Chapter 5

Tahlia didn't mind living out of hotel rooms, but when the master requested the Ministry to join him at his home in Texas, she was stunned. Paul was too. After all, this was Taker's domain and sanctuary. Maybe he did think of them all as a family, though that thought process was disturbing considering Tahlia wouldn't mind sleeping with their Lord. They had 2 days off before having to be back on the road for house shows, which were always fun. Chyna would be there and her revenge could begin on the Amazon. Walking into one of the rooms of the 3-story mansion, Tahlia set her bag on the bed and looked around, not surprised the décor was black and gray with a gothic tinge. She sat down on the bed and began rifling through her things to try finding something to do or occupy her time with.

He had brought them home with him simply because he had received notice that McMahon was looking to have individual chats with his employees. His employees indeed…the last thing Taker needed was the boss poking his nose where it wasn't wanted. That, and he needed to see how they all interacted together. Paul had voiced some concerns and he paid attention to Paul when the older man actually spoke an opinion.

"Is everything to your liking?" He asked, leaning in the open doorway of her room, arms folded over his chest.

Tahlia looked up at him and nodded, setting her Walkman down on the bed, standing up. "Yes, sir."

How could it not be? She had her own private bathroom, the bed could probably fit 5 of him and the room even had its own television with cable. Tahlia didn't watch much television; there was never any time in her line of work. Music was another passion of hers though and, instead of using the radio, she decided to splurge a bit and bought a Walkman with a headset. There was no more disturbing the master or anyone else for that matter just because she enjoyed blaring music in her ears.

"You have a beautiful place." It was also out in the middle of nowhere, which should've unnerved her, but instead all she felt was peace.

"Thank you."

Taker took great pride in his home. It was his personal project and it wasn't finished. It was something he had been working on for years. He had bought the house, a fixer upper, gutted it and began restoring it to his taste. Even the furniture was custom-made, based on his own designs.

"You should see the grounds." His emerald orbs flashed wickedly for a moment, wondering how she'd do in his little maze. "There is a gym, in the lower level, underground. If you wish to work out or spar." With him, and his tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip.

The first part of what he said caught her attention. "The grounds?" She echoed, feeling her curiosity peak and tilted her head slightly at the wicked gleam in his eyes. "Well, if you're not busy, why don't you show me what you're talking about?"

Tahlia was dying for a tour and wanted to do it with him, walking over to stand in front of him. Sparring with him in this house sounded like a delicious idea too, but that could wait until later. Since Texas was warm, even in the month of January, she had on a pair of black Capri's with a dark purple tank top, her hair braided to hang over her left shoulder.

Nodding, he led the way outside, taking the back stairs, through the large pantry, out the doors into the kitchen and a side door outside. He was aware his house was a bit large for one person…hell, it was a bit large for a family of 9, but he liked it this way. Spending hours trying to memorize the layout and still miss something. Taker guided her down the slope that led to a large hedge, an opening and gated entrance to his 'back yard'. He was comfortable, in black skin-tight jeans and nothing else, not even shoes. Knowing the layout, where not to walk, Taker was perfectly comfortable.

"Well…?" He gestured her through the gate and into the maze.

Any normal woman would've been terrified out of her mind to venture into a maze with this man, but not Tahlia. Her trust in him was complete and she knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her. She was his property, his minion and one of his warriors to fight for him in the upcoming war with the Corporation. Tahlia walked through the gate and into the maze without hesitation, looking around at the tall hedges and felt him behind her, his body heat soaking through her skin. It was exquisite and she could tell, if one didn't know where they were going, getting lost would be very easy.

Getting out would be difficult and she wondered if Taker had sent people in here to their demise, immediately shoving that thought of her mind. The man wasn't a murderer or a cult leader, nobody was here that didn't want to be. When she came to a crossing, a fork, Tahlia chewed her bottom lip and went left, remembering Taker telling her how she always favored the right side whenever sparring.

He couldn't help noticing she had started veering right before hesitating and going left, remembering their sparring session and simply trailed behind her. His bare feet made no noise on the cool grass as she navigated her way through. She'd get turned out, stuck at a dead-end, but he noticed she was committing those pathways to memory, never taking the same one twice unless it was to loop back to an offshoot. Good. Taker timed her, wondering how long it would take Tahlia to reach the center, which held his personal little retreat in the form of a fire pit, some outdoor furniture and hot tub.

I went left, so I should go right this time - then left again, every other turn, Tahlia thought, nodding to reassure herself she was doing the right thing. This wasn't as hard as it looked, if one knew what they were doing. She did, to an extent. Another fork and she'd gone right the last time, so it was another left. If Taker designed this, he did an excellent job, though it was an easy navigation once she figured out the pattern. Left and right, not the other way around or the person got stuck and had to backtrack from the beginning. It took her exactly 10 minutes before they came out the other side, Tahlia grinning at the fire pit surrounded by comfortable furniture and…was that a hot tub? It'd been a while since she had a good long soak in one of those.

"That was fun, definitely made me think and kept me on my toes." She admitted, turning to look up into his eyes while speaking. "This is really nice back here."

"It's relaxing."

Dropping down onto a chaise, specifically designed to hold his weight and height, Taker was not the average sized person. Most furniture could hold his weight, usually, but for his height he was generally screwed. 6'10 giants were not the normal. He let a leg dangle over the edge, propping his elbow on the pillow and his head against his palm as he considered her.

"You picked up the pattern quite quickly. Remembered the left." It was sort of a compliment and he gestured for her to sit as well.

"I remember everything you tell me." Tahlia admitted openly, sitting down in the seat next to his chaise and lulled her head back against the cushion provided. "You're right, it is relaxing out here. Hell, if this was my place I'd never want to leave."

Though, he'd only been able to have this place because of what they did for a living, working their backsides off traveling 300+ days out of the year. Wrestling wasn't cut out for everyone and only those who could steel themselves from being homesick or away from families persevered. The stars had come out, glistening on them one by one along with the moon and Tahlia couldn't remember ever seeing them so clear before. Probably due to the fact she lived in a small studio apartment in the middle of New York City. She hated it and planned on moving somewhere else eventually since she was never home. Maybe Texas could be her next destination; it was warm and peaceful, at least where Taker had taken them.

"One day, I won't leave." He said musingly, turning so he was lying flat on his back and stared up into the night sky. This was something he tended to miss while on the road. So many cities, and all that light pollution, tended to block out the stars. "I'll come home and it'll be my final time coming back." That would be the day he retired and Taker did not see that day anywhere in the immediate future. "Why did you agree to join the Ministry? Or is it a career move?" He wasn't stupid; he knew he was a superstar in this sport and her association with him would catapult her career faster.

Honesty, she had vowed to him to never lie and Tahlia wouldn't start now. "At first, I didn't think we had a choice in the matter. Once chosen, that was it, your fate was sealed. But then Paul explained to us what exactly you're doing and wanting to accomplish, giving us an out. I didn't want to pass that up. I mean, yes, my career benefits from this because of who you are. I'd be stupid not to take the offer and opportunity to learn from you. Honestly, I don't know why you chose me. I consider it an honor, but I didn't think you'd want a woman in your ranks. You just never seemed to go that route with your career, so being the only woman chosen to join you is…well, a privilege. And I won't squander it, for however long it lasts. I want to learn all I can from you. This will only make me stronger, better and eventually I WILL dominate the women's division of the WWF. That will start with taking back what's rightfully mine." The Women's championship.

He knew what rightfully was hers. She was referring to the Women's championship and couldn't blame her. Taker had tasted gold and wanted it back, the power and prestige, what it represented. The best. The strongest. The most talented. The whole kit and caboodle. Or, that's what those belts had represented before the McMahon's decided to crap on everything.

"Fair enough."

Taker lapsed back into silence for a while, eventually pushing himself up and stretched. It was dark out and going back was not on his list of things to do right now. Not when he was enjoying the downtime. Instead, he retrieved wood from the neat log pile that was always well stocked and got a fire going, looking over towards the hot tub. A few minutes later, Taker had it started up and removed his jeans.

Tahlia had seen his bare backside already, so it didn't bother her that he was stripping. However, she averted her eyes away from him to stare into the fire, letting the tranquility take her away. That was until a shadow loomed over her and her eyes stared back at the huge hand being offered to her. She took it and stood up, unable to deny her master anything. Taker guided her over to the bubbly hot tub and gestured silently with his hand, blatantly giving her an invitation.

Did she take it and risk trouble brewing between them or play it safe and decline? Lifting her tank top up and over her head, Tahlia wore a dark purple bra beneath that was cotton and slipped her shorts off as well, revealing a matching pair of panties. She hated silk, having only worn it for the initiation at his request. Everything she had worn that night was picked out by Taker. The wound on her hip was now nothing more than a scabbed over T with spikes symbol, so the hot water wouldn't make it worse since it was mostly healed.

Basically, she wore plain underwear and that was... interesting. He openly perused her, finally shrugging and stepped into the water, hissing as it made contact with his skin. Taker settled himself in one of the built-in seats, gesturing for her to join him. At this point, Taker was wondering just what he would have to say or do to prompt a reaction from her that was decidedly against what he wanted.

"Come here." He ordered, crooking a finger at her while tapping his thigh with the other hand.

Time to test that out.

They were treading on dangerous ground doing this, but Tahlia was resolute in her vow to him. Anything he wanted, she'd truly meant those words. Moving over to him as her body sliced through the bubbly hot water, Tahlia could feel the temperature rising within her, her blood stirring and had to think of every disgusting thing on the planet to get through this. Taker was completely naked beneath the water; what kind of purgatory or hell was this? Settling down on his lap, amber eyes trailed up his chest until they met intense slightly dark green. They reminded her of a fern, which was a weird thought to have considering the predicament she was in. Tahlia wanted to reach out and touch him, but instead kept her hands clasped in her lap, being mindful not to brush against any other part of his body.

Well this wouldn't do.

She was doing what he said, but was also hesitant and tried to still put distance between them. He sensed there was indeed a limit. "No." Taker grabbed her waist to move her, pushing his massive thigh up until she straddled it, facing him and guided her hands to rest palms against his shoulders. "Better." He tilted his head back, letting his hair float in the water as he just sat there, enjoying the weight of Tahlia on him and wondered how long she would suffer this, a smirk curving his mouth.

What was he doing to her?

How far would this go?

She could feel his slightly hardened erection brush up against her wet panty covered crotch and swallowed hard, trying to focus on something else. So, she began kneading his shoulders and could feel how tense he was, wondering when was the last time he had a proper massage. Tahlia heard his low purr and applied a little pressure to her thumbs since they were doing most of the work. While doing this, she studied the tattoo on his neck and let her eyes trail down to where it met the others, admiring the artwork he had. She had a few tattoos, though they weren't nearly as covering as his, though most could be seen at the moment.

"How does that feel? You're really tense." Tahlia murmured softly, finally deciding to work on one shoulder at a time with both of her hands because, doing them both at once, wasn't doing him any favors or breaking the muscles down.

"If you ever decide professional wrestling is not working out, I'll hire you on as a personal massage artist." Because she was definitely a master artist with those delicate hands of hers. "There isn't much time for... working out the tensions." Taker admitted after a moment, tipping his head to give her better access to his neck, his hands moving to her hips to pull her closer.

"Yes there is. You just have to make the time for yourself." Tahlia hadn't disagreed with him once until now, always finding time for herself even being in the Ministry. It wasn't a long stretch, but there were times she had alone she enjoyed and, in this business, one had to put themselves first before anyone else. "You work so hard. You deserve to be taken care of." Being drawn closer to him made her want to relax him more, enjoying having Undertaker turn putty in her hands. "And wrestling is my passion, I just know the body and how to mold it to do what I want, nothing more."

Her disagreeing with him here didn't count because she wasn't actively trying to disagree with him based on a principle. Only in an effort to encourage him to apparently take better care of himself. Taking her hands, he guided them down his chest to his abdomen, letting her work her magic there.

"And what is it, exactly, you want, Tahlia? Right now?"