Chapter 23

xXx

Those warm and inviting arms were wrapped around her once again. And boy did she love waking up against the body of Mr Ambrose. Karlee groaned and stretched out a little, careful not to wake Dean, knowing how grumpy he could get in the morning if he was woken up. Instead, she skilfully managed to get out from underneath his death grip and slide herself out of bed, feet padding across the hardwood floors to get something to wear. She picked up a clean pair of panties from her open suitcase and slipped them on, covering the rest of her body with a long plain white tee. Karlee ruffled her hair a little as she slumped onto the chair that looked directly onto the bed.

As much as she had loved their night together, she wasn't sure it should have happened. They had promised each other to take a beak from their relationship. That meant staying away from each other, not jumping into bed with each other, no matter how right it felt. Karlee was conflicted. She sighed as she nicked one of Dean's cigarettes and walked out onto her balcony to light it up. She had had her last cigarette the day she joined the WWE but now she needed one.

She wanted Dean but she couldn't find the part of her heart that loved him. Karlee couldn't tell if she was still bitter about him asking for a break. Did he still want her. He had started this whole thing and lured her into bed. Damn. As she puffed away, she tried to block out anything related to Dean and focus on what she was going to do the rest of the day. She should go and meet up with Kaitlyn to get dresses sorted but she wanted to talk Dean. This couldn't become a regular thing. Thy ha to stay apart as much s possible while they both decided what they wanted.

Karlee heard a shuffle behind her and before she could turn, the cigarette was wrenched out of her fingers. She turned only to be faced with a smug looking Dean Ambrose. He took one puff and threw it off the balcony an onto the pavement below them. She struggled to make sense of anything as she was faced with his body, unable to make eye contact.

"You quit smoking." He told her, not moving from is spot and standing uncomfortable close. Although they had just slept together, he felt like a stranger. She braced her arm against the railing as he continued to look over her, his face scrunched up against the sun.

"I have to go for a tuxedo fitting. Best man duties. All that jazz." His comment brought her back down to earth very quickly. He was best man and she was head bridesmaid. That meant they would even have to dance together at the wedding.

"Yeah same, Except I ain't going to be in a tuxedo." Karlee snapped back, pushing past him with force as she walked back into her room. Dean had his jeans on and a sudden realization hit her. She was wearing his shirt. He laughed as he too walked back into the room.

"Man, someone's in a bad mood today considering..." Karlee snapped her body round to face him and pointed her finger at him.

"No! You do not get to one-up me on that. You got me into this and you can't throw it back into my face." She yelled.

"Karlee, you are a stubborn little shit and you wanted this as much as I did. I do see what you do when we're at work so don't think I noticed." he threw his hands up in the air, his face scrunched up, unable to believe what she was saying. Then he stopped and laughed.

"So really, it's your fault for teasing me!" He looked so proud of himself, as if he had found the answer they had been searching for. Karlee scoffed at him and threw him his jumper.

"Fuck you! You stole my shit and I had no option but to come back here. What else was I supposed to do you idiot?"

"Come back and tell me to get out? That's what normal people say to people they hate!" He yelled even louder and his comment completely floored. She lowered her head and played with the hem of the shirt.

"I never said I hated you, Dean. And if I did, I never meant it." She felt tears pooling around her eyes but she didn't want to wipe them away. She didn't want Dean to know she wanted to be with him. Karlee wanted their relationship back. Dean sighed and he lifted his buzzing phone out of his pocket. It broke their tense situation and she used the distraction to wipe her tears away and straighten herself out, unaware that Dean was watching her every move.

"Yeah, I'm uh, just getting out of bed. I'll be in the lobby in twenty." Karlee's heart sunk. He didn't even want to admit that he had been with her. He hung up and turned his head, unable to look at her without his heart breaking all over again.

"There, Now you won't have to worry about everyone knowing about your little mistake." Karlee scowled, seeing red all of a sudden.

"DEAN! It maybe shouldn't have happened but that does not make it a mistake!" She screamed, throwing her fists in the air in frustration. She wanted to scream at him but Karlee knew it wouldn't make a difference.

"This is what you wanted! For me to take control and decide what I wanted..." She interrupted him.

"So you just want sex? Well you better make the most of it because I swear to god-" She felt his strong hand on her face, lightly squeezing her chin as he pressed his lips against hers in one quick swift, rough motion. She squeezed her eyes and felt more tears run down her cheeks. But she had to push him away. She placed her hands on his chest and heaved and Dean stepped back without any commotion.

"I know what I want Karlee, and that something is you but you need to decide what you want. Until then, we can't commit to a relationship. But at the same time, I just can't stay away from you..." Karlee understood she really did. But if he wanted a break, maybe that was what they both needed. Dean sighed and removed his hands from her. He looked her up and down, silently asking if he could get his shirt back.

"I'll wash it and put it through your door." Karlee whispered, not even able to look at him. He nodded at her and walked towards the door. Seth had mentioned everyone meeting up for dinner later on in the day but hadn't said anything to Karlee, afraid to scare her off. All of their friends were getting fed up of them arguing and fighting but they knew this wasn't something that couldn't be solved with throwing them into a tour bus.

Karlee watched Dean leave and as soon as the door clicked, she burst into tears. Seeing him leave every time was going to be the hardest thing.

xXx

Karlee was a good friend but Kaitlyn and Alice sensed something was up. As Kaitlyn flung wedding dresses left right and centre, Karlee dress back a dress after dress, not even looking at them. She was staring at the wall, totally oblivious that her two friends were shouting on her.

"Karlee!" Kaitlyn pulled her arm and she spun around. Her eyes fluttered and she seemed to come back into the real world.

"Is everything okay sweetie?" Kaitlyn asked, rubbing her arm in case she had hurt it. Karlee wanted nothing more than to tell them what Dean and her had done the night before but this day was about Kaitlyn. She smiled and shook her head.

"Everything's fine, just a little hungry." She shrugged it off and Kaitlyn grinned.

"We're meeting up with the boys for lunch." Karlee pretended to look happy but inside she was dreading having to sit across the table from Dean without either crying or blushing. Karlee smiled, acting like it was nothing, but inside her mind it was a totally different thing.

Alice finally managed to convince Karlee to get into the swing of things and in the end, minuted before they were due for dinner, they found Kaitlyn's bridesmaids dresses. They were red, per Karlee's request and floor length. They made Karlee look and feel like a princess. Kaitlyn tried on some wedding dresses but never found the one she wanted. It was difficult considering any dress she bought, would have to be altered to fit her baby bump, which was now starting to show. She had toned down her look and settled for skinny jeans and a leather jacket, not wanting to stand out. Karlee was wearing a black jumpsuit with matching wedges. She had minimal make up on and her glasses hid her sleepless eyes. Alice looked like a human rainbow, as per usual. Her and Roman were seeing each other and it was nice that Roman had moved onto a girl the group liked. It made it easier amid the commotion.

They stopped at the food court and saw that the boys were sat at a secluded corner sofa style table. Kaitlyn made the other two follow her and they dodged their way in and out of tables and daring waitresses. Both Kaitlyn and Alice leant over to give their men kisses but all Dean got was a cold glare through Karlee's dark sunnies.

"I still haven't found my dress, found the girls ones though." Karlee's attention was brought back to the present and Dean smiled as he sat directly across from her, in reach.

"Yeah, they are really sexy but sophisticated at the same time." Karlee piped up, trying to take her mind of the loony sitting across from her.

"You? Sophisticated?" Seth grinned and Karlee playfully flipped him off. They chatted for more than ten minutes, back and fourth about the wedding before talk turned to babies. Karlee took a deep breath and tried to look happy. She had her chance to be a mother and it was cruelly snatched from her and no matter how long it was, it hurt to know that they could have been a family already. Dean sensed her anxiety and softly brushed her leg with his foot, sending her a warm look that asked her if she was okay. She never said anything, afraid to even flinch in case she cried.

"Listen guys, Vince just text and he wants to see me and Karlee. Is it okay if we catch up another time." Dean was looking at his phone, but it never had rang? Kaitlyn feigned sadness as Karlee stood up shocked as she realized Dean was helping her out of the situation.

"Sorry honey, I promise I'll help you find your dress!" Karlee bent down to give her friend a hug and blew a kiss to the rest of them. They both bid their goodbyes and started off in the direction of Dean's truck. She walked a little behind him, her sunglasses down tight against her face as she tried to avoid eye contact with a quiet Dean. As the hot sun hit her skin, she realized she was almost there. She had to try and think of something non relationship related to talk to him about but she couldn't think of anything. Karlee was never the shy and quiet one. She was usually out there and leading everyone but with Dean, he was over powering her. This wasn't her.

Karlee was bold and confident. Not shy and reserved. She stopped in her tracks, smiling at her stupidity. Dean was enjoying this side of her because he held all the control in his palm. She was like his puppet. She let out a low chuckle as she slipped off her leather jacket and flung it behind her back with one hand, slightly pulling her jumpsuit down to show off her rack. She held a shaky but confident smile on her lips as she swayed her hips towards Dean. She didn't actually know what she was trying to achieve but making Dean all hot and horny would definitely make her in charge. He would melt into a puddle and then she would be in control. She felt sexy and it was fun.

Dean unlocked the truck and turned to speak when he did a double take and his jaw hit the ground. Surprisingly, he quickly recovered.

"Oh honey, You have no idea what you are doing..." He let out a throaty chuckle and jumped into the drivers side whilst Karlee stood, a pouty expression on her lips as she tried to think of another plan. Maybe he would be harder to seduce than she originally thought.

xXx

Is this going to work for them? Will they be able to cope and who will be the first to crumble?

Also, Have you checked out the Alice story I have up, Teaser chapter is up!

Love you all, especially for your amazing patience and lovely reviews, keep going! Amanda Xo