Sunshine Superhero

Jules

I woke slowly. My tongue plastered to the roof of my mouth, fat and dry and tasting like I'd smoked a pack of cigarettes. My body was too hot, and as I stretched my legs out I bumped into another hot limb. It wasn't mine.

Oh no. What had I done? I tried to remember…

I remembered hugging my niece at the gates, waving goodbye as my sister took her home. The theme park had completely worn her out. But it was worth it, to see her face light up as she met superheros and villians, watched the choreographed shows and even tried out one of the little kids' rides. Her face had been flushed with happiness by the end of the day, her oxygen tube almost forgotten. My heart had hurt because it was unlikely she would visit here again. But there was hope with the treatment. I would hold onto that. Especially now that I had the money to pay for it. .

I remembered going back in to get my stuff from a visitor locker and sitting on the grass to take photos of the fountain. The water had been flowing, creating vibrant bubbles under the spray. It had reflected stunning colours as the evening light filtered through it. I had found it captivating and stayed there until the park was near empty.

I remembered a superhero character joining me. I was a bit foggy but was sure it was Robin. His name had been Rick, I think. As we'd laughed and watched the fountain, more of the actors had joined us. A bunch of fit and muscled men and women, dancers and operations staff all sitting near the fountain. Some were wiping makeup off with wipes and laughing after their long day. I'd ended up being invited to dinner with them. They were fun. A bright and varied group of people who had taken me into their little circle for a night. I'd ended up laughing and drinking and playing pool in the staff villa with Batman, Robin, Poison Ivy, some of her dancers and, I think, the Riddler. Somehow I couldn't really place what happened after that. The fog of my hangover was drifting around my head and my body was struggling to obey my commands to move, move, move.

I remembered my heart beating fast, and eyes of steel grey and the feeling of my soul finally feeling home. Of warmth, and muscled arms that kept drawing me in.

Sitting up suddenly, eyes still sleepy and wearing someone else's long business shirt, I started to panic.

Glancing at the male arms pillowed under a head of blonde hair next to me I groaned.

I noticed a cape, a pair of what looked like superhero tights and that we were certainly not in a bedroom, but in what appeared to be the staff villa on an old scratchy blue futon.

Closing my eyes for a moment I groaned. As I slipped out and hunted for my clothes as quietly as I could, I kept glancing around trying to piece together the night. The day staff lockers off to one side stood in row, the pool table and eating area were covered in cups and empty alcohol bottles. The room stank of cigarettes and, unnervingly, stale sex.

"You heading out?"

I jumped, finished pulling my jeans on quickly and stood straight and proud.

A man stood at the lockers, wearing half a batman costume. This wasn't some cheap knock off suit, it was DC movie quality and the man made it look good. He was vaguely familiar.

"Yes." I eyed him wearily, embarrassment beginning to heat my cheeks.

"He'll be back for you, I wouldn't leave yet"

I stared at him. What? I said nothing.

He turned toward me fully, and smiled.

"It was fun last night. We normally don't let randoms in, but you were fun. I’m Spencer by the way. You can call me Batman though" he winked. He couldn't be much younger than me, maybe late twenties to my early thirties. Normally gorgeous, tall and handsome men like him didn't pay me any attention.

I was normal.

I was boring.

I felt sick. Partly I'm sure from the alcohol. I rarely touched it so was a one sip wonder, and partly because I was imagining the worst of what that statement had meant. I patted my hair into place, kept glancing around. The cash was in my notebook, my notebook was in my bag. But where the hell was my bag?

The panic I was feeling must have shown on my face.

"Jules, you ok?" Concern was evident in Spencer's eyes. Like this stranger and I were friends. Like he had a right to know my name, when I couldn't remember anything about him except we had sat at a fountain together and laughed at Ivy's camel toe. Ok, bits are coming back. Think Jules. Bag, where is it?

"Where is my bag?" I asked outright. I needed to leave. Now.

"Ah, probably in his room" he ran a hand through his hair, his eyes full of worry. I glanced at the sleeping figure, wondering where his room might be. Surely not, he wasn’t exactly my type.

People started walking in; dancers, actors, cleaners. People who smiled at me like I was one of them, not worried at all that I was standing there in my jeans, bare feet and a male shirt clearly not mine.

Like this wasn't unusual.

Like this was who I was.

"Jules, what's wrong?"

I saw the worry etched on Spencer's face. "It was just a party."

The door slammed open, and the air suddenly cooled over my clammy skin. Electricity sizzled around me.

"Did he touch her?"

The voice from behind me was low, commanding and so very very sultry. I turned slowly, looked up into the face of a dark haired God. He of course, was dressed as Superman. A hero not a God. His grey eyes were frosted toward Spencer, his presence unconsciously commanding the attention of everyone scurrying around. They slowed, avoided his gaze., or fluttered their eyes at him.

Batman ran his hand through his hair again, shook his head.

"No mate, she stumbled in early this morning, we put her to bed there. Rick must have fallen asleep there at some point, but he didn't touch her"

The air was heavy and awkward, male testosterone floating around in waves. People kept moving through but quietly now. I shut down the bile rising, carefully pulled on my own mask of professional, businesslike woman hoping to hell my make up wasn't making me look like a crazy eyed panda.

"I’m right here. And leaving anyway"

I turned, looking for my shoes, my hand bag and wishing to God I hadn't put myself in this position.

"Juliette, your things are in my room"

That voice, my tummy fluttered, my sex clenched. Hell no Jules. Not a good response.

I closed my eyes, opened them to find him closer to me than was normally ok for people who didn't know each other.

But I knew him. His clean, masculine scent overtook my senses and for a weird reason it scared me almost as much as it soothed me. His costume leather creaked and he stepped back and opened the door for me, waiting with quiet intensity.

I breathed deep and walked through.

"You seem upset"

We walked around a corner to a row of villas lined neatly with balconies and flower pots of cheerful colour spilling out everywhere.

"I just need my bag" keep walking Jules. Get it, the book and get out.

He led me to a staff villa, held the door open for me. My body priming as I stepped past him into the fresh, light, modern space. What was happening here? I wanted so badly to be wrapped into his arms, held by him.

Why was I drawn to this man?

I stumbled around the space, glanced at the kitchenette and walked to the large bedroom off the living space. It was so neat. The bed however looked thoroughly slept in. A business suit, minus the shirt hung from a hanger over the top of a jarred door, probably a bathroom, and my perfume hung subtly in the air.

I found my shoes, slid my feet into them without doing them up. I grabbed at my handbag from the floor in the corner. Reaching for my phone, I quickly shoved the bag on my shoulder, then glanced at the shirt I was wearing.

"I'll leave this at gates for you, I'll wash it."

"Keep it, why are you upset Juliette?"

His low, commanding voice stirred my heart again, and he stalked closer, lifted my chin to better see my eyes.

"I need to go. I… I don't do this. I'm sorry. I need to go"

"You are mine, do you think I'll let you go so easily?"

"I'm not yours. It was one night."

"It was the beginning. And you are most definitely mine".

He leaned in, brushed his soft lips over mine. My mind short circuited, my body sizzling with energy primed for fight or flight. Or maybe for him. I couldn't tell.

I needed to leave. But I stood rooted to the spot, drowning in his scent, his taste.

He deepened the kiss, possessive and hungry and backed me into the wall.

My arms wrapped around his neck, his arms flexing, and I knew this man was trouble. My blood felt it, my heart wanted it, and my body responded far too quickly to his.

I ripped away from him. I needed to go. I had to get the cash to the hospital. I had to put Callie first.

I pulled myself inwards, looked into his suddenly steel eyes. I wouldn't get hurt if I didn't get involved. Easy. Walls up I spoke quietly, but with power.

"I don't know you. I am not yours"

He smirked, and the room felt heavy with his unspoken challenge. Ripped and chiseled in a way that made my mouth water, my fluttering stomach told me I was in deep, damning trouble. So I did what any self respecting lady does when cornered. I pushed back, and ran.

I pulled out from his grasp, and stumbled out. I didn't stop until I was through the park gates and in my car. His scent still surrounded me and my heart felt like it was bursting from my chest. I drove away, too fast, and full of both fury and longing for the arms of a Superman.

Harrison

I pulled the little black book from under my pillow, it's over stretched elastic well used as I turned it around in my hands.

She had stashed twenty grand in the pocket at the back. The notebook was fat and heavy, it held her swirling handwritten secrets like a lost treasure chest. Filled with everything from grocery lists, to meeting notes and journal entries, he had been surprised to find her phone number and email at the front in case it was lost.

He had seen her during the day, shepherding a young girl around in a wheelchair, laughing and smiling, and lighting up everywhere she went with her energy.

He had been so distracted by her, the kids around him vying for photos and attention fading into the distance.

He had ensured that Rick, the actor who was Robin in the theme park, had found her, kept her here until he could get to her himself.

He'd stared as she clicked effortlessly with everyone around her, drew them in and laughed with sunshine in her amber eyes. She seemed unaware of her own charisma. He'd been mesmerised as she charmed her way into the circle of people who played make believe each day and kept most people at arm's length. Their chosen roles, so different to their lives once they left each day.

He, a well respected CEO billionaire, spent four weeks of every year playing his role as Superman. It served two purposes; it raised money for the pediatric ward, and it gave him time to be someone else. To enjoy children with their infectious joy and carefree love in a world of make believe.

Eventually he had wound his way to her, had swept her from the others and into his arms. She had been half drunk and overly touchy and he hadn't liked how the men had watched her, interest evident in their laughter and attention. He'd taken her walking, until she danced in the fountain and puked herself sober.

There was more than chemistry between them.

He had wooed her with quiet glances and questions, wanting to know everything, holding her warmth to his own body. She ran so hot he felt burned by her touch. Alive from her smile. He demanded her attention and savoured her blazing heat.

As the sun had risen they drowned in each other, and she whispered about souls and meant to be's.

Until her, he'd never believed in such things.

He slept soundly with her furnace of a body wrapped around him.

And then he had woken alone.

He had torn the villas in the lane apart looking for her. Gone through her bag trying desperately to know where she would go, how to make her stay.

He had found the notebook.

Harrison was surprised to read the girl was her niece and she'd worked a deal for a photography gig for the cash to pay for her treatment. He'd also learned she was a marketing genius who worked for a company he engaged regularly.

He had dressed ready for the day, his hero suit today's armor. He was eager for it to be over so he could find her again. When he'd seen her half dressed and Rick groggy on the futon his soul had frozen. She had been gone from his arms less than a couple of hours, but his possessiveness had turned feral. She was his; his heartbeat, his sunshine.

Running from him only spurred the chase in his heart. Fate was cunning like that.

As he turned the notebook over in his hands he smiled, a plan forming in his mind as to how he would slide into her life effortlessly, irrevocably and her love would burn him from the inside out for always.