"What a wicked thing to say
To make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do
To make me dream of you."

Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game"

Carrying a brown paper bag from the liquor store, an exhausted Robbie came home to a furry little yappy creature.

"The fuck?" He looked closer. It was a small brown dog that ran around his legs, sniffing him.

"Oh hi," Christina rushed over. "That's my dog Sandy. I hope it's not a problem that she's here. Sandy is my baby."

"Do I have to clean up after it?"

"No."

"Good." Robbie plopped on the sofa and put his feet up.

"Hey, Robbie, since we're living together," Christina said. "Can we just get along? No fighting?"

"Fine with me." Robbie pulled a bottle from the bag and took a swig.

"What's that?" She asked.

He held up the bottle. "This is dinner."

Christina hovered over him. "Don't you want some real food? I'm making pasta. Did you eat anything today?"

Yeah, he thought. He ate out some girl. "No, not much."

"Would you like me to make you a plate?"

The smell of food cooking was too good to pass up. Robbie was starving. "Sure."

He sat at the counter and watched Christina as she cooked. She was wearing sweats but for some reason she looked good in them. She was swinging her hips while Justin Bieber sang from her phone.

"What song is that?" Robbie asked.

Christina sucked on her finger, making him swallow hard. "It's called 'Sorry', you like it?"

"It's okay." he shrugged, feeling a little weird at watching her behind going back and forth as she danced while cooking.

Christina turned to him playfully. He was hunched over the counter with a frown. "Wanna dance?"

He snorted and shook his head. "No thanks."

"Aw why not?"

"I don't dance." he said wrinkling his nose.

"Don't or can't?" she teased.

Robbie took another drink. "Take your pick, honey, I don't do either."

Christina wanted to cheer him up. He must have had a rough day. He hadn't smiled once since he came home. She went around the counter and took his hands. "Come on, dance with me. I'll teach you."

Robbie tried to pull back. "No, that's okay."

"Come on," she insisted, determined to put a smile on his face. "It's not that hard, just move your hips." She moved closer to him. "Like this."

She swayed against him while holding his shoulders. He made a few feeble attempts. Then she started grinding, accidentally brushing against him.

He pulled away. "Stop!"

"What?" She was surprised at his reaction. His face was a deep red.

"You shouldn't be dancing like that." He snapped.

"Like what?" Christina was confused. "What did I do? I thought we weren't going to fight. I was just dancing."

"Okay, skip it." He dropped his head. "I need to go shower. Let me know when dinner is ready." He stomped out of the kitchen and into the bathroom, slamming the door after him.

Christina felt a little hurt. What was his problem? What did she do? She couldn't understand him. Were they ever going to get along?

She finished cooking the meal. After setting it out she went to the bathroom where he still was and knocked on the door. "Robbie?"

She heard some shuffling. "What?"

"Are you still mad?"

Silence. "Uh, no, I'm good."

"Can you come out? Dinner's ready."

"Yeah, just give me a minute, will you?"

After a while Robbie came out wearing a Nike T shirt and pajama bottoms. His weird mood seemed gone. He joined her at the dining counter and dove in.

"Mmm, this is delicious." He said between bites. "You have some mad skills in the kitchen."

Christina was flattered as she served him a second helping. "Thanks, you're actually the first guy I ever cooked for."

Robbie took a sip of his drink. "Didn't you ever cook for any of your boyfriends?"

Christina was silent for a moment before she mumbled. "I never really had one."

Robbie choked and sprayed out some of his drink. "What? Yeah, right. You're just kidding."

"No, I'm not." Christina insisted. "I've never had one."

Robbie turned around on his stool to get a good look at her. "Seriously? Come on, you've had a boyfriend before. Unless you were raised in a convent, you had a boyfriend." He laughed.

"Just one in junior high, that's about it," she said. "We weren't that serious. All we did was hold hands, that's it."

Robbie turned again to look her in the eye. "So you've never kissed anybody?"

Christina shook her head.

"I'm gonna assume no sex either, right?"

Christina blushed. She couldn't believe she was telling all of this to Robbie of all people. He was going to make fun of her now.

"Forget it," he said. "I can guess the answer to that." He shook his head. "You're a rare breed. I was playing Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes of Heaven before I was thirteen. I couldn't imagine never being kissed or anything else. Aren't you curious about what it's like?"

"Of course."

They finished dinner in silence and Robbie collected the dishes. Christina felt somewhat relieved that he wasn't being a jerk about it.

"Hey," Robbie came back to the counter. "Wanna give it a try?"

"Try what?"

"Kissing. Want me to teach you how?"

Christina was thrown by his boldness. "Excuse me?"

"You can practice with me," Robbie said, moving next to her. "Practice makes perfect, you know."

"You're playing with me,"

"I'm dead serious." He looked at her mouth. "Aren't you even curious? Don't you ever wonder what it's like to feel someone's lips pressed against yours?"

Did he have to ask? Christina would lie awake in bed many nights wondering what it would be like. This was her chance.

"Okay,"

"Great."

Robbie lifted her onto the counter so she was sitting in front of him. "Makes this easier."

Christina was nervous. His face was so close. His eyes were so green, she noticed. Was this really happening?

"Just relax," he said.

Christina felt her heart racing as he moved closer. He put his hands on her shoulders, leaned in and gently placed his lips on hers.

Now her heart jumped. Her first kiss! She couldn't believe it.

His lips were so soft.

Robbie moved his hands down to her waist as he kissed deeper, sliding his lips against hers. She responded by putting her hands around the back of his neck, feeling his soft hair.

Then, to her surprise, his tongue slid across her lips, then inside. It brushed against hers, moving deeper.

Christina was feeling all sorts of strange sensations through her. Tingly and burning.

Robbie's lips never left hers as his hands moved down her back bringing her closer. He was now standing between her legs. She moved her hands down his back.

Suddenly Robbie broke the kiss, pulling away from her. Christina was surprised by the shocked look on his very red face.

"Uh, yeah," he muttered as he looked away. "I think that's enough practice." He cleared his throat. "You're all good, you hardly needed the lesson. Sure you haven't done this before?"

Christina watched him closely. "No, that was the first time."

"Uh, I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight." Robbie turned and stumbled out of the kitchen.

Christina climbed off the counter. She felt a little shaky but happy at the new experience. She finally had her first kiss and she loved it. She wondered how Robbie felt about it.

Robbie stood against the door of his room. What just happened? What kind of voodoo did Christina put him under? First that sexy picture, then her wiggling her butt on him and making him take an ice cold shower. Now that kiss.

He touched his fingers to his lips. He could still feel her there. He could still taste her. Never been kissed his ass! That girl should carry a warning label on her. Warning! Can Cause Instant Hard Ons From Hell!

He listened at his door and heard her moving around the place. Then she went into the bathroom. Moments later the shower was running. Good! He used that moment to throw on some jeans and escape.

As soon as Robbie jumped into a cab he called Lila, one of his girls who lived across town. She was always available, the way he liked it.

Lila met him at the door of her apartment. "Hi, Robbie."

"Hey." He sat on her couch and watched as she removed her skimpy dress, revealing skimpier underwear. She went to him and got on her knees, undoing his pants.

Robbie leaned back. He was starting to feel like himself.

Somewhat.

That girl was still in his head.

Cover by Taylor19920