CHAPTER 24 – The truth.
Mark ran down the ramp calling Fresia loudly, but she wasn't answering. He started to look for her frantically, amid the ruins of the cage. Some workers were hurt, hit by a wandering piece of iron, but luckily no one was serious. A lot of them were lamenting and calling each other as in a general appeal. Vince took the radio and called the paramedics, which were at the arena till early morning. They arrived immediately and started to help the injured ones.
In the meanwhile Mark was calling Fresia, raising his voice more and more, to dominate the buzz around him. He knew she was there, somewhere. But where? His heart was beating madly and the fear was suffocating him. Suddenly a red sparkle attracted his attention, under some steel bars. Mark looked better, it was colored paper…. The gift Fresia was handling! He lifted the bars to reach the package, but no trace of Fresia. She couldn't be far, anyway. He kneeled and checked under the seats, row by row. It was then that he saw her. She lay on the floor, surrounded by a mass of debris and she wasn't moving. A cold sensation gripped his heart, like an iced hand. He had to reach her.
Mark started to throw away the heavy iron and steel that was blocking his way, as if it was paper. Those presents looked at him amazed while he pushed his way through the heavy rubbles, like a bulldozer. He removed the last piece of the cage and stooped over the girl, laid on her left side.
"Fresia, can you hear me? Come on darling, open your eyes" he called her, moving the hair out of her face and taking her face in his hands. She was cold as ice but was breathing. She was alive. The relief he felt made him catch his breath again. His little Squirrel was alive!
He took her shoulders gently and turned her on her back, touching her to understand if she had something broken. He started from the head, shoulders, arms, pelvis, legs, down till her feet. He wasn't a doctor but in his long career he had witnessed several broken bones and he knew how to recognize the symptoms. She looked in one piece. Besides there wasn't blood and she had no bumps on the head. He sat down beside her and took Fresia in his arms, lifting her delicately on his lap. She was so small, helpless, pale and didn't seem on the point of regain consciousness.
Mark felt useless… and guilty. It was his fault if she was in such conditions. If he hadn't acted like a monster Fresia would have not moved in another hotel, that morning they would have gone at the arena together much later and she would not have been involved in the incident. The worst thing was the memory of how he had hurt her yesterday, when he had said those dreadful words about her, without thinking them. And then just a few minutes before the crash, when he couldn't answer her question and had let her go away…
He stroked her face and hair, calling her to make her waken up.
"Open your eyes, Squirrel – he called – please, wake up. How could I go on without you? Come on babe". He incited her.
"A doctor here, quickly" Mark shouted, keeping her in his arms.
A doctor arrived immediately and started to control the vital marks of Fresia.
"The pulse is good and the breath regular. It seems that she didn't suffer any trauma. I would say that she fainted for the fright and the stress".
The woman took a phial of salts from her medical kit and made Fresia sniff it. She started to regain consciousness, with a disgusted look on her face. Fresia opened her eyes, disturbed by a nauseating and sharp smell. At first she didn't understand where she was; there was agitated voices, a lot of noise and a perfume… a well-known one. She realized to have her head on something solid and warm and someone was stroking her hair.
"It's all right, my little treasure. You will be fine, don't worry" said a deep voice that she knew too well. She lifted her head and met two green eyes watching her.
"Mark" she said, her voice hesitant.
"Yes Squirrel, I'm here. How are you feeling?"
"Confused. Mark, what happened? I can't remember…"
"There was an incident, darling. The cage fell down and almost ran you over – he answered shivering, kissing her hand – But you've been clever, sheltering between the seats".
That noise, the cage falling down, the crash on the floor, the mountain of iron and steel coming towards her. Fresia remembered everything, in an instant. A tremor traveled along her spine, from head to toe and she clung to Mark desperately, putting her arms around his neck and hiding her face against his neck. Mark held her tight, rocking her.
"It's OK darling. You fainted but you're fine now"
"Take me away from here, please. I want to go away" she said with anguish.
Mark didn't have to be told twice. He stood up with Fresia in his arms and walked down the corridor between the two rows, until he reached the stairs leading to the ramp. Fresia looked around for the first time and saw other people on the floor, hurt. The paramedics were taking care of them.
"Mark, where is Jason?"
"He is fine too, don't worry. He was to the other side of the ring, the one not touched by the rubbles".
Jason was helping the rescuers to put two of his guys on the stretchers. He saw Mark carrying Fresia, paled and ran to his friend.
"Darling, are you all right?" he asked attentive.
"Yes I am Jason, and you?"
"Me too, child. Now go to the infirmary, I will join you there" he said, after Mark glanced at him impatiently.
She let Mark take her away, putting her head on his broad shoulder. Her brain started to work again and many questions were flowing in her mind like torrents in flood. He came to take her out of that iron trap. He had called her treasure and darling, caressing her and taking care of her. Why? If he wasn't in love, why did he behave in that way?
A glint of hope, small like rice's grain, pushed its way through her soul and for an instant she dreamed of the impossible…. Again. This time anyway she didn't want to chase an illusion, she didn't have the strength to do it. If something really was in that man's heart, it was his turn to reveal it. For now she enjoyed the sensation of the strong arms of Mark carrying her, his heat warming her, their heart beating in unison.
They arrived at the infirmary and Mark put Fresia down on the bed, making her lay down and stood at her side, as to protect her from the world. The doctor made a complete check-up, to be sure she wasn't injured.
"Did you fall, miss? Did something hit you on the head?"
"No, I threw myself down on the floor and nothing had hit me…. I just shitted myself and fainted" she said mortified.
Everybody in the infirmary started to laugh and she got more and more ashamed. She looked at Mark and saw him smile, the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
"You've been lucky Miss Neri you were seated in the stalls when the cable broke. It seemed that the most substantial part of the cage had fallen down right on you" one of the paramedics said.
"What about the others?" asked Fresia
"Thank God nothing major. Some broken bones and a lot of fright, but they all will be fine soon – said the doctor – As for you, Miss Neri, you're all right. Just a bit of rest and you'll be new as a child" he declared, saluting her and going to the other patients.
Fresia thanked him and tried to stand up but Mark, who was bent over her, didn't show signs of moving away. She looked at him questioningly and noticed the strange expression on his face. His hair was partially hiding him, but looking carefully she saw that…. He was crying!
"Mark, are you all right?" she asked worried. She had never seen him like this. She put a hand on his cheek and dried a tear with her thumb.
"No, I'm not – he answered – I was going to lose you…" He seemed anguished and she didn't know what to say.
"I'm a Jerk, Fresia. A fool. I was so sure I didn't need anybody in my life, but when I saw you there, covered by the debris, I felt as if I was dying." He was caressing her face, hair, her lips.
"I understood in that very moment that if I had lost you, I wouldn't have cared if my heart stopped beating, 'cause it could not beat for no other woman".
All the activities in the infirmary halted. Four paramedics and a doctor, a few workers who was waiting to be treated and Jason, who had just arrived, fell silent when they heard the Dead Man, The Undertaker, a man who they always tried to avoid like the plague, revealing his feelings like that. Mark didn't even notice the attention he was arousing. He just was focusing on the wonderful girl in his arms, who was looking at him with love. Even after all what he had said and done, she still loved him. He raised the white flag.
"I have the answer for your previous question, Squirrel – he paused embracing her with his eyes – Yes, I love you".
He swallowed hard, when she said nothing. She stood there, looking at him, her mouth shut. Was it too late? Oh no, he had almost lost her in that terrible incident and now, after the escaped danger, he was losing her for his stupidity?
"Please, my love, forgive me. I've been a jackass and I'm so sorry…"
She tilted her head, Kane's style.
"I'm sorry too you're a jackass… But you are my jackass and I would not change you with no other animal" she said with a smile that lighted up the whole room.
She found herself held tight in his arms in no time at all. He had his face in her hair and was murmuring "I love you" in her ear, while an applause surrounded them.
"It was about damn time, darling" said Jason, putting his hand on Mark's shoulder who spun around to glare at him. Jason jumped backwards, putting some distance between them.
"What do you say if we go away now?" Fresia suggested laughing at the petrified look on Jason's face. Mark didn't even reply, he just lifted her in his arms and walked out of the room.
"I think you could put me down now" she said.
"Didn't you hear the doctor? You need to rest" he cut it short.
"Well, if the doctor said so…" she agreed, putting the arms around his neck. She felt pampered and it was a new and fantastic feeling. Her heart was bursting with joy. That scorbutic and solitary man had proclaimed his love for her in public.
Outside the arena a driver in uniform approached Mark and Fresia, inviting them to get in a black limousine, parked on the opposite side of the street. He said that Vince McMahon in person told him to accompany them wherever they wanted. Fresia and Mark got in the big car, Mark always holding her in his arms. He sat in one of the back seats, placing her in his lap. He pushed the button that lifted the partition glass between them and the driver, so they could be alone. They occupied the entire journey kissing and caressing each other, lost in their love.
At the hotel, Mark carried her in their room, depositing her on the bed and started to undress her. When she was clad only in her underwear, he made her put one of his t-shirt on. It was so big that reached her knees, like a nightgown.
"Now try to rest, Squirrel" he said.
"Mark, I have to fetch my stuff…" she protested.
"Not you darling, we can send Vince's driver for it. You close your eyes and sleep ok? When you'll wake up everything will be in its place" he murmured.
He covered Fresia with the quilt and lay down beside her. Within a few minutes, rocked by his arms and his heat, she fell deeply asleep. She woke up a couple of hours later, in the afternoon. Mark was getting dressed to go to the arena, for the PPV.
"Mark, why didn't you call me? We'll be late" she said throwing away the quilt and running in the bathroom.
"What are you doing? Go back to bed" he ordered her, worried.
"To bed? Don't even think about it, I'm coming with you".
While they were discussing, someone knocked at the door. Mark opened it and found himself in front of an enormous bunch of flowers, brought by a delivery man. When Fresia came out of the bathroom, ten minutes later, saw the flowers on a table.
"They're from Vince" Mark explained.
"You've read the ticket" she said pretending to be annoyed.
"Of course I read it. If someone sends flowers to my woman I want to know who he is" he replied.
Fresia hugged him, she adored when he frowned like that.
Mark watched Fresia dipping his nose in the flowers and inhale delighted. He didn't know that a simple bouquet could make her so happy. Why had he never thought about it? Because he was an idiot, of course! He was so taken by the fear of being trapped, that he had never given her the attentions she deserved. But he would have made up for it, and he already knew how.
Mark tried to convince Fresia to stay at the hotel, but she felt really fine and wished to watch his Armageddon match from the backstage, as usual. She promised that she would not have worked that night, and after the show they could go back to the hotel together. They entered the arena together, Mark with his arm around her waist, protectively. He walked her to the beauty department and Fresia was almost run over by her friends, who wanted to hug her and know everything about the incident.
"Hey, easy girls. You don't have to tire her out, understood?" Mark scolded them, a threatening expression on his face.
"Of course, don't worry Mark. We will take good care of her. Now she can sit down here and we won't let her lift neither a finger, all right?" said Jessie with diplomacy, trying to soothe him.
Mark grunted in response then bent down and kissed her quickly on the lips, giving her appointment later, in the backstage. The girls waited till he was out of the room, then made Fresia sit down on an armchair and surrounded her. Laura called Stephanie, who rushed to see her friend.
"So, how are you?"
"Are you hurt?"
"Were you scared?"
"I heard that Mark had lifted the entire cage to take you out of under there".
They were talking all together, like always when they were excited. Fresia told them everything, from the break-up with Mark that morning, to the incident.
"You know girls, what really had shocked me it wasn't seeing the cage fall down on me… It was hearing Mark tell me that he loved me. I thought I was died and gone to Paradise".
The girls laughed, happy to see their friend in her usual good mood again.
"Paul was there, he told me everything. He couldn't believe his ears. But is it true that Mark was crying?"
"Yes, it's true. I couldn't believe it either, but I felt his tears on my fingers"
The group of women murmured in awe. "What a romantic – said Cindy – Who would have said that inside that unbreakable big beast could hide such sensitivity?"
"Anyway, be careful to not tell anything to him. Never. I don't know how he could react, he is so touchy…"
"Kevin told me the same warning – said Nora – And if he doesn't feel like face his anger, just imagine if I could do it!"
Seeing that they were all together, Fresia took out the Christmas gifts from the lockers and distributed them to her friends. Some of them were going away just after the show so that was the last chance to be together before Christmas. The girls did the same, going to pick up the packages they had hidden in their workstations… By all accounts the girls were on the same wavelength, having the same idea at the same time! Immediately the beauty department filled up with colored paper and glitters. Then everybody reached their workplace and they gave appointment in the backstage, later, in the same corner that by now was reserved for the Circle.
When Mark reached the admittance of the ramp, with his monstrous bike, Fresia was there to greet him. She blew him a kiss, he pretended to grasp it with his hand and took it to his heart; then he drove to the ring, amid the screams of the crowd.
The sight of the cage made Fresia shiver a little, remembering the sinister noise of the iron falling down on her. But the ring crew had arranged everything in record time, with the second structure arrived from Stamford that afternoon, in replacement of the broken one. She tried to relax and enjoy the show, shouting like a fool to cheer The Undertaker who was giving life to an epic battle for the title, together with Austin, Rock, HHH, angle and Rikishi.
The belt wasn't at the waist of Mark, when he came back in the backstage, but for Fresia he was her winner. She ran to him and he held her tight, still sitting on his bike. The same young stagehand arrived to take the Harley, preparing to receive the terrible gaze from Mark, but he was too taken by his girl to deign to look at him.
Thank God for putting Fresia on the way of that monster – thought the boy taking away the Harley – my job will be much more easy from now on.
Fresia said hello to her friends and went to the locker room with Mark. She waited while he showered, devouring him with her eyes when he came out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. The wet hair fell past his shoulders, and rivulets of water traveled along his powerful body. Fresia felt heated up and Mark smirked.
"Do you see something you like?" he asked.
"Absolutely" she answered. She went to the door and locked it, under his hot look. Then Fresia took another towel and began to dry him. She made him sit down on the couch and started by his hair, face, chest and arms. Every stroke with the towel was followed by a trail of kisses. Mark was breathing hard when she arrived at the edge of the cloth but Fresia smiled innocently and moved to dry his feet; then went back up his endless legs. When she reached the thigh, she opened the towel that was covering him and threw it away, then ended her drying work, massaging him delicately but firmly.
When Mark thought he couldn't take anymore, she bent on him and took his shaft in her mouth, lapping and sucking it till it was so hard that it could drill the wall. Then she stood up, removed her panties and straddled his lap. She took his length in her hand and guided him inside her, little by little to adjust to his notable dimension. He put his hands on her hips and started to guide her movements, to show her how to give him pleasure. When her muscles were relaxed enough, Fresia began to move faster, closing her eyes to fully enjoy the incredible sensation that he was creating inside of her.
"You're so tight… so wet" Mark panted in her ears.
He took her in his arms, moving with her, and kissed his woman with passion; his hands slid on her breasts, rubbing her nipples through the top she wore. He made her lift her arms to take it away, followed closely by her bra. He made her bend backwards a little, to reach a nipple with his mouth and sucked it, while she moaned quietly.
He inserted a hand under the skirt and caressed her thighs, until he reached her clit and with his thumb he started to torment it with circular movements, driving her crazy with lust. Within a few minutes her groans became louder, the pleasure overtook her and Fresia found herself catapulted in a world full of colors, while the orgasm waved over her making her writhe over and around Mark. He watched her cumming, then the sensation of her internal muscles milking him was too much and with a last powerful thrust he orgasmed too, his body shook by violent spasms.
"I love you Squirrel" he said, while his semen dispersed in her womb.
"I love you too, my Lord" she answered, kissing him.
He lifted his eyebrows questioningly.
"You know – Fresia said in between kisses – one of my forbidden fantasies was…. to have sex with The Undertaker". She nodded enthusiastically at his amused and doubtful expression.
"Since the first time I saw you on TV, I thought that I would have liked to experiment a little…"
He chucked, giving her a slap on a round buttock.
"So is this the reason why you seduced me? You wanted The Undertaker?"
"No, I wanted you. It's been hard to convince you but in the end I made it – she said, putting her head on his muscular chest – But at the same time, why don't get out of the wish of fucking the Dead Man too? Now I'd say I had fulfilled my desires".
"Do you believe that The Undertaker is satisfied with just a single time?" he said in the Lord of the Darkness deep voice. "Look at me woman. I will teach you what it's like to belong to me".
He stood up, dragging Fresia with him and depositing her on the floor. He ordered her to get dressed and she obeyed immediately, impatient of being alone with him in their hotel room. Who knows what he wanted to do to her?
He got dressed slowly and wordlessly, remaining in character. If his little Squirrel had a fantasy, who was him to deny her the satisfaction to realize it? He already had a plan in mind and realized he was hard as a rock… again. A very interesting night was waiting for them, he thought guiding Fresia out of the room and the arena.