As expected Dan had tried every argument in the book to make Meadow stay in the safe house, and she had countered every argument with the same comeback. It was her life and therefore her choice. In the end he had pulled Roman aside and warned him about the bloodthirsty reporters not going away until her story was out there.
Roman had contacted Vince McMahon himself and told him everything. Hunter had been on the line as well, both men listening to what Roman had to say. They weren't too happy about the situation, but they understood. Photos and videos of Roman, Jey, Jimmy and Naomi trying to protect Meadow from the reporters aired that same day no matter what. There was no point in trying to fight it.
That was five days ago, and how Roman had loved having her in his house for those five days. She stayed inside most of the time, only leaving his property to go with him to training. Anything else he did on his own. They couldn't risk a reporter cornering them in a supermarket or on a parking lot somewhere. He could handle his own, and he dealt with his fair share all around. He was already used to it.
On the fifth day they got a call from Dan. He told them an attorney was on his way to Roman's house. He gave Roman all the information so he wouldn't let a stranger into his home by accident. The attorney showed up half an hour later, and Roman escorted him to the kitchen where Meadow was already waiting.
"Meadow," he smiled. "You've grown up so much. I don't suppose you remember me."
"Mr Jenkins," she said. "I do. You were in our house a couple of times."
"I was your father's attorney. When your parents passed, I was left with the process of selling his company. The money has been kept safe in a bank account until we knew for sure whether you were dead or alive. It's all yours."
"How much?" She asked.
He handed her a piece of paper, and she looked shocked. She handed Roman the paper, and he whistled in astonishment.
"Damn, sweetheart, and I thought I was rich," he chuckled.
"Blood money," she whispered.
"That's not what that term means," he said.
"I know what it fucking means, Roman!" She snapped.
She stormed out of the kitchen and out in the garden. Roman sighed and looked at Mr Jenkins.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm gonna go after her. Help yourself to something to drink. There's lemonade in the fridge."
Roman walked outside and found her leaning up against a tree in the garden. She had grown quite fond of that tree for no particular reason. She would just stand with her shoulder against it, watching the sun go down at night.
"Meadow," he took her hand. "Sweetheart, talk to me."
"No amount of money will make me happy about them being gone," she said.
"No one expects that from you," he said.
"They were good people, Roman. They were loving parents. They loved me. What kept me going for 15 years was the thought of coming back home to them. He took that from me. He broke them," she cried.
He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry into his chest. They stood like that for a couple of minutes until her crying died down, and she stopped shaking.
"I have no family," she said.
"You have me," he said.
She tilted her head to look at him. There was that hopeful look in her eyes again, along with something else. Something warm, something longing, something affectionately.
"If you'll have me," he whispered.
This was their moment. He slowly leaned down, wanting to kiss her for the first time. He never got that far. The moment was ruined by Mr Jenkins who came out.
"Sorry to disturb, but I'm in a bit of a hurry, and we need to get this done today. Meadow, we should go to the bank. You need to sign the papers so you can officially get the money," he said.
"Okay, let's go," she said.
"Do you need me to come with you?" Roman asked.
"No, I'll be fine. Stay here," she answered.
A long hour passed before she finally returned. He smiled and listened to what she had to tell him about the meeting at the bank. He kept his distance. He had been so close to kissing her in the garden, and that hour apart had made him second guess that decision. It was still too early.
"Mr Jenkins also said we should look into giving an interview somewhere. Get it over with to make the reporters back down," she said.
"Anyone in particular you wanna talk to?" He asked.
"Whoever is the nicest. I don't really know what's going on on tv these days," she answered.
"Let me call Vince," he said.
She walked out in the kitchen and sat up on the counter while looking over her shoulder and out the window. He came out there ten minutes later.
"Vince wants us to do an interview that'll air on USA Network, and then go up on WWE Network. He wants me part of it. This is actually the best way. We're gonna do this with people working for WWE. They're very respectful, and we can cut in the interview any way we want. It's gonna be your way and no one else's. You're in charge," he said.
"That sounds good," she said.
"What are you looking at?" He asked.
"The tree," she answered. "Could we put a swing up in that branch?"
"Sure thing," he said.
She turned her head and found him standing right in front of her. It felt like another moment was there, but he kept his distance.
"Do you regret it?" She asked.
"Regret what?" He asked.
"Almost kissing me earlier," she answered. "It's okay if you do. It was just a crazy moment, and you got caught up in my pathetic crying, and I..."
"Hey!" He cut her off. "I don't regret it. I thought you needed more time."
"I need you," she said. "And I want you. Don't send me away, Roman. I'll go if I have to. I can afford living on my own now. But please, don't send me away. I'll back down. I'll stop crying. I'll do anything. I'll get over this silly crush I have on you. I'll be normal."
He placed his hands on her knees, pushing her legs apart enough for him to step in between them. He gently placed a hand on her cheek while hooking his arm around her waist to pull her close.
"Normal is overrated. I want you just the way you are. Tears and weirdness and all," he said.
This was definitely their moment, and this time he didn't stop himself. He brushed his lips against hers, gentle at first, slowly increasing in desperation to get more as her tongue started playing with his. Her arms went around him to hold him close while she kissed down his neck.
"Please!" She begged.
"What do you need?" He asked.
"You. All of you. Take me to your bed," she answered.
His hands slid down her thighs, down to grab her legs to wrap them around his waist. She locked her ankles behind his back as he grabbed under her thighs and lifted her up. His hands quickly moved under her ass, feeling her up while carrying her to the bedroom. They both stumbled down on the bed, hands and lips going all around each other's bodies. He had both of them undressed five minutes later, kissing her again while sliding a hand down her stomach.
"Roman, I don't know what to do," she confessed.
Everything inside him crashed. Of course not. She had only been with Harvey, and Roman doubted the pig had been kind or done anything she actually wanted. She hadn't been given a choice.
"We rushed this. We don't need to do anything. We can wait and take it one step at the time," he said.
"No, that's not what I meant," she said. "I want this. I want you. I just don't know what to do to make you enjoy it."
"Me?" He laughed. "Just being here with you is enough. I'm more nervous about making you enjoy it."
"I've never enjoyed it before," she said.
"I know," he sighed. "Are you scared?"
"Yes," she admitted.
"It's alright," he said.
His hand slid further down and in between her legs. He slowly starting running his fingers around on her clit, watching her intensely while listening to every little moan he could get out of her.
"I won't hurt you. If I do something you don't like, you tell me right away and I'll stop. That's a promise," he said.
"You promise a lot," she said.
"Because I care about you," he said.
"Stop talking and make me... Make me..." She stuttered in moans.
"Make you what? Cum?" He kissed her neck. "I'm working on it. Do you like it?"
"Your fingers are magic," she said.
She closed her eyes and gave him full control. Her moans grew fast, and a minute later her back arched as she cried out in pleasure. He kept his fingers working until her crying died down, and she opened her eyes again. He moved his fingers down and pushed two of them inside her, moving them as slow as he could. A little smirk appeared on her face.
"That was a first," she said.
"What? That was your first orgasm?" He asked.
"Harvey never cared to even try. Not that it would have mattered. My mind was far away when we had sex," she said.
"You didn't have sex, sweetheart. He raped you. Do you wanna stop this and talk about it instead?" He asked.
"Fuck, no!" She stared at him. "You're fucking me right now! Erase all the bad memories I have of him, and give me some new, good ones."
He smirked as he pulled his fingers out of her and sucked them dry in front of her.
"Before we go to bed tonight, I'm eating that pussy," he said. "But I gotta have you now."
He opened a drawer in the nightstand and took out a condom. Better safe than sorry. Harvey might have been the one shooting blanks since she never got pregnant, or she might be the one who couldn't conceive. No one knew, and Roman wasn't about to find out if the flaw was with Harvey or not.
She watched as he rolled on the condom. She didn't say anything, but she was biting her lip in expectation. In that moment he only wanted her more. She looked happy as she was waiting for him to take her. Her eyes didn't look sad. That sparkle was back.
"Let me know if I do something wrong or hurt you in any way," he said.
He pushed into her slowly, taking his time to let her get used to his size, and for her to adjust to him.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Mmm," she nodded. "It feels good."
"That's what I like to hear," he chuckled.
He moved slow at first, listening and watching, kissing and touching, doing everything right by the sounds of it. He sped up little by little, pulling them both towards the edge. They stumbled over it almost at the same time, her cumming triggered his own undoing, both of them crying out in unison. He rolled down next to her, his arm still across her chest. He panted for a few seconds before raising his head to place a sloppy kiss on her lips.
"That was amazing," she said.
"Yeah?" He grinned proudly.
"I never knew sex could be that good," she said.
"There's more where that came from. As a matter of fact, you're not getting out of this bed until tomorrow. I'm gonna order pizza, and then we'll stay naked here the rest of the day. How does that sound?" He asked.
"Like heaven," she giggled.