"Draw!"
"Pick the names!"
There had already been some drinking going on, but the mood was light and there was a mixture of excitement and anxiety amongst the partygoers as the brightly smiling Mickie James rummaged her hand around in one of the plastic bowls full of small paper strips.
It was her birthday, and the Knockout had invited a whole mass of her coworkers (previous ones as well), to her flat for food and drink and a just-for-fun game of 7 Minutes in Heaven.
The 20 or so guests were scattered about the livingroom, sitting, leaning, chatting, waiting to hear which lucky pair would be randomly selected to enter the closet that Mickie had remembered to pretty much clear out completely. It had been an open invitation for anyone on any roster, she wasn't even sure she could count everyone in the place.
"Okay!" She started with excitement, infecting many others with her smile and causing the room to quiet down somewhat as she pulled out the first name from the pink bowl.
"...Layla, you're first, girl! You'll be enterin' paradise with..."
The aforementioned Diva had grinned and clasped her hands together, scooching up slightly on the couch in anticipation, and exchanged an excited look with Michelle McCool.
As Mickie unfolded one of the papers from the blue, mens' bowl, her eyebrows shot up and the mouthed a 'wow', triggering a "Well who is it, Mickie!" from Layla with her accented tone.
"...Um, Alberto Del Rio?"
Half of the guests expected to hear some obnoxious honking followed by that Mexican blaring music as Mickie spoke, but Alberto only sauntered forward from the crowd and dazzled a smile at Layla, extending his hand.
"Al paraíso, mi amor," He drawled in Spanish, as a stunned Layla rose and thoughtlessly placed her hand in his.
Layla was reluctant as he led her to the door, a little disgusted by the time he opened it, and slightly fearful as he swept his hand to invite her in, that grin of his not fading. She hadn't forgotten, though, that as rude as he was to a bunch of her friends, and as antagonizing and even as frightening as he could be, he showed her a different side. He complimented her, and made her feel special and even courted, sometimes, which was definitely way different than anyone else had ever seen him.
She jumped slightly and raised her eyes, snapping out of her thoughts thanks to the click of the door closing.
"Alone at last, mi tesoro," Alberto drawled smoothly, and Layla could just barely see him directly in front of her, standing toe-to-toe.
"Look, Alberto-" She started sternly, holding out her hands in front of her as if to keep him at bay, but he cut her off.
"You don't need to fight it, none of your little friends can see us."
"But I don't want to kiss you!" Layla blurted quickly, feeling slightly flustered by now and not liking it.
"Don't be shy, bonita, I will take the lead."
Right then, Layla made a small noise as Alberto's hands held her hips, and pulled her against him. His wide smirk could be made out by now as the pairs' eyes grew more accustomed to the thick darkness.
"You don't need to fight it," He repeated, lowly now, in a way that made her heart-rate quicken as much as she'd deny it.
Layla's search for words proven futile in the next moment, as the taller man bowed his head and kissed her roughly. Her eyes shot wider for a second but he didn't stop as she'd thought he would...so she didn't protest, raising onto her tiptoes and leaning against him to lessen the height difference.
Their connection had remained fast at his command, and by the time the door flung open after seven minutes and the pair stumbled out, both of them had some serious hair-fixing to do.
The pair were panting noticeably, and Layla's face was bright with visible heat.
She cleared her throat and adjusted her hair as she skittered from Alberto's side back into the living room, where Michelle met her with lots of questions and chatter.
Most of the room was seemingly startled that they'd lasted the entire time- none of them were too fond of Del Rio, and assumed any woman would just slap him and move on.
As he walked back into the room, though, swagger in his step, he just looked around at those who were staring and with victorious grin plastered on his face simply gave them a dramatized, infamous wink.