Heather’s heart is pounding as Nightwing runs a slow gaze over her sexy costume.
As she puts down her Captain America shield, she wonders what this hunk would do if he saw her in real life.
Would he be into plain girls?
Heather
Damn, Jenna was right.
Um…about him being ridiculously hot?
Heather
Never mind. Getting back into character now.
Nightwing
Sounds good to me…
He adapts a teasing superhero position, leaning against the wall with his thick arms crossed.
Nightwing
So, Captain, thanks for answering my call.
Nightwing
You look even hotter in person.
Nightwing
Why don’t you come closer?
Heather
No need for that, Nightwing. Word has it that Marvel heroes can’t trust you DC guys…
Heather
…especially a vigilante like you, who used to be Batman’s sidekick.
Nightwing
That was long ago. I’m my own man now.
Heather
Yeah, I can see that.
She smiles, breathless. She’s totally getting turned on by this game — and by him.
Nightwing
I meant it before, Cap. Get your tight ass over here.
Heather
Okay, when you put it that way…
She sidles closer, dizzy with his clean scent and the way he towers over her.
He reaches out to touch her blond wig.
She almost pulls back until she remembers that, as long as she’s wearing a costume, this isn’t true intimacy.
As long as Heather has on a mask, she’ll never disappoint.
Nightwing
When you walked into this party, I couldn’t take my eyes off you.
Nightwing
There’s something about the way you laughed with your friend that made it impossible for me to look away.
Heather
Is that Nightwing talking or is it the guy underneath the costume?
Nightwing
Shit, I keep forgetting. I’m not used to cosplay.
Heather
Well, you’ve still got a way with words.
Nightwing
I’ve got a way with—
Heather
—a lot more than that!
They laugh at how she can already finish his brash sentences.
Then his voice gets low, gritty.
Nightwing
Would you have me any other way?
He trails his fingers from her wig to her throat, and she quivers at the contact.
Heather
When you say things like that, it makes it easier for me to let off a little steam…
Heather
As Captain-ette America, of course.
Nightwing
Must’ve been tough out there battling your enemies today, Cap.
Heather
Real tough. I’ve been saving people all day…
Heather
But I’ve been saving MYSELF for a superhero.
Heat fills Nightwing’s eyes. He and she are all alone here while the party rages on downstairs.
He eases his fingers under her high collar, lazily stroking the sensitive skin beneath.
Nightwing
How much steam do you want to let off?
Heather
That depends how good you are with those fingers.
She’s always bold while in her costumes, but this is BOLD.
Heather
What kind of daring feats can you perform with those hands?
Nightwing
Let’s put it this way — I’ll bet I can make you cry out my name…
Nightwing
…and you wouldn’t be doing it because you’re in need of a rescue.
Heather
Oh, God, keep talking…
Nightwing
I can touch your soft skin until you’ve got tremors buzzing through you.
Nightwing
I can pet you until you get off like you’ll never get off again.
While he keeps stroking her collarbone, he uses his other hand to run his expert fingertips down her arm…
He comes to rest them at her bare midriff.
Heather’s breath trembles.
Heather
And if we get caught?
Nightwing
I told you — I’m hard to catch.
He hooks his fingers into her red belt, pulling her closer to him.
A wave of desire roars through her, and she pulls in an excited breath.
Then, as he starts to use those fingers, she closes her eyes in pure ecstasy…
A half hour later, Heather texts Jenna from the bathroom where she’s retreated.
Jenna
Squee? I think you’re trying to tell me something.
Jenna
You did? You HELLION!!!
Heather
Okay, before you get too excited, I didn’t get all the way DOWN with Nightwing.
Heather
But, OMG, Jen, I sure as hell blasted off like a crazy rocket.
Heather
And all the man needed to get me going was his fingers…
Heather
Plus some very well-placed kisses.
Heather
But just to be clear, the costumes stayed on.
Heather
Not that this mattered because, DAMN…
Heather
I don’t think I’ve ever had such a hard Big O with all my clothes on before.
Jenna
So are you texting me to thank me for giving him your number?
Heather
THANK YOU OH GREAT ORGASM BEQUEATHING GODDESS!
Jenna
Just tell me he wants to see you again, because he sounds like magic!
Jenna
Oh-oh. I have a bad feeling about this. You’re taking way too long to answer.
Heather
Okay, yes, he told me afterward that he wants to see me tomorrow night.
Heather
Remember how I only wanted fun?
Heather
If I meet him again, that’s a step AWAY from fun.
Jenna
In other words, reality intruded and you shut him down.
Heather
Jen, you know how this’ll go…
Heather
He got turned on by the costume, but it’s always the same old story after that.
Jenna
I have no idea what’s stopping you from being just as confident out of a costume.
Jenna
You don’t have to hide behind that bold personality you put on.
Jenna
Don’t give me your usual excuses.
Heather
They’re not excuses.
Jenna
Example of a Heather Excuse: Hi! I’m a personal assistant during the week and a cosplay queen on the weekends…
Jenna
And I can NEVER live up to the costumes or attitude I wear!
Jenna
Here’s another Heather Excuse: Even if I find a guy who’s attracted to me OUT of costume, I end up freaking out!
Jenna
You see, every guy I’ve dated discovers at some point that I am all bark, no bite…
Jenna
To sum it up, guys discover that, underneath my masks, I am BORING!
Jenna
I am a self-sabotaging piece of work who has intimacy issues…
Jenna
And they probably stem from watching my mom implode after my dad’s death.
Heather
Thank you. That was enlightening.
Jenna
It was meant to be because, let’s face it…
Jenna
You do talk a good game when you’re in costume or in prime Brazen Heather mode.
Jenna
Your problem is that you don’t think you can ever be as free and sexy outside of your acts.
Heather
You think you know everything just because of what you went through with Adam, don’t you?
Jenna
I did say I would be here for you when you epically screwed up with a guy. Remember?
Heather
I’m not screwing up. This was just a thing, that’s all.
Jenna
Would you just text this Nightwing guy to find out? See what happens!
Jenna
See how many Big O’s he can give you with his super hotness!
Heather huffs out a breath and straightens her wig, looking in the bathroom mirror.
All she sees is a costumed fantasy looking back at her.
Heather
Jen, I’d rather keep this fantasy pure without reality ruining it, okay?
Heather
So mission accomplished for the night. I’m ready to get out of here when you are.
Jenna
Are you sure? It’s your last chance to get some more Nightwing in your life, baby.
Yeah, it’s her last chance.
But Heather can’t TAKE the chance that he’ll be just like all the rest…
Guys who’ve always dropped her after they see the mouse who roared underneath all the masks she wears.
Guys just like her last boyfriend.
