3.
The door of the locker room had barely closed behind Drew when he turned to glare at Stu. "Why didn't yeh tell me?"
"Well hello, old pal. Don't mind the intrusion, I just wanted to grill you on your knowledge of a possible upcoming engagement. It's important to me, you know, since I'm currently having an affair with the lady in question. But if you're busy, I can come back at a later time."
Stephen rolled his eyes at the droll tone his friend used. "Are yeh finished?"
Stu looked down at his half-laced boots. "Not quite."
"Stu—"
"Ste, you made your bed. And I was going to tell you, then you spouted off all that nonsense about being in love." The Englishman bent over to finish lacing his boots. "Besides, how do you know she'll say yes?"
He didn't. With no subtle way of steering their conversation in that direction, he'd let Joanna leave with that question unanswered. That and a million others. Questions he had managed to keep at bay for months. At first they had been mere whispers in the back of his mind; they'd begun that first night.
The music pounding through the speakers barely met the pounding of his heart. Alcohol had loosened his inhibitions when it came to dancing. The feel of her body pressed to his threatened to crumble the restraints he had placed on himself months before. He felt the beat change and breathed a sigh of relief as a slower song began. His arm looped around her waist – a dangerous move, if the heat in his belly was any indication – and drew her even closer. He ducked his head so he could speak in her ear. "I don't normally dance."
"I sensed that as soon as we got out on the floor." She tilted her head back, the tips of her hair tickling the hand he kept on the small of her back. "For a man so graceful in the ring, you can't dance for shit, Stephen."
"I never said I was a dancer," he reminded with a laugh.
Her smile was infectious. Her hands were on his chest. Their bodies rocked in time to the song playing; she seemed to move closer with each beat. The couples around them seemed to fade into the dark as her hands slid up to his neck. Her tongue swiped over her bottom lip and he knew he was lost.
He turned, pushing her against the wall. His lips crashed over hers. She didn't pull away. If anything, she leaned closer. The tips of her fingers slid into the close-cropped hair at the back of his head, sending a shiver down his spine as he tasted her tongue. The tongue that always danced over her lips. Yet now it was dancing with his.
Her fingernails scraped his scalp and he broke the kiss, staring into her glazed eyes. "Come to the hotel with me," he breathed.
"What?" she murmured.
Had he said it out loud? He hadn't meant to. A swirling bright green light passed over her face. Was he dreaming the hopefulness in her eyes? He wet his lips and repeated the request.
She blinked; the glaze left her eyes. It was replaced by a clarity that he felt could see down to his soul. "Yes."
He had no idea how they managed to slip out unnoticed. What should have been a short walk to the hotel was lengthened by frequent stops filled with lingering kisses. By the time they reached the door of his room his breathing was uneven. Brain foggy with desire he ushered her inside. His lips found hers in a searching kiss. Her hands pulled at his coat; her lips yielded to his.
Her hands framed his face when he lifted her up against the door. Frantic now, he stroked her through the jeans she wore. Between them, they managed to work them down past her hips. Her fingers lowered his zipper and he reached the point of no return.
It was over with embarrassingly fast. Half-dressed, panting, he pressed his forehead to hers. Her eyes were closed, hands still clutching his shoulders. The gentle swell of her breasts brushed against his chest with each breath she took. Her lips, swollen from his impassioned kisses, were parted and damp. Unable to resist he caught them in another kiss, one hand leaving her hip to cup her cheek.
First question: Will I regret this in the morning?
He hadn't. He had thought it would be a one-time thing. She would chalk it up as a drunken mistake, and he would keep an eye out for a jealous boyfriend. And they both would regret it.
Instead he had found himself tumbling into an unexpected affair.
The questions multiplied with each day that passed. Now, on the cusp of a year since they'd begun, he had more questions than answers.
Why does she stay? Why aren't I strong enough to stop this? What if he finds out? How long can I pretend to be satisfied as the 'other man' in her life?
The whys, what ifs, hows, whens... They plagued him. Except when he was with her. For whatever reason, having her in his arms or even in the same room was enough to keep the questions at bay.
"Ste."
He ran a hand down his face as the familiar voice broke him from his reverie. Heaving a sigh, he moved to get ready for his match. "I just want her to be happy," he said after a moment when he noticed that Stu was waiting for him to speak.
"Then you have to do what you think is best. Whether it's continuing this... Or letting her go."
"If it were you, what would yeh do? I know, yer not 'bloody stupid enough' to get in this sort of situation. But if it happened and yeh fell in love, how would yeh handle it?"
"I don't know, Ste. I hope like hell I'm never in your position. I've seen how it's eating at you." He pulled his shirt on and reached for his wrist tape. "Even before I knew about this, I was aware something was wrong. But really, just do what you feel is best. If it all blows up in your face, well, maybe you deserve it. Personally I'd give her an ultimatum. Make her choose."
What if she chooses him?
"I can't make her leave him. If she wanted to leave she'd have left by now, right?"
"Then why stick around?"
"Because crazy as it sounds, I do love her. Yeah, I know, I'm a fucking eejit. If she did leave him for me, how would I know for sure she wouldn't cheat on me, too? But if I just let her go I'd be miserable." Stephen glanced up when the door opened to admit a group. Seeing Cody among them, he felt his gut twist and looked to Stu before changing into his gear.
More questions. Still no answers.
"Have you asked her yet, man?"
This from DiBiase, who Stephen knew Joanna thought of as a friend. He tuned his ears into their conversation.
"Nah," Cody answered. "Waiting for the right moment. She was bitching last night about how we've gotten boring or some shit. So if I ask right now she might think I'm trying to shut her up."
Stephen remained a composed exterior as he listened. Adjusting his knee pads he glanced up when Ted laughed.
"Diamonds are supposed to shut her up. But seriously, are you sure you should? After all, you're—"
Someone behind Stephen dropped his heavy bag, drowning out Ted's next words. He glanced to Stu but found his friend had already left.
"Come on. If she's not working she's asleep, or trying to. Trust me, she doesn't have a clue." Cody laughed when Ted rolled his eyes. "Look, it's not like it means anything. It's just sex."
"It's gonna bite you in the ass regardless."
"Not if she doesn't find out. Which she won't. Right?"
Stephen looked up in time to see a look of discontent flash over Ted's face. The man shook his head, turning his back to Cody.
"Right."
Joanna hummed softly as she worked on Cody's hair. Well-rested for the first time in what felt like months, she was looking forward to a day off. No plans had been made but she had a feeling it would be a good day. Most of all she looked forward to catching up on sleep.
"You look better," Cody commented. "Did you finally get some sleep?"
Her fingers stilled in his locks and she looked up to meet his gaze in the mirror. He'd noticed? "I managed a couple hours this afternoon," she answered with a quick smile before reaching for a comb. Moving to stand in front of him, she froze when he reached for her. At first she thought he was going to pull her down for a kiss but instead his fingers brushed over the shamrock pendant that rested at her breastbone.
"This is new isn't it?"
Her breath caught in her throat. "Yeah, I got it today." Please don't ask, please don't ask, please—
"You did some shopping?" Before she could answer, he smiled and leaned up to catch her lips in a quick kiss. "I like it. It's nice." His fingers swept over her throat. "It matches your eyes."
"Yeh should wear emeralds all the time. They match yer eyes."
She shook her head to clear the memory of Stephen's voice and looked to Cody.
He was on his feet already, checking his appearance in the mirror. "What are you doing after the show?"
"What I always do after a show." she dropped the comb in a jar on the table and tapped his arm so he'd step to the side. "Pack up my stuff and go back to the hotel."
"What about tomorrow?" he asked, not moving. He leaned against the edge of the table, seemingly immune to the fact that she had a job to do. "Sleep?"
"Yes," she sighed. She mentally pictured herself lying in the large bed, covers pulled up to her chin, cozy and warm in her favorite flannel pajamas. She would put classical music on her iPod and not have to worry about anyone disturbing her. If the mood struck she would order up hot tea and drink it in bed, perhaps while watching an old black-and-white movie.
She already felt more relaxed.
"It's going to be hard, hanging out with the guys while I'm picturing you lying in bed." His voice was a whisper as his hand slid to her waist. "I could always ditch them and stay in bed with you."
"Because I just ooze sex appeal when I'm asleep," she snorted. "Sleep, remember? I need to catch up on sleep."
"You can catch up on sleep in between us catching up on sex," he murmured. He raised an eyebrow. "Unless it's like... You know."
The man couldn't even say the word 'period.' She recalled the one time she'd asked him if he would stop at a drugstore and buy tampons for her one after a house show. From his reaction, one would have thought she'd requested he commit murder. And she knew she could always use her cycle as an excuse; he never kept track, he never asked questions. But she shook her head as she rested a hand on his chest. "I'll be even more exhausted if that happens, and you know it."
"Next day you have off, I'm playing hooky so we can be together," he promised with a sigh.
"Sounds like a plan," she murmured, leaning up to meet his kiss. "Now get out of here so I can get to work."
As he sauntered away she wondered how little time she had before he would return.
Then she realized how far she'd fallen.
A/N: Oopsie, time got away from me! If you read my tumblr you know I've had a bat-crap crazy week. Hopefully things will settle down now. *crosses fingers*
Thank you all so much for the reviews! Love to you all – and a special tip of the hat to my lovely Amber for helping me out with parts of this. She's seriously the best. (Go ahead and preen, gurl!)