Chapter 43
"Fine – fine." He conceded, throwing up his hands in defeat. Taker did not miss the surprised look that spread across her face. "You're a big girl, the hotel incident notwithstanding." And there was the sour look, because he had mentioned it without actually calling her out on it. "Maybe I shouldn't teach you to box…" Because one day, she might try to take off his head and smirked at the thought.
She smirked back at him, socking him playfully in the arm and held her hands up in a boxing stance. "Come on, boss, show me what you got."
Taker had shadow boxed his entire wrestling career, so he knew the proper stance to take and what to do. Rotating hips when throwing a punch helped alleviate pressure off the hand and keeping your arms straight also helped. Tahlia was a fast learner, so it took no time for her to catch onto boxing as they began throwing jabs at each other. When Taker nailed her in the jaw, however, Tahlia had to back up a minute, shaking herself mentally and went back to it.
When he had nailed her in the jaw, Taker hadn't even bothered succumbing to the impulse to call a time out so he could check her over. He knew she wouldn't be overly appreciative of him coddling. Tahlia hadn't swayed past what he would consider normal after taking that hit, nor were her eyes doing anything odd. She regained her balance quickly and had also seemed to learn something from it because, the next time she darted to the side, grabbed his wrist and followed through with a twist that had him cringing.
"That's not boxing." He grunted, though also amused.
"I know." Tahlia sounded pleased, releasing his wrist and ducked at the next fist that came her way, using her speed to her advantage.
She made sure to keep her wrist straight, increasing the velocity of the punch and nailed him in the shoulder. Sweat glistened on her body as they continued; Tahlia would have a few bruises from Taker, but as far as she was concerned, they were badges of honor. Every scar, every bruise…it was all worth it since she wasn't exactly in the safest sport. When Taker twisted her arm behind her back to hold her in place, she looked at him over her shoulder and felt his tongue slide up her neck.
"We're not supposed to be playing right now, Taker."
"Mmm, seduction is just another form of war."
He chuckled wickedly in her ear when she hissed and wrapped his other arm around her, holding her tightly against him as he fastened his mouth against the crook of her neck. Taker considered having his way with her here in the gym. When her hand moved to the front of his shorts, he was regretting his choice in words. Shorts did nothing to hide erections and it was made worse when someone walked in.
"Don't. You. Dare." He hissed in her ear when she made to move away.
Tahlia had a malevolent streak to her, however, and squeezed the front of his shorts, her backside hiding what she was doing. She didn't let go; seduction was a form of war indeed, one she planned on winning. He growled low in her ear as the people walked by them, not paying attention to what they were doing. With quick reflexes and her own strength, Tahlia managed to twist to face him and grinned evilly, doing a backflip away from him.
"I think you need a cold shower, dark one." She stated cheekily, planting her hands on her hips and could tell he was embarrassed.
The Undertaker was RED.
The first word that popped into Taker's brain began with a capital B, but he managed to keep from spitting that one out. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose when his overly proud erection was noticed by someone besides Tahlia. He was going to have to kill someone at work tonight, just to regain some face. Without even thinking about it, he made his way to her, ears red as his face and hoisted her up, smacking her ass very audibly.
"You're going to pay for that, pet." He promised darkly.
"Mmm looking forward to it." Amber eyes glittered wickedly, not a hint of regret anywhere in her body language and wiggled her backside in his face since he'd hoisted her up over his shoulder. "I thought I told you it wasn't time to play." She wasn't surprised to be carted into the nearby shower room for her 'punishment', which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Everyone could use a protein shake every now and then.
"Well so much for THAT workout." She commented an hour later, brushing her wet hair and smiled when Taker took over to braid it for her. "Thank you, love." Tahlia purred, watching him in the reflection of the mirror. "Want me to do yours?" Her body was still wrapped in a towel, not having a chance to get dressed yet.
"If you promise to behave yourself."
He gestured her over imperiously, his arrogance back in full swing. She had been punished, thoroughly, and looked like she hadn't learned her lesson, at all. Maybe he'd have to punish her some more later. Taker moved so she could kneel behind him on the bed, feeling her fingers toying with his hair for a moment before the brush following.
"Remind me to wear something more… confining next time, teasing cheat."
Tahlia couldn't wipe the smile off her face even if a gun was pressed to her head. She leaned forward, stopping the brushing for a moment and flicked his ear with her tongue. "Or you could wear nothing at all." She giggled at his warning growl and wrapped her arms around his neck in a loving embrace. "Admit it though, you love when I tease you because then it gives you the perfect opportunity to punish me." Then she went back to brushing his hair, both of them sharing another laugh together and began the braiding process. "There, all done and now I'm going to get dressed before we get ourselves in trouble again."
Female logic made absolutely no sense. He loved being teased, sure. Taker did not like having to walk around, in public, with a very visible erection. He was going to have to beat her or something; she had lost her fear of him completely. Rolling his eyes, Taker let her walk away after he had pulled the towel off of her, whistling at the delicious view.
"Now who's being the tease?" Tahlia called back, shaking her head and redressed in fresh jeans and a purple tank top. She was still part of the Ministry and the color scheme stood. Since she'd been a bad girl during their workout session, Tahlia would do what she could to obey Taker for the rest of the night. "Ready to go?" She asked sweetly, extending her hand and felt his swallow hers whole. It was a great feeling and their hands fit perfectly together. Once they were back in their room, Tahlia decided she knew the perfect way to make things up to Taker. "Stay put while I change into this for you." They had plenty of time left before needing to go to the arena. She grabbed the dress off the hook and went into the bathroom to change, making sure to lock the door so he couldn't sneak a peek.
He had a very horrible thought and squished it down, smirking. Instead, Taker reclined backward on the bed to wait, propping his body up with his elbows. He could hear her shuffling in there, remembering her saying something about it being a pain to get into, or needing help, something or other.
"Need a hand, precious?" He called out, not overly expecting a reply.
"Be out in a minute…or three." Tahlia responded, shuffling into the dress and managed to clasp the halter around her neck without help.
It was a miracle. Staring in the mirror, Tahlia placed her braided hair over her shoulder and smoothed the dress down, trying to gain some self-confidence. She had no idea what Taker would think or how he'd react. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped out, shutting the light off.
"Go ahead; laugh and get it over with."
"What the fuck, woman?" Taker demanded, blinking as his eyes tried to adjust to the sudden change from light to near pitch black, their curtains were drawn. Standing up, he made his way back to the light to flip it on, hearing her dress rustling as she moved around again and turned. "Tahlia…" He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Get out of the closet." Green eyes widened when she reluctantly did so. "Jesus…"
This bathroom was very unique because the closet was connected to it. It was an actual walk-in closet, which was a weird design. She hadn't meant to walk into the closet, but hadn't paid much attention to what she was doing either. Tahlia bought this dress for all the wrong reasons, the main being she'd thought of what she'd wear for a wedding to Taker. Not Shane. This was the perfect dress for the dark wedding, but it was also a little over the top as well. She looked like a gothic Disney princess for Christ sakes! Her eyes remained on the floor as Tahlia clasped her hands in front of her and waited for his critique.
"It's too much, isn't it?"
"No… no, it's not." He said, awe in his voice as he took her in. "You're so beautiful, Tahlia." Taker walked over to stare down at her, afraid to touch her almost, afraid he'd ruin the perfect vision before him. "The dress isn't too much, you are stunning in it." It was a shame she was wearing it for Shane, he would much prefer her to wear it for him.
Her cheeks had flared up and were a deep crimson as Taker kept circling her, keeping her arms at her side. "I um…I bought a black veil to go with it."
Why was she shy all of a sudden and self-conscious? She normally didn't dress up like this…for anyone. In order to make Shane McMahon fully believe she was really marrying him, it had to be done right, starting with the dress. They had to make him believe every single moment, right down to when she informed the McMahon heir she would kill him to reap the benefits of his inheritance and use it to burn WWF to the ground. To burn his family's legacy to the ground. They just had to figure out when to take Shane hostage and have the dark wedding.
Taker was having a problem. "I don't want Shane to see you in this." He admitted his issue. "You are too beautiful in this… to waste on him, even for this dark wedding game."
He ran a finger slowly down her check, down the column of her beautiful throat, and along the front part of the halter top. His palm skimmed down her ribcage, finally splaying on her waist and drew her closer to him. Biting her bottom lip at his words, Tahlia slid her hands up his muscular arms and sighed softly, gazing into his emerald eyes.
"Taker…" The whole point of buying this dress in the first place was for the dark wedding. "I bought it…for you. I thought of you when I picked it out. I wanted to make you proud…" It wasn't easy being the only female in a group full of men. Tahlia somehow pulled it off though and wouldn't have it any other way. "If you don't want me to wear it for the dark wedding, I'll find another one…or you can have Paul pick it out. And that's my choice, not my subservient nature kicking in, just so you know."
Groaning inwardly, Taker tried to decide what to do, more importantly, what he wanted her to do. He wanted her to wear the dress. She had picked it out and looked absolutely ravishing in it.
"Wear it." He ordered, taking a deep breath and nodding, not wanting it to go to waste. "You're gorgeous in it, wear it."
"Just remember, at the end of the night, it's you I'll be with…and you can help me out of this dress." Tahlia slid her finger down his chest and grabbed his face to passionately kiss him, groaning when there was a knock on the door. "I'll give you 3 guesses who that is. Go answer it and talk while I change out of this. I'm glad you like it." Pecking him once again, Tahlia made her way into the bathroom and closed the door just as Taker opened the door for Paul.
"So, I heard an interesting bit of gossip on my way up here," Paul said by way of greeting, ignoring the warning growl from Taker. "Something about you and Tahlia being in the gym together not so long ago… and you sporting uh…"
"I dare you."
"Well, since you're the Deadman… having rigor mortis issues, were we?"
Yes, Taker would have to kill someone tonight, no two ways about it. Tahlia had destroyed his reputation with a single hard-on.
Tahlia overheard the slightly high-pitched voice of Paul and began laughing, unable to help herself. She was out of the dress in record time and redressed in the jeans and purple tank top. "At least people know he's not really dead." She commented slyly, walking over to give Paul a hug and pointed at her stitches. "Please tell me these are ready to come out. Or I'll be forced to take them out myself. I'd rather you do it, preferably." They were driving her bonkers and she'd reached her breaking point with the tightness. "Also, concussion test. I need to get back in that ring and rip Sable's hair out of her skull, wrap it around her slender throat and choke her with it."
"I say leave them in and make her suffer." He wasn't overly amused. There was GOSSIP about his penis.
"Now – now…" Paul was examining the staples, and the area around them, gently examining with his fingers as well. "No need to punish the girl because you're like some randy teenage boy who can't control himself."
"Old man, I will slit your throat."
"Try me, Stiff."
"Don't worry, Brother Paul, I will protect you." Tahlia grinned, sitting down on the bed while he examined her head and had to contain her excitement when he informed her they were coming out. "I love you. Have I said that recently? I freaking love you! Okay, I'm calm let's do it." Taking a deep breath, Tahlia closed her eyes while he began plucking them out one at a time, after slapping on some gloves and grabbing his tray to drop them into. "Will there be scarring?"
"Unfortunately yes, but it won't be noticeable unless the camera is right up in your face."
Tahlia made a mental note to make sure to give Sable a scar that WOULD show up on camera.
"Scars are admirable." He offered input just in case Tahlia was upset over it. He didn't think that it would look all that bad; it was just a reminder she was tough as nails.
"In your case, they add to your beauty." Paul said, praising her shamelessly with a grin, though he kept his eyes on the work. "Healing is clean… the scars will be minimal, Tahlia."
"Badges of honor…" Tahlia had a few of them on her body from years of battles. "I'm not worried at all, but thank you, Taker."
She smiled up at him before looking straight ahead while Paul finished up with the staples. He put Neosporin on it to help heal it faster along with a bandage. Then, he began the concussion test, doing exactly as she was told and passing with flying colors. She was set to go back into the ring that night, if she wanted to.
"We have bigger fish to fry and it starts with the Corporation. They attacked me from behind like cowards…so I say, tonight, we'll do the same thing to them. Let's take them out one at a time…until there's only one left. And then take him and destroy him mentally and emotionally." Her eyes looked up at Taker, an evil smile on her face full of vengeance and malicious intentions. "Sound good to you, boss?"
"Sounds like fun." Taker could only imagine the fear that would spread through their ranks as they realized that even with more people in their little club, they were still being taken out one by one, bit by bit. A wicked smile spread across his face. "Sounds like a good time indeed."
"I'll let the rest of the Ministry know we're going hunting, shall I?"
"You shall indeed."