Chapter 16

Diana's back hit the mat hard again, the wind being knocked out of her this time. She furiously growled as she stared up at the ceiling, fight to catch her breath only to have Bruce's stoic face suddenly come into view.

"You're opening yourself up too much," he told her with a frown. "You need to keep your right arm up. You're letting it drift down. Let's try it again."

Sitting up, Diana heatedly glared at Bruce as he offered her his hand to help her up. She slapped it away, frustration and anger blazing hotly through her veins. Getting to her feet under her own strength, she quickly turned to face her opponent, a sneer on her beautiful face.

Bruce fought back the small smile that threatened to form as he assumed a defensive stance opposite of her. She had been growing steadily testier and more annoyed with every time that her back hit the mat, being bested at every turn by him making her nerves raw with infuriation as well as something more, something deeper that she had still refused to talk to him about.

She'd made considerable progress over the last three weeks, her strength beginning to return as well as her endurance, but she still had a long road ahead of her. Unfortunately, a lot of pain and muscle cramps had accompanied her progress as well.

Since she refused to take pain medicines, he had resorted to massaging her sore muscles for her each night before leaving for patrol. And each night, it was becoming more and more difficult not to touch her like he so desperately wanted to, to just give in to the fierce desire that pounded through him especially when a low sensuous moan would suddenly escape her lips.

At times, he swore she was doing it on purpose in an attempt to get him to finally give in to their mutual desire. Last night, she had come so very close to succeeding when he had come in to his bedroom to find her coming out of his bathroom in a lacey indigo negligee that ended at mid thigh.

It had taken every ounce of strength he'd had and quite a bit he was certain he didn't not to just take her right there, but he knew once he started, he'd never be able to stop…if ever.

Then she had laid face down on his bed, pulling the lush raven hair that he loved aside exposing her slender neck, the negligee riding up her thighs a bit and revealing even more of her gorgeous long legs to his hungry roaming gaze.

He'd had to force himself to recount every single encounter he'd ever had with the Joker over the years in order to make it through that massage. He'd abruptly left her after that with no more than a curt "sleep well" before attempting to escape his bedroom.

The look of confused hurt in her blue eyes as she turned to see him go had been his undoing except that Dick had been coming down the hall at that precise moment, needing his help down in the batcave. It had been his only salvation in that tense moment.

Staring into blue eyes now ablaze with fiery determination, Bruce could feel that steel control beginning to tremble again. He had a feeling deep down in his gut that he wasn't going to be so fortunate to her escape today.

The sexual tension between the two of them was reaching a frenzied unbearable pitch never felt before. Knowing how badly they wanted each other, were in love with one another was bad enough, but knowing that that dam could suddenly burst at any given moment, giving them what they both wanted wasn't helping any.

Why was he waiting so long? Torturing himself like this? She was obviously recovered from her injuries for the most part; the only lingering affects her endurance and lack of super powers.

Bruce felt his inside growing warmer by the moment as he suddenly ducked with the thought, narrowly missing a fierce kick to the head. Blocking another strike, he decided to push her a little further, to keep her anger brewing.

"Come on, Princess," he goaded her, earning a sneer from the Amazon. "Is that the best you've got?"

He silently berated himself as he felt his throat go dry, knowing that he couldn't allow his desire to interfere with her training, not when her life depended on it. He suddenly swept his leg out in an attempt to take her feet out from under her in that moment, allowing his heated frustration and anger over what had happened to her feed and focus his need to protect and train her.

He couldn't help the pride he felt when Diana swiftly leapt out of the way at the last moment, avoiding being taken down again. Her quickness was already beginning to return, her instincts kicking back in like he knew they eventually would.

Bruce didn't say anything about her progress, but kept sparring instead, a fierce look on his face that refused to reveal his pleasure with her improvement. He was determined to train her just like he'd trained Tim and Dick, not going easy on her regardless of how in love he was with her.

It had led to more than a few heated arguments between them over the last three weeks, Diana growing infuriated with his constant pushing and brutal criticism, but he knew he had to or it would cost him her life. And that was unacceptable.

Grinding his teeth, Bruce decided to kick it up a notch, springing a new maneuver on her. Before Diana could react to his sudden move, she found herself back down on the mat with Bruce on top of her. He had her arms pinned to the mat on either side of her head, a cocky smirk on his lips that only served to aggravate her even further.

Her chest was heaving as she fought to catch her breath, her breasts so tantalizingly close now. He was fighting the overwhelming urge to kiss her senseless, but images of her lying there trapped beneath the rubble after the Akusu attack quickly hardened his resolve once more. He couldn't let that happen to her ever again. He needed to work her even harder than before.

Staring up at him, Diana's storming emotions were about to explode within her, the desire to wipe that arrogant expression off of his face becoming too hard to ignore. She suddenly decided to use his position over her to her advantage, quickly lifting her hips to grind hard against him, taking him by surprise. She could feel his already hardening need through his shorts as a growl slipped past his lips, his eyes momentarily falling closed.

It was all she needed.

Diana suddenly wrapped her legs around him, rolling him and pinning him to the mat. She grinned something wicked and utterly sinful as she leaned in close to him, her breasts pressed against his chest, her lips a tantalizing breath away from his.

"Point," she seductively purred.

She could feel Bruce's breaths growing ragged, his need growing beneath her, but she pulled back. He had done nothing but aggravate and frustrate her beyond words for three weeks now with her training sessions, refusing to consummate their love until she could best him.

Over the last few weeks, she'd seen flickers of that heated desire for her permeating his eyes only to watch him pull it back behind his stoic expression, his voice gruff with criticism as he pushed her even further. She didn't know how much longer she could keep going like this, the physical tension between them threatening to drive her crazy.

Bruce felt as though his heart was going to pound out of his chest as he gazed up into her beautiful face, her fierce prideful expression heating his blood like only she could do. "No point," he angrily shot back, furious with himself for allowing his desire for her to take over. "It was a dirty trick. It doesn't count."

Diana arched an eyebrow as she stared down at him, angry with him for suddenly changing the rules. "I don't see how," she countered. "I used a weakness against you. It's not my fault you can't control yourself."

Bruce scowled. "I'd say I've controlled myself quite well the last few weeks, especially after that little stunt you try to pull last night," he shot back, his own emotions taking over now.

Furious, Diana crossed her arms over her chest as she glared down at him. "Yes, you should receive a medal of valor for your great restraint at being able to keep your hands off of me."

Bruce tensed beneath her despite himself, his frustrated need as well as his fear for her simmering just beneath the surface and set to explode at any moment. Why couldn't she see that he only had her best interests at heart? That he didn't want her to become distracted with him when she needed to worry about being able to defend herself.

Diana suddenly shifted off of him much to his disappointment. As much as he knew they needed to concentrate on her training, he still had to admit that he loved the feel of her straddling him like that, looming above him like the goddess that she was.

"Diana…" he angrily snapped as he leapt to his feet.

"No, Bruce," she turned her back to him. "It's all about the training and nothing more, remember?"

She was beyond frustrated with him. She wanted him so badly she was about to claw out of her skin at times. She had hoped the negligee she'd worn last night would've done the trick, but it hadn't. He had just left her, barely uttering two words to her before going out on patrol.

Had he changed his mind about her? No longer wanted her?"

"I have to make sure you are able to defend yourself, Diana," he heatedly told her. "I'm not about to let you step one foot in my city until…"

"It always comes back to your city, doesn't it?" she ground out, spinning on her heel, her eyes like twin blue flames of fury as she marched towards him, her finger poking him in the chest. "You're just going to keep changing the damn rules so you can get rid of me as soon as possible."

"That's not true and you know it," he growled as he felt his back suddenly hit the wall behind him. "It's about keeping you alive, Princess."

"And then what, Bruce?" she demanded, chest heaving with all of the pent up hurt and anger she'd been harboring the last few weeks. "Back to business as usual? You go your way, I go mine?"

"What?" he frowned, confused.

"If you don't want me anymore, all you had to do was say so, Bruce," she fumed, hurt swimming in her eyes as she turned away from him.

Bruce immediately grabbed hold of her, roughly pulling her towards him as he turned and pinned her to the wall in one swift fluid motion. His mouth was suddenly on hers before she could even respond, his hand on her neck and the other in her hair as he rapidly lost himself in the passionate kiss.

Diana quickly responded, her lips parting and tongues tangling in a fierce battle for control. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him unbelievably closer and refusing to let him go. She wasn't going to allow him to end it this time. She didn't care if they were in the training room or if Dick or Tim could walk in at any moment. She was going to have him here…now.

Bruce ground his hips against her as their kiss grew fiercer by the moment. He felt a shiver race up his spine as her hands snuck up under his shirt, her nails finding his nipples to seductively rake across them.

They broke the kiss long enough for her to remove his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside before their mouths crashed into each other once more in a heated dance as the dam finally broke loose.

She lifted her leg, hooking it around his waist as she rolled her pelvis against his rock-hard need, eliciting a throaty growl in response. There was nothing on earth that was going to keep him from having her now.

Retreating for air, Bruce pressed his forehead against hers, his breath hot panting blasts against her face. "Damn you, Princess," he growled. "I just can't fight you any longer."

Diana smirked as she fought to catch the breath he'd just stolen away. "Hera, it took you long enou…" she breathlessly began to say.

He swiftly silenced her with his mouth, heated desire pounding wildly through his veins. This wasn't the romantic setting that he'd pictured for their first time together, but he knew that he couldn't wait another moment without being with her. Last night had very nearly done him in.

Before Diana knew it, her back was on the mat with Bruce's hard muscular body on top of her, his hands exploring her as his tongue continued to tease and torment her mouth in imitation of what was about to come.

Hot need exploded inside of her as she stroked her fingers along the muscular contours of his back. She tilted her head as he began to blaze a tortuous path along her neck and down to her chest, his lips and tongue teasing the tops of her breasts.

The sound of tearing material was her only warning before her tank top went flying, her sports bra quickly following. A low hungry growl of desire filled her ears just before his mouth descended on her breasts.

She gasped sharply at the feel of his erotic assault on her, all coherent thoughts rapidly vanishing, replaced with nothing but him and the incredible pleasure that was coursing through her body at that moment.

Bruce could scarcely believe this was finally happening after all of these years of wanting her, dreaming of her every night. This breathtaking Amazon beneath him was all his.

It was all he could do not to come undone as he kissed and teased her breasts. His hands caressed her sides before slipping down to find her shorts, his desperate need to bury himself deep within her becoming next to unbearable.

His hands slid down her hips, pushing her short down her legs. He could feel her hands trailing down his back, slipping beneath the material to grasp at his backside.

A breathless moan escaped his parted lips as he pressed his forehead against her shoulder. "Diana…" he panted as she kneaded his flesh.

He quickly removed her shorts and panties, her back arching with a sharp gasp as his fingers found her wet heat. "Bruce…" she cried out as he began to stroke her.

She grabbed his face, pulling him down for a fierce kiss as he continued to tease and excite her. Her entire body was on fire, aching for the sweet moment he would enter her and fill her with himself, connecting them as one in every way imaginable.

His heart was hammering, his need thrumming wildly through him as he removed his shorts, wanting nothing between them any longer, nothing keeping him from feeling every inch of her gorgeous form against him.

Kissing her deeply, he felt her moan as he firmly gripped her hips, hating himself for the pain he was about to cause her. He quickly moved to grasp her hands, lacing her fingers with his and pinning them on either side of her head as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

He wanted to share in every bit of this moment with her, the pleasure as well as her initial pain. He slowly pushed into her as they shared the same breath, his mouth quickly covering hers as he swallowed her cry, wishing he could take her pain into himself.

He paused allowing her to adjust to his invasion in her body, pressing butterfly kisses to her lips and chin before kissing along her throat to her ear. "I love you, Diana," he heatedly told her. "You never need question if it's real."

Bruce slowly pushed himself deeper inside of her, the feel of her tight like a vice around him nearly pushing him right over the edge. Tears leaked from her eyes, her body strung tight beneath him. Her fingernails dug into his back as she fought to catch her breath, her heart hammering beneath her breast.

The feel of his lips erasing her tears created a soothing peace within her, helping her to relax as the pain began to subside. The tranquility didn't last for long as passion erupted all over again as he began to move over her.

Bruce thought that he'd never known passion this intense, feel love this powerful before. It took everything that he had to keep himself from being swept up and away by it all, losing himself in the feel of this amazing woman in his arms.

Fierce possessiveness washed over him as he made passionate love to his princess, knowing that no other man had ever known her like this, touched or loved her like he was now. Only him. She had chosen to give herself to him, this precious gift of hers and he swore to himself that he'd never let her regret it.

Each penetrating stroke pushed him deeper and deeper into her heat as he caressed and kissed her, loved her with all that he held in his heart for her. Sweat trickled down his back and between her breasts as they lost themselves to the pounding waves of passion, the training room now filled with the scents and sounds of their lovemaking.

Diana could feel her insides coiling tight, her breath catching in her throat. Bruce's name was breathless chanting moans and gasps on her lips as his thrusts came faster, harder. She curled her toes into the mat, fighting desperately to hold on and not drown in the pleasure pounding like angry waves through her entire body.

Bruce continued to pump into her as she writhed beneath him, coming with a powerful release as her fingernails dug deep into his back. She screamed his name, her body trembling in his arms. He swiftly followed her over that blissful peak, coming with a violent release of his own as he emptied himself deep within her.

Leaning in, he kissed her softly, one hand caressing her face, the other buried in her hair as she pulled him to lie on top of her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, keeping him locked in her embrace.

Opening his eyes, he brushed his nose against hers, relishing the feel of her perfect form pinned beneath him. "You almost killed me last night with that negligee," huskily murmured against her lips. "You have no idea how close you came to being ravaged."

"Really?" she frowned. "I thought that you hadn't even noticed it."

"How could I not?" he grunted. "I don't think I'd ever seen anything more beautiful in my life. Do you think you can wear it again tonight?"

A smile slowly spread across her face as she gazed up at him. "Depends," she teased. "Will I be wearing it for long?"

"Not if I have my way," he smirked.

Her face suddenly grew serious as she ran her fingers back through his damp short hair. "Hera…I love you, Bruce Wayne."

"I love you too, Princess," he replied, kissing her slowly, deeply. "Care to take a shower with me?"

Diana frowned. "What about my training?"

"I have a new workout in mind for you."

"Oh and what would that be?" she smiled seductively.

"You…me…my bed…behind locked doors," he told her between kisses. "Some wine…that sexy little negligee…"

"Hmmm…I think I may love this new type of training," she sighed contentedly as she teased his lips. "But what about patrol?"

"I think Dick and Tim can handle it for one night," he readily decided, savoring the way their bodies were molded together like one. The feel of her against him was arousing him all over again. "I believe this training session could take all night."

"I like the sound of that," she replied, her lips quirking. "And what are the rules for this training session?"

"You'll just have to wait and see, Princess," he smirked as he kissed her again, anxious to get her up to his bedroom.