Chapter 29

The second his lips touched hers, Rajani felt something explode inside of her. All the feelings she'd kept bottled up were coming out and there was no way to stop them. If this was what made Taker feel better, Rajani would let him use her body with a smile on her face. Rajani loved him; there was no denying it anymore. She didn't think he could ever feel anything for her other than friendship, but apparently she was wrong. The kiss was filled with passion, anger, pain, heat and something else that Rajani couldn't quite put her finger on. Rajani didn't pull back or push him away, returning the kiss with an equal amount of feeling. It took him a few minutes to completely come to his senses; reality crashing around him with a sort of finality was very grounding. Taker was kissing Rajani and not all that gently either. He was treating her like he would some ring rat, like he HAD a ring rat or two back in the day, when he had been convinced he was god. Taker was still convinced; he just didn't screw with trash anymore.

"Christ, Jani, I'm sorry." He pulled away from her, green eyes dark with lust, but also wide with concern.

Rajani was taken aback by his sudden distance, her lips burning from the heated kiss and knew instantly he regretted what he did. "N-No it's fine."

She stepped back, feeling her heart breaking into pieces, but didn't show it. What the hell was she thinking actually believing he wanted her for more than friendship? He'd gotten carried away and kissed her because he was upset.

'God I'm such a fucking idiot.' Rajani thought, raking a hand through her hair and decided it was time to leave to go finish her work.

Walking out, Rajani headed down the hallway with her arms wrapped around herself and suddenly stepped into the nearest women's bathroom, went into one of the empty stalls and finally let a few tears fall.

Suspended indefinitely.

Who were they kidding?

Kane followed behind Rajani, leaning back against the bathroom wall while she cried her poor heart out in her stall. "You do realize," He began conversationally, letting down the hood of his shirt. As if he couldn't get in if he didn't really want too? Stephanie had been so worried about getting WrestleMania finalized between Taker and hubby, she had been a bit lax about him. "That he would fuck you and then leave you, right? Taker doesn't care about you."

Rajani's head snapped up when she heard that evil demonic voice, breathing incredibly heavy and hopped up on the toilet, knowing if she had to she would vault over the stall and out the door. There was no way she was going anywhere near this lunatic, feeling as though her heart might give out, refusing to let the fear consume her. He nearly killed her and almost crushed her voice box. Running was definitely on the agenda if he even THOUGHT about trying to get into this stall. When she heard the footsteps coming closer to her stall, Rajani suddenly had a different idea.

"SOMEBODY HELP ME!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, almost shrieking and already sent Taker a text message, hoping like hell he got it. "HELP!"

Taker didn't because his cell was muted right now; having done it when he left for his promo with Paul, and then everything that had happened afterwards with Stephanie had distracted him. Then the situation with Jani. Yes, Taker wasn't thinking all that clearly at the moment. There was no escape. Kane wasn't getting too close because he wouldn't put it past her to kick a door open right in his face, but blocked the way out. No windows, no vents, no way out except through him.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are..." He snickered, rearing back with one long leg and lashing forward, kicking open the door, earning him another scream.

"Get away from her!"

Kane went flying headfirst into the stall, cursing.

"Raj, run!"

"John!"

Rajani wasn't thinking twice about it and jumped over Kane while John ripped off one of the toilet lids, hitting Kane in the head with it. She didn't stop running, not even when Dwayne tried stopping her, needing to away from Kane immediately. She couldn't get his words out of her head that Taker didn't love her and would only use her though. Damn his poisonous words! John had been there to protect her, not Taker.

"What the hell?" Stephanie shrieked, having come running when her cell started going crazy.

Shoving past officials, she came to a halt in the women's bathroom at the sight of John Cena sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, breathing heavily and his blue eyes wide. Then she followed his gaze, finding Kane lying unconscious. He was bleeding from the head. Kane was here?

"What the hell happened?!"

"He attacked Raj." John whispered, still staring at the broken man, the stain of blood on the stall wall. "She ran..."

Rajani swallowed hard and knew that was the second time that Taker hadn't been there to save her, tears flowing down her face. John was right; Taker couldn't even protect her, so she was effectively screwed. Since she had no way of getting back to the hotel, Rajani decided to call a cab and hid between two huge WWE trucks, trembling from head to toe. There was no way she was sticking around for the night and called a cab, heading back to the hotel to grab her things. Deciding to give Taker a night by himself, which is what he probably needed after their awkward moment, Rajani packed up and waited for John to get back.

She knew that he always came back to the hotel around the same time before they would go out on their secret dates. When John walked up to his hotel room, Rajani was sitting outside of his door, sitting with her back pressed against the door, her legs drawn up to her chest. She slowly looked up when he towered over her and scrambled to her feet, staring into his deep blue eyes. Reaching up, Rajani caressed his face tenderly, running her thumb very gently over the bruise that was forming on his cheek.

"You were right. I shouldn't have put Taker on such a high pedestal because he can't protect me. I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt and I'm sorry..."

Her dark eyes lowered, feeling shame coursing through her that she actually thought Taker wanted her, when he didn't. John did. John loved her and wanted her completely, so why was she fighting him so hard?

"I'm not going to fight you anymore, John. I love you and I want to be with only you, if you still want me. I don't want to stop what we've already started building."

Just the barest hint of confusion flickered through his eyes before they lit up with unmistakable happiness. She had finally removed Taker from that high and mighty position the Neanderthal had somehow managed to assume. Carefully, so he didn't frighten her, knowing she had had the night from hell, he gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him.

"I love you Raj." He whispered against her hair.

"I love you too, Johnny." She whispered, hugging him just as tightly and buried her face in her neck, deciding she was going to choose the man who wanted her instead of the man she could never have. Pulling back, Rajani cupped his face in her soft hands before bringing his lips down to hers, passionately kissing him and felt her back press further into the door. "Unlock it." She ordered softly.

Running her hands down to go up his jersey, Rajani could feel his muscles ripple beneath her soft touch and acrylic nails. They both stumbled inside with John holding her tighter against him, kicking the door shut, never breaking the kiss. Rajani managed to remove his jersey and went for the button on his baggy jean shorts when his hand shot out, stopping her, the kiss breaking.

"What?" She asked breathlessly, hoping she wasn't about to be rejected twice in one night. "What is it?"

"I don't want you to do this if you're not sure." He said quietly, seeing the hesitation in her eyes.

The hurt quickly followed and John knew she thought he was probably trying to weasel his way out of delivering the goods. As if, he had been chasing after her for how long? He wanted her and, just to reassure her he did, he pulled her hand down to the front of his shorts. Baggy or not, they weren't hiding the problem she had given him.

"I want you Raja, more than anything in this world, but I don't want you to regret this either. I love you enough to wait."

"We've waited long enough."

With a flick of her wrist, Rajani undid his jean shorts and shoved them down his muscular legs, smiling when his lips instantly captured hers again. She felt his hand unsnap her red pants and pushed them down her legs while discarding her top. His hand went to her bra and Rajani moved his hand to the front, showing him silently that it unsnapped in the front instead of the back. When John grumbled, Rajani laughed softly and felt him guide her down on the bed, both of them ready to just take each other without any regrets or last minute thinking. Taker's rejection had fueled something inside of Rajani that she couldn't ignore. All she wanted was to be loved by a man who actually wanted her and wasn't afraid to show how he felt.

"Make me yours, John."

John had absolutely every intention of making Rajani his in every way. And he wasn't going to let that initial fumble with the bra set the tone for this night either. John was going to show her passion that Taker only wished he could give a woman. Any thoughts Rajani might have entertained about the Deadman were about to be buried, he was going to make sure of it.

Hours later, Rajani lay beside John, both of them just holding hands trying to regain breathing and come down from their intense sexual high. It was a good thing John knew a thing or two in the bedroom because Rajani definitely needed what he just gave her. Slowly turning her head to face him, Rajani smiled when he looked at her at the same time, watching him roll on his side to hover over her, his thumb running over her soft lips in a gentle caress.

"I want to travel with you from now on. I don't want to sneak around anymore, do you?"

"No." He whispered, discreetly pinching himself just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. John was pretty sure he had had this dream before. It always ended horribly with him waking up and realizing she wasn't with him, or even wanting to acknowledge their relationship openly. "I want to be with you Raj, and I don't care who knows about us. I don't care about anything or anyone except you."

"Good, the same goes for me."

She kissed him tenderly and rubbed her nose against his, watching as he reached over to grab something from the nightstand. Rajani looked away for a minute, staring out the window, the only light in the room being the moon that spilled in and it was very calming to her. When John tapped her shoulder, Rajani slowly looked back at him and tensed at the sight of a black velvet box being held in front of her.

"John..."

When he urged her to take it, Rajani felt her throat almost close shut as she quickly sat up. Shakily taking the box from him, Rajani stared into his blue eyes, which were sparkling with anticipation. As soon as Rajani flipped the box open, a lump the size of an orange formed in her throat and Rajani was suddenly having a hard time breathing.

"Oh my god..."

John stared at her intently, frowning slightly. "I know it's sudden, it's...way too soon," He began slowly, having had a speech prepared for this day, but he couldn't remember the words anymore. He supposed he hadn't truly expected this day to come, or at least not so soon. "And you don't have to say yes, just... don't say no either, Raj. You know I love you and I'd do anything for you, even wait. I want to marry you, you're the only woman I can see myself with day in and day out." He reached out to cup her cheek in his palm, meeting her eyes when she finally looked at him. "Just...if you don't want to answer now, think about it. Please?"

Rajani didn't say anything for a few minutes, just staring down at the three stoned diamond ring that was set on a silver band, simple yet classic. It was beautiful, at least a full carat. Finally, Rajani closed the lid to the box and gently placed it back in his hand, nodding. She had to be absolutely sure this is what she wanted and, in order to do that, she had to confront Taker about the kiss.

"I'll think about it...and let you know soon." John gave her that option and Rajani was definitely taking it because her feelings for Taker wouldn't vanish into thin air. "I love you, this isn't no, okay?"

"I know." John pushed the box back into her hand, closing her fingers around it. "Keep it anyway, if you decide your answer is yes, you can wear it. If not, it's still yours."

Lord knew he wouldn't want it if she said no. That and...She was female, women liked to examine jewelry and, if he wasn't around while she took it out, that would hopefully help sway her opinion. John was going to exploit any chance he had, no matter how small.

"Thank you for understanding." Rajani kissed him again, setting the box on her nightstand and that started another round of lovemaking with her potential future fiancé.