Chapter 17

Bruce's gripped her hips firmly in his large hands, holding on for dear life as she moved above him at a tortuously slow rate, prolonging his release. Despite having never been with a man before, she had expertly driven him over the brink and into the waiting arms of rapture several times during the night and was rapidly propelling him there again right now.

He stared ravenously at her through heavily hooded eyes clouded with passion, admiring the way she moved, so graceful and yet so utterly erotic he could hardly contain himself or bear to look away from her as she held him completely mesmerized by her perfection.

He grunted and groaned between panting breaths, strangled sounds akin to dying. His heart was hammering wildly as he called her name, a gasping moaning plea for salvation as he met every delicious slam of her hips against his as she began to move faster.

He swore the breathless sound of his name on Diana's lips in the midst of lovemaking was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard, further driving him that much closer to falling over the edge he'd been teetering on for several minutes now.

His fingers dug even further into her soft flesh, his body beginning to shudder and tense as Diana suddenly cried out, her inner walls clamping hard around him, coming undone and taking him along with her. She collapsed on top of him, her mouth eagerly searching out his for a languid intimate kiss.

Bruce softly stroked along her back, savoring the feel of her lying on top of the length of him. He kissed her slowly, brushing her hair away from her face. He loved the radiant glow that lit her entire countenance as well as the fact that he had been the one to put it there several times during the night.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured as he studied her face. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to sit through a League meeting and not just stare at you…want to kiss you senseless?"

"I'm pretty sure I can relate," she replied, her voice still raspy with the euphoria encompassing her whole body. Resting her head on his shoulder, she pressed light kisses along his jaw as she caressed his muscular chest. "I love your jaw. You have no idea how many times I have wanted to just jump you during a meeting and start kissing your jaw before ripping that cowl off."

Bruce chuckled softly, causing her body to gently shake along with his. It was a sound she loved to hear. "That would have been a little awkward, the two of us making out during a League meeting. Clark would've had a heart attack."

Diana chuckled with him, amused by the thought as well. "I imagine he would," she agreed. "He'd probably hurl you through a wall for trying to besmirch my reputation."

"He's very protective when it comes to you," Bruce told her, growing serious. "I'm afraid we almost came to blows a few times over you while you were unconscious. He definitely does not like the idea of me being in love with you."

"I love you both, but he's like my brother," she admitted. "You, on the other hand, Mr. Wayne, have managed to steal my heart as well as my virtue. That's not an easy thing for a mortal man to do when it comes to an Amazon."

"Let's just say I love a challenge," he gruffly replied, the heat in his voice not going unnoticed by her.

He suddenly rolled them onto their sides so they could face each other, his leg immediately hooking over hers and keeping her pressed flushed against him as his hand came to rest on her cheek. "I hope I didn't wear you out too much. How do you feel?"

"Sore…exhausted…but in a wonderful way," she softly smiled at him as she lightly ran the tip of her finger over his lips. "Last night…was…"

"Amazing," he finished for her, his blue eyes smoldering with love for her.

"I am so relieved," she shyly confessed. "I have to admit I was a little worried you would be disappointed."

"Disappointed?" he frowned. "Making love with you has been better than anything I've ever dreamed about."

Diana smiled with his words, a rosy blush rising to her cheeks. "I'm afraid the negligee didn't survive, though," she reminded him as she spotted a tattered piece of indigo material on the floor.

"I couldn't help myself," he said. "I couldn't get to you fast enough after seeing you in it again."

"I didn't mind one bit," she replied.

"Besides, I wouldn't worry too much about it, Princess," he told her. "I can afford to buy you a whole lingerie store if I wanted to. I'll get you a new one for every night of the week."

"I like the sound of that," she purred, her face suddenly growing serious. "Bruce, what am I going to do if my powers never come back?"

"I don't want you to ever worry about anything, Diana," he firmly said. "I want you to stay here with me. I'm going to take care of you…always."

"I don't need anyone to take care of me," she frowned, annoyed. "But I do love the idea of living here with you."

Bruce suddenly moved over her, pinning her between him and the mattress. "Then stay and take care of me," he huskily told her as he teasingly brushed his lips against hers. "I'm sure Alfred could use the help. Besides, you already know what a hopeless mess I am and you seem to love me anyways even though I have no idea why."

Diana smirked as she gazed up into his eyes, already knowing she could deny him nothing. "Deal," she murmured, her hands caressing along the length of his back. "So how soon until I get to go out on patrol with you?"

"You still have to beat me two out of three in the training room," he said as he began to explore her body all over again. "That is one rule that I absolutely refuse to alter no matter what you wear."

Diana got a seductive glint in her eye, her hand sliding down between their bodies to tease him all over again. "I'm sure I can come up with some persuasive way to get you to change your mind," she murmured, capturing his bottom lip and sucking gently.

Bruce groaned, his eyes falling closed as she reached between them to take him in her hand. His breaths were already growing ragged as his body quickly began to respond to her sensual stroking touch. A fire erupted in the pit of his belly, heating his blood and making his pulse race.

"Diana," he moaned, pressing his forehead into the crook of her neck. He raked his teeth over her skin, sucking hard.

"Bruce," Diana gasped, her head tilting back. "Someone is going to notice if you keep doing that."

"That's the idea," he breathed into her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "You are mine now, Princess, and I want everyone to know it."

The rough possessive tone of his voice sent a shiver racing through her. Any other man would've been thrown through a wall if she had her powers for taking possession of her like she was common property, but somehow with Bruce it was very different.

It was intensely erotic to her, causing her to want him even more. She suddenly found she wanted to belong to him and him alone and not just for a day, a week, or a month, but forever. Always in his heart, his life.

Bruce kissed her deeply as he shifted his hips, swiftly sheathing himself deep within her. Diana gasped and arched at the sudden intrusion that she had suddenly come to crave with him since their heated session in the training room last evening.

Faint morning light slowly began to drive away the dim shadows of the bedroom as the sun began to rise, signaling the beginning of another day. Diana wished more than anything for it to still to be the moon lighting the bedroom, for day not to come so soon as Bruce began to move deeply within her. She didn't want to leave this bed any time soon.

Diana gasped as his teeth raked along her collarbone again, the feel of him so hard like steel moving in and out of her wet depths rapidly driving her towards rapture once more. She didn't think she could ever get enough of him, being skin to skin not nearly close enough for her.

Wrapping her legs firmly around him, she abruptly rolled him onto his back, her raven hair falling like an inky veil around his face as she kissed him deeply. She shifted her hips in an erotic rhythm, rising and falling and grinding against him.

"Diana…" he breathlessly gasped as he buried his hands in her hair, kissing her with equal passion.

He felt as though he was on fire, her love for him consuming him inside and out. He never knew he could ever love a woman the way that he loved her – so complete, so all-consuming, so passionate. She was the only one who had managed to get past all the barriers that he'd erected to protect himself against this very thing.

Now, he never wanted to go back, never wanted to ever let her go. She had saved him from himself, from a bitter lonely future devoid of love.

Diana suddenly sat up, brushing her hair back as she fought to catch her breath, her fiery gaze boring straight through him. Bruce immediately followed, sitting up and capturing her lips with his, his hands roaming over her smooth perfect form as she began to move her hips once more.

He quickly began to blaze a hot trail along her throat to her breast as his large hands stroked her back. Diana arched her back, pressing more of herself into his mouth as he teased her with his lips and tongue. She felt as if ever single nerve-ending was on fire as he suddenly laid her back on the bed, thrusting into her with wild abandon.

He pressed his forehead against her shoulder as he made love to her, all coherent thought except for her completely lost. Diana clawed at the sheets as he moved over her, writhing with the pleasure that was continually shooting up her spine.

She cried out as ecstasy came crashing down on her in violent waves, Bruce following right after her. He swiftly gathered her trembling body into his arms, loving the feel of her moist skin against his as they both fought to catch their breaths and come down from their fierce release.

Rolling over, he pulled her to lie against him, his fingers stroking her hair. "You are seriously going to be the death of me," he softly panted.

"I'm not the one who started it this time," she chuckled softly, pressing her lips against his chest. "It was all you."

"If you weren't so damn beautiful and naked I wouldn't be so tempted," he countered.

"I wish we could just stay here all day," she dreamily said, her fingers tracing the numerous scars that marred his perfect chest, reminding her once more of the fierce warrior that she knew he was.

"Me too, Princess," he sighed in resignation, remembering the dark world that still lay right outside his window, the Joker and his partnership with Luthor lurking in the shadows. He needed to get to the bottom of it before it was too late.

"So when is my next training session?" she asked, her voice seductive.

Bruce smirked with her question. "If I had my way, I'd say now, but I think I've exhausted you enough for one night."

Diana chuckled softly, her eyes feeling heavy as sleep tugged on her senses. "I love having you as my training partner," she sleepily murmured.

"And you will never have another," he told her, tightening his hold on her.

He felt Diana smile against his chest as sleep quickly took her away from him, her breathing evening out. He slowly raked his fingers through her hair over and over again as he stared up at the ceiling deep in thought.

He thought that he had never been this happy in his entire life as he was right now…and it was all because of the woman sleeping next to him. And he would do everything in his power to keep it that way.

XXX

Sitting at his computer in the batcave, Bruce couldn't help the smile that kept threatening to form on his lips. He couldn't stop thinking about the passionate night and morning spent in Diana's arms. It had been magical in every way, better than anything he'd ever fantasized about with her.

He was growing anxious to return to his bedroom now, to the goddess sleeping in his bed waiting for him. The day had uncovered nothing more involving Lex Luthor and the Joker or whatever it was they were plotting. Patrol had been equally quiet tonight leaving him more than a little unnerved by it.

Something was definitely brewing and set to explode. He just didn't know what or when.

He decided he'd better go to the Watchtower tomorrow and talk with Clark. While he still wasn't going to allow Metas in Gotham, they still needed to put their heads together and come up with some sort of a plan of attack should Luthor and the Joker strike.

He also needed to talk with J'onn who'd left him a message while he'd been out on patrol. The Martian Manhunter thought that he had figured out a possible way to reverse what the Akusu had done to Diana.

He was more than anxious for her to get her powers back, knowing how much she missed them. He loved her regardless of whether she had them or not, but they were a part of who she was and he wanted to help her get them back.

Not only was she powerless, but she was also mortal now and subject to every illness and disease known to man. With no immune system, she was highly susceptible. Death was now inevitable for her, crushing his heart. Even though he knew his life was finite, he always took great comfort in the fact that she would likely live forever.

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting back his fears as well as the fatigue that clung to him like a second skin. It was a very good kind of tired, though, the kind that came with too much sexual activity and not nearly enough sleep.

And despite how tired he was, he anxious to see her again, to kiss her and make love to her. He'd seen her only briefly during the day today when she had stopped by to see him on her way to the training room to continue her strengthening exercises.

She had looked amazing in her little black shorts and tank top, her long raven hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. His heated desire had told him to follow her, his iron will told him to stay and work. The Batman in him had ultimately won out, watching her go with a mouth-watering lustful need that refused to be ignored.

But as soon as he finished his report, he could satisfy that need as many times as he wanted to tonight.

"Batman…come in."

"Batman here," his raspy voice filtered through the commlink. "What is it, Nightwing?"

"We've got a problem," he gravely told him.

"Do you need me to come?"

"No, not like that," he quickly said. "I just uncovered some information that you are not going to like to hear."

"Is it about the Joker and Luthor?"

"Yes and it isn't good," Nightwing angrily stated. "There's a rumor on the street that Luthor and the Joker are making some inquires as to Wonder Woman's whereabouts."

Batman felt as if his blood had just suddenly turned to ice water in his veins with Dick's words. "Who have they been talking to?"

"Anyone who might have information on where she is," Nightwing informed him. "Evidently they aren't buying the Justice League's official story about her being off world on a diplomatic mission. Rumor on the street is spreading that she's injured and recovering somewhere. Luthor and the Joker are trying to find out where."

Silence filled the air as Nightwing waited for a response. He knew Bruce wasn't going to take this latest information well at all. After seeing his face today, he knew that he and Diana had finally been together.

He couldn't have missed that slight smile that had tugged at the corner of his mouth most of the day. Even though it was such a minor, almost imperceptible change, it was huge for the stoic billionaire who rarely ever cracked a smile.

Bruce might as well have written it across the sky that he and Diana had finally slept together. And Dick couldn't have been any happier for them. Unfortunately, though, it seemed that the Joker and Lex Luthor were going to try to ruin their chance at happiness.

"Batman, are you there?" Nightwing finally asked.

"I'm here," he replied. "See if you can find out any more information about their sources and who they're talking to. We need to put an end to the rumors right now before they find her."

"Got it," he stated. "Nightwing out."

Bruce sank back in his chair with a ragged sigh as if all the air had just been sucked out of the room. He angrily pulled his cowl off with a low growl, his heart hammering with the fear that suddenly consumed him.

Whatever Luthor and the Joker were plotting, it obviously involved Diana somehow. Had they somehow discovered she no longer had her super powers? Could they have been a part of the Akusu attack all along?

He was going to have to keep her safe and out of harm's way especially until he could get to the bottom of whatever it was those two were up to now. If they truly were after Diana, they were going to have to get through him first.