"How much longer?"
"Not long, now." He assures me through the earpiece.
I'm standing outside with the cold breeze hitting my skin, and the temperatures still dropping.
He'd assigned me to this specifically small mission, frankly because I was the only one available but mostly cause even though I loved the company of my girls, today wasn't something I could handle. So when Kal called asking for backup, I didn't bother giving it a second thought. I was turning 28 and enough was enough.

Sighing loudly I rearranged the coat and fixed the outfit that was standing as my cover.
Then my ears perked up as I heard the approaching footsteps. Kaldur's voice came in through again, "he's here."

"How much sweetheart?" This slick silver haired guy asked as he approached the alley. Holding everything back I tried to keep it together, it was show time.
My body had been leaning into the side of the abandoned building in Gotham. So as I moved in closer to the guy I raised my voice in a different tone, "that depends…"
His eyes perked up. "…do you want a good time?" I replied baring a sexy smile on my face.
Getting a closer look at him I knew I could easily rip this guy a part limb from limb, but when I caught a whiff of his mix of smells I quickly became disgusted at the thought. The cigar smell lingered but you could faintly make out the smell of the consumed drugs on him.

Silver hair was quick to feel me up and all I could do was remind myself, 'keep it together Crock'. He then wrapped my arms around him and we began to make our way out of the dark alley.
"I'm following right behind." Kal's voice came quietly through my ear piece.

Bobbing my head in a silly matter I confirmed his orders and continued laughing at whatever it was silver hair was babbling about. It wasn't long before we made it to an old motel a few streets down from the alley we'd met. I quickly stepped into action and fought a giggle here and there as I was quick to feel him up searching for any evidence I might be able to pull off of him. In seconds we were stumbling into the room as I continued to giggle along with my act. But that bed was getting a lot closer and his clothes were being stripped off of him in a steady pace.

"If you can't find anything," Kal's voice chirped in again, "you need to abort, Artemis."
'You're not here to mess around Crook, Kal's right; if you're doing this you do it now.' My thoughts argue back.
"So tell me…" my hands caress his body as I silently wrap his belt around his hands, "have you been a bad boy?"
"Yea sweetheart," he chuckles, "been a real bad one."

"In that case..."
Quickly I've tightened his straps and he's crying out in pain. 'It's time to get this over with.'
"Gah!" he yells, "A tad too tight hun."
"Richmond Santiago isn't it?"
He perks up from where I've slammed him down on the bed looking up at me in a new light.
"Ah fuck!" he curses at his realization.
"It's real simple Santiago all I need is one location," I'm closing in on him with my eyes glaring at him hard, "so are we going with the easy way out or the hard?"
"The hell with you bitch!" he spits out in rage.
I shove his face into the wall, "Location now!"

It was only seconds that I turned my back around, distracted completely, but it was all it took for the rest of silver hair boys to show up. They pulled me off of him and had a piece of cloth around my mouth allowing no chance to even fight back. Snarling at them I could tell I was a goner, there were three of them and I was down and outnumbered. The men were laughing and mocking me as I kept on struggling to fight the drugs.

It was easy getting lost as I felt myself going unconscious but somehow I managed to utter a message back to him, "Kal – help."
Pulling my face toward them I could feel one of them pull my hair back, "Your move."
"You're dead." I spat out.
Last thing that I could recall was hearing the window smash and kicking the shithead with whatever strength I had left. Then I passed out.

The main reason I called was I honestly hoped she would be the first to refuse, but she didn't and now I could only blame myself. Because of me Artemis was wearing those revealing clothes, because of me a complete drugged up stranger was feeling her up, and because of me she was laying there banged up and unconscious.

I knocked the group of guys out easily, releasing all of my anger. The only mistake I made was losing site of the guy Artemis had tracked down. The coward had run away. Later when the police arrived I updated them on the details and helped Artemis back to my car. There I coaxed her awake and inspected any sign of injuries.

"Kal, it's a small cut I don't need the League's infirmary." She replied afterwards. And somehow that's all it took for us to make it back to my place near the far end of the city. It was a small apartment in a crappy neighborhood but it was decent. And she didn't seem to mind.
"You know I had it under control." She said wincing as I finished up her stitches.
I was almost done working on the cut near the far back of her left shoulder. "And I'm certain you could have kicked their sorry asses but you were in danger."
"I was just…" she turns to look at me as I'm finishing up the last of her stitch, "distracted."
Noting the look on her face I try and look away.
"You're done."

She sighs pulling up her jacket over her injury.
Then I make my way over to the kitchen digging up whatever leftovers I could find. A few feet away I hear her footsteps approach. Turning around I place the cold lo Mein on the table, then I start to dig up a plate.
"The storms crazy out there, zeta tubes might be down." I avoid eye contact with her. Biting her lips back she replied with what seem to be the right words at the time. "Do you mind if I crash and use your shower?"
The microwave beeps indicating the food is ready and with my back to her, I say. "Couch's yours."

I notice it's almost midnight by the time I've settled down into my room with my meal. Grabbing a seat by the desk I remove my shirt – damn insane heaters. In the next room the water goes off where Artemis likely showering. It bothers me so much how I'm still so frustrated with her but in the end couldn't bring himself to say no to her request.

I was certain there was a small spark of desire between one another; so when a mission to Bialya led to my own dehydration, Artemis was the one there to help me up. She was the one who treated me through the night. And when there was nothing left to use to reach water for me, it was her lips that saved me.

The sex had been unbelievable.
The sex after had been even more incredible.
But when I awoke and found myself wrapped in empty sheets I didn't know what to think.

So I didn't, and instead I tried to be there for her. But patience can only last for so long.
She was in the next room and all I wanted was an explanation from her. To know, why? But knowing her it was unlikely I'd ever really get one.

I step out the shower with the hot water still sticking to my skin, and slowly I tip toe my way over to his room. All the way there I pray I know what I'm doing.

"Kal…"
He has his fork in his hand poking at his plate as he stars at the monitor in front of him. All he manages is, "What is it?"

Then I approach him leaning into his chair and whispering out, "Nothing really, just wanted to know if you were cold."
As he takes in my question he spins around finally faces me.
The only sound left was of the fork as I drop it onto the chilly floor.

She leans forward slowly as I notice the heat still glistening off her body, from her shower. I gulp. 'What is she thinking?' the thought quickly crosses me. Her body is dazzling as the last time I remember but I have no clue as to what I might do. My body's gone still as I don't know what might happen next.
Bare. Naked. And beautiful is the sight I see before me.
"Artemis…" I choke out.

She doesn't hold back as she positions herself directly on my lap and leans in pecking a small sweet kiss. "Hmm…?" She turns her head and places her warm hands around my neck.
Her kiss wasn't the part that bothered me. The way her wet breasts are pressing straight into my cold bare chest is what drives me insane. I want her. I want her so badly. And I don't think I can hold back.
"What –"my voice breaks "—what are you…"

I don't get a chance to finish my sentence as she pulls her body even closer to mine. And I can guarantee she can feel my erection. Then she looks at me and locks my lips with hers once more. When she pulls back she tugs a tip of my cold lips which only makes me harden even more.
"I thought you might be cold." She whispers.

And it seems that her words are what do the trick, she's pulled me in and she's won. I've lost to her.
My cold hands cover her back as I sit there hungry for her body to come closer to mine. Our lips are lost in a drunken passion for one another. Her warm hands are wrapped tightly around my neck. I can breathe her in and she smells utterly of me. The soap, the shampoo, their all mine. I can feel her smiling through our kisses; she must know how insane she's driving me. But I can play her game just as well.
She's still covered in wet droplets all over. So my hands slide down from her back and make their way over to her bottom where I'm now gripping her ass nice and tight. Then my lips leave hers, surely wanting more, but I glide over to her neck leaving cruel marks I know will be there in the morning. I can feel her breathing increase and she's grabbing ahold of my back with all her strength as I begin to feel her nails scratch near my tattoos. Then I use my cold hands to squeeze her tight ass and I know the tables have turned.

Artemis words are on my ears immediately as she cries out my name again and again, "Kaldur…!"
With my pants still on and my shaft going crazy for her I rock back and forth humping her like crazy. Her breathes are out in gasps because of me. Finally I leave one last mark in the center of her chest, as I move in to tease her breasts.

I want him. I want him so much. And I need him now!
"No please." I cry out.
His lips have left my neck and now he's sucking my left nipple which I realize is very pleased by the use of his tongue. At first he's sliding his wet lips around in a full circle and then he stops and sucks the center like a madman. It makes my voice weaker and weaker.
"Ahh!" I pant out, as his teeth find my nipple and I lose it. "Kaldur – no please."
And just when I think it's over he switches over to my right breast and my crying starts once again. He's still humping me, but he's no longer moving as slowly, he's increasing his action faster and faster. I have to force myself to hang on as he finishes up his insane sucking from my other nipple. Because he's far from done; and I know that.

Then I feel his hands leave my bottom as they slip over from my stomach to my chest.
He's playing with me, and I don't know how much more I can take.
It doesn't matter how warm I am his hands are still cold as I feel them positioned on each mound. With each thumb he flicks my nipples, first the left and then the right. I hold back gasps of my desire for him but then he places his lips close and he licks them with complete pleasure coming from my voice. I lose myself in those few seconds and its then that I realize I'm screaming out for him – only him.

Then his voice crawls up close to my ear as I'm panting out weakly, he whispers, "say it Artemis."
I barely gulp as I gather my voice and call out, "I want you Kaldur…"
He's got one hand pulling my chin up to look him in the eyes, "What else?"
His eyes have this pained expression on them and I know it's my fault, but he's reduced me to this and I can't hold back anymore. "I just really fucking want you, Kal."
Everything is pushed aside then. The last night we were together. How I've hurt him. Everything. All that's left is us lost in complete ecstasy.

He grabs me and I hang on knowing he's moving us to his bed. Except our lips never leave each other as I feel the sheets hit my skin. Then his hands make their way over to his pants and I'm helping him. Both of our hands one warm, one cold, guide each other as his button comes loose. Then we proceed with releasing his belt I'm slipping it off as I we hear it hit the wooden floor. Were so close I can almost feel him like that night not long ago.

His hands have stopped leaving me to do the rest. Which then become lost in the maze of my damp blonde hair. I pull his zipper down slowly as I set my sights on his erected cock trying to break free through his boxers. We're so close…

As I'm about to rip his briefs off I fall into his perfect lips as he closes me into another kiss. He plays with my hair still and I feel myself going weak in the knees. But I'm not losing to him this time. With one hand I trickle down to his erect area. Then I slip into his black briefs. I feel him then. And I slowly caress him for a moment but then I move in to pull down his briefs. I've left him completely bare, so that's when I see it. I see how big he is. How big I've made him. And all I want is him in me.

"Artemis…" he calls I look back up at his gentle eyes.
"Yea," I whisper close to him.
"What does this mean?"
I can't answer that. Not now at least. All I know is that he feels something for me. And deep down I know this is no longer just for pleasure. It's something more. I just can't get myself to put it into words.
So instead of answering I kiss him with passion and he kisses me back. It's only later that I realize were not making love. He's doing what I said. He's fucking me. But this isn't what I had hoped.
His eyes are no longer gentle.

With her one kiss that's how I know. This is only going to end up like that night before. And I have no desire to love her. I only want to hear her cry for me like never before.
So I don't kiss her, instead I breathe her in and let her suffer with her pleas.
My hands are lost in an angry trance as my emotions take over. They glide over to her torso area and slide on down to her entrance. She's ridiculously wet already – and I chuckle a little knowing it's all because of me. So when I close in and entering my cold webbed fingers I don't bother with teasing her anymore. I slide in one finger and quickly I'm sliding in another and soon I've got three firm fingers inside her lower region. And all I hear from her are shrikes full of pleasure. Cries lost from utter desire. And thirst as I know she wants more.

With her warm wetness sticking to my hands I remove my fingers still inside her and lean down ready for the real fun. I stick my tongue in immediately and suck her harder and harder. Her screams are a perfect cry for more.

"AAH!" She pants out, "Kaldur no don't do this no!"
I know she's trying to cover up her cries as she fights to hold back but I've got my tongue licking and sucking her like no tomorrow. Finally I admit defeat knowing I can't hold back anymore. I need her inside me.

So I move back up close to for her to hear and puff out, "what is it you want Artemis?"
She doesn't even wait for a second thought because she's turned over on her back and begs, "I want you inside me."
Then I lean into the side of my mattress and dig up a single condom.

I can feel him enter me from behind and I hold onto the pillows as I fight to control my voice. Then somehow he's repositioned me as I find myself on my knees feeling him thrust in first slow and then faster. It's not long before I notice he's got his hands wrapped around my ass tightly pushing me into him. I gulp down tears of pain knowing he's doing this out of rage. As if fucking me was out of simple pleasure. He knows I've used him. And somewhere in the back of my mind I believe it's true. But deep down I know I've got to tell him the truth.

So it's after when I've finally come that I drop down on the sheets. I turn my body and my eyes find his. He's barely even looking in my direction and the only movement he makes is to roll the used condom off and toss it to the trash. Then he's quickly up pulling his briefs on and next his pants. And this time he's the one out the door. I chase after him grabbing the sheets covering my now cold body.

"Kaldur!"
He stops a few inches from the coach and spins around to face me. "What more do you want?"
I stop right in front of him and let him go on.
"Have I not satisfied your needs? Have I not pleased you? What more must I –"
Having heard enough I move in and kiss him. It's a soft peck on his lips but its enough to make his words stop.
"What was that?" He asks.
"That was me shutting you up," I reply, "because I want you to listen. And – and just forget about last time."

His eyes change from the cruel ones that thrust me back and forth to the gentle ones that made love to me that night.
"I'm scared ok!" I don't even notice the tears on my face, "I'm afraid that when I wake up this will all end up being a huge mistake. I haven't been able to cope since –"

He doesn't need me to say the one name I can't bring myself to bring up anymore. Somehow he knows who I'm talking about. It's the same with him, how he can't bring himself to say her name anymore.
"I understand." His words finally speak up.

"No that's the thing, you don't Kal." I'm only inches from him now, "I'm trying to tell you I'm sorry I wasn't there next to you after one of the best nights I've ever had. I'm trying to tell you I'm sorry I'm so messed up that I keep avoiding you."

I feel him touching my face as he wipes away my salty tears.
"I'm trying to tell you –"I choke out, "tell you that I think I'm falling for you."
I look up at him only to close my eyes as I feel his cold lips crush into mine.
Things begin to fall then—first his pants and then his briefs and at the end I lose ahold of the sheets.
We both know we're not going to make it back to his room so we find ourselves lost until his legs trip over the coach. I fall in after him as he welcomes me back into his arms. We're laughing and then we're kissing once more. Only this time it's different as we both know this time around there won't be any teasing, only making love.

So he lays there playing with my breasts and I'm panting out his name.
And I slide my hands down to tug on his member as he calls out for me.
But finally I'm left on top as I feel him enter me with ease. We're bucking back and forth as we kiss once then twice, until we can't breathe and have to pull apart. I smile as I lean in for another kiss and he embraces my touch. I feel his hands covering my buttocks tighter and tighter. And my mounds are eager for his kisses as his mouth slides from my throat to my nipples.

"Kal, I'm coming." I gasp by his ear.
"Hang on." His movements increase as I feel myself come and he arches my face close to his. Then he's kissing me one last time and only when his lips find mine is when I feel the action from his tongue. With that move he comes seconds after me, close behind. He pulls out of me and I'm lying there on his sweaty chest. He caresses my breasts and I don't mind. I'm panting and I can hear him as well.
"Artemis…" his voice comes out a light whisper, "that was –"
I sit up and wrap my hands around his neck, and then I lean down and kiss him. He kisses me back as he grabs my back and tickles his fingers down. I pull away from his lips, softly laughing.
"Perfect." I finish for him.

I lay my head back down on his chest and turn my ear, and then I hear it, his heartbeat.
"You're heart sounds very happy."
"It is." He smiles.
I smile back.
"And yours?" He asks.
"You tell me." I lift myself up for him to listen. But instead he leans in and plants a single kiss in the spot where it would beat.
"I already know it is." He replies.
At his words I kiss him again really meaning everything he said and we lay there just the two of us.
Sleep soon comes and the last thing I remember is thinking of how much he means to me, and how much I want to make sure I never hurt him again.
But I do.
It's not until a few months later, after we move in and officially start dating that I realize we had sex twice that night. Once with the condom, and another without.