"Come out and celebrate with us CJ!" Natalya practically begged, but the blonde shook her head. "You made the champ tap. That deserves a drink."
"Maybe some other time. I need some sleep." The second generation star excused herself before making her way out to her rental car. She inwardly cursed her luck when the Shield was loading up their car beside hers.
"Hi CJ." Seth greeted and she gave a wave, pushing the button on the key that opened the trunk.
"Hi, Seth. How've you been?"
"Pretty good, and you?"
"I'd be a lot better if your teammate wasn't everywhere I looked." CJ laughed and Seth sighed as he leaned against her trunk. "Do you know why he watches me like this?"
"I can't figure it out. He says it's because you're hot, but I think it's more than that. I know it's more than that. I saw you leave the arena with him earlier, what happened?"
"He said that he was trying to protect me, but he didn't say from what." CJ said softly, glancing over to where Dean was watching them closely from the backseat.
"I'll try to figure it out for you, CJ."
"Don't waste your time, Seth. I appreciate you checking on me, but I don't need protection. I'll text you later."
From where Dean was sitting, it looked like Seth was whispering something in her ear. But he wasn't saying anything. Seth kissed her cheek and nipped her earlobe, making the blonde bite her lip. Dean noticed the way that Seth's hand had moved to rest on her hip and had resorted to squeezing his phone in his hand to keep his anger in check. But when she finally pushed him away with a smile Dean felt himself relax a bit.
"I will text you, Seth. I've got a couple phone calls to make before I even think about anything like that."
"Alright. Drive safe, CJ."
"You, too." She called as she headed for the driver's side of her car and Seth went around to the passenger's side of his. She waited until they had pulled out to unlock her phone and scroll through her contacts looking for one name in particular.
"Hey Regal, it's CJ Jericho. I know it's late, but I was just calling to ask you a couple questions about Dean Ambrose. So if you could call me back, I'd totally appreciate it. I hope you enjoy your night. Bye."
She was only a bit frustrated at Regal for not answering when she knew that he wasn't doing anything. But she wasn't going to blow up his phone until he answered. She had better things to do.
'Busy tonight?' She texted Seth before starting her car up. She knew that even if he was busy he would drop everything to spend the night with her, and that's what she needed.
'Not anymore. What's your room number?'
'712.' She sent her reply with a smirk and started her rental.
CJ and Seth were friends with benefits. Dean knew this. Of course they wanted that fact to be kept secret, but he knew. It was hard not to hear the unmistakable sound of the bed rocking against the wall, or the way CJ moaned his best friend's name as if it were a mantra. As much as Dean wanted CJ, even though it killed him to hear his best friend satisfying her most intimate needs, he let it happen. Seth wouldn't hurt CJ.
Dean noticed the way that Seth looked at CJ. Kind of like she was the reason the world kept turning, even though it was common knowledge she wasn't. The way his eyes seemed to sparkle when he got to talk about the second generation star, really made Dean tick. The way that he would stare after her whenever she walked by sold him on the fact that CJ meant more to him than just a fuck buddy, yet he wanted to constantly ask why Dean was infatuated. As far as Dean was concerned; until Seth could grow a pair and make CJ his, what Dean saw in her was none of his business. But Seth was lucky that he hadn't hurt CJ because the moment he did, Dean would be waiting to make sure that he didn't do it again.
There was no way in hell he'd let anybody get away with causing CJ any sort of pain. Best friend or not, Seth would have it coming to him. CJ was somebody who didn't deserve to be hurt more than she already was on a daily basis. He knew what it was like to go through life without having a parent to give that thumbs up of approval. The only difference was that he knew that the only reason she went to the WWE was to please her father, but in the end she only ended up pleasing her father's best friends.
He didn't know how it felt to fight for somebody's attention and not receive it, because he didn't do anything for anybody. Everything he did, he did for himself. Most of the things CJ did, she did to please Chris. But because he was so busy with other things, he often overlooked his oldest daughter until somebody brought her up to him on social media. Then he had great things to say, almost gloating that he had taught her everything she knew.
Dean knew that was a lie.
He knew that everything CJ learned was taught to her by Edge and Christian or something she saw her dad do on TV and mimicked to perfection. He knew that she spent hours watching her father's old matches to fully understand what it was that made her father great. But it paid off. CJ was the carbon copy of her father, although nobody pointed out the influence of Edge and Christian that was more than obvious. In all actuality Chris didn't teach CJ a damn thing personally, and her Lionsaults looked prettier than his in Dean's opinion.
"Man, stop sulking." Roman said as he left the bathroom and Dean looked up at him. "At least they stopped."
"For now."
CJ woke up to Seth smiling at her. Chocolate brown eyes shining in the morning light with a happiness that she loved seeing in him. It always made her happy to see how happy her friends were. It almost made her feel better about the fact that her father wanted almost nothing to do with her. Almost. As far as she was concerned, nothing could take away from the fact that she was truly alone in the world.
Natalya and the Bella Twins were great friends; supportive, friendly, and always made her feel included. Natalya understood the need to fill the shoes of the legendary relatives who paved the way for the younger generation. But the difference was that Natalya was loved by her family. Seth was all of those things that the girls were, with the added benefit of amazing sex. Sex was one thing, the care he showed her was another thing, but it was just him being a gentleman in her opinion. Nothing special.
"You're overthinking something." Seth murmured, watching her face carefully for any signs of discomfort. "Was I too rough last night?"
"No. Last night was wonderful and just what I needed. Rough is good, Seth. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that, handsome."
"Alright." He conceded as he brought a hand up to cup her cheek, stroking the soft skin with her thumb. The distance between them began to close rapidly as their mouths met in a heated kiss, Seth rolling onto his back and pulling CJ so that she straddled him in one rapid motion. His hands slid down her body to the ass that he often fantasized about in his down time, one finger probing her entrance while her hands tangled themselves in his hair and a whimper escaped her lips.
When their mouths parted for air, he meant to make her beg for his attention. But her phone ringing robbed him of that opportunity; especially when she removed her mouth from his neck to check the caller ID, then pulled away from him to answer the phone.
"Seriously, CJ?"
"It's important. I'm sorry." She whispered before she went into the bathroom, leaving the fully erect and turned on Seth alone in bed.
"Of course. What could more important than a naked man in your bed?" He asked himself, willing away his erection so he could collect his things and get ready for the gym.