina's got her attention on her. Yes, there are worse feelings to have.

Emma pulls the camera still dangling from the strap around her neck from between them, to their side. Allowing for the space between them to grow smaller. Non existent.

The pressure from where Regina is still holding her by her waist with one hand has an encouraging effect on her. And Emma's own hands start to itch for action. She reaches for the sides of the woman's dress. High quality fibre slides through her fingertips before she settles her palms on Regina's lower back, making the woman smirk against her lips and giving the girl what she's silently asking for. Even closer proximity. When Regina realises the shallowing of Emma's breaths and the way she slightly trembles, she has to use all of her self restrain to pull back.

"We should" she starts to say but is interrupted by the sudden landing of a snowflake on the younger woman's cheek.

Upon contact, Emma flinches. The contrast with her hot cheeks couldn't be any bigger.

"Really? It's snowing? Now? While I'm finally kissing you in a fucking ally? What is this? The end of the first act of RENT?" Emma sighs, looking up at the winter sky and Regina is completely unarmed by the way that the girl sucks in her own lip where she'd been tasting her just moments before.

"Well, I should tell you" Regina chuckles "that we should head back inside, before your absence is noticed."

"Yes, it's me they'll miss inside." Emma jokes while regretfully letting go of her match.

Regina catches her hand before they completely disconnect.

"Will you come with me tonight?" Regina asks, emphasising the question with those dark eyes of hers. "I'm staying at a hotel nearby."

Emma hesitates. "I want to. There's nothing I'd rather…" She frowns and says "At least at some point before tomorrow morning I need to upload these babies to my computer and make a first quick selection plus edit for the costumer. Well, you, I guess."

Of course, Regina understands. "Then I'll go home with you." She decides before reconsidering "If I may…"

Emma's slightly startled by the idea of Regina at her place. She's left it a mess and even if it were a bit more organised it's nothing she's particularly proud of. But this is still Gina, whom she can be honest with and real. Herself.

"Of course you're welcome." She offers the other woman a soft and reassuring smile.

Back inside, after quickly clearing themselves of snow and smudges of lipstick, Emma walks a couple of feet ahead, back towards the party, when Tina spots her.

"Emma! There you are. Are you okay?" The woman looks her over in concern. Emma hasn't got a clue how long she's been gone for but going by her boss's reaction it seems like it might have been too long a time.

"Yeah I'm fine." She quickly nods, desperately hoping the blush on her cheeks -partly by the freezing outside but mostly the making out with Regina - has subsided. At least a bit. It hasn't.

Think of an excuse. "I was just" But if there's one thing Emma is incapable of, it is lying.

"Miss Swan was, on my request, showing me some of the photos she's taken so far of this lovely evening." Regina seamlessly inserts herself into the conversation, now standing shoulder to shoulder with the photographer. A hair-wid apart, connected by electricity. The fire has been lit and Emma is buzzing.

"Miss Mills. I'm over the moon to hear you're finding it lovely so far." Tina smiles.

Over the moon

Emma has to actually keep herself from snorting.

"Yes, it's quite magical." Regina widens her smile and Emma reads so much more into her tone than Tina is catching up on. Than she's Hopefully catching up on.

"Miss Swan has been capturing it so authentically. She's truly extraordinary."

"We're so glad to have her on our team. And that you're so pleased with her work so far."

Regina's smile turns into an even deeper grin then. One Emma's only spotting from the corner of her eye but somehow feels like it's visually undressing her.

"I am, very pleased. Honestly, I can't wait to see more of her and what she can do."

Regina stretches every word as if she's never meant anything more.

She hadn't seen a single picture of Emma's, of course. Leaving Emma to read right into what she is really implying. She feels her skin buzz with longing and want it is downright pathetic. Her fingers tighten around her camera once again.

For the rest of the evening, the two women go back to fitting into their respective roles.

Emma the photographer. Regina the social (business-)butterfly. It's what they're both good at and enjoy doing but somehow for neither of them the hours pass fast enough.

After a brief heads up from Tina, Emma texts what she now knows is Gina's - Regina's- number.

It's just past 2am when she does so.

"Just want to let you now that my job is done here."

"I guess what I'm trying to ask is if you still want to go home with me."

"In which case, I can wait of course. But no pressure. Absolutely none."

Three separate texts that are sent during the time span of less than two minutes.

About a minute later, Regina grins while reading them.

"Text me your address? Am I still welcome in an hour? I promise it won't be later."

She replies

"You're always welcome. Besides, it'll give me a head start on my work."

Emma answers and then sends another text with her address.

"Thank you, darling. X"

She receives, reads, blushes at then Emma goes to get her winter coat to start her journey home through the snow. Sure it's ridiculously cold to be travelling by bike but the adrenaline that's currently running through Emma's veins is sure to keep her warm, if not hot, during the ride.

"May I ring your bell?"

Emma nearly chokes on her own saliva when she reads Regina's text.

It's been less than an hour since she's left the party. About half an hour since she got home and 29 minutes since she started her editing.

"Your door bell, Miss Swan."
Comes another message and Emma's not sure what's more embarrassing. The fact that her mind had instantly gone to the gutter

or that Regina had correctly assumed exactly that.

"I knew that."

She replies. And also that there's no need to ring said bell, that Emma will let her in right away.

The next thing Emma knows, Regina is standing in her apartment.

"It's nice here." The woman's eyes scan the place before they settle on her match.

During Regina's ascent to her floor, Emma'd run around like a crazy person to make the place look as presentable as she could manage. A three minute sweep of dirty laundry and empty coffee cups had resulted in the apartment looking fairly decent. Nice would be stretching it though. Although the yellow glow of the Christmas lights draped across the wall and around the window frames do make the place look kind of warm and inviting.

"Thanks." Emma smiles.

"I have about twenty more minutes of work to do until you have my undivided attention."

She says and then realises what a terrible host she's being and hurriedly adds

"I mean… Welcome! Make yourself at home. Get comfortable. Are you thirsty? Hungry? Can I get you anything?"

The brunette's smile widens as she shakes her head from side to side.

"No thank you, I'm good. Finish your work. If I need anything, I'm sure I'll find my way around here."

"Right." Emma nods "Alright." and gets back to work.

She's sitting on the floor, laptop on the low coffee table in front of her couch.

It takes extreme self restrain to keep her eyes on her screen,

on the work she's supposed to get done asap so she can then guilt free turn her focus on the other woman in the room.

From the corner of her eye she registers how Regina's taking off her coat and shoes before she walks completely out of her line of vision.

Emma's momentarily worried about the current state of the rest of her apartment but decides to trust Regina's not one to judge. The place might be a bit messy but it is clean.

Her work is almost done when she feels the couch dip behind her and she's pulled from her deep concentration on her work. She moves around a little, to look at Regina who's holding up a cup in her direction. "I took the liberty of brewing us some hot cocoa." The woman says. "I hope that's alright. And that you like it."

A little stunned but entirely grateful, Emma carefully takes the steaming cup from her, blows on it and then inhales its wonderful sweetness.

"Merry Christmas to me." Emma chuckles. "Thank you. If it tastes half has good as it smells it's already the best I've ever had." Turns out it did too. And it was.

Regina can't help it and smirks, raising an eye brow at Emma's choice of words.

Of course she knows the reaction that'll earn her from the girl but it's too good to pass up on and besides… it's not like there's anything wrong with some building tension between them. Quite the opposite actually. It's incredibly right. That's what it feels like.

"Yup, that's me. I say embarrassing things like that. All the time, it seems… when it comes to you."

Emma blushes as expected, ducks her head a little but then re-connects her eyes with Regina's and playfully grins while pulling up her shoulders as if to say 'it'll have to do.'

Regina stares at her a little longer. Taking in her blush and her eyes and that smile.

"Can I watch you work?" She asks.

Emma turns back into business mode and nods. "Sure." She agrees and turns towards her screen.

Business mode is a good look on Emma, Regina decides. Her eyes wander from the side of the girl's face to the screen. She ping pongs between the two, unwilling to miss what's happening on either. The professionalism and focus on Emma's face versus her amazing photography, it's a big loss to miss either one of those.

"You are incredibly talented." Regina's voice sounds slightly hoarse, but soft still.

"Thanks. That's… Thanks." Emma blushes once again, waving a hand through her hair. She takes another sip of her drink. "As are you. This hot chocolate is cuddling my soul right now." She grins up at the woman in the couch.

Regina all but melts at the sweet statement and the way Emma says it. She actually blushes too.

"I'm almost ready. Just uploading some files to my boss so she has everything to satisfy the client's needs." Business Emma says.

"Hmm." Regina tightly hums.

"What?" Emma asks, her eyes still following her actions on her laptop.

"Just that I think the client would prefer you satisfy her needs yourself."

Perfectly timed, Emma hits send and turns around.

They stare. Intensely so.

"Am I being too aggressive?" Regina asks after a couple of seconds. The hint of a frown pulling at her eye brows.

Emma notices the way the other woman's hands start to fidget slightly.

She reaches up her own to make it stop. "No." Her face turns left, right and left again.

"Because Emma, I don't assume or expect anything. That's not why I'm here."

"I know."

"I just. You… make me unfiltered." Regina says.

"Good. I don't mind it."

"Are you sure? Because you seem" Regina starts to say but Emma's quick to intercept and complete that sentence for her "stunned that's actually how you feel about me."

"But it's okay?" The brunette asks her, uncertainty still playing in her eyes and at the edges of her tone.

Then Emma sighs and chuckles softly. She's -what else?- red cheeked when she says what she does next.

"A little over 24 hours ago you asked me to masturbate and edge for god knows how long and then not to come - I know I had options but that's the one I went for - plus I know you know that's not the first time I, you know, touched myself with you on my mind. Am I awkward? Yeah, I guess. Stunned? Definitely… But also, really really turned on.

We both know there's more to this" She gestures at an invisible but very present bond between them, somehow connecting them. Here in each others proximity but just as well when they were states apart. "than well, lust… A lot more. But lust is also, at least for me, definitely part of it as well. And I don't want to think of that as something bad or shameful. I hope you don't think of it as such. I know I'm a rambling mess at times and you get me extremely easily flustered but it also feels really exciting and good and if I come across as uncertain then please take my word for it that that's not actually the case. I'm very certain of what I want."

"What do you want, Emma Swan?"

"You Regina, I want you."

"You prefer me taking charge, right?"

"Yeah. If… that's something you're comfortable with as well."

"I am. I just wanted to make sure you were."

"Thank you."

Regina's smile is back. Easy and stunning.

"I believe I'm the one that's supposed to thank you. You really made all the difference by being so open minded and accommodating to my wishes, the night before."

"When you were at the boring party?"

"Less of a party and more of an endless string of dusty speeches. And then… there was you…

Tell me darling, where exactly were you when you were fucking yourself for me? Was it here? On this couch… Or in your bed?"

"Bed. I went to bed to" Emma's breath hitches

So Regina picks up her sentence "touch yourself."

"Yeah."

"Show me."

"You want me to show you the bed?"

"For starters." Regina rolls her eyes and chuckles.

"And then how you touch yourself."

To absolutely no one's surprise, they end up in Emma's bed together.

Regina's initial plan to watch Emma masturbate had been, amazing as it was, impossible to follow up on because the moment the bed came into view she'd felt too tempted not to feel Emma for herself. The girl's clothes were off in record time, leaving Emma to wonder if the brunette had some kind of magic. Emma also thought of what her match might be able to accomplish in record time. Whatever skills Regina possessed would have to wait to be proven though because the woman had other plans first.

They hungrily kissed for a while. Both woman's hands gripping at the other's face. Emma's body remained untouched but buzzed and trembled stronger as the seconds passed.

Until soft fingers softly stroked over the front of her body. Collarbone, breasts, nipples, stomach, thighs and back up.

Regina stares hard at pink lips.

"I need you." She says as a hand finds its way between the girl's thighs.

"Darling, you're so wet for me."

"Fuck, I know." Emma groans frustrated. Regina's touch is amazing but about a thousand times too soft and too slow.

"I think I want to keep you frustrated a little longer." The woman then grins devilishly and Emma feels shivers run all through her body, coming together between her legs.

"I think I know something that will make you even more wet. More horny for me."

"I'm sure you do." Emma sighs out as her head falls down to rest on Regina's shoulder. She watches as the woman's fingers slowly tease her. Her pussy and thighs are entirely covered in want and for a moment the blonde thinks that at this point Regina's voice might be all she needs to reach an orgasm.

"Do you want that too?" It's a genuine question. Emma looks up into Regina's eyes.

"I do. This feels amazing. I'm so high on you, Regina."

"That's such an honour, darling. It makes me incredibly wet as well."

"Oh fuck. Fuck Regina…Really? Fuck I've been needing you so badly."

"Please eat me out."

Emma does not need to be told twice.

Regina's panties are a thing of the past in no time. And Emma's laying between her legs peppering kisses across the woman's glistening skin. She nips carefully, licks teasingly and then nuzzles her nose against a sensitive clit.

The legs she's holding on to are being spread wider. Pulled up and bend at the knees.

"Emma, please. More, baby. More."

Regina says while getting rid of her bunched up dress. Swiftly, she pulls the expensive garment up and over her head and throws it to the side. As if it's worth absolutely nothing compared to this. She's left in nothing but skin, drowning in their combined growing bubble of excitement.

Never ever has Emma felt more turned on than she does right now. She's moaning her own pleasure into Regina's pussy. Her body is actively buzzing with want and all she can do, all she can focus on is the softness, wetness and heat that is Regina's swollen sex. With a flat tongue she laps at the woman's leaking hole.

"Inside baby. Go inside of me."

The moment she does, Regina's hips buck up against her face and start the move rhythmically at a growing pace. One hand is pulling at the comforter beneath her, the other frantically encouraging Emma to go on by continuously scratching through blonde wavy hair. The younger woman can feel how close she is and doubles her efforts. Every time her nose isn't bumping into Regina's clit, eager fingers take its place. Rubbing skilfully, effectively. And with every thrust inward, the girl pushes her tongue in and up against a particularly sensitive spot inside of her lover. Her face couldn't possibly be more pushed up against Regina's pussy and that thought alone is nearly throwing Emma over the edge herself.

"Fuck! Baby. I'm so close. Don't stop. I need you. I'm gonna… Taste me. Oh please. All of it. Fuck, Emma."

As she comes close and then finally reaches her orgasm, Regina says a lot of things that Emma inwardly vows to remember forever. I need you she knows she could never forget.

When she's come down from her high but is still panting heavily, Regina hums out appreciatively and then chuckles "That was even better than I imagined it would be."

"Really?" Emma grins proudly from between Regina's legs. Her face is completely covered with the woman's release.

Regina bites her bottom lip as she watches Emma licking her own, before the girl places another kiss right above her clit. It causes for Regina to whimper.

"Really, dear." She says. "And as you know I've been imagining this quite excessively."

"Me too." Emma says. Her lips are still on the other woman, causing for her voice to vibrate against sensitive skin. It's tempting, to Regina, to offer Emma another taste and then another… and so on… She would probably have to pass out before she'd have enough of Emma's mouth, but she decides against it. She locks the idea of having the girl's mouth between her legs for an entire night away for some other time.

"Come here." She takes a hold of Emma's face, gesturing for her to climb her way upwards so they can be face to face.

Once Emma's there, she tastes herself on blushy cheeks and pink lips.

"You fucked me so good, darling." She softly praises her making Emma sigh with longing.

She's holding herself up, her hands planted in the mattress left and right of Regina's head. Her knees as well, on either side of the woman's middle.

Regina reaches a hand between them, down to where the blonde is positively leaking. She's soft and smooth and so extremely warm it's as if she's melting.

"Emma, sweetheart you're soaking wet. So wet for me." She says and lets her fingers slide along the entire length of her slit. But Emma pulls back and shakes her head.

"Fuck that's too much. I'm sorry. I think I'm too sensitive." She groans out her frustration. As she's pinching her eyes closed and trying to catch her breath Regina can't think of a more beautiful sight.

"Sssht it's okay darling. Her hands find Emma's ass and slowly caress her there. "Straddle my leg." She instructs and Emma complies.

She lowers herself onto Regina's thigh and starts a careful pace, riding it. Her.

"Ah fu—ck, I've never… been so… out of it. In to it. Fuck. You know what I mean."

"It's okay sweetheart. I've got you. Ride me." The brunette encourages her, pushing up against the blonde's wetness in unison with the girl's downward thrusts. Led by Emma, together they establish a perfect rhythm that has Emma hypnotised in extasy. The girl's big green eyes are locked onto Regina's. Her mouth is forming a perfect 'o' as she breathes out hard with increasing volume. Regina's hands find Emma's breasts as she first carefully and then with more confidence finds out if Emma likes her nipples being teased and slightly pulled. She does. The sound of Emma's drenched pussy sliding against Regina's skin is amping up the excitement further.

"Oh fuck, please." Emma desperately chokes out. "Please. I need to. Can I?" Her eyes and voice plead for her lover's approval.

"Oh Emma. Of course. Come for me, darling. I want you to come for me."

Emma's body folds onto Regina's. She is gripping at the woman's shoulders for dear life. Pushing herself down on the woman's thigh still. But now with more force and speed than before. Sharp thrusts in tandem with hoarse moans.

Regina feels the body on top of her tremble when she reaches down the girl's ass, and plunges two strong fingers inside of her already spasming pussy. They welcome and suck her in, it's hard for her to actually slide in and out but she's determined and does so, so very skilfully. Doubling Emma's pleasure by hitting something inside of the girl that has her digging her nails into olive toned shoulders.

Without realising she'd been building up to it, Regina feels another orgasm of her own wash over her. Not as intense as before but so warm, low in her tummy and unexpected it takes her completely by surprise. As if on queue they both stiffen and collapse. Emma's breath goes from frantic to calmer and slow.

"I've no words for what just happened." She says

"You came. We did." Chuckles Regina.

"It felt like more than that. And bigger and better. More spectacular."

"I know what you mean." Regina smiles at her softly.

They fall asleep like that. Naked and sated and in each others arms.

"You're actually here." Emma softly says when she wakes up. She has no idea of what hour it is. Light enough for it to be day, dark enough to be early.

Regina sleepily turns to face the girl and smiles. "I'm actually here."

"See I was afraid that might have been a dream."

"What are you doing tonight?" Regina asks her.

"Christmas eve? I was thinking about ordering pizza. Pizza never lets me down." The blonde grins as she rests the side of her head on an open palm.

Dark eye brows knit together before Regina asks her "What about the gang? You're not celebrating together?"

"Ruby's visiting her grandma up North, Ariel and Graham are travelling and the rest is doing family stuff." Emma explains.

"Can I persuade you to come to Chicago with me?"

"You're not celebrating with your family?"

"I am. They'd be over the moon if I brought you."

"Over the moon." Emma hoarsely sing songs

and then "Wait… they know? About me?" asks confused.

"Of course they do." Regina can't help but laugh.

"Hu." The girl looks stunned. A small smile is playing at her lips.

"What is it, darling?" Regina curiously asks her.

"I don't know. That kind of makes me feel like a big deal. Maybe that's dumb."

"Nothing you feel is ever dumb. You are a big deal, dear."

"Thank you." The blonde whispers and stares at her. "You too. Massive deal, to me."

A massive grin breaks out onto Regina's features. Her eyes gleam with joy as she bites her lip, pulls the girl as close as possible and very matter of factly states:

"Emma Swan, I am taking you home for Christmas."

THE END

Tadaaa You've made it!

Thank you so much for reading :D
I hope all of you have wonderful and warm holidays!