Jayme stepped into the hotel's restaurant the next morning with Mark following close behind.
Matt was seated at a table, waiting for her and she walked up. "Mornin'"
He gave her a smile then shot a questioning look to Mark.
Mark stood stiffly for a minute, then leaned his arms on the table, leaning over Matt. "Remember this, boy. If you make her cry, I'll make you cry." His voice was a deadly growl and his grassy-green eyes were narrowed. "If you hurt her, I'll hurt you." With that, he backed away and walked off, leaving Matt sitting with his eyebrows up and a look of astonishment on his face.
"What the hell just happened?"
She gave a sheepish smile. "He's just being Mark."
"Ah."
They ate breakfast together and he invited her to watch him practice at the arena.
She sat in a folding chair outside the ring as he sparred with a very intimidating Brock Lesnar. She just couldn't get used to the guy and winced every time he slammed Matt or one of his hits landed true.
After a while in the ring, Matt climbed out, Jayme handing him a towel.
She gave him a smile as the rest of the guys left to go to the locker room. "That looks fun."
He nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "It is. Wanna try it?"
Jayme bit her lip, looking wide eyed at the big wrestling ring. "I don't know, it's kinda scary looking. Glen always tries to get me in."
Matt took her hand. "I'll protect you. Come on." He nodded toward the ring and she followed, taken aback by his comment. She wondered if that only applied when she was in the ring with him.
He held the ropes apart for her and she stepped in, exhilarated from being in the center of what made the business tick. Grinning, she looked around at the empty seats in the arena.
When she turned, Matt was watching her.
He motioned her toward the center of the ring, teaching her some basic joint locks and reversals. They grappled for a while, Matt murmuring encouragement when she pulled something off successfully, and eventually, she surprised him with an arm drag.
He fell back on the mat and grinned up at her. "Where'd that come from?"
She smiled shyly. "Rey Mysterio?"
"You like the high-flyers?" he asked, sitting up.
She nodded. "I could never do what they do, though. I'm too big."
Matt shook his head in exasperation as he stood. "Who told you you're too big?"
"No one had to. I mean, look at me." She bit her lip and turned away from him.
Silently, quickly, he moved up behind her. He had her pinned against the ropes before she could blink, his hands clutching the ropes on either side and trapping her. "I'll prove you wrong."
Her eyes averted to his chest and she shook her head negatively.
He lowered his face towards hers, catching her eyes with his. "You think you're too big for me, little girl?" he rumbled huskily, sounding slightly challenging?
Her eyes dropped to his mouth and her own lips parted longingly. She had to swallow the whimper that came to her throat. "Maybe," she whispered. Her lips tingled with need. She wanted his mouth on hers.
His mouth moved a little closer. "I can't help myself," he murmured, as much to himself as to her. His head moved those scant inches and he was devouring her mouth.
Her lips parted all on their own and he took advantage, slipping in to taste her. With a groan, he pulled her to him and she slipped her arms around his neck, sighing. One of his big hands clutched the fabric of her shirt and the other tangled in the hair at her nape, tilting her head to the right angle for him to suck her tongue into his mouth.
He leaned away and Jayme's eyes opened to look into his. They were the color of the earth and the flecks of copper around the centers mesmerized her. It wasn't until someone cleared their throat that she thought to blink out of his spell.
Matt looked over her shoulder, then stepped back.
She turned. "Oh, hey, John."
He crossed his arms. "What's goin' on, Jay?"
Matt took her hand and squeezed it.
"Nothing," she replied, tongue-in-cheek. "We were just headed to the locker rooms."
She and Matt slipped out of the ring and walked up the aisle and through the curtain to the back. He led her to the locker room he shared with the other guys.
"Everyone's probably cleared out by now," he muttered, sticking his head through the door. "Empty." He held the door open for her and went to a locker, digging through his things. "Let me grab a shower," he said.
She sat down on the bench beside his locker and studied him while he wasn't looking.
He had on ring shorts and wrestling boots and the wide expanse of his chest was bare and gleaming with sweat. The defined muscles of his hips and belly shifted as he straightened, drawing her eyes there. She couldn't help herself from letting them drift lower.
She blushed and let out a little gasp when he chuckled and his body responded to her gaze.
He leaned over her, laying a slow kiss on her cheek. "I'm flattered, beautiful," he whispered in her ear and, grinning, turned toward the shower.
Jayme sat blushing the whole time, embarrassment eating at her.
Matt finished after a few minutes and came back wearing only a pair of jeans. He sat beside her. "You're still blushing."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I can't believe I did that."
He laughed and wrapped his arm around her.
She leaned against his still moist chest. "I'm sorry."
He stroked her back. "Don't apologize. It wasn't a bad thing."
She sighed, blushing even more from talking about it. "That's not something I would normally do."
He kissed her forehead. "I know. But I like you to look."
Her eyes shot to his and he grinned.