Before Adrian could respond, the woman nimbly climbed in through the window.
"Thanks. I ran into a little trouble on the way up. Maybe a careless plumber, or perhaps the elevator maintenance crew. Either way, I need to pass through your room to get upstairs. You don't mind, do you?"
The woman landed softly on the carpet, dusting her hands as if she did this sort of thing daily.
Adrian arched a brow. "What if I do mind?"
He had a pretty good idea of who this woman was—the infamous Catwoman, Selina Kyle. Batman's rumored lover. A master thief who specialized in jewelry, artifacts, and fine art. Seductive, cunning, and unpredictable—just like the cats she embodied.
Amused by her sudden appearance, Adrian decided to play along.
"You look like a thief who broke in a little too fast," he said smoothly. "And generally, I don't have much patience for thieves."
Selina's lips curled into a teasing smile. "A thief? I wouldn't call myself that."
She pulled the white scarf from her collar and let a handful of glittering trinkets fall from her backpack. "I'm more of a crow chasing balance."
She adjusted the orange goggles on her head and looped a rope around her waist. "Crows like shiny things. They collect them. Hide them. Makes them feel... safe."
Despite the subtle weight of Adrian's presence pressing against her instincts, she brushed it off. Probably just another rich guy staying in the hotel.
Stepping closer, she reached out, her fingers lightly grazing his chest. "Thanks for your hospitality, handsome. Maybe next time, I'll upgrade your reward."
She turned to leave, hips swaying slightly—until a knock at the door froze her in place.
"Looks like your company's arrived," Adrian said casually. "Though, I should warn you, crows who steal shiny things should always watch out for hawks."
He walked toward the door. Selina tensed, poised to leap out the window, but when he opened it and spoke a few calm words, the pursuers outside vanished like frightened mice.
Selina blinked. "Who the hell are you?"
Adrian closed the door and smiled faintly. "Shouldn't introductions come before interrogation, Miss Crow?"
In the blink of an eye, he was suddenly in front of her. The sheer speed made her flinch back, heart pounding.
"What—how did you—?" She grabbed her grappling hook and fired it instinctively. "Are you a cop?!"
The rope shot forward, but Adrian caught it effortlessly. With one tug, he pulled her forward until she stumbled right into his chest.
Before she could react, he lifted her wallet with a flick of his fingers.
He inspected it, his tone faintly amused. "Hmm. Definitely a thief."
Selina stiffened, glaring. "Who are you? Some kind of magician? Or are you with the GCPD?"
"Ever heard the saying 'Curiosity killed the cat'?" Adrian replied, slipping her wallet into his jacket pocket. "And since you took something of mine, I think it's only fair you pay a little price."
Before she could retort, the rope from her grappling hook twisted around her wrists like a living serpent, binding her.
Her eyes widened as she realized she wasn't dealing with an ordinary man. There was power in him.
"So," Adrian said lightly, tilting his head, "care to tell me your name now, Miss Crow?"
She hesitated, then sighed. "Selina Kyle."
Adrian smirked. "Ah. The Catwoman herself."
Her voice tightened. "You're not a cop, then?"
"Something like that," he replied with a faint smile. His gaze lingered on her bound form, not with lust, but quiet curiosity. "Now, where's your hideout?"
"You think I'm part of some gang?" she snapped. "You've got this all wrong, boy scout."
Adrian's expression didn't change, and the quiet confidence in his eyes made resistance pointless. Finally, with a huff, she muttered an address.
He nodded and left the room without another word.
Minutes later, the door opened again—and Adrian stepped back in, holding a familiar black leather catsuit.
Selina froze. That was her Catwoman costume.
How had he gotten it? Had he gone to her place? That fast? Impossible.
"This is yours, isn't it?" Adrian asked, handing it to her with a smirk. "If you plan on escaping the hawks, you might as well become the cat, Miss Kyle."
Her stomach twisted with equal parts anger and disbelief. He knew who she was. And he was enjoying this.
Grinding her teeth, she shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel—but his faint smile didn't waver.
Defeated by sheer power imbalance, Selina exhaled sharply, stripping off her maid disguise. Her fair skin gleamed under the hotel lights, her body lean and perfectly sculpted, like a dancer's.
Adrian's eyes lingered for just a heartbeat longer than necessary, his expression unreadable—neither mocking nor lewd, merely assessing, like a lion watching a cat try to bare its claws.
He turned away politely. "You might want to hurry. Gotham nights aren't kind to strays."
Selina slid into the tight leather suit, her movements deliberate. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Adrian smiled faintly, eyes glinting. "No. But I know how to deal with predators."
Her heart skipped a beat—not out of fear, but curiosity. There was something terrifying and magnetic about this man.
"Maybe," she said softly, "you're one yourself."
Adrian didn't deny it.
_____
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