I groan as my phone pings with a text message.

I'm downstairs. Hurry up.

"Fuck Kassius," I mutter. "I completely forgot about our plans." Sorry Bud. Sick. Go without me.

I believe it was your idea to take my fat ass to the gym and beach today.

I roll my eyes at the comment. I had never known the man before his current run with the company. Although I had heard the occasional comment about his weight gain from others in the back but I never saw him as nothing but an amazing wrestler. Our friendship beginning when he came to me with design ideas for more ring gear and I promptly informed him to burn the white gear from his championship match. He just chuckled and told me we had a deal but only if I designed something better for him. Three months later we spend pretty much all our free time together.

Not a fat ass. Sorry. Just sorta snuck up on me.

I'm coming up.

No. I don't want to risk infecting you. Go. Enjoy your day.

I'm checking on you later.

Fine. "Do whatever you feel you need to do," I sigh burrowing under the blankets again. The heaviness returning to my chest as my mind returns to the real reason for avoiding people. The tears returning to stream down my cheeks. "Maybe I'll know what to do after a nap," I mutter to myself.

"Rosie," Kassius calls from somewhere in the apartment. "Rosie. Oh, Rosie. Rosemarie," he calls from the bedroom doorway.

"What," I mutter.

"Check-up time."

"I'm alive. Run along."

"What's wrong?"

"Told you. Sick."

"Migraine?"

"No."

"Good," the shades open around the room. "This room is entirely too dark."

"Kash," I groan. "Just let me be."

"Since you wouldn't tell me what exactly is wrong with you," he states ignoring me. "I brought you something for a fever. And cough. And stomach issues including crackers and soup. I even have some things here for feminine issues."

I peek over at the man, still dressed for a casual day for me in basketball shorts and a tee shirt, from inside my blanket cocoon, "Really?"

He holds out a plastic bag in my direction. "It's is probably nowhere near the right stuff. I just grabbed and dashed."

"I appreciate the effort but that isn't the problem. None of that is the problem."

"Okay," he sighs sitting beside me on the bed. "So, what is the problem?"

I chew on my lip silently.

"Because unless you have one hell of a sinus infection, you have been crying your eyes out this morning," he remarks pulling the blanket further from my face. His finger traces along my cheek. "Come on. I can't have my favorite designer holed up in her room for the rest of her life. You're the only one who can make this fat ass look good."

"Stop calling yourself a fat ass."

"It's the truth."

"No, it's not," I sigh sitting up. "You know I know everyone's measurements and you don't even crack the top ten of the biggest wrestlers."

"That's nice of you to say."

"It's the truth," I smile.

"What has you crying Rosie?"

"Found out my boyfriend is married."

"What?"

"I was seeing Drew McIntyre since he came back. It came out last night that he's married. I had no idea. He told me he was divorced. I never wanted to the other woman," I ramble the tears returning.

"Hey, hey, hey. I know. This isn't your fault," he coos wrapping me in his arms.

"Yes, it is," I growl. "If I wasn't so stupid…"

"He lied to you."

"I should have known."

"How?"

"I don't know but I should have."

"There was no way for you to have known. You take everyone at face value. It's why I love you Rosie."

"Don't say that," I mutter.

"I know what you need now," he sighs. "Why don't you take a nice long shower. Try to relax. DO NOT think about the asshole."

"Yes sir," I mock salute as he pulls away.

"Kash," I call as I exit the bathroom. "I'm wearing your shirt you left here last month." The shirt in question hanging past my knees.

No answer. Checking the apartment, I don't find the man. My living room has been rearranged though. Everything is shoved against the wall clearing the center of the room where a pile of pillows and blankets sits.

"I'm not done yet," he mumbles.

"What's going on?"

"You'll see. I have food ordered. Got any beers around here," he asks moving past me. "You look like a little kid in that shirt."

"What the hell happened to your face," I gasp ignoring the last comment.

A bruise is slowly forming along his jaw, a small trickle of blood drying beneath his nose.

"I had to escort Mr. McIntyre down to his car," he shrugs leaning over to spread the blankets out.

"What?"

"Drew showed up. He didn't appreciate me being here and I felt the same about him."

"So you decided to punch each other in the face," I ask taking his face in my hands. I lean in to examine the bruise forming.

"What was the real reason he left?"

"Huh?" My eyes shooting to his.

"What brought on his confession last night?"

"Why does that matter now?"

"You thought you were pregnant."

"How…"

"I knocked the papers off your dresser when I grabbed the pillows," he sighs dropping to his ass to look up at me. "I saw the blood test results."

"I'm…"

"I know. You never told Drew though. He accused me of being the father."

"I told him that I was a couple weeks late. I took a home pregnancy test and I planned on seeing my doctor later. He cut me off and told me he would discuss it with me later," I shrug joining him in the floor. "When he came over later he started ranting about how I needed to take care of it because his wife couldn't find out about us. I told him I wasn't going to settle being the other woman and to get the hell out. Didn't think to inform him that he was in fact not going to be a father. The pregnancy scare wasn't even registering at that point."

Knocking sounds on the apartment door.

"Get the drinks. I'll get the door and finish this," he smiles.

Kassius had layered the spread blankets across the center of room into a soft pallet before piling the pillows along one edge. Goofy movies playing on the TV.

"Thank you for this Kash," I sigh setting my beer on a nearby table.

"Much better than baking my fat ass in the sun today," he grins reclining.

"I wish you would stop that," I mutter leaning against his chest.

He shrugs wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Really, Kassius," I sigh, my fingers tracing the design on his tee. "I think you're perfect. Your weight doesn't affect your wrestling skills. If you think you're overweight then I can help. We can go to the gym together. I can go on a diet with you."

"You are perfect."

"I know I'm close but I'm not perfect."

"Glad you still have your confidence. I was afraid Drew had destroyed it."

"Maybe damaged it a little," I shrug. "But he mainly just broke my heart."

"I'm sorry, Rosie. If I had known I would have told you the truth."

"I know. You always do," my eyes dropping to my hands on his chest.

His fingers lightly grasp my chin raising my eyes back to his. "What is it?"

"Just some of that damaged confidence sneaking through."

"Don't let it, Rose."

"Well, maybe I'm just using that as an excuse to feel you up to design you something other than a basketball jersey."

"Maybe you just want to feel me up."

"Maybe," I smirk. The familiar light flirting pushing the slight doubt back.

"I feel used."

"I haven't used you yet."

"Promise?"

"Guarantee."

"So, what? I'm going to be your rebound?"

"Maybe," I grin straddling one of his thighs.

"I know you don't want to hear it but I meant it earlier. I love you, Rosie."

"It's not that I don't want to hear it," I mumble reaching for my beer.

"Okay," he states waiting for me to continue.

"It's just…It's just that sometimes you don't love me the way I wish you would," I mumble draining the beer.

"I'm too old for games, Rosie. Say what you mean."

Sighing, I lean forward to press a kiss to his lips. "I'm a woman. I have eyes. You're sweet, intelligent, and incredibly sexy. Maybe I want to be seen as more than a friend. Maybe I want to be seen as a woman. Maybe…"

His lips cut off the rest of my speech. "Maybe you talk too much," he murmurs against my lips.

Groaning I lean into him, deepening the kiss. His tongue pushing past my lips demanding and I open up to him, my hips rocking on their own accord against his thigh. Reaching between us I tug his tee upwards and he tenses slightly.

"I've seen you shirtless many times before," I smirk tugging the shirt over his head. "And every time I have it has made it incredibly hard for me to stay professional," I smirk my hands sliding along his shoulders and down to grip his biceps.

"Are you trying to insinuate that I make your job difficult," he grins, his hands come down to rock my hips again.

"Very."

"I'm sorry."

"You are not."

"No. I'm not," he grins leaning into me again. His lips slide along the skin of my throat as my fingers wrap through his hair. His hardening length pressing against my thigh. I suddenly realize where all his cockiness stems from. Pun totally intended.

"Since you think I look like a little kid in this shirt, should I worry about this," I ask removing one hand from his hair to palm his cock through his shorts.

"Nope," he grunts rocking his hips. "I'm just thinking about that short black dress you wore to the pub the first night we went out together."

"The sheath dress?"

"Do I look like I pay attention to women's fashion? I just know it clung to every curve of your body and I had to concentrate on our conversation and not kissing you then," he smirks leaning back to look up at my face.

"I will have to remember to wear it more often," I smirk. "I think you want your shirt back now."

"Do I now?"

"Only if you want to see that dress was hid…" I cut myself off with a giggle as the shirt is torn from my body. His eyes scan down my body drinking me in as he throws the shirt over his shoulder. I suddenly feel a twinge of self-consciousness as he studies me so intently.

"Fuck," he breathes, his fingertips trace from my collarbone down my body to my hip bones. "You are perfect."

"You have no idea yet," I smirk, my confidence returning to engulf the self-consciousness at his words.

"Show me," he challenges.

"As you wish," I smile sliding down his body, nipping at his skin as I move. Hooking my fingers into his waistband I drag both his shorts and underwear down his long legs. Crawling back up I settle between his thighs. Wrapping my lips around his crown, I take in as much of him as I can. One hand coming up to support myself on his thigh as the other coming up to cup and roll his balls.

"Fuck," he grunts, fingers gathering my hair back from my face. "I have thought about this so many times."

"How long," I ask, popping him from my mouth.

"Does it matter," he groans. His hands digging into my scalp.

"Yes," I smile running my tongue up the bottom of his shaft. "If you want me to continue, you'll answer the question."

"Months."

"How many?" My tongue swirls around his crown.

"You're evil," he groans.

"How…" I dip my head to suck one ball into my mouth. "Many," I breathe, stroking him slowly.

"Three," he mutters.

I take him back into my mouth, hollowing my cheeks to create as much suction as possible.

"Thank God." His hand tightens around my hair, guiding me along him.

I chuckle around him.

"Oh, you think it's funny to tease me," he pants pulling my hips around to face him. Yanking my panties down my thighs, two fingers immediate burying deep inside my core.

I groan, my eyes rolling in my head slightly.

"You like that?"

"Mmmhmm," I hum pushing my hips back against his hand.

"You want me to continue," he asks as I fuck myself on his fingers.

"Mmmhmm," I groan.

His hand disappears from me and I whimper glancing up at him. He licks his fingers lazily as he stares down at me. "What? You don't like being teased?"

"No," I growl.

Stripping myself completely I crawl up to straddle his hips. "I don't." I sink slowly onto him.

"Well, that didn't go as I was planning. Not that I'm complaining."

"Shut up and kiss me," I smirk.

"Yes ma'am," he returns the smirk.

His mouth is devouring me, his hands gripping my hips tightly as I roll them against him. His mouth leaves mine to kiss and nip along my chest. Gripping one wrist I pull his hand from my hip and between us. His thumb sliding inside to apply the perfect pressure to my clit.

"Kash," I moan.

"Yes, my Rose," he murmurs against my skin.

"You are fucking perfect."

Chuckling he rolls us until I'm pinned beneath him. "My turn to prove it," he grunts. Yanking my legs over his shoulders he brings his mouth to my slit, my head falls back against the pillows as his tongue circles my clit slowly. "Please. No more teasing. I'm sorry for earlier. Please."

I feel him smile as his tongue gains speed.

"Fuck. Just like that," I pant, my orgasm building.

Wrapping his lips around my clit, my body shakes with my release. His grip tightens around me as he licks me clean.

"You alright down there, Rose?"

I nod slowly.

"Can you move?"

"Only if needed."

"Oh baby, it's needed. Hands and knees."

I move to follow his instructions on rubbery limbs. His arm snakes around my waist as he moves a couple pillows beneath me for support. Leaning over me he brings his lips to my ear, "You ready?"

He doesn't wait for an answer as he buries himself inside me again pulling a loud moan from me.

"God, that's sexy," his voice holds a smile as he sets a rapid pace.

I pull myself up to press my back against his chest, his strong arms wrapping around to hold me tight. The new angle has a second orgasm building. His mouth coming down to swallow my moans as he continues to thrust rapidly.

"Kassius," I moan breaking away as my orgasm ripples through me.

"I got you," he pants, his voice strained.

"Stop holding back," I pant wriggling my ass against him. "Let go. Come for me."

"Fuck," he groans burying his face into my neck, his hips stilling.

"You okay," I ask as his breathing evens out.

"Never better," he sighs, his lips running along my shoulder. "Is this the point you give me some cab fare and kick me out?"

"Of course not. You drove yourself here," I smile peeking up at him.

He meets my eyes squarely and silently.

"I don't feel like you're just a rebound. I've been in love with you for a while."

"Ditto, Rosie," he breathes turning me in his arms.

"Ditto? That's all I get from you?"

"I love you too, Rose.'

"So, I'm thinking a nap then dinner. Right here on our little pallet of happiness," I grin.

"I love that idea," he grins. "Then tomorrow, we go to the gym. We need to work on your stamina."

"Deal," I giggle.