At the Unforgiven pay-per-view in Los Angeles audiences saw Ric Flair tap out to Chris Jericho and Hunter retain his title against Rob Van Dam with some unexpected help from Flair. Hunter had pulled out the sledgehammer to use on RVD, but RVD countered with a spinning kick, causing Hunter to drop the weapon. They got back into the ring and went at each other for a few more minutes before Flair raced out to the ring and picked up the sledgehammer Hunter had dropped. Flair looked at Hunter and sneered at him, but then suddenly turned and nailed RVD in the chest with the sledgehammer. Hunter wasted no time in setting RVD up in a Pedigree and scored the three count on RVD. Hunter and Flair celebrated in the ring and then headed backstage.
They burst into Hunter's dressing room, laughing and congratulating each other. Evie looked up from her laptop at the two men.
"You really had him going Ric. I think he actually believed you were out there to help him."
Flair laughed. "Well, that was he was supposed to think. I mean, why would I partner with someone like Rob Van Dam when I can partner with The Game?"
Hunter chuckled as his eyes turned to Evie. "Everything okay while I was gone?"
"Yeah. No problems at all. Nice match by the way."
Hunter smiled. "Thanks." He looked at Flair and then back to Evie. "If you don't mind Evie, Ric and I need to talk."
She raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you want me to leave then?"
"Yeah. Why don't you head back to the hotel? I'll hitch a ride with Ric."
"Fine," she said as she started packing up her laptop.
The two men waited in silence while she gathered up her things and left the room. Once the door had closed behind her, they sat down on the sofa.
Flair spoke first. "So what do you think Hunter? You wanna do this? I mean, we could be an unbeatable team. The Nature Boy and The Game together."
A smile appeared again on Hunter's face. "Yeah. Yeah I do."
"We can take this to a whole new level. With my experience and your determination, there's no one who could stop us."
"Sounds like a plan to me Ric."
"There's only one thing though," Flair said quietly.
Hunter looked at him. "What's that?"
Flair leaned forward and rested his arms on his thighs. "Evie. I mean, I don't think you need a personal assistant if I'm going to be your manager." He glanced sideways at Hunter. "Unless she's more than an assistant to you."
Hunter met Flair's gaze. "I'll have to think about that Ric. I mean, she's been with me for a long time and I trust her. I know she wouldn't fuck me over."
"I'm not talkin' about trust here Hunter. I'm talkin' about her being a liability. You have all these guys back here chomping at the bit to get a shot at you. How do you know one of them won't use her to get to you? Jericho already figured it out. How long before the others do too?"
Hunter leaned back into the cushions. That was twice someone had told him that Evie could be a liability and a distraction. Ever since Bischoff had brought it up, he had started to think the same thing too. True, Jericho had attacked her in the past. He had pretty much left her alone for the past few weeks, but that could only mean that he was planning something. And Hunter couldn't just let Evie go. He did trust her, despite the way things had been between them lately. She had gone back to getting a separate room. He didn't argue with her decision. He had been treating her more like an employee lately than a lover. They had been polite to each other, but that was the extent of things. All the easier to let her go when the time actually comes, he thought.
"Listen Ric, I appreciate your honesty and I know what you're saying, but I'll have to think about it."
***************
Evie set her things down on the floor of her room. She stood there for a minute as she looked around. The sudden realization that she didn't want to be in the room came over her. All she did now was come back to the hotel, go through her planner, her e-mail and sometimes make a few calls or watch television. She hadn't been out since that night she had seen Hunter at The Black Dragon. Of course remembering that didn't do anything to make her feel better.
Ever since that incident, she and Hunter had been treating each other with a distant politeness. They hadn't slept together since they had been interrupted that one time by Hunter's phone. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she missed him. She missed the way things had been. Why had things changed so drastically? She knew she could be difficult at times, but then again, so could he.
Evie sat down on the edge of the bed. Maybe he had grown tired of her. They were together almost 24 hours a day. Coupled with the constant travel, that probably would drive just about anyone crazy. She know it did to her at times. But it didn't seem likely that that would make Hunter treat her they way he had been.
The rebound relationship. That is probably it. He wanted someone to help him over his ex-wife and now decided that he's had enough and it's time to move on to other things. She sighed. Maybe. It was possible.
You know its possible Evie. You just don't want to face it do you? No, she didn't. She was still in love with him. Still holding onto the possibility that it could develop into something more. Ridiculous. He's apparently not interested in you anymore. He's more focused on his job than anything else, or anyone else. He had gotten what he wanted out of her. Now he didn't need her anymore.
The ring of her cell phone startled her out of her reverie. She opened it up and recognized the number. She smiled as she answered it.
"Hi Shawn."
"Hey doll! Just thought I'd call you up and see how you're doin'."
She sat back on the bed. "Oh, I'm okay I guess."
"That doesn't sound too good. What's goin' on?"
"Absolutely nothing. I'm just sitting here in my hotel room, debating on whether or not I wanna go out."
"With Hunter or without?"
Evie pressed her lips together, pausing for a few seconds before answering. Shawn noticed she had become quiet.
"What's goin' on?" he asked quietly.
"I told you. Absolutely nothing," she responded.
Shawn sighed. "I meant with Hunter. Obviously something happened."
"Nothing is happening. Why should it be?"
"Evie, what is goin' on with you? You're actin' weird."
"Nothing is going on Shawn. Just drop it."
He rolled his eyes even though he knew Evie couldn't see him. "Fine. I'll let it go. Obviously you don't wanna talk about it. But if he's hurt you, I'll make sure he gets some of the same."
"Look Shawn, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm going to go. I'm tired and really need some sleep."
"Okay, okay. I know when I'm not wanted. When you wanna talk about it, give me a call okay?"
"Okay," she whispered.
"Bye doll."
Evie disconnected the call without saying goodbye. As much as she liked Shawn and as glad as she was that he was willing to listen, she really didn't want to talk about Hunter. To her it would sound like she was complaining. She didn't want anyone to know how much Hunter had gotten to her, or for them to feel sorry for her. She got herself into this mess. She was a strong woman, she would get her self out. Question was, how?
With a sigh, she turned her phone off and deposited it in her bag, not wanting to talk to anyone else. Instead she picked up the remote for the television, intent on finding something mind-numbing to watch, having lost the desire to go out.
***************
The following week, Ric flair came out and announced that he was going to be Triple H's manager. He was going to teach Triple H how to high style and profile. He was going to take Triple H to a new level. He wanted to walk side by side with Triple H so he could end his career they way he started it all those years ago; on top.
RVD made his entrance and walked down to the ring. Before he got any further than telling Ric about his damaged ribs, Hunter came running to the ring and attacked RVD from behind. Flair took the cue and he and Hunter double teamed RVD until Bubba Ray Dudley ran out to help. Hunter and Flair turned on Bubba and beat him down, then went back to work on RVD. Bubba chased both of them off with a chair.
This event caused Bischoff to give Bubba a match against Hunter and Flair. Bubba would partner with RVD.
Flair and Hunter walked into Hunter's dressing room. Evie was on the sofa on her cell phone and didn't bother to acknowledge either man when they came in. Hunter looked around for his water and when he didn't find it, looked at Evie expectantly. She didn't respond to his gaze, but kept talking on her phone. When she finally hung up, she turned her head up to look at him.
"What?"
"I asked you to get me some water. Where is it?"
She held the phone up. "Sorry. I was on my way to get it and got sidetracked."
"Well you can go get it now since you're off the phone," he said.
Her eyebrow shot up. "Bossy tonight aren't we?"
"Evie, I don't have time to mess around. Now are you going to go get my water or am I going to have to call a go-fer?"
"I was just going to get it, so keep your damn pants on," she huffed. The door slammed behind her as she left.
"Hunter, have you thought about what I said last week? About her being a liability?" Ric asked.
"I'm still thinking. I'll be sure to let you know when I've made up my mind."
"Better make it up soon," Ric replied. "
********************
Flair and Hunter ended up winning their match, but RVD and Bubba Ray ended up exacting a little revenge at the end. After the match, Hunter and Flair double-teamed RVD and then Bubba rushed back in to help out his tag team partner. He belted Flair with a steel chair and then whacked Hunter in the head with it too. RVD helped Bubba put Hunter up on a table and RVD did a double leg drop off the top rope and smashed Hunter through the table. They left the ring and headed to the back, leaving Flair and Hunter a bloody mess.
Evie grimaced as she watched the referees help Hunter and Flair up the ramp. She left the room, heading for the triage area to check on them. They were both being worked on as she came in. She watched at they were cleaned up and, in Hunter's case, bandaged. Flair had managed to shake off the dizziness from the chair shot and when the medics were done, helped Evie take Hunter back to Hunter's dressing room.
Once Ric had made sure that Hunter was going to be okay, he headed for his own room to change. Evie quickly gathered up their things and stuffed them into their respective bags. She looked over at Hunter sitting on a folding chair.
"You okay to go?"
"Yeah," he replied in a raspy voice. "I'll just shower and stuff back at the hotel." He stood up with a groan as his muscles protested.
They made it back to the hotel and up to their rooms. Evie dumped Hunter's bag in his room after she had opened it for him. He mumbled his thanks and headed into the bathroom. She headed to her room and dropped her stuff on the chair, grabbed a nightshirt and her toothbrush from her suitcase and headed to her bathroom.
Once she had finished, she pulled her laptop out of its case and was in the process of starting it up when there was a knock at the adjoining door. She unlocked her side and opened it. Hunter stood on the other side still in his gear.
"Can you give me a hand here?" he asked.
Evie opened the door all the way and walked through. Hunter sat down on the edge of the bed. "I need a hand with my boots. I'm having a little trouble with them.'
She said nothing as she knelt down in front of him and proceeded to untie and undo the laces. She carefully pulled one boot off, using one hand to hold his leg steady. At the same time, she was trying to control her rapid heartbeat. Being this close to him was causing her to become slightly excited. She hadn't been this close to him in weeks and it was affecting her worse than she thought it would. Unable to resist, she lightly trailed her fingers down his calf. Once the boot was off she then removed the other, repeating the act with her fingers.
As she was doing this, Hunter closed his eyes. He felt her touch him gently, leaving goosebumps behind as she moved her fingers over the skin of one calf and then the other. He clenched his fist at the growing heat between his thighs. It had been weeks since she had touched him. In fact it had been weeks since he touched her at all. He was filled with a sudden desire for her. He opened his eyes as she finished removing the second boot.
She tossed his boots over by his bag. As she stood up, she was surprised to find his hand clutching hers. She looked at him in confusion.
"Don't go," he rasped.
"Why? Do you need help with something else?"
He stood up and pulled her closer to him. "No."
"Then what do you want?"
"I just want you to stay," he said as his mouth came down on hers.
Evie's heart lurched and then started beating fiercely as his tongue slipped in between her lips. She pushed against his chest as she tried to break the kiss, but one of his hands grasped the back of her neck, holding her steady. She resisted as he knew she would. This didn't deter him. It only made him more persistent and he kissed her harder.
She resisted for a few more seconds and then gave up and leaned into him as he wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her even closer. His tongue plunged deeper into her mouth, entwining with hers and he kissed her with raw passion, instantly becoming aroused. He carefully sat back down on the edge of the bed, pulling her onto his lap.
Evie pulled away from his mouth and began kissing his neck instead. Hunter tilted his head to one side as he felt her warm mouth touch his skin. She alternately kissed and nipped a trail up his neck to his ear. Hunter groaned as she sucked on his earlobe and then moved back to his neck.
Evie's fingers tangled themselves in his hair, pulling his head back to expose more of his throat. Kisses descended across his neck to the other side. Hunter shifted a little to ease the growing ache centered between his legs. He sucked in a breath as her teeth softly bit into skin.
Hunter lowered his head to her neck where his tongue darted out and touched her skin. Evie shivered slightly. He took deep breath, inhaling her scent. He felt the warmth of her skin against his cheek. Strands of her hair had worked loose from her pony tail and gently brushed his face.
She moved so that she was straddling Hunter's legs. The kissing turned into caressing. Hunter's hands slid up under Evie's nightshirt and touched the bottom of her breasts. She gasped as he pushed the fabric up and enclosed both breasts with his hands. He leaned in and kissed the pliant flesh and then dragged his tongue over one nipple and then the other. Evie shuddered at the sensation and pulled his head closer.
Hunter continued to lick and kiss her breasts, his hands splayed against her back in an effort to keep her on his lap. He moved up to her mouth where he kissed her deeply. She broke the kiss and tilted her head back as she pushed his back down to her breasts. He complied and buried his face in them. Evie was subconsciously moving against his erection and after five minutes of that, he growled and lifted his head. Without a word, he scooped her up in his arms and swiftly laid her out on the bed. He removed his trunks and then proceeded to strip her nightclothes from her body.
Evie groaned as he lowered his body to hers. His finger reached down and touched her between the legs. She sucked in a breath at the contact as he groaned harshly at feeling her readiness. The weight of his body pressed her to the mattress and he was plunging into her before she could protest.
She bit her lip to keep from crying out as he increased the pressure and rhythm. He almost lost it when she wrapped her long legs around his waist and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. His body shivered at the movement and he caught her mouth in a kiss as a harsh groan came from his throat.
She felt the familiar spiral of orgasm begin it's ascent in her and she furiously ground her hips against his. As he stiffened and convulsed, she dug her nails into his back as they pressed together in the fierce spasms of ecstasy. She continued to move against him as his convulsions slowed. All too quickly, their bodies were spent and he collapsed in her arms. A minute later, he raised his head to look at her. She had her eyes closed and her lip was bleeding where she had bit down on it. He wiped the blood away with his thumb and she opened her eyes at his touch.
"I hate you," she whispered.
He chuckled at her. "Do you now?"
There was a twinkle in her eyes as she answered. "Yes. I hate you for making me feel this way."
"I can't help it. You're like a drug; addicting. I can't get enough of you" he whispered in her ear. It was true. Even if anything had happened between him and those women, it would all pale in comparison to Evie. He felt the emptiness inside him disappear when he was with her. It was almost as if he had to sell his soul for pleasure like this. And he would gladly sell it again. His mind jolted at that thought. It was that weakness again, creeping up on him unexpectedly. He shoved the thought aside as he disengaged himself from her embrace. He would not think about it. He couldn't afford to. No matter how good she made him feel. No matter how much he craved her body.
As Hunter lay alongside her, she rolled to face him. His eyes had closed and the arm closest to her was flung above his head. Her eyes traveled over his body slowly and she felt herself melt inside as she though about what had just transpired between them. She hadn't wanted to give in to him, but her body had been starved of his kisses and caresses and that won out over any common sense she had possessed. His intensity had overwhelmed her again. She shivered slightly as she thought of the way he had felt against her. Rolling over, she turned her back to him.
Inwardly she sighed as she realized that she wasn't trying very hard to get herself out of her predicament with Hunter. Weak. You're letting this man push you around. Maybe not physically, but emotionally. Are you going to let him use you like this when he wants to? Or are you going to find out how he really feels about you? Her mind screamed at her to just accept what she was given, but her heart ached in protest.
The sudden touch of his hand snaking around her waist startled her. He pulled himself towards her so that her back was to his chest.
"You okay?" he asked.
Evie nodded in response, not trusting her voice to be steady. She sighed softly as she came to the conclusion that this was where she wanted to be right now, even if it was only for tonight. Giving in to the moment, she reached for the hand that was draped across her abdomen and entwined her fingers with his.
*******************
Hunter wrestled with his emotions through the next week. After that night, he was more convinced than ever that she had to go. He hadn't lied when he told her that she was like a drug to him. She was addicting. He hadn't been able to help himself. He wanted her and didn't feel satisfied until he'd had her. She was definitely a weakness where he was concerned. He kept pushing his decision aside, knowing that deep down, he didn't want to send her away. When Ric asked him if he had made a decision, he told him he was still thinking about it. Within 24 hours he had gone back to treating Evie with a distant politeness again.
Evie was beside herself for giving into him. No less than a day later, he was treating her the same as before. It was almost as if he didn't want to acknowledge the fact that he had slept with her. She did want to know how he felt about her. Was she just the rebound woman or did he really care about her? Angry tears filled her eyes as she wondered what she had gotten herself into. She swiped her hand across her eyes. No good in crying. No point. She kept her anger to herself however. There would be a time and a place for it and she could wait.
The following Monday night, Hunter was accompanied to the ring by Ric Flair. Hunter had a title match with Bubba Ray Dudley, who was still very unhappy that Hunter had been handed the title.
The two men fought fiercely, but Hunter had Flair on his side, much to Bubba's disadvantage. Flair provided a distraction to the referee long enough for Hunter to kick out of a pin. Flair then climbed up on the apron to distract Bubba, but Bubba knocked him down. Hunter went for the Pedigree, but Bubba managed to escape. They fought for a few more minutes before Hunter finally was able to deliver a Pedigree to Bubba and get the win.
Hunter and Flair walked back to Hunter's dressing room, where Flair had a surprise waiting for Hunter. Two women were waiting there for him, compliments of Flair. Hunter glanced around for Evie, but Flair pulled him aside and told him he'd had sent Evie out for some things and also to fax over some contracts and a few other things to Linda McMahon. Hunter grinned as he disappeared into the shower with the two women. He didn't want Flair to catch on that there had been something going on between Evie and himself.
Jonathan Coachman walked in to get a word with Hunter. Hunter came out of the shower wrapped in a towel to talk to him, but Jericho interrupted and said he wanted to talk to Hunter. Hunter dismissed him by telling him to wait and then disappeared back into the shower.
Flair ushered Jericho and Coach out of the room and then walked down to Bischoff's office to talk to him. He failed to see Evie as she came around the corner and headed towards Hunter's dressing room. She had a couple shopping bags and a sheaf of papers in her hand. As she entered the room, she set the bags and the papers down on a table. She could hear the shower running and assumed that Hunter had just finished his match.
As she walked over to the bathroom door to tell him she had some papers for him to sign, she heard the unmistakable sound of a woman's giggle. Evie stepped into the doorway to the shower and saw Hunter and two women engaged in what could only be described as compromising positions. She decided she wouldn't make a scene however.
"Oh I'm sorry Hunter. I didn't know you had company," she said in an overly sweet tone.
The sound of her voice startled all three people. Hunter's mouth fell open and he stared at her. The two women looked at her in confusion.
The anger that had rapidly been building up inside her dissolved into hilarity at the look on his face. She smothered a huge grin. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to let you know I left some papers for you to sign on the table. I'm going to head back to the hotel. Enjoy yourself." Evie left the bathroom, gathered up her things and promptly walked out of the room.
Hunter leaned against the tiled wall as the two women looked at him. "Was that your girlfriend?" one of them asked.
He shook his head. "My personal assistant," he replied. He had a suspicion he was going to catch hell when he got back to the hotel later.
Both women shrugged and continued what they had been doing before. Hunter became distracted by their ministrations and let them continue.
*****************
Evie sat on a group of packing cases kicking one foot against it absent-mindedly as she stared at the floor. She was trying to figure out what to do about Hunter. Sure she had been angry at first, but that had gotten her nowhere before, so it didn't pay to get upset again. Best thing to do would be to make him see how it felt. Trouble was how to go about doing that and with whom. As she contemplated this, she noticed a pair of feet had come into her line of vision. She looked up and found Bradshaw smiling at her.
"Well, well. I lost my tag team partner and found an angel! How are ya darlin'?" he boomed.
Evie smiled at him. "Oh I'm doing… okay I guess."
"Wahtcha sittin' here for?" He noticed Evie had her bags bundled next to her. "Hunter kick you out or something?"
"Something like that."
"What happened?"
Evie explained to him what had been going on. Bradshaw's eyes narrowed as she told him what had transpired in Hunter's dressing room. He knew that Evie had some pretty strong feelings for Hunter. She had confided in him that night they had gone out in Milwaukee. And with what she was telling him now, he wanted to go kick Hunter in the ass for what he was pulling on this woman.
"Damn darlin', that's harsh," he commented when she was finished.
"Yeah tell me about it."
Bradshaw ran a hand over his beard. "Ya know, you need to give him a taste of his own medicine."
"I know. I'm trying to figure out how though."
He smiled. "Well, why don't you find someone to share your room with? I mean, as good-lookin' as you are, what man could resist?"
Evie gave him a quick look. "Sounds interesting. Are you volunteering?"
"Damn right I am. Think I'm stupid to pass an opportunity like this up?" he joked.
She grinned. "Works for me." Her smile was quickly replaced by a mock stern look. "But you better behave yourself mister or I'll hog tie you and leave you out in the hall."
Bradshaw held up two fingers. "Scout's honor ma'am. I'll behave. Or try to."
She stood up. "Just make sure you do," she said as she shook a finger at him.
"Listen, I got a couple of things to take care of, so I'll meet you in the parkin' lot in about 45 minutes okay?"
"Not a problem. I'll just head down to catering for a bit and hang out. Come get me when you're done."
"Sure thing darlin'."
"But before you go…"she trailed off as she stood up on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks for your help."
"You keep doin' that and I'll give you all the help you want."
Evie tossed him a smile as she headed towards the catering area.
A/N: Go raibh maith agat to all of you for the reviews and the feedback! They are appreciated. I'm glad everyone enjoyed the last chapter and I hope that you have enjoyed this one as well. Decided that this one would be a little longer this time. And maybe next time too! Slan!