"Did you see the look on old Batsy's face when his precious cape decided to make new friends with the fences spikes?" he crowed with glee. "Absolutely priceless!"
Rose grinned up at him. "I thought smoke was going to come billowing out of his ears, he was so furious!" she recalled with delight.
"A fitting end to our merry chase, wouldn't you say?" Edward glanced at his pocket watch, doing some mental calculations. "And still relatively early in the evening. Perhaps you'd permit me to treat you to a celebratory dessert, my dear, as reward for our daring escape?"
"That sounds lovely," Rose agreed, more than ready to extend their time together into the night.
Edward led them down the quiet sidewalk. Around several twisting turns lay a small neighborhood bakery, warm lamplight glowing within.
As they approached, Rose peered through the glass window. Display cases lined the front, their shelves filled with mouthwatering pastries. Cream puffs and eclairs were piled in neat stacks, glazed fruit tarts bursting with color. But her eyes were immediately drawn to the chocolate tortes in the center, their dark ganache dripping temptingly over the sides.
Stepping inside, the scent of baking enveloped them. The baker was busy scrubbing down counters, preparing to close up for the night.
Edward doffed his hat with a flourish. "Pardon the intrusion, good sir, but might a gentleman procure two of your finest tortes to take away this evening?"
The baker eyed them wearily until Edward slipped a few extra bills into his palm with a wink.
"Of course, sir, right away."
Soon they exited clutching large boxes, the tortes nestled safely within for their enjoyment.
Rose sighed contentedly, already salivating at the sweet scent. "Thank you for tonight, Edward, and for these delicious treats."
He grinned over at her. "The pleasure is all mine, my dear. Our games together never cease to delight me."
They continued down the dark street together. After a few moments, Edward spoke up again. "What do you say we retire to my hideout for a short while?"
Taking in her intrigued expression, he added playfully, "And I may even have something stronger than cake to properly wet our whistles and celebrate our victory over the Batman."
Rose's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect!"
"Excellent," Edward replied, looking equally pleased by her enthusiastic agreement.
Soon they arrived at the metal door that marked Edward's secret hideout. He slid a key from his pocket and turned it in the lock with a satisfying click.
Pulling the door open, Edward ushered Rose inside before following and securing the entrance behind them.
Within, dim fluorescent lights overhead flickered automatically to life as motion sensors detected their entrance. The spacious open floor plan of Edward's secret lair was just as she remembered - cluttered workshop tables piled high with unfinished contraptions and papers and a threadbare couch facing a large TV.
"Make yourself comfortable, my dear," Edward said, motioning towards the weathered sofa.
Rose sank into the cushions, feeling the worn fabric beneath her. Edward strode to the small kitchenette, retrieving a dusty bottle of red wine from a high cabinet. With a gentle blow, he cleared the dust, creating a small cloud in the air.
"I've been saving this for a special occasion," he remarked with a mischievous grin.
Gracefully uncorking the bottle, Edward poured two glasses and approached the couch. He extended one glass to Rose with a slight bow.
"To us, my clever companion, and our hard-won victory tonight over that wretched Bat!" Edward proclaimed, settling down beside Rose and clinking his glass to hers.
"Cheers to that," Rose replied, smiling as she took a sip of the wine.
They both reached for the boxes containing the chocolate tortes from the bakery. Rose sighed in bliss as the decadent chocolate melted in her mouth, the velvety ganache coating her taste buds.
"These are heavenly," she murmured, her voice filled with delight.
Edward hummed in agreement, savoring each bite of his own torte with closed eyes.
With the last crumb of chocolate torte devoured and the wine bottle emptied, Rose turned her body to face Edward fully. Her fingers traced a slow path over his emerald green jacket, feeling the strength of his chest beneath the fabric. Edward's breath caught at her tender touch.
I've always admired your style, Edward," Rose whispered, her fingertips grazing the edge of his collar. "The colors, the patterns... they're bold and striking, just like you."
A grateful smile tugged at Edward's lips. "Thank you, my dear. I take pride in my appearance and leaving a lasting impression."
Rose's hand moved higher, curling behind his neck, her touch igniting a fire within him. She leaned in, her breath caressing his jaw.
"Oh, you've certainly made an impression tonight," she breathed, their lips almost touching in an electrifying tease.
Edward shivered, his hands delicately resting at her waist, yearning for more. "What do you say we make this a nightly tradition, my dear?" he murmured, placing a tender kiss on her forehead. "Outwitting Batman and celebrating with sweets."
A contented smile graced Rose's face as she nestled her head on Edward's shoulder. "I can't think of anything better," she sighed, finding solace in his touch as his fingers played with her hair.
"How long do you suppose it will take Bats to free himself from that iron snare?" Edward pondered, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.
Rose giggled at the thought. "With his temper? Who knows if there will be a fence left by morning!"
Edward chuckled. "We do have a way of bringing out the worst in our pointy-eared friend, don't we?"
Gently, Edward brushed a stray crumb from Rose's cheek, letting his fingers linger softly against her warm skin. As he traced his hand down her arm, their fingers slowly intertwined.
Rose glanced up at Edward from beneath dark lashes, her lips curving in a shy yet lingering smile that he returned tenderly. Lifting a hand, he cupped her cheek while their faces inched closer, drawn together as if by some magnetic force.
Rose's eyes drifted shut at the sweet warmth of Edward's breath ghosting over her lips. Then ever so gently, he pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss expressing the deep longing they now shared. She sighed contentedly against his lips, parting them in welcome.
As Edward eagerly deepened their kiss, his tongue swept tenderly along Rose's bottom lip. She met his exploration with her own, tasting remnants of chocolate and wine on his tongue. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his jacket, melting into his embrace as he held her close.
As their hunger for each other grew, Rose reached up and gently removed Edward's green bowler hat, setting it aside. Her fingers threaded through his ginger locks, enjoying the sensation of his hair between her fingertips.
In response, Edward wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Soon Rose found herself straddling his lap, their bodies pressing tightly together in a longing embrace.
Breaking their kiss, Edward looked up at Rose with eyes dark with need. "My dear, if we continue, I fear I'll lose all sense of restraint," he murmured huskily.
Rose blushed at his implication but met his heated stare. "Then don't hold back," she breathed, skimming her hands down his chest.
Edward captured Rose's lips in another deep kiss, swallowing her soft moan. His hand drifted down her sides to caress her curves through the fabric of her clothes.
Rose squirmed closer still, seeking more intimacy. Her thigh grazed against the prominent bulge in Edward's emerald slacks, eliciting a groan from his throat at the contact. His hands gripped her waist as encouragement.
Taking the hint, Rose gently ground down against him once more. This drew another gravelly sound of pleasure from Edward that shot straight through her. Breaking their kiss with a gasp, she trailed her lips along his jaw.
"My, someone's becoming eager," Rose purred into his ear playfully before nipping at the lobe.
"You have a talent for sweet torture, my dear," Edward rasped, his hot palms sliding up her thighs.
Rose sighed breathily at his touch, her hands traveling down his firm chest to idly toy with the buttons of his emerald jacket in suggestive invitation.
Unable to take much more teasing, Edward grasped her thighs and stood swiftly from the couch. Rose gasped but instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist.
"I believe we require more a comfortable space to continue our activities," Edward murmured huskily against her lips.
Edward carried Rose down a long hallway from the main room of his lair. She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling against him as he walked.
Reaching the end of the corridor, Edward stopped before a plain wooden door marked only with a bright green question mark painted on its surface.
"I do hope you'll find my private chambers up to your standards, my dear," Edward remarked with a playful grin.
As he fumbled one-handed to unlock the door, Rose pressed soft kisses along his jawline. Edward groaned low in response, the sound igniting a pulse of desire within her.
Finally, the door swung open and Edward's lips took hers in a searing kiss as he crossed the threshold, still cradling her safely against his lean form.
Kicking the bedroom door shut behind them, Edward carried Rose toward his king sized bed. As he walked, she caught glimpses of the space surrounding them.
Walls held densely packed shelves containing volumes on diverse topics. Intricate puzzles adorned the spaces between, evidence of insatiable curiosity. A wooden desk in the corner overflowed with notes, schematics and half-solved puzzles, the organized chaos revealing his intellectual pursuits.
Reaching the large bed, Edward gently laid Rose down. Her brown hair spread across the pillows as she looked up at him expectantly. He took a moment to admire her beauty before lowering himself over her willing form.
"Now, where were we?" he murmured, his gaze hungrily trailing her flushed form.
"I believe we were right about here," Rose replied breathlessly, grabbing Edward's purple question mark tie and using it to pull him back down to her waiting lips.
Their passionate kiss seemed to go on forever, as if Edward and Rose were trying to convey all their repressed longing through it. Hands tugged eagerly at clothes, gradually exposing more heated skin beneath.
Rose gasped as Edward's lips trailed a blazing path down her neck. His touch left her aching for more yet drinking in each sensation. She lifted her head to peer down at him through half-lidded eyes darkened with desire. "Edward..."
He paused, looking up with a question in his gaze. Ever the gentleman, he wanted to be sure. "Are you certain this is what you want, my dear?"
Rose smiled softly and cupped his cheek. "I've never been more sure of anything. I want you...all of you."
Reassured, Edward captured her lips once more in a deep, passionate kiss. Their naked bodies entwined as obvious passions were finally unleashed after so long.
Rose was amazed by Edward's expertise as a lover. Each caress, kiss and stroke of his fingers seemed perfectly calculated to unravel her. Her moans grew louder as intense pleasure crested within, pushing her over the edge.
Seeing Rose in the throes of ecstasy stoked Edward's own peak. With a low groan, he followed her into blissful oblivion.
Afterwards they lay entangled, trading lazy kisses and soft words. Rose felt like she was truly seeing Edward for the first time - all his vulnerabilities as well as his talents and passion. This night had deepened their bond immeasurably.
