By,
Rose Warrington
Anna & Ari exchanged glances as they watched the monitor backstage.
"Did they just do what I think they did?," Anna asks, seeing the smirk playing about her best friend's lips.
"Yep. They just stole Seth's title," the redhead replied with a laugh. "And he is fucking PISSED. Look at the little weasel." She gestured to the monitor where WWE Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins was standing on the middle turnbuckle hurling a host of obscenities in the direction of the stands where Roman & Dean stand among the fans. Anna giggled.
"He looks a little deranged, actually. I thought Dean was supposed to be the crazy one," she quipped.
Before Ari could respond, she heard her phone vibrating in her pocket. Pulling it out, she glanced at the display.
"It's Roman," she said, reading the text. "He wants us to meet them in the garage in 5. Apparently, we're going out tonight." She fired off a quick text in response, as the two women turned & headed down the hall.
Ari & Anna were leaning against the rental car when Roman & Dean finally emerged from the arena... 20 minutes later.
"Took you long enough," Ari commented as the 2 men approached the car, still celebrating their little heist.
"Sorry. Took us a little longer to get out than I thought," Roman replied, leaning down to kiss her softly.
"What can I say?," Dean spoke up. "The people want to celebrate with the new Champ. Who am I to deny the WWE Universe?" He stroked the title belt that was slung over his shoulder. Ari caught the smirk on Roman's face & barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Why didn't you two just wait in the car?" He pulled Anna in for a quick hug.
"That would be because Roman has the keys," Ari replied, tossing a look in her boyfriend's direction.
"Mac, they're in my bag," he said reaching down into the outside pocket of his duffle. The knowing smirk died on his lips as his hand came up empty. "What the hell..." he stood up, returning his attention to Ari. "They're not here."
"No shit. I kinda figured that out for myself," she replied. Roman glared at her. "Don't look at me. You drove, babe."
"Fuck," he grumbled, scrubbing his hand over his face.
"What's the hold up, Uce?," Dean asked, coming around the back of the SUV.
"Can't find the keys," the bigger man replied. "I know I put them in my bag."
"Are you serious?" Instead of replying & restating the obvious, Roman bent down, rifling through the bag's contents. As he shift position, he felt something stab him in the thigh.
"Ow! What the fuck?," he swore, rising to his full height again. Ari looked at him in concern.
"You okay?," she asked a he massaged the injured area.
"Yeah. I found the keys," he said with a sheepish smile. The redhead arched a brow.
"Where?," Anna asked, before Ari could say anything. Roman reached into a pocket of his cargo pants, extracting the keys. They all just stared at him for a minute.
"Sometimes, I just don't know what I see in you," Ari said, rolling her eyes as Roman finally unlocked the doors.
"Well, I HAVE heard stories," Anna began, playfully. She was saved from Ari's reply when Dean spoke again.
"Just...REALLY, dude?," he said, shaking his head, with a chuckle. "Should I drive, before you lose anything else?"
"NO!," the trio yelled in unison. To halt any further suggestions from Dean that HE be allowed to drive, Roman quickly hopped into the driver's seat, while Ari & Anna slipped into the backseat. The new "Champ" was left to ride shotgun.
Later that night...
Dean was well on his way to being drunk off his ass. Ari watched as he danced with a blonde he'd managed to pick up at the bar. Even in his inebriated state, he was quite the charmer. She looked around for Anna & spotted her heading out onto the dance floor with Dolph. Ari smiled, pleased her friend was having fun.
Roman slid into the booth, returning with another round. He slipped his arm around Ari's shoulders, pulling her into his side where she snuggled for a moment.
"Everything okay?," he asked. She looked up at him with a soft smile playing about her full lips.
"It is now," she replied, scooting just a little closer, bumping him with her hip.
"Oh, it's like that, hm?" He turned slightly, leaning down to capture her mouth with his. It was just a soft kiss, but it was more than enough to get her heart racing. She felt Roman grin as he pulled back to look in her eyes.
"What's with the grin?," she demanded, slightly breathless.
"Thinking about what's gonna happen when we get out of here," he replied.
"After we pour the 'Champ' into bed,you mean?," she said, with a pointed glance at the last place she'd seen Dean. He wasn't there. The blonde was now grinding on some other guy who didn't seem to mind in the least.
"Speaking of Dean, where the hell did he go?," Roman asks, following her gaze. Realizing his best friend is nowhere in sight, he sighs & starts to slide out of the booth. The light touch of Ari's hand on his forearm makes him pause.
"It's okay, Rome. He's with Anna & Dolph," she reassured. He turned to glance in the direction she indicated. Breathing a sigh of relief, Roman saw their trio of friends crowded around a small table near the edge of the dance floor.
"Hmph. Do you get the feeling we've been ditched?," he asked in mock indignation. Ari giggled. She grabbed his hand & slung his arm back around her own shoulders so she could snuggle against his hard body.
"Nah. Knowing Anna, this was probably her not-so-subtle way of giving us a moment to ourselves."
"Oh, really?" He arched a black brow, a smile on his lips. "Interesting. Would that be because we haven't exactly HAD many of those this weekend?" He leaned down, kissing the top of her head.
"Yep. She's perceptive that way," his girlfriend responded with a grin. He appeared to mull over her answer for a moment.
Ari reached up. Taking his face in her hands, she brought his lips down to hers. The kiss was soft at first. She took her time, hands still cupping his face. Roman opened himself to the kiss. Her tongue dipped inside, tasting him. He groaned against her mouth, their tongues engaged in their own little dance. It went on like that for several minutes; teasing, tasting each other...until their bodies were screaming for oxygen. They broke apart, gazes locked, both breathing heavily. Roman grinned.
"Remind me to thank Anna for being so considerate," he said, leaning down to plant a quick peck on Ari's lips. "Think we could get her to babysit Dean for the rest of the night so we could get the hell out of here?" Arianna shook her head with a laugh.
"I think it might be a little soon for that, babe.
But... I do have an idea to keep him busy for a few minutes, AND set Rollins' teeth on edge at the same time."
"Oh? What evil things are going on in that gorgeous head of yours?," he asked, his curiousity piqued.
"Well, why don't you go get Dean, preferably before he's too drunk to pull it off? Actually, you can tell Dolph & Anna to come over, too. We may need their help," she replied.
"I suddenly get the feeling I REALLY don't want to get on your bad side," Roman shook his head as he watched her. Her dark eyes were sparkling with an inner light, a devious grin playing about her lush lips. It was sexy as hell.
"You're right, you don't. So get your gorgeous ass up & do as you're told." She attempted to shoo him out of the booth. He didn't budge.
"Did you really just...? Damn, woman! What am I...5?" He stared at her in mock indignation, barely holding back the laughter bubbling to the surface.
"Do you wanna find out what I have planned, or not?," Ari challenged.
"Okay, okay. I'm going," he grumbled. "I swear, the things I do for his crazy ass." he slid out of the booth, heading for the group at the edge of the dance floor.
"Actually, I meant what I have planned for YOU...later. But your way works, too," Ari called, before he was out of earshot. Roman stopped dead in his tracks, turned & looked at her. He laughed, shaking his head before turning back to approach their friends.
Four of them were seated in the booth. Dolph was perched on a chair at the end of the table. He'd gotten a couple of interesting looks & at least one phone number when procuring the chair from a nearby table. Ari didn't understand the attention the blond always managed to draw, everywhere he went. Yeah, he was cute & a sweetheart, but compared to the gorgeous Samoan at her side? No comparison. She grinned when she felt Roman's eyes on her.
"Well, what do you think?," she asked the group at large. There was silence for several minutes as they appeared to mull over the plan. Just as she thought she'd gone too far & someone was going to tell her she'd lost her damned mind, Dean started clapping. Loudly.
"I may be drunk, Ari," he began.
"You most definitely ARE," Dolph interrupted, earning a few chuckles from the others. Dean calmly flipped him off, before turning his attention back to Ari.
"Like I said, I may be drunk- Shut up, Ziggler-, but I LOVE it!," Dean continued. "When are we gonna do this?"
"Now," Roman said, draining his beer.
"The rest of you can hang if you want, but I'm ready to get the hell out of here." He gave Ari a knowing look. She met his gaze with a look of her own. She smirked. He grinned. Anna not-so-subtly cleared her throat.
"Oh, Lord. Just get a room already," the brunette teased.
"We have one, thanks. Not that we've gotten to use it much," Arianna replied dryly.
"Which is why we're getting this done now," Roman added, sliding out of the booth, grabbing her hand, pulling her along with him.
"Let's do this," Dean agreed getting to his feet. "Who's taking the first shot?"
Dean adjusted the title around his waist. Dolph handed him his half-empty beer & stepped back. Dean struck a pose. Ari quickly framed the shot, capturing it with her smartphone.
"Okay, Rome, get your ass over here," 'the champ' ordered. "I need one with my partner-in-crime." Roman walked over to him, turning to face Ari, cocky smirk in place. Without thinking about it, he extended his fist, like they used to. Dean followed his lead, transferring his beer to his other hand.
"Nice touch," Arianna commented, snapping the shot & one more for good measure.
"Thanks, I try," her boyfriend replied walking back over to her & pulling her into a quick hug.
"Now I think we need one with some hot chicks. I mean, there's no way the WWE Heavyweight Champ is at a bar without a woman on his arm," Dean suggested, as he slipped the belt off and slung it over his shoulder.
"Hot chicks, hm?," Roman said, glancing at Dean over his shoulder, his arms still around Ari. He released her, stepping back, & letting his eyes travel down her body. Dressed in tight black jeans, a simple red t-shirt that dipped low over her full breasts, red hair hanging loose in fiery waves about her shoulders he thought she was the epitome of a 'hot chick.' He grinned slowly as his grey eyes met her dark chocolate ones. "I think that can be arranged."
"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "You are NOT suggesting what I think you are." He nodded, taking her hand.
"Well... Dean said he wanted some hot chicks & given that you are the sexiest chick in the place, it's only fitting," he replied with a shrug, tugging on her hand.
"Not sure which I should smack you for first, calling me a hot chick, or dragging me
into this insanity," she said, as he took her phone from her hand & passed it to Dolph. She realized Anna was already standing next to the Lunatic Fringe.
"Come on, Ari," Anna called. "It'll be fun. Besides, this was YOUR idea."
"It was my idea to fuck with Seth, yeah. But... When did I say I wanted to be IN the pictures?," Ari grumbled. "Are you all having some group hallucination? Is there something in the beer?"
"How could I possibly do this without you, Mac? Seth knows me too well to buy I'd be here without my woman," Roman cajoled. Ari's head snapped up at his choice of words.
"Your 'woman', hm? You are seriously pushing it tonight," she warned. Roman simply grinned & took her by the arm.
"I'll make this up to you later," he promised.
"Uh-huh," was her only response as she allowed him to lead her over to where the others were waiting.
Several poses & 90 minutes later the pics were uploaded to every social media account Roman had. Ari leaned back on the bed, just as Roman let himself into their hotel room. He caught the look in her eyes as he set the key card on the table.
"You're looking very devious, Ms. MacNeil. Should I assume your little plan is working?," he inquired.
"Well... the pics are posted. Now, we just need to sit back & wait for his reaction. Sure you don't mind being thrown under the bus for this?"
"Nope," he replied, stripping off his shirt. "I think it's gonna be funny as hell; just wish I could be there to see his face. Besides, it's not like Dean has an account we could use. Hell, he's lucky he can remember the PIN to unlock his phone, let alone a bunch of social media passwords."
"Speaking of Dean... Did you get him settled?" Ari watched as he picked up his dirty clothes & tossed them in his bag before finally joining her on the bed.
"He's not THAT drunk, surprisingly. But yeah, I made sure he was in bed & had everything he needed."
"Good. Does this mean you're all mine now?," she asked as he finally joined her on the bed. Before replying, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Ari rested her head against his chest, sighing contentedly.
"I've been yours since the day we met, Princess," he said softly, kissing the top of her head. She smacked the arm that was wrapped around her waist.
"Keep calling me that, I'll change my mind," Arianna threatened. Roman chuckled. The sound reverberated through her body, causing her to smile. Suddenly, she was glad he couldn't see her face.
"We'll see about that," was all he said, tone oozing with confidence.