Chapter twenty

"Linda, come and look at these two," Vince said, laughing as he grabbed his wife's hand and led her along to Amy's sitting room where she and Mark were fast asleep on the sofa, the television blaring in the background. He had only got in from the office half an hour ago and when he had come upstairs to change his clothes he had decided to look in on Amy just to see how she was feeling. He had been amused to find both of them snoring on the sofa.

"Ah, don't they look sweet. Do you think we should wake them up for dinner?" Linda asked, smiling as she stared at the younger couple.

"I guess we should. But it won't be ready for about an hour yet will it? Plus we have to wait for Steph. We'll leave them for now. God knows she could do with the rest," Vince said, pleased to see Amy almost back to normal.

"So you've finally come to a decision about them then?" Linda prompted, raising her eyebrows.

"I guess so. He's good for her, I've said it before. Now all I have to do is learn to butt out of her life and everything should work out just fine. She loves him you know," Vince said, his gaze returning to his goddaughter who was laying so trustingly against the big man.

Linda followed his gaze and smiled, taking her husbands hand. "I know she does. He loves her too, he just doesn't know it yet."

"Poor guy," Vince murmured, smiling at his wife. "He'll be strung up like a prize fish before he knows it, just like I was."

"You didn't have any complaints as I recall," she said, looking at him affectionately.

"Well, no, not that you knew about anyway. That's why I feel sorry for Mark. Poor, stupid, dumb guy," he said, laughing as his wife hit his arm as they walked away from the room. "I've had an idea about Amy, if it's okay with you," Vince said, looking suddenly serious.

"What is it?"

"Come down into the office and I'll tell you all about it," he replied mysteriously, looking pleased with himself.

Linda went to get changed, shaking her head and smiling. She had learnt in the past that her husband always looked pleased with himself when he had done something he considered hugely important. She wondered what he had planned this time.

Mark stirred slightly as Linda and Vince walked away from the door, their voices having disturbed his light sleep. He lifted his eyelids slowly and immediately looked down to see Amy laying against him, her soft weight pressed against his hard muscle. A smile touched his mouth as he looked at her. She was so pretty. He had missed her massively over the last couple of weeks and his mind was going in circles trying to think of how to deal with what he was feeling. The best thing to do was to have her travel with him all the time, and in truth she would be there a lot anyway, what with her job. But there would still be times they'd have to be apart, and he didn't like to think about that. If they were married she could be with him every single day. His mouth dropped open as that thought skipped suddenly across his mind. Where the hell had that come from? Married? Been there, done that, and it was like living in hell. Yeah, but wasn't that because of the person you married? a little voice reminded him. His eyes fell to look at the soft features again and images of family life with Amy started filling his head. Amy wearing a wedding dress, of being heavily pregnant with his child, of them both going to their kids school for a play - he found himself smiling goofily. Amy wasn't Sara. Hell she was nothing at all like her. She would love him, she would love their children. She wouldn't betray him, he was certain of that.

He watched as her brows drew together and she stirred against him, mumbling something as she turned her face into his chest and rubbed her cheek on the fabric of his shirt.

"Hey sweetheart, time to wake up," he said softly, stroking the back of her head.

"Don'wanna," she mumbled, her voice muffled in his shirt.

"Yeah, well, if you don't wake up now you'll wake up at four in the morning and won't be able to get back to sleep. Come on, baby," he said, pulling her into a more upright position.

"Bully," she complained, her eyes popping open but the lids still drooping slightly where she was tired.

"Grouch," he said back, grinning at her mutinous expression. "Wanna have a fight?"

"Nah, I'd beat you too easily," she said softly, smiling back at him.

"Care to bet on that?"

"I would hate to see you lose, honey," she said and laughed at his expression.

"You know good and well I wouldn't.....did you just call me honey?" he said, his eyebrows rising, a look of amazement freezing his features briefly.

"Oh, well, yes. I won't if you don't like it," she said, her voice getting quieter as she became more unsure of herself.

"Oh I like it," he said, starting to smile. "I think that's the first endearment you've used on me. I like it a lot. Say it again."

"Honey," she said obediently, her eyes sparkling.

"Mmm, very nice. Got any more?" he prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"Sweetheart?" she ventured, her smile getting wider.

"Oh yeah," he murmured, lowering his mouth to hers for a quick kiss. "More."

"Darling," she said softly, opening her mouth as his lips covered hers again, kissing her deeply.

"More," he growled as he broke the kiss again.

Amy searched for another word, finally settling on "Baby?"

Mark's growl deepened and he took her mouth again, forcing it wide open as he ravaged the soft interior, his tongue stabbing deeply inside. Amy felt herself moved so she was laying on her back on the couch and he lowered himself over her, never once breaking contact with her mouth. She didn't complain, it felt like heaven to be loved by him and she didn't want it to end. He lifted his hand and gently kneaded her breast, his fingers pinching together lightly over her hardening nipple, making it peak even more and press up eagerly into his hand.

When he broke the kiss she half expected him to sit them both up, but he seemed to be in a sexual daze, his body commanding his movements. His hands feverishly pulled her top up and pushed her bra out of the way so he could get at her breasts, his mouth clamping over one hard nipple and suckling her. His actions were so designed to arouse her that she didn't have a hope of stopping him, her body arching towards his tormenting mouth and begging for more as her fingers speared through his hair and held him to her.

She vaguely felt his knee parting her legs so he could settle against her, his hips thrusting uncontrollably towards her heat, trying to ease the ache even through their clothing. It took some time, but eventually his loss of control finally started to seep through his fog of desire and he drew in a huge gulp of air, tearing himself away from her while he was still sane enough to do so and jumping off the couch, trying to calm himself down.

Amy watched him blearily as he ran a big hand through his hair and breathed heavily, his eyes running over her and telling her graphically that he wanted to be inside her. She pulled her top down to cover herself and sat up slowly, her eyes lowering as she swallowed, feeling her own heartbeat start to return to normal.

Mark watched her fumble with her clothing and then blush, her eyes looking at the carpet in front of her. He walked back to the couch and slumped down on it next to her, putting one arm around her shoulders so he could draw her close to him. "You know what darlin'?" he asked, tilting her chin up so she had to look at him. "I think that maybe you shouldn't use any more endearments on me."

"Why...oh, was that why?" she asked, referring to the way he had just been.

"Yeah it was. I had no idea I was that easily turned on just by a few simple words! Promise me you won't use them again unless I ask you to. Especially not in public," he said, looking shocked. "God knows what I could do in front of other people!"

A wicked side she had never shown before made her smile. "So I can't call you honey? Or darling? Or baby..." she broke off and yelped when he grabbed her roughly and put her astride his legs, his teeth gritted in mock fury.

"Don't tease me unless you want me inside you right now! Can you feel this?" he asked, his eyes sparkling at her as he ground his hips up into hers. He nodded when the smile left her face and she went bright red. "Using those words makes me as hard as a rock and more turned on than I've ever been before. I don't have everlasting willpower you know, so lay off okay?"

Amy caught her bottom lip in her teeth as she studied him. "Are you mad at me?"

"No, I ain't mad, honey. I'm just frustrated is all," he said, his voice softening as he studied her just as intently. A grin suddenly spread across his face. "Gonna let me fuck your brains out?"

"Mark!" she squealed, shocked at his language even after knowing him now for some weeks.

"Don't give me that shocked shit. Gonna let me?" he asked again, raising an eyebrow and grinning at her.

"Not when you put it like that!" she said, giving him a glare.

"Okay. How about....let's see.....gonna let me screw you?" he said, his eyes crinkling with laughter as her glare intensified. "Bone you? Hump you??"

He laughed out loud when she whacked him over the head. "Someone should have spanked some manners into you when you were little," she said, trying not to smile at him.

He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "You could always do it now, if you like?"

"Only if I had a whip!" she said, earning another huge grin and raised eyebrows.

"Real kinky, huh? Gonna tie me up first?"

The smile broke through her reserve as she studied his face. "Like you'd let me."

"Yeah, you have a point," he admitted. He glanced down briefly and pursed his lips. "I think Mark junior's going to sleep."

Amy took a second to realise what he meant and she blushed again. "Good," she muttered.

"If you keep blushing like that, Scarlet, he'll wake up again," he said, running a finger down her hot cheek.

"How is my blushing going to make it...er...you know," she said softly, looking down and then up again.

"You would be shocked, sweetheart, if you knew the things about you that make me hard. Hell, just watching you breathe turns me on. Maybe it's my age," he mused, smiling warmly at her. "Perhaps old folk don't need Viagra after all?"

"You're not old!" she protested, frowning.

"Compared to you I am." He studied her expression. "Ok, sweetie, if I ain't old, what am I?"

"You're perfect," she breathed, her eyes tracing his features raptly.

"I ain't, but you're gonna be in trouble if you keep looking at me like that, and you ain't up to the sort of things I have in mind." He smiled at the almost worshipping look she gave him, making him feel like a God in her eyes. "Shall we go downstairs and see if Vince and Linda are back yet?"

"I guess so," she sighed, leaning forward and putting her arms around his neck so she could cuddle up to him.

Mark chuckled. "That doesn't feel much like you intend going downstairs, darlin'."

"I like it right here," she mumbled against his neck, turning her face so she could smooth her lips over the pulse point beating furiously there.

He drew in a sharp breath. "So do I, but....we can't. Not yet at least," he said, grabbing her neck and pulling her gently away from him, tempering his actions with a smile. "Okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, moving off his lap as he started to stand up. She held onto his hands as they finally made it to their feet, feeling slightly unsteady.

Mark arched an eyebrow. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes, just...my legs feel a bit wobbly," she said, frowning.

"Mmm, I wonder why that could be?" he asked her, grinning wickedly and feigning shock when she slapped his arm. "Always attacking me, ain't ya? Guess that's something I'll have to get used to, hmm? Come on, let's get moving."

Amy let him guide her out of the room and down the stairs, smiling when she found Vince and Linda getting the dining table ready for dinner. They often did things around the house, saving the housekeeper some steps in the process.

Vince looked up at Mark as the two men sat down and he smiled knowingly. "Have a nice sleep?"

Mark instantly knew he'd seen them laying on the couch and thanked God that he hadn't come by the room a little while later. He plastered a devil-may-care smile on his face. "Yeah, thanks. I had the softest pillow a man could ask for."

Vince pinned him with a look that would have cowed a weaker man. His words, however, surprised him. "I guess you did, at that."

Marks eyebrows shot up. "What's this? You ain't gonna bite my head off?"

Vince shook his head. "No. I have other things to think about today, luckily for you. Amy," he said, turning to face her and catching her attention. "I have a surprise for you."

"For me?" she asked, her brows drawing together slightly.

"Mmm-hmm. Well, actually two surprises, but one of them is more for Mark here. Steph will be here with them in a few minutes," Vince replied, grinning.

"Oh," Amy said, not be able to think of anything to say. She twisted her lips thoughtfully as she studied her godfather. "What are they?"

"Come on now, Peaches, you don't really expect me to tell you? Ah," he said as they heard a car coming up the sweeping driveway. "Seems like you won't have to wait much longer, will you?"

Both Amy and Mark turned towards the hallway, there curiosity piqued. The murmur of voices was heard as the front door opened and they could clearly hear Stephanie laugh, then a masculine voice. Although they couldn't actually see them from where they were Amy instantly widened her eyes. "Is that...?" she said, her eyes shooting to Vince.

"Guess you'll have to go and find out for yourself!" he said, smiling at her affectionately and then chuckling as she rushed out into the hallway, Mark close on her heels.

"Shane!" she squealed and threw herself at him.

Shane caught her up and swung her around in a circle, laughing out loud at her enthusiasm and nodding a greeting at Mark over her shoulder. "How ya doing sweetie?" he asked her once he had put her down.

"I'm good. Are you okay? I haven't seen you for so long!"

Mark watched them chat with a slight frown. He had never seen her this exuberant before, all her shyness seemingly melted away. Still, he hadn't known her long he supposed. He finally looked away from them when a tall figure moved into the house and walked straight over to him.

"Still the smaller of the two of us, I see," Kevin Nash said, grinning cockily at him.

"Son of a Bitch, what the hell are you doing here?" Mark said, clapping the big blonde man on the shoulder and laughing. "And what's all this smaller shit. You ain't but an inch taller than me and you are a hell of a lot uglier!"

Kevin laughed at the banter, pleased to see his friend again after so long. "Yeah well, that still makes me bigger, ya runt. As for why I'm here, well I'm back buddy."

"Back? In the WWE?" Mark asked, looking amazed.

"Yep. I'll be making a surprise appearance at your match next Saturday."

"My match? Why haven't I heard anything about this before? What ya gonna do, save me or something?" he asked.

"No, just interrupting and pissing you off. You know how good I am at doing that! Anyway, enough of that shit, tell me all about that pretty young thing Shane's talking to," Kevin said, turning and running his eyes over Amy's figure. "A bit thin, maybe, bit short, but not bad."

Mark had to briefly remind himself that this man was his friend. "A bit thin, bit short and a lot mine," he said sharply, making the big man turn back to him in surprise.

"You hooked up again? Serious this time?" Kevin asked.

Mark nodded. "And I'm happy," he said, letting his smile return and his eyes stare at Amy when she turned to look at him.

Kevin studied him and pursed his lips. "You know, you actually do look happy, for a change. She must be good for you."

"She is, she's..everything," he said softly, his eyes softening.

Kevin looked at his friend and knew instantly he was deeply in love. He wondered if Mark knew it himself yet. "So where did you two meet then? And are you going to introduce me?"

"Amy is Vince's goddaughter and he introduced us. I've only know her a few weeks, but it feels like a lot longer." He smiled and then narrowed his eyes on his friends face. "And no I ain't gonna introduce ya!"

"Why not? Scared she'll swoon at my good looks and you'll lose her forever?" Kevin joked.

Mark curled his lip and went to reply, but Shane brought Amy over to them and he had to shut up. "Hey honey," he said, pulling Amy to his side and holding her there with a possessive arm and an meanigful look at Kevin. "Good to see you Shane."

"Good to see you too, big man. I hear you've been taking good care of our girl here?"

"I try my best," he murmured, smiling as Amy snuggled a little closer to him. The sound of Kevin clearing his throat made him look up again, and he rolled his eyes with a snort. "Okay, okay. Amy, this big ugly lug is Kevin Nash, otherwise know as Big Sexy or Diesel or about one hundred other names that I can't say in a public place! Kev, this is Amber Travis, or Amy as she's known to all of us."

"Nice to meet you darlin', that's a pretty name you've got there. Matches your face," Kevin drawled in his sexiest voice, giving her his best grin and holding her small hand for far too long, knowing that Mark was starting to get pissed off.

"Nice to meet you too," she said quietly, shy of this big man. He was as huge as Mark if not more so and he had long blonde hair pulled back from his face in a ponytail. He also had a beard and moustache, and he was very good looking, but he was no match for Mark.

"English huh? Nice accent," he said, grinning broadly at Mark.

"Let's go join Vince and Linda, shall we?" Mark said tightly, glaring at Kevin as he steered Amy away from him.

Mark was possessive for the rest of the evening, never leaving Amy's side and always making sure he was touching her in some way, staking his claim in case Kevin got any ideas. For his part, Kevin seemed to find the whole thing amusing.

Just as it was getting late the phone rang and Steph rushed out to answer it, having been expecting a call. But she came back seconds later and told Amy it was for her.

Amy had forgotten all about her earlier call from Tony and so her guard was down when she went into the hall to take the call.

"Hello again, pretty. Waiting up like I said?" Tony growled into her ear and she gasped and slammed the phone down. A few seconds later it rang again and she just stood staring at it like it was alive. Mark came out in the hall and frowned.

"What's the matter honey?"

"Tony," she said simply, staring at the still ringing phone.

"Will someone please get that?" Vince bellowed from the dining room.

Amy automatically picked up the receiver again. "Don't ever do that again you bitch, or you'll regret it!" Tony screamed down the line at her.

Amy flinched and pulled the receiver away from her ear, looking helplessly at Mark. He looked furious and he snatched the phone out of her hand, listening to the stream of abuse that Tony was spewing out with ever increasing anger. "You son of a bitch!" he yelled into the phone and the line instantly went dead.

Everyone in the dining room heard his bellow and they all spilled out into the hallway, staring in astonishment as Mark flung the phone across the floor, ripping the line out of the wall. Amy was standing looking faint, her eyes huge.

"Was that him again?" Vince asked, moving swiftly over to Amy with the intention of comforting her, but Mark grabbed her to him first, tucking her head against his chest and soothingly stroking her back.

"Yeah, that was him. You should have heard what he said!" Mark said, frowning.

"Amy I don't want you answering the phone again, okay? At least until this sick bastard is caught, you got that?" Vince said, looking at her with concern.

She nodded numbly and wrapped her arms around Mark's waist, clinging to him as he comforted her.

"Who was that?" Kevin asked and Shane came up next to him, looking equally interested. Vince gave them all a brief history of what was happening and they all started looking incredulous, then angry.

"I'm going to call the police, have them maybe tap the line, or something. Take care of her," Vince said, his frown getting deeper as he walked to his study and shut himself inside.

"You okay, Scarlet?" Mark asked her, looking down at her bent head.

"I'm tired," she whispered, not looking up at him and not moving from his embrace. "Can you take me upstairs?"

Mark didn't need asking twice. He scooped her up in his big arms and carried her up the staircase, not sparing a glance for anyone else.

"Baby, are you okay?" he asked her once he had her laid on the bed and was sat next to her stroking her hair back from her face.

"Yes," she said quietly, shrugging and looking at him with big, worried eyes. "Mark....what if he comes here?"

He felt a rush of fear for this woman and he lay next to her, pulling her to lay on his chest whilst he stroked her back. "He ain't gonna get you honey, we'll make sure of it."

"What if you can't stop him?"

"We'll stop him," he said decisively, hugging her closer and dropping a kiss on her head.

"But..." she began, still caught in the fear she felt when she heard Tony's voice again.

"No buts, we'll protect you. I ain't gonna let anything happen to you, sweetheart, don't you know that?"

"I guess so, but...sometimes things happen. It's just...it's scary...he's scary. It was bad enough before when I worked for him, when he kept trying to touch me and stuff, and then the threats. But now, it just seems he's willing to do just about anything to get at me, and I don't know what I did to deserve that," she said, voicing all the things she had kept bottled up.

"You haven't done anything to deserve this, baby, not one thing. In his eyes it's probably because you didn't find him irresistible. He's a sick psycho, that's all," Mark said, feeling her finally start to relax against him. "If it hadn't been you, it would have been another woman. The police will get him and he'll pay for this."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes, I really do. Don't worry about it so much, you're safe here, with me. Try and get some sleep honey, I ain't going anywhere," he murmured, settling himself more comfortably and closing his own eyes.

Amy pushed her worries aside and concentrated on the feeling of being held close to the man she loved, and eventually she drifted off.