Wow, so many faves and follows and reviews...oh my! Many, many thanks to the TheLovelyCanche and angeldees327 (aka the best reviewer ever. Girl! I knew you'd be back for more!) and the guests. I went ahead and wrote chapter 2 last night and as a present for you lovelies, here it is!
Are you guys ready for some sweet, sweet karaoke?! LET'S GO!
*********khan*********
I'm hell on heels, baby I'm comin' for you!
-The Pistol Annies, Hell on Heels
April 18th, 2014- Nashville, TN
Scarlett stopped as soon as she exited the arena later on that night. God, she needed a cigarette. Pulling out a menthol and lighting it quickly, she took a huge drag before sharply turning when she heard someone chuckling behind her.
"If you smoke them that fast, kinda takes the enjoyment out of the whole process."
Scarlett exhaled the smoke and quirked her lips into a smile, "Oh, are you going to teach me how to properly smoke, Jon?"
The man who most people called a lunatic simply smiled at her and walked to her side.
"Nah," he paused, "Could show you plenty of other things, though?"
She blew out her next drag in a huff of laughter.
"Yeah I'm sure. Hey, aren't you supposed to be at the bar with the others already? Or are you still trying to get out of it?"
"Nah, figured I'd go and get a kick out of everybody making fools of themselves. Colby especially. That boy is always embarrassing himself."
She couldn't help but agree. Anytime she and some of the others went out for karaoke, Colby was always there. He loved it almost as much as she did.
"So why aren't you there?"
"Told Nikki I'd stay and make sure you got there safe and sound," he replied, a devilish grin on his face. She was sure that if she wanted to, he'd agree to go wherever and do whatever she wanted him to.
"See, there you go again, being a gentleman."
He finished his cigarette and stepped in front of her, pulling her own cigarette from her mouth and taking the last hit off it, smirking at her the entire time. She was slightly pissed off...and incredibly turned on. When had that happened? Before tonight, she'd never given him a second thought. Sure, he was hot and all, but when she thought of all the guys in the company, he wasn't at the top of any of her lists. But right now, hell she didn't know if she could control herself. There was an air about him that she didn't know how to describe, but if she was pushed for a word, then...dangerous. The man in front of her felt all kinds of dangerous, but in the best way possible. When he finished stamping the cigarette out with his boot, he stepped up to her, gently pushing her back until she hit the concrete wall with a suddenness that scared her slightly. He brought his hands to her hips and pulled them flush against his, forcing her chest into his as well. Their faces were just millimeters apart, their noses practically touching. His eyes had captured hers and she couldn't have forced herself to look away if she wanted to. His whispered words felt like silk wrapping themselves around her.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not a gentleman?"
He leaned in and just as their lips made contact, the door to the garage slammed open. A couple of the music techs were wheeling equipment out to the trucks. Scarlett jumped out of Jon's grasp as they looked over to her and nodded their hellos. She nodded back and wished them a goodnight. Feeling an arm come around her shoulders, she looked to see Jon staring at her, grin ever-present.
"Whew, that was a close one."
She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly.
"Come on, let's just go. You're incorrigible."
"What's that mean?"
"Means that I'm going to pretend it didn't happen and just get on with it cause if I got all flustered, you'd enjoy it way too much."
Jon stopped and seemed to think this over, "Yep, you're probably right."
Scarlett laughed at his expression, "Come on, we need to join the others. Can't wait for your night of misery to begin."
"Ahh, you just had to remind me where we're going, didn't you?"
"You betcha. It's going to be great to watch you all night."
"Oh, so you're going to be looking at me the whole time? We could just skip the bar and go back to the hotel then."
Open mouth, insert foot, Scarlett thought.
"Let's just go, weirdo."
When they arrived at Santa's Pub, the bar was in full swing with Colby and Layla wailing that old-time karaoke standard, "Bennie and the Jets." Jon's eyes immediately went sky high, his stress level rising immediately. Walking over to the large table where their coworkers sat, they took the two seats that had been saved for them. They were conveniently wedged right next to each other. Scarlett discovered that if the two of them wanted to sit comfortably, his arm had to be around the back of her chair and she had to lean into him slightly. He thought all of this was hilarious, of course. Nikki bought them some beer which Jon protested slightly. Nikki hushed him quickly.
"Jon, all the beer here is $2 so don't think I'm spending a fortune!"
"Really? Only $2?"
"Yep, now drink in the cheapness and have a good time."
They settled in just as Rosa and Eva got up to do "The Boy is Mine" by Brandy and Monica. Scarlett was having a good ol' time singing along and Jon really took the time to look at her. Sure, he'd never hit on her the way he had tonight. To be honest, he was just having some fun and trying to liven her up a bit. He'd had a crush on her ever since he'd entered the WWE but she'd been with Punk until just a few months ago. Every show he'd hope that there'd be some reason he'd have to go through the gorilla just so he could talk to her for a bit. She was gorgeous with big green eyes and luscious brown hair. Now that he was really looking at it, he could tell that was an auburn hew to it but only if directly lit up by a hard light. Her pale skin was flawless and he knew she didn't have that much makeup on. When he'd heard about her and Punk breaking up, he had wanted to ask her on a date right then and there, but when he had walked up the gorilla to do it, he saw her wrapped in Glen's arms, crying her soul out. Not wanting to be a dick, he'd snuck away as quietly as possible but had kept an eye on her as the weeks and months passed. He had seen the transformation from the insecure, weeping girl back to the strong, confident, laughing woman who she used to be.
Sometimes though, he felt she was just putting on a front. If he watched her closely enough- he didn't care if anyone thought it was weird-, he'd see the fragility that was still there. He wanted to be the one to fully restore her confidence. He wanted her to see that she had nothing to be ashamed of. He wanted her to see how he saw her: a smart, beautiful woman who deserved the best. And only the best. That's why when he had heard about her and AJ's little spat while he was walking to the gorilla, he'd decided to start working his way in. He didn't care how long it took, he'd make her his and show her how a man was really supposed to treat a woman: like a queen.
Her name was called and she got up and brought the house down with Roxanne by the Police. She could sing, he had to give her that. Her eyes would sometimes flicker to his and she's let out a small smile that he just knew was meant for him and him only. Maybe she was slowly letting her guard down. Maybe she was enjoying his "misery," even though while she was up there, he wasn't miserable at all. Whatever it was, he didn't care.
When she came back to loud applause, he let her sit back down and put his arm back around her chair. After she'd taken a long sip of her beer and finished it, he brought his hand to her shoulder and kissed her cheek.
"You were great up there."
Her eyes found his and she whispered her thanks. She didn't shrug off his hand, just letting it rest there comfortably. When Colby got up to get more beer, Jon handed him a $10, saying to get ones for him, Scarlett and Nikki, paying her back for the one earlier. When the younger boy brought them back, Jon handed one to Scarlett and she smirked again, whispering in his ear.
"Gentleman."
He rolled his eyes and looked directly at her, giving her an amused look. When her eyes shifted behind him and got wide, he turned around to see what had caught her attention. What he saw was not good. AJ, Paige and Alicia walked in, sneering their way through the joint. When they stopped in front of Nikki, she wasn't having any of it.
"Sorry guys, but we only got enough seats for us, ya know, the people who were invited. But uh, there's some standing room way over there."
She pointed to the very back of the bar, where you couldn't see anything except a lonely dart board that nobody ever used. When they walked away, Scarlett leaned forward and gave her friend a hug, whispering something that Jon could not hear. When she sat back down, his hand came back to her shoulder and she looked at him, smiling quickly and nodding, letting him know she was ok. Just then, she and Nikki were called to the stage and he had a feeling he was in for a show. When the words Hell on Heels came on the screen, he smiled. He knew this song because Colby loved it and would turn it up if it ever came on in the car. Hell, even Joe, who the world knew as the hulking, ferocious Roman Reigns, loved that song and would sing along. Jon would usually sit in the back seat and laugh his ass off at the two grown men in front of him. He wasn't laughing now, however, as the two gorgeous women in stilettos joined their voices to create one of the sexiest harmonies he had ever heard. They were amazing. So amazing he even joined in on the clapping part, which he never, ever did. When they got to the last chorus, Scarlett's eyes trained on him for the last two lines and he felt himself harden.
I'm hell on heels.
Sugar daddy, I'm coming for you.
They finished to raucous applause from the packed double-wide and the girls sauntered back over to the table, basking in the adoration. They both had wide smiles as they picked up their beers, cheers and took long swigs. With Joe going up to get more beer, Scarlett tried to give him money to get more for everybody but he just waved her off. Jon noticed she was a little wobbly, but didn't think anything of it. This was the most fun he'd seen her have in a long time and he wasn't going to ruin it.
"Will no one let me buy them alcohol?"
Going to sit back down, she ended up in Jon's lap instead of her seat. His hands immediately went to her hips and adjusted her so she wasn't sitting directly on his strained erection, but he didn't make any movement to remove her. She turned, putting her hand on the base of his neck and rubbing softly. He knew it had to be the alcohol since she'd slammed down at least four or five beers already, but he just didn't care in the slightest at the moment.
"Jon, why won't anybody let me buy them beer?"
He looked at her with a wide smile, amused by her hopelessness. Leaning up, he whispered in her ear.
"Just enjoy it, darlin. There'll always be a next time."
She hummed contentedly, "Okay."
She didn't move from his lap and he didn't mind. He noticed Colby looking at him with raised eyebrows at one point and then Nikki did the same. He shrugged his shoulders in reply and neither said a word. Nikki had a small smile on her lips that he didn't want to know the reason behind.
Scarlett said something about being tired about an hour later, but wanted to stick around to do her last song. When he asked what it was, she just shook her head and said it was a surprise. Her name was finally called and she walked up, a little giddy about whatever she was doing. On the way, she passed an elderly man, who had to be at least 70, wearing a Stetson. She leaned down, whispering in his ear, and after a really sweet smile, he handed over his hat to her. Plopping it on her head and adjusting just so, she stood on the stage, head down but you could see an excitement coursing through her. Jon looked to the screen, buzzing to see the name of the song.
Man, I Feel Like a Woman.
Nikki and Colby couldn't have been more excited. The Bella twin turned around and looked at everyone else, glee on her face.
"Oh man, are you guys ready for this? You ain't ready!"
When the opening twangs hit the speakers, she stayed still, popping her head up at the very last second.
Let's go girls!
The entire song he saw a completely different Scarlett. This was what he had meant earlier about her putting on a front for the last couple of months. When she was at the E, sure, she acted like she was fine, but there was something lacking. This girl, however, this was the one he wanted to be with. She was twirling her hips, playing to the crowd and working that stage for everything it was worth. But the time she got to the last chorus, she had the whole crowd singing along and watching her with rapt attention.
The best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun.
Fun! Fun!
Oh oh oh, go totally crazy, forget I'm a lady,
Men's shirts! Short skirts!
Oh oh oh, really go wild, yeah, I'm doin' it in style,
Oh oh oh, get in the action, feel the attraction,
Color my hair! Do what I dare!
Oh oh oh, I wanna be free, yeah, to feel the way I feel
And man, I feel like a woman!
I get totally crazy, can you feel it?
Come, come, come on baby
I feel like a woman!
When she finished, the room went absolutely nuts. She went back over to elderly guy, did a cute little bow, and handed him back his hat, thanking him with the biggest smile on her face. Coming back over, she sat back down on his lap, chugging the rest of her beer. When she peered down at him, grinning like a fool, he couldn't help himself. Grabbing the side of her face, he gently brought her down until his lips met hers. It wasn't hard or wild or even desperate, but instead, sweet and slow and definitely returned. When she pulled back after a few moments, he could see the war in her eyes, lust and weariness. Leaning down to his ear, she spoke so only he could hear.
"Could you take me to the hotel and stay with me and us not have sex?"
He internally grinned at her question. He knew she was no innocent but he also knew she was going to have a very hard time trusting anything any man said to her. She felt an attraction to him but didn't want to jump into anything prematurely, especially when her head was swimming with alcohol. He nodded and they got up, ignoring Joe and Colby's pleas to stay and keep the party going. Jon leaned over to Nikki, telling her he was driving Scarlett home. Nikki smirked in her own devilish way.
"Be good!"
Now it was Jon's turn to smirk.
"Always am. That's my name, after all."
Just as he was turning back, he felt her small hand grab his wrist and pull him back.
"I'm serious, Jon, be good to her."
His smirk dropped instantly.
"I promise, Nik, I promise."
The twin released him with a smile and stood up to hug her friend, telling her she'd call in the morning. He and Scarlett walked out into the crisp night air and he gave her his leather jacket to keep her warm. She pulled it around her with a small thank you. When they arrived back at the hotel, he got her back to her room first, giving her aspirin and telling her to change into her sleep clothes. Going back to his room to get his clothes for the next day and some more aspirin, he got back to her room in record time. Just not fast enough. When he slipped back in, he was pleased to see she was indeed changed, but only into an oversized t-shirt that barely covered her ass. She was laying down facing the back wall and as he walked up, sure enough, she was fast asleep. He contemplated just turning around and going back to his room, but she had asked to him to stay and it wasn't like he was asshole who was going to try something while she was asleep. So he changed quickly and flipped the covers back, tucking her in. He got in on the other side and then a real dilemma did hit. Did he keep his distance or did he hold her? Oh who was he kidding? He got to the middle of the bed and pulled her back flush against him. He slid one arm under her head and the other around her stomach, pausing for a moment to take a deep breath next to her hair. Even though she'd been in a smoky bar all night, she still smelled like vanilla and peaches. Damn, he could get used to this. Especially when she shifted even further into him, one hand resting on his forearm and the other entwining her fingers with his. He was real glad he hadn't kept his distance now.
After all, he couldn't be a gentleman all the time.
*********khan*********
Aw such a sweet ending, am I right? By the way, I have done all five of the songs mentioned at Santa's Pub, by myself or in groups. Totally so much fun! And their beer really is $2. So, seriously, if you're in Nashville, go there. Karaoke seven days a week! Paradise!
One thing I noticed while rereading this chapter was that I make Seth Rollins sound a little gay. Hahaha totally didn't mean it. Just came naturally I guess!
Anyways, hope you're enjoying and now if you'll do the Three Moves of Doom (favorite, follow, review), I'd be eternally grateful. And I was planning on going shopping today, but since the sky just opened up and it is now a rainy day in Pittsburgh, you guys might just get a another chapter later on tonight. XOXO
