BAE Chapter 28

Barbara takes a deep breath.

“Let Kate train, but use the Car the bring her here on autopilot. We don’t need to trust her. Not with Bruce’s identity, and not with our location. Only let her in if she agrees to those terms,” she says bitterly.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to tell her yourself?”

“I’m sure. Besides, the computer makes you sound just like Bruce. Let her think that it’s him telling her to follow my instructions.”

“As you wish.”

Barbara doesn’t feel good about this, but her hands are tied. Every choice is a risk, and she feels as though everything she does is wrong.

She bathes, takes another shot of the steroid, more painkillers, and dresses in leggings and a breathable top. Alfred insists on driving her, and for once the plush seats of the Rolls don’t annoy her. The steroid is working extremely well. She’s able to walk unassisted, but she’s not yet able to pretend that it’s a normal gait.

This is a gym for seriously wealthy people. It has several rooms set up with equipment that would be more at home in the office of actual physical therapists. It’s in one of those that Barbara waits.

Riley Beaumont appears looking cheerful if a bit winded. It’s clear that she’s extremely busy. She wears compression shorts and a sports bra. The shorts don’t do much to hide her bulge, and Barbara isn’t trying to hide hers at all. This is a completely new phenomenon in Gotham: women checking each other out, not for horny reasons, but out of curiosity to know if they’re carrying something extra.

Riley says nothing. In Barbara’s opinion, Riley is dressing a little obviously to show off her perfect body and the bulge as well, but otherwise, she’s completely professional. Did she pick up Viti like this? Did she kill Amelie Araignee?

“What are we dealing with?” she asks, checking her tablet. “It says here that you’re hurt.”

“Car accident,” Barbara replies easily, watching the redhead for any sign of recognition. It looks as though Riley isn’t the type to keep up with the type of news that Barbara has been appearing in lately. “Steering wheel hit my chest. Here.” She indicates with her hand.

“Oh,” Riley replies with a frown. “The best thing you can probably do is rest. And get x-rays. You’ve probably already done that.”

Barbara nods. “Lot of soreness.”

“Well, time will do more than I can, but let’s see where it hurts and see if we can do anything about your range of motion.”

Impressed, Barbara tries not to enjoy Riley’s hands on her body, probing. She winces.

“OK. Let’s see. Can you do this?”

Barbara plays along, gently reaching and stretching with Riley’s guidance. Riley is good at this. Her professional touch makes Barbara curious about her personal one. Riley was confident and in control with Viti. She seems to be about Barbara’s age.

“Have you been in Gotham long?” Barbara asks as they transition to a large mat suitable for yoga.

“No. Not long at all,” Riley replies, but offers nothing more. “You?”

“My whole life.”

“How do you like it?”

“I don’t,” Barbara replies truthfully. “What about you?”

Riley seems to consider the question as she models a pose, which Barbara gingerly mimics. It’s hard not to be envious of how effortlessly Riley makes these basic movements look sexy. It’s something with her back and her hips, the way that she sticks out her rear. Maybe she was a stripper before coming to Gotham.

“Still with me?” Riley asks.

“Yes,” Barbara replies. “It just hurts a little.”

“Oh.” Riley looks surprised. Barbara looks down to see that her bulge is a little more noticeable than usual. OK, completely noticeable because her erection is outlined clearly. Barbara has an appreciation for Riley’s sexy body, but that’s not all this is. It’s the steroid. She sits down with a little sigh, closing her legs.

“Sorry,” she says.

“I didn’t realize this was that kind of appointment,” Riley replies with a smile.

Barbara raises an eyebrow. “You do those kinds of appointments?”

“No. But I’ve never had a client who also, you know. I know how hard it is.”

“Word choice,” Barbara says with a laugh.

“Right. Well, you can’t do anything like that.” Riley picks herself up and bends to offer her hand. Intrigued, Barbara lets the other redhead help her rise.

“You’re serious,” she says, unable to decide if she should be trying to cover the erection.

“Like I said. I know what it’s like. Sit there,” Riley says, gesturing to a padded, black massage chair before stepping away. Barbara carefully seats herself as Riley returns with a small, plastic bottle. She pauses. “Assuming you don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” Barbara says. “You have consent. All the consent.”

“Settle down, Miss Gordon. The whole point here is for you to be taking it easy,” Riley chides her, sinking gracefully to her knees. Barbara obligingly frees her cock from leggings and underwear while Riley rubs lube on her hands.

Riley flashes her a look. It’s not cockiness, just confidence. Then Barbara has to concentrate on not embarrassing herself as Riley’s slick fingers go to work. She’s gentle but uses some strength, staying mindful of Barbara’s body. She expertly strokes her cock, giving it enough stimulation to get Barbara there, but not so much that she has to react in ways that will cause her pain. Barbara has to lean back, breathing rapidly through her nose and squeezing the arms of the massage chair. It feels like the tension in her body is gathering in one spot. It all comes out at once in a rush.

Smiling, Riley cups her hand over the head of Barbara’s swollen cock, preventing her from making a mess on her clothes.

“Oh,” Barbara gasps, spurting generously into Riley’s palm. Riley quickly gets her hands on the towel to wipe her hands as Barbara draws shuddering breaths. Riley cleans her up, puts her cock away, and turns on the massage chair.

When Barbara opens her eyes, she finds Riley offering her a cold bottle of blueberry juice. She reaches out and takes it. The massage chair hums and vibrates comfortably.

“You really don’t do that for everyone?” Barbara asks after a moment, still a little out of breath. That makes her self-conscious. She’s blushing.

“First time. At work,” Riley clarifies with a sly smile. “But chicks like us have to stick together now. I thought I was finished with my body going through changes. I was wrong.”

“I should come back tomorrow,” Barbara says, fanning her alarmingly hot face with a hand. “I think I like this gym.”

“I’ll have to check my schedule.”

Barbara meets Riley’s eyes. “You wouldn’t make room for me?”

Riley hesitates. “I’d want to. Take your time and cool off. And if that thing worries you, don’t let it.” She glances at Barbara’s groin. “People love them. And that’s a nice one.”

Barbara sits there and watches Riley walk away. This got away from her a little. She didn’t come to interrogate Riley, just to get a feel for her. And that feel? It worries Barbara a lot more than she expected. Did Riley deliberately try to charm her? Or did she do it by accident? Barbara’s heart is still racing. She isn’t sure which option is worse.

The investigation is off to a good start. What about the next move? This is essentially undercover work, and not just because Barbara wouldn’t mind literally getting under some covers with Riley.

But that really took it out of her. She’s sore and exhausted. The orgasm was as painful as it was good, but Barbara didn’t let on because she can handle pain. She’s drained.

Should she take another hit of the steroid before her date with Summer?

Or just take painkillers?