Title: The Road Less Traveled (27/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: A review came in! Thanks! In this chapter: Jeff and Andrew find out about Shannon and Rio. Jeff tells Matt in the hopes that he can do something.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I swear, I'm working on Rio's first stories. You want to see how this one ends, don't you? Please bear with me.
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Shannon woke up still wrapped around a sleeping Rio. He pulled the covers higher over them and smiled, gently pushing some golden strands of hair back from her face. He wondered how she could sleep with those glasses on. Rio stirred as she also awakened.
"Mornin', baby," he whispered softly, kissing her neck.
She took a second to reorient herself before turning to him timidly. Although he couldn't see the look in her eyes, he could imagine her trepidation. She was still not used to waking up with someone beside her and he knew it would take some time before she was.
"Hello, Shannon."
"Y'all right?"
She nodded looking away from his penetrating gaze. He knew she was also not used to being watched so carefully. As if it had been a while since anyone cared enough about her reactions to try to gauge what she was feeling. Sighing, he sat up and pulled her into a tight embrace, letting his warmth seep into her.
"I kno' this'll take some gittin' used to," he said into her ear. "But ya will git used t' it."
"I still do not think this is a good idea."
"I kno'. Butcha got no mo' choice," he said softly yet firmly. "I promise I won' hurtcha."
"It is not me I am worried about."
"Well, stop worryin' 'bout me," he grinned looking down at her. "I 'ave what I want."
Rio looked stoically resigned to the situation. She kissed him and reached a silver painted hand up to stroke his cheek. "I cannot let anything happen to you, Shannon."
"No' tha' anythin's gonna happen," he answered tentatively, "but why?"
"I cannot live with it."
Shannon felt the need to hear the reasons behind her desperate vow. "Bu' why?"
She seemed to struggle inwardly with herself, not wanting to admit her motives. Whether it was an admission to him or to herself was debatable.
"I just cannot."
He let the matter drop for now, not wanting to spook her. But he promised himself he would get her to admit her feelings for him someday soon. He would have to wait for the right time, though.
"Ya kno' I'm gonna wanna room witchew again soon, right."
Rio gave him a look that clearly said 'no kidding'. He smiled at her again and kissed the tip of her latex encased nose.
"An' hopefully nex' time, yo' gonna fo'go that whole costume thin'."
"Not likely," she replied with a smile.
"Well at least ya lef' them tooth covas a'home."
She laughed and shook her head. "They are in my jacket pocket."
Shannon wrinkled his nose but his cell phone rang before he could say anything.
"'Lo?"
"Hey, Shanny!" Jeff greeted him. "How's it hangin'?"
His friend always did have great timing, Shannon thought. He was curious as to what Rio's reaction was going to be when she heard who was calling him. He turned to look her straight in the glasses as he answered the caller.
"Hangin fine, Jeff. How 'boutchew?"
Her head quirked to the side for a moment and she seemed to pull the sheet up closer around her to cover herself. He didn't know why this annoyed him, but it did.
"I'm cool," Jeff said into his ear. "Not that it isn' great t' talk t'ya but ya hear from Rio lately?"
"Oh yeah," he answered. "Hol' on."
"Why?" Jeff asked in bewilderment. Shannon just smiled as he handed Rio the phone.
"No," she whispered.
"Take it," he ordered loud enough to be certain Jeff heard. Rio muttered what he assumed to be a Russian obscenity and took the phone.
"Hello, Jeff." She listened into the receiver for a few seconds as Shannon watched her. He knew that she would answer truthfully whatever questions his best friend asked. Although Rio may try to be evasive when put on the spot, she never lied.
"I spent the night with him," she said quietly.
There was another moment where Shannon presumed Jeff was hitting the roof. He knew that the younger Hardy would definitely not like this latest development. As much as he loved his friend, Shannon didn't care.
"Um . . . it actually is what it sounds like," she went on, visibly uncomfortable with the conversation. "I am fine. Really."
She frowned deeply after another moment and handed the phone back to Shannon who took it with a perverse sense of satisfaction. "Yeah?"
"What the HELL d'ya think yo' doin'?" Jeff exploded into his ear. He could hear another low voice muttering darkly near Jeff.
"Wha's Drew doin' witchew this early?"
"Don' try t' change th' subject!"
"Answa me, an' maybe I'll answa you," Shannon replied not phased by his friend's reaction. He pulled Rio close to him and rubbed her lower back while he spoke to the dare devil he grew up with.
"Drew an' I are roomin' t'getha since Shane wan'ed t' room wit' Glenn fo' a while," Jeff growled. "Now why didja sleep wit' Ri?"
"I's not obvious enough fo' ya?"
Jeff sighed loudly, clearly attempting to hold on to the small bit of sanity he had left in him this morning. Shannon knew that Jeff would be very pissed off when he found out. However, he wanted Jeff and Andrew to know that Rio wasn't available to them for anything but friendship.
"Shan, don' push me," Jeff said softly. "What're ya up to?"
"Th' usual," Shannon replied dangerously. "Protectin' wha's mine."
"She wasn' yo's," Jeff answered in the same tone.
"Th' minute she saved me, she was mine," Shannon said. "Sorry if ya wan'ed 'er."
Rio flinched beneath his hand and he moved it around her waist to still her. The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel like she was getting between the two friends. He knew she would try to use it as justification for leaving him, and damned if he'd let that happen.
"I only wan'ed t' help 'er," Jeff said flatly. "She's no' ready fo' a relationship."
"Ready o' not, she's in one."
There was another stretch of silence as Jeff considered his options. Shannon knew he would come to the same conclusions that she would leave them if they weren't careful.
"Put 'er back on th' phone," Jeff grumbled.
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Jeff gripped the receiver tightly as he waited for his so-called best friend to comply with his request. Andrew paced the floor in front of him looking like he was ready to kill the small blond wrestler. Luckily for Shannon, he was hundreds of miles away, or Andrew might have done just that. And Jeff was no longer sure he'd stop the large Canadian.
"Yes?" Rio asked nervously.
"Ri, baby, are ya sure yo' okay?"
"I really am fine, Jeff," she said almost pleadingly. "Shannon did nothing to me that I did not want."
Jeff found his mouth hanging open in astonishment. He knew she was capable of defending herself against any would-be attackers, but he also knew she was not seeking any more attachments in her life. How Shannon had managed to pull off this coup was a mystery. But the purple-headed Hardy knew that this was her decision, too. He would respect it . . . well, for now anyway. He couldn't risk allowing her to pull away from them at this point. Apparently, Shannon knew this too. He was going to kick his ass for this later, though.
"Look, ya don' hafta try t' preserve my friendship wit' 'im," he said. "I kno' 'ow 'e can git when 'e's inna relationship. 'E's kinda possessive."
"You think?" she asked sarcastically.
Jeff laughed in spite of himself. Andrew had stopped pacing to glare down at him, probably seeing Shannon in his place. He knew he was going to have a hard time with the huge man, so he did the only thing he could think of to diffuse him.
"Ri, Drew wan'sa talk t' ya."
Andrew's eyes widened in surprise, but he eagerly grabbed the phone. "Rio?"
Jeff watched as Andrew listened to Rio for a few moments, his scowl slowly easing into a smile. Jeff would make sure his friend understood the ramifications of doing anything major to Shannon for this, so that Rio wouldn't try to drop away from them.
An idea suddenly occurred to him. He needed to call Matt.
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Rio clicked the 'off' button when Jeff said that he didn't need to talk to Shannon again. She was afraid that she was getting between their friendship, but Jeff had insisted he wasn't angry, just concerned. She remained uncertain.
"Y'ok?"
She turned in Shannon's arms to face him, not wanting to leave the warmth of his bed just yet. He was such a beautiful man she wondered how he could come to care for her.
"I am fine," she said snuggling into his chest. She could feel the rumble of his chuckle against her cheek.
"We're gonna be okay, li'l girl," he whispered, pulling them both back down into the bed. "You'll see."
Rio stopped thinking at all as his hands squeezed her ass and pressed her crotch against his newly formed erection.
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Jeff held his phone back up to his ear hoping he wasn't waking his brother. Matt could be a real grouch when he was disturbed. Especially when he and Amy were traveling together.
"Yeah?" a sleepy, grumpy voice answered.
"Matt?"
"Jeff? What th' hell are ya doin' wakin' me up?"
"Sorry, man," he said. "Somethin' int'restin' happened las' night."
"What?" Matt yawned, apparently realizing that the only way he was going to get Jeff off the phone would be to allow him to finish.
"Shanny slept wit' Rio."
"WHAT?!" Matt screeched.
"What happened?" Jeff heard a groggy-sounding Amy ask Matt.
"Nuthin', babe," Matt answered. "Go back t' sleep."
Jeff heard ruffling sounds coming from the phone and knew Matt was getting up to continue his conversation either on the balcony or in the bathroom so as not to disturb his girlfriend again. The sound of a sliding door indicated the balcony.
"How didja fin' this out?" Matt demanded.
"I called him this mornin' an' 'e 'ad th' gall t' hand 'er th' phone."
"Jesus," Matt muttered.
"Don' go blamin' 'er, Matt," Jeff growled. "I tol' ya 'ow 'e is."
"I wasn' blamin' 'er this time," Matt replied. "She ain' ready fo' a relationship. 'Specially wit' 'im. 'E's gonna scare the shit outta 'er."
"Tha's why I called ya."
"Why ya trustin' me withis?" Matt asked. "I's no' like I been th' mos' trustworthy guy where she's concerned."
Jeff had to admit that his brother had a point. After all, he knew Matt still had major reservations about Rio. He'd said that he made her call Jeff because Shannon said she was like a ticking bomb, ready to go off. But Jeff also knew his brother well, and Matt would object to this new development not because of any danger she posed. Matt would worry more about the risks to her emotional state.
"Yeah, butcha worth anotha chance."
"What can I do?" Matt sighed. "'E won' listen t' me. See, 'e even waited till I was outta 'is way befo' doin' this."
"She may listen t' ya."
"Why would she? I 'urt 'er most o' all," he answered Jeff. "Anyway, she neva calls me."
"She will if I asker to."
"Dontcha think i's a little late? 'E's already got 'er."
Jeff's face pinched maliciously for a moment. He hated being reminded of that little fact. Pausing to collect himself, he took a deep breath.
"I'm worried 'bout 'er, Matt," he said. "She's got tha' title defense comin' up soon, an' you've seen 'ow tha' place is. She cain' be distracted an' still win."
Matt breathed lightly into the phone as he considered his brother's request. Jeff waited patiently for an answer, hoping he didn't make Matt suspicious of his true motives.
"All right," Matt said finally. "'Aver call me late t'night. Ames is goin' out wit' some o' th' girls, an' I don' wanner t' ask me 'bout this."
"Thanks, bro," Jeff grinned.
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: A review came in! Thanks! In this chapter: Jeff and Andrew find out about Shannon and Rio. Jeff tells Matt in the hopes that he can do something.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I swear, I'm working on Rio's first stories. You want to see how this one ends, don't you? Please bear with me.
--------------------------------------
Shannon woke up still wrapped around a sleeping Rio. He pulled the covers higher over them and smiled, gently pushing some golden strands of hair back from her face. He wondered how she could sleep with those glasses on. Rio stirred as she also awakened.
"Mornin', baby," he whispered softly, kissing her neck.
She took a second to reorient herself before turning to him timidly. Although he couldn't see the look in her eyes, he could imagine her trepidation. She was still not used to waking up with someone beside her and he knew it would take some time before she was.
"Hello, Shannon."
"Y'all right?"
She nodded looking away from his penetrating gaze. He knew she was also not used to being watched so carefully. As if it had been a while since anyone cared enough about her reactions to try to gauge what she was feeling. Sighing, he sat up and pulled her into a tight embrace, letting his warmth seep into her.
"I kno' this'll take some gittin' used to," he said into her ear. "But ya will git used t' it."
"I still do not think this is a good idea."
"I kno'. Butcha got no mo' choice," he said softly yet firmly. "I promise I won' hurtcha."
"It is not me I am worried about."
"Well, stop worryin' 'bout me," he grinned looking down at her. "I 'ave what I want."
Rio looked stoically resigned to the situation. She kissed him and reached a silver painted hand up to stroke his cheek. "I cannot let anything happen to you, Shannon."
"No' tha' anythin's gonna happen," he answered tentatively, "but why?"
"I cannot live with it."
Shannon felt the need to hear the reasons behind her desperate vow. "Bu' why?"
She seemed to struggle inwardly with herself, not wanting to admit her motives. Whether it was an admission to him or to herself was debatable.
"I just cannot."
He let the matter drop for now, not wanting to spook her. But he promised himself he would get her to admit her feelings for him someday soon. He would have to wait for the right time, though.
"Ya kno' I'm gonna wanna room witchew again soon, right."
Rio gave him a look that clearly said 'no kidding'. He smiled at her again and kissed the tip of her latex encased nose.
"An' hopefully nex' time, yo' gonna fo'go that whole costume thin'."
"Not likely," she replied with a smile.
"Well at least ya lef' them tooth covas a'home."
She laughed and shook her head. "They are in my jacket pocket."
Shannon wrinkled his nose but his cell phone rang before he could say anything.
"'Lo?"
"Hey, Shanny!" Jeff greeted him. "How's it hangin'?"
His friend always did have great timing, Shannon thought. He was curious as to what Rio's reaction was going to be when she heard who was calling him. He turned to look her straight in the glasses as he answered the caller.
"Hangin fine, Jeff. How 'boutchew?"
Her head quirked to the side for a moment and she seemed to pull the sheet up closer around her to cover herself. He didn't know why this annoyed him, but it did.
"I'm cool," Jeff said into his ear. "Not that it isn' great t' talk t'ya but ya hear from Rio lately?"
"Oh yeah," he answered. "Hol' on."
"Why?" Jeff asked in bewilderment. Shannon just smiled as he handed Rio the phone.
"No," she whispered.
"Take it," he ordered loud enough to be certain Jeff heard. Rio muttered what he assumed to be a Russian obscenity and took the phone.
"Hello, Jeff." She listened into the receiver for a few seconds as Shannon watched her. He knew that she would answer truthfully whatever questions his best friend asked. Although Rio may try to be evasive when put on the spot, she never lied.
"I spent the night with him," she said quietly.
There was another moment where Shannon presumed Jeff was hitting the roof. He knew that the younger Hardy would definitely not like this latest development. As much as he loved his friend, Shannon didn't care.
"Um . . . it actually is what it sounds like," she went on, visibly uncomfortable with the conversation. "I am fine. Really."
She frowned deeply after another moment and handed the phone back to Shannon who took it with a perverse sense of satisfaction. "Yeah?"
"What the HELL d'ya think yo' doin'?" Jeff exploded into his ear. He could hear another low voice muttering darkly near Jeff.
"Wha's Drew doin' witchew this early?"
"Don' try t' change th' subject!"
"Answa me, an' maybe I'll answa you," Shannon replied not phased by his friend's reaction. He pulled Rio close to him and rubbed her lower back while he spoke to the dare devil he grew up with.
"Drew an' I are roomin' t'getha since Shane wan'ed t' room wit' Glenn fo' a while," Jeff growled. "Now why didja sleep wit' Ri?"
"I's not obvious enough fo' ya?"
Jeff sighed loudly, clearly attempting to hold on to the small bit of sanity he had left in him this morning. Shannon knew that Jeff would be very pissed off when he found out. However, he wanted Jeff and Andrew to know that Rio wasn't available to them for anything but friendship.
"Shan, don' push me," Jeff said softly. "What're ya up to?"
"Th' usual," Shannon replied dangerously. "Protectin' wha's mine."
"She wasn' yo's," Jeff answered in the same tone.
"Th' minute she saved me, she was mine," Shannon said. "Sorry if ya wan'ed 'er."
Rio flinched beneath his hand and he moved it around her waist to still her. The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel like she was getting between the two friends. He knew she would try to use it as justification for leaving him, and damned if he'd let that happen.
"I only wan'ed t' help 'er," Jeff said flatly. "She's no' ready fo' a relationship."
"Ready o' not, she's in one."
There was another stretch of silence as Jeff considered his options. Shannon knew he would come to the same conclusions that she would leave them if they weren't careful.
"Put 'er back on th' phone," Jeff grumbled.
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Jeff gripped the receiver tightly as he waited for his so-called best friend to comply with his request. Andrew paced the floor in front of him looking like he was ready to kill the small blond wrestler. Luckily for Shannon, he was hundreds of miles away, or Andrew might have done just that. And Jeff was no longer sure he'd stop the large Canadian.
"Yes?" Rio asked nervously.
"Ri, baby, are ya sure yo' okay?"
"I really am fine, Jeff," she said almost pleadingly. "Shannon did nothing to me that I did not want."
Jeff found his mouth hanging open in astonishment. He knew she was capable of defending herself against any would-be attackers, but he also knew she was not seeking any more attachments in her life. How Shannon had managed to pull off this coup was a mystery. But the purple-headed Hardy knew that this was her decision, too. He would respect it . . . well, for now anyway. He couldn't risk allowing her to pull away from them at this point. Apparently, Shannon knew this too. He was going to kick his ass for this later, though.
"Look, ya don' hafta try t' preserve my friendship wit' 'im," he said. "I kno' 'ow 'e can git when 'e's inna relationship. 'E's kinda possessive."
"You think?" she asked sarcastically.
Jeff laughed in spite of himself. Andrew had stopped pacing to glare down at him, probably seeing Shannon in his place. He knew he was going to have a hard time with the huge man, so he did the only thing he could think of to diffuse him.
"Ri, Drew wan'sa talk t' ya."
Andrew's eyes widened in surprise, but he eagerly grabbed the phone. "Rio?"
Jeff watched as Andrew listened to Rio for a few moments, his scowl slowly easing into a smile. Jeff would make sure his friend understood the ramifications of doing anything major to Shannon for this, so that Rio wouldn't try to drop away from them.
An idea suddenly occurred to him. He needed to call Matt.
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Rio clicked the 'off' button when Jeff said that he didn't need to talk to Shannon again. She was afraid that she was getting between their friendship, but Jeff had insisted he wasn't angry, just concerned. She remained uncertain.
"Y'ok?"
She turned in Shannon's arms to face him, not wanting to leave the warmth of his bed just yet. He was such a beautiful man she wondered how he could come to care for her.
"I am fine," she said snuggling into his chest. She could feel the rumble of his chuckle against her cheek.
"We're gonna be okay, li'l girl," he whispered, pulling them both back down into the bed. "You'll see."
Rio stopped thinking at all as his hands squeezed her ass and pressed her crotch against his newly formed erection.
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Jeff held his phone back up to his ear hoping he wasn't waking his brother. Matt could be a real grouch when he was disturbed. Especially when he and Amy were traveling together.
"Yeah?" a sleepy, grumpy voice answered.
"Matt?"
"Jeff? What th' hell are ya doin' wakin' me up?"
"Sorry, man," he said. "Somethin' int'restin' happened las' night."
"What?" Matt yawned, apparently realizing that the only way he was going to get Jeff off the phone would be to allow him to finish.
"Shanny slept wit' Rio."
"WHAT?!" Matt screeched.
"What happened?" Jeff heard a groggy-sounding Amy ask Matt.
"Nuthin', babe," Matt answered. "Go back t' sleep."
Jeff heard ruffling sounds coming from the phone and knew Matt was getting up to continue his conversation either on the balcony or in the bathroom so as not to disturb his girlfriend again. The sound of a sliding door indicated the balcony.
"How didja fin' this out?" Matt demanded.
"I called him this mornin' an' 'e 'ad th' gall t' hand 'er th' phone."
"Jesus," Matt muttered.
"Don' go blamin' 'er, Matt," Jeff growled. "I tol' ya 'ow 'e is."
"I wasn' blamin' 'er this time," Matt replied. "She ain' ready fo' a relationship. 'Specially wit' 'im. 'E's gonna scare the shit outta 'er."
"Tha's why I called ya."
"Why ya trustin' me withis?" Matt asked. "I's no' like I been th' mos' trustworthy guy where she's concerned."
Jeff had to admit that his brother had a point. After all, he knew Matt still had major reservations about Rio. He'd said that he made her call Jeff because Shannon said she was like a ticking bomb, ready to go off. But Jeff also knew his brother well, and Matt would object to this new development not because of any danger she posed. Matt would worry more about the risks to her emotional state.
"Yeah, butcha worth anotha chance."
"What can I do?" Matt sighed. "'E won' listen t' me. See, 'e even waited till I was outta 'is way befo' doin' this."
"She may listen t' ya."
"Why would she? I 'urt 'er most o' all," he answered Jeff. "Anyway, she neva calls me."
"She will if I asker to."
"Dontcha think i's a little late? 'E's already got 'er."
Jeff's face pinched maliciously for a moment. He hated being reminded of that little fact. Pausing to collect himself, he took a deep breath.
"I'm worried 'bout 'er, Matt," he said. "She's got tha' title defense comin' up soon, an' you've seen 'ow tha' place is. She cain' be distracted an' still win."
Matt breathed lightly into the phone as he considered his brother's request. Jeff waited patiently for an answer, hoping he didn't make Matt suspicious of his true motives.
"All right," Matt said finally. "'Aver call me late t'night. Ames is goin' out wit' some o' th' girls, an' I don' wanner t' ask me 'bout this."
"Thanks, bro," Jeff grinned.