Title : How to Get a Player to Commit
Author : Steph
Rating : PG
Pairing : Robin/Patrick
Category : Romance/Humor/Drama
POV : Robin
Disclaimer : I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers : Picks up after the cabin, so includes all of that.
Summary : Robin decides she wants a commitment from Patrick and comes up with a set of rules to follow in order to get her man.

Note: Thanks for the feedback! Hope you enjoy Rule # 6 and please let me know what you thought. -Steph

How to Get a Player to Commit: Rule # 6 - Tell Him Lies. Tell Him Sweet, Little Lies.

Since our lunch date five days ago, I've managed to largely ignore Patrick. I've improved a lot in the playing hard to get department. I seem disinterested in anything he has to say that veers outside of work matters. I walk the other way when he comes toward me if we aren't scheduled to have a consult. I haven't returned any of his phone calls, of which there have been many. By the way, since when does no strings sex involve so many phone calls that are supposed to be returned? That sounds likes some strings to me. Sure, I know it's probably because he wants to set up a time for us to have sex, but still.

Now I'm not saying any of this has been easy because it hasn't. I enjoy our teasing and bantering. I like when once in a blue moon he tells me how he's feeling about something or discusses something he is going through with me, like his issues with his father.

Every time I see him, I feel myself being pulled towards him, like a magnet. His piercing eyes meet mine and it takes all of my strength to look away and then move along. Whenever I hear his voice on my voicemail, I feel my heart beat a little faster and my fingers itch to dial his number.

But I have resisted. My mother always said that men want what they can't have. Well, I've made it so he can't have me, in any sense, even physically. He still hasn't caught onto the physical part yet, but he will. I am not about to have sex with him again. I'm not even going to let him kiss me.

I'm sitting on my couch in my less-than-flattering, but oh-so-comfortable plaid flannel pajamas watching television, when I hear a knock at my door. I sigh, looking down at my clothing, but feeling too lazy to go in search of a robe. I move to the door and pull it open, surprised to find Patrick leaning against the door frame.

His eyes scan the length of my body, a grin appearing on his lips. "Good look for you."

"Shut up," I say with a playful roll of my eyes.

He brushes past me and enters my living room. I turn around, shutting the door behind him.

"I don't believe I invited you in."

"Nope, don't believe you did."

"Or invited you over."

"Nope, don't believe you did that either."

"And yet here you are."

"Here I am," he says, holding his hands up and shrugging his shoulders, while flashing me a dimpled smile.

I cross my arms over my chest. "And why exactly are you here?"

"Well, I can't seem to hold your attention at work, so I figured I'd try you at home."

I fold my arms over my chest and offer him a pointed look. "You came over here for sex."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

He tilts his head. "Well?"

"Well what?"

He takes a step toward me and begins to lean down. I laugh and place my hands on his chest.

"You've got to be kidding."

He smiles. "Look, I'm willing to overlook the pajamas. I'm not picky." He pauses and then adds with a grin, "Plus, they won't be on for much longer. I have a feeling they'll look much better lying on the floor."

I roll my eyes. "You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet."

He begins to lean down again, but I push him away once more.

He sighs. "What?"

"You think you can just come over here whenever you want and demand sex?"

"It wasn't a demand. More like a request," he says, eyes sparkling.

My brow furrows. "Do I look like a radio station that plays hits from the eighties? I don't take requests."

He places his hands on his hips in frustration. "What about our no strings sex pact?"

"That doesn't mean you can have it whenever you want."

His brow creases. "Wait a minute. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that was you who came over to my place in nothing but your underwear and seduced me, right?"

"Seduced you? You've never needed to be seduced in your life."

"But that was you, right?"

"I told you. I was looking for Austin."

"Right. I didn't believe that the first time and we both know it wasn't said seriously. I can't believe you can even say it with a straight face."

"I didn't come over for sex."

His eyes widen. "So, you normally walk around town in nothing but a trenchcoat and your underwear then?"

I bite at my bottom lip. I'm not sure what to say. I can't tell him that I was just following one of my rules. I decide to change the subject.

"Look, forget that whole thing. Let's just be clear now. You can't just demand or request sex whenever you want." I smile. "See, if we were in a relationship and we were sitting around watching some television and you turned to me, giving me that look you give me," I say, pausing to take a deep breath, "Then you would have a much better chance. But no strings sex just entitles you to sex without strings, nothing more, no assurances."

He sighs. "Back to this again."

"What are you talking about?"

"The commitment thing. It's rearing its ugly head."

"I was simply pointing out the differences in a purely sexual relationship and a real, committed relationship."

"Subtle."

"Patrick, I don't want a commitment from you."

Lie. A sweet, little lie.

"You could fool me. I have this strange feeling that I'm being tricked into committing."

My breath catches in my chest. Is he onto me?

"Tricked? How would I trick you?"

He takes a step closer and looks down at me, his expression suddenly serious. "By making me see what it is I could have as all mine...what I'm missing."

I smile. "Good idea if I wanted a commitment, which I-..."

"Don't," he finishes for me, his eyes still focused on mine. "The more you say it, the less I believe it."

I sigh. What good are lies if they're not believed?

I realize his eyes are still focused on my face. He's just staring at me. I feel my cheeks growing hot.

"What?"

"I just miss you, that's all," he says softly.

"You mean you miss having sex with me," I reply quickly, trying to ignore his soft tone and lowering my eyes from his piercing gaze.

He raises his thumb and forefinger to my chin and lifts my head so my eyes again meet his.

"Don't put words in my mouth. That's not what I meant," he says, his tone firm, but voice remaining soft.

I swallow hard and manage to croak, "Sorry."

He refuses to release his hold on my chin and I suddenly feel like I can't breathe.

"You miss me too, don't you," he says as more of a statement than a question.

I take a step back and his hand falls away. I move my eyes to the ground.

"Actually, I've been doing just fine. I never realized how much time I wasted bickering with you or having conversations about absolutely nothing. I'm getting more work done. I'm more focused. I have more time for myself...and others. It's been great."

He cocks his head to the right. "Are these lies you tell yourself, too, or just me?"

"They're not lies."

"Sure, they are," he says with a self-assured smile. He takes a step toward me again. "Before you laid eyes on me, your life was boring, run-of-the-mill. You always knew what to expect. It was the same thing day in and day out. You can't say the same now. I see the excitement in your eyes when you look at me. You like being around me, whether we're arguing, teasing, talking, or having sex. You can't get enough of me, so stop acting like you can."

My brow furrows. "I know you have a big ego and it probably feeds it to think that I can't happily exist outside your presence. I also know it would be an exercise in futility to try to convince you otherwise, so I won't even make an attempt. But here's the interesting thing: You actually seem to feel the same about being around me. So I guess the question is why?"

"Is it so hard to believe I enjoy your company? That I want to be friends?"

"Friends with benefits, you mean."

"Exactly."

"That's all you want?"

"Yup."

I smile. "Are these lies you tell yourself, too, or just me?"

I realize that by calling him out on how he's feeling I may be revealing my true feelings too, but I don't care. I have to keep pushing him. He'll eventually cave.

He lowers his eyes and runs a hand through his hair. "This was a bad idea."

"What?"

"Coming over here."

"Patrick."

"I have to go," he says, head bowed. He then turns on his heel and takes a few steps forward, placing his hand on the doorknob. He stands there for a few moments, before his hand drops to his side. I hear him let out a breath, as he turns back around to face me.

His eyes can't quite meet mine. "I just...I want you to know that I didn't really come over here for sex."

My eyes widen. "Then why did you come over?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I told you, I missed you." He then swallows hard and focuses his eyes on the ground. "I realized it had been five days since I'd heard you laugh or saw you smile. I didn't think I could last one more day without either one."

My mouth drops open slightly. He sure has the power to surprise me. I never would have expected those words to come out of his mouth.

Something is changing for him. He's starting to open up. It's almost as if he can't help himself.

He meets my eyes. "I guess I just wanted you to know that."

He then turns around and walks out the door.

I sigh and sink back down into the couch. He's getting closer. I can see it and feel it. He's not going to be able to deny how he feels much longer.

He's hanging on by a thread.

And so am I.

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Up Next: Rule # 7 - Keep Him Guessing

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