Chapter 35
"Mom, I don't understand what's going on. Grammie and Poppie are telling me we're going on a vacation for Christmas break…" Neela hadn't expected to be told by her Grammie to pack what she wanted to bring to a completely different state. "We're supposed to have Christmas at home…"
Nyla's heart broke at the confusion in her daughter's voice and looked over at Roman, seeing him nod to encourage her to continue. "I know, Nee Nee, but something came up and you're coming to stay with…a friend of mine in Pensacola, Florida for a little while."
"What about school? I have to go back in January…"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, I need you to listen to Grammie and Poppie, okay? I'm already in Florida and I can't wait to see you."
Nyla had already called WWE headquarters and requested an extended vacation, so she wouldn't be going to Raw in Minneapolis, Minnesota or Smackdown! in Sioux City, Iowa. Roman wanted her at home with Neela and far away from the Authority, not wanting them screwing with her. He'd already spoken to his parents about this, along with some more of his family that lived in the Pensacola area. She would spend Christmas and New Year's with their combined families and he would be there for some of it, along with Dean and hopefully, Macaria. Dean told Roman to let him handle talking to Macaria about holiday plans and assured the big man he wouldn't come alone. They both knew the repercussions if they slept together, but friends spent holidays together all the time. However, he also knew Dean loved Macaria and, from what Nyla told him, Macaria felt the same way.
They just hadn't told each other yet.
"Okay, Mom. I love you."
"I love you more, Nee Nee, see you in a couple hours." Nyla hung up the phone and set it aside, feeling Roman take her hand instantly.
They hadn't had sex when she kissed him. It was a heavy make-out session full of vigor, intensity and passion. Roman had lifted her to straddle his lap, giving her complete control and his hands remained on her sides, massaging them while they kissed. His lips were softer than she thought possible and the taste of her had Roman reeling. No words were spoken between them, just kissing, touching and feeling, getting acquainted with each other. Nyla was relieved Roman hadn't pressed her on details about everything she'd gone through with Seth and the Authority as a whole.
Hell, Roman was shocked she had made the first move and kissed him, the sparks between them exploding into an inferno.
"Everything okay?" Roman asked, jolting Nyla out of her deep thoughts and recollection of what happened between them. "You look tired…"
"Gee, I wonder why." Nyla retorted with a smirk, her cheeks flooding in a red tinge. "SOMEBODY wouldn't let me sleep last night and kept me up way past my usual bedtime."
It was Roman's turn to smirk. "I didn't hear you complaining, baby girl." His arm wrapped around her waist to pull her against him and caressed the side of her neck with his lips. "You gonna be okay here with Neela and your parents while I'm gone?"
"I don't have a choice. You won't let me go back on the road until after the New Year arrives." Nyla needed the time off, though she wouldn't admit it out loud to Roman. "So…how are we gonna work this out?"
Misperception entered his dark eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Well, do I pay you rent for staying here? What about the bills like utilities and whatnot? I don't want a free ride and I have plenty of money socked away for a rainy day…" Nyla didn't want Roman to think she would use him for his money and to put a roof over her and her family's heads.
"Nyla…"
She cut him off, needing to get her thoughts out. "I just don't want to put you out and we haven't even talked about what we are or what this means…"
Roman was a patient man, hearing the anxiety in her voice and pressed a finger against her lips. "I told you already. We can either make them believe we're together, or we can actually give this a shot." He dropped his head to collide his mouth against hers, kissing her soundly until they needed to break for oxygen. "I want you, Nyla. Not just for sex either. I'll wait as long as you need for that. But I want to be with you, a relationship. I want you to be mine, you understand that?"
"How long have you felt this way?" Nyla asked quietly, caressing his bare chest with her fingers and gazed into his dark eyes, reaching up to stroke his scruffy cheek.
"A while, even before I found out what the Authority was doing to you." Roman admitted, his voice low and stroked her back, suddenly pulling her to straddle his lap again. "Shield days. Our first meeting, you remember that?"
Nyla nodded, her heart pounding a little harder and faster at his confession, remembering that day vividly. "Yeah, three men in black came waltzing in my office and scared the shit out of me. I thought you guys were terrifying, but then I started talking to you about the script for TLC, your first official match in the company. You were so down to earth and patient. Dean was a little eccentric, but still sweet as can be. Even Seth…" Her eyes shut, grimacing at the mention of his name. "Seth completely changed from who he used to be…"
Roman sighed, agreeing with her wholeheartedly and slid his hands down her arms to her sides. "He let the success go to his head and didn't care who he stepped on and destroyed in the process. We didn't know him at all." Sadness laced his voice while talking about the man he used to consider his brother. "Anyway, I wanted you back then, but I was a rookie, a nobody, and I didn't think you'd go for someone who may or might not make it in the business."
"But I'm just a writer…I'm not a Diva or anything…" Her self-esteem had been destroyed by the Authority, little pieces of her taken every time Seth raped her. Being called a whore, the Authority's whore, Seth's whore…it had taken a toll on her self-image and how low Nyla thought of herself. "And if I'm being honest, I was afraid to get involved with another wrestler after what happened the last time…" Neela was the result of that fling, so at least she got something good out of the deal in the end. Seth didn't count since he raped her and she was forced to portray a relationship with him.
"I don't blame you." Roman understood that, glad he hadn't tried making a move on her because there wasn't a doubt in his mind she would've turned him down. "Timing was off with us, but now it's not. And you are more beautiful than any woman in that company. You should be a Diva." Then he thought about it and growled, a possessiveness washing over him. "On second thought, no. You don't need to be out there showing your goods to the world. I'm the only one who gets to see your goods."
Nyla smacked him on the chest, her cheeks flaming and that got a chuckle out of him. "Shut up." She mumbled good-naturedly, knowing it would take time before her self-esteem returned to normal again.
If Roman had to remind her every single day and night she was beautiful, he would do it. Every woman deserved to be told how beautiful they are at least once a day from their man, that was how Roman was raised. To respect women, to be loyal and faithful, to never falter and always be honest and truthful. That was what Nyla could expect from him in this new budding relationship.
"What if you don't like Neela or she doesn't like you? I-I won't choose a man over my daughter…" Nyla had a lot of concerns with that possibility because she hadn't brought a man home, or rather Neela to a man, ever.
"I'm good with kids. She'll learn to like me." Roman replied confidently, hissing out softly at Nyla shifting on his lap. "Watch. She'll meet me and Joelle and love us."
"What if Joelle doesn't like her? What if she doesn't like me?" Nyla murmured, once again feeling her resolve shatter and sighed at the feeling of his lips against hers again.
Roman wanted to ease her mind somehow, already knowing Joelle would like her because he'd shown his daughter pictures of Nyla. Joelle thought she was pretty and couldn't wait to meet her. Roman's parents were the same way – his whole family was warm and loving, very boisterous and loud too.
"Roman…" Nyla groaned against his mouth, tearing her lips from his and clutched his massive shoulders, breathing heavy. "You're distracting me…"
"I know. Glad it's working." Roman stood up and planted her on the bed, hovering over her, his mouth capturing hers again.
His sheer strength and power both intimidated and filled her with desire at the same time. If Roman ever lost his temper, he could seriously hurt her. Something told Nyla that wouldn't happen. Roman didn't seem like the woman beating type and she had a feeling, if he ever did, his mother would've beaten him black and blue.
Another round of making out commenced, the talk effectively ending.
Dean paced like a caged animal, chewing gum vigorously when he really wanted to do was light up a cigarette. He was waiting for Macaria's plane to land and currently in the waiting lobby, his ears open to listen for the announcement of her flight coming in. Roman had called to let him know they arrived in Pensacola safely and they were waiting for Nyla's daughter and parents to get there. Luckily, the big man had a huge house with 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fenced in backyard and all the works. Nyla would be completely safe there, along with her family, and his parents were also just a few houses down from him. They watched over his house while he was on the road, took care of his lawn and everything else. Roman would always come home to cooked meals from his mother, which all he had to do was warm up in the microwave, stove or oven. It would be nice to spend Christmas with the Samoans again; Dean had started doing it in 2012 and that was how his friendship with Roman grew because of a simple, thoughtful gesture on the big man's part.
A few minutes later, the announcement of her flight landing resonated throughout the airport speakers. Dean stopped, looking out the window and watched with bated breath as the plane landed on the runway. He knew it would take a little while to get everybody off the plane safely, there was protocol to follow for security measures. So he sat down and waited, his knee bouncing nervously while rubbing his hands together. One by one, each person came through that terminal and it killed Dean with each second that passed by he didn't see Macaria. Finally, that head of honey blonde showed and Dean breathed a huge sigh of relief at the sight of her, immediately getting to his feet.
"Dean!"
Macaria had a backpack on her shoulders, which was her camera equipment, never leaving anywhere without it. Checking it was not an option either. Her hair was down for a change, resting at her waist and Dean instantly felt the fire within him ignite. Why did she have to wear her hair down? Why did she have to look so beautiful and happy to see him? Dean lifted her as soon as she ran toward him, her legs encircling his waist and her face buried in the side of his neck, her fingers gripping his dry curls.
"It's okay, Maca. It's okay, I'm here." He soothed, feeling her body trembling and knew it was from fear of what Seth almost did to her. "I'll make him pay. I swear it, darlin'."
Not knowing what made her launch at him the way she did, Macaria felt complete being in his arms again. The way he held her close to him and tried to soothe her both mended and broke her heart all over again. Just friends…this was so hard. The hardest thing she ever had to do in her life. She began crying for several reasons, clinging to him for dear life and shuddered to suppress the overwhelming urge to kiss him.
Dean shut his eyes at her tears beating down on his neck, the smell of apricots filling his senses and he knew it was from her shampoo and conditioner. Macaria didn't wear body spray or perfume, which was different for a woman, but also refreshing. Her tears killed him and Dean wanted to tear Seth Rollins apart for even THINKING about touching her. Touching what was HIS. Macaria belonged to him just as much as he belonged to her.
Slowly pulling back, Macaria stared into his pale blues and rested her forehead against his, feeling his arms tighten around her. "I-I'm sorry…" She meant that in more ways than one, their lips mere inches from each other.
"Don't do it," Dean ordered, already seeing the desire in her eyes, the need for him. "You can't blow it and I promised you I'd make sure you didn't." Even if it killed him on the inside. "You're with me now. You're safe. Let's get you out of here, grab your shit and go back to the hotel. You need to sleep since I know you haven't been able to. And stop apologizing, this isn't your fault."
Nodding, Macaria slid down his body until her feet hit the floor and immediately went for his hand, their fingers laced together. "I have to work with that asshole tomorrow. Some other photographer was supposed to do it, but Stephanie changed the paperwork. I don't want anything to do with him, Dean…" She confessed, burying her face in her hands once they were in his rental, heading toward the hotel.
"That mother fucker probably asked her to change it." Dean seethed, gripping the steering wheel and had to take several deep breaths to calm his temper down. "With me in the same building, I don't think he'll try anything with you, not after Roman stopped him from almost hitting you." He was going to break every finger in Rollins' hand.
Silence reigned between them as Dean pulled into the hotel parking lot and cut the ignition, already getting a room for them for the night. It was 5 PM and they really needed to eat. Dean had worked out that morning to keep his mind off Macaria, a distraction and then went to the airport to wait for Macaria's flight to land. They checked in and went to the room they would share for a night, Macaria stopping in the doorway.
Two beds.
"I can't do this…" Macaria shook her head, the splinters of her heart crumbling in the pit of her stomach and fresh tears slid down her cheeks.
"Maca…" Dean stopped her from walking out and shut the door, pulling her further into the room. "This is your dream job. I know the circumstances blow, but I won't let you ruin this because of me. You CAN do this. You WILL do this." He cupped her face tenderly in his hands, reminding himself they were just friends.
"But I…"
Dean pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her from continuing and instead pulled her into a warm embrace. "Hold that thought. Hold onto that and tell me what you were going to in 5 ½ months." She began crying all over again and all he could do was hold her close, sitting on the bed with her curled up on his lap, her tears soaking the front of his t-shirt.
