Life's Canvas

Its an unstoppable attraction

Chapter 18: It's An Unstoppable Attraction

Life's Canvas

Chapter 17: It's An Unstoppable Attraction

Kori gently massaged Richard's shoulders and he sighed comfortably against her touch. "Mmm..." he declared quietly. Kori smiled. She stopped and moved around the side of the couch, climbing onto it and settling into Richard's arms. He eyed her carefully, and she met his beautiful azure gaze with an even stare.

"Was it really that bad?" she asked, a sympathetic smile on her face. He closed his eyes and nodded, his expression becoming abruptly solemn. As they had thought, pictures from last night's rendezvous had made it all over the Gotham tabloids and onto the internet. Bruce had received a forward in his e-mail that had contained Kori and Richard's picture and a few suggestions as to their relationship that were fitfully gutter-dwelling.

"Pretty bad. Bruce says I'm mixing work with play," he grimaced at the connotations such a statement elicited.

"Oh. But..." she dropped off. Technically she was still employed by Richard, whether she had decided to work on the gallery in her own free time. Richard himself had visited separately from her to make sure all was well, and the gallery was actually coming out beautifully. Richard toyed with the ends of a few strands of her hair.

"And he doesn't believe me when I say I'm serious about you, either," he mumbled. "But... I don't blame him for that much," Kori sighed and laid her head on his chest.

"It's the past, Richard. People can change, I think," she replied. Richard frowned.

"You think?" he prodded. Kori bit her lip.

"I must admit your past... record has made me a bit unsure of what to expect. I enter things for the long run," she propped herself up so she could meet his stare, her jade eyes piercing as she spoke. Richard finally nodded.

"I know. And I'm willing to stay with you as long as you'll let me. It's... a different feeling for me, though," he shrugged. Kori nodded.

"You know the dark side of my past and you're still staying despite what threat it may be. I trust whatever it is that is keeping you with me... speaking of which, the police still haven't tracked down Carmen or Terra. They said even with the letters and the autop-autopsy..." she swallowed at the thought of Roy. "And even with the finger-printing they did around the crime-site, it's somewhat inconclusive. They did a really good job at laying conflicting clues," Kori shook her head.

"Now... with the tabloids... with you and me on the cover... If Carmen sees you, there's no way she won't go after you. Whether to steal your heart or your life... I'm not sure. She may just try to, well, seduce you. I mean, considering you do have a considerable fortune behind your name," Kori said petulantly. Richard smiled softly and stroked some hair out of her face.

"I'm with you to the end," he replied. He was attracted to Kori in a way he could not deny nor ignore nor be rid of. It would stay with him. Forever. And he knew it too. Kori loved him, despite himself, and she was honest with him too. She told him what she didn't trust and he couldn't help but agree she had her points. But still, through all of the indications that he would do nothing but throw her away in the end, she loved him. Richard had determined a while ago he wasn't going to let the indications be correct. He was keeping Kori, because he lover her too.

"I'll hope so," she whispered, kissing him tenderly.

"Bruce wants me to break things off with you, though. He wants us to be professionals and no more. He says he'll tolerate friendship, but that anything more between us will take away from my career," Richard growled unhappily.

"And what do you say?" she asked.

"To hell with him," Richard retorted stoutly. She grinned and fussed with his unruly hair.

"Be nice," she scolded, amusement lacing her voice. "You're so stubborn. About everything." She tilted her head to the side as if trying to understand him. Richard smirked.

"I suppose," he agreed. Kori seemed to remember something and pushed herself off of him so she was simply sitting beside him. She tugged at a loose thread in her jeans.

"You never told me about your mom. We left the club last night and you sort of disappeared when we got back here..." she gave him an inquiring look. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But I hope..." she trailed off. Richard reached up from where he was sprawled on the massive leather couch to cup her cheek in his hand. He drew her to him for a quick kiss and a brief hug as well.

"I guess you'll get it out of me eventually, won't you? You're pretty stubborn yourself," he laughed quietly. Kori nodded, her eyes sparkling with the same eternal laughter that had first captivated him. He remembered now, how he had first seen her, rain-soaked and absolutely thrilled by it and bold enough to dash up and hug two of Gotham's biggest celebrities and business-world tycoons. Well, Bruce was more the business tycoon. As successful as he was, Richard had never really let go of his more... rebellious side, so to speak. None the less, that girl that had come prancing into the manor weeks ago was now lying in his arms and it felt perfect.

"So, does that mean you're going to tell me?" she asked, lying back down and snuggling against him. Richard rolled his eyes.

"You're persistent too. But, yeah, that means I'm going to tell you. You have to promise me something, though," he said carefully.

"What?" she asked.

"Promise me you won't feel sorry for me or anything. You wouldn't let me feel sorry for you so you gotta do the same for me. Remember? You said you were 'fine for the moment' when you told me not to feel sorry for you. And you told me that we both had hard pasts to deal with. Same applies. You're with me, and I'm in love like I haven't been since... well, ever, and right now I'm fine and you had a hard past too, so swear you won't feel sorry for me," he said with gritted teeth, and Kori felt a very small twinge of fear come to her. What ever he was going to say...

"I can't promise I won't feel sorry for you, Richard. I love you. When you hurt, I hurt. But I promise not feel pity for you. Because, I believe you felt sorry for me, but you did as I asked and you didn't feel pity," she decided. Richard was quiet a moment.

"Alright. I guess you're right there, but just-just remember you promised not to pity me. Pity kind of makes it worse in actuality..." he mumbled. Kori nodded, her cheek pressed to his chest so he probably felt the movement more than he saw it.

"So now tell me. Tell me what's hurt you so bad,"

TT

WISH YALL ALL A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EAT SWELL ENJOY ! 3 MORE CHAPTS LEFT ! UNTIL I 'MIGHT' START A NEW STORY ! LOVE YALL / ROBSTAR101 OUT