Sheamus pulled away from the blonde, surprised to see her there. Last he had heard, she was out with a knee injury.
"Aren't you going to welcome me back?" Natalya asked him with a coy smile.
The Irishman wiped his lips with his arm band, his blue eyes narrowed as he stared down at his former girlfriend.
"Welcome back." he murmured quietly, not sure what to make of all of this.
Natalya patted his arm and replied happily, "I would love to talk to you later. I just need to take care of a few things first."
She leaned up and kissed his cheek before he could react, then turned and sashayed down the hallway.
Kimber walked after her, stunned.
"Wow," Layla replied dryly, "Guess Natalya's back."
"I heard she wasn't going to be able to come back for a couple more weeks." Kaitlyn stated.
"Looks like rehab worked wonders on her knee." Layla noticed that Kimber was quiet and she placed a hand on her shoulder, "You okay, sweetie?"
Kimber blinked, coming out of her thoughts. She turned around and looked at the women with a bright smile.
"I'm fine." she announced, her tone a bit too cheery, "So what happened to Natalya again?"
"Knee injury a couple of months ago." Kaitlyn informed her, "Before you got here."
"Ah, I see." Kimber nodded, thoughtful.
"I guess you didn't know they used to be a couple." Layla told her sheepishly.
"No." Kimber shook her head, "But it's none of my business anyway."
"Oh, so you're not interested in hearing the whole dirty story." Kaitlyn baited her.
Kimber glared at her before eventually sighing, "Okay, yes. Please tell me."
The two women formed a semi-circle around her and began to confide.
"They broke up about eight months ago." Layla began, "Though none of us are really sure why."
"Yeah," Kaitlyn interjected, "Before that they were really hot and heavy. They couldn't keep their hands off of one an-"
At Layla's narrowed look her voice trailed off weakly, "Never mind."
Kimber sighed. She was desperate to know what had happened, but hated herself for being so nosy.
"This is none of my business." she repeated, more for her own benefit than the two Divas'.
"Sure it is." Layla told her gently, "Especially considering that something is going on with you and Sheamus.
"And don't tell me it's not." she went on when Kimber opened her mouth, "We have eyes. We can all see it."
"Looks like she was happy to see him." Kimber replied quietly, "I guess they must have made up."
"I would be surprised if they did." Layla confided, "Not after the way she dumped him without a backwards glance."
"He was, like, enraged for months." Kaitlyn added.
"But," Layla hurriedly told the reporter when the other woman appeared crestfallen, "That was months ago. He's been fine for I-don't-know-how-long."
She offered Kimber a hopeful smile and placed a hand on her arm, "Especially now that you're here."
Now that she was here? A woman who was too afraid to even consider starting up a romantic relationship with him? Yeah, right. Kimber felt her shoulders slump in defeat.
"I should go." she told the pair as she began to make her way back up the hall, "I have an interview with Antonio Cesaro to prepare for."
She had gone a few feet when she heard, "Kember!"
The young woman drew to a stop and closed her eyes, groaning silently to herself.
When she turned around, though, she was suddenly all smiles.
"Hello." she chirped as Sheamus came jogging up to her.
He still looked out of sorts over his reunion with Natalya and suddenly Kimber had a very strong desire to kick him in the shin.
Stop this, she ordered herself, You're just his friend. His past, or present, relationships are none of your business.
"Oi." the Irishman grinned down at her as he approached, "Ah was wonderin' if you wanted to grab a bite after the show?"
No, but I'd sure love to know what's going on between you and Natalya, she answered silently.
"Um, I'd like to." she lied, "But Josh and I have already made plans. Maybe some other time?"
Sheamus blinked, surprised and disappointed by her answer, "Yeah. Yeah, sure. Some other time."
Kimber gave him a bubbly smile and quickly turned, heading off.
Sheamus stared after her in confusion. Though she was all smiles it was like she couldn't wait to get away from him. Had she seen him with Natalya. . .?
Sheamus slowly turned around and walked back to his locker room, his blonde ex-girlfriend coming to his mind.
He was absolutely rocked by her greeting. Especially considering how their relationship had ended.
He slipped into the locker room and slammed the door a little too hard. He leaned back against it and closed his eyes, scrubbing a hand over his face, careful of his black eye.
Natalya.
To say things between them had been hot was an understatement. They had been explosive. They were always together, never able to keep their hands off of one another. The three months they had spent together had been like a whirlwind.
Sheamus slowly opened his eyes, a hint of anger in them.
And then, eight months ago, she had come to him one night and told him she needed to talk to him. She had told him things just weren't working out between them and that she hoped they could still be friends.
Sheamus had to laugh at that. Friends? From white hot lovers to friends?
He hadn't laughed then, though. Her news had rocked him to his core. He had thought they were perfectly happy together. At least Natalya hadn't seemed unsatisfied.
He walked over to one of the benches and sat down, thoughtful. In hindsight he should have known something was going on with her. She and Tyson Kidd were spending a lot of time together. Oh, they had tried to tell him they were only friends but Sheamus had a feeling it was more than that.
And then, a few weeks after the breakup, he had caught the pair making out at a nightclub.
He cracked his knuckles, remembering his reaction. Tyson had taken a trip to the hospital and he would have spent a night in jail if some of the fellas hadn't bailed him out.
Sheamus stood up and collected his towel and other things. He began to make his way towards the shower.
It had been hard on him but he had eventually gotten over it. Oh, he knew he'd never be best friends with Natalya but at least he didn't hate the lass anymore.
And then he had met Kimber.
Kimber.
A hint of a smile came to his lips at the thought of the beautiful reporter. He could still picture that sunny smile from the night before. The way her eyes had shown when he had turned around and faced her.
The feeling of her soft, perfect body in his arms.
The Irishman let out a groan, thankful that he had the locker room to himself. . .
.
.
.
.
.
He eventually exited the room and made his way towards the parking lot. As soon as he stepped outside he spotted Natalya coming from the other direction.
The second her eyes landed on him she flashed a smile and quickened her pace.
"Hey." she greeted him warmly, reaching up to offer him a hug.
Sheamus sidestepped her though, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"What do ya want, Natalya?" he asked her pointedly.
"I. . ." she faltered, his reaction surprising her, "I just thought we could talk. We have a lot to talk about."
"Do we now?" Sheamus' smile faded, his eyes going cool, "Ah seem to remember the last time you needed to talk to me."
Natalya ducked her head, appearing ashamed.
She turned back to him and murmured hesitantly, "That's one of the things I wanted to talk to you about."
"Maybe you should go talk to Tyson." Sheamus couldn't help but jab.
Natalya flinched. She knew it was going to be difficult, but did it have to be that difficult?
She looked up and paused, realizing he wasn't watching her. His eyes were focused on something across the lot, his expression thoughtful.
She turned and followed his gaze, watching as Josh Mathews and SmackDown's newest reporter-she couldn't be bothered to remember the girl's name-walked across the lot and over to a car.
She began to frown, the wheels in her mind turning.
But when she spun back around she was once again all smiles, "I understand. And I don't blame you for not wanting to speak with me right now.
"But, Sheamus," she went on, reaching out to place her hand on his arm, "I really do need to talk to you sometime."
She reluctantly released him and turned, walking away.
Sheamus watched after her, his eyes narrowing as he wondered what she had up her sleeve.
He just wanted to go back to hotel room and get some sleep.
.
.
.
.
.
Kimber and Josh climbed into Josh's rental after the show. As they headed out of the lot and down the street, the SmackDown announcer glanced over at his friend in curiosity. She was staring out the window, frowning.
"Everything okay?" he asked as he looked back to the street.
"Yeah." Kimber murmured thoughtfully, "I'm fine."
"I'm kind of surprised you didn't get a ride back with Sheamus." he peeked at her sideways, "I thought you two were a thing now."
At her look he raised a hand, backing down, "Okay, okay. Not 'a thing'. But I thought you guys were getting closer."
Kimber turned back to the window and shrugged, "I think he was too preoccupied with Natalya."
Ah ha, Josh couldn't help but smirk, The plot thickens.
He had heard that Natalya was back and the first thing she had done was try and get in good with Sheamus. But from what he had heard, the former World Heavyweight Champion was having none of it.
"Yeah, I heard she was back." he replied casually.
"From a knee injury, right?" Kimber turned her attention to him.
"Mmm-hmm." Josh turned down a side street, making his way to the hotel.
"Layla and Kaitlyn mentioned that Natalya and Sheamus used to see each other." Kimber tried to appear nonchalant, but Josh knew better.
"Yeah, they were an item." he gazed over at her quickly, "Long before you came along."
"Yeah, they mentioned they had broken up about eight months ago."
Josh flinched at the memory. It had not been a good time to be around Sheamus back then. The Irishman had been hit hard by the breakup and it had left him more than a little angry.
"They had." the SmackDown announcer answered, "Natalya really did a number on him. Cheated on him with Tyson Kidd. Sheamus caught them together at a nightclub a couple of weeks after the breakup and. . .well. . ."
"Well what?" Kimber had to know.
Josh hedged, "Let's just say that Tyson spent a couple of days in the hospital and Sheamus had to spend the night in lockup."
Kimber leaned back in her seat, taking his words in.
"Wow." she murmured, not sure of what to think of that.
"Yeah." Josh agreed.
She slowly began to frown. Natalya had broken up with him. How or why in the world she would do that, Kimber had no idea. But the fact was the breakup was on her end.
Which meant that if she was still interested in him, there was a good chance that Sheamus might take her back.
The thought made Kimber's heart clench.
Oh she could deny it to everyone around her, but truth was she couldn't deny the truth to herself.
The truth was. . .she was starting to fall for the handsome Irishman. And fall hard.
She had told him they were friends, but in all honesty she wanted to be more than that.
She had been drawn to him when he had revealed that he had been bullied as a child. She had felt her heart melt when she watched him sitting on the floor of the auditorium with that little boy.
She had responded so sharply to his touch. To the way he had taken care of her and been so attentive to her over her fear of their match. The anger and the protectiveness he had expressed when she had shown him the notes.
When she had hugged him last night, up in her hotel room, she had really wanted to do more. She had wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him until she was breathless.
Why couldn't she just be normal? Why couldn't she just respond to him as a normal woman would?
You know why, a sad voice whispered in her head.
Her brows knit and her frown deepened. She imagined Natalya had no trouble showing affection to him. Not if they were as hot and heavy as everyone claimed they were.
She closed her eyes and tried to force the thoughts away.
She tilted her head towards the window and slowly opened her eyes, a single tear trailing down her cheek.
It didn't matter what she felt or thought. Sheamus had a woman who could give herself freely to him. Who wouldn't start to shake in fear over the thought of being intimate.
There was no chance for her.
.
.
.
.
.
Natalya entered the nightclub later that night. It was already jumping, a few of the Superstars having drinks or dancing.
To her disappointment, though, it didn't look like Sheamus was there.
She spotted Rosa Mendes and Alicia Fox sitting in a dark corner of the room, sipping champagne and laughing at the girls who would walk by.
They spotted Natalya approach and instantly jumped up, squealing with happiness. Natalya laughed and hugged them.
"Come. Sit, sit." Rosa ordered as she grabbed the blonde's arm and dragged her back to their table.
Natalya sat down and grinned, "I missed you girls, too."
"Ugh, it has been so boring around here without you." Rosa moaned, "We're so glad you came back to shake this place up!"
"Amen." Alicia laughed and clinked glasses with Rosa.
"So tell me what's been going on." Natalya demanded, "I want all the dirt."
"Well, let's see. . ." Alicia thought a moment before sneering, "That trash, AJ, is seeing Cena now."
Natalya rolled her eyes, "No shock there."
"Girl does like to move fast." Rosa cackled before adding slyly, "Oh, and Alberto has been calling me and calling me."
She gave them a wink, "I think I'll keep playing hard to get for a little while longer."
"So. . ." Natalya asked nonchalantly, "What about Sheamus? Do you know if he's seeing someone?"
"Sheamus?" Rosa repeated while Alicia snorted, "Don't tell me you're going after your own sloppy seconds."
Natalya laughed and shook her head, "I'm just curious, is all. So have you heard anything?"
"I thought you were over Sheamus." Alicia reminded her knowingly, "Didn't you call him . . .what was it? Oh yeah, a 'barbarian'? I thought you said you wanted someone with a little more polish. Someone a little more refined."
"Jeez, what do you do?" Natalya snapped, "Record everything I say to throw it back in my face later?"
The table grew quiet, the girls taking sips of their drinks and looking everywhere but at the blonde.
"I'm sorry." Natalya grumbled, "I'm sorry, okay. I didn't mean it. I'm just curious about what's going on with him, is all."
"Why?" Rosa asked.
Natalya shrugged, "I don't know. I was laid up in rehab, working on my knee, and I. . .I just kept thinking about him."
"Sweets, you're not interested in him again cause Tyson dumped you, are you?" Alicia questioned.
Natalya glared at her and snapped, "Tyson didn't dump me. We mutually decided to see other people."
"Okay, okay." Alicia raised her hands in surrender, "I'm sorry."
"So is he seeing anyone or not?" there was a vulnerable undertone to the blonde's words.
Rosa and Alicia looked at one another hesitantly, neither woman sure of what to say.
"What?" Natalya demanded, "Tell me. Is he seeing someone?"
"Well. . ." Rosa took another sip of her champagne before going on, "He has been hanging around that poco mojigato, Kimberlynn."
"Who?" Natalya asked in confusion.
"The new SmackDown reporter." Alicia clarified.
The brunette Natalya saw leaving with Josh. Ugh, that would explain why Sheamus seemed so interested in her.
"So what's her story?" the blonde smirked, trying not to show the helplessness she was feeling.
"Not much." Alicia grinned slyly, "She's kind of a wet blanket. She doesn't really go out. She used to only spend time with Josh."
"Yeah and she was putting the moves on my Alberto," Rosa grumbled, "Ese pedazo de basura."
"Wasn't that the other way around?" Alicia asked innocently, batting her eyes.
Rosa practically growled at her and took a healthy drink of her champagne.
"So are she and Sheamus a thing or what?" Natalya snapped, growing annoyed.
"Who knows?" Alicia waved the question away with her hand.
She began to grin, "Although, she did seem awfully chummy when they won their match last night."
"Match?" Natalya repeated with an arched eyebrow.
"Vickie put her in a match with Sheamus vs. Big Show and my Alberto." Rosa explained, "Because dear, sweet little Kimberlynn protested Sheamus being in a match with my Alberto and Ricardo."
"God bless Vickie's vindictive streak." Alicia raised her glass, clinking it with Rosa's.
"So what happened?" Natalya grinned, evil thoughts running through her head, "Did she get hurt?"
"No." Rosa scoffed, "Sheamus wouldn't risk her precious neck. He took on Big Show and my Alberto all by himself. And then he hurt my Alberto and won the match."
Natalya couldn't help but smile at that. Sheamus always did have a streak of honor a mile long. It didn't surprise her that he would do whatever he could to protect a woman.
"Anyway," Alicia went on, "After the match Kimberlynn practically jumped Sheamus right there in the ring. Tramp."
"Prostituta." Rosa grumbled, still smarting over the fact that Alberto had a thing for the reporter.
Natalya felt acid churn in her stomach. She took a few deep breaths, willing herself to keep calm.
She wasn't about to let some new girl swoop in and take what was rightfully hers. She was a Neidhart, after all. She was used to getting what she wanted.
And right now what she wanted was Sheamus.
"It doesn't matter." she told her friends with a Cheshire grin, "It doesn't matter what Kimberlynn tries to do. Sheamus is mine and I will get him back."
Rosa and Alicia looked at one another before turning back to her, grinning. They clinked glasses in a toast to getting what they wanted.
.
.
.
.
.
Sheamus beat his fist against his chest and began to chant, "Brogue! Brogue! Brogue!"
The audience at the SmackDown house show cheered along, the fans on their feet.
Sheamus watched as Damien Sandow staggered to his feet. As soon as he turned around the Irishman launched himself at the other man, nailing him in the face with his boot.
Sandow hit the canvas with a 'thud' and Sheamus quickly covered him for the pin.
The ref slid onto his hip and began to count. One! Two! Three!
The bell rang and Sheamus' music hit. The Celtic Warrior jumped to his feet and beat his chest before throwing his arms out at his sides and bellowing. The crowd's cheers were deafening, washing over him.
He soon left the ring and headed towards the back. As he walked passed wrestlers and crew he drew to stop, his eyes locked on someone up ahead.
Kimber was standing backstage, chatting with a few of the crew.
The Irishman found himself smiling as he walked towards her. He was so surprised to see her there. A part of him wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could be there for him.
"Kember." he greeted her warmly as he approached.
Kimber turned around, hesitant. But then she took in his expression and she felt surprise well up in her chest. He looked so happy to see her.
She had assumed that he and Natalya. . .Actually, she didn't even want to assume when it came to him and Natalya.
"Hi." she replied, trying to appear casual, "Great match against Sandow."
"Thanks." Sheamus couldn't help but ask, "What are you doin' here?"
She began to smile, "John's pulling double duty, working a few SmackDown house shows. Which means I'm pulling double duty, as well.
"We have a Raw house show tomorrow and then it's back to John's place for the rest of the week." she finished.
Sheamus nodded, but inside he couldn't help but feel jealous. He knew there was no reason to be, but he couldn't shake that tiny niggle of envy when it came to the fact that John got to spend so much time with the woman he cared about.
He blinked, realization hitting him.
"You'll be in Florida." he murmured slowly.
"And you'll be in Florida." John suddenly popped up, grinning.
He turned to Kimber and nodded towards Sheamus, "Did you know that Sheamus lives in Florida, too? Not that far from me actually."
He turned back to Sheamus and went on, acting as thought an idea just came to him, "You know what? Sheamus, you should show Kimber around."
Kimber quickly looked up at John with wide eyes. What was he trying to do?
John looked back and forth between the pair, grinning and appearing quite proud of himself.
Sheamus turned to Kimber, gauging her reaction. She looked taken aback. Not the reaction he was hoping for.
"I don' want to get in the way of yer work, Kember." he was quick to try and reassure her.
"Oh, you won't." John interjected, still grinning.
Kimber sent John a look before turning her attention to the Irishman.
She smiled and shook her head, "John's right. You wouldn't be interfering. But I don't want to get in the way of your downtime-"
"Oh, you won't." John repeated.
Sheamus sent him a narrowed look, silently telling him to butt out. John just grinned at him, clearly not deterred.
The Celtic Warrior glanced down at Kimber and cleared his throat, "You won' be gettin' in the way of anythin'."
"So then it's settled." John went on, ignoring the exasperated expressions of the pair before him, "Sheamus, you coming out with us tonight? We're hitting this club called Sunset. It's supposed to be the place to be."
Sheamus' eyes darted to Kimber, "Sure. Ah could go for a pint."
"Good man." John grinned.
"Hey, Sheamus?" Bobby came up at that moment, "Sorry to bother you, but a local news crew is here and would like to do an interview with you."
"Sure." Sheamus told the smaller man, "Let me get cleaned up and Ah'll go meet wit' 'em.
"Ah'll see you tonight." he may have been saying it to both of them, but his eyes were on Kimber.
"See ya." John nodded while Kimber murmured, "See you, Sheamus."
John glanced over at Kimber, noting how she followed the Celtic Warrior with her eyes. He began to smirk and playfully bumped her with his arm.
He waited until he got her attention and then he started to tease, "You might wanna wipe the drool off your bottom lip."
Kimber rolled her eyes at him, "That would be funny if I were one of your eight-year-old fans."
"Ouch." John chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender, "I was only teasing anyway. I know you're strictly a career girl."
He paused, hedging, "That didn't come out right."
Kimber laughed in spite of herself, "It's all right. I know what you meant."
She suddenly crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow, "And don't start in on me, Mr. I-Have-A-Crush-On-AJ-Lee."
John slipped off his ball cap, scratching the top of his head. He cast his eyes to the ground and laughed, embarrassed.
"She's a good woman." he murmured, glancing back at her.
"So why haven't you asked her out yet?" Kimber questioned.
John shrugged, growing serious, "She's had a rough year what with the crap Bryan and Punk put her through."
"So maybe it's about time she got a good guy for a change." Kimber gently prompted him.
John shrugged but he began to mill over her words.
"John, you're up." Bobby popped around the corner and called to him.
"Saved by the bell." the wrestler murmured and headed off.
"Good luck!" Kimber called after him, earning a wave as he left.
The moment he was out of sight Layla and Kaitlyn materialized by her side.
"So I heard Sheamus is coming out with us tonight." Layla smiled at the reporter.
Kimber took in her expression, instantly growing worried.
"Yeah." she replied slowly, not sure where this was heading.
"Well then," Kaitlyn stated as she slipped an arm around the smaller woman's shoulders, "I think you need to go get changed."
"I agree." Layla's smile took on a devious air.
Kimber looked back and forth between them, trepidation welling up inside of her. She didn't like where this was heading. . .
.
.
.
.
.
Sheamus sat in a back booth of the Sunset club. A few of SmackDown's roster were there, laughing, dancing, drinking and having a grand time of it.
He found himself constantly looking towards the door, trying to spot Kimber. He had been there for almost an hour and still no sign of the lass.
Maybe she changed her mind, he thought to himself, a frown crossing his handsome face, Clubs don' seem like her kind of thing, anyway.
At that moment he spotted John making his way through the crowd. He quickly rose and crossed over to the other man, confused.
"Oi." the Irishman's eyes narrowed in bewilderment, "Ah thought Kember was comin' out wit' ya."
John began to grin and he tried to reassure the other man, "Don't worry, she'll be here. Layla and Kaitlyn got their hands on her first and-"
Whatever else he was going to say died on his lips as he looked over Sheamus' shoulder. His eyes widened and he mouthed, "Wow."
Sheamus followed his gaze. He froze, unable to take his eyes off of the phenomenally beautiful woman coming before him.
Kimber was trailing after Layla and Kaitlyn, eyes on the ground and looking hesitant. Sheamus couldn't understand why she would feel that way. She looked extraordinary.
Her usually wavy hair was straight and sleek, falling on her shoulders and down her back. She was dressed in a sexy, deep green dress that hugged her figure and showed off her shapely legs. It wasn't a look he was used to seeing on her, but he liked it. A lot. Maybe more than he should have.
She finally looked up and he noticed that her eyes were smoky, making the green depths pop.
Those eyes focused on his face as the trio approached and she ran a hand through her hair, self-conscious.
She felt her heart begin to pound the closer she got to him. She could see the way he was looking at her. The appreciation and. . .hunger written on his face. It made her feel equal parts pleasure and fear.
The girls finally reached the guys and she was unable to meet his gaze any longer. She bowed her head, suddenly feeling very shy.
Sheamus continued to stare at her, unable to keep his eyes off of the gorgeous woman before him.
"You look beautiful." John told her pointedly, his gaze flashing to Sheamus.
"Tá a áilleacht mo chléibh Tá ghrian." the Celtic Warrior found himself murmuring.
"What doesn that mean?" Kimber looked up at him and began to smile, "You didn't just tell me that I have lipstick on my teeth, did you?"
Sheamus grinned and translated, "Ah said 'Her beauty is my bosom's sun'. It's from an old Irish poem."
"Aww." Layla and Kaitlyn chorused, touched.
Kimber brought her hand to her chest, her smile deepening and her cheeks reddening. She had never heard anything so moving before.
"Why don't we go sit down?" John suggested, extending his arms to the Divas.
Each took a side and he began to lead the way to a table.
Sheamus reached out his hand to Kimber, his expression tender. She glanced down at it for a second before throwing caution to the wind and taking it. He moved her hand to the crook of his arm and together they followed after the trio.
She glanced up at him, noting his own attire. He looked so handsome in his slacks, black dress shirt and vest. His black soft cap was pulled low on his head.
"You look very handsome." she found herself blurting out.
Sheamus winked down at her, "Thank ya, Kember."
They took their seats, Sheamus making sure to sit closer to the reporter. She smiled inwardly, pleased that he seemed to like her makeover.
"So what's everyone drinking?" John questioned.
"Kember?" Sheamus invited the young woman to go first.
"Um, white wine if they have it." Kimber told John, "Ginger ale if they don't."
Sheamus glanced down at her, thinking he was the only ginger he wanted her lips tasting that night.
"Sheamus?"
The Irishman blinked and turned to find John looking at him expectedly.
"Um, Guinness ." he told the other man.
"Coming up." John rose from the table.
"I'll help you." Layla and Kaitlyn suddenly chorused, going with him.
Kimber looked after them, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully and a smirk on her lips. Those little sneaks. . .
She noticed that Sheamus was still staring at her and she stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're staring." she stated.
"Ah'm not apologizin'." he told her with a grin, "Ya can' present a man with beautiful woman and expect him not to look. It would be too cruel, Kember."
Kimber felt her pulse race at his words.
"Well," she murmured softly, "I don't want to be cruel."
"Ah, you could never be." Sheamus replied.
At that moment a beautiful, haunting tune began to waft over the club. Sheamus rose to his feet and extended his hand to her.
"Ah'm not much of a dancer," he told her, "But if you don' mind riskin' it. . ."
"Some things are worth the risk." she replied quietly.
His gaze deepened as he took her hand and led her out onto the floor.
"The red light of the sun, slowly descending." the singer's sultry voice floated all around them, "The sky is all I see, it's never ending."
He placed his hand on her hip, her other clasped in his hand to his chest. He looked down at her, his expression pensive. Kimber found she could only stare back at him, transfixed.
"We could fly, you and I. On a cloud, kissing, kissing."
If Sheamus was a bad dancer she wouldn't have known it. They moved together in an almost perfect rhythm, their bodies gliding effortlessly.
"The wind plays with the leaves, the weather turns colder." the singer went on, "But as long as we believe, love doesn't get older."
Sheamus' hand slipped along her hip and came to her back, the Irishman gently drawing the reporter closer. Kimber felt her heartbeat pounding against her ribcage and she fought to control the tremor that threatened to rise up in her body. She didn't know if it were from fear or desire or both.
She closed her eyes and laid her head against his strong chest, a shaky sigh escaping her.
This is Sheamus. Sheamus, she told herself, trying to fight through the fear she was feeling, He would never hurt you.
"We could fly, you and I. On a cloud, kissing, kissing."
Sheamus could feel her trembling in his arms but he didn't release his hold. He wanted her to get used to him being close, get used to his body. He wanted to get to the point where she trembled, not from fear but from need.
He wanted her. He knew it, felt it, as sharply as he'd ever known and felt anything before. And he'd do whatever he could to earn her trust, to show her how good things could be between them.
Natalya entered the club, Rosa and Alicia flanking her. She drew to a stop, her eyes zeroing in on the pair who were dancing out in the middle of the floor.
Her friends followed her gaze and Rosa clucked her tongue and muttered something unflattering about Kimber in Spanish. Alicia glanced nervously at her friend, noting the flash of anger that flared up in the blonde's eyes.
Kimber leaned back and looked up at Sheamus, their gazes locking. They continued to move in perfect time, their bodies pressing closer together as the velvety tune washed over them.
"On a journey of the heart, there's so much to see." the singer seemed to be singing right to them, "And when the sky is dark, you'll be right here, right here with me."
Kimber felt a tap on her shoulder and she blinked, coming out of the moment. She noticed Sheamus start to glower and she turned to find a grinning Natalya standing behind her.
"Hi, mind if I cut in." it wasn't a request from the blonde.
Kimber drew away from Sheamus and shook her head, murmuring, "Of course."
"Kember-" Sheamus started to protest but Kimber held up her hand.
"It's all right." she told him with a slight smile, "I-I. . .I'm feeling a little warm. I think I should go sit down."
He started to protest but she turned and walked back towards the table.
"Right here with me. Kissing. Kissing, kissing, A journey of the heart. . ."
Even thought what Natalya had done made her angry, she was actually glad for the interruption. Things had started to get too intimate. It was becoming too much. She felt as though she couldn't breathe.
Kimber groaned, the anger she had felt towards the blonde now coming back around to herself.
She wanted nothing more than to give into the desires she was feeling. And she was feeling desire when it came to him. She couldn't deny that anymore.
But every time she just imagined what it would be like to be with him, to feel his hands on her, to feel him kissing her, the fear would come racing back. She could feel it wrapping around her like some sort of snake, choking her, paralyzing her.
"Hey, baby." Natalya purred as she started to wrap her arms around Sheamus' neck.
The Celtic Warrior took hold of her wrists, forcing her away. He glared down at her, his mouth a slash against his face.
"What do you think yer doing, Natalya?" he demanded angrily.
Natalya blinked, a little unnerved by his mood. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but still, she didn't like being in the vicinity of his famous temper.
She ran a hand through her hair and offered a bright smile, "I just wanted to spend some time with you, is all."
"Why don' you go find Tyson and spend some time with him." Sheamus spat before turning and stalking over to the bar.
Rosa and Alicia were instantly at their friend's side, offering support and comfort.
"You should just forget about him." Alicia tried to be the voice of reason.
But Natalya was having none of it. She followed after the Irishman with her eyes, determination etched in her features.
"I'm not giving up." she vowed, "I don't care how long it takes, I don't care what I have to do, I am getting him back."
.
.
.
.
.
John watched in confusion as Kimber approached the table.
"Hey, where's Sheamus?' he questioned as she sat down.
"Probably still out on the dance floor with Natalya." Kimber grumbled, hating how jealous she sounded.
John looked to the floor but only found Natalya pouting with Rosa and Alicia.
"Guess again." he told her and Kimber quickly spun around.
She felt a spark of joy flutter in her stomach when she discovered that the Irishman was no where near the blonde vixen.
"Why did you let her run you off like that?" Layla demanded as she returned to the table.
She had seen the entire thing and she was disgusted with Natalya and disappointed in the brunette sitting before her.
"It's all right." Kimber tried to assure her, "I'm fine. Really."
John gave Layla a look from behind Kimber. He didn't buy her story any more than the Diva did. But he wasn't going to press her. She had her reasons for feeling the way she did and it wasn't his place to bug her about them.
He just wished those two crazy kids would get over whatever it was that was holding them back and get to it all ready. It was obvious they cared about one another. They should just take the plunge.
Also, maybe then everyone would stop gossiping about him and AJ and move on.
"You feel like getting out of here?" he asked Kimber gently.
The reporter thought about it a second and finally sighed, relenting, "Yes."
All she wanted was to go to bed, pull the covers up over her head and have a good cry.
