Hiding Sparrows

36. More ways than one

I woke up to the smell of Ty, warmth streaming in the room through sheer curtains nearby, and within me, a deep, aching need.

It was as though the lack of any intimacy the night before had compounded to a ball of desire overnight.

I woke up to the sound of the shower running, and as I blinked away sleep and remembered where I was, I was suddenly faced with the visceral image of Ty naked in the bathroom across from my bed.

I clenched my eyes shut again, as though that would get rid of the imaginary vision, but it persisted.

Even when I tried distracting myself, thinking about how angry I was last night, it didn't work. Instead, I was imagining taking out my frustrations in unconventional ways. Involving the shower.

Before I could stop myself, or think better of it, or even fully wake up, I was slipping out from under the bedsheets and padding towards the bathroom door.

The sound of the water running got louder as I came closer. I could feel anticipation thrumming through my body.

This is a bad idea.

But yet, I pushed open the door. Only, when I did, I froze, because the water had suddenly turned off. The moment I'd pushed it open, even just a crack. Had he seen? I wondered. Then, what the fuck am I doing?

I was about to shut the door and back away, hope he hadn't even noticed it crack open, when I heard his voice.

"Robin?"

Well, shit.

"Uh," I stuttered. "Yeah. Sorry, I didn't realise you were in here."

My voice sounded croaky, the morning voice and alcohol from the night before making me sound far less confident than I hoped. Not to mention, it was a shitty lie.

I heard him let out a noise that could be a laugh, then it was quiet for a second. I was about to shut the door when I felt it give from the other side. It opened, and there he was.

Ty was dripping wet, with a dark green towel wrapped around his waist. And as I took in the sight before me, I knew whatever I had created in my imagination did not compare. His bare chest was glistening in the wet, and as my eyes trailed down his skin, I watched a drop slip from his stomach down beneath the towel.

"My eyes are up here," Ty said, with a smirk.

Cheeks burning, I quickly looked up, and stuttered, "Sorry, I- I'll wait, I didn't realise-"

"You didn't realise I was in here?" He repeated. I nodded mutely. "You must not have ears then, little bird, because otherwise you definitely would have heard the shower."

"I- uh-" I stuttered. Fuck, I was so flushed. I couldn't even get words out.

"Come on," Ty teased. "Use your words, sweetheart."

I tried to scowl at him. But even that was a half-hearted attempt. So, I tried to look away.

But then, Ty's hand was on my chin, tilting my face back towards the door. When I met his gaze again, he looked amused, but also, calculating.

"Are you still drunk?" He asked.

"It's been hours," I replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Fine. Are you hungover?"

I thought about it for a moment, clocking my own body again for the first time since I'd woken up. Nope, no headache, or brain fog. Just that persistent ache in the pit of my belly.

"Nope," I said, popping the 'p'.

He thought about this for a moment, looking over me before back at my face. His fingers were still on my chin. The hunger in his eyes was unmistakeable, but yet he stayed cool, calm and collected as we spoke.