"Miss Swan, that was wildly inappropriate!"

Regina barks angrily as she looks down to survey her ruined shirt in disbelief. She feels a cruel scrape at her collarbone as Emma's lips uncover sharp teeth; laughing huskily into tanned flesh.

"I don't think anything about this is exactly appropri- AH!"

Regina tightens her hand around a fistful of pale gold and wrenches the younger woman's head back forcefully; glaring into eyes that shimmer with what she suspects is lust rather than pain.

For the most part, anyway.

A hint of bloody scarlet still clings to the blonde's kiss-swollen lips, and the sparse spatter of freckles on her nose is just noticeable under such close inspection. Emma regards the Mayor testily; forbidding her eyes from watering as the grip on her hair intensifies.

"Quiet!"

Regina pushes the Sheriff off of her forcefully; Emma landing on her back on the sofa, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable. She quickly sits herself back up, crossing her legs, and looking up at the Mayor in disbelief. The brunette throws her a final scowl before turning her back and stalking away from the couch.

What the fuck! Is she serious? She only damn well went and started all this! Whatever 'this' is...

"Regina..."

A sharp turn on stiletto heels and the Mayor faces her once more, the delicate click of the lock behind her deafeningly loud through the palpable tension. Ruined silk hangs open- the fabric pulled in places and missing several buttons- to expose a narrow swatch of soft, olive flesh. The brunette runs a hand over the lust-marked skin of her neck and pierces the Sheriff with a dark glance.

"I don't know- nor do I wish for you to enlighten me- what debauched activities you get up to after a bottle of cheap whisky and a night on the prowl, Miss Swan, but I do know that if you dare use your teeth on me one more time, you will be outside in the storm so fast you won't even know what hit you..."

Despite her perturbed tone, her hands move sensually to her hips; her stance one of irritation, but the motion serving to part the fabric of her shirt further to display delicate ivory lace. The blonde trails newly exposed flesh with lust-darkened eyes, her tongue darting quickly over her bottom lip. From her position on the sofa, she can just make out the flushed marks her teeth have left down the older woman's throat; a stark contrast to the rest of her which stands as the epitome if perfection.

She understands. The Mayor is flawless and will not permit her to mark her.

She nods in silent comprehension; curls cascading heavily over her shoulder. She tucks her bare legs up beneath her and waits for Regina to resume her place on the sofa.

After a further moment's pause, the brunette walks slowly back over to her seat- heels clicking dangerously- but doesn't proceed to lower herself down onto the plush upholstery. Instead, she stands before the Sheriff- looking down at her with fierce brown eyes- running her hands sensually up to the front of her shirt. She slowly peels apart the silken fabric and allows the garment to drop from her shoulders to the floor in a whisper.

Emma finds herself curiously reminded of the porcelain doll owned by a young classmate a lifetime ago; the Mayor's skin redolent of that perfect, blemish-free china.

Flawless.

Faultless.

She stands up to face the brunette; hands moving to rest timidly at the latter's waist. With Regina still in her heels, they are of exactly the same height, and dark, latin eyes pierce her own intensely. She feels momentarily shy- begrudgingly in awe of the older woman's soft perfection- and uncomfortably inadequate; a feeling distressingly familiar, yet no easier to accept for it. She suddenly wishes she'd kept her damn jeans on; the expanse of skin she has offered up for display paling in comparison to the Mayor's in more ways than one. A large bruise decorates her right thigh- a memento from a disagreement with the kitchen table a few days ago- and a splash of maroon colours the narrow bone of her shin where she's nicked herself while shaving.

Sensing the blonde's continued uncharacteristic hesitation, Regina captures her lips; softly this time. She sways her body slightly, hinting that she will permit the younger woman's hands to explore. Her encouragement is rewarded when cool fingers run softly over her sides and back, tickling slightly as they stroke the sensitive flesh over her ribcage. She lets out a small sigh and Emma can't help but grin into the kiss

"Ticklish?"

In their current position, her words play gentle breath over the Mayor's lips. Regina opens one eye irritably and silently challenges sparkling green. She trails a featherlight finger up the soft flesh of Emma's inner thigh and the blonde takes an involuntary step back, shivering.

"No more than you, it would seem..."

"I'm not ticklish, you just surprised me!"

Regina rolls her eyes at the Sheriff's persistent stubbornness, despite inwardly realizing her growing taste for that ever combative tongue.

"Really, dear? You stand here half naked and willing, and it surprises you that I would desire to touch you?"

Emma gives a noncommittal shrug of indifference, but a deep blush creeps delicately over her cheeks at the Mayor's words. She quickly strives to shatter the moment- a little too overwhelmed by the complex feelings churning inside her chest- and pulls Regina into a harsh kiss; her body completely flush with the other woman's bare torso. The brunette runs her finger up the Sheriff's thigh once again- much more deliberately this time- before gently continuing up to cup the blonde through delicate lace. Emma stiffens instantly at the intimate contact but doesn't pull away.

They stand like this for a couple of beats; each acutely aware of the other's breathing and heat. Regina doesn't move her fingers- just keeps them pressed lightly to the blonde's centre- and the Sheriff gradually allows herself to relax. Emma eventually glides her own hand up the smooth skin of the Mayor's back and deftly unclasps the latter's ivory bra with a quick flick of her wrist. She braces herself for whatever wrath this gesture may incur, but her only penance is a delicate kiss to the side of her mouth. Their close proximity keeps the garment in place; held up between Regina's chest and her own.

The Mayor moves her fingers gently against the hot lace at the blonde's core; relishing the feeling as the latter trembles against her. Emma lets out a shuddering breath- tickling the brunette's lips hotly- and wills herself to step away; allowing Regina's bra to drop softly to the floor. She takes another step back to better her view. The Mayor rests her hands on her hips; brazenly allowing the Sheriff's eyes to travel the prefect curves of her body. The blonde catches her lip with her teeth, causing Regina to smirk.

"I have a face, you know."

"Yeah, but I've seen that already..."

Emma's eyes don't even flicker as she speaks and the Mayor scoffs at her humorously.

"I won't bother asking you if you like what you see- if you were any more obvious, you'd be drooling."

"So don't."

Slim hands travel to find the clasp of the Mayor's dress pants, but are deterred as the brunette taps them swiftly away.

"Oh no, Miss Swan, it's your turn to show and tell."

Emma pulls back her reprimanded hands to rest on her hips irritably, throwing the brunette a disgruntled look. Her annoyance is simply smoke and mirrors however, for the unease truly she feels. Despite their spattering of bruises, she knows her legs are long, coltish, and pleasing to the eye. She has always been much more self-conscious about her upper body, and her current competition seems cruelly unfair.

Regina senses a shift in the Sheriff's demeanour and regards the younger woman curiously. She recalls her own brief exploration of Emma's midsection- unbeknownst to the blonde herself- which had revealed those painfully damning silver stretch-marks and the cruel scarring below her ribs. The sudden wave of empathy and understanding she feels surprises her almost into disgust, but she knows the younger woman won't stand for being coaxed out of her clothes with kindness anyway.

"Don't tell me you've lost your nerve, Sheriff."

Her words have the effect she knew they would, and Emma throws her a long-suffering glance before pulling her tank top over her head. She shakes out her hair and stands with her hands on bare hips; her combative stance daring Regina to criticize. The lean muscle that lines her slender frame suggests the Sheriff may not be the best person to aggravate. Not that the Mayor could find many words of fault even if she'd wished to do so. She offers a coy smile at the younger woman, before taking her hand and gently pulling her into the middle of the room; proceeding to stalk around her in an excruciatingly slow circle, drinking in the form before her.

As with her legs, the Sheriff's torso is pale, smooth, and dappled with various freckles and marks. Her slight frame showcases both her bone structure and musculature pleasingly, and she allows Regina to continue her circle of observation uncomfortably but patiently. She holds herself awkwardly, unsure what to do with her hands; ending up with one in a tight fist at her side while the other hovers self-consciously over the scar above her stomach.

"Do you want to talk about how you got it?"

"No."

"Then I won't ask."

With that, firm hands push her back towards the sofa, and when the backs of her knees make sudden contact, she falls down with a yelp; eyes locked with the dark coals glittering above her. Regina stands with her shins pressed against the lip of the sofa- her legs between Emma's- and smiles down at the blonde salaciously. She closes her eyes and runs her hands up into her hair and down her neck to cup her breasts- letting out a soft moan- before trailing her nails lightly down her stomach to find the clasp of her dress pants. Peering slowly up through sooty lashes, she proceeds to finger open the clasp and let the crisp, expensive material fall ghost-like to the floor. Stepping neatly out of her heels, she bends down to catch the blonde's awe-parted lips.

Their soft kiss deepens, and Regina shoves abruptly at the Sheriff's shoulders; forcing her down so that she lies on her back. The brunette smirks at the small sound of indignation that comes from below her and crawls lightly onto the pale limbs which quiver beneath her; straddling taut thighs and leaning down to capture Emma's bottom lip with her teeth.

The blonde breaks their kiss and trails her attention down into the hollow of Regina's throat. The Mayor tenses- ready to scold harshly if bitten- but the Sheriff merely presses the flat of her tongue where before she had used her teeth; causing the brunette's pulse to race.

Ivory silk presses down hotly on red lace as the Mayor runs her fingers through blonde curls; eyes blissfully closed as Emma continues her delicate exploration of her clavicles. After a while, she repositions herself slightly; wriggling until the sharp peak of the blonde's hipbone presses against the place she needs it most.

"Fuck..."

Gravelly laughter into her flesh and she pushes herself up and regards the Sheriff with a scowl.

"Something funny, Miss Swan?"

Emma simply grins back up at her smugly; eyes flashing feverishly in the dying light of the fire. Regina pounces suddenly forward, nipping at soft flesh through cheap blue fabric.

"Regina! Shit!"

The blonde's hips buck up in surprise as her body jerks in reaction to Regina's teeth, causing the woman above her to groan softly before smirking down wickedly.

"Take it off or I do that again..."

"You say that like it's a threat..."

The Mayor raises a brow in surprise, before lowering her mouth with explicit purpose and biting down hard on the fragile bow of the Sheriff's clavicle, causing the younger woman to shake as the pressure increases unbearably. The blonde's breathing quickens to short, pained pants as she grazes her fingers frantically over Regina's thighs. Finally pulling away, the Mayor observes the younger woman's face with something akin to wonder; green eyes clamped shut, and pale lips parted wantonly.

"Take it off, Sheriff, or I won't do that again"