CHAPTER 10

Back in the hotel room, Raven was tending to Richard's wounds. He was sitting on the bathroom counter and she was standing in front of him, gently wiping off the dried blood on his forehead.

"Owe…" He said quietly, as he drew back a little.

Raven stopped immediately not wanting to hurt him anymore.

"What? Are you okay?" She asked timidly.

"Yeah, just a little sore." He smirked and drew back towards her. She obediently resumed her procedure, but this time blotting instead of wiping.

"So, what exactly happened?" She asked wanting to fill the silence with conversation.

Richard looked at her sheepishly, "Um… well," He wasn't sure if he should tell her because he didn't want to hurt her by reminding her of Terra's betrayal.

"You don't have to explain, I guess I can kind of just guess." Raven said, noticing his hesitation in answering her.

Silence re-inhabited the small room. The two avoided each other's eyes. Raven focused on the small gash that dissected Richard's brow. She could feel his eyes on her and she could feel her cheeks flush and heat consumed her.

She thought of the train ride and how he had bothered her so much and then bewitched her in such a way that he entranced her. She kissed him, something she thought would never happen in a zillion years.

'Maybe I let him in too soon. I may be following my heart and not my head. What if this is just infatuation and I'm setting myself for disappointment?' She thought to herself.

"Are you okay?" Richard asked worriedly. His voice snapped her back into the present. She was so deep in thought that she had stopped her work and was just holding the bloodied cotton ball in front of her and starring at nothing.

"Wha- Yeah, I'm fine." She replied hastily. In her haste to cover up her little episode she rushed to continue blotting the cut and pressed it a little too hard on the wound.

"Ouch!" Richard's head jolted back and hit the mirror behind him. He grabbed the back of his head, rubbing the spot where a bump was sure to sprout.

"Shit! I am so sorry!" She cursed, guilt pouring out of her.

She took a step back, forgetting how small the area was and crashed into the wall. Embarrassed to the point of no return, she turned and made for the door figuring she was hurting more than helping.

Richard saw Raven walk towards the door. In one flowing movement he hopped off the counter and took one stride towards her and caught her wrist just before she stepped out. Not wanting her to feel like he was frustrated with her, he pulled her back to him. She came to face him as her body crashed into his. His hands were holding her to him. She breathed uneasily not sure what to do. She made sure not to look at his face, starring intently at a button on his shirt. Her hands were on his chest instinctively so if she had to, she could push him away.

A hand gently lifted her chin up until her eyes befell his calm face. Raven felt the heat return as blood rushed to her cheeks.

"Where are you going?" He asked, smirking.

"Um… err… I… was…" She didn't know how to answer that. She wanted to get away not only because she was making a fool of herself but also because she was confused. She didn't know if she was letting herself down by being with Richard. There was something between them, but was that feeling shallow or deep?

Richard looked down at her, her small frame in his grasp. He looked upon her face, her eyes gazing up at him with uncertainty. He wanted that uncertainty to vanish. He wanted her to be confident and comfortable. He held her chin up as he bent forward and kissed her lips. Raven's eyes closed as they made contact, but she didn't know why. Even when she didn't want to be, he still bewitched her. She shouldn't be giving in to his touch. For all she knew, this could just be the womanizing Richard Grayson playing her. She tried to pull her face back, but Richard followed and she ended up against the wall with him still on her. She felt his tongue slide over her lips carefully. A small, warm shiver rolled down her spine and her lips parted. Richard noticed her action as a welcome and proceeded to deepen the kiss. His hand found the back of her neck and lightly pulled her closer to him. His remaining hand held her hips to his as he carefully pressed her into the wall for support.

At his transition into a more passionate kiss, Raven felt her heart working to overpower her brain. She let him grasp her hip and pull it into him, and she did nothing when she felt the wall press up to her back. In fact, she began to kiss back. Her own tongue dancing with his as their mouth moved together as one. She rose on her toes to make it less of a height difference. Richard held tighter to her as she made her advancement toward him. She wanted him; he had taken away the uncertainty.

Suddenly a knock at the door interrupted the two.

"It's Vic! Rae, you in there?" Came Victor's voice form behind the hotel door.

Raven pushed Richard off of her and smoothed out her hair, which had been ruffled by Richard's hand that started on her neck and worked its way into her hair.

"Coming!" She said, shakily. Richard watched as she scrambled out of the bathroom and almost tripped on the corner of the bed. She opened the door wide, like she had nothing to hide. Victor stepped in. He stopped when he saw Richard leaning in the bathroom's doorway and Raven's look of guilt. Victor smiled and crossed his arms over her chest like he just had a light bulb go off.

"What's up you?" He said still smiling.

"We- I was just getting a Band-Aid for Richard." Raven answered before Richard could say anything.

"Band-Aid? For what?" He said a little more serious.

"Garfield slugged me. But I got him good, so no worries." Richard answered to Raven's dismay.

"Remind me to ask you for the story behind that one, but for now, I have some big news."

Silence befell the room as Richard and Raven waited for Victor to finish.

"I just found a 24/7 buffet! I don't know why they didn't tell us the hotel had one, but they do and I think we should go take advantage of it!" He exclaimed, his eyes twinkling.

"I'm in. Rae is too." Richard said, passing Raven and grabbing her arm, dragging her out the door. Victor followed and shut the door.

A/N: Wow, it's been a while since I updated. I apologize. I hope this chapter lived up to the rest of the others. I will try to continue it. 