The Golden Rule - Outlawqueen

New Neighbors

The music resounded in her ears. Flickering lights surrounded her and hampered her view. The Rabbit Hole was one of the most popular nightclubs in Brooklyn. Sweaty bodies rubbed against each other and the barkeepers had their work cut out.
Regina Mills sidled through the cheerful crowd, looking for Sam Tucker. He was a drug dealer who was hunted by the NYPD. The state of evidence was clear: He killed Sarah Jameson, his girlfriend.
And Regina was supposed to send him to his doom.
"Regina? Can you see him?" she heard Emma talking to her through the earphone she was wearing to communicate with the other police officers.
"Yes" she replied. He stood at the bar, taking a nip of his drink and watching the people who burned off energy at the dance floor.
"Hi" she approached him, pretending to have no idea who he really was. Pretending to just be interested in him.
He raised his eyebrows. Green eyes looked daggers at her and wandered over her body. All of a sudden she felt more than uncomfortable in the tight short dress that emphasized ever single curve of her body.
"Hi" Tucker answered and grinned. "Can I offer you a drink?"
"No thank you" she refused. "I'd rather like to dance with you if you don't mind."
"As you wish." Tucker grabbed her hand and she followed him to the dance floor. It was impossible to avoid body contact with strangers.
"What are you doing?" Emma asked in confusion. "Get out of there."
"My job" she whispered back. "Believe me, it won't take long until we leave the club."
"Be careful. You're dancing with a murderer."
Maybe it was not the best idea she ever had, but she wanted him to go outside voluntarily. Additionally, she was not keen on arousing mass panic by detaining Tucker right here.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.
His fingers reached out for her waist. The fact that it was quite stifling and hot in the crowded room did not really play a part in contributing to make her feel better. She could almost smell the sweat of the dancers.
"What's your name?" Tucker shouted to drown the music. His head was only inches away from hers.
"Kelly" she lied. "And who are you?"
"Sam."
While they moved in time with the music, he let his hands wander to her hips, her ass and her waist again. Of course she noticed, how he looked into her cleavage. If this was not her job, he would have made acquaintance with her fists.
His pupils dilated and the green iris got darker. She had him. He gave her his undivided attention. She did not know how long they were dancing with each other. Their bodies rubbing against one another and the heat rising between them.
"Why don't we leave this place?" he asked her. His lips right beside her ear. She could feel his warm breath on her skin and noticed how he pulled her closer into his embrace.
"Great idea" she replied. Although she played a role, she felt sick. Behaved like a slut.
His lips touched her earlobe. Wandered to her jawbone.
Don't punch him, don't punch him, don't punch him, she tried to calm herself down. Sam Tucker was disgusting.
She took a step back and made her way out of the Rabbit Hole. The man was right behind her. And he had no clue that this flirt was his downfall.
The cold night air was bracing. A lot better than the oppressiveness inside the club. Regina took a deep breath, almost inhaling the fresh air.
They diverged from the entrance and he pushed her against the stony wall. Hunger burned in his eyes and the police officer prayed that Emma would hurry.
His lips found her neck and sucked on it. His hands stroked her waist while Regina got a hold onto his shoulders.
Emma! Where the hell are you?!
"You smell delicious" he moaned and she had to swallow the urge to gag.
"Sam Tucker! Hands up!" she heard Emma's voice and could not be any more relieved.
"Get off the woman!" Tony, another colleague of her, shouted.
"What the-"
Regina pulled her police badge out of her bra.
"NYPD" she explained with a triumphal smile as Tony handcuffed the drug dealer. The criminal frowned and she was sure if looks could kill, she had been as dead as mutton.
"Sam Tucker, you're detained because of the murder of Sarah Jameson" he told him and adverted him to his rights.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked.
"Yes... I just need a shower" the black-haired woman replied. Only the thought of Tucker's lips on her skin was enough to make her feel dirty.

---

The scent of lasagna filled the whole apartment. A delicate mix of bacon, cheese and onions. Even the pinch of crushed red pepper, which gave the meal some kick, completed the smell of food.
"So, how was your day?" Regina asked her son who was laying the table, while she washed the dirty dished she had needed to prepare the lasagna.
"It was okay. Violet invited me to spend the next weekend with her. She's visiting her grandparents in England."
Violet was his girlfriend since a few months. The black-haired woman appreciated her kindness. She truly seemed to care for Henry and whenever she was around, he was happy.
"I'll think about it" she replied.
"I can assure you that her parents will be there as well. And her grandparents would pick us up from the airport" he tried to convince her. She still was not really enthusiastic about letting her fifteen years old son travel into another country.
"Even though they're coming along, that's nothing I can decide within some minutes. I need some time to consider your plan" she explained and hoped he would understand her.
"Yeah, sure. Considering means no anyways..." he muttered. The disappointment was written in his face. Anger flashed into his brown eyes. His teeth clenched.
"That's not true. And now I don't want to hear a single word about it anymore."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Are you expecting someone?" he asked confused and she shook her head.
"Not that I remember" she responded and threw her apron on the sideboard.
When she opened the door, she looked right into the crystal blue eyes of a man. Just one glimpse and she was already captivated by the way they sparkled from the inside.
His mouth twisted and a stunning smile reached his face. Dimples appeared beneath his light brown beard stubbles. Regina always wondered how men managed to keep their three-day beard consistent.
"Pardon me for jumping in" he began to speak in a British accent. His seductive voice was soft and husky at the same time. Of course she took cognizance of the irony of the situation. Some minutes ago she had been talking with her son about travelling to England and now there was an Englishman directly in front of her.
"I'm Robin Locksley and this is my son Roland."
Only then she noticed the little boy who stood next to his father. His hair was a curly mess and a lot darker than his father's. Also his eyes had the color of dark chocolate. Perhaps he rather took after his mother.
"We're your new neighbors" the child added and pointed at the door which lead to the other apartment in the third floor. Until one week ago, Mary Margret Blanchard had lived there but she decided to move in with her fiancé David.
"Regina Mills" she introduced herself and took the hand he was offering her. He had a firm handshake and, by the way, her hand fitted perfectly into his one. The warmth of his palm got under her skin and let her blood boil. She did not even know this man and already felt attracted to him. Like an invisible power dragged her closer to him.
"You're cooking" Roland perceived. "It smells delicious. Daddy can't cook. He always lets the food scorch."
A laugh escaped her throat. "That's horrible. Maybe you father should buy some cookbooks. They're quite useful."
The boy smiled and now she saw the outward semblance to Robin Locksley. It was not just that he inherited his dimples, it was also the way the corners of his mouth found their way up. It was the exact same smile on another face.
"Mom! Who's there?" Henry called her and footsteps resonated through the apartment until he stood behind his mother.
"That's Henry, my son. Henry, these are Robin and Roland Locksley. They moved into Mary Margret's apartment."
"Hi, nice to meet you" the teenager saluted them. "Wait a minute. Robin Locksley like in the author?"
"The very one" he nodded. "I didn't expect people at your age to read my novels."
"I can't believe it. That's awesome." His face lightened up. "Mom, we have a celebrity in here."
Regina was a bit ashamed. She did not know any of his works, while Henry behaved like Johnny Depp had just declared to be his father.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say that" the writer responded humbly. A sheepish smile crept on his face. He ran his fingers through his light hair and the black-haired woman wondered if it was as soft as it looked like.
"Daddy, I'm hungry." The little boy pulled at his shirt. The close-fitting white fabric underlined his muscular abs. She imagined how her fingernails would scratch over his toned body. Stroking the smooth flesh, feeling his hardened muscles under her hands and letting him hold her into his strong arms.
"You could stay for dinner if you want" Henry offered and ripped her out of her thoughts. Embarrassment was an understatement for what she sensed as she caught herself staring at the new neighbor again. Being distracted by his presence.
"I really appreciate your proposition but don't trouble yourself on our account."
"It's no trouble at all" the police officer responded by the time she regained her composure. "I cooked more than enough for all of us. Just come in, we'll find a seat for you in the dining room."
She stepped aside to afford them to enter the apartment.