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Of course the sushi he brought was not from a place down the road… It was from the number one Japanese restaurant in town.
We were talking for a while, but I was still not sure what he really wanted.
"So… We had food. What else is there to Bruce Wayne? Eccentric billionaire?"
He laughed. "Yeah… That one stuck. It works though." He leaned back, loosening his tie around his neck.
"Why are you here?" I asked while getting up and putting the dishes in the sink.
"To apologize." He said while following me, bringing the rest of the dishes to the kitchen.
"No, I mean why are you here?" His gaze held mine. "An apology does not turn into wine and dinner unless you wanted to have wine and dinner. So, why are you really here." I asked while focusing on the dishes.
All of a sudden he put his hands around my hips.
"I'm here to see you." He said while pulling me towards him. I felt my body freeze underneath his touch. I couldn't move. I told him we wouldn't have sex! I should stop this, but all I wanted was to give in.
His hands covered mine, which were holding onto the kitchen counter for dear life. His lips on my neck, he moved his body closer and closer to mine.
"No." I finally said. He instantly let go off me. "What in the world is wrong with you? Why is it this weird back and forth with you? You're hot, then you're cold. I have no idea what you want. Is it just sex? That's fine. But then you come over and bring wine…"
"I lost someone." He interrupted me.
The revelation took me completely by surprise.
"She was…well… I thought she was the one. It was complicated between me and her…" He cleared his throat, still looking on the floor, his hands in his pockets. "And then she died. Car jacking gone wrong… You know how this city works. They never found him. The man who put a bullet though her. But it wouldn't have mattered. Anyway…" he took a deep breath. "I haven't been with anyone since then." A sad smile wiped over his mouth and he looked at me. "That's me. That's the real Bruce Wayne. A little less glamorous a lot more broken."
I was standing motionless in my kitchen, not knowing how to respond to this. A sea of emotion washed over me. His eyes looked haunted and now it made a lot more sense that they did.
I walked up to him until I was standing an inch away from his face. He looked at me without moving. His eyes looked even more pain-ridden than normal. Like a thousand shattered pieces of glass. I placed a hand on his face and looked at him for one more second before leaning in to kiss him.
His arms wrapped around me like a security blanket. The kiss was different than the last time. It was gentler and softer. But behind it I could feel the same urgency.
I opened the tie around his neck. He stopped the kiss and looked at me closely.
"You sure?" He asked, studying my expression closely.
I nodded. In one swift movement he drew me closer to him again, kissing me passionately.
I started opening the buttons of his shirt when he suddenly picked me up. He seemed insanely strong. What was up with that? I had dated excise-obsessed guys before and they were strong, but not this kind of strong. It seemed it took him no effort at all to pick me up. Like I was a fly.
I studied his facial expression closely. His jawline was hard, his lips in a tight line.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
His eyes focused in on me. He laughed.
"Are you kidding me? There's nothing I want more than you right now. Just making sure this is what you want. An hour ago you were very clear on the whole no-sex thing."
"An hour ago my opinion of you was very low."
"And now?"
"Still pretty low, but it has improved." I smiled at him.
He laughed.
"I guess we've made progress then." He said while setting me down in the bedroom.
I hadn't even noticed he was still holding me in his arms. Now he was standing in front of me, his eyes fixed on me.
"We don't have to do this. That's absolutely not why I came here tonight." He said while looking closely into my eyes.
"Absolutely? That's a strong word." I smiled.
"Well…" He laughed again.
I opened the zipper of my dress.
"I'm sure." I said while dropping the dress. His eyes were glued to my body. He swallowed hard and looked at me again before pulling me towards him again.
He kissed me passionately while we collapsed on the bed. His lips wandered down my neck as he removed my bra. He stood up and took of his jacket, kicking off his shoes while still staring at me intently. I got up and continued unbuttoning his shirt. When I started to take it off he interrupted me.
"Wait." He said while opening his cuffs.
"You're all sorts of wrapped up." I said glancing at the expensive looking cuffs that had BW engraved.
He laughed. "Gotta keep the ladies guessing."
I laughed as he was pulling me towards him again. Our skin touched and sent a shiver down my spine.
I took off his shirt and he kissed my neck. His hand in my hair he pulled me towards him and kissed me while lowering me carefully on the bed, his hand wandering down on me. I felt my body rocking against his touch. His lips wandering down to my breasts. I snatched the sheets and cried out as I went over the edge.
He stood up, opened his belt and dropped his pants. As I looked at him I noticed the scars and bruises all over his adonis-like body.
"Bruce…" I said in a worried tone while tracing one particularly nasty looking scar.
"Turns out extreme sports aren't that easy on your body." He said smiling at me. This did not look like extreme sport. It looked like he was a professional fighter on the side. He noticed the change in my mood, cupping my chin and directing my gaze away from his broken body. His eyes full of desire.
"I have to say, I'm a little disappointed that's the first thing you noticed when seeing my naked." He smirked at me.
I laughed.
In one quick movement, he pressed me against his naked body, kissing me. He lowered himself over me again, slowly pushing himself inside me.
This time I was able to make as much noise as I wanted. But that wasn't the only thing that was different this time. His movements were slower, softer. As he thrust himself inside me deeper, I took a deep breath and he covered my moan with his mouth. My hands on his back, I traced his strong muscles. Maybe I was imagining it, but he seemed more than just regular strong. This could support my fighting theory. His breath was getting heavy and irregular, his skin covered in sweat. His movements slowed down as he looked me straight into my eyes, holding my gaze while moving my arms over my body and holding them in place. Now that he all but stopped his movements I could feel my body almost vibrating underneath him. Don't stop! What was he doing? An almost lovingly smile swept over his lips. Just now I realized this was the most open, vulnerable look I had seen on him.
"Why are you stopping?" I asked breathlessly.
"I want to take it all in. And I'm incredibly close…so…" He said, kissing me again and thrusting himself deeper in me, my hands clamping down on his.
"So…" he said stopping the kissing and movements again. "So I thought I draw this out as long as I can." His hot lips on mine again, one hand going down on me. My already vibrating body could only take so much more. When I was about to go over the edge he stopped. Come on! He saw the frustration in my eyes and laughed.
"Impatient." He noticed, kissing my neck.
"Bruce," I sighed breathlessly in almost a pleading tone.
His movements increased. My body was begging for release and he was finally complying, thrusting faster and deeper. I cried his name as I went over the edge. When I opened my eyes again he was smiling at me like a child on christmas eve.
"You look so hot when you come." He said, kissing me again. His movements increased once again, this time I almost couldn't take it. I buried my hands in his back. He let out a deep groan as he emptied himself inside of me, his body collapsing on me for a split second. Even then, I could feel the heaviness of his muscles almost suffocating me.
He lifted himself off a little again, staring deeply into my eyes again and smiling. Was he shaking?
"Are you ok?" I asked.
He laughed. "Believe me, never been better." He leaned in to kiss me again, before rolling off me.
Now came the awkward moment of truth. Was he just going to get up, get dressed and go? Was he going to stay? What did I want him to do? I felt like there was a connection between us and he even said that in the closet… But… With him I never knew what was going on his mind.
I looked at him lying next to me. His eyes closed, his chest moving up and down evenly. Was he asleep? As if he heard my thought, he opened his eyes.
"Hey." He smiled at me.
"Hey." I responded softly.
Should I get up and get dressed first to make this less awkward? It seemed he heard that thought as well and pulled me towards him into an embrace, kissing my forehead.
This was so not how I thought this evening was going to go.
His breath became deeper and more even, his arms around me heavier. I glimpsed up to him. Now he was asleep. Slowly, I lifted his arms and got off the bed. I looked at him in all his naked glory. Well done Cat - I thought to myself before grabbing something a little more comfortable to wear.
I poured myself another glass of wine and was reading the news on my iPad while snuggling onto my couch. This turned out to be a much better evening. I opened the Gotham Gazette site and the first story caught my eye.
Mob Gets Funds From Secret Overseas Bank
(Gotham) The three main mafia gangs currently operating in Gotham receive all their funds from the same secret bank, a source familiar with the mobs finances said.
The funds cannot be accessed by the Gotham Police Department since they are located overseas, the source went on explaining.
Gotham's police chief Jim Gordon would not comment.
The money was their way of surviving. Find the money. Kill all gangs in Gotham. It was pretty simple. Only problem - how would you find it?
Bruce slung his arm around me, kissing me on the head. I turned to face him.
"You're awake."
"Sorry about that."
"Nothing to be sorry for." I replied as he sat next to me on the couch. He had put his pants back on but, luckily for me, had left his shirt off.
His hair looked less groomed than normal, more tossled. I liked it.
"Fascinating read?" He asked, pointing at my iPad.
I shrugged. "If you're into that sort of thing." I had no idea if he was interested in anything else than sports, women, cars and money.
He grabbed the iPad from me, frowning as he was reading it.
"Huh." He said. I swore I could see his muscles flex for a second, but I was probably mistaken.
"What?" I asked.
"Seems rather straight forward then. Get the money, get the bad guys."
That's exactly what I thought.
"Only…" he interjected "It's never that easy, is it." He sighed, still in deep thoughts. This was once again I side of him I had never noticed before. I tilted my head looking at him intently, trying to figure out the puzzle that was Bruce Wayne. He caught my interrogating glance and immediately handed me back my iPad with a sheepish smile.
"You love your job, don't you?" He asked.
"Yeah. I mean, every job has it's downsides. But I love journalism. I don't think I could not be a journalist."
He nodded.
"You?"
He raised his eyebrows.
"Um…" He was searching for the right words it seemed. "I hate it." He laughed.
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. Big time."
"Why?"
"I know you won't believe it, but big money isn't my thing. All these boring business deals… I'd rather someone else make them for me. And often they do." He laughed.
"Then why do you do it."
He shrugged. "For my parents. For the city." His expression grew more serious again. He immediately seem to shake it off again and turned to me again.
"Tell me more about you."
"What do you want to know?" I asked, taking a sip of courage from my wine glass.
"Any ex-boyfriends I need to be aware of? Just so I can prepare myself in case I get knocked out by a former flame." He smiled teasingly.
"Seems like you can handle your punches well." I said looking at his body.
He looked down on himself. "That? You should see the other guy."
I laughed.
"So?"
"Fine. Um… Let's see. There's no one you have to worry about. No one would punch you."
"That is a relief." He smiled.
"Ha! Yeah… Um…" This was making me more uncomfortable than it should. "There was Alexander."
"Alexander…" He said while leaning back. "I feel like this is going to be a long list."
"Not at all!" I protested.
"Go on." He smiled.
I rolled my eyes. "Alexander. He was my first serious boyfriend. We met in college. Well, I was in college."
"Oh boy."
"Shut up." I said while pushing him, which did not move him at all. Geez why was he so strong?
He laughed.
"He was a bit older than me."
"I figured."
"Do you want me to tell the story or what?"
"So impatient. I'm sorry. Go on." He grinned at me.
"So yeah, he was 10 years older than me. We met…bla, bla… were together for 2 years. I thought he was the one. We were about to move in together and then he lost his job and decided he needed to focus on his career."
"What an idiot." The anger in his voice took me by surprise.
"Yeah, worked out for the best. And then there was Josh…"
"Josh rings trouble."
I smiled softly. "Needless to say it didn't end very well. He is an actor/ artist/ photographer. Also quite a bit older than me. We were living together for 3 years… Then he decided he needed to move to LA and… Well, we just grew slowly apart I guess."
Bruce was looking at me closely. He could tell that Josh was the more serious relationship of the two and still closer to my heart.
"Ok. Noted. Keep an eye on Josh."
"And Alexander…"
"I'm not worried about him." He said grinning at me.
It irked me how well he could read me while I failed miserably at reading him.
"Ok your turn."
"Quit pro quo." he agreed
"What was her name?" I regretted the question the second it left my mouth.
His face immediately filled with sorrow. Deep frowns forming across his forehead.
"Andrea." Another emotion swept over his face that I could not read. Why was he so confusing.
"We grew up together. Were friends for a long time. We started dating in high school for a short while before she moved away to attend a prestigious boarding school upstate. Then I didn't hear from her for a while. She came back to Gotham years later and we reconnected again. We were together for about a year."
"What brought you two apart?"
He looked at me in thought. "Work." He responded and I sensed not to ask any further questions on the matter so I let it slide.
"Anyone else?" I switched topics.
"No one serious really. I've dated quite a few girls. But more casually than anything else."
Was I casually-dating-girl?
"So… You said you're not a playboy."
"I'm not." He said in a reaffirming voice.
"What do you do with the girls then?"
He raised his eyebrows and smirked at me in surprise.
"What do I do with them?"
"Yeah, you take them to a party, get them all liquored up and hot and bothered and then you drop 'em at the curb?"
He laughed out loud. "I don't drop them at the curb. But yes, I've disappointed many of them. Some get very angry actually."
"Do tell."
"One girl, Natassja, she was just furious when I didn't - and I'm quoting here - want to fuck her in my car. So she started screaming at me, got out of the car, scratched the whole side of it with her house keys and then laid herself on the hood crying."
"Oh my God!" I was laughing so hard I felt wine was coming out of my nostrils.
"Did she pay you back for the car?"
He waved his hand. "Not a big deal."
Not a big deal. Refurbishing a Lamborghini cost probably more than 2 months rent.
"I'm sure you have your fair share of driving guys insane." I felt myself blush under his intense gaze.
"Ha…" I took a sip of wine, which was probably the best wine I've ever had. "Marc was pretty funny. He went to college with me. He had a major crush on me, that I knew. So we were at this birthday party and when I left he insisted on sharing a cab with me, even though he lived on the other side of town."
"Bad move Marc." He said while filling himself a glass of wine.
"Well, he invited himself inside my apartment…"
"Invited himself inside…?"
"Glass houses…"
"Touché." He smiled and took a sip.
"Well, I was telling him over and over again that nothing would happen."
Bruce's facial expression did not go unnoticed.
"Not fair! Totally different circumstances!" I said.
"I didn't say anything."
"Aaaanyway. I told him that I would go and brush my teeth and when I come out he is either on the couch in the living room or out of my apartment. So I'm entering my bedroom, and he's lying on my bed… NAKED."
Bruce almost spit out the wine.
We talked like this all night long. Before I knew it, the clock read 5 a.m.
"Gosh, is it really already 5?" I asked confused.
Bruce seized up my gaze as if he was trying to decide something. Then, he suddenly pulled me towards him, covering my lips with his.
I melted in his arms.
"The night is still young." He whispered in my ear.
