*Really sorry that these next few chapters are a little long, but I need to add a bit of background to help with the rest of the story. Get comfy!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cloudy With a Chance of Rain.
As we arrived in Baltimore, Vince McMahon had sent a huge limo for us at the airport. I hated these things, there was too much room and too many gadgets. I never understood what the big deal was about Limos, all you need a car for is to get from A to B.
As we were driven down the interstate, I couldn't help but think about Mark's pending divorce. Should I say something if I see him? Do I want to see him? Something in the pit of my stomach told me that seeing Mark again would be...I don't know...good?
The limo pulled up outside the Hyatt Regency hotel. The place was huge and floor to very high ceiling glass.
I got the key card for my room, Stewie was staying across the hall, and I was greeted by a basket on the bed.
It had a bottle of wine, chocolates, fruit, a map of local shops and attractions and two ringside tickets to 'No Way Out' tomorrow night. The card on the basket was from Vince McMahon;
Welcome to Baltimore!
I have arranged dinner tonight at a very nice restaurant.
Why don't you go shopping and get an outfit to fit with the occasion?
A car will pick you and your friend up at 7:30.
Relax!
Vince.
Great. Now I have to go shopping. I hate shopping and telling me to get something to go with the occasion doesn't exactly narrow it down. There could be a bowling ally in the middle of the place for all I knew. I'll just go sort of posh/sort of casual.
I was still thinking about Mark's divorce as we got settled into the hotel. Did he leave her for another woman? The thought made me a little jealous and it took me by surprise. Why should I care? He's just a man who happened to be nice. And sexy.
"Look at this place!" Stewie came into my room and started checking out the wardrobe space. "Have you seen the bathroom yet? The shower sprays you from all angles! Good for getting to hard to reach places!" Stewie winked at me and I threw the luxury goose down pillow at him. He wasn't wrong though. This place was really posh.
"I have to go shopping, per orders of Vince, for a dinner he's arranged tonight. Have you got something posh to wear?"
"Yeah." Stewie flopped onto the bed and told me had packed a suit jacket and he had some black trousers.
"Well, all I have are jeans and my gym gear. I have to go get something, but I have no idea what."
"Are you going to get something special to wear for 'Taker?" Stewie beamed and gave a little sly wink.
"I won't even see him. Except for when he's in his match."
"But what about backstage? I'm sure Vince would have set that up for us." I hadn't thought of that. I thought for a moment about the possibility of seeing Mark again and everything in me, everything that had a nerve ending told me I wanted it. So much so that I had decided I would just stay in my room this entire trip. Go to the event. Watch the event. Come back. No fuss, no mess.
"I'm not going to see him. I don't want to see him." I tried my best to look sincere, but I failed miserably.
"You're trying to lie to me! Damn babes, you really have got your head up your arse. What's wrong?"
I put down my make up bag that I was going to take into the bathroom and went to sit beside Stewie. What is wrong with me? Why am I so determined not to see him again?
"Nothings wrong, except I've never done anything really exciting and I feel numb to everything in life. The only thing I felt something.." And my voice trailed off. Like my brain told me not to finish the sentence. Don't say it. Don't get carried away with a memory that time has distorted.
"You know you can tell me anything. Sure I might judge you and more than likely mock you, but I'll listen. I decided to bite the bullet once again. This is turning into Russian Roulette. Except, I'm the only player.
Before I could say anything, Stewie started a little chuckle to himself."Now tell me about the last time you felt excited about something. Was it the last time you were in Anne Summers and the new Rampant Rabbit hit the shelves?" I had to laugh at him.
"Don't be an idiot!" I stopped myself laughing and Stewie sat waiting for me to answer him. I lowered my head, ashamed of what I was going to admit. "The truth of it is, and I can't believe I'm going to admit this, the last time I felt excited was when we were in Providence."
Stewie smiled and said he liked it there too. "It was the best time I have had in a while, just the buzz of it all and meeting all the wrestlers...meeting Randy Orton is something I'll never forget. But for you, it was meeting The Undertaker wasn't it? I know you wished you fucked him, but there's more too it, isn't there?" Stewie always had to cheapen the conversation, but at least he was always direct and to the point.
"No. That's all there is too it. I'm just mad that someone would make me want to throw away my principles like that and I'm not letting him put me in that position again." I was being more or less truthful that time. I was mad with Mark for making me want him, and I wasn't going to let him make me feel like that again. He won't make me feel at all.
I made my way down to the reception area and asked the concierge to call Vince's room.
After speaking with him, I was just about to head out to go and find a posh dress, as Vince had arranged a private room at a Greek restaurant and he requested I 'get dolled up', when my phone started ringing. It's the weekend. Leave me alone. I stood at the end of the reception desk and leaned on it, much to the high brow snooty look from the concierge. Sod off. I'm jet lagged.
I answered the call from the architect, who was working on one of my clubs in Newcastle.
I hung up and rested my head on the marble reception desk, to which I am sure was met with another snooty look from the git behind the desk.
I called Stewie to confirm it was to be formal dress tonight and to tell him I was going out.
"So what should I call you now?" Is that...? I turned to see Mark holding a suitcase and smiling at me. Fuck, he's better looking than I remember. Oh my God, I just swore! My butterflies came back with reinforcements and my heart started to beat irregularly. "I said I wouldn't call you little lady any more. So what should I call you?"
I looked at him for what seemed like the longest time, then I noticed his 'SARA' tattoo was all but gone. There's nothing to stop you now. I immediately berated myself for thinking such things. He's not going to make me feel.
"How about Sarah. That is my name, after all." My phone started to ring and it ripped me out of my trance.
'Yeah?' It was Stewie asking if I was going shopping for a dress. 'Yeah.' That was all I could manage to say. What is it about this man that turns me into a preschooler?
'Do you want me to come with to keep you calm? I know how pissed off you get when you're shopping.'
'No. I'll be fine and I promise I won't kill anyone. I'll see you in an hour or so.' I hung up my phone and Mark was still smiling at me. I hate it when he smiles at me. It makes it really hard not to think of his lips against mine. Snap out of it!
Mark stepped towards me and he didn't take his eyes off me. "You going out to kill someone, darlin'?" Darling? I hated that pet name, but something about the way he said it made me tingle in places I shouldn't be tingling.
"I'm forced to go shopping and my name is Sarah." He isn't going to turn me into some sort of weak-kneed little girl.
Mark was now two feet away from me and I wanted him to be closer. For God sake, don't let him do this to you. He looked me up and down, which seemed to be a regular feature with him, and he asked why I was forced into going shopping.
"Because I'm going out to dinner tonight and it's a posh dress code. I don't have anything like that with me."
Mark asked if I was going on a date and I said it wasn't, it was just dinner with Vince. A huge smile appeared on his face as he took one more step forward towards me.
"Well if this is the same dinner I'm going to, then I'll see you later." Mark's invited too? So much for no fuss no mess. Mark stepped even closer to me. So close I could smell the faint trace of aftershave on him. He leaned down to me and the feel of his breath on my ear took mine away. "You just make sure you get yourself something to show off your..." Mark pressed his cheek against my head and I was so close to turning my head. To finishing the kiss that almost was. "...eyes. See you tonight, darlin'." Mark walked to the other end of the reception desk and handed the concierge some papers.
I was left speechless. My stomach was doing 360 degree turns and I couldn't form a cohesive response. Come on legs, move! I mustered what little strength I had left and walked to the shops.
I had bought a black and teal two tone dress. It was knee length and had a high collar that plunged at my chest. The sleeves stopped at my elbows and had a tiny blue diamond buttoning them. It was the colour and that tiny detail that made me buy it, but now I had put it on back at the hotel, I had second thoughts. It fitted my figure a little too well.
"So, you just about set?" I let Stewie into my room and said I was almost ready. I still had my bathrobe on, so I didn't get make up on my new dress.
"Give us a gander then." Stewie pointed to my bathrobe, wanting to see what I had bought today.
"Actually, I don't think I want to go. Will you send Vince my regrets?" After what happened in the lobby, the way Mark made me want him again was just too much and having to face him again over dinner terrified me.
"You not well?" Stewie looked concerned, as I never got ill.
"No, it's just that I don't want to be in a room full of people. You know I hate that."
"There's others going too?" I forgot to tell him that. "I get it. 'Taker will be there won't he?" My silence told him that Mark would indeed be there too. "If all this guy does is turn you on, then go fuck him. Bang him like a big bass drum and get it out of your system." Ever the word smith, but he did have a point. I could see how things go and perhaps sleep with him, but something told me that spending the night with Mark wouldn't quench my thirst.
"Do you have to be so blunt? If I wanted to..." I was cut off by my phone ringing again. It was the seventeenth call I had received in three hours and I was getting mad with it.
I finished the call from another contractor and thought back to what Stewie had said. But I don't have one night stands.
"Come on you coward, just see how things go. I'll be there to stop you from stripping off and fucking him on the entrées." I laughed my head off and I funnily enough felt comforted by the fact Stewie would be there to stop me from doing something stupid. Not as stupid as Stewie had suggested though!
"You promise you won't let him make me give in?"
"Fuck me sideways. You really like this guy don't you? I thought it was just a physical thing, but you are actually worried about him getting close to you."
I didn't say anything again because we both knew Stewie had hit the nail on the head. I just couldn't admit to the fact there was something about Mark that intrigued me and I have never let anyone make me feel like that. Sod it. I'll just ignore him.
"Do you promise?"
"OK babes. I promise I won't let you fuck him!"
I was still giggling away to his comment while I put on my shoes and some lip gloss.
"You ready now?" I came out of the bathroom and said I was. I took off my bathrobe and Stewie wolf whistled. "I might be able to stop you, but I don't think I'll be able to stop 'Taker from jumping you!"
"Shut up! He wants to do no such thing!" But the way he made me feel earlier made me wonder if my statement was true.
"OK, I'll believe you! Grab your bag and lets go. I wonder if Randy will be there!" Stewie got all excited and I laughed at him as I got my key card and opened the door.
We were joking around while we waited for the lift and Stewie had not stopped fiddling with his belt.
"You look like you have crabs. Stop it!" I slapped his hand away from his belt and he had to retaliate.
"You look like you charge a high price!"
"You cheeky sod! You just..." We started a slap fight as the lift doors opened.
"OK, OK! I give up. You slap too hard!" Stewie nursed his arm as I went to push the button for the ground floor. This is America. There is no ground floor. I went to pushed the first floor button as a hand held open the door.
"Hello again, darlin'." Oh God. I've got no chance of ignoring him. Mark was dressed in a dark green silk shirt that really made his gorgeous eyes shine. Even though Mark had light green eyes, they really stood out and he was wearing black trousers that had a very flattering cut indeed!
The lift doors closed and we started our descent as Mark eyed up my dress and stopped at my chest. It made me feel uncomfortable and I instinctively brought my arms up and folded them across me. "You chose right. You look great darlin'."
"Sorry, but I'm going to have to take back my promise. I have no chance of stopping it!" Stewie laughed until I shot him my 'I'm going to choke the life out of you' look.
"Stopping what?" Mark asked Stewie, but kept his eyes on me.
"Er...nothing. Just ignore me."
The lift doors opened and I couldn't wait to get out of it. Claustrophobia was never something that affected me, but now it did and I couldn't breathe.
"So you're on my floor?" Mark asked and Stewie couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Yeah, she's in room five-seven-two." I shot Stewie another look and he ran away.
"So you'll be sleeping right next to me tonight." Mark did that sexy little half smile that got me going so much the last time and I was astonished by what he suggested.
"Excuse me?" I felt my face flush with heat and I knew I was turning a deep shade of crimson.
"I don't mean nothin' by it darlin'. I just meant you're in the room next to mine." I felt like an idiot. And almost gutted. I corrected Mark on his grammar and looked for Stewie, who was no where in sight. Good job too.
We walked to the front doors of the hotel and found Stewie looking out of the huge windows for our car that Vince was sending.
"Now who's running off like Forrest Gump!"
"Sorry babes. It's just when you look at me like that I fear for my safety."
"So you should." I gave Stewie a look and he understood that he needed to keep his mouth shut. Stewie ran out and Mark held the door open for me. Christ, it's freezing.
"Cold, darlin'?"
"A little. And how many times do I have to tell you my name is Sarah?" I was just about to get in the car when Mark pulled me back by my arm and turned me to face him. He leaned into me, just like he did earlier and my temperature started to rise once again.
"You could always borrow my jacket again." I thought back to Providence and Mark wrapping his jacket around me. The chemistry, the nuclear fusion. It's still there.
"That won't be necessary, thank you." You are not getting the better of me.
"Well, the offer is always open. Sarah." With that, Mark walked off up the street and I got in the car. I think I prefer him calling me darling. He said my name in a very low, husky voice and it made me quiver.
"What the fuck was that?" Stewie looked at me, his eyes almost popping out of his head as he fished for gossip. "You two had head sex!"
"What? What the Hell is head sex?"
"You've heard of mentally undressing each other?" I nodded. "Well you two were undressing each other, enjoying the foreplay and trying new positions! Ergo head sex!"
I laughed at his phrasing and tried to ignore the rest of his comments.
We got to a little Greek restaurant as I hung up my phone. I should have left my phone in my room. I had been called time and time again. A part of me didn't mind because I never wanted to take time off anyway, but the other part of me was hoping they would leave me alone while I had dinner. With Mark.
Vince greeted Stewie and I and took us to a room that was in the back. It was a small, intimate setting with low hanging lights above the long table that had been set for nine people.
Already seated were Matt Hardy, JBL, Kurt Angle, Booker T and Randy Orton. Stewie's face was glowing when Randy said he remembered Stewie from Providence. After the introductions were done, I was seated at the head of the table with Stewie to my right. Vince was sat at the other end of the table opposite me and there was one seat left empty to my left. Mark's seat. I have to sit next to him? This no fuss, no mess plan isn't working out so well.
"You always this popular darlin'?" Mark asked as I disconnected the seventh call I received since arriving at the restaurant.
"I know, sorry. I have a lot of work on at the minute and I really should have stayed in London."
Vince overheard us talking. "You were sent here to relax. I do hope you haven't been doing any work while you've been here." I had been caught out.
"Only a little!" I said, sheepishly.
"What do you mean sent here?" Matt Hardy asked.
"It was a conspiracy. A friend of mine thought I was working too hard and he called Vince, who blackmailed me into flying out here."
"Blackmailed! I did no such thing!" Vince laughed and winked at me.
"You practically said you would be insulted if I didn't accept your invitation!"
"That's just semantics. It worked though, didn't it!" I laughed at Vince and then my phone started to go off again.
"I'm not going to hear that all night am I?" Mark pointed to my phone as I pressed the 'ignore call' button again and started pushing my main course around the plate with my fork. "You're not one of those women who count calories are you darlin'?" I started to open my mouth to tell him how offended I was, but there was no point.
"I love food. I just don't have much of an appetite."
Mark leaned right in to me and his knee brushed against my leg. A smouldering look washed over his face and that alone made me want to finish the kiss that almost was. "Somethin' tells me that's not true."
Is he really flirting with me? I had a choice. I could flirt back or I could shut him down. I like him flirting. I looked around the table and the guys were talking amongst themselves again. Sod it. I'm not having any regrets again.
"Are you talking about my weight, or are you just being brazen?" I smiled and waited to see how he would respond.
He leaned back in his chair and tilted his head so he could look under the table before sitting forward again and placing his hands right next to mine.
"Trust me darlin' when I say you are a damn sexy woman and I would love to be brazen with you." If I had any food in my mouth I would have choked. Crap. He's turning me on more than I thought possible. Crap.
I tried to laugh it off as though Mark were joking, but he wouldn't let me.
"You just say the word darlin' and I'll..."
"Sarah." Stewie interrupted Mark and he didn't look best pleased about it. Neither was I for that matter.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just seeing if you were OK. I promised, didn't I?"
"Yeah, You did promise." I felt bad for snapping at Stewie, but I felt something even more strange. I was going to be brazen too! "But it's OK, you needn't keep your promise."
Stewie almost fainted with shock. "Fuck babes, you sure?" I'm sure. I'm sure I want him.
"What's with all these promises?" Mark asked and he looked like Stewie and I were speaking a foreign language. Well, I suppose we were!
"Nothing. We just have a little agreement going, but it's nothing to worry about."
"Well then darlin'. Where was we?" I stopped looking at Stewie and focused all of my attention on Mark once again.
"You were saying something about saying a word..." Please let that word be 'bed'.
"That I was." Mark leaned back in his chair and a wicked little look washed over his face. Here come the tingles... "I think I'll save that word for somewhere not so crowded." Mark did that sexy half smile again and I could feel the tension and the frustration take a firm hold of me.
"You said I had to say the word, so shouldn't I know what that word is?"
Mark chuckled and told me I was a smart arse, and that I should give him my number so he could text it to me.
"Text? You gone shy or something?" I was goading him now and I really should have been ashamed of my behaviour, but I no longer cared. I was going to get him out of my system, just as Stewie suggested.
Mark stayed silent, and stared brushing his little finger against the side of my hand. The tingles were getting more and more dominant and I really wanted to take him to bed.
My phone started to vibrate again and I was so close to swearing and throwing the damn thing in the bucket of ice with the wine. I was just about to switch my phone off but I saw the caller ID. Please God no. My heart sank and I thought I was going to be sick. This is the call I had been dreading. "Excuse me. I have to take this."
I got up from the table and went outside. I didn't care it was so cold.
After getting off the phone, I stayed where I was. I couldn't move and I couldn't think. I was trying to fight back the tears when I felt Mark wrap his jacket around me. "You need warming up darlin'?" I turned to face him and I tried not to be affected by this, by why I was flying back.
He said something that was completely inappropriate as he put his warm hand on the back of my neck and leaned into kiss me. I had to push him away. I couldn't deal with my libido when I had so much to organise. Mark looked the same as he did in Providence, but this time he didn't let me leave. "What's wrong? Is this your one night rule? Because I don't want..."
"I have to go." I gave Mark his jacket and went back inside. I asked the maître d' to call me taxi and went back to the dining area.
"Thank you everyone for a great night, but I have to fly back to London. Vince, I promise you that I will take time out sometime soon and come see you again."
I went back outside where Mark was leaning against the wall smoking. "You gonna tell me what the problem is or are you just gonna run off again?" I don't have time for your ego.
"I don't have time for this."
Stewie came out as Mark was about to say something. "You're flying back tonight?"
Mark started to laugh and it pissed me off. "Flying home? Look, if I offended you, I'm sorry but there's no need to go to that extreme." Is he serious? I got right in his face and my temper fly.
"Have you even thought that this isn't anything to do with you? You fucking conceited prick." I was on auto pilot and I really didn't know what I was saying.
"Woah! Where the fuck did that come from?" Mark was really shocked at what I had said and Stewie pulled me back.
"Jesus fucking Christ, you never fucking swear. What's going on? Sarah, what's happened?"
"It's Christopher. There's not much time." Stewie dropped his head and started to pace for a few seconds before coming back to my side and putting his arm around me. I shrugged him off and started pacing myself. Where is this taxi?
"Is everything all right?" Mark came and stood in front of me to stop me pacing.
"No." My taxi turned up and as I walked over to get in, Mark stopped me. I just looked into his eyes and I felt bad for swearing at him. I felt bad that I had to walk away.
"I'm sorry, Mark." I got in the taxi and went back to the hotel.
