It had been a month and Roman had taken it slow and easy around her, just getting to know her more and more and he liked everything about her. She still held back, hesitated often, didn't really wanna talk much about her and Brock. Roman could wait. One day she would tell him. He was sure of it.
"You stink," she giggled as he put his arm around her shoulders.
"On my way to the shower," he informed her.
"You better be with that stench coming from your armpits," she said.
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head before letting go of her.
"Come out with us tonight," he said.
"You know the party scene really isn't my thing," she said.
"One drink," he held up a finger. "Please."
"Just one," she smiled.
"Yes, that's what I'm talking about," he smiled back. "I'll catch you in catering once I'm ready."
He started walking down the hallway to get to the locker room.
"Use some god damn deodorant!" She called after him.
"Anything for you, pretty girl!" He called back.
She looked around at the bar they had taken her to. At least they had found a somewhat quiet place if any bar could be called that. A place where they could be left alone without any crazy fans jumping them.
"So what can I get you?" He asked.
"You don't have to pay," she said.
"I know I don't have to but just let me," he smiled. "What's your poison?"
"A screwdriver," she said.
"A simple drink," he chuckled.
"I can just get a beer instead if you prefer," she said.
"You shouldn't drink what I prefer. Do you want that screwdriver or something else?" He asked.
She nodded and he walked to the bar to buy their drinks.
"You alright there?" Seth asked.
He leaned over the table and patted her hand but she quickly pulled it away from him. He knew it wasn't personal. Roman had told him about how she seemed to be frightened of every man's touch. Everyone but Roman that was. She was getting used to him always hugging her and leaving kisses on her cheeks and forehead.
"You don't go out much?" Seth continued.
"Not really," she said.
"Hopefully you'll love it and come out with us more," he said.
"It's just one drink and then I'm leaving," she said.
"You sure about that?" He cracked a sideways smile.
"Roman said I could leave after one drink," she started to become nervous. "I can leave, right? Do I have to stay?"
"Calm down," he eased her mind. "If Roman said so, of course you can leave. Even if he didn't, you're still free to leave. No one's keeping you here against your will."
A dark yellow drink was put down in front of her and she looked up to see Roman sitting down next to her with a beer in his hand.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," he said.
She drank her drink slowly while she tried to smile and answer when people talked to her. The party life really wasn't her scene but she didn't wanna make Roman think she wasn't happy that he invited her because she was. She liked being around him and she wanted to get to know his friends too. He smiled at her as he placed a hand between her shoulder blades and leaned in to talk lowly to her.
"You're still not comfortable?" He asked.
"Not really," she confessed as she looked down. "I'm sorry, Roman, you were so kind to invite me and I'm just being a little bitch bringing your mood down."
"Stop," his voice was still gentle. "Don't apologize for something you haven't done. My mood is still good. How can it not be when I got a pretty girl by my side?"
She let out a little giggle as she looked up at him again.
"However, I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I forced that pretty girl to stay here when she clearly doesn't like it. You wanna go back to the hotel?" He asked.
"You should stay with your friends. It's not that far. I can go by myself," she said.
"I'm getting tired and I do have a title match tomorrow," he said.
Of course she had to be reminded that RAW 25 was next day. It was a huge deal. 25 years on television. Roman was defending the Intercontinental championship against The Miz in a rematch. It also meant someone else was coming.
"Brock's coming," she said.
"Tomorrow," he reminded her. "He's not here tonight so keep that smile a little longer."
He stood up and reached his hand out to her. As always she hesitated a couple of seconds before finally taking it and allowing him to pull her to her feet. He said goodbye to everyone and they walked back to the hotel side by side. At least she didn't walk a step behind him anymore. She had only done that the day he had made her leave catering with him.
"Are you alright?" He asked as they stood in the elevator. "You seem more nervous than normal."
"I'm fine," she said.
"Is it because Brock is coming back tomorrow?" He asked.
The brief look of fear that flashed through her eyes made him know he had hit it right on the nail. He was about to take her hand and say something comforting when the elevator stopped on her floor and the door opened. He looked at her and expected her to leave but she just stood there. The door started closing again but he caught it with his hand and made it open again.
"Gemma?" He asked.
"I wanna tell you something," she said.
"You can tell me anything," he said.
"Will you come to my room with me?" She asked.
"Of course," he answered.
She finally walked out of the elevator and he followed her to her room. Once inside they sat down next to each other on the bed and she rubbed her hands together while trying to find the words.
"Just take a deep breath," he said.
He took one of her hands in his and gently caressed it.
"My mom died when I was 7," she said.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said.
"Brock was 22 at the time and he took me in. Dad wasn't really interested in having me around so Brock took over the parenting duty instead," she said.
He watched her as she took a couple of deep breaths before continuing.
"So you see, it's always been him and I. He's taken care of me for so long. I owe him everything," she said.
"No, you really don't," he said. "But you owe it to yourself to start living the way you want to."
"I don't know how," she said.
"What have you been doing the last month?" He asked with a smile.
He was right. She had been standing on her own two feet with a lot of help from Roman though but she had been there alone. She went home to Brock's house for the few days off each week but she had already proved that she could take care of herself.
"When did he first hit you?" He asked.
"I don't remember," she looked down.
"I think you do. You probably don't want do remember but I don't think you can forget," he said.
"Three weeks after I moved in. I spilled a glass of milk at dinner and he got so angry. He was screaming at me if I thought he had cows in the garden we could milk for free and then he backhanded me so hard that I fell out of the chair and landed on the floor," she started crying. "I got so scared of him that day."
"And that fear never went away," he added. "How could it when he continued beating you up?"
She shook her head and choked back a sob. He gently grabbed her head and made her look at him while running his thumbs over her cheeks to dry them.
"Brock is not a good man and you don't owe him anything," he said.
She managed to put on a little smile through her tears.
"You shine bright like a gemstone when you smile. Your eyes always get this little sparkle in them," he said.
"A gemstone?" She giggled sadly.
"You prefer pretty girl?" He put on a sideways smile.
"Actually I do," she said.
"Huh, how about that?" His smile burned brighter. "You didn't actually ask me what I want you to prefer? Could it be that you're starting to trust your own mind?"
She blushed but she didn't look down as she usually did. That sparkle in her eyes was back as she looked at him. His hands were still on her cheeks, slowly stroking his thumbs over her soft skin. He leaned a bit closer as he looked her in the eyes.
"Pretty girl," he said lowly.
"I wanna kiss you," she said.
Her eyes widened when she realized she had said it out loud instead of just thinking it. Before she could apologize or move away, he closed the gap between them and kissed her. When they broke apart, that sparkle in her eyes was even brighter than before.
"I've been wanting to kiss you ever since I knocked you over in the hallway," he confessed.
"Same here," she smiled.
"Before we go any further, I need to know some things since I can't imagine Brock letting you date with the way he's always on your back," he said.
"He doesn't but that doesn't mean I haven't," she said.
He leaned back a little with a smirk on his face.
"Wait, you actually got a rebellious side after all?" He asked.
"Only when he's on the road. Sable used to drive me to the library but when she figured out how boring it was, she allowed me to take one of their cars," she said.
"Okay, what can go wrong in a library?" He asked.
"When I was 19, one of the librarians asked me out. He was my first everything. We snuck around for a year without them ever finding out," she said.
"You bad girl," he chuckled.
"There's been a few others after him. I don't always go to the library but Brock and Sable don't know that. I've met other guys over the years and dated some. Most of them were okay with me having to keep them secret. The last one wasn't," she said.
"What happened?" He asked.
"This guy named Travis. We only dated for a few months and he was really possessive, like Brock. So I ended it. When I went on a date with someone else and Travis saw us at the diner, he called Brock to tell him where to find me. Poor guy never saw it coming. Brock beat him up pretty bad and then he took me home and slapped me around before calling Vince and demanding a job for me," she said.
She took his hand and moved it up to place it back on her cheek, closing her eyes as she felt his fingertips brush over her skin.
"So you're not a virgin," he finally said.
She opened her eyes and was met with a cheeky smile that made her laugh.
"No, I'm not," she said.
"Good, because I don't wanna scare you," he said.
"Scare me?" She looked down at his crotch. "How much are you packing down there?"
"Well, I don't wanna brag," he said.
"Too late," she said.
He grinned at her before pulling her up on his lap and kissing her again. His lips trailed over her jaw and down to her neck before leaving a pattern up to her ear.
"Not tonight though," he said. "With everything you just told me and how nervous you already are about him coming back tomorrow, I'm not gonna take advantage of you."
She didn't say anything and when he leaned out to look at her, she was biting her bottom lip and looking at the wall. Clearly her mind was working overtime again and he knew her thoughts probably weren't good.
"Talk to me," he said.
"Do you actually want me?" She asked.
"Do I want you?" He looked at her surprised.
He took her hand and moved it to his crotch so she could feel his erection through his jeans.
"Do you feel that, pretty girl? That's what you're doing to me from a kiss alone," he said. "So don't ever doubt if I want you, because yes, I want you so fucking bad that it's nearly killing me to walk out of this room."
"So stay," she said.
She squeezed him lightly through his jeans and he had to grab her hand again and move it away in order to not throw her on the bed and tear her clothes off.
"You're really not making this easy for me," he gave her a quick kiss before lifting her off his lap and standing up. "We just need to get through next week with the 25 show and the Royal Rumble coming up. As soon as Brock is far gone again, your ass is mine."
She stood up too and ran her fingers up his shirt.
"And what are you gonna do to me once he's gone?" She asked.
"Where has this seductress been hiding all along?" He laughed. "Good things, pretty girl. All good things. I promise."