"Don't go," she whispered, almost afraid of his reaction.
He leaned forward, capturing her lips in a heated kiss as he pulled her against him.
She squirmed against him, wanting more. He took her hands, placing them at the hem of his shirt, encouraging her to slip them inside and explore.
She did, feeling the intense heat radiating off his skin and wanting to soak in it. Tugging his shirt up over his head, she kissed her way over the broad expanse of his chest, up to the sensual fullness of his mouth.
When she pulled away, his eyes were shining. 'I love you,' he whispered.
Lilla smiled up at him. 'I'm dreaming.'
Lilla sat up, clutching her hand to her chest at the acute sense of loss that rocked her.
A glance at the clock told her that her alarm hadn't gone off. She jumped up, grabbing her bag and dashing toward the bathroom.
She rode with Christina, as Val was oddly MIA. She had a few appointments before the show, for the guys who had promos.
She grabbed her camera and headed to the ring, quickly discovering why Val was missing.
He, and about ten of the other guys, decided to hold their own, modified, Battle Royal, and were currently beating the stuffing out of each other. They looked like they'd been at it for a while.
She slipped a roll of film into her camera and lifted it, snapping some good shots. She focused on Val, the way his muscles flexed when he was in the ring, the fluidness of each movement.
He caught sight of her and stopped, grinning down at her, which caused him to take a kidney shot.
She came up to the edge of the ring where he had fallen, pushing his hair back away from his face. "Concentrate."
"I was concentrating." He stood, telling his comrades he was done, and slipped out of the ring. He walked up the ramp and back toward the locker rooms. "Did you get here okay?"
She nodded.
"I told Christina you would need your sleep," he said with a leering grin, "so I didn't want to wake you when I had to come in early."
She smiled up at him. He was definitely in good spirits today.
Val Venis had a reputation of putting himself first, but she caught the underlying thoughtfulness beneath his cocky demeanor.
"I slept good," she said, letting him think he hadn't been in her thoughts all night.
When they got inside the empty locker room, he pressed her up against the door. "You'd better enjoy it while you can, sweetheart," he said, nuzzling her throat and the sensitive little spot under her chin. "Because soon enough, I plan to keep you up all night."
The temperature in the room spiked dangerously. "I-I dreamt about you," she murmured as he continued to kiss her neck, not too sure of the wisdom of revealing that fact to someone who could so easily hurt her.
He gave a low growl of pleasure before stepping back.
He looked almost as effected as she felt, and that was a consolation.
"Are you busy?"
She thought on her schedule with some difficulty, really wanting to return to their previous activity. "I have an appointment in an hour and a half." Her brow furrowed, her mind still a little fuzzy around the edges. "I think."
He was grinning and she couldn't tear her eyes away from his mouth, hoping, no praying, he would kiss her again.
He obliged her, slanting his mouth over hers so he could suck on her bottom lip. "Let me go shower," he said, sounding a little breathless, "and I'll take you out for lunch."
She nodded, licking her lips and loving the taste of him there.
An hour later, they ended up at a quiet outdoor café, eating Mexican food and enjoying the scenery.
"Don't you get mobbed by fans when your out like this," she inquired, nibbling on the unique, sweet flavor of a soft tortilla.
He shook his head then shrugged. "Sometimes." A ghost of a smile tilted his full mouth. "You worried, sweetheart?"
The endearment wormed its way inside her, making her tummy all fluttery and her femininity achy and hot. "Maybe," she said glancing at him through her lashes. "It would be easy for you to forget me." She paused long enough to get her meaning across. "Amongst all the commotion, I mean," she added, giving him way to ignore the obvious, if he chose to.
He watched her for a long minute, his eyes twinkling, and a little smile curling his lips.
He definitely understood her.
After a moment, all mirth left his eyes. "Not gonna happen, Lil'," he said, catching her gaze and holding her prisoner in those warm caramel eyes. "Not in a million years would I forget you."
Her heart ached longingly.
She knew it would be dangerous to be completely vulnerable to him, but she was quickly ending up that way. This man was making a place for himself in her heart and she was helpless to stop it.
He paid the check, and took her hand, escorting her to his rental.
They parted ways at the arena, him to go practice in the ring and her to fulfill her appointments, and they agreed to meet in his dressing room to watch the SmackDown taping that night.
Lilla had just closed her schedule and was slipping it in her bag when the book she'd purchased that morning fell out.
He'd been teasing her mercilessly for the last few days and she bought the book on a whim, hoping to get him back.
Smiling, she placed the book on top of her bag, where it was easily accessible and headed for his dressing room.
Tonight could prove productive.
