DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.
The early afternoon sun was hot. Not a single cloud marred the pristine blue sky. Erin stretched out on the lounge chair and pulled on her shades. Nattie settled onto the lounger beside her and sighed happily. It wasn't very often they got to spend time soaking up the sun. They were taking advantage of the down time to enjoy the gorgeous California weather. In just a few days they would be making the push cross country. The weather was not going to be nearly so kind to them once they crossed state lines. Nattie glanced at Erin before closing her eyes.
"This is nice."
Erin made a soft sound of agreement. Nice was not the word to describe the warmth seeping into her bones. She felt better than she had in the last few days. It had taken all of her effort to avoid her brother. On the few occasions she hadn't been so lucky she'd taken great pains to make their encounters as short as possible. This was the first time in nearly a week she felt as if she could breathe. John and Randy left just after lunch to hit the gym. With a new PPV on the horizon neither of them were willing to sacrifice their workouts. That worked out in Erin's favor. She and Nattie had the entire afternoon to themselves. Erin couldn't think of a better way to spend a lazy day.
"Have you decided when you're going to tell John?" Nattie turned her head slightly toward Erin and arched a brow.
Erin groaned but didn't move. "Do we have to do this again? Can't we just enjoy the sunshine?"
Nattie sighed softly and turned onto her side. She studied Erin for a long moment but didn't say anything. Nattie knew Erin was stalling for time. Sooner or later something had to give. The two love birds were spending as much time as possible together. It was only a matter of time before their luck ran out. Nattie hated to think about what would happen when it did. John wasn't a stupid man. He was going to find out. It was inevitable. Secrets on the road didn't stay secret for long. All it took was one innocent comment from someone and it all fell apart. Nattie knew first hand how things like that happened.
Her love for TJ had been exposed in a similar way. She had secretly pined for him. Her thoughts had been consumed by him for months. She hadn't been brave enough to tell TJ the truth. He had found out when Gail Kim had accidentally let it slip that Nattie was head over heels in love. At first TJ avoided her like the plague. He was unsure what he felt for his constant friend. It had taken him months before he realized he too had feelings. Their relationship was tentative at first. After their first date they knew they wanted to be together. Heart and soul, forever and ever, they belonged together. That was the kind of love Nattie wanted to her friend. She wanted Erin to be able to walk with her head held high. Erin shouldn't have to hide her feelings for the man of her dreams. They should be able to do whatever they damn well pleased. Consequences be damned. Too bad Erin was being too stubborn to see that. Nattie heaved a heavy sigh and turned away from Erin. Sometimes the girl was just too stubborn for her own good. She was going to have to make a decision soon. She was about to run out of options.
Erin frowned as a large shadow moved over her. The sun was completely blocked. With a frown she pulled her shades down and looked up. With a startled gasp she sat up. Of all the people she expected to see poolside, Stephen was not one of them.
"What are you doing here?"
Stephen laughed softly as he leaned down to kiss her. He made a soft sound as Erin turned and his kiss landed on her cheek. Moving to the end of the lounger he sat down.
"Ah saw Cena leavin' with Orton. Ah thought Ah'd visit mah love."
Erin stole a quick glance at Nattie. If she had heard Stephen, she didn't respond. Erin silently prayed that her friend had fallen asleep. Erin smiled faintly as she reached out to lace her fingers through his. He used their joined fingers to tug her closer. She resisted for a moment then finally settled against him.
"Are yah happy to see me?" Stephen whispered against her ear.
Erin looked up at Stephen and nodded in response . She was happy to see him. This was the first time they had been in public and acting like a couple. It made her nerves twitch. Part of her felt as if she were doing something wrong. Part of her was thrilled that just for a little while they didn't have to hide. John and Randy wouldn't be back for hours. For just a little while they could be like every other couple on the planet.
Stephen was very glad to see Erin. Especially dressed as she was. The bikini covering her just enough to be considered decent. Stephen couldn't help but smile as he wondered if Erin realized she wore the colors of Ireland. The green and white checkered material drew his gaze like the national flag never had. Looking at her made his mouth water. At least a hundred naughty thoughts tripped through is brain. He wanted to untie the little bows and find out for himself just how sun-kissed her skin was. It took all of his strength to look away from her. Reaching into the pocket of his shorts he pulled out a tube of sunscreen. He handed it to Erin before pulling off his white T-shirt. He dropped it into her lap before presenting her with his back.
"Would yah mind?"
Mind? Hell no, she didn't mind. In fact she suddenly realized just how much she wanted to touch him. Her palms itched to slide over his silky warmth. Erin bit back a smile as she looked at the green bottle in her hand. Banana Boat SPF 100. The man was serious about not getting a sunburn. Erin squeezed the lotion into her hand then looked at the broad expanse of his back. Stephen shivered at the first contact of the cold lotion on his flushed skin. It wasn't just the sun making his temperature rise. Being so close to Erin was having a warming effect. He groaned in pleasure as her small hand rubbed across his back in slow circles. The slight contact made him wish they were all alone. He'd love nothing more than to stretch her out and make love to her under the California sun. Stephen shook his head to clear the thoughts from his brain. He had to stop thinking like that. It was only going to get them in trouble. Each time he saw Erin it was getting harder to keep his hands to himself. He wanted to show her all the ways he imagined they could be together. He wanted her to know ecstasy at his hands. He wanted to show the world exactly who she belonged to. Erin, on the other hand, seemed entirely content to leave things as they were. Very soon they were going to have a heart to heart about their future.
Erin continued stroking Stephen's shoulders longer than she should. Once she slid her fingertips across his creamy skin she couldn't stop. He was an addiction. She was helplessly drawn to him. She was a moth being drawn to his flame. Erin flattened herself against his back as she leaned over his shoulder. She smoothed her hand as far down his chest as she could reach. Stephen growled low in his throat as her fingers brushed over his flat, male nipple.
"Careful, love. Yah're asking for trouble."
Erin couldn't resist asking, "What kind of trouble?"
"Keep goin' an' find out." Stephen turned his head and nipped the soft flesh of her arm. She squeaked in surprise and slowly drew away from him. She didn't go far though. She stayed close to him, her breasts pressing against his back.
"Are we still going out tonight?" Erin asked softly. Her lips fluttered against his ear.
Stephen squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. He prayed for strength. Erin's innocent teasing was driving him quite mad. He wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to resist her. He didn't trust himself to speak. He merely nodded in response. He would go to hell and back if she asked it of him.
"Maybe we could have something sweet?" Erin kept her voice low and soft. She knew her meaning was not going to be lost on him.
Stephen knew exactly what she was hinting at. He prayed he had the strength to resist her a little longer. There was much between them that had to be settled first. As much as he wanted her, he knew now was not the time. Erin had to set things right with her brother. Only then would he be able to show her the depths of his desire.
Meanwhile across town at Gold's Gym
John stood next to the row of free weights as he watched Randy pick up fifty pound dumbbells. He silently studied his friend. He wasn't sure how to start the conversation he was dying to have. He hadn't been able to think of anything else since he'd caught Erin sneaking back into Nattie's room.
"You got in late last night." John said as Randy moved to stand in front of the wall length mirror.
Randy grunted softly in response.
"Had a good time?"
Again Randy grunted.
"So what did you do?"
Randy lowered his arm as he glanced over at John. "What's with all the questions?"
John shrugged and picked up a set of weights. He moved to stand beside Randy. He held the weights at his side as he looked at Randy in the mirror.
"Just trying to make conversation."
Randy laughed softly as he shook his head. "What gives?"
John spared his friend another glance as he lifted the weight with his right arm. He counted the reps as he thought about how to answer Randy. If he outright asked what was going on between he and Erin Randy would, without a doubt, shut him down. Randy never was the kind to talk about his personal life. Other than the occasional comment about night-time activities, Randy rarely let his business be known. There was too much of a risk of gossip being spread. The less people knew about his business, the happier Randy was.
"It's not like Erin to stay out all night. You two must have had a great time."
Randy paused mid-curl as he met John's eyes in the mirror. "What?"
"I caught her sneaking back to Nattie's." John noticed the subtle tightening of Randy's jaw.
Randy shook his head slowly as he silently counted the reps. Concentrating on the exercises gave him time to decide what to do. Even though he said he wouldn't continue covering for Erin he was torn. He talked a good game but when it came to Erin he wasn't sure what to do. He knew it was only a matter of time before John found out. When John found out that he knew the truth, there was going to be hell to pay. Cena was not going to take the news well at all. Part of Randy wanted to tell his friend the truth and be done with the situation. But part of him wanted to protect Erin. He couldn't help it. It was instinct. Even though they weren't together he still felt it was his place to protect her. It was something he didn't think he would ever get over.
"No offense, man, but Erin's a big girl. She can make her own choices."
John took a deep breath as he counted off another set of reps. He carefully returned the weights to the rack then turned to look at Randy. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the rack. He once again studied his friend with quiet regard.
"Tell me something." Randy said as he sat on the closest bench. He set the weights on the floor then rubbed his hands down his thighs. "Do you trust Erin?"
John seemed surprised by the question. After a long moment he said, "You know I do."
"Do you respect her decisions?"
John arched a brow as he looked at Randy. "Of course I do."
Randy looked up at John with unblinking eyes. "Do you think she can make up her own mind?"
John shook his head slowly. What the hell was Randy getting at? It wasn't like Randy to beat around the bush. "I don't get it."
"If you trust her and you think she can make her own decisions does it really matter who she's with?"
John was startled by the question. It was very deep and prophetic. Almost too deep to be coming from Randy. For as long as John had known the guy, Randy wasn't known to be the thoughtful type. As much as he hated to admit it, Randy did have a point. Erin was a good kid with a strong sense of who she is. "I guess it doesn't."
Randy stared at John for a long moment. "Why did you do it?"
John tilted his head to the side. "Do what?"
"Keep pushing me away from Erin?"
Damn. This was the one conversation they had avoided for the last couple of years. By silent agreement they had never talked about it. It had always been the elephant in the room between them. Maybe now was the time to finally lay all the cards on the table. "Honestly, I thought you were using her."
That caught Randy by surprise. In all of the scenarios he had imagined this was not one of them. He had given up on getting a straight answer a long time ago. He never expected John to be so brutally honest. "Using her?"
"Come on, Randy. You know what your reputation was. There wasn't a woman you couldn't … seduce. I didn't want Erin to get hurt."
"Did you really think I would hurt her?"
John took a deep breath as he looked away from Randy. It was hard enough for him to admit the truth to himself much less speak it aloud. "I didn't know what you saw in her. She was just a kid."
"Did you ever care what she wanted?" Randy forced himself to ask the question. It was the one thing that he just couldn't understand.
John didn't know how to respond. Yes, he had actually cared what Erin wanted. But his desire to protect her, even from herself, overwhelmed every other thought. He just couldn't bear the thought of Randy breaking her heart as he had so many others. Erin was just too precious to him. He felt it was his responsibility to take of her, even when she didn't think she needed him to. "I wanted to do what was best for her."
"And now?"
"I still want what's best for her." John nodded solemnly.
"Even if it's not what you want?" Randy asked. His voice was low and soft.
John smiled faintly as he looked at his friend. "As long as you treat her right, it's all good. I only want her to be happy."
Randy nodded at John as he once again picked up the weights. "At least that is something we agree on."
***A/N – Wonder what's going to happen next? Come back soon for the next chapter! Please don't forget to review.***
