Chapter 27

The following day, Grace spoke to Larry and explained everything, being brutally honest with him. She told him she wasn't sure if she could separate professional from personal life, but willing to give it one more shot. When Larry pulled her in for a hug, Grace was shocked, though she patted the man's back a smile on her face. She promised to try not letting him down again and wasn't surprised when he put her on a type of probation. Basically, she had to stay her full shift and not leave either before or during it unless it was a life or death situation. Grace agreed and got to work, glad Larry had given her another chance. She had a feeling Vince had something to do with that and would have to thank him later for it.

Larry could only hope she didn't disappoint, he seen a lot of potential in Grace and knew she would be perfect as his replacement when he retired in a few years, providing she could overcome this hurdle. Of course it didn't help when a delivery of a dozen of emerald green and gold artificially colored roses were brought in for her. "I'm going to kick someone's ass." He muttered, passing her a large glass jar.

Grace blinked and stared at the roses, quickly putting them in the corner of her work space, biting her bottom lip. "Sorry." She whispered, knowing she had to keep the professional stance and grabbed the card that was inside the flowers, opening it. She could hear Larry mumbling and giggled in spite of herself. The flowers were beautiful and judging by the colors alone, she knew who they were from.

Grace took a deep breath before reading what the card said:

Gold symbolizes prosperity and wisdom.

Green life and fertility.

Apply all of that to our future.

"So, what the hell did the Stiff have to say?" Larry sighed, trying not to act TOO curious.

Her eyes sparkled as she held the card to her chest, not even caring that Larry just insulted Mark. "Nothing, we need to get to work." She stated, sliding the card in her back pocket, and walked over to clean up her side of the room.

She couldn't believe how sweet he was, sending her flowers. Grace had never gotten flowers from a man, but Mark didn't know that. Hell, he didn't even know how many partners she'd had. Besides Steve, which was awkward as hell and something she never wanted to think about again, there were two before Mark. She knew he was probably more experienced than her, but that didn't stop Grace from wanting him or loving him unconditionally.

~!~

"You sent her flowers...Are you ill?"

"Nope." Mark replied, not glancing at Paul as he shadow boxed. "They were gold and green."

Sometimes the change between man and boy, dark and light within Mark astounded the hell out of Paul.

~!~

Grace couldn't stop looking at the flowers and decided to go thank Mark personally for them. She walked down to the Ministry's locker room, on her half hour break, wearing a black tank top with blue jeans and knocked twice. She stepped back when Paul answered the door and ran a hand through her hair.

"Is Mark in there?" She asked quietly, staring back at her father. She seen the pain in his eyes and felt her heart break, but she couldn't forgive him, not yet. He had taken something very important away from her. In time, they would reconcile, but not right now.

Paul sighed and opened the door wider, revealing Mark bare from the waist up, wearing nothing, but his wrestling tights and boots. His black hair was back in a loose tail as he boxed. "'Taker..."

"Busy, Paulie."

She had RUINED him.

"Thank you for the flowers, they were magnificent." She said when the door closed, knowing her father was probably listening their conversation. Grace smiled as he grabbed her hand and pulled her against him, staring into his green eyes, and moaned when his head dipped to softly kiss her lips, her hand pressing gently against his face. When he pulled back, she was breathless and was glad his arm was still around her because her knees felt like they would give out on her. "I have to go, I just wanted to thank you properly." She softly murmured, smiling when he kissed her again, this time a little more passionate and demanding.

Paul rolled his eyes heavenward, turning to a book he was currently reading, considering excusing himself, but knew that would encourage them to...Oh dear Lord. "'Taker, fifteen minutes."

"Screw the match." He growled against Grace's lips, pulling her body flush with his, one hand moving down to squeeze her ass, smirking when she jumped.

"I really have to get back to Larry." She whispered, pressing her forehead to his and kissed him again, not making an effort to get away from him. Hell, she would rather stay with him for the rest of her life than do her job, but she knew she couldn't do that. She was on probation. She laughed when he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist, and hugged him tightly around the neck. "I love you." She whispered in his ear, pulling back to stare into his blazing green eyes. "But you have a job to do and so do I. We'll have more time together tonight."

He groaned, rolling his eyes heavenward. "Maybe I don't want to wait." Mark murmured huskily. "Maybe I want you, I need you, right this very minute."

Dear God, right in front of him? Paul cleared his throat, hoping to remind them he was still present.

"Feel free to leave anytime, Paul."

"You have to wait." Grace giggled back at him, not able to help herself, loving the power he possessed when he held her against him like this. "I can't be late...Mark..." She groaned when he began kissing down her neck, already melting into putty against him. It took every ounce of willpower to pull away from him, though her skin was flushed and her heart was pounding in her chest. "You have a match, go kick some ass, I'll finish up with Larry and then we can go back to the hotel and continue this." She ran her finger down his face and moaned when he kissed her again, wrapping her arms around his neck. Screw Larry, she could always find another job because what he was doing to her body at this moment was driving her crazy.

Five minutes. "'Taker, five to go and it's ACROSS THE DAMN BUILDING!"

"So I'll no show." He was a little occupied with Grace. She was much more important than the match. "Mmmm..."

"Heavyweight title contender's match and you're going to NO SHOW?"

He ALMOST dropped her. "Aw shit."

Grace gasped as she quickly jumped out of his arms, taking this moment of weakness to get away, and kissed him quickly. "Good luck." She stated before zooming out of the room and down the hallway toward Larry. She was giggling the whole time, hearing Mark's growl behind her, and knew she would pay for that later on as she slowed to a walk. "I'm two minutes early." She announced, walking in, and laughed when she was called a smartass.

Needing a cold shower, but knowing there was no time, Mark just shot Paul a dirty look and headed out to the ring, pulling his top up on his way out the door, grunting and decided he needed a new costume. He was late for his cue, but that was alright, the show didn't start till he got in the ring anyway. He smirked before stepping out onto the stage. He'd vent some energy on his opponent and finish with Grace later.

The night went smoothly, Grace rolling her eyes every time Larry made a crack about her flowers, and shook her head as she finished up with Al Snow before sending him on his way. "Anything else tonight, Larry?" She asked, walking over to grab her flowers, not able to wipe the smile from her face as he shook his head and grunted a 'no'. "See you tomorrow." She called over her shoulder and walked out, fingering a rose, deciding she was definitely going to keep at least one of them since she wouldn't be able to take them on the road with her.

"Pretty roses." Steve fell into step beside her, his bag over his shoulder, freshly showered and in his street clothes. "Hmmm...green and gold...What the hell kinda roses are those?" He joked, not needing to be a brain surgeon to know who had sent them. "So you two are, uh, still going strong then?"

She stopped to stare into his blue eyes, nodding. "I'm sorry that it didn't work out between us Steve." Grace didn't like seeing the sadness in those baby blues, but she couldn't help who her heart wanted. When he pulled her in for a friendly hug, she smiled and kissed his cheek. "How've you been?" She asked as they began walking again, a bright smile on her face. Mark was doing what he said and not making this complicated for her. Though she wouldn't be giving up her friendship with Steve either. He would have to simply get over it.

"Good. Got a date tonight actually. Maybe, if I can remember where I'm supposed to be meeting her." He joked, bouncing back from the momentary sadness.

It wasn't meant to be, he accepted that. Though...the 'man' part of him wondered if they hadn't had such an awkward time in the bedroom maybe they'd be together now. The sensitive side told him no.

Grace beamed back at him, glad he was getting back on the horse so to speak. "That's won-"

"Oh Stevie!" Trish's voice sounded behind them, causing both to turn around, and Grace's jaw dropped when she seen one of her good friends kissing Steve.

"Wait a minute, you two-"

"Yeah, Andrew and I didn't work out, but we're still friends. I ran into Stevie and we just hit it off." Trish explained, sighing gently, and patted Grace's hand. "Don't worry about it sweetie, you've had a lot on your mind. You ready to go blue eyes?"

Grace could only blink as they walked off, tilting her head to the side, her eyebrows furrowed together. They did make a cute couple in a...strange way. She smiled and continued on her way, an extra bounce in her step.

Mark was waiting for her just further down the hall, arching an eyebrow as he watched Trish and Steve walk by, apparently lost in their own little world. Now there was a couple he would never have guessed. Shaking his head, he smiled at Grace, seeing her shrug. "I do believe the universe might be trying to tell us to say our prayers because the end is near."

"I think they make a stellar couple. She's tiny and he's so big and burly. They're cute." She replied, walking over to him, and leaned up to kiss his lips softly. "How was your match?" She asked softly, seeing he was already dressed to get out of there, knowing he was eager to have alone time with her and, in truth, so was she. Grace hadn't got to see his match due to being busy treating Superstars left and right. Tonight had been the night for injury in the worst way.

"I won." He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal. How in the HELL that kid Rocky managed to even get his foot past the first rung was beyond him. But then again...Maybe he was just getting old. Snorting, he draped an arm over Grace's shoulder, mindful of the tattoo, just in case. "So in two weeks at the pay-per-view, I face Austin, AGAIN, this time for his title."

"You'll do great." She said confidently with a smile, leaning against him, and let him guide her out of the arena. "Larry put me on probation." She said when he asked her how the talk went. "Which I don't blame him, but he said he saw a lot of potential in me and would do everything he could to help me balance the professional part of my life out." She slid into the passenger seat, having rode to the arena with him, and set her flowers on the floorboard as Mark slid in the driver's side, smiling when he took her hand, their fingers lacing together. 'Green is definitely his color.' She thought and looked out the window as they drove away.

"Balance them out, huh? Then I would imagine he wasn't too pleased with me sending you flowers." Mark chuckled, squeezing her hand gently. "I'll try to keep myself from harassing you in the workplace." This probably wouldn't pan out too well since he was already planning ahead on catching her on another break, smirking at the thought, just to torment her.

"When I'm on my breaks, it's none of his business what I do. He didn't mind the flowers...much." She smirked, remembering what Larry had called him and giggled softly. "I want you to harass me." She winked, causing him to groan, and smiled innocently as he squeezed her hand gently.

She was so happy, Grace thought she might explode with it or drive people insane. The entire night she couldn't stop smiling, remembering that brief make out session her and Mark had when she went to thank him for the flowers. She didn't care what her father thought or said. They were together and nothing was going to rip them apart.

"I'll do more than harass you, wench." He promised, a hint of darkness in his tone, glancing at her out of darkened green eyes.

When they reached the hotel, he guided her inside, refusing to let go of her hand, almost smiling when people commented on her odd colored roses. Whatever had possessed him to get her green and gold...oh yeah, the dragons. He was turning into a romantic.

"Sure you don't want your own room? This is your last chance." He teased.

Grace smiled up at him, having agreed that morning to start traveling with him, and shook her head. "Nope, I want to be with you." She squeezed his hand, letting him know that was her final answer, and kissed him softly when his head dipped to capture her lips, moaning softly.

They arrived at their suite and Grace walked in, looking around and kicked her shoes off before setting them against the wall, taking her hair down from the hair tie it was in and fluffed it out a little, setting her flowers on the nightstand. She smiled when Mark walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and leaned against him as her eyes drifted closed. "Thank you." She whispered again, referring to both the flowers and him not causing her misery tonight.

Mark smiled, nuzzling her neck. "You're welcome." He murmured, bending down and scooping her into his arms, chuckling when she automatically wrapped her arms around his neck. He pressed his forehead to hers, staring into her beautiful amber eyes. "You look tired." He commented, knowing tonight was hard on her. It was one of those nights when accidents seemed to happen all the time. "Want a bath?"

"No." She whispered, running her hands down his shoulders to his arms, back up to cup his face in her hands, passionately kissing him, knowing he'd already had a shower. "I want you." She breathed when the kiss broke. Grace had never, in all her life, wanted a man so much as Mark. She loved him, he loved her, and they wanted each other. She didn't want to hold back anymore as her eyes darkened, her lips slightly swollen. "Make love to me, Mark."

"Gladly." Mark murmured, carrying her to the bed, placing one knee on it as he lowered her down onto the mattress. Mark had to lean back for a moment, just to take the time to admire the sight of her. Her lips slightly pursed and swollen, the way her amber eyes had darkened...His own green orbs were swirling with desire as well as he moved over her, his lips feathering against hers.

She moaned as soon as their lips connected, her entire body engulfing with heat, loving how tender he was being with her. He was gentle, sweet and kind when it came to her, the flowers, everything he'd done proved that recently. Grace's arms slid up his arms and wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss, letting him know she needed him as much as he needed her. Her fingers lost themselves in his hair, pulling it out of the ponytail he had in it, and pressed her body against his.

"Take me..." She whispered breathlessly. "Make me yours, Mark..."

"All in good time." Mark said quietly, his voice almost harsh with pent up desire.

He shrugged off his shirt, letting it fall off the bed to the floor, muscles flexing with each movement. He bent down, cupping Grace's face in his hands. He kissed her. It was sweet and tender, for a moment. The passion that was consuming him showed in his kiss as it became more intense, demanding. He kissed her until they both needed air, but didn't stop, feeling her return the kiss just as passionately, desperately.

She couldn't help kissing him back and had to break away to breathe, her chest rising and falling rapidly, and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close. Every nerve ending in her body sparked, igniting into a forest fire that was rapidly spreading throughout her body. She slowly pulled back and smiled as she stared up into his darkened green eyes, moaning softly when he kissed her again, her hands resting gently on his broad, muscular shoulders. He'd been right all along. He would have her, all of her, and Grace was surrendering everything.

He was obsessed with simply kissing her, that was ALMOST enough for him, just tasting her, feeling her body melting against him from just kissing. It was such a simple pleasure. Almost enough. Reluctantly, Mark pulled away to run his hands down her ribs, bunching the bottom of her shirt in his fists.