She knew that no one else called her 'Ness' except for one person, slowly Nessa turned around and saw Joe standing there looking at her in shock. "Hi Joe." She whispered.
"Hey...how are you?" To say that things were awkward between them was an understatement. Nessa stood there clinging tightly to Allen's hand as she looked shyly at Joe.
"I'm okay. How are you doing?" Part of her was hoping that he was doing good but there was a small part of her that wanted him to be as miserable as she was.
"I'm about the same. It's good to see you again...you look good."
"Thanks. So do you, I wish I could stay and talk but Allen and I have to go see Chris." She wanted to get away from him before she ended up making a fool out of herself and begging him to come home.
"Okay. If you have time later would you stop by and see me?" He asked and she could see the hopefulness in his eyes.
"I..."
"Why don't you walk with us to Chris' locker room?" Allen spoke up and Nessa shot him a dirty look to which he just smiled innocently at her.
"If you guys don't mind." Joe said, looking straight at Nessa.
"It's fine." For some reason she wasn't able to take her eyes off of him. It was as if he was even sexier than the last time she had seen him.
The three of them walked the rest of the way to Chris' locker room, Nessa completely aware of Joe's presence beside her...her senses heightened every time she was around him. She shivered involuntarily as she thought back to how much her senses were heightened each time they made love. Taking a chance she stole a look at Joe and found him looking back at her, when their eyes met it was like he knew exactly what she was thinking about and he winked at her causing her to blush. Allen knocked on Chris' door then they walked inside.
"Nessa!" Chris exclaimed, jumping up from the couch and hugging her. "What's he doing here?" He whispered in her ear when he spotted Joe.
"He spotted Allen and I in the hall and Allen invited him to walk with us." Nessa whispered back.
"Go talk to him...Allen and I can wait until later to talk to you." Chris urged her.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." Chris replied and she nodded. Nessa turned back to Joe and smiled at him a little.
"Want to go get something to eat with me?"
"Yeah." The two of them walked out of the locker room and headed to catering. "So are you back for good or just for a visit?"
"I'm not sure yet, I miss being here and I miss everyone but I'm not sure if I'm ready." Nessa admitted. When they got into catering Nessa spotted James Storm and growled. "Excuse me a minute Joe." Before he could stop her she walked a purpose over to James and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned to face her Nessa slapped him hard across the face.
"What the hell was that for?" James yelled, holding the side of his face.
"For ruining my life and taking the one person away that I loved more than life itself!" The realization hit him when he looked over her shoulder and saw Joe standing there that she knew all about the deal he made.
"Ness I'm..."
"First of all don't ever call me Ness, Joe's the only one who can do that. Second of all don't you dare even fucking try to apologize...we are so far past that. You didn't think I would ever find out did you? You thought that when Joe and I broke up that your secret was safe, right? Wrong! He told me all about it and even though I was pissed at him for accepting the deal I'm able to forgive him, you though...well let me just say this if you value living you'll steer clear of me. Got it?" She hissed, her voice dangerously low.
"Hey! You can't threaten me like that." He turned to Chris Harris who was sitting at the table watching everything. "Did you just hear that? She just threatened me!"
"I didn't hear a damn thing man." Chris said, shrugging. With a satisfied smile and a nod to Chris Nessa turned and walked back over to Joe who had already got them both something to eat and a table.
"Feel better?" He asked once she sat down.
"Much...I meant what I said though I do forgive you."
"You do?"
"Yes I do. I still love you and nothing is ever going to change that, it's going to take a while for me to be able to trust you again but I'm willing to work on it if you are." Nessa stated, looking directly in his deep brown eyes.
"I am." He whispered and she started eating. "Hey Ness?" She looked up at him and he smiled evilly.
"What?"
"Come here." Before she even realized what was happening she was across the table and in his lap. "Those words still have the same effect on you I see." He said, chuckling.
"Shut up and kiss me."
"No need to tell me twice." Just as she was about to say something else he tangled his hand in her hair and brought her mouth to his in a fiery passionate kiss that still was able to send her head spinning.
"Take me to my place?" She questioned when the kiss ended and he nodded. Without even saying goodbye to anyone the two of them left the arena and went to her apartment where they spent the night making up for lost time.
