A little Red Queen ficcie...
Title: Drive
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Ruby/Regina (Red Queen)
Rating: Mature
Summary: Ruby loves to drive. It's one of the few things she does in Storybrooke that truly makes her feel free, one of the only things that helps her escape her reality.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. I'm just borrowing these lovely characters and their setting for entertainment purposes only. :)
Drive
Ruby loves to drive. It's one of the few things she does in Storybrooke that truly makes her feel free, one of the only things that helps her escape her reality. When she's alone in her Mustang, she can pretend that she's not stuck in this shit-hole little town, with her boring old job that doesn't even make her enough cash to afford her own place, living with a grandmother who is always just short of suffocating her, cutting her off from the world entirely.
It's not every night that Ruby even has the luxury of going for a drive down the long stretch of highway that leads out of Storybrooke. Those nights are the ones Ruby barely manages to suffer through to the end. Those are the nights when she's thankful just to be able to crawl into bed at the end of the night, in possession of what little sanity she has left, and slip into a fitful, restless, dreamless sleep.
Tonight, though, thankfully, isn't one of those nights. Ruby leaves her shift at the diner early, since things are slow. Well, slow-er than usual, anyway. She doesn't even hesitate when Granny tells her she can go; doesn't bother to offer to stick around anyway, just because. She makes a beeline for the back of the diner, removes and hangs up her apron on the hook near the door, pulls on her coat, grabs her purse and all but runs out of the diner.
She climbs into her car and turns the ignition, feeling like she's finally awake when she hears the gentle rumble of the engine. She settles into the soft leather of the seat and takes a moment to just listen to the engine pur, to feel the car warming back to life, as if it were a living, breathing thing, just like Ruby herself. She plugs in her iPod and selects a playlist, one made specifically for late-night solo drives, straps the seat belt in around her, and then puts the car into gear. Pressing her foot against the accelerator, there's a thrill that goes through Ruby as she car lurches forward, engine roaring as she picks up speed down the slick road.
Ruby's found the perfect rhythm for changing gears, perfected it even, over the years. Simple, subtle movements that increase speed without even the slightest hesitation. She never misses a beat. She's also learned that Emma doesn't patrol much out here on the open road, so she's still free to go however fast she pleases, however fast her brain tells her body she needs to go to just let go. And naturally, the faster she goes, the quicker her brain seems to purge itself of the stress that would otherwise eat Ruby up from the inside, out.
At around sixty-five, Ruby begins to feel her body relaxing even further into her seat. At seventy, her mind seems to take a deep breath, and then exhale it, cleansing itself of all negative thought. At eighty, there's this strange calm that overtakes her and Ruby sees nothing, hears nothing, feels nothing but the adrenaline pumping through her veins, setting all her nerves on fire and sending more-than-pleasant tingles down her spine. It's the greatest high Ruby's ever experienced, and she's pretty sure nothing could ever top it.
She's just rounded a curve in the road when something catches Ruby's eye. A glint of her headlights off something shiny. She's thankful for good judgment and quick reflexes, because all of a sudden, there's another car on the road. Right in front of her and it isn't moving. Ruby slams her foot down on the break, fully expecting to lose at least some control of her precious Mustang, but the road is dry and the tires bite hard into the asphalt, squealing in protest of the sudden traction, and the car simply jerks to a stop on the side of the road. Ruby lunges forward a little, but her seat belt pulls her back just before her head makes contact with the steering wheel.
Heart pounding, eyes wide, Ruby turns her attention to the other vehicle in the road. She unhooks her seat belt and leans over the passenger seat a little, squinting against the darkness to get a better look. The string of curses that falls from her lips the moment she realizes whose car it is would have made just about anyone cringe and cover their ears. In about two seconds, Ruby's throwing the car door open and scrambling out onto the pavement.
"Mayor Mills!" Ruby calls out into the darkness as she hurries over to the Mercedes stalled in the middle of the lane.
She leans down and peers in through the window, but there's no one inside. She's just about to reach into her pocket for her cell phone when she hears a twig snap. Eyes snapping up, she spots Regina slowly getting to her feet in the grass just on the other side of the car. The other woman looks slightly disheveled and more than slightly annoyed. She brushes the leaves and dirt off her coat and out of her hair as stands, and then fixes Ruby with a glare that's fierce enough to make anyone cower.
"What on earth was that?" Regina demands.
"I am so sorry!" Ruby says quickly.
"You almost hit me, Ruby!" Regina exclaims, dark eyes wide. She looks from Ruby to the Mustang, and then back to Ruby. "You could have killed me," she says, a little quieter now, and there's a hint of genuine fear in her voice.
"I'm so sorry, Mayor Mills," Ruby says again. "I didn't expect anyone to be out here. The roads are usually deserted this time of night."
"And you think that gives you an excuse to just haul ass out here like that?"
"No, ma'am."
"Well, apparently, you do. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how extremely dangerous that is. You could have hit anything--a pothole, an animal, anything. You very nearly hit me."
"I know. I'm sorry. I swear I am. Are--are you hurt?" Ruby asks, as she walks toward the Mayor.
Regina shakes her head. "Nothing serious, thankfully. Probably a bruise or two and some minor scrapes from when I had to dive into the ditch to avoid getting hit by your car," she replies, tone laced with indignation. "What are you doing?" she asks, when Ruby steps up into her personal space.
The younger woman looks Regina over carefully for a moment, assessing the damage. She reaches out to Regina, and Regina flinches and recoils automatically from the touch. She narrows her eyes at Ruby, who says, "You have a cut on your forehead. It's bleeding."
Regina reaches up with her own hand, swiping at her forehead, and grimaces when sure enough, her fingers come away slick with her own blood. "Damn it," she breathes out, and she tries to ignore the way her hand is shaking as she holds it up in front of her.
"I have a first-aid kit in my car. I'll go get it," Ruby says.
"That won't be necessary," Regina says, effectively halting Ruby's movement. "I have one of my own. I can take care of myself."
Ruby looks a bit disappointed, but she says, "Okay. Well, um, did your car break down or something? Can I give you a ride back to town?"
"Yes, my car did break down," Regina says. She glances at the candy apple red Mustang parked on the side of the road and frowns. "And no, I do not want to ride in that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruby asks, bristling at the dig on her precious vehicle.
"I will not be driven around in some hunk of junk muscle car from the 1960's," Regina says.
"1960's, huh?" Ruby says with a grin. "How do you know what year it's from, Mayor? Been brushing up on your Car & Driver lately?"
At that, Regina looks about as flustered as Ruby's ever seen her. It doesn't last very long though. Barely a moment passes before Regina schools her face back to its usual tight-lipped hardness. "A simple guess, is all," she says.
Ruby nods, but the smile on her face tells Regina that she's anything but convinced. "Well, it's a '67, but I can assure you that she's in mint condition. She's been well taken care of, Madam Mayor, and I promise that should you so choose to ride back to town with me, she will not leave us stranded on the side of the road," she says. A split second later, she adds, with a glint of humor in her eyes, "Which is more than I can say about your Mercedes."
For a brief moment, Regina looks offended, and Ruby's worried she's crossed the line. This is the mayor she's speaking to. It wouldn't take much to piss her off. Thankfully, though, she doesn't seem angry. There's a slow smile playing at Regina's full lips when Ruby looks at her now, and Ruby's seen this smile before. It's smug in a way that's all Regina, with the barest hint of something else hidden just under the surface. It's enough to send a little shiver down the younger woman's spine.
"Very well, then," Regina says. "I had already called for a tow truck, but they won't be here for another fifteen or so minutes."
"Good thing I came out here, then, huh?" Ruby says, smiling again as she begins walking back to her car.
Regina just rolls her eyes as she follows Ruby to the car and gets inside. "I'm warning you, Ruby. You will not drive like some maniac with me in this vehicle. Is that understood?" she says, as she hooks her seat belt.
"Of course, Madam Mayor," Ruby says, but the mischievous glint in her eye tells Regina that it's probably a good idea to find something to hold onto anyway, just in case.
And she's absolutely right.
+
A week goes by after Ruby rescues Regina from the side of the road.
Ruby doesn't go for any late-night drives, mostly because she doesn't have the time, but also because she's a bit deterred by the near crash she just barely managed to avoid.
On Saturday night, Ruby leaves the diner early, early enough for a drive down the old deserted highway, but she doesn't take the opportunity to relieve a little stress. Instead, she goes home, takes a hot bath, drinks a few beers and then collapses into her bed, all before ten o'clock. It's a shame, and she's sure she'll regret it the moment the negativity starts to take hold of her again, but almost dying changes everything. Ruby would rather live with the stress than not be alive at all.
At half-past eleven, there's a knock at Ruby's room door. It startles her out of a light sleep, and she jumps out of bed, tripping over her discarded clothes on the way to the door. Turning on the lights, she pulls the door open, and is surprised to find Regina standing out in the hall, looking more than annoyed that it took Ruby this long to answer her knock.
"Mayor Mills," Ruby says, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asks.
"I want you to take me for a drive," Regina says.
"Ma'am?"
"A drive, Ruby. In your car. The roads should be nice and deserted by now."
"Wh-why?"
"Because I want to. Now put some clothes on and grab your keys, dear. You can meet me outside," Regina instructs, and before Ruby can say anything, she's disappearing down the hall.
Ruby scrambles around for her clothes. She pulls on a pair of well-worn jeans, a black leather jacket to go over her tank top, and biker boots, then grabs her keys from the side table and heads out the door in search of Regina.
She finds the older woman standing near the Mustang, dark eyes traveling over it, appraising it. Regina runs her hand down the polished hood of the car, and turns her gaze to Ruby, who looks tired and still a bit confused, but still overly attractive in her current choice of clothing. Regina smiles at her then, slow and sexy, and Ruby stops dead in her tracks.
"What is this really about?" the younger woman asks.
"I already told you, dear. I'd like to go for a drive. I figured you'd be more than up for it," Regina replies.
"I didn't take you for the late-night drives in fast cars type," Ruby says.
"Well, I'm not, usually, but I've been feeling a bit... antsy, and I thought that perhaps you could help me to relieve a little tension," Regina says.
And it's suddenly very obvious to Ruby what this is. She knows when she's being flirted with, and Regina is definitely flirting with her now. She's not entirely sure why, but she's also not dumb enough to question it.
"Okay," Ruby says, as she fishes her keys out of her pocket. "Climb in," she instructs, and watches as Regina saunters over to the passenger door.
Regina gets into the car and settles into her seat, as does Ruby. The younger woman cranks the engine, and then turns to look at Regina.
"You're gonna want to buckle up," Ruby says.
"And if I don't?" Regina asks.
"Your choice, but I don't want to be responsible for you getting launched out the windshield should we happen to get into a wreck."
"I'll take my chances."
Ruby just shrugs at that, even though she knows it's crazy and really, she should insist that the mayor buckle up, but she's old enough to make her own decisions, so Ruby lets it slide. She buckles her own seat belt though, just in case, and then slowly eases the car out of the parking lot of the inn.
It's different, driving with Regina in the car. It's not like it isn't relaxing still, but there's a certain change in the atmosphere that sets Ruby on edge. Just a little. They're about a mile down the road, still very much in town, when Regina shifts in her seat, leans a little to her left, closer to Ruby over the console, and asks Ruby to speed up.
"What?" Ruby asks.
"Go faster," Regina repeats, her voice dropping low and dangerous.
Ruby shakes her head. "We're still in town. If Emma is on patrol, she'll definitely stop me for speeding and I so do not want a ticket," she protests.
Regina shifts in her seat again, the soft leather creaking slightly under her, and leans in even closer. Her breath is warm on Ruby's ear when she whispers, "I want you to go faster."
The words and Regina's proximity send a thrill through Ruby, and, as if it has a mind of its own, her foot presses down on the accelerator. She hears a delighted laugh from the woman sitting beside her as they speed past houses and shop fronts, and she smiles because this is already proving to be way more fun than Ruby thought it would be.
It also proves to be a lot more sexually frustrating than Ruby thought it would be. The faster she goes, the more bold and brazen Regina seems to get. By the time they hit the open vacant road, the mayor is practically straddling the center console of Ruby's Mustang. Ruby is certain she's doing it to get a rise out of her. Every time Ruby needs to shift, she has to place her hand between Regina's legs to do so, and she just knows Regina gets a kick out of it. She would love to see just how far she can push Ruby's buttons. Question is, to what end?
When they reach the Welcome to Storybrooke sign at the edge of town, Ruby slows the car to a stop, pulling off on the side of the road. Regina is still straddling the center console, chest heaving, excitement and adrenaline rushing through her veins. There's a huge smile plastered on her face as she runs her hands through her hair. Ruby chances a glance at her and has to remind herself to breathe. She's fairly certain she's never seen Regina look as gorgeous as she does now, and it catches her by complete surprise.
"That was amazing," Regina says, still a little short of breath. She's looking at Ruby now, and still smiling.
"Yeah," Ruby says, unable to contain her own smile. A few moments pass in silence, and then she says, "You know, you're not so bad when you let your hair down."
Regina lifts a curious eyebrow up at her. "Oh?"
"Yeah. You should let yourself go more often."
"Maybe you should take me out more often," Regina says, and there's a glint in her eyes as she leans a little heavier against Ruby's shoulder now that suggests she doesn't just mean for the occasional joy ride. Well, a joy ride of a completely different sense, maybe.
"Mayor Mills," Ruby begins, but her mouth has suddenly gone dry.
"You can call me by my first name, you know," Regina interrupts.
"Regina," Ruby manages to breathe out, just as the other woman's hand inches across her leg and settles on her thigh, warm and soft. "What are you doing?"
"I thought that would have been obvious by now," Regina says, voice low. She trails her fingers up Ruby's thigh, stopping when her fingertips brush against the snap on Ruby's jeans. "Don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet," she says, lips just brushing the shell of Ruby's ear as she speaks.
Ruby shivers noticeably. This cannot be happening. The mayor is not coming on to her, in her car, on the side of the road. No. This definitely isn't happening. Ruby suddenly has the urge to pinch herself, because surely she's dreaming, but before she can do so she feels Regina shift against her. And then Regina's hand is disappearing between Ruby's legs, reaching further down, until slender fingers wrap around the lever she knows is hidden just beneath the seat. She pulls up on the cold metal bar and Ruby's seat moves back abruptly, creating enough space for Regina to straddle Ruby's lap. She does so in one fluid, graceful motion, and Ruby's eyes widen as she suddenly comes face to face with Regina, their noses just a scant distance apart.
Regina's eyes are dark and heavy with lust as she leans into Ruby, pressing her body firmly against the younger woman's. She feels more than hears Ruby take in a sharp, ragged breath, and then exhale it shakily. She trembles beneath Regina, and it's almost enough to make Regina come undone right then and there. She forces herself to remain calm and in control, but it's a lot harder than she expected.
"Regina," Ruby tries again, but has to stop to swallow around the lump that's suddenly formed in her throat.
"Don't," Regina says sharply, placing a finger over Ruby's lips to silence her. "No talking," she adds a second later. When Ruby just nods, Regina smiles at her. "Good girl."
She shifts her body weight a little, settling in Ruby's lap. It's a little uncomfortable, with the way her knees are bent and the steering wheel digging into her lower back, but she already knew that would happen. She suspects that the pleasure to come will far outweigh the pain she suffers through now, so she'll bear it.
Leaning forward again, Regina presses her lips to Ruby's in a slow, tentative first kiss. Much to her delight, it doesn't take Ruby long to respond. The younger woman moves her hands up, clutching at the front of Regina's shirt and using that as leverage to pull their bodies tighter against one another, thus deepening the kiss. When Regina breaks contact a few moments later, she's a little breathless and just a tad light-headed, but her body is thrumming with excitement. The way Ruby looks at her now tells her exactly what she needs to know--that she's willing and ready and that she'll more than likely do anything Regina asks of her. It's just as Regina expected it would be, and it's perfect.
"You seem to catch on quickly," Regina muses with a slight grin.
"I'm still not entirely sure what it is we're doing here," Ruby admits, "but I'm willing to play along."
"Good." Regina sounds pleased with herself. She captures Ruby's lips in another kiss, and a little shiver passes down her own spine at the way Ruby rocks up against her. When the younger woman moans into the kiss, Regina pulls away suddenly, staring down at her with wide dark eyes.
"What?" Ruby asks, grinning just a little too widely.
"I said no noise," Regina reminds her, tone not quite as firm as she'd wanted it to be.
"No, you said no talking," Ruby corrects. "I'm more than happy to oblige you on that one, but I can't get through this completely silent, and I doubt you can either."
"Is that a challenge?" Regina asks, leaning in to nip at Ruby's lower lip.
"No. It wouldn't be fair."
"To whom?"
"To you. You're gonna want to reserve your right to scream when I fuck you, Madam Mayor," Ruby says, and she's a little too sure of herself for Regina's liking.
Ruby pulls Regina to her again then and kisses her, hard and fierce.
Well, then, Regina will just have to put her back in her place. "Challenge accepted," she says breathlessly.
"You sure about that?" Ruby asks.
Just to show how serious she is, Regina simply nods.
"Suit yourself," Ruby says, and there's this devious little glint in her eyes as she moves in to kiss Regina again that gives Regina the smallest cause for concern.
She isn't sure what it means, for herself or for this little game they're playing, but her brain is too preoccupied trying not to go into sensory overload as Ruby begins to undress her for her to think too much about it.
Getting naked in her car is just as difficult as Ruby remembers it to be. Not that she's done this very many times. She removes Regina's blouse with relative ease and tosses it into the back seat, then sets about getting her own jacket and shirt off. There's a couple of close calls where she nearly elbows Regina in the process, but eventually they're both shirtless and neither of them are injured, so Ruby guesses that's good enough.
Leaning forward, Ruby trails hot, open-mouthed kisses from Regina's jaw all the way down to her breasts, barely covered with dark sheer lace. Regina tilts her head back and closes her eyes as Ruby runs her tongue between the valley of Regina's breasts, tasting the salty-sweet sweat that's already begun to bead there. With practiced ease, Ruby reaches behind Regina and pops the clasp on her bra using only her thumb and forefinger. The material parts and Ruby guides it down Regina's arms, before tossing it into the back seat as well. She takes a moment to admire this newly exposed flesh, before leaning forward and taking an already taut nipple into her mouth.
Regina comes very close to crying out when Ruby bites down, just hard enough to elicit the most delicious pain, before soothing it over with her tongue. Regina catches her lower lip between her teeth, as an added precaution, because she is not even remotely willing to lose this little challenge Ruby has set for her.
Not content to let Ruby have all the fun, Regina moves into action. She threads her fingers through Ruby's hair and tugs gently, jerking the other woman's head back a little. She kisses her hard then, all teeth and tongue, and Ruby gasps softly. Regina's internal self smiles wickedly. She allows her hands to wander as the kiss slows to a languid pace, over tight abs and full breasts, fingertips mapping out nearly every inch of exposed skin she can find. Ruby, for her part, seems content to let Regina take control. For now, at least, and Regina is quite happy with that as well.
It seems like hours pass before Regina finally pops the button on Ruby's jeans and edges her hand inside. She nearly gasps when her fingers come into contact with warmth and wetness. She feels her own arousal pooling between her legs in response, and then there are long, slender fingers sliding into her trousers, straight past the barrier between silk and too-warm skin. Ruby's fingers are cool to the touch, soothing in a sense, as they gently move against Regina. Regina fights back a moan that would surely be her undoing when those same fingers slip inside her with little warning. Momentarily taken by surprise, it takes a few moments for Regina to regain her composure and continue her own exploration. She slides her hand against Ruby, cups her, digs her heel in against Ruby's clit and smiles when the younger woman shudders against her.
It doesn't take long for them to work up the perfect rhythm. Ruby is gracious enough to let Regina set the pace at first, and then matches her movements. It's too easy for Regina to grind herself down against Ruby's hand, creating friction in all the right places and driving Ruby's fingers deeper inside her. Struggling to keep her focus as Ruby slowly picks up the pace, Regina pushes into Ruby a little too harshly sometimes, nearly driving the breath from Ruby's lungs. She's having to fight too hard to concentrate, she knows, but she can't be blamed when Ruby's fingers are doing that inside her. Twisting in this sort of corkscrew motion that lets Ruby's fingertips graze the perfect spot just there every single time. It's amazing and it's fucking painful how bad Regina wants to moan or cry out or just... come undone.
When Ruby comes, Regina almost misses it. She's too caught up in the sensations pulsing through her own body that she almost completely misses the way Ruby's entire body tenses beneath her, shudders, and then goes a little slack. Regina finds herself thankful when she can still her own fingers. That's one less thing she's got to think about now. The younger woman never misses a beat though, just keeps pumping her fingers rhythmically in and out of Regina, and Regina's sure she's never been fucked like this before, like it's Ruby's job to get her off.
Regina leans her head back, eyes closed, lower lip clamped tightly between her teeth to keep from crying out as she rides Ruby's hand. She's so close, so close she can feel it, taste it. If Ruby would just... And she does. Just when Regina's sure she's about to go crazy from the sensations overloading her body, Ruby places her thumb over her clit and rubs in a slow circle. Regina's body jerks violently, inner walls clamping tightly around deft fingers, drawing them in deeper still. She tenses, her entire body going rigid for a second, and before she even realizes what's happening, she's crying out Ruby's name. Over and over again. There's a voice somewhere in the back of her mind telling her she's lost the game, but Regina's more inclined to silence it. She feels way too damn good right now to worry about such trivial things.
Several long moments pass in silence as Regina struggles to regain her composure. In the wake of her orgasm, she collapses against Ruby, burying her face into the crook of Ruby's neck as she labors to breathe. When the haze begins to lift from her addled brain, she realizes that Ruby is holding her, hands running soothingly up and down Regina's back. Regina slowly lifts her head and leans back, catching Ruby's gaze with her own. The younger woman smiles at her, warm and sweet.
"Hey," Ruby says, leaning in to kiss the corner of Regina's mouth.
"Hi," Regina says, voice rough and strained. A beat, in which the tiny voice in the back of her mind kindly reminds her that she lost control, and then she says, "Damn it. I lost."
There's no anger in her voice though, no disappointment. All she can muster now is a certain air of dreaminess that comes with being well fucked.
Ruby just grins. "I tried to tell you," she says.
"It's not my fault."
"I take full responsibility."
Regina finds herself smiling too. She hums blissfully as Ruby leaves a trail of featherlight kisses across her jaw.
"That was amazing," Ruby says, lips moving against the elegant column of Regina's neck.
"Mm, yes, it was," Regina agrees. They're both silent for a few moments, each content to stay like this for just a little while longer, until Regina finally says, "I should get home. I told the babysitter I'd only be gone for a couple of hours."
"Yeah, sure," Ruby says.
Regina slowly moves to disentangle herself from Ruby. She crosses back over to her own seat, then turns around to fish around the back seat for hers and Ruby's discarded clothes. They dress quickly, and then they're speeding down the old deserted highway again, back into town.
+
When Ruby pulls up in front of the Mills house, Regina seems hesitant to get out of the car. Ruby leans over the center console, places two fingers under Regina's chin to guide the other woman toward her, and then kisses her, slow and gentle. There's a hidden promise laced into the kiss, and an assurance in Ruby's hazel eyes. This will be their little secret, Regina feels confident in knowing that.
Regina finally climbs out of the car, straightening her skirt and checking her reflection in the car mirror one last time to make sure she doesn't look too much like she's just been fucked in someone's car. She gets about halfway up the walkway when she hears Ruby calling out after her. She stops and turns around to find the younger woman leaning her head out the passenger window.
"We should do this again sometime," Ruby says.
She doesn't look or sound too hopeful, but there's a light dancing in her eyes that Regina can see even all the way from where she's standing. She knows she couldn't refuse that offer even if she wanted to.
"Yes, we should," Regina calls back, careful not to be too loud. "I trust you'll call me the next time you plan to go for a drive," she says.
"Of course," Ruby says, smiling as she settles back into her seat and presses her foot down on the accelerator.
Regina watches the red sports car disappear down the street. Turning on her heel, she heads for the house, unable to contain the smile playing at her lips.
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Ruby/Regina (Red Queen)
Rating: Mature
Summary: Ruby loves to drive. It's one of the few things she does in Storybrooke that truly makes her feel free, one of the only things that helps her escape her reality.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. I'm just borrowing these lovely characters and their setting for entertainment purposes only. :)
Drive
Ruby loves to drive. It's one of the few things she does in Storybrooke that truly makes her feel free, one of the only things that helps her escape her reality. When she's alone in her Mustang, she can pretend that she's not stuck in this shit-hole little town, with her boring old job that doesn't even make her enough cash to afford her own place, living with a grandmother who is always just short of suffocating her, cutting her off from the world entirely.
It's not every night that Ruby even has the luxury of going for a drive down the long stretch of highway that leads out of Storybrooke. Those nights are the ones Ruby barely manages to suffer through to the end. Those are the nights when she's thankful just to be able to crawl into bed at the end of the night, in possession of what little sanity she has left, and slip into a fitful, restless, dreamless sleep.
Tonight, though, thankfully, isn't one of those nights. Ruby leaves her shift at the diner early, since things are slow. Well, slow-er than usual, anyway. She doesn't even hesitate when Granny tells her she can go; doesn't bother to offer to stick around anyway, just because. She makes a beeline for the back of the diner, removes and hangs up her apron on the hook near the door, pulls on her coat, grabs her purse and all but runs out of the diner.
She climbs into her car and turns the ignition, feeling like she's finally awake when she hears the gentle rumble of the engine. She settles into the soft leather of the seat and takes a moment to just listen to the engine pur, to feel the car warming back to life, as if it were a living, breathing thing, just like Ruby herself. She plugs in her iPod and selects a playlist, one made specifically for late-night solo drives, straps the seat belt in around her, and then puts the car into gear. Pressing her foot against the accelerator, there's a thrill that goes through Ruby as she car lurches forward, engine roaring as she picks up speed down the slick road.
Ruby's found the perfect rhythm for changing gears, perfected it even, over the years. Simple, subtle movements that increase speed without even the slightest hesitation. She never misses a beat. She's also learned that Emma doesn't patrol much out here on the open road, so she's still free to go however fast she pleases, however fast her brain tells her body she needs to go to just let go. And naturally, the faster she goes, the quicker her brain seems to purge itself of the stress that would otherwise eat Ruby up from the inside, out.
At around sixty-five, Ruby begins to feel her body relaxing even further into her seat. At seventy, her mind seems to take a deep breath, and then exhale it, cleansing itself of all negative thought. At eighty, there's this strange calm that overtakes her and Ruby sees nothing, hears nothing, feels nothing but the adrenaline pumping through her veins, setting all her nerves on fire and sending more-than-pleasant tingles down her spine. It's the greatest high Ruby's ever experienced, and she's pretty sure nothing could ever top it.
She's just rounded a curve in the road when something catches Ruby's eye. A glint of her headlights off something shiny. She's thankful for good judgment and quick reflexes, because all of a sudden, there's another car on the road. Right in front of her and it isn't moving. Ruby slams her foot down on the break, fully expecting to lose at least some control of her precious Mustang, but the road is dry and the tires bite hard into the asphalt, squealing in protest of the sudden traction, and the car simply jerks to a stop on the side of the road. Ruby lunges forward a little, but her seat belt pulls her back just before her head makes contact with the steering wheel.
Heart pounding, eyes wide, Ruby turns her attention to the other vehicle in the road. She unhooks her seat belt and leans over the passenger seat a little, squinting against the darkness to get a better look. The string of curses that falls from her lips the moment she realizes whose car it is would have made just about anyone cringe and cover their ears. In about two seconds, Ruby's throwing the car door open and scrambling out onto the pavement.
"Mayor Mills!" Ruby calls out into the darkness as she hurries over to the Mercedes stalled in the middle of the lane.
She leans down and peers in through the window, but there's no one inside. She's just about to reach into her pocket for her cell phone when she hears a twig snap. Eyes snapping up, she spots Regina slowly getting to her feet in the grass just on the other side of the car. The other woman looks slightly disheveled and more than slightly annoyed. She brushes the leaves and dirt off her coat and out of her hair as stands, and then fixes Ruby with a glare that's fierce enough to make anyone cower.
"What on earth was that?" Regina demands.
"I am so sorry!" Ruby says quickly.
"You almost hit me, Ruby!" Regina exclaims, dark eyes wide. She looks from Ruby to the Mustang, and then back to Ruby. "You could have killed me," she says, a little quieter now, and there's a hint of genuine fear in her voice.
"I'm so sorry, Mayor Mills," Ruby says again. "I didn't expect anyone to be out here. The roads are usually deserted this time of night."
"And you think that gives you an excuse to just haul ass out here like that?"
"No, ma'am."
"Well, apparently, you do. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how extremely dangerous that is. You could have hit anything--a pothole, an animal, anything. You very nearly hit me."
"I know. I'm sorry. I swear I am. Are--are you hurt?" Ruby asks, as she walks toward the Mayor.
Regina shakes her head. "Nothing serious, thankfully. Probably a bruise or two and some minor scrapes from when I had to dive into the ditch to avoid getting hit by your car," she replies, tone laced with indignation. "What are you doing?" she asks, when Ruby steps up into her personal space.
The younger woman looks Regina over carefully for a moment, assessing the damage. She reaches out to Regina, and Regina flinches and recoils automatically from the touch. She narrows her eyes at Ruby, who says, "You have a cut on your forehead. It's bleeding."
Regina reaches up with her own hand, swiping at her forehead, and grimaces when sure enough, her fingers come away slick with her own blood. "Damn it," she breathes out, and she tries to ignore the way her hand is shaking as she holds it up in front of her.
"I have a first-aid kit in my car. I'll go get it," Ruby says.
"That won't be necessary," Regina says, effectively halting Ruby's movement. "I have one of my own. I can take care of myself."
Ruby looks a bit disappointed, but she says, "Okay. Well, um, did your car break down or something? Can I give you a ride back to town?"
"Yes, my car did break down," Regina says. She glances at the candy apple red Mustang parked on the side of the road and frowns. "And no, I do not want to ride in that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruby asks, bristling at the dig on her precious vehicle.
"I will not be driven around in some hunk of junk muscle car from the 1960's," Regina says.
"1960's, huh?" Ruby says with a grin. "How do you know what year it's from, Mayor? Been brushing up on your Car & Driver lately?"
At that, Regina looks about as flustered as Ruby's ever seen her. It doesn't last very long though. Barely a moment passes before Regina schools her face back to its usual tight-lipped hardness. "A simple guess, is all," she says.
Ruby nods, but the smile on her face tells Regina that she's anything but convinced. "Well, it's a '67, but I can assure you that she's in mint condition. She's been well taken care of, Madam Mayor, and I promise that should you so choose to ride back to town with me, she will not leave us stranded on the side of the road," she says. A split second later, she adds, with a glint of humor in her eyes, "Which is more than I can say about your Mercedes."
For a brief moment, Regina looks offended, and Ruby's worried she's crossed the line. This is the mayor she's speaking to. It wouldn't take much to piss her off. Thankfully, though, she doesn't seem angry. There's a slow smile playing at Regina's full lips when Ruby looks at her now, and Ruby's seen this smile before. It's smug in a way that's all Regina, with the barest hint of something else hidden just under the surface. It's enough to send a little shiver down the younger woman's spine.
"Very well, then," Regina says. "I had already called for a tow truck, but they won't be here for another fifteen or so minutes."
"Good thing I came out here, then, huh?" Ruby says, smiling again as she begins walking back to her car.
Regina just rolls her eyes as she follows Ruby to the car and gets inside. "I'm warning you, Ruby. You will not drive like some maniac with me in this vehicle. Is that understood?" she says, as she hooks her seat belt.
"Of course, Madam Mayor," Ruby says, but the mischievous glint in her eye tells Regina that it's probably a good idea to find something to hold onto anyway, just in case.
And she's absolutely right.
+
A week goes by after Ruby rescues Regina from the side of the road.
Ruby doesn't go for any late-night drives, mostly because she doesn't have the time, but also because she's a bit deterred by the near crash she just barely managed to avoid.
On Saturday night, Ruby leaves the diner early, early enough for a drive down the old deserted highway, but she doesn't take the opportunity to relieve a little stress. Instead, she goes home, takes a hot bath, drinks a few beers and then collapses into her bed, all before ten o'clock. It's a shame, and she's sure she'll regret it the moment the negativity starts to take hold of her again, but almost dying changes everything. Ruby would rather live with the stress than not be alive at all.
At half-past eleven, there's a knock at Ruby's room door. It startles her out of a light sleep, and she jumps out of bed, tripping over her discarded clothes on the way to the door. Turning on the lights, she pulls the door open, and is surprised to find Regina standing out in the hall, looking more than annoyed that it took Ruby this long to answer her knock.
"Mayor Mills," Ruby says, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asks.
"I want you to take me for a drive," Regina says.
"Ma'am?"
"A drive, Ruby. In your car. The roads should be nice and deserted by now."
"Wh-why?"
"Because I want to. Now put some clothes on and grab your keys, dear. You can meet me outside," Regina instructs, and before Ruby can say anything, she's disappearing down the hall.
Ruby scrambles around for her clothes. She pulls on a pair of well-worn jeans, a black leather jacket to go over her tank top, and biker boots, then grabs her keys from the side table and heads out the door in search of Regina.
She finds the older woman standing near the Mustang, dark eyes traveling over it, appraising it. Regina runs her hand down the polished hood of the car, and turns her gaze to Ruby, who looks tired and still a bit confused, but still overly attractive in her current choice of clothing. Regina smiles at her then, slow and sexy, and Ruby stops dead in her tracks.
"What is this really about?" the younger woman asks.
"I already told you, dear. I'd like to go for a drive. I figured you'd be more than up for it," Regina replies.
"I didn't take you for the late-night drives in fast cars type," Ruby says.
"Well, I'm not, usually, but I've been feeling a bit... antsy, and I thought that perhaps you could help me to relieve a little tension," Regina says.
And it's suddenly very obvious to Ruby what this is. She knows when she's being flirted with, and Regina is definitely flirting with her now. She's not entirely sure why, but she's also not dumb enough to question it.
"Okay," Ruby says, as she fishes her keys out of her pocket. "Climb in," she instructs, and watches as Regina saunters over to the passenger door.
Regina gets into the car and settles into her seat, as does Ruby. The younger woman cranks the engine, and then turns to look at Regina.
"You're gonna want to buckle up," Ruby says.
"And if I don't?" Regina asks.
"Your choice, but I don't want to be responsible for you getting launched out the windshield should we happen to get into a wreck."
"I'll take my chances."
Ruby just shrugs at that, even though she knows it's crazy and really, she should insist that the mayor buckle up, but she's old enough to make her own decisions, so Ruby lets it slide. She buckles her own seat belt though, just in case, and then slowly eases the car out of the parking lot of the inn.
It's different, driving with Regina in the car. It's not like it isn't relaxing still, but there's a certain change in the atmosphere that sets Ruby on edge. Just a little. They're about a mile down the road, still very much in town, when Regina shifts in her seat, leans a little to her left, closer to Ruby over the console, and asks Ruby to speed up.
"What?" Ruby asks.
"Go faster," Regina repeats, her voice dropping low and dangerous.
Ruby shakes her head. "We're still in town. If Emma is on patrol, she'll definitely stop me for speeding and I so do not want a ticket," she protests.
Regina shifts in her seat again, the soft leather creaking slightly under her, and leans in even closer. Her breath is warm on Ruby's ear when she whispers, "I want you to go faster."
The words and Regina's proximity send a thrill through Ruby, and, as if it has a mind of its own, her foot presses down on the accelerator. She hears a delighted laugh from the woman sitting beside her as they speed past houses and shop fronts, and she smiles because this is already proving to be way more fun than Ruby thought it would be.
It also proves to be a lot more sexually frustrating than Ruby thought it would be. The faster she goes, the more bold and brazen Regina seems to get. By the time they hit the open vacant road, the mayor is practically straddling the center console of Ruby's Mustang. Ruby is certain she's doing it to get a rise out of her. Every time Ruby needs to shift, she has to place her hand between Regina's legs to do so, and she just knows Regina gets a kick out of it. She would love to see just how far she can push Ruby's buttons. Question is, to what end?
When they reach the Welcome to Storybrooke sign at the edge of town, Ruby slows the car to a stop, pulling off on the side of the road. Regina is still straddling the center console, chest heaving, excitement and adrenaline rushing through her veins. There's a huge smile plastered on her face as she runs her hands through her hair. Ruby chances a glance at her and has to remind herself to breathe. She's fairly certain she's never seen Regina look as gorgeous as she does now, and it catches her by complete surprise.
"That was amazing," Regina says, still a little short of breath. She's looking at Ruby now, and still smiling.
"Yeah," Ruby says, unable to contain her own smile. A few moments pass in silence, and then she says, "You know, you're not so bad when you let your hair down."
Regina lifts a curious eyebrow up at her. "Oh?"
"Yeah. You should let yourself go more often."
"Maybe you should take me out more often," Regina says, and there's a glint in her eyes as she leans a little heavier against Ruby's shoulder now that suggests she doesn't just mean for the occasional joy ride. Well, a joy ride of a completely different sense, maybe.
"Mayor Mills," Ruby begins, but her mouth has suddenly gone dry.
"You can call me by my first name, you know," Regina interrupts.
"Regina," Ruby manages to breathe out, just as the other woman's hand inches across her leg and settles on her thigh, warm and soft. "What are you doing?"
"I thought that would have been obvious by now," Regina says, voice low. She trails her fingers up Ruby's thigh, stopping when her fingertips brush against the snap on Ruby's jeans. "Don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet," she says, lips just brushing the shell of Ruby's ear as she speaks.
Ruby shivers noticeably. This cannot be happening. The mayor is not coming on to her, in her car, on the side of the road. No. This definitely isn't happening. Ruby suddenly has the urge to pinch herself, because surely she's dreaming, but before she can do so she feels Regina shift against her. And then Regina's hand is disappearing between Ruby's legs, reaching further down, until slender fingers wrap around the lever she knows is hidden just beneath the seat. She pulls up on the cold metal bar and Ruby's seat moves back abruptly, creating enough space for Regina to straddle Ruby's lap. She does so in one fluid, graceful motion, and Ruby's eyes widen as she suddenly comes face to face with Regina, their noses just a scant distance apart.
Regina's eyes are dark and heavy with lust as she leans into Ruby, pressing her body firmly against the younger woman's. She feels more than hears Ruby take in a sharp, ragged breath, and then exhale it shakily. She trembles beneath Regina, and it's almost enough to make Regina come undone right then and there. She forces herself to remain calm and in control, but it's a lot harder than she expected.
"Regina," Ruby tries again, but has to stop to swallow around the lump that's suddenly formed in her throat.
"Don't," Regina says sharply, placing a finger over Ruby's lips to silence her. "No talking," she adds a second later. When Ruby just nods, Regina smiles at her. "Good girl."
She shifts her body weight a little, settling in Ruby's lap. It's a little uncomfortable, with the way her knees are bent and the steering wheel digging into her lower back, but she already knew that would happen. She suspects that the pleasure to come will far outweigh the pain she suffers through now, so she'll bear it.
Leaning forward again, Regina presses her lips to Ruby's in a slow, tentative first kiss. Much to her delight, it doesn't take Ruby long to respond. The younger woman moves her hands up, clutching at the front of Regina's shirt and using that as leverage to pull their bodies tighter against one another, thus deepening the kiss. When Regina breaks contact a few moments later, she's a little breathless and just a tad light-headed, but her body is thrumming with excitement. The way Ruby looks at her now tells her exactly what she needs to know--that she's willing and ready and that she'll more than likely do anything Regina asks of her. It's just as Regina expected it would be, and it's perfect.
"You seem to catch on quickly," Regina muses with a slight grin.
"I'm still not entirely sure what it is we're doing here," Ruby admits, "but I'm willing to play along."
"Good." Regina sounds pleased with herself. She captures Ruby's lips in another kiss, and a little shiver passes down her own spine at the way Ruby rocks up against her. When the younger woman moans into the kiss, Regina pulls away suddenly, staring down at her with wide dark eyes.
"What?" Ruby asks, grinning just a little too widely.
"I said no noise," Regina reminds her, tone not quite as firm as she'd wanted it to be.
"No, you said no talking," Ruby corrects. "I'm more than happy to oblige you on that one, but I can't get through this completely silent, and I doubt you can either."
"Is that a challenge?" Regina asks, leaning in to nip at Ruby's lower lip.
"No. It wouldn't be fair."
"To whom?"
"To you. You're gonna want to reserve your right to scream when I fuck you, Madam Mayor," Ruby says, and she's a little too sure of herself for Regina's liking.
Ruby pulls Regina to her again then and kisses her, hard and fierce.
Well, then, Regina will just have to put her back in her place. "Challenge accepted," she says breathlessly.
"You sure about that?" Ruby asks.
Just to show how serious she is, Regina simply nods.
"Suit yourself," Ruby says, and there's this devious little glint in her eyes as she moves in to kiss Regina again that gives Regina the smallest cause for concern.
She isn't sure what it means, for herself or for this little game they're playing, but her brain is too preoccupied trying not to go into sensory overload as Ruby begins to undress her for her to think too much about it.
Getting naked in her car is just as difficult as Ruby remembers it to be. Not that she's done this very many times. She removes Regina's blouse with relative ease and tosses it into the back seat, then sets about getting her own jacket and shirt off. There's a couple of close calls where she nearly elbows Regina in the process, but eventually they're both shirtless and neither of them are injured, so Ruby guesses that's good enough.
Leaning forward, Ruby trails hot, open-mouthed kisses from Regina's jaw all the way down to her breasts, barely covered with dark sheer lace. Regina tilts her head back and closes her eyes as Ruby runs her tongue between the valley of Regina's breasts, tasting the salty-sweet sweat that's already begun to bead there. With practiced ease, Ruby reaches behind Regina and pops the clasp on her bra using only her thumb and forefinger. The material parts and Ruby guides it down Regina's arms, before tossing it into the back seat as well. She takes a moment to admire this newly exposed flesh, before leaning forward and taking an already taut nipple into her mouth.
Regina comes very close to crying out when Ruby bites down, just hard enough to elicit the most delicious pain, before soothing it over with her tongue. Regina catches her lower lip between her teeth, as an added precaution, because she is not even remotely willing to lose this little challenge Ruby has set for her.
Not content to let Ruby have all the fun, Regina moves into action. She threads her fingers through Ruby's hair and tugs gently, jerking the other woman's head back a little. She kisses her hard then, all teeth and tongue, and Ruby gasps softly. Regina's internal self smiles wickedly. She allows her hands to wander as the kiss slows to a languid pace, over tight abs and full breasts, fingertips mapping out nearly every inch of exposed skin she can find. Ruby, for her part, seems content to let Regina take control. For now, at least, and Regina is quite happy with that as well.
It seems like hours pass before Regina finally pops the button on Ruby's jeans and edges her hand inside. She nearly gasps when her fingers come into contact with warmth and wetness. She feels her own arousal pooling between her legs in response, and then there are long, slender fingers sliding into her trousers, straight past the barrier between silk and too-warm skin. Ruby's fingers are cool to the touch, soothing in a sense, as they gently move against Regina. Regina fights back a moan that would surely be her undoing when those same fingers slip inside her with little warning. Momentarily taken by surprise, it takes a few moments for Regina to regain her composure and continue her own exploration. She slides her hand against Ruby, cups her, digs her heel in against Ruby's clit and smiles when the younger woman shudders against her.
It doesn't take long for them to work up the perfect rhythm. Ruby is gracious enough to let Regina set the pace at first, and then matches her movements. It's too easy for Regina to grind herself down against Ruby's hand, creating friction in all the right places and driving Ruby's fingers deeper inside her. Struggling to keep her focus as Ruby slowly picks up the pace, Regina pushes into Ruby a little too harshly sometimes, nearly driving the breath from Ruby's lungs. She's having to fight too hard to concentrate, she knows, but she can't be blamed when Ruby's fingers are doing that inside her. Twisting in this sort of corkscrew motion that lets Ruby's fingertips graze the perfect spot just there every single time. It's amazing and it's fucking painful how bad Regina wants to moan or cry out or just... come undone.
When Ruby comes, Regina almost misses it. She's too caught up in the sensations pulsing through her own body that she almost completely misses the way Ruby's entire body tenses beneath her, shudders, and then goes a little slack. Regina finds herself thankful when she can still her own fingers. That's one less thing she's got to think about now. The younger woman never misses a beat though, just keeps pumping her fingers rhythmically in and out of Regina, and Regina's sure she's never been fucked like this before, like it's Ruby's job to get her off.
Regina leans her head back, eyes closed, lower lip clamped tightly between her teeth to keep from crying out as she rides Ruby's hand. She's so close, so close she can feel it, taste it. If Ruby would just... And she does. Just when Regina's sure she's about to go crazy from the sensations overloading her body, Ruby places her thumb over her clit and rubs in a slow circle. Regina's body jerks violently, inner walls clamping tightly around deft fingers, drawing them in deeper still. She tenses, her entire body going rigid for a second, and before she even realizes what's happening, she's crying out Ruby's name. Over and over again. There's a voice somewhere in the back of her mind telling her she's lost the game, but Regina's more inclined to silence it. She feels way too damn good right now to worry about such trivial things.
Several long moments pass in silence as Regina struggles to regain her composure. In the wake of her orgasm, she collapses against Ruby, burying her face into the crook of Ruby's neck as she labors to breathe. When the haze begins to lift from her addled brain, she realizes that Ruby is holding her, hands running soothingly up and down Regina's back. Regina slowly lifts her head and leans back, catching Ruby's gaze with her own. The younger woman smiles at her, warm and sweet.
"Hey," Ruby says, leaning in to kiss the corner of Regina's mouth.
"Hi," Regina says, voice rough and strained. A beat, in which the tiny voice in the back of her mind kindly reminds her that she lost control, and then she says, "Damn it. I lost."
There's no anger in her voice though, no disappointment. All she can muster now is a certain air of dreaminess that comes with being well fucked.
Ruby just grins. "I tried to tell you," she says.
"It's not my fault."
"I take full responsibility."
Regina finds herself smiling too. She hums blissfully as Ruby leaves a trail of featherlight kisses across her jaw.
"That was amazing," Ruby says, lips moving against the elegant column of Regina's neck.
"Mm, yes, it was," Regina agrees. They're both silent for a few moments, each content to stay like this for just a little while longer, until Regina finally says, "I should get home. I told the babysitter I'd only be gone for a couple of hours."
"Yeah, sure," Ruby says.
Regina slowly moves to disentangle herself from Ruby. She crosses back over to her own seat, then turns around to fish around the back seat for hers and Ruby's discarded clothes. They dress quickly, and then they're speeding down the old deserted highway again, back into town.
+
When Ruby pulls up in front of the Mills house, Regina seems hesitant to get out of the car. Ruby leans over the center console, places two fingers under Regina's chin to guide the other woman toward her, and then kisses her, slow and gentle. There's a hidden promise laced into the kiss, and an assurance in Ruby's hazel eyes. This will be their little secret, Regina feels confident in knowing that.
Regina finally climbs out of the car, straightening her skirt and checking her reflection in the car mirror one last time to make sure she doesn't look too much like she's just been fucked in someone's car. She gets about halfway up the walkway when she hears Ruby calling out after her. She stops and turns around to find the younger woman leaning her head out the passenger window.
"We should do this again sometime," Ruby says.
She doesn't look or sound too hopeful, but there's a light dancing in her eyes that Regina can see even all the way from where she's standing. She knows she couldn't refuse that offer even if she wanted to.
"Yes, we should," Regina calls back, careful not to be too loud. "I trust you'll call me the next time you plan to go for a drive," she says.
"Of course," Ruby says, smiling as she settles back into her seat and presses her foot down on the accelerator.
Regina watches the red sports car disappear down the street. Turning on her heel, she heads for the house, unable to contain the smile playing at her lips.