this is me trying [perdita]

Torr smirked at her scolding and the pink flush of her cheeks. He gave her an innocent look as he said, "You know I don't mind the handcuffs,"  before her perked a brow at her and kept his hand right where it was, unafraid of the consequences in that moment.

That one word on her lips did things to him though and he turned her towards him a little more so he could nudge her face to his and kiss her, quick and hard. A promise of what would come later. A tease. He had to remind himself to stop before he took it too far. His eyes were glittering darkly as he pulled back, one hand going to hers where she played with a button of his shirt, her hand warm beneath his. "No," he confirmed for her. Besides he had plenty of other things to distract her with. He wasn't worried.

He flicked his fingers at her, silently telling her to hurry and change, watching the curtain back from his spot on the settee in case he could glimpse her through the opening, wanting every bit of a secret show before he licked his lips and heaved himself back up, taking the hangers from her with ease. He pushed the dressed over his shoulder, hanging on to the hooks as he took a step closer to her and gazed down at her, his lips curling up. "Yeah?" he asked, pleased with her words but trying not to look it. He was usually good with surprises, gifting clothing and gems and dinners at expensive places were all his usual plays, but this felt different somehow. Perhaps because it was Singapore and he hadn't brought someone else here with him before. Perhaps because it was for an actual occasion that he had specifically remembered and not just because he wanted something from her. Well, he did want something from her too, but he still did want to treat her.

"You say that as if that's all you're going to get," he told her, one brow raised. "Your birthday weekend is only starting," he added, his smirk promising lots of other things she might get later. "Come on," Torr said as he threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her to the checkout, impatient with the sales lady as she rung him up, paying extra to have them delivered to his flat before they were out the door, his hand sliding into her back pocket. "Where to next, Red?" he asked, glancing at the variety of shops on the bustling street before them.

A look of shock crossed her face, eyes wide and mouth agape, as she laughed. "I know you do," she smirked, letting it widen into a grin. She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a stage whisper, just in case the shop girl was loitering. Carefully, she wrapped her fingers around his wrist, looking up at him through her eyelashes in an unusually coy manner. "Did you bring them?" She asked innocently before the kiss caught her off guard.

In typical Torrence fashion, it was fierce but brief and it left her out of breath and her knees weak. She cracked one eye open before she scowled playfully. "Fine," she heaved a melodramatic sigh as though it was the end of the world that she couldn't get her diamonds right now. "I'm still going to be a brat about it," she grinned before she disappeared to gather her belongings.

Her smile was still bright as Torrence took the dresses from her and she nodded eagerly. "Yeah," she went on, a dimple in her cheek appearing. This was fun. Perdy loved surprises and she rarely got them any more. She wasn't given the chance to catch her breath and nor did she want to. She didn't want to think about work or relationships or what she had or hadn't done in her life. She just wanted to be fully immersed in a new culture with a man she might be falling for.

Her eyes widened. "Stop," Perdy laughed, sounding unsure, before she trailed after him. What more could there be? She had his flat, she had new dresses and the promise of jewellery, he'd promised her dinner. "Wait," she laughed, shaking her head. "We're here all weekend?" Goodness. She just thought it was for the night.

Barely able to contain her excitement, Perdita bounced on the balls of her heels, offering the cashier a sunny smile before Torrence neatly turned her around and led her outside. The hand in her pocket made her glance up at him, hesitantly. It felt very nice, like a couple-y thing to do but she shut that down quickly, instead choosing to wrap her arm around his waist and surreptitiously sidle closer before the good train they were riding inevitably derailed.

They walked slowly, more like a meander, as she surveyed the shops, biting her lip in thought. Shoes were great but they were kind of boring. Bags, too. They could maybe do those last. Perdy didn't need makeup or perfume. Her mind wandered before her bright eyes caught sight of something.

"I didn't bring pyjamas," she told Torrence with a smile as she pointed to a shop front selling a variety of expensive and luxurious looking silk nightwear. One in particular, a set of short pyjamas in baby pink caught her eye. "Maybe they have lingerie," she whispered, eyes faux wide before she stepped in, her hand sliding slowly up his spine.

"Maybe.." he said as he felt her fingers around his wrists as she stepped into him, a foreshadowing to an activity later tonight. "The question is who is going to wear them," he added with a smirk. He could see options for either. He laughed as she admitted to being a brat. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

He heard the excitement in her voice and he liked it. He didn't want to but he did. "All weekend," he confirmed as he glanced back at her as he paid and they were outside minutes later. He felt the warmth and weight of her arm around his waist and squeezed her ass.

As they walked, their steps seemed to match up easily, and he wondered at this whole weekend plan. What the hell was he thinking, one part of his brain demanded while the other was asking when would he screw it up. He shoved those away, instead looking at the shop she pointed out. He smiled slowly. She didn't need pajamas when she was with him, but he did like her second idea. "Only one way to find out," he said as he slapped her ass and stepped in behind her.

Most of the store was luxury, overpriced sleepwear, the majority something he didn't really care to see her in. But like a wolf on a hunt, he found a section towards the back with the goods. He nodded as he fingered a nice set of black lingerie as he smirked at her. "What's your fancy?"

Her grin was slow and wicked as she placed her hand on her hip after releasing his wrist, shrugging casually. With her other, she fished into her bag as she extracted a galleon and held it out towards Torrence. "Flip for it?" She smirked, eyes sparkling before she laughed. This was fun. She liked it. More than she thought she probably should.

Perdita also liked how she fit snugly into his body. She was a tall woman but when slotted beneath Torrence's arm she felt elfin and - dare she say it - cute.

She also couldn't fault his logic but she did let out a squeak of surprise as her bottom was smacked, causing her to turn around and shove his chest with a playful scowl. "Do that again and I'll cut your hand off," she informed him before she hesitated by the shop's entrance, just in case he wanted to do it again, taking a step back towards his hand.

Her fingers touched on the soft and expensive material of the pyjamas, pausing every so often to admire the cute v-neck of one top and the intricate lace on the hem of a pair of shorties on another. Summer would be warm in London, it always was, so she definitely needed appropriate nightwear. Another slinky camisole which would barely skim her thighs in a shock of emerald green caught her eye and with Torrence distracted, she picked both sets up.

She let out a laugh. "Of course you found knickers," she rolled her eyes good naturedly as she looked at the offering. "Cute," she decided, but she had lots of black underwear. They were classic. "They'd go really well with the diamonds you're going to buy me,"  Perdita said innocently as she batted her eyelashes. "Want me to try them on?"

Torr eyed the flash of gold as she held the galleon between her fingers and he met her smirk with one of this own. He reached up and snagged it from her fingers, flipping it between his as he asked, "Heads or tails, love?" He would play along. Maybe. After she answered, he flicked the coin into the air, easily catching it and slapping it on the back of his palm before glancing down at it. "I win," he said before sliding the coin into his pocket, purposely not letting her see the outcome. "So I get to pick." And they both knew what that usually meant.

Her squeak of surprise felt like another win, but her shove against his chest was unexpected. Torr stumbled back off the small step in front of the shop's entrance and gave her an amused look. He smartly saluted her, not scared by her threat in the least. Actually, it probably had the opposite effect because just as she stepped back towards him, he gave her ass another playful swat.

A rumble of a laugh spread through his chest as they stepped inside and the cool breeze of the air conditioning greeted them, almost as silky and soft as the satin he touched on the racks. He grinned at her unashamed as she took in his first choice of merchandise in this little shop, leaning one arm against the rack. "Maybe," he told her even though he could picture her in this black lacy lingerie with diamonds around her neck already. He shook his head as she batted her eyelashes, telling her silently it wouldn't work on him even though it kind of did. "Of course," he answered just as quickly. Why the hell did he think he had taken her shopping if it wasn't to watch her try on things?

"This one too," he added as he eyed a barely there red set with more straps to boggle the mind. This time, he walked her right to the little dressing room, his hand on her hip. "Need help? I can be a great assistant."

Torrence swiped the coin and her eyes sparkled, a smirk tugging at the left corner of her mouth. "Let me guess," she offered. "Tails you win, head I lose?" Perdita rolled her eyes with a shake of her head, despite watching the coin rotate and she let out a squeak of indignation as he hid the result. Usually, she hated losing but often (and when it came to this in particular) a loss felt like a win with him.

Amused, Perdy arched an eyebrow. This entire weekend was completely mad. In fact, she was still trying to wrap her head around it. She'd never been particularly uncomfortable when receiving gifts but she did decide that she was going to buy the pyjamas herself, and she set them down outside of the dressing room.

Perdita held the black set before reaching out to take the red one. Holding it up to the light, she examined it. It was soft, almost gossamer like and very pretty. Delicate and expensive with a sheen on the fabric, she didn't have long to look at it before she was ushered into the changing room. "Easy tiger," she laughed as she shed her dress, pausing. "Is this a present for me or a present for you?" Perdita asked, her eyes narrowing playfully.

Half way into the set, she looked up at him and smiled. "I'm sure you're very useful," she purred, a hand on his shoulder to keep her balance as she adjusted her heel. Taking a step back, she closed the curtain and took hold of one of Torrence's hands. "That one goes here," Perdita said as she guided his hand to fasten the clasp around the back of her neck, sliding her own down her torso where the straps connected to form a sort of silk harness.

"These ones go there," she went on, moving his fingers to her ribcage and inviting him to tug the strap that wrapped around, just below the bra. Slowly, she rested his hands on her hips, her eyebrows arched with a slow smile. "And these go here," she explained as she adjusted the ones that rested on her hip bone. "Awkward to put on but lots of fun to remove," she offered innocently.

"Something like that," he replied with an answering smile. Actually, Torr hadn't been rigging the system completely like she had mentioned (although he wasn't above using that tactic in the future), he simply lied to her about the result. Either way, they were both going to have a little fun later. That promise was clear in his eyes too.

Perdy was something to behold in her usual high-end dresses and pant suits, but when she was like this, half-dressed with lingerie that left little the imagination? Torr had a hard time staying on track here, his eyes roving over how she looked in the mirror, imagining all the things he would do to her.. the thought had been to do those things later, but she was very tempting as is. It only got worse as she started putting him to work with the buckles and the straps.

The silk felt soft and smooth beneath his fingers as she guided his hands over her torso and then further, his eyes darkening as he tugged them tighter, snugging her in, watching the fabric hug her closely. All trussed up for him. Torr bit his lip as he met her gaze. "I'm starting to think we won't get to food or diamonds at this point," he told her as he squeezed her hip with one hand and tilted her chin up with the other. "And I don't think you'd argue with me if you knew what I was thinking, Red."

She liked the way he was looking at her and her smile turned wicked. So maybe this whole thing was purely physical but what did it matter? Perdy was happy. She was having a nice time as her eyes flicked over Torrence's face. She liked how she could affect him, she'd never had to try particularly hard to get what she wanted. Usually. Sometimes, he could be a right stubborn arsehole.

The silk against her skin was tight but comfortable as she tilted her head. It fit her well, cinching her in in all the right places, and she bit her lip in a poor effort to conceal her grin. "That's a shame," Perdy replied with a melodramatic sigh that ruffled her dark hair. She wondered if there was a restaurant in his apartment building, maybe room service. Maybe she suddenly wasn't hungry. 

Her bright eyes never left his face and she was both amused and flattered at his attempt to resist his carnal urges. Torrence had treated her well thus far today but she wasn't keen on the idea of him handling her like she was breakable. That wouldn't do at all. The touch on her chin made her smile slowly as she took a step closer to him.

"I'm not a mind reader," she went on, her hands trailing up his arms to where they interlinked at the base of his neck, her eyebrows arched. "You'll have to tell me," Perdita purred before her smile widened. "Or show me," she offered coyly before she jerked her head in the direction of the changing room entrance. "Lock the door."

"It is, isn't it," he drawled, not caring for one second about food or diamonds or anything else except her in this get up. His hands moved lower over her hips, grabbing her ass as he smirked. He pressed himself into her as she asked so nicely to explain. Or better yet, show.

Torr fought against the urges for the briefest of moments. His plan had been to let her shop, buy her an outrageous amount of things (he always had a gift for spoiling others), and then buy her food before taking her back and not letting her leave the bedroom. But even he wasn't strong enough to resist such a delectable offer.

The lock snapped into place a second later and his mouth was on hers, his hand on her leg, pulling it up around his hips as he pushed her against the wall. "Be quiet," he warned, but his eyes said something entirely different. It was a thrill, she was a thrill, and Torr threw himself into the familiar feeling of getting lost in her again.

--

He was still rearranging his clothes as the door of the lingerie shop slammed to a close behind them, a shit-eating smile on his face as he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. The shrewish look the woman gave them as they were escorted out didn't phase him at all. "I did tell you to be quiet," he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist and laid a kiss on her neck that he hoped the shopowner saw. Torr was surprised she hadn't called the muggle police on them after she had caught them in the dressing room. It wouldn't have been the first time and he had promised Red one of them would be in cuffs by the end of the night. Not what he had exactly planned on, but it would've been fun.

As they walked away, the lingerie she had been wearing hastily paid for and stashed in the small bag that hung off his fingertips, Torr glanced down at her. "Hungry yet?"

With a slow grin, she nodded along, her eyes glittering in the changing room lights. "A big one," she agreed, her grin widening as her gaze trailed down his chest and stopped, an eyebrow arched. Perdita would be lying if she said she hadn't fantasized about doing something similar the exact moment that Torrence had shown up at her home that morning but she didn't really care. About anything. Except if he could take her outfit off faster than she put it on.

She kissed him quickly as she backed up against the wall. Her hands were on his face, her chest pressed against his snugly before her hands slid over his shoulders and she unbuttoned his shirt hastily. At his request, she pulled back and bit her lip, despite her smile escaping. "Yes sir," she whispered, the kiss muffling the sound of her giggle.

----

Who knew that lock was so flimsy?

With a snort of laughter, she pulled the skirt of her dress down hastily as she slicked her hair back. It was abundantly clear what they'd been up to but she didn't feel ashamed. Her pale fingers adjusted the strap of her dress, her cheeks pink as she walked side by side with Torrence, turning to shoot him a look.

"I thought you were kidding?" The brunette replied with a laugh, her eyes closing as a sigh of pleasure escaped her at the kiss. "It's your fault," she chastised him. "You shouldn't have done that thing I like. I can't be blamed for the results," Perdita deflected the blame, turning her head to kiss his shoulder through his shirt. "You're such a naughty boy," she teased him but it was clear on her face that she loved it.

"Starving," Perdy admitted as they walked, tilting her head up to grin at him slowly. "What do you fancy?" She asked him, her hand sliding into one of the back pockets of his jeans as she leaned into his side. She knew it was her birthday weekend and she was allowed to call the shots but she didn't mind at all where they ate. She was still distracted from the previous events. "What's the local food like?" She asked Torrence as her eyes darted across the street, taking everything from food carts to fine dining. "High carbs," she lifted her head to look at him. "You'll need your energy," she smirked.

"And what gave you the idea that I was kidding, Red?" he asked, amusement making his tone light as the sound of her laugh filled what little space was between them. He brought her even closer, feeling the slightness of her body against his.

Torr laughed, a rumble in his chest, as she blamed him and he was superbly unrepentant about the whole thing. "You can blame me all you like," he told her with a smirk. He didn't mind taking the blame for this one. He had specifically done that thing she liked just to make her shake for him. "Guilty as charged," Torr added. Naughty? Sure. But so was she.

Her hand slipped into his back pocket and he felt the press of her fingers against his ass. The touch felt possessive and he found the reality of it wasn't quite as stifling as he normally found it. "It's good. There's this little place I know about," he started, glancing down the street as he oriented himself. "This way," he said, pulling her off the main drag and down a side street.

Minutes later they were in front of a street vendor cart, the sign dimly lit, but the smell of food wafting over to them made his mouth water. The customer in front of them took their food and moved off and Torr grinned as the vendor said in his heavily-accented English, "Ah, Mr. Torrence! So good to see you. And who is this?"

Torr stepped forward as he greeted Bohai. "How are things, Bo?" he replied before glancing at Perdy. "This is Perdita, it's her birthday," he told the street vendor he had somehow become friendly with. Maybe the food was just that good that he couldn't help himself or maybe it was because the guy's reactions were always so honest and genuine. It was weird, but almost like he couldn't look away. Or more likely, it was because Bo was always so friendly even after Torr had be gone for a while. No commitment, no expectation, just the way he liked it usually. He smirked as Bo started showering Red with enthusiastic compliments and well wishes for a good birthday.

Perdita gave a snort of laughter. "Remind me never to underestimate you again," she said quickly, still riding the high. It was infectious, this whole thing. The dinners and the presents and the kissing and everything. But it was also a fragile bubble that Perdy really didn't want to burst, at least not on her birthday, she was having such a good time. She glanced over at Torrence and bit her lip.

"Okay, great," she agreed quickly as he guided her, tripping after him in her heels. She had no idea where she was or what he was up to but she found herself not really minding. Perdita blinked as she found the offering and frowned, sniffing at the air delicately. Her trepidation was clear as she took a step back, tugging on Torrence's hand before she realised the last time she'd had street food, which was a while ago now, it had been tacos in Dublin and annoyingly, they had been absolutely delicious.

Her big blue eyes flicked from the man to Torrence, her eyebrows arched in mild surprise as they greeted each other. She wondered how often the Potioneer came to Singapore in order to be greeted so warmly. She wasn't given long to ponder before the man with warm brown eyes turned his gaze on to her.

"Hello," Perdita replied politely and with a smile before she held out her hand to shake, only laughing when the man in turn kissed the back of her knuckles. Her cheeks flushed in pleasure at the surprisingly chivalrous nature and she wondered if she should ditch Torrence for his friend instead.

Bohai was making her laugh - properly. Perdita threw her head back, utterly charmed and a bit confused by the whole thing but she was smiling so much, her cheeks hurt. "Oh thank you," she grinned as he complimented her dress and insisted that Singapore was simply the best place on Earth that she could ever spend her birthday, and she was likely to agree with him.

"You must have noodles for your birthday," Bohai insisted and Perdita agreed, gently letting go of Torrence so she could peer over the cart to see if she could make sense of what was on offer; she couldn't. "Wok fried?" She asked with a smile as the man nodded. "Perfect. Yes please," she smiled as he set to work and she eyed the fresh chili, hoping he'd add some. "Whatever you like," she gestured with her hand.

The sizzle cut through the cooling night air as they waited, Bohai loading up the vegetables before he looked up at her. "He has never brought a lady with him before," he announced, causing Perdita to arch a brow in question as she looked over at Torrence with a slow smile. "Is that so?"

Remind her not to underestimate him? Torr smirked and gave a light shrug. "Did you learn your lesson then?" If not, he would be willing to help make sure it stuck...

As they got to Bo's cart, he felt her pull away. Having anticipated it, he tightened his grip on her hand and held fast, pulling her in closer so she couldn't escape. He wasn't sure what her aversion to street food was, but he would show her just how wrong she was like he had done in Dublin with the tacos.

Perdy's 'polite' voice made him smirk as he placed one hand on her shoulder, standing slightly behind her. And while he knew Bo was harmless, after the second he went in to kiss her hand, he lightly tugged back on her hand. "Alright, alright, Bo, hands off," Torr said, managing to keep it light and airy as if it were a joke, ha ha, and not something that stirred the jealousy inside him.

"And I'll take the usual, Bo," he added in after Perdy had put in her order, her eyes big and bluer in the fading light as the city lamps made her golden. Torr moved his hand down her back, unable to not have some sort of contact with her, as the noodles sizzled and steamed in the wok and Bo chattered on like usual. Torr had started to tune out, but was brought right back as Bo revealed something he hadn't planned on sharing.

He gave the man a warning glance, which the man hadn't seen because he was too busy staring at Perdy, and then Torr slid his gaze down to her as she gave him a look. He knew that look and he knew nothing good could come of it. "Nope, not so," he said, a stubborn  tilt to his chin, leaving it at that.

"We'll take two sodas as well," he said as he leveled his gaze at Bo, hoping Perdy wouldn't sink her teeth into the little tidbit that Bo had inadvertently revealed.

"Only time will tell," Perdita purred in response, wrinkling her nose at Torr cutely before she laughed. It was clear that this man knew what he was doing and all she could do was stare in awe. He worked quickly, throwing in vegetables and seasoning and oil and she was dumbfounded. It was fragrant and the smell made her stomach rumble. Mesmerised by the precise actions, she'd almost forgotten her need to know how this man and Torrence knew each other.

The hand that Torr had on her back made her shiver in the warm night air and she backed up into him, no breath of air left between their bodies as she gave a grin to Bo, who simply winked back. How often did Torrence come here in order to warrant a usual order? So many questions and not enough answers.

"I'm having a great time, thank you," the tall brunette replied cheerfully to Bo's question about how she liked Singapore so far. "I haven't seen much yet but that's why I have my tour guide," she teased, turning her head to smile at Torrence, only to raise an eyebrow as she caught the telling look he shot the other man. She narrowed her eyes at Torrence a fraction, sensing that he wasn't being honest with her completely.

Perdita knew why he was being cagey. He thought she might misconstrue this trip as being romantic or special but he forgot that he'd told her months before to stop thinking that way. And so, she had. It was just a birthday weekend away...where he'd bought her gifts and let her stay in his bed and was buying her dinner and offering to show her around. With her back resting against Torr's chest, she frowned.

"The yellow one, thanks," she smiled at Bo as he offered her a drink. Perdy didn't know if it was lemon or banana but she wasn't that bothered. "No lies," Bo went on with a shake of his head, making the motion of crossing his heart and it made Perdita laugh loudly. "Maybe you just didn't see them," she replied gamely, careful not to put Torrence on the spot, but Bo shook his head again and tapped his nose. "I know all," he told her with another wink.

Perdy was silent for a moment. Perhaps she was just reading too much into this? "What else do you know?" She asked Bo as he dished up the noodles, her tone light and a smile on her face. She assumed it would be lighthearted stuff, like how Torrence had stumbled out of a bar drunk at two in the morning, cute little anecdotes, not a bombshell.

"Noodles," Bo announced and she stepped forward to take a plate of the steaming food and she picked up her chopsticks, looking up to catch the vendor's eye to check if it was the right thing to do, and he gave her toothy grin in response. Perdita took a bite and her eyes widened. "'sreallygoof," she rudely spoke with her mouthful, nodding enthusiastically as the flavours burst on her tongue. "You need to try this," she told Torrence as she captured some noodles between her chopsticks and turned, holding them up for him to try.

The flash of warmth from the ginger, sweet onion and a sharp, peppery tang made the noodles taste like it was the best thing she'd ever eaten and she took another bite. Bo watched them carefully and he smiled. "She is cute," he told Torr, pointing his spatula at him. "Take good care."