Hiding Sparrows

16. Taste yourself

I managed to get Heath to cover my shift on Friday night with a little bit of bribing.

"Why do you need someone to cover? Is this about your druggo business partner?" He had said bitterly.

"Heath," I muttered, "I don't want to fight with you. Please. I just need the shift covered. I'll buy you pizza for a month."

In the end, it was the promise of a blowjob that worked.

"Don't think this means I have forgiven you for leaving me in the cold the other night," he had said, after the deal was drawn.

"Aw, diddums still frustrated? I'm sorry babes, I'll make it up to you, I promise."

He had just grumbled.

So there I was, straightening my ridiculously curly hair and putting on a generously artistic painting of light makeup.

I was just struggling with the zipper to my brand new pink dress, when I heard a knock at the door. Holding up the strapless number with one hand, I wandered out and opened it.

Ty let out a low whistle. "Goddamn, Robin."

Not letting myself linger on how hot he looked in dress clothes, I spun on my heel and offered him the difficult zipper.

"Can you give me a hand?"

Wordlessly, he reached across and did as told, although his hand lingered on my side a moment longer before I turned back around.

"I feel like I look like a fucking princess," I said, letting out a puff of air.

He shrugged, stepping further inside, closer to me, so he could shut the door. "Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?"

I rolled my eyes. "Because I'm not... I'm not girly like that. I'm not usually into this kind of shit."

I gestured to the frilly tiered dress. But even the makeup felt unlike me. It had been a long time since anyone had wanted me to look like a princess. I wasn't exactly the usual picture of innocence.

"Yeah, I can tell. You take on the role well, though." He looked down at the dress.

"What role is that?" I asked.

"Innocent, rich girl poker princess." He reached up and touched a strand of hair falling around my face. He trailed it between his fingers, and if I was in my right mind I would tell him to stop it, that I'd spent too long straightening it for him to fuck it up. But his face so close, his hands near my neck, I couldn't get the words out.

"Although it's a big change from your usual grunge chaotic enigma look," he said.

I looked at his mouth as he smirked. "I don't know whether to be offended by that," I said.

"Don't," he murmured. "I prefer you like that. Shows me you ain't afraid to get a little... dirty."

At that, he reached to my neck, and gently wrapped his fingers around my throat. I gulped, looking up at him and biting my lip.

But after a moment, he let my neck go, and I tried not to show my disappointment.

"Don't pout at me, Robin," he murmured. "As much as I want to see what's under that pretty little dress, we have somewhere to be."

"I wasn't pouting," I said. "Besides, you started it."

"Started what?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Teasing me," I replied, turning away and walking into my room, to get my shoes.

He scoffed, then followed me into the room and leant against the doorframe. "That wasn't teasing."