Ok, this has been swimming in my head for over a week or more and I just had to get it out. Planning on updating the Nicholas fic tomorrow night if all goes well. Hope you enjoy this! :)
TITLE: Just One Night
AUTHOR: LOTSlove®
CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman
RATING: PG-16/T
WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings
DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and if I did things would be much different for them.
SUMMARY: Against her better judgment, Diana reluctantly agrees to be auctioned off for a charity benefit. Who will be the highest bidder for just one night with the Princess? BM/WW One-Shot.
Just One Night
Cursing softly under her breath, Diana knew she had no one to blame but herself as she finished getting ready for the evening. How she had gotten talked into such a humiliating blatant display of sexism was beyond her and yet here she was dressing for an event where she would be auctioned off like cattle.
Hadn't women in Man's World moved past being bought and sold like property?
Shayera had explained to her that it was just for fun and not a slight against women, reminding her it was to raise money for charity. That was the only part of this whole gimmick that had caused her to agree in the first place.
They had known that she was a self-proclaimed ambassador for women's rights so when they had approached her to do this auction to raise money for a new battered women's shelter in Gotham she hadn't been able to refuse.
The Amazon Princess scowled at her reflection in the mirror, fighting a curly raven lock that refused to obey her wishes. She released a frustrated huff, deciding to just let it go. She was going to run late if she didn't leave soon.
The only thing that had given her the least bit of hope about the evening was the opportunity of possibly meeting someone tonight. Things with Bruce had not proceeded past flirting for the last couple of years and she was quickly losing her patience. She had finally told him in no uncertain terms that she wasn't going to wait for him forever.
The corners of her lips suddenly curled as she recalled the look of utter shock that had passed over his cowled face in that moment a few days ago when, in a fit of heated frustration with his lack of action, she had gone off on him in the monitor womb.
She had told him that if he wasn't going to do something about the obvious attraction between them and her desire for more with him then she was going to find someone who did want her. She hadn't even allowed him time to respond as she had abruptly turned on her heel, leaving him standing there slack-jawed and speechless.
She hadn't seen him since then, not because they were avoiding each other but because Bruce Wayne had been called out of the country on an emergency business meeting for Wayne Enterprises. He wasn't due back until tomorrow.
Diana had to admit that she was disappointed that he wouldn't be there at tonight's event. As angry as she was with him, she still loved him, wanted a relationship with him more than anything, but she refused to let that get in her way tonight.
It was time that she finally moved on, found someone who would truly let her in and love her the way that she deserved, a man who wouldn't fight her every attempt at intimacy. She was beginning to believe now that maybe Bruce's reasons for not getting involved with her had been rational, correct in his weird paranoid logic.
Though deep down she didn't believe it, she was beginning to believe that they just weren't meant to be.
Leaving her quarters on the Watchtower, Diana made her way to the transporter, the sounds of her high heels clicking loudly against the smooth steel floor. Her chin was raised confidently, the skirt of her gown swishing softly around her ankles.
A high-pitched cat call echoed down the hall just as she reached the transporter doors, causing her to pause to see Green Lantern coming towards her. "Where are you going tonight decked out looking like that?"
Diana grinned as John approached. "Charity benefit for a battered women's shelter in Gotham."
"Batman's letting you into his city?" he asked in surprise.
"He's not here so he can't snarl or complain about it," she replied.
"Well, his loss," Lantern shrugged his shoulder. "You would've knocked him dead in that dress."
"I doubt it," she sighed in resignation, allowing him a rare glance at her hurting heart.
"What makes you think that?"
"If Bruce was interested in me, he would've done something about it by now," she shook her head. "He obviously isn't attracted to me, doesn't want me in his life."
Green Lantern broke into a fit of laughter that had the Amazon Princess morphing from shocked to angry. "I'm sorry, Diana," he held up a hand as his other held his stomach. "I don't mean to laugh, but that man is so head-over-heels in love with you a blind man could see it."
A perfect raven eyebrow arched in response to his words. "I'm not so sure about that, John."
"Look, Di," he said. "Whatever goes on between you and Bruce is your business, but I wouldn't give up on him quite so quickly if I were you. There are some things worth fighting for and love is most definitely one of them."
Diana released a heavy sigh, slowly nodding her head in agreement. "I know, but sometimes I get tired of always being the only one fighting."
Lantern laid an understanding hand on her bare shoulder, his dark eyes full of sympathy. "We'll support you now matter what you decide to do. Have a good time tonight."
She smiled softly with his words as she turned to leave. "Thanks, John."
XXX
Diana entered the ballroom, the low drone of chatter increasing exponentially as she entered. All eyes were suddenly on her, but she didn't allow it to bother her. She had grown accustomed to all of the attention that she garnered every place she went. She had long ago learned to ignore it no matter how annoying and tedious it got at times.
"Diana!"
The Amazon turned to find Amy coming towards her. As head of the benefit, they'd been trading emails and text messages for the last two weeks, making sure everything was all set. Now that the time was finally here, Diana was suddenly wishing she had just said no.
"You look positively gorgeous!" Amy gushed as she approached, taking the Amazon by the hand and leading her to a nearby table, taking a glass of champagne and handing it to the guest of honor before continuing. "Tonight is going to be absolutely fabulous. We've had an unremarkable amount of response to this benefit all because of your presence, Diana."
"I like to do whatever I can to bring attention to important issues concerning women and children," Diana replied, taking a sip of her champagne.
"I just wish that Bruce Wayne could've been here tonight," Amy pouted. "He's always one of Gotham's biggest contributors."
"Yes, disappointing I'm sure," Diana murmured, her anger with him still simmering inside.
"Oh well," Amy continued on. "I'm sure he'll send in a sizeable check later. He always does when he isn't able to make a personal appearance. He's just so incredibly handsome and so very available. Between you and me I would love to have a go at him."
Diana averted her gaze as she took another sip of her drink, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with where this conversation was going. As much as she hated to admit it, she'd had more than her fair share of very erotic dreams involving the dashing billionaire.
The sting of rejection on his part only served to help further fuel her anger. "I'm sure he would've had one of his usual ditzy blonds hanging all over him even if he did come tonight."
The definite hard edge to Diana's voice was completely missed by Amy who was too engrossed in her own lustful thoughts over the billionaire playboy. "I still wouldn't mind being the one that he took home to that mansion of his."
"You'd just be another conquest on his long list of flings," Diana bitterly replied. "He has an issue with commitment."
"You never know, though," Amy dreamily said, a far-away look in her eyes. "I just might get to be the one who nabs him after all someday, taking that handsome hunk of a man off the market once and for all.
"I bet he's fabulous in bed too…at least that's the talk of all the women he's bedded. He's quite the animal if you know what I mean."
The sudden sound of shattering glass suddenly brought Amy out of her dream-like state as she stared at the Amazon with the now crushed flute in her hand. "Must have had a defect in the glass," Diana sheepishly stated, looking down at the pieces of glass in her hand.
"We have to get you cleaned up right away," Amy cried. "The auction is about to begin soon."
Diana watched as Amy ran for a towel. She carefully brushed the broken pieces of glass off of her hand and onto the table, her fingers wet with champagne when a deep familiar voice from behind suddenly caused her to instantly freeze.
"Here, let me help you with that, Wonder Woman."
Her hand automatically clenched into a tight fist that caused the glass to dig deep into her skin as she whirled on her heel to find herself staring into the face of Lex Luthor. "I'm fine," she bit out. "Thank you for your concern."
"Now, now," Lex patiently cajoled her as he took his handkerchief out from inside his tux pocket. "Don't be so cold."
"What are you doing here?" she demanded to know, too angry to realize that he had taken her hand and was dabbing off the remnants of glass and champagne.
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, his dark eyes gleaming. "I'm here to support the women's shelter…and to bid on you, of course."
"I won't go out with you," she coldly stated.
"Then the women's shelter won't get my money," Lex told her, knowing that she wouldn't let that happen.
Realizing he was holding her hand, she quickly retracted it. "Why are you doing this?"
"What red blooded American male wouldn't jump at a chance to have the famous Princess of the Amazons all to himself for one night?" he leered lustfully at her.
"It's not that kind of a night and you know it," she hissed.
"I never meant to insinuate anything more than dinner and dancing, Diana," he smoothly replied in that slimy way that always made her skin crawl. "Might I add, though, that you look absolutely ravishing tonight?"
Diana ground her teeth as he captured her hand again, bringing it up to kiss her knuckles as he bowed low. Thankfully, Amy reappeared at that moment, saving her from pummeling this slime ball mercilessly.
"Diana, it's time!" she exclaimed, grabbing the Amazon's hand and beginning to drag her away from Lex.
"I'll be seeing you again very shortly, Wonder Woman," Lex smirked at her.
Diana's rage was barely controlled at that point as she allowed Amy to lead her up onto the stage. She was quickly blinded by the bright spot lights that shone on her, making it difficult to make out the sea of faces staring back at her.
The thought of being bought like property made her ill. The thought of being bought by Lex Luthor made her blood boil. When this was over, she was personally going to kick Bruce's ass for not being here tonight to save her from this dreadful nightmare she had somehow gotten herself into.
She silently swore to herself never to do another one of these auctions for as long as she was in Man's World no matter how important the cause was. Nothing was worth this humiliation or the dreadful prospect of being subjected to Lex Luthor's advances for an entire evening.
There was a sharp piercing noise that came over the sound system as Amy took the microphone in hand. "Whoa!" she laughed. "Sorry about that. I just want to start out by thanking everyone for coming out tonight and I want to personally thank Wonder Woman for offering herself for this important cause."
Amy waited for the applause to die down before continuing. "Now, who would like to start the bidding?" she asked. "I'll start it out at one thousand dollars. Do I have one thousand dollars?"
Finally adjusted to the bright lights, Diana watched as hands shot up in the air all over the ballroom. Her every muscle was corded tightly in anger, her pride feeling the slap of humiliation and shame for lowering herself to do this. She could only imagine what her mother and sisters on Themyscira would say if they saw her now.
"It's for the battered women of Gotham," she silently kept repeating to herself.
Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides, but she forced herself to relax, even smiling as the bidding war began. Before she knew it, the bidding had grown rather heated, reaching over five hundred thousand dollars and down to only a very small handful of men bidding now.
"I'll pay one million dollars," Lex suddenly yelled, raising his hand.
"One million dollars!" Amy gasped in shock. "Did you hear that folks? One million dollars! This is unbelievable! Thank you, Mister Luthor!"
Diana's stomach instantly lurched as she ground her teeth. It took every ounce of strength she had to keep herself from walking right off of the stage and pounding Lex Luthor right into the ground. Instead, she forced herself to take a deep breath, resigning herself to her horrifying fate.
"One million dollars!" Amy said into the mic. "One million going once…going twice…going three…"
"Two million dollars."
Everyone in the room gasped at the baritone voice that suddenly came from the back of the room as a handsome man dressed in a black tux made his way towards the front. Murmurs erupted all around as everyone realized it was none other than the billionaire playboy himself Bruce Wayne.
Diana released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as her cobalt gaze fell on the man who had captured her heart over two years ago, her pulse suddenly racing at the sight of him. Her gaze remained hard despite her relief. She wasn't out of the woods yet and besides she was still angry with him.
"Two million dollars!" Amy gasped, clutching the mic tighter to keep from fainting. "Did you hear that ladies and gentlemen? Bruce Wayne has just bid two million dollars!"
"Two point five million," Lex counter bid with a scowl on his face as he glared at the billionaire playboy of Gotham who was standing in the front of the crowd with him now.
Bruce coolly stared back at him, his face never flinching or revealing anything more than smug determination as he replied. "Three million."
"Three million dollars!" By now, Amy was fanning herself with the papers she had clutched tightly in her hand, nearly overcome with the excitement of it all. She couldn't have planned this better if she had done it herself.
The crowd was being whipped into a frenzy of gasps and hushed conversations as the two wealthiest men in the room dueled over the beautiful Amazon Princess. Diana, meanwhile, couldn't believe what was happening.
"Four million." Lex sneered, his eyes never leaving Bruce's.
This had turned into a pissing match and Bruce was definitely not about to lose to Lex Luthor or lose the Princess to anyone. She belonged to him. "Five".
Amy's legs had nearly buckled by now as she gripped the podium before her for much needed support. "Five million dollars!" she cried, her voice tremulous with excitement and shock. "Do I hear more?"
Lex stared down Bruce who hadn't flinched a single muscle under his withering gaze, leveling him with one of his own. Unable to stand it a moment longer, Lex finally shook his head no, refusing to verbally admit defeat to Bruce Wayne.
"Five million going once…twice…three times!" Amy yelled. "Wonder Woman sold to Mister Bruce Wayne for the evening for five million dollars!"
Diana shot Amy a heated look that could've shattered glass for wording it the way she had, but had to admit the great relief she felt for being saved from a fate worse than death by spending the night with Lex. However, her pride wasn't going to stand for it.
She coolly glanced at Bruce who was staring at her from the floor, his hands shoved into his pants pockets and that damn smug smirk dancing on his lips. He slowly approached her as everyone began to move away to mingle and dance and gossip about the night's events.
She watched as he came to a stop before her, his head tipped back to look up at her on the stage. "You're welcome."
"You arrogant ass," she hissed with deadly venom as she quickly descended the stairs and began to make her way past him.
She was pulled to a sudden stop by a strong hand on her arm, forcing her to turn around. She turned to find herself staring into Bruce's piercing blue eyes that always made her heart stutter, the intensity in his gaze sending a shiver of desire down her spine.
"I believe I deserve a dance tonight," he told her with a characteristic playboy smirk, his fingers sliding down her arm to take her hand.
"You deserve nothing," she snapped. "You get one evening and that's all you get."
"It's all I'll need," he confidently told her as he led her to the dance floor.
Diana went willingly despite herself, not wanting to create a scene since the majority of the people were still gawking at them. Besides that, he had paid five million dollars to win her.
She lifted her chin as she allowed him to take her into his arms, trying to ignore the flushed sensation that shot through her as his hand came to rest on the small of her back, his masculine scent making her lightheaded. His muscular form radiated heat that did nothing to help diminish her own desire for him as he moved her around the dance floor.
"You look breathtaking tonight," he softly said, his eyes softening as he momentarily shed the playboy persona, allowing her to see the real Bruce Wayne.
Arriving late, he had been watching her for some time from the shadows as she had talked to Amy and then Lex Luthor before the auction had started. She was wearing a navy blue gown with two thin straps over each shoulder that crisscrossed low in the back and made her eyes bluer if that was even possible.
Her thick raven hair was done up in a beautiful intricate braid that trailed down her back, dark ringlets framing her face. Her only jewelry was a delicate necklace and her silver bracers. The thigh-high slit in her gown had his mouth watering from the moment he had arrived.
Her entire ambiance exuded such regality and grace that he'd found it damn near impossible to take his eyes off of her from the first moment he laid eyes on her. He had stayed in the back once the bidding began, deciding to make her sweat it out for a little bit before swooping in to her rescue.
He knew she was angry with him and had hoped that the prospect of him saving her from an evening spent with Lex Luthor would help put him back into her good graces. That obviously had not been the case if the fiery look in her eyes was any indication.
If possible, Diana was even more stunning when she was angry, further stirring his desire. She was such an intensely passionate person, wearing her emotions so close to the surface that he found himself completely mesmerized when that passion broke through whether it be anger or joy, indignation or love.
"What are you doing here?" she finally asked, ignoring his compliment. The feel of dancing in his arms was beginning to overwhelm her, her control beginning to waver as his body pressed against hers.
"I cut my business trip short so I could be here to bid on you," he admitted, leaning in close and allowing his cheek to brush momentarily against hers so he could whisper in her ear. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have the amazing Wonder Woman all to myself for a whole evening…especially when she tells me she's going to find someone else to love her."
Stunned, Diana suddenly forgot how to speak, his words combined with the feel of his warm breath against her ear making her tingle all over. She swallowed hard, not sure what to say as she felt her anger beginning to falter.
Had he truly changed his mind about a relationship with her? Was he willing to give them a chance?
She subconsciously pressed her cheek against his, relishing the moment and the way he was making her feel. Her heart was beginning to race, excitement bubbling up within her. This was what she had wanted for so long, but still she couldn't help the fear that he would turn around tomorrow and change his mind.
Actions spoke louder than words and he would definitely need to prove it to her.
"Bruce, I…"
"May I cut in, Bruce?"
Bruce felt Diana instantly bristle in his arms at the sound of Lex Luthor's voice, but she had nothing to worry about. He wasn't about to give her up for anyone. Not now, not ever. "Sorry, Lex," Bruce grinned cockily at him as he took Diana's hand firmly in his. "The Princess is with me now."
Bruce could hear Lex curse under his breath as he led Diana off the dance floor. He also heard Diana wince as he tightened his hold on her hand. He had seen her crush the champagne flute earlier making him wonder what Amy had said to upset her.
Spotting Amy, Bruce led Diana towards her. "Amy, can you get me a small medical kit?" he asked, feeling the warm sticky trickle of her blood against his hand. "I think Diana has some glass imbedded in her hand."
"Bruce, I'm fine," Diana countered.
"Yes, Mister Wayne," Amy anxiously replied, running off to see what she could find only to return a couple of minutes later with the kit in hand. "I hope you'll be alright, Diana."
"Don't worry, Amy," Diana insisted. "It's nothing. Mister Wayne is just overreacting."
"Come on, Princess," he told her as he led her towards the women's bathroom.
"Bruce, you can't go in there," she gasped, stunned.
"Watch me," he curtly replied before suddenly turning and grabbing her around the waist, lifting her up and sitting her down on the counter.
"Bruce!" she cried in shock as he maneuvered to stand directly in front of her to keep her right where he wanted her.
"Just let me take care of you, Diana," he firmly stated, the fierce determination in his azure eyes silencing her.
Losing herself in his gaze, she slowly gave him her hand, uncurling her fingers to allow him to look at it. He gently took it as if she were made of the finest china, his eyes never leaving hers as he brought it to his lips to softly kiss the tips of her fingers, his thumb caressing the back of it causing her breath to hitch.
Diana watched as Bruce took his handkerchief from his tux pocket, running it under the water before gently wiping the blood from the palm of her hand. Opening the kit up, he removed the tweezers before probing her hand for the pieces of glass imbedded there.
He could feel her eyes on him, intently studying him as he worked. He knew this was his one night, his one chance to win her forever and he wasn't going to pass it up this time. He'd been pushing her away for far too long, trying to keep her as well as his feelings at bay, but he couldn't do it any longer, especially if it meant losing her to someone else.
As scared as he was to let her into his life, he was more terrified of losing her. He loved her too much to let her go. "I was proud of you tonight," he softly said as he pulled a small shard of glass from her hand, dropping it into the sink with a soft clink.
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I know how difficult it was for you to be auctioned off like property, but it was very gracious of you to swallow your pride for a noble cause like that," he told her, inspecting her hand for more glass.
"It turned out to be much harder than I had imagined," she admitted, leaning over to look at her hand as he worked. "I'm just relieved that you showed up when you did. It was all I could do not to walk off that stage when I thought Lex was going to win."
Bruce could feel her warm breath pulsating softly against the side of his face as he dug out another sliver of glass. Her proximity was making it difficult to concentrate, to focus on what it was he had been planning to say to her tonight. He didn't want to mess this up.
"Did I cut it too close for you?" Bruce teased.
"Just how long were you there before you finally decided to intervene?" she frowned, suddenly suspicious.
"A while," he confessed, dropping another chip of glass into the sink.
"So you left me up there to worry that Lex had really won?" she demanded to know.
Bruce smirked as he looked up into her beautiful face, her blue eyes flashing with irritation. "I had it fully under control, Princess," he replied as he began to wrap a bandage around her hand. "I wasn't going to let him or anyone else have you."
"Why, Bruce?" she asked, hope lacing her voice. "Why would you care who I ended up with tonight?"
"Because you belong with me," he firmly stated, her lips suddenly hovering so dangerously close to his. Her heavenly scent was driving him wild, his desire rippling in waves beneath his skin.
"I thought you didn't want me…couldn't let me into your life," she softly replied. "I'm an immortal Amazon from an island full of women and you're a rich kid with issues…lots of issues."
"I was wrong," he murmured, his gaze falling to her red lips.
"Maybe you were right after all," she whispered, her voice no longer holding the conviction it had just held. "Maybe we just weren't meant to be together."
"No, Diana," he heated stated. "I was wrong…very wrong."
"I thought the Batman was never wrong."
Bruce's hand moved to cup her face, his thumb gently brushing along her cheekbone. His heart was hammering as he finally closed the distance between them, his lips softly grazing hers. "There's a first time for everything, Princess."
Before she could respond, he was kissing her with an unleashed passion that she had only experienced in her dreams. Her hands slipped into his short black hair, holding him close as she lost herself to the heated moment, her legs spreading to allow him to settle between them.
His hands roamed over her with a fierce hunger that could no longer be denied, settling on her bottom and pulling her hard against him. She moaned at the feel of his arousal so hard against her center, his need for her intensifying.
Breaking the kiss, Diana pressed her forehead against his, each equally fighting to catch their breath. She ran her tongue over her lips, fighting the overwhelming urge to take him to the floor right here. "Are you sure about this, Bruce?" she tentatively asked. "I'm not a one night kind of woman…even if you did pay five million dollars."
He knew she was teasing about the money, but there was a definite fear there in her voice that he was more than desperate to erase. "I don't want one night with you, Princess," he huskily told her, his hands threading through her braided raven hair. "I want you every night…forever."
"I want that too," she whispered.
"I love you, Princess," he confessed. "I've loved you for so very long. I don't want to run away from you any longer."
"I love you too, Bruce Wayne," she smiled softly, leaning in and kissing him deeply, swallowing his wanton groan. "Can we get out of here now?"
"I would love nothing more," he murmured, helping her off the counter. Taking her hand in his, he led her out of the bathroom to Alfred and the limo waiting outside for them. "So what made you break that champagne glass?"
"Just rumors about you and your bed-hopping persona that you created," she admitted, smiling brightly at Alfred who held the door open for her with a knowing grin.
Climbing into the backseat of the limo with her, Bruce smirked at her as he took her bandaged hand in his. "You know none of its true, Princess," he replied. "I want you and only you."
"That's good because that flute glass won't be the only thing I break if you change your mind about us," she smiled sweetly at him.
Turning towards her, he wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him. "I have no plans of ever changing my mind, Princess," he murmured as he began to kiss slowly along her slender throat. "I plan on making this night last forever."
THE END (?)
Let me know if you want to a Chp2 exploring what happens in the limo on their way home to the Manor! :)