Disclaimer: Still don't own Batman. I just own the original characters.
Calm Before the Storm
Chapter Seven: All About Love
Joey. What was there to tell?
"We dated. He was very controlling, told me who I could and couldn't spend time with, tried to isolate me from my friends and family. When I started to try to stand up for myself, he started hitting me."
I trailed off, starting into space, just remembering.
"He could be so sweet and charming, though, I guess that's why I stuck around."
Jack nodded.
"So what happened next?"
I took a deep breath. I hadn't talked about this since I was in court three years ago.
"We went out for supper one night. The waiter gave me his number, and when we got home Joey went crazy, accusing me of being unfaithful. He pulled a knife on me. I ran into the bedroom and hid in the closet, where he kept his gun. When he opened the closet door he stabbed me in the arm, and then I shot him. And I just kept shooting him, and when the gun was empty, I crushed his face with my high heels on. Then I called the police."
Jack nodded.
"Baby, I need you to know something and really believe it. I'm a uh, violent man, but I will never raise a hand against you. Do you believe me?"
I looked at the odd, scarred man before me, and the strangest thing happened.
"I believe you."
XXXX
"In other news, Claire St. Peters is still missing. Claire is 5'7" tall, with red hair and blue eyes. She weighs approximately 130 pounds, and has a tattoo of three red diamonds on her right upper arm. She has been missing since Tuesday night. If anyone has any information concerning her whereabouts, they are urged to call the number on the bottom of the screen right away."
I stared at the picture on the TV screen next to the newscasters head. It had been taken six months ago at my friend's wedding, and was one of the best pictures I'd ever had taken of me. I looked good in the off-red bridesmaid's dress, and I was in mid-laugh, face flushed with alcohol and happiness.
I wondered what Tiffany was thinking, seeing the picture on the news. And my parents, how much was this hurting them?
A part of me hoped they were suffering, after how abusive they'd been to me as a child, and how disappointed they'd been in me as an adult. A little voice inside me insisted that they deserved everything they got.
The newscaster moved on to the weather, and I looked at the clock on the DVD player. It was 10:30 at night now, and Jack had been gone almost all day. With my leg still healing from the gunshot wound, I had to stay home, and let him go on his latest job alone.
I was trying not to worry about him, but it was hard, knowing that he was on his own setting up high powered explosives to blow up the bank where the Moretti family kept their dirty money and ran most their operation , Jack was a genius when it came to bombs, but I was more worried about someone catching him in the act. With no lookout, he was vulnerable.
I'd tried to convince him to take Charlie along, but he'd insisted that the bulky guy would just be a liability. Apparently he wasn't very stealthy.
Getting up from the couch, I hobbled over to the door to the apartment and called for Lazlo. The chubby pug came trotting out of the bedroom, stopped before me, and sneezed cutely, then stretched and yawned.
"Hey there little man!" I cooed, "ready to go potty?"
Lazlo writhed in delight, and I snapped on his leash and led him from the apartment, through the musty, filthy, creepy corridor, and out the front door.
The only light came from the moon, and one far-off, flickering street light, and I squinted, trying to see through the darkness as Lazlo scurried this way and that, gleefully lifting his leg to pee on everything in sight.
"Who's momma's best boy? Hmm? Is it you?" I baby-talked, and Lazlo squatted, back to me.
"Oops, I'll just avert my gaze…" I mumbled, and looked off into the distance instead.
I heard something crunch behind me, and before I could react, I was pinned against the ground, face down in the dirt.
Lazlo growled for a moment then gave an excited yip, and I felt hot breath against my left ear.
"I'm uh, pretty sure I told you not to come out here alone at night."
Oh, thank God.
"Jack!" I exclaimed, mouth full of dirt, "Gettoff me!"
Chuckling, he pulled me to my feet, and began dusting me off.
I spit a few times, then gave him a shove.
"I wasn't alone, Lazlo was here!" I reasoned, and Jack rolled his eyes.
"That uh, little butter ball is six kinds of useless in this sort of situation. I was watching you for uh, over five minutes. All he did was piss on everything and take a big crap right where we walk."
I stuck out my tongue at him, and Jack made a grab for it.
"Don't you wave that sex organ at me!" he scolded, and I blushed, making him laugh out loud.
"C'mon baby, let's go inside." he took my hand, I gave Lazlo's leash a tug, and we made our way back home.
XXXX
When we got inside, I headed to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
"Jack!" I exclaimed. He rushed in, concern on his face.
"Look at me!" I cried, "I'm filthy!"
And I really was. My face was covered in dirt, and my hair had nature debris stuck in it all over. Jack snickered, and turned to the tub.
"I'll uh, just draw you a bath." he said amid chuckles, and I pouted, rubbing at the dirt on my face.
Over the sound of the water filling the tub, I heard Jack growl, and I turned, giving him a curious look. Moving over to me, he began to tug my shirt up, and I gasped, batting his hands away.
"Hold still." he hissed, and he tugged my shirt up over my head, revealing my red bra.
"Shit." he moaned, and I shivered, looking at him nervously.
"Mmmph, baby you look so good." he groaned, and he put his hands just above my hips and drew me close, so my chest was pressed his. His face tilted, and he pressed his lips to mine in a deep, passionate kiss.
I immediately began to tremble, and clutched at his arms desperately.
Breaking away, Jack looked down at me, breathing heavily through his mouth.
"I'm uh, done being a gentleman now. Just so you know."
And then his mouth was everywhere, against my neck, my shoulders, my collarbones, and my head spun.
"Oh God…" I moaned, grabbing the back of his head in my hands, "don't stop."
Laughing against my chest, Jack gave my cleavage a little nip, then drew back to look into my eyes.
"Bath time."
Reaching down, he unbuttoned my jeans and went to his knees, tugging my pants down around my ankles.
I braced myself against his shoulders and stepped out of my pants, then reached up, and making sure Jack was watching, unclipped my bra and let it fall off.
Jack made a strangled sound in his throat and quickly tugged my panties off, then stood, scooped me up in his arms, and dumped me into the tub.
I watched as he quickly unbuttoned his purple shirt, shed his pinstriped pants, and toed off his socks.
Down to his smiley face boxers, he struck a pose, then shed them too, and climbed into the tub after me.
He settled me between his legs, my back to his front, and grabbed the bar of soap and a washcloth.
"You're so beautiful." he rasped against the back of my neck, placing little kisses there.
I blushed and ran my fingers up and down his thighs.
"Mmm, careful cupcake. I want this to last." he warned, and then he began to lather me up. The feel of his soap-slicked hands running over my body was heavenly, and I moaned, leaning back against him heavily.
"Jack, please." I begged, and he nibbled my earlobe.
"Soon, baby," he whispered, voice thick, "soon."
I shivered when his hands caressed up my thighs and over my tummy, and as his mouth latched on to my shoulder, his hands brushed my breasts. He took my nipples in his fingers and rolled them gently and when that made me writhe and moan, he intensified the pressure, making my body jerk and spasm in delight, water sloshing around us in choppy waves.
"Baby, yes," he hissed, "tell me want you want."
Crying out in frustration, I grabbed his hand and thrust it between my thighs.
"Touch me!" I begged, and Jack snarled in my ear, pressing his fingers against my clit and beginning to rub it fiercely.
"Jack!" I wailed, clutching his wrist desperately, working my hips against his hand.
"Fuck, Claire." he growled, licking a trail to my ear.
I could feel his erection against my bottom, hot and steely, and I pressed back against him, delighting in his choked moan.
"Bed. Now." he ground out, and scrambled out of the tub. I climbed out after him, legs wobbling, and he practically dragged me to the bedroom, and shoved me down on the bed.
Then he was on top of me, forcing my legs apart.
"Mine." he growled, then thrust home.
"Yours!" I agreed passionately, wrapping my legs around him and lifting my hips to meet each thrust.
Panting with the exertion, Jack pounded into me rapidly, sinking his teeth into my shoulder and growling.
Several more thrusts an then I felt my body let go. Stars danced behind my closed eyes, and I spasmed around him, causing Jack to bellow in shocked pleasure and thrust against me wildly.
"Baby, yes!" he roared, and I felt him swell inside of me, and then felt burst after burst of heat deep inside.
"Jack!" I wailed, and he moaned, thrusting against me sporadically, panting deeply.
"Oh God, I love you." I moaned, then went completely still, horrified at what I had just said.
"Mmmm, right back atcha, cupcake." he mumbled, then rolled off of me with a groan. I relaxed, and curled up against him.
In only a matter of moments, we were both sound asleep.
