A Soulmate's Story

Chapter 26

The picnic continued to thrive in the sunny clearing, the blanket strewn with remnants of their meal and laughter echoing between them. Robin's determination to hear Regina's laughter paid off, each shared story and playful tease pulling her more into the moment.

"Can you believe the time when the entire town thought the curse was broken, only for it to turn out to be a false alarm?" Robin said, chuckling as he recalled the chaos that ensued. "I mean, poor Granny was so convinced she could start selling ice cream again!"

Regina laughed, the sound light and free. "Oh, I remember that! She nearly caused a riot when she realized she had to turn everyone away. It was like watching a pack of wolves lose their prey."

"Exactly!" Robin exclaimed, his eyes shining. "And the way she glared at you when you told her the curse wasn't really broken. I thought she was going to throw a rolling pin at you."

Regina leaned back, her smile broadening as she remembered. "That would have been a sight. I almost felt sorry for her. I could practically hear her thoughts—'I was this close to making my fortune!'"

As they continued to drink their wine, the atmosphere grew warm and intimate. Regina twirled some pasta on her fork, glancing at Robin with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Last forkful for you," she declared, holding it up to his lips.

"Thank you, Milady," Robin replied, a teasing bow to his head as he leaned forward to accept the bite. The moment lingered, their gazes locking, a soft smile spreading across his face as he chewed.

"Delicious, as always," he said, his voice low and playful.

With a grin, Robin reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a box of chocolate-covered strawberries, presenting it to Regina like a treasure. "Now, how about these?" He opened the box, revealing the glistening fruits. "For the lady who deserves only the best."

Regina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Are you trying to woo me with chocolate? Because it's working."

Robin laughed, plucking one of the strawberries and holding it up to her lips. "Open wide."

She obliged, her eyes sparkling with mischief as he fed her the fruit. "Mmm, this is quite good. You have good taste, Robin."

"Only the best for you," he said, a hint of seriousness creeping into his tone as he fed her another. "But I think we need to share this one."

Regina leaned in, taking a bite as their lips brushed against each other. The tension crackled in the air, igniting the space between them. They began feeding each other, laughter mingling with flirtation, their favorite moments during the curse spilling out like secrets.

"I still can't believe you managed to outsmart the Evil Queen's guards that one time," Regina said, her laughter ringing out as she recounted the story. "How did you pull that off?"

Robin smirked, leaning back against the grass, his eyes sparkling with playful challenge. "Let's just say I had a few tricks up my sleeve. Plus, you weren't too bad yourself for creating a distraction."

Regina's gaze intensified, her heart racing as the playful banter took on a deeper, more intimate tone. "You mean the way I knocked over that barrel of apples?"

"Exactly! I thought you might get caught, but it was brilliant! You saved me!" Robin said, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But now, I find myself wanting to do much more than just save you."

The sexual tension escalated, wrapping around them like a soft blanket. "I want to kiss you so badly right now," Robin murmured, his voice low and laced with desire.

Regina leaned in, a seductive smile playing on her lips. "Then what are you waiting for, Robin?"

With that, he closed the distance between them, capturing her lips with his own. The kiss was soft at first, testing the waters, but quickly deepened with passion, their worries melting away as they surrendered to the moment. It felt like coming home, a connection that had been waiting to be ignited, and as they pulled apart, breathless and wide-eyed, the world around them faded into blissful silence, leaving just the two of them in their perfect bubble of warmth and affection.