A/N: To everyone who has read, reviewed, nagged, cajoled, emailed etc your support is amazing. Thank you.

The Dark Knight

Chapter Twelve

Come on let's get back to the batcave. I can sort some hardware out for the morning and you can carry on arguing with both Ric and your moral compass."

"Excuse me?" I shot back, my hands fisted on my hips.

Toni walked towards my car, keys jingling in her hand. "Just stop being such a prude, Plum and fuck him already. You know you want to."

I mulled Toni's words over in my head all the way back across town to her SUV. What was stopping me from falling into bed with Ric Manoso? My heart, that was for sure; I really didn't want it ripped out and stomped all over. My head on the other hand was beginning to give in to the constant assault from my hormones. Could I fall into bed with him, have a one night stand?

The more I got to know him, the more time I spent in his company, the more I knew that a one night love affair was not on the cards for Ric; he was playing for keeps. And there I believe was my moral dilemma. I'd never be able to take him home for Sunday dinner at my parents and it would make doing my job nigh on impossible. No one would approve of my choice, and while I felt like I shouldn't have to live my life to the expectations of others, the damage it would do to all quarters of my day to day existence was possibly too much to bear.

Yes, that was why I couldn't get romantically involved with Ric; everything I had worked so hard for would go up in smoke, and no man was worth the sacrifice, right? Unless he became my dirty little secret of course, and our relationship was confined to secret trysts at his warehouse. I could carry on my life and so could he, and we'd meet for mind blowing sex a couple of times a week.

Now that held appeal, but still… how could I consider doing that to him? If I had any respect for him then I would never even ask him to even think about doing that; it was so demeaning towards him.

No, I would hold my hormones in check, stay strong and spend a lot of time alone with my shower massager once I got home.

Toni eased my car to a stop behind hers, grabbed her boots from the back seat and glanced at me. "You want to shift your clothes and stuff into my truck?"

"It would make sense," I concurred.

She slid from the Ford and unlocked the huge trunk door on her Land Rover. "Besides, someone might boost your car and you'd lose everything."

I frowned. "I thought I had the magic anti-theft bumper sticker now and I was immune to such catastrophes?"

"On Stark and Comstock, maybe; around here, who knows? I don't have any influence over on this side of town," she said as she grabbed my laundry basket from the back seat. "Jeez, woman… How long were you planning on being away from your apartment?"

I lugged out a suitcase and a hold all. "A week, maybe a little more."

Toni retrieved a couple of garment bags. "What the hell is this, an outfit in every color for every occasion?"

"We haven't even started on my shoes yet," I joked.

"Where the fuck are we going to put all this crap?" she muttered.

"Spare room?" I suggested.

Toni grinned evilly. "I think it's a tossup between Ric's room or Bobby's."

"No spare room?"

"Nope. Should we swing by the sex shop on the way home and get you a chastity belt, Plum?"

I blushed vermillion. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

"Tell me you didn't spend the entire trip across town trying to work out if you should fall into bed with Ric or not."

I bit my lip.

"Yeah, I thought so," she teased.

I squared my shoulders. "No, I don't need one; I am not going to sleep with Ric."

Toni stopped suddenly, arms precariously full of shoes that looked suspiciously like they were about to make a break for freedom, and frowned at me. "I don't get you, I really don't."

"What?" I asked.

She tossed the shoes in the cavernous boot. "What is so wrong with Ric that you can't put out?"

I loaded the rest of my possessions into her SUV and slammed the door with a touch too much force. "Get in the car; we need to get back to your place."

Toni beeped my car locked. "I'll drive, you spill it, sister. Deal?"

"Fine, but I'm swearing you to secrecy."

"I'm a freaking spy, Steph; secrecy is my middle name."

"Really?"

"No."


"And there you have the reasons why I can't sleep with Ric," I said as Toni pulled into the warehouse.

"Man, what a fucking mess," she muttered as she parked up and killed the engine. "You sure like to make mountains out of mole hills, luv."

"And you just rolled into bed with Lester without a second thought?"

"Pretty much."

I frowned. "Was it because of work?"

"Was what because of work, Steph?"

"Did you sleep with him because you needed an in with Ric and his crew?"

She shook her head. "Not at all; I'd never used my feminine charms for my job before. Undercover work is difficult at the best of times; add a sexual relationship to the mix and you've got a recipe for disaster…"

"So you slept with him because?" I prompted.

"Because he is damn freaking sexy and a total sweetheart. Still, I never anticipated how things would turn out. A quick tumble between the sheets turned swiftly into more and I knew I'd never leave him…" she paused. "Yeah, never mix business with pleasure unless you are prepared for the consequences."

"Do you regret it, him?"

"No, it was fate, Steph; everything happens for a reason, so I guess you just need to sit back and go with the flow. C'est la vie, Steph, C'est la vie."

"Okay, good advice. Now, you think you can rustle up some hunky guys to give us a hand unloading your car?"

"I certainly can," Toni laughed. "Infact, Ms. Plum, I happen to have a couple on my speed dial."

XOXOXOXO

"So we're no further forward than the perp is possibly driving a red pickup," Ric muttered as he grabbed another beer from the fridge.

Toni squeezed his shoulder. "Sorry Ric."

He rested his elbows on the breakfast bar and put his head in his hands. "Can we work with that, Toni?"

She hopped up on the bar next to him, snagged his beer and took a long pull. "Yeah, but don't expect anything much; it might give us a starting point if we're lucky. I'll set it running before I go to bed; I want to head back to Stark in the morning and put in a few hidden cameras. That could certainly yield better results."

Ric nodded. "Okay, sounds like that's the best plan we have right now."

"It's late and I still have work to do. I'll catch you guys later," Toni said as she slid down again.

Her skirt rode up to expose the tops of her stockings and Ric rolled his eyes. "Go put some clothes on, lady."

Toni laughed as she re-adjusted her skirt, took another swig of Ric's Corona and sauntered away. "Whatever."

"Toni, beer," Ric growled as she got as far as the entry way to the main corridor.

"No thanks, I've already got one, Ric."

He blew out a breath of frustration. "Lester, can't you control your woman?"

Lester peered over the back of the couch at him. "Do I look like I have a death wish?"

"Fine. I'll be in my room making some space in my closet for Steph's clothes. Lester, can you give her a hand hauling her gear out of the Land Rover?"

"Your closet?" I whispered.

Ric shrugged. "Wouldn't want everything to get wrinkled, would we now, babe?"

"I…"

"Can sleep on my couch if you so wish," he finished.

"Couch, yeah… that sounds great," I babbled.

"You know where to find me," he said with a sexy smile, before he turned, flipped his long hair over his shoulder and strode from the room.

I watched his ass as he disappeared from view and bit my lip. That man was sex on a stick and his ass was perfect.

"You want some ice for your hormones?" Lester piped up.

I blushed. "Shut up."

He got up from the sofa to get another beer. "You want one too?"

What the hell. "Sure."

"I've been wanting to talk to you," he said as he popped a wedge of lime into my drink.

Oh crap. "Really?" I managed.

"Yeah," he said as he smiled at me. "I wanted to apologize for last year; I never meant to break your nose, honey."

"It was an act, right?" I muttered as I took my beer from his outstretched hand.

Lester set off towards the elevator. "Pretty much; Ric's got a reputation to uphold, but that does not mean that I enjoy smashing a pretty woman's face into the plaster work."

"Oh," I managed eloquently as I trotted after him.

"So, we friends?" he asked as he ushered me into the lift.

"Seeing as I'm stuck in a confined space with you for the next few seconds, to be shortly followed by crashing around in the dark bowels of this warehouse while you carry my shoe collection, I guess I better say yes to that, Lester."

"Cool," he said with smile as he chinked his bottle against mine.


Lester pulled open the trunk and gasped as the interior light popped on. "Fuck, that's some shoe collection," he whispered in awe.

I peered around him to look at the myriad of shoes scattered across the back of the boot. "I had to leave most of them at my apartment; that's just the ones that might come in useful."

"I just don't get women," he muttered as he grabbed the suitcase and towed it into the open elevator."

"Hello, you have a girlfriend!" I sang out as I trailed after him with an arm load of shoes.

"Yeah, but she doesn't have a shoe fetish, lady," Lester muttered.

I frowned, "Yeah, but I don't think Toni is normal anyway," I teased. "She can't be if she dates a hooligan like you."

"Hooligan?" he spluttered. "Baby, I'm a pussycat."

"Right…"

He put down my laundry basket. "Look Stephanie… Just don't judge a book by its cover, okay?"

"So you're not some brainless thug then, Lester Santos?"

"Not when I don't have to be; just because I act like a bastard does not mean that I am one. I'm a decent guy, Steph. And so are Bobby and Ric. There are times when I may be a little… when I'm playing the punk from the barrio that I grew up in, and the rest of the time I'm just some regular guy with hopes and fears just like everyone else."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Look Steph, I don't know how much you know of what is going on around here, but just don't take anything at face value."

Interesting. Did Lester actually know about the real setup here? "I'll try," I told him.

He smiled wryly. "Shit, even my girlfriend is a…"

"Is a what?" I pushed.

He shook his head and picked up the laundry basket again. "Forget I said anything."

"You know about her, don't you?" I said to his retreating form.

He deposited the basket with my suitcase and walked back over. "I've always known."

"And your cousin?" I asked.

"Know about him too. I can get why neither of them say anything, but I'm slightly offended. I mean, do they really think Bobby and I are that stupid?"

I smiled. "You don't want me to answer that question, do you?"

Lester snorted. "Not really."

"And it doesn't bother you?"

"Why should it bother me? I'm just grateful that I'm not doing time for that crap ten years ago. Ric can shuffle around his guns and shit for the government or whoever, and Bobby and me, we'll continue to keep Stark Street in line."

I shook my head. "Just what do you do, really?"

He stuffed his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and looked down at the floor. "Make sure that the girls are okay, got a roof over their heads and that they're not beholden to some scumbag pimp. Try and get those with drug problems into rehab, and make sure that their kids are okay."

I touched him gently on the arm. "That's a very noble thing to do, Lester."

"I saw what happened to Janie, and I knew enough women working the streets back in the day. Some women are always gonna end up doing that sort of shit, but that doesn't mean that they should be stuck like that forever. And that bastard who is killing them, he needs to be stopped."

"Yes he does," I agreed.


"Are you sure that's everything, babe?" Ric asked in an amused tone as he took in the left side of his closet.

"Is that sarcasm I detect, Ric Manoso?" I accused.

"Not at all," he said with a smirk.

Lester shook his head. "I'm out of here, man. I'll see you both in the morning."

Ric nodded at him and I smiled. "Thanks for your help, Lester."

"De nada," he called out as he shut Ric's apartment door.

And now I was alone in Ric's bedroom and my clothes were in his closet. Shit!

"So," I said as I studied my sneakers.

"So," Ric whispered.

I jerked my head to up find him inches in front of me. "I…"

"Yes?" he asked as he traced my jaw with his finger tips.

Danger, danger, my mind was screaming. My hormones were being whipped into a frenzy by his feather light touch and I was pretty sure my legs were about to give way. I had to do something, anything. I begrudgingly stepped back from him and glanced down at my watch. "Is that the time? You know, it's been a very long day and I think I'll turn in now. Could you show me where you keep your spare bedding so I can make up the couch?"

Ric bit back a smile at my side-stepping. "In the closet. I'll be in the bathroom if you need anything…"

He walked away and I took the opportunity to ogle his ass once more. Blankets, damn it! I chastised myself. I found spare bedding in his side of the closet, along with his large collection of black clothing. There was a lot of silk and leather in there, and I took the liberty to run my hands over the soft fabrics. Speaking of soft fabrics, I tugged out a neatly folded cotton sheet with a thread count of around a million, and a large velvet throw that would make a good substitute for a quilt, and wandered back into the living area.

I fixed the couch, grabbed my toiletries bag and then poked around in the closet for something to wear to bed. Thankfully I'd left my entire collection of sexy negligee back at my apartment, but that did not make the choice any less difficult. T-shirt and yoga pants? Tank top and boy shorts? Floor length flannel nightgown like my mother would wear?

Yeah, the unflattering nightgown was sounding good right now; shame I didn't own one. After a lot of deliberation I finally settled on the tank top and panties; the t-shirt and yoga pants seemed a little OTT and I didn't want Ric to think I was affected by him. I gathered my selection up with my toiletries and hovered around by the bathroom door waiting for Ric to finish up in there.

A couple of minutes later the door clicked open and I came face to face with him. He was wearing nothing except his leathers, and the front lacing had been left unfastened. The dark dusting of hair that started just below his belly button trailed down into his pants and I realized that he was commando.

I looked up into his warm chocolate eyes and blushed. I was so busted.

"See something you like, babe?"

"An empty bathroom," I managed to squeak out as I hurried past him and slammed the door shut.

I was in serious trouble here. I wanted to peel his leathers off and run my hands all over his stunning body. I wanted him to scoop me up in his strong arms and toss me on the bed and ruin me for all other men. I was totally and utterly fucked; there was no way I could resist him.

I went about my nightly routine as swiftly as possible. I had to stay strong; I had to go out there and walk right past him, bid him good night and hide under that throw until I fell asleep. Right, I could do that.

I gathered up my dirty clothes, tried not to look at my toothbrush as it sat next to his in the holder, and went back into Ric's bedroom.

He was lounging up against the armoire and still in nothing but his leathers. "You all sorted?" he asked as he walked across the room to me.

I nodded, simply because I didn't think I was capable of forming a sentence right now.

"You don't have to sleep on the couch, you know, babe," he whispered.

"You offering to sleep there instead?" I asked cheekily.

"No," he said as he stepped closer and took the bundle of clothes from my hands and tossed them in the laundry hamper next to me.

"I should…"

"Kiss me?" he murmured.

I looked up and opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell and the strangest of things happened. I kissed him.

I'm not sure who was more shocked, Ric or me. It seemed to take us both by surprise, but he recovered quickly and kissed me back.

I tangled my hands in his long hair and moaned as he pressed his body up against mine. He placed one hand at the back of my head and the other he splayed across my ribs and then walked us backwards a couple of paces until I was up against the wall. The kiss became more urgent, more passionate and I saw stars when he slid his leather clad leg between my thighs. I pressed myself hard against him and he sucked my tongue into his mouth. Boy could he kiss. I let myself be swept away by the sensations he was causing and hoped this moment would never end.