Dominating Mayor Mills

Chapter 4

Emma took her time checking her emails, scrolling through Facebook, clicking on her favourite news site and reading (more like just opening and closing windows because she couldn't concentrate) any articles that seemed interesting. The truth was, her attention was at the other end of the room, where Regina was currently still thinking of a word. Emma genuinely hoped Regina would never actually need to use a safeword, that she'd never feel so distressed that she'd feel the need to end a scene. Emma already knew how to read Regina, had already perfected the art of tuning into the woman who hid her emotions better than anyone Emma had ever met, and she hoped that that ability would serve her well as their relationship took this new turn.

Regina's ability to mask her feelings, to hide, was one of the things that had first drawn Emma to her. Emma liked that Regina was a puzzle, liked that she had to work to figure out what Regina was thinking and feeling. It had taken a time, but she'd slowly grown to read the woman's subtle physical cues, as well as sense her emotional state. Her special power definitely helped, pinging whenever Regina answered her prying questions falsely. Emma thoroughly enjoyed knowing that she was the only person in Storybrooke who picked up on the Mayor's vibes, who could see beneath the mask the brunette wore. It was like becoming fluent in a language only she and Regina spoke and Emma loved that they shared this ability to communicate without words.

Emma could pick up on things that others couldn't, subtle changes in her girlfriend's demeanour that were imperceptible to everyone else. Regina had been taken aback at first that Emma was able to read her so well because she'd spent her life behind walls that no one had been able to see over, under, or through. But the thing was, Emma was an observer and that was why she was able to see things that no one else did. She observed everything, especially her surroundings and the people within it. She had always been an observer, a habit she'd been forced to develop as a child of the system. She'd had to learn to read people, to predict others' behaviours in order to keep herself safe. And she'd applied the knowledge she learnt from her childhood to Regina, who quickly became her absolutely favourite person to observe, by far, when she moved to Storybrooke.

Regina was an expert at hiding, but Emma was even better at seeking. It had been a long time since Emma had met someone who was so difficult to decipher, and she reveled in the challenge Regina presented.

With patience and incredible attention, Emma slowly pulled down Regina's walls, peeling away the woman's almost impenetrable outer defences. And as she gently removed the fortified barriers brick by brick, Emma found she quite liked the woman hidden behind the ugly displays of aggression. She'd learnt countless things about the other woman, things that Regina had kept secret and hidden away. Things like that Regina actually had a very soft and tender heart, but after years of torture and abuse, she'd hidden away what was once a very loving and caring nature. She'd also learnt that Regina thoroughly enjoyed physical attention (even though she recoiled any time anyone got too close- not trusting them not to hurt her and not wanting to allow herself something she so desperately craved). Emma had noticed other little things, like the fact that Regina tapped her toes inside her shoes when she grew impatient (Emma had noticed this when she saw the subtle movement in the woman's designer heels). Her lips formed into a thinner line than usual when she was displeased. She grew silent when she was angry or upset and she attacked when she felt threatened. So determined was she to remain stoic before others that Regina would not even allow herself to shiver when she felt cold. Emma had learnt this one evening while out celebrating Archie's birthday, noticing Regina's tense posture and the way Regina fought with all her might to repress the way her body shook. Without saying a word, Emma had gotten up and removed her sweater, draping it over Regina's shoulders and ignoring the look of surprise on the other woman's face.

You can try to conceal the truth, Regina, but I see you, Emma had told her later. The look of unguarded surprise and shock in Regina's eyes had stirred deep within Emma. That had been at the beginning, when they'd first become friends. And as they moved from friends to lovers, Emma got to see other parts of Regina, learnt new secrets about the woman. Like, when Regina was aroused, the area just above her breasts turned pink, her eye colour deepened dramatically (though you would only notice this if you were close enough to see it), and she swallowed so much it was almost comical, like she was trying to swallow how aroused she was. These minute actions were all hints into Regina's physical and mental state, and they would not be perceived unless you were paying extra attention to the brunette, something Emma always did. It was for that very reason that their friendship grew into something more, for Regina began to feel safer and more comfortable with the one person in town who could read her, the one person from whom she could not hide. As she grew to trust Emma, she began revealing a side of herself that she'd buried long ago, and when Regina began developing feelings for the blonde, Emma, of course, noticed immediately. She noticed the lingering looks, the ever-growing intimate touches, the way Regina gravitated towards her any time she was around. And Emma, well, Emma had been interested far longer than Regina, so this progression in their relationship was more than welcome.