She and Terry had had a huge fight.  Probably one of their biggest ever, and he'd stormed off just like always.  She decided to go out for a while so she called and asked Terry's friend Max to come babysit for her.

      She wasn't exactly sure how she'd ended up at the old house on the hill.  Maybe it was because it was near the ocean.  She'd considered taking a late night walk, but decided against it subconsciously and ended up here. 

      She hit the button on the voice box at the gate.  There was no response.  Figuring the owner of the house was probably asleep by now she turned to leave.  But then, as if by magic, the gate opened.  She drove through and parked the car.  Getting out she remembered all the stories she'd heard as a young girl of the late night parties thrown here.

       He came to the door wearing his usual black blazer and pale blue shirt underneath.  He smiled at her and ipened the door further for her to enter.

      "Mrs. McGinnis what can I do for you?"  He asked politely offering her a seat on the couch.

       "I was hoping you'd seen Terry."

      "No I'm sorry I haven't since last evening just before he went home.  Though he did call to say he was taking the night off."

      "I was afraid of that.  Well, I won't take up anymore of your time."  She said rising off the couch.

      "What happened?  If I may ask."

       "He informed me of his decision to not go to college."

       Bruce Wayne had expected as much.  When Terry had informed him of the same decision he had told him it was because he wanted to concentrate on being Batman.  Not that she needed to know that.

      "I was actually hoping you'd talk try talking to him.  I understand if it would be too ackward.  But ever since his father died and he came to work for you I think you've become a father figure to him."

      "I already tried I'm afraid and didn't get very far.  But I'm willing to give it another try if you'd like Ms. McGinnis."

   
"Thank you.  And please call me Mary."     
"Only if you call me Bruce."

      Before they could discuss it further Ace began barking.  Which Bruce knew meant that Terry had arrived.  Terry came into the room and looked at his mother.  The anger from earlier in his expression.

     
"What are you doing here?"   
"I came to see if Bruce had seen you.  I was worried."

      "Bruce.  So you're on a first name basis with him now.  God mom I thought we'd been through this I'm not going to college.  And getting Mr. Wayne to fire me isn't going to change that."

      "Terrence."  Bruce said getting the younger man to look at him.  "If I wanted to fire you I could do it.  And don't think I won't.  If you want to continue to work for me you will go to college in the fall.  Is that understood?"

      "What she's got you on her side?  Come on old man you can't be serious.  Oh forget it I'm outta here."  With that Terry stormed out of the room and slammed the front door behind him causing the chandlier in the foyer to shake.

        "That went well."  Mary said sarcasticly sinking back down onto the couch.  She could feel the tears stinging her eyes.  God she didn't want to cry in front of Bruce Wayne.  But she couldn't stop herself. 

      "Why did Terry have to be so difficult?  Can't he understand I just want what's best for him.  Sometimes I think things would be different if his father was still here.  Other times I'm not so sure."  Her tears came again.  Then they became sobs.  "He doesn't need me anymore."

      Bruce went over and sat down next to her on the couch.  He hated to see a woman cry.  he always had.  Even as a young boy he'd always try to keep his mother from crying.  He offered Mary a handkerchief as he put his arm around her.  When he spoke he chose his words carefully.

      He remembered what Alfred had told him about Dick.  How Bruce had to allow Dick the chance to find his own way.  Gain his own wings.  Dick had even said it himself no one could be a boy wonder forever.  Deciding that those two pieces of advice would be best to give he spoke. 

      "Mary, you have to understand Terry's going through a lot of changes.  He's trying to find his own way in the world.  As much as you may not like it you have to let him make his own choices, even if they may later turn out to be mistakes.  You just have to trust that in the end he'll make the right one."

      He knew she probably didn't like what he had said but she also didn't protest.  He noted that her crying had subsided some and started to move away.  She reached up to stop him.  Then looking into his eyes she kissed him.  In the back of his mind he knew he should stop her.  That she was only doing this to feel needed.  But he didn't stop it.

      Instead he deepened the kiss.  Slowly, allowing her the chance to back out.  Hoping she wouldn't.   He began thrusting his tounge in her mouth rhythmicly.  Mary for her part matched him thrust for thrust.

       Mary shifted her position on the couch allowing Bruce the chance to cover her with his body.  He trailed kisses down her neck then went back up and nipped at her jawline.  She moaned at this.  Bruce then went and nipped at her collarbone, before returning to her mouth.

      Mary slipped her hands into his blazer.  She wanted it off him.  Mary wanted to feel the strong muscles she knew he must have.  He stopped kissing her breifly to remove it.  Then his mouth reclaimed hers.  She ran her hands all over his upper body finally going underneath his shirt.  God he must have worked out a lot when he was young.

      For his part Bruce had begun to rub her nipples with his thumbs.  It amazed her that he could make them hard despite the fact she had her dress on.  He moved his hands up and down her sides causing her to smile.  It took every fiber of her being to not laugh in his mouth considering how ticklish she was.

     In the back of her mind a little voice was telling her to stop this.  He was Terry's boss, not to mention 30yrs her senior.  Nothing serious could come of this.  He would probably tell her as much if she gave him the chance.  Mary told the voice to shut up.  She didn't care.  It was nice to feel desired and needed for a change.  

      Deciding he was having all the fun she ran a hand down his torso to settle on the bulge in his pants.  She rubbed it gently causing him to moan.  Something snapped inside her.  She yanked at his shirt begging for it to come off.  Bruce released her mouth and tore it over his head throwing it to the floor.  Before he could reclaim her mouth Mary yanked her dress over her head.  Leaving her in a black lace bra and matching panties.

      Bruce knew this shouldn't go where it was heading.  Knew he should stop it. but it had been ten long years since he'd been with a woman.  Maybe she was doing this for selfish reasons, but so was he.  He was tired of waking up without the warmth of a woman next to him.  Knowing he had to be a gentleman he asked the required question.

      "Mary are you sure about this?  We do this and things change.  We have to be more careful around Terry."

      She'd thought about that, but she could no longer ignore the attraction she felt to this man.  She'd felt it from the first time she met him.  It was as if they'd connected some how.

      "Yes I'm sure Bruce.  Make love to me."

      Mary kissed him.  Not giving him the chance to protest.  She deepened the kiss and the hunger of a few moments ago returned.  Bruce was once again rubbing her nipples, this time through the lace of her bra.  He dipped his head laying light kisses and nips along her skin.  He reached around and undid her bra.  Then he took a nipple into his mouth.  He suckled and nipped ut until Mary moaned.  She ran her hands through his hair.  She hadn't felt like this in years.  He repeated this on her other breast.  He then kissed her stomach and torso, laying her fully onto the couch.

      Mary was squirming under him.  Wanting more but not sure she could handle what he had to offer.  She was about to find out as he kissed her most private area still in her underwear.  This caused her to buck her hips. 

     He slowly pulled her panties down and off her.  Then he kissed her thigh.  Mary shuddered and moaned.  He flicked his tounge over her clitoris and she moaned his name.  He took the bud into his mouth and began sucking on it.  As he did so he inserted a finger inside her.  She was moaning and bucking underneath him.     

"Don't stop Bruce.  Please don't stop."

     He inserted another finger and hit her g-spot.  She climaxed with a few strokes.  He continued his strokes for a few seconds longer allowing her to clench her muscles around his fingers.

        "I can see where you get your reputation from."  She said when her breathing had returned to normal.

      "Funny, very funny."  He responded then kissed her fully on the lips.

      She reached down and noticed he was more than ready to enter her.  She wondered what was stopping him.

      "Bruce what is it?  If you're worried about children don't be I had that taken care of after I had Matt."

      He smiled at her.  She thouhgt something was wrong.  It was quite the contrary.  He just wanted to give her the chance to touch him.

      "The thought just occured to me I had been rather selfish.  Thought I should give you a turn,"

      "Later right now it's still your turn to please me and I won't be happy until you're inside me."

       He entered her slowly relishing the way she wrapped him. She moaned and squirmed beneath him.  He began thrusting slowly at first wanting to make this last. He reached down between them and rolled her bud between his fingers.  This had her calling out his name.  Then he was picking up the pace moaning.  He waited long enough for her to reach her peak then exploded inside her, calling out her name as he did so.

      They lay quietly on the couch for a few moments he didn't want her to go he realized.  He wanted to wake up next to her.  He looked down and found her looking up at him expectantly.

        Mary knew, just knew he would tell her to leave.  That this had been a horrible mistake.  How could she have been so stupid.  He was a very rich man, a recluse.  What would he want with a lowly secretary and mother.  Not to mention the mother of one of his employees.  When she noticed him looking down at her she shifted her gaze to the blanket.

       "Stay."  It wasn't a request more like an order.  She nodded then kissed him again.  Together, wrapped in the blanket, clothes in hand, they went up to his bedroom.

        He had expected they would go to sleep.  But Mary obviously had other ideas.  She kissed him again fully on the lips.  He felt himself twitch with just the kiss.  She then kissed down his chest nipping at his collar bone.  He knew he should probably protest but couldn't find the words.

       Then he felt her move downward to his nipples taking each one of them in her mouth until they were both hard.  She took him in her hands and rubbed his tip and balls.  God he was ready to be inside her again.  He moaned and she increased her rhythm.     

Mary moved down the bed.  She moved her head over him and flicked her tounge over the tip.  Bruce couldn't believe she wanted to do this.  Though he had no intention of stopping her.  She then took all of him in her mouth.  He found himself thrusting into her moth.   

      "Mary."  He moaned it and she went slightly faster.  Sensing he was about to climax, and wanting to feel him inside her again, she stopped what she was doing and climbed on top of him.  Moving slowly up and down.  Loving the way he felt inside her.   She threw her head back and moaned his name.  He took her breasts into his hands and rubbed her nipples till they were hard.

     Mary leaned down and kissed him.  He began moving faster again knowing she was as close as he was.  He rolled tried to roll over so he was on top but she whimpered and stopped kissing him.      

  "No.  Don't let me be on top.  Please."

       He kissed her again and they were soon climaxing together.      She lay on top of him for a few moments after then rolled so she was next to him.  He spooned her to him.  He knew he should say something but wasn't sure what.

     
"Thank you."  She said sleepily.     
"For?"     
"Being here.  Not slamming the door in my face earlier tonight.  For being so wonderful tonight, just now and earlier."

     "Your welcome."  He kissed her temple and noted the change in her breathing.

      Mary arrived home the next morning to find a note from Max saying Terry hadn't come home last night and she had gotten Matt off to school all right.  Mary noticed the time and rached to get to work on time.  She knew last night was a one time thing but felt it was worth it.

    She arrived at work to find a boquet of red roses waiting for her and smiled.  Talking the card she read the note:

Mary,      Thank you for giving me reason to smile this morning.  Hope to do it again soon.   
Bruce

Mary smiled again, oh yes it was definitely worth it.  

AN:  Thanks to Prodigette for the title and the encouragement while writing this.