Title : Sweet Temptation
Author : Steph
Rating : PG
Pairing : Robin/Patrick
Category : Romance/Humor/Drama
Disclaimer : I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers : Just that Gwen stuff.
Summary : After deciding to have a purely professional relationship, Robin and Patrick attend a medical conference together in Miami.

Note : Thanks for the feedback on part 3. Here's part 4. The next part will be the LAST part. Seriously! Hope you enjoy it and please let me know what you thought! Thanks! -Steph

---Sweet Temptation: Part 4/5---

"They're closed," Patrick repeated for the tenth time, his eyes tightly shut as he lay back on the sand, supported by his elbows.

"No peeking!" Robin said, as she slowly made her way out of the water.

Patrick smiled and resisted the nearly overwhelming urge to peek at her.

Robin found her bikini and quickly reapplied the top and bottom. She then sat down next to him on the sand.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now," she said.

He opened his eyes and then turned to her, his gaze slowing scanning her figure and a smile spreading across his lips. "You know, you don't have anything I haven't seen before and as friends-..."

"Don't push it," she said, holding up a hand.

Patrick sighed and looked out at the water, the waves crashing peacefully against the sand.

"I've always loved the ocean," Robin said, mesmerized by the sight before her. "It just holds so many possibilities, you know? So vast, so much of it still unknown and unexplored. It's kind of nice to know there's still a little mystery left in the world."

"I didn't take you for a girl who liked mystery and the unknown. After all, you're a medical researcher. You deal in facts."

"But facts are just mysteries until their proven. I like the digging, trying to get at the truth. I like peeling back the layers." She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment and then said softly, "I guess that's why I keep getting drawn in by you."

Patrick arched an eyebrow. "You think I have layers?"

"I think you're an onion," she said, smiling.

He grinned. "So, I smell bad and make you cry."

She laughed. "Well, you got the second part right." She shook her head, her expression growing serious. "No, it's just that there's more to you than meets the eye, even if you don't want to admit it."

He shook his head. "It really bugs you that I might just be this shallow, doesn't it?"

She shrugged. "It would if it were true, but it's not. You don't like anyone to see there's more to you because then it lets them in, it lets them get close, which opens you up to the possibility of getting hurt. So whenever that side of you comes out, you say or do something arrogant or insensitive...something you know will push them away."

"You need to stop watching Dr. Phil."

Robin smiled. "Fine, deny it all you want, but I know there's more. I've seen it. I've experienced it."

"Well, whatever you're referring to, I was probably just trying to sleep with you at the time."

Robin shook her head, her smile widening. "Nice try, but I don't think so. Case in point, I was recovering from the virus and you brought me my favorite ice cream. It was a sweet and thoughtful gesture. And I wasn't exactly in peak condition to be seduced."

Patrick lowered his gaze. "Okay, so that was one instance. One momentary lapse in judgment."

"And then there was last night. You gave up the bed for me."

"I told you. You get cranky when you don't get a goodnight's sleep and I didn't feel like being your target."

Robin smiled. "Deny it all you want. I know better."

Patrick turned to her, admiring how the moonlight bathed her face. "Why are you so determined to be right about me? Besides your obsessive need to be right about everything, that is."

Robin moved her eyes from his piercing gaze. "I guess because no matter how hard I try to get away from you, there's something that keeps pulling me in. I want to believe you're worth all the trouble."

Patrick licked his lips and smiled. "Of course, you mean worth the trouble of pursuing a friendship with me, right?"

Robin nodded, her eyes focused on the sand. "Right."

Patrick nodded. They fell silent for a few long moments, their gazes moving back to the ocean. Patrick finally broke it.

"Well, if I'm an onion, then you're a chocolate-covered cherry."

Robin's brow creased, as she turned to look at him. "Excuse me?"

Patrick turned to look at her, his eyes scanning her face and his voice emerging huskily, "You know, hard outer shell. This pretense of being tough and in control. But on the inside, you're nothing but soft and gooey."

Robin threw her head back and laughed. "You're crazy!"

"Am I?" He leaned toward her. "You put up a front, but inside you're vulnerable and scared. Afraid of risk, afraid of the future, afraid of loving again."

Robin nodded. "Maybe you're right. But here's the difference between you and me. For the right person," she said pausing for a long moment and meeting his eyes, "I'd be willing to face my fears. Can you say the same?"

"That would mean admitting that I have any and we just covered that. I don't."

"Denial is not just a river in Egypt, Patrick."

"Clever."

She smiled and shook her head. "Someday, you're going to tell me how right I was. And on that day-..."

"Pigs will fly," he finished for her.

She ignored him and said, "I'll realize maybe you were worth all the trouble."

With that, Robin stood up and walked away, as Patrick's eyes followed her figure.

---

Patrick smiled, as he watched Robin sleep. He'd woken up about an hour ago and was having trouble focusing on anything but her face. She really was beautiful. He wondered if she knew just how beautiful she actually was. He'd had his share of beautiful women, but he had never before encountered a woman like Robin. He was finally starting to understand what people meant when they talked about inner beauty. The person he was discovering Robin to be made her all the more attractive to him.

She stirred, her eyelids slowly fluttering open. Patrick quickly moved his gaze to the ground, embarrassed to have her find him watching her sleep. He wasn't quite fast enough though. A sleepy smile pulled at her lips.

"Were you watching me sleep?" she asked.

He stammered. "What? Uh...no...of course not."

Her smile widened. "You were watching me sleep," she stated playfully.

He shook his head, meeting her eyes. "I was watching you drool all over your pillow. Real sexy."

Robin touched her mouth self-consciously. "Drool?"

"Like a baby, without the cute factor."

She rolled her eyes. "You're such a liar. Why don't you just admit you were watching me sleep? You know, in a creepy stalker-like way."

He grinned and stood up, stretching. "You believe whatever your deluded little head tells you to."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Robin's brow furrowed. "You expecting someone? Lola maybe?"

He didn't answer her as he walked to the door. A moment later, he carried in two room service trays.

"You ordered breakfast for us?" she asked, her eyebrows arching.

"Us?" he said, as he set the trays down on the table.

"Yeah, there are two trays."

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm really hungry."

Robin shook her head, her lips turning downward. "That's all for you? You didn't order me anything?"

Patrick shrugged. "I would never presume to order for you. You seem like the type who wouldn't like that kind of thing."

"Thanks a lot," she muttered.

"Plus, I wouldn't want you to think it was one of those sweet and thoughtful gestures you were babbling about last night."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "You really are something."

He grinned. "You're calling me some really obscene names in your head right now, aren't you?"

She offered him a pursed smile. "You have no idea."

He cut into his French toast and stuck a piece in his mouth. He spoke through his mouthful, while gesturing to her with his fork and knife. "I'm telling you, there are no layers here. I'm layerless."

Robin nodded, saying softly. "Maybe you are. Maybe you just know how to fake it sometimes."

Patrick lowered his eyes to his food.

---

Robin and Patrick made their way down to their first lecture of the day. They were walking down the hallway to the restaurant when Patrick spotted Lola. His eyes widened and, panicked, he grabbed Robin. He pushed her up against the wall, pinning his body with hers, before capturing her mouth with his. Robin was shocked for a moment, her eyes wide. But it didn't take her long to respond. She closed her eyes, threading her fingers through his hair and plunging her tongue into his mouth.

Suddenly, he pulled back. Robin's eyes remained closed, her lips staying slightly parted for a moment before she opened her eyes and looked at him.

All she wanted to do was kiss him again, but she knew how she was expected to react. So she brought her hand up, her palm connecting with his cheek. Patrick's hand flew up to the stinging skin.

"I thought we were clear on the rules, Patrick," she said, her tone overly sharp.

"That hurt," he said, rubbing at his cheek.

"Good, it was meant to."

He sighed and dropped his hand to his side. "I saw Lola. I told you, she leaves us alone if she sees us together. Apart, we're in trouble."

Robin's face twisted in confusion. "Well, we were together." She paused and made a gesture with her hand. "Why did you feel the need to make it so we were...you know...together ?"

"It seemed more realistic that way. Plus, you didn't seem like you were complaining a moment ago."

Robin stuttered. "You...I...I was taken by surprise, that's all."

"Your tongue seemed to recover well."

Robin's mouth dropped open, but she didn't say a word. He smiled at her and then continued on his way, leaving her rooted to her spot.

---

"All I'm saying is the guy's a quack," Patrick said, as they emerged from their final lecture of the day.

Robin shook her head. "You've got to be kidding. Patrick, he's respected worldwide."

"He uses hypnotherapy to treat neurological conditions, Robin. I can't believe you, Miss Medication, are buying into that."

"You can't argue with his results. He has dozens of documented cases where neurological conditions improved significantly from the use of hypnotherapy. There's something to be said for mind over matter."

Patrick shook his head. "Well, my mind is saying everything he said doesn't matter."

"You can't even open your mind the tiniest bit to another point of view, can you?"

"Sure I can, just not the point of view of a crazy person who happens to have a medical license."

Robin tilted her head and looked at him for a long moment. "You are so set in your ways."

"I stand by the medical knowledge-..."

She shook her head. "That's not what I meant." She paused and then went on, as he eyed her curiously. "It doesn't matter how many layers you may or may not have, does it? You're never going to change. It's just who you are. We both know the moment we get back to Port Charles you're going to start chasing after me again, not to mention countless other women."

"And how do you know that?"

"Peter Pan Complex. You won't grow up."

Patrick scoffed at that and shook his head. "That's ridiculous. If I want to change, I'll change. You said it. Mind over matter. Maybe I just don't want to."

"So then this is how you want to be forever? Because before you know it, you're going to wake up and you're going to be the creepy sixty-year old guy dating the beautiful twenty-one year old."

Patrick smiled. "You're going to have to point out the bad part in there because I'm having a hard time seeing it."

"Well, how about the word creepy for a start?"

He groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Your opinion."

"Don't you want more? Say what you want about me and the way I live, but I have loved and been loved by someone twice in my life. Whatever happens from here on, I'll look back and treasure those times in my life...the moments we shared. What are you going to have to look back on? An endless sea of women's nameless faces, a string of one-night stands? Trust me, one day you're going to wake up and you're going to realize that instant gratification is just that - instant. It's here and then it's gone. It's not lasting and it's not fulfilling. I just hope you realize that before it's too late."

With that, Robin turned on her heel and left Patrick to watch her go.

---

Patrick slipped his keycard in the door and opened it up when the light came on. He entered the room, his eyes landing on Robin's figure standing on the balcony watching the setting sun. He walked outside and took his place next to her.

"You're a hard woman to find."

"I went for a walk on the beach."

His eyes moved to her face. "It's a beautiful night for that."

"Yeah, it is." She lowered her head, her voice emerging reluctantly. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said. It's really none of my business what you do with your life."

"So then you still believe I can handle the friends thing with you, beyond our time here, that is? I mean, if I really want to."

Robin met his eyes. "I guess so."

"Because I have a great friend thing for us to do night. That is, if you're willing."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what it is."

"It's a surprise. But I can promise you there will be food, drinks, and entertainment."

Robin's lips twitched into a smile. "Okay. I'll go get changed."

---

Robin's brow furrowed as they walked up to their destination. She could hear the music from the parking lot.

She looked at the sign and read it aloud, "Cleopatra's Club."

They continued inside, Patrick guiding her along. Robin's eyes widened and she stopped in her tracks the moment she crossed the threshold. The half-naked women gyrating and swinging on poles couldn't help but catch her attention.

She turned around and faced Patrick. "You brought me to a strip club? Is this some kind of joke?"

He shook his head. "No joke. You're my buddy. This is what my buddies and I do when we go out."

Robin's lips turned down in disgust. "You obviously don't understand the concept of friendship. You don't treat all of your friends the same way, Patrick. I wouldn't go to the spa with Jax, but I'd go with my best friend, Brenda. Are you really this clueless?"

She stalked back outside, but he caught her arm before she got very far.

"No, just trying to prove a point."

"And what point would that be?"

"That we can't be just friends and I'm sick of pretending we can."

Robin's face twisted in confusion. "Why? Because I'm not a stripper club type girl?"

"No, because if we sat down and a woman came up to me, you'd get jealous."

"She's a stripper, Patrick. Uncomfortable, yes. Jealous, no."

"It doesn't matter who she is. You would get jealous because she's giving me her attention."

"She's a stripper! She gets paid to give you her attention!"

"That's not what I mean. Let's say we decide to try this friends thing back home. We could go to some clubs, get some dinner, have some drinks. But the moment another woman looked my way or struck up a conversation, you wouldn't be able to stand it."

"That's ridiculous. I don't care who you talk to."

"Liar."

"How do you know how I feel?"

He took a step closer to her. Robin stepped back, but realized the brick wall of the club was right behind her. She backed into it and swallowed hard.

"Because I know how I feel every time I see you with another guy."

Robin's eyes widened, but she shook her head. "That's you, not me."

He leaned in closer, his eyes meeting hers. "Then why does your breath catch in your chest whenever I touch you? If you don't care, if you don't feel anything, then why do you look at me the way you do?" He paused and then added, "Friendship only works if those involved are in it for the same thing. And if we have this between us, it will never work. You said I won't change, that I'll go back to chasing you the moment we get back to Port Charles. But, the truth is, it doesn't have anything to do with me changing my ways. I'd still want you no matter what and I know you feel the same."

Robin took a deep breath, resigning herself to the fact that any denials would fall on deaf ears. "Well, if the friends thing won't work, then I guess we'll just go back to completely professional."

"That would never work either," he said with a shake of his head. "There's too much between us."

Robin sighed in frustration. "Then what do you want, Patrick?"

He brought his lips close to hers and whispered, "This," before cupping her face with his hands and covering her mouth with his.

Patrick's body pressed into Robin's, pinning her against the wall. She moaned against his mouth, as his tongue slipped in to explore. Robin covered her hands with his, linking their fingers together. Patrick raised their arms and placed them over her head, as he moved his lips to her jaw. Robin arched her back, as his heated kisses trailed down her throat. He moved back to her mouth, nipping lightly at her lip before slowly pulling back.

His eyes fluttered open and met hers, dark and liquid with desire.

Robin licked her bottom lip, the taste of him lingering. Breathless she asked, "So what did that mean exactly?"

Patrick grinned, "Well, if I have to explain it then-..."

His voice trailed off as he noted her serious expression. She shook her head. "How does this change anything, Patrick? We've been here before."

"And you've always pulled away."

She met his eyes. "Well, I'm not going anywhere now. The truth is, I do want you. I've wanted you since the moment we met, which probably doesn't say much about me considering how we met. That's just the way it is though. And, yes, my HIV makes me cautious. But what makes me more cautious is the thought of opening my heart again only to be hurt. If I am going to do that, then I have to be sure that person is willing to give himself completely. So are you? Because this has to be about a relationship, a real relationship."

Patrick lowered his gaze. "I just know how I feel when I'm around you. It's not like anything I've ever experienced before."

Robin smiled. "That's a good thing."

He raised his eyes to meet hers. "Is it? You talk about love like this great thing that consumes you and changes your life for the better. But all I see is a woman who loved and lost twice. It changed you and not for the better. I look at my father. My mother was his whole world and after he lost her, he was nearly ruined. So when I think about where this could go, about love, all I can think is how is it going to end and what is it going to do to me?"

Robin's mouth dropped slightly open, surprised by his candor and suddenly understanding him much better. "Ask your father if he has any regrets. Ask him if knowing how it would end, how much it would hurt, how it would change him, if he would still love your mother all over again. I can guarantee you he'll say he would because that's what I'd say."

Patrick brought his hand up and touched her cheek, saying softly. "I want to believe it like you do. You asked me if I want more. I do, I'm just not sure I know how to do it."

"Then let me help you," she replied. "You helped me remember how good being spontaneous can feel. Give me a chance to show you what you've been missing."

Patrick looked into her eyes, willing himself to believe her words. But his fears were too great.

He dropped his head, turned on his heel and walked away from her. All Robin could do was watch him leave, tears springing to her eyes.

-----------------------------------------

Part 5 of 5 coming soon...

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you thought. -Steph