Chapter 21

Dinner and a long walk around Brooklyn, seeing some of the sights, was the gist of Colby and Chacia's time together. It wasn't a date until Colby reached for her hand and Chacia had looked up at him, his smile melting her a little. Again, nothing compared to the effect Jon had on her, but it was obvious he wasn't interested in her the way Colby was. At least Colby made a move and wanted to spend time with her on his downtime. She still had no idea why, but Chacia wouldn't question it and just enjoy her time with him…with a man who actually put forth the effort with her.

As long as he wasn't stepping on Jon's toes, Colby was definitely interested in seeing what happened between him and the lovely, vivacious Chacia. He had no idea the sparks she was feeling wasn't nearly as strong as what he did, he felt like a pleasant electrical current was coursing through him whenever they touched, but he was also a patient guy and knew slight sparks could grow into more when given a chance. He asked her a lot of questions, taking his time in getting to know her and he loved those little smiles she kept flashing his way, hoping she was enjoying this as much as he was.

"Hey, you like frozen yogurt?" He gestured to the small Shoppe along the street they were walking up. Frozen yogurt was a lot healthier than its dairy ice cream counterpart. Admittedly, Colby was also delaying going back to the hotel, not wanting this end right away.

"Are you kidding me? I LOVE frozen yogurt."

Chacia wasn't in any hurry to get back to the hotel either, thoroughly enjoying her time with Colby walking around and getting to know him. The man was from Davenport, Iowa, born and raised and was in the Indies, just like Jon. She was floored to discover he was actually Tyler Black from ROH and they spent a majority of their time talking about his matches there. Unlike Jon, Colby spent most of his Indie career in ROH, only doing a few shows for other promotions here and there. He never crossed paths with Jon, however, but Jon had stayed away from ROH, so it wasn't too surprising. Chacia loved all forms of wrestling and had seen a few of Colby's matches, admitting he was a spectacular athlete in the ring.

After having some frozen yogurt, they headed back to the hotel, still talking and laughing; it was amazing how easily she found it to talk to Colby. "Do you want me to walk you to your room?" Colby asked, walking into the hotel with her still hand-in-hand, his other hand shoved in the front pocket of his skinny jeans.

"I'd love that, but I don't want to wake Jon up if he's sleeping." Chacia still put Jon's best interest before her own, deciding if things progressed with Colby, she would definitely need her own room. "How about I walk you to your room instead?"

Colby smiled, stopping to caress her face with the back of his hand tenderly. She really was an angel. "You'd do that?" He chuckled, raising her hand to brush his lips against her knuckles. "That's definitely a new one for me, but I won't turn down the offer."

"Good, lead the way."

They walked toward the elevator and waited for the doors to open, stepping inside. Nobody else joined them as the doors closed and Colby decided this was the perfect time to make his move. All night, he had been dying to feel Chacia's lips against his and hoped she felt the same way about him. Chacia sensed something was different and looked up at Colby staring down at her intensely, those dark chocolate orbs once again hypnotizing her. Her stomach tightened as Colby's head dipped to softly brush her lips against his and her body instantly ignited, the connection between them undeniable. Lifting her hands to gently press against his t-shirt covered chest, Chacia didn't push him away and wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss with equal fervor.

Now, what Colby didn't know was that Chacia had been living on bread and water. Suffering from the aftermath of whenever Jon felt like fooling around with her, but never actually got her to the point of getting off. He had been leaving her frustrated and confused. Colby might have sent Jon a thank you card if he had known just because, the way she was returning his kiss, was the kiss of a woman who needed someone to give her good and proper loving. His hands moved to the small of her back, tempted and desperately wanting to go lower, but he wasn't sure how far he could push his luck, especially on a first date.

Her mouth opened to collide their tongues together, tasting each other for the first time as the kiss deepened and became more intensified. The man could kiss, there was no doubt about it, but Chacia still didn't feel the same equal passion and vigor she did with Jon when they kissed. It was explosive and full of fire while this was passionate and nice, but the fire was only simmered instead of raging. Chacia pushed Jon in the far recesses of her mind, wanting to enjoy this moment in time with Colby and felt his arms tighten around her body further. She didn't realize Colby had slammed his hand down on the stop button, which was right beside them, to give them more time in the small enclosed space.

Only when a voice came through the speaker, asking them if they were all right, did the kiss break, Colby and Chacia pulling apart simultaneously. Her cheeks were flushed crimson and he had a shit eaten grin on his face, letting the person know everything was fine. He pressed the GO button on the elevator and went back to kissing Chacia, drawing her right back into his arms. They parted again once the doors opened and Colby was tempted to invite her into his room to continue this, to see how far it would go. Thank the stars for skinny jeans or he would be sporting a bulge in his pants right about now. Instead of heading to his room, Colby simply pressed her back against the wall of the elevator on the side and continued exploring her mouth, his hands caressing every inch of flesh she'd allow.

They were interrupted at an 'ahem' and he reluctantly pulled away from her, his head turning to see who was interrupting. Just people wanting to get by. Taking her hand, Colby led her out into the hallway properly and then ran his free hand down the back of his neck, not surprised to find his skin flushed. He gave her a smile, drawing Chacia closer to him, taking note of the roses in her cheeks. Her lips were red and swollen, and her eyes looked like his probably were, a little lusty.

"I'm down this way." Would she take it the wrong way if he did invite her to his room? He didn't want her thinking all he was interested in was a piece of ass because Colby had genuinely enjoyed their night.

"Not gonna lie, Angel, I want you…" Colby breathed in her ear, pressing his body further against her to let her feel his erection and began teasing her neck.

"I can feel it…" Chacia breathed out, losing her fingers in his jet black curly hair and pressed herself against him. "I want you too, Colby…"

His eyes shut at that confession, knowing he could have her right here and now and she would've allowed it to happen. "I'm sensing a but…" Colby was giving her an out, a chance to walk away before something happened between them she wasn't ready for.

Chewing her bottom lip, Chacia pulled back enough to stare into his blackened eyes and caressed his bearded face with her hand. "It's not you. I just…I don't sleep with someone I just met." There was no way she could tell him about her complicated feelings for Jon. "I want to get to know you better before we…you know…"

Colby understood wholeheartedly, respecting her wishes and backed away, but she pulled him back against her again. This woman would be the death of him. "I thought you…" Her finger pressed against his lips, silencing him and was replaced moments later with her mouth.

For the next half hour, they stood there against the side of the elevator kissing and touching, exploring each other over clothes. It was a good old-fashioned make-out session and one Chacia did not regret, her body thrumming and pleading to allow this man to sex her up. Not yet. Chacia had more self-respect for herself than that and she'd just started with the company, so sleeping with someone right out the gate, unless it was Jon, wasn't a smart idea. Eventually, they made it outside of Colby's room with their lips still interlocked together and he pressed her against the door, sliding his key card in the slot to open it.

It was Chacia who pushed him into his room, once the door was opened and his eyes opened in surprise, knowing that what the body said was usually at odds with what the mind knew. "I want you to respect me in the morning, Angel." He said huskily, breaking the kiss, his tone gentle and teasing.

Letting her know that, while he definitely wanted her, -as if she couldn't tell, skinny jeans or not, it was showing- he was also not about to force or pressure her into something she didn't want. She rubbed her nose against his, reaching up to stroke his bearded face. What was with wrestlers growing beards these days and why were they so hot?

"I had such a great time tonight and I hope we can do it again soon. Thank you for taking me out and showing me a good time, Colby." Chacia kissed him again softly, tenderly and extracted herself from his arms to put some space between them. "You need to get some rest and so do I."

Colby pulled her flush against his body again, his mouth finding hers and couldn't get enough of her lips against his. They were addicting. "The pleasure was and is all mine, Angel. Text me when you make it back to the room, please." He requested in a husky voice against her lips and she nodded, once again pulling away from him. "Goodnight."

"Night."

Chacia walked out and headed back to the elevator to go down one floor. She touched her swollen lips with her fingertips, shivering from the aftermath of her make-out session with Colby, replaying what happened in her head between them. There was no doubt in her mind he would want another date with her and she'd gladly accept it, anything to get her mind off the jumbled confused mess her brain was in when it came to her feelings for Jon. Being with Colby was a nice reprieve from that and at least the man knew what he wanted from her, not playing games or toying around.

Jon was awake when she finally came in, laying in his bed with the lights off, hands laced behind his head. He watched as she quietly slipped into the room and noted she was trying to not wake him up, ostensibly. "How was the date?" He asked once she had set her things down, snorting when she jumped about a foot in the air. Jon had stopped trying to figure out who she had gone out with, knowing damn well if it was someone in the company, it would come out soon enough because that was just how it worked.

Why wasn't he sleeping? The man had to be up at the ass crack of dawn and it was already pushing 11 PM. Poor Colby also had to be up that early for media to talk about Summerslam. Not ONE word was mentioned about work, the pay-per-view or Jon during the date, which surprisingly was very nice.

"You should be sleeping." Chacia blatantly ignored his question, slipping her shoes off and grabbed her bag to change into sleepwear, pulling out a nightshirt. She heard his bed squeak as he moved to stand right behind her, feeling the heat from his body searing through her clothes. "What do you want, Jon? We both have a very busy day tomorrow."

She had to be up early too for her first day of training, just not as early as him. It was a bit hard, trying to sleep when she was not here. He had gotten a little too used to Chacia, apparently. She was usually asleep with him, in the next bed over, not out with some other guy.

"Why? You have work same as I." Jon wasn't in the mood for her mother hen crap, not when it was tempered with a healthy side of evasion. "Did you have a nice time? Should I set a curfew, darlin'?" His hands trailed up her hips, sides, and came to rest on her shoulders.

"Stop it. I'm not a child and I'm not gonna be treated like one, especially by you." Chacia shrugged his hands off her shoulders, even though they felt incredible and she did her best to ignore that pull again. "Yes, I had a nice time and now I'm tired. I need to get changed for bed and YOU need to be sleeping. You're gonna be dragging ass tomorrow otherwise."

Why wasn't she surprised when Jon followed her into the bathroom while she changed? She pulled the nightshirt over her head and managed to remove her date clothes without showing him anything, which made him raise a slow brow. Thankfully, her lips weren't swollen anymore and the flush in her cheeks had disappeared.

"Sounds to me like someone's jealous…"

"Nothing to be jealous of, darlin', you're not mine," Jon remarked without feeling, staring at her intently. Inside, he felt something to protest his words, though nothing showed on his face or in his tone. "If you don't want me to treat you like a child, you'll return the favor, Chacers. I don't need you telling me when my bedtime is, mommy dearest." Why was he picking a fight with her? He rolled his eyes, turning to leave the bathroom. "You're going to get chewed up and spit out, Chacia, and when it happens, remember I warned you."

Hazel eyes narrowed at his retreating form and she followed, turning the light off. "I'm not TRYING to treat you like a child. I'm trying to HELP you, you know like I've been doing for the past 8 months? But you do whatever the hell you want, I won't tell you what to do anymore." She tossed her hands up in the air, not believing they were actually arguing right now. "And I've got news for you, JONNY, this isn't my first rodeo. I know what the wrestling business is like and I can take care of MYSELF. I don't need your overprotective, overbearing ass fighting my battles for me and treating ME like an invalid." There were so many mixed signals from him lately and she was tired of it. Maybe getting her own hotel room from now on was the way to go, especially if she continued going out with Colby.

"No darlin', you know the Indies. This is a whole new game and way over your head, bank on that."

One could walk away from the Indies and find another area, region, to peddle wares. If one screwed up here or got drummed out, nobody was going to touch them. Why was he fighting with her? The one person who had stood by his side, even when he hadn't been the best of friends? He felt the anger drain right out of him, groaning. Jon didn't want to take his issues out on her damn it, he had been trying to avoid that. Her heart broke at the frustration and hurt on his face, not wanting to fight with him about something this trivial.

"Just stop. Please stop. I'm not doing this with you." Chacia pleaded, taking a chance and reached up to wrap her arms tightly around his neck, hugging him close. "I'm not the one you're angry at. I'm not the one you want to rage at." She spoke softly in his ear, tightening her hold on him and breathed him in, that pull, back in full force. "I don't want to fight with you." Jon didn't have a lot of people to rely on these days and she was one of the few he actually trusted. "Don't push me away, please…"

Jon buried his face in her hair, his arms tightening around her, pulling her up so her toes barely brushed the carpet. He wanted to tell her not to fuck around with anyone except him, but he also knew that was not fair. Not fair to her. He knew he was sending her mixed signals; he ran so hot and cold, and he wanted to quit hurting her.

"I'm sorry, Chacia," He whispered, his voice just barely loud enough for her to hear. "I don't have any right, and I know it."

"Ssshhh, you have nothing to apologize for." Chacia soothed, kissing his neck and stroking the back of his buzzed head, trying to comfort him the best way she knew how.

Any other woman would've told him to go to hell or yelled and screamed at him until they were blue in the face. Jon had been a downright dick to her and what was she doing? Comforting him, caressing him and trying to make him feel better. She had serious issues when it came to Jon because she couldn't deny him anything. Despite the incredible night she shared with Colby, here she was in the arms of another man…her best friend. Pulling back enough to look in his eyes, Chacia accepted the kiss she knew was coming and couldn't fight him off or push him away, not wanting to. Was it wrong to make out with two men in the same night?

Almost the second his lips brushed hers, Jon was jolted right out of his little daze. She smelled like yogurt and something a little spicy, men's spray, along with her own scent. He pulled back, staring at her, his stomach rolling. She had just been out on a date with another man and had been close enough to the guy to have some of his scent on her. His eyes narrowed in on her neck, taking note of the red areas.

"You need a shower." He stepped away from her, trying not to think about who she had been with prior to coming here.

Jon kissed her, not the other way around, and she physically couldn't bring herself to push him away. The desire for him was clear as day in her eyes, but that cold demeanor of his had returned. Chacia had no idea why he would say something like that since she'd just showered earlier that day. She couldn't smell anything different on her and shrugged, figuring another shower wouldn't hurt.

"You could join me if you want. Just thought I'd offer since you offered it to me earlier." She winked, trying to get him to at least smile and sighed when he just looked away from her. "I don't understand you." Mumbling under her breath, Chacia went back into the bathroom to shower and to give herself some much-needed relief with her fingers.

When she walked out, Jon was already in bed and Chacia moved to join him, to continue and pick up where they left off, but her phone buzzed on the nightstand she set it on by her bed. She picked it up to see it was Colby returning her text message from earlier, letting him know she made it back to the room safely.

I miss you already, Angel.

What a sweetheart, she thought with a smile, wishing Jon could be this thoughtful every once in a while. Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow after your media stuff.

Sweet dreams.

Right back atcha. She set her phone on the nightstand and curled up against the pillow, her back to Jon in her own bed, falling asleep almost instantly.