Page 21 of sWitch

“You looked very god-like up there,” Fauna said, twirling a lock of pink hair over her two fingers. The same two fingers that had, just a week ago, been rubbing her clit while listening to my voice. “You all sounded great,” she added just as her cheeks flushed.

Rollo clicked his tongue, and I shoved him aside and stepped off the platform. “It was a pleasure meeting you, doll face,” Rollo called over my shoulder.

“He’s nice.” Fauna smiled. “How are you?”

I stared down at her and all her lace and frills and kitten ears. All I wanted to do was kiss her, hold her, maybe spank her for disappearing on me for a week—but my brother’s voice rang in my mind.She’s different.

He really liked her, didn’t he?

Guilt gnawed at me like the rat I was.

“Want some birthday cake?” It was all I could think of asking because, well,dump my brother, but not too hard, and date me insteadwasn’t socially acceptable.

She looked down at her pastel yellow platform converse sneakers. “I like cake.”

“So, what was the inspiration for today’s outfit?” I asked as we slowly made our way to the cake table. The arcade games beeped and clapped, yet everything felt silent next to her. Fauna could calm my mind better than drums, games, or tattoos—fuck, that was a terrifying realization.

Her polka dot-painted fingernails toyed with the bow on her collar. “I was going for Alice in Wonderland, mall rat edition.”

I chuckled. “Perfect, because I look like a literal mall rat right now.”

“You look hot—as always.”

I cleared my throat, trying to push my attraction and the need to touch her deep into my Doc Marten boots. “Why’d you come? I mean, other than the deep, unrelenting need to see a shit band play a tween birthday party.”

Picking up a pre-cut plate of cake, she spooned a bite. “I came for the snacks, of course.”

“Not me, then?”

“Of course, I came for you.”

I raised a suggestive eyebrow and watched as her face flushed bright rose. “Don’t look at me like that.”

My smirk intensified. “You think you get to make orders? Thought that was my job…” I tugged at the ribbon around her neck. “I command, you obey…”

Fauna sucked in a small breath before giving her spoon a lick. “Maybe we can switch it up sometime.”

Taking the spoon from her grip, I gave it a lick, tasting sugar mixed with her tongue. “I like the sound of that.”

Rollo cleared his throat from somewhere behind me, reminding me, to my despair, that other people existed. “Remy, the birthday boy wants you to show him your drums.”

Fauna looked back to her shoes and, despite the inappropriateness of it all, despite the guilt woven into my chest, I tilted her chin up to meet my gaze. “You heard him. Let’s go show the birthday brat my drums.”

She let out a small giggle that was half a sigh of relief, like she didn’t expect me to include her so effortlessly—but that’s what it was with her. Effortless. I offered her my elbow, like some knight escorting their princess, and lead her back to the stage, where a crowd of sugar-high kids awaited us.

The kids were enthralled as I showcased the drum kit, gave a basic demonstration, and let the birthday boy, Garrett, try it out with my sticks. He handed them back and dispersed to play arcade games with his friends, leaving me tapping my knees anxiously on my spin-stool.

“Are you still giving lessons?” Fauna asked.

The corner of my mouth quirked, and I patted my knee. “Have a seat.”

She looked over her shoulder. The arcade was clearing out, kids left to wander the mall, my bandmates finishing off the leftover pizzas. “Right now?”

“Right meow,” I answered. “Come on, Alice. Down the rabbit hole of rock.”

With a giggle, she pranced over and took a dainty seat on my lap. “Teach me, mad hatter—I mean, mad drummer.”

“That’s what I like to hear…” I whispered roughly into her ear, my lips brushing her lobe. “Obedience.”

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