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~~Vanessa's POV

"I just keep running into bad luck,"I mumbled staring at the rain.

Mark and I had just had a great dinner which he paid for by himself. I'd tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. I did, however, leave a tip. We then heard a crack of thunder. Rain began to fall hard, and it looked worse when we got near the glass doors.

Mark looked down at me."Ya meet me, darlin'. Does that count as bad luck?"

"I ain't exactly sure yet."

He laughed."Funny. How are we gonna get outta here?"

"Well, my place is a few blocks from here, but we're still gonna be soaked."

"Eh,"he said shrugging."This night has been worth it. I say, on 3 we make a run for the bike."

I grinned."Done."

"1...2...3!"

After running through the rain like two kids and me making it inside to open the garage doors for Mark, we stood in my garage laughing like idiots. We were soaked from head to toe. He looked worse than me from sitting on his bike in the rain, though. He was currently in the bathroom after giving me his clothes for me to dry for him. I heard grunts and knocked twice.

"You're not jackin' off in there are ya?"

There was a thud followed by a loud 'Jesus Christ!'. I laughed, and Mark opened the door. I stopped laughing and stared at him. He stood in nothing but a towel, and it barely covered him. It also made him seem bigger and made me notice the size difference between us. His arms made two of mine, and he could probably break me in two with just one. I saw the numerous tattoos even better now and the ones on his chest that I didn't see along with a very sexy six pack. I looked higher and noticed that he'd let his hair out of it's braid and used my blow dryer, so it now fell to his shoulders in waves. That along with his captivating green eyes made him seem like a modern day Hades.

"Don't ever ask that again. Though, ya do kinda turn me on with just the shirt on, darlin',"he breaking me from my thoughts.

I can honestly say that in all 27 years of living, no man has ever affected me like he does. I hate having sex on the first date, but I just might make and exception for him. But he wasn't gonna find out anytime soon

"Kinda? Do I need to get out a Playgirl to finish the job, Marky?"

He glared at me then smirked."No, but I wouldn't mind showing ya what a real man looks like instead of the pretty boys in print." He said stepping out of the bathroom and folding his arms over his massive chest. I, never one to back down from a challenge, stepped closer to him and placed my hands on my hips.

"I doubt you could show me anything better than I've already had,"I lied. He could probably do a few things to me that would leave me sore for weeks.

"Is that right? Are ya willing to test that theory?"He leaned in so that we were nose to nose.

"I don't know. I don't wanna set myself up for a disappointment."

"Ya must have really low standards for men. That, or a bad taste in yer mouth from past relationships. Maybe even both."

My temper flared."Listen here you,-"

I was cut off by his lips on mine. Damn, he was good. He pulled me against him, and my hands pushed against his chest. His lips teased mine, and his tongue slid between them. His hands slid around me and I couldn't could back a moan against his lips. He then let go and left me gasping for air and for more of him.

"Ya were saying, darlin'?"he said in a whisper. I couldn't reply or think straight, for that matter. He brushed a piece of my hair back."You're sexy when you're mad."

I was about to reply when I heard my phone ring. Saved by the bell, I guess. I rushed out of the room. I picked up the phone without checked the caller ID. Big mistake, it was my mother. I was twenty-fucking-seven, and she still wanted to control my life. Yes, she'd raised me all on her own with only help from my grandparents, but I was an adult now, dammit!

"What is it, Mother?"

"Can't a mother call and talk to her only child?"

"Yes, if the mother wasn't you and/or the only child wasn't me."

"Don't get that tone with me, young lady. I just called to invite you home. You're old friend Jill is getting married."

"Really?"I asked shocked. Jill and I swore to never get married when we were younger.

"Yes. She really wants you to come and meet Anthony. Heather loves him like a son already, and we know you will, too. Please come."

"I'll try, Mother."

"Great. The wedding's September 7th here in Boston, and Jill wants you to be a bridesmaid."

"Like I said, I'll try and make it. Goodbye, Mother."

I placed the phone down and sighed. Talking to her made me feel emotionally drained for some reason. Like all of my happy thoughts vanished when she spoke. I turned around and jumped when I saw Mark standing there in his now dry jeans but no shirt. I was almost disappointed that he'd gotten rid of the towel.

"Jesus. You should wear a bell or something. No man your size should be that quiet."

He chuckled."I've been told that before, and I told ya ain't the best at taking hints."

"Riiight,"I said looking out of the window. The rain had gotten worse and showed no signs of letting up anytime soon.

"Looks like I'm stuck here,"he said plopping down on my couch.

"What makes you think I'll let ya stay?"

"Come on, darlin'. Ya can't kick me out in the rain. It'd be cruel. Besides, I don't bite...Unless you want me to that is."

He was right. He'd taken me out to a nice dinner and driven me home. I couldn't kick him out."Alright, you can stay, but you sleep on the couch tonight."

He shrugged."Fair enough. Thank you."

I sat beside him and turned on the TV. I flipped until I settled on Underworld: Rise of the Lycans since it'd just started. We'd watched a few minutes of the movie when the lights completely went out. I groaned and got up.

"I guess that's a sign for me to head to bed."

I heard Mark grunt, and it sounded painful. I could vaguely see him move his shoulders in the dark.

"I hear ya. Do ya have a sheet or something?"

"Yeah. Are you alright?"

"Sure. My shoulders are acting up on me again. I just got back from my injury leave a week ago. They cleared me to wrestle, but I get stiff sometimes."

"Why didn't you say anything? I can't let you sleep on the couch. You won't be able to move in the morning. You can sleep in my bed tonight."

I could feel his eyes on me in the dark."Are ya sure? I'm kinda big and take up a lot of space."

"Kinda big? But yes, I'm sure. I trust you."

I felt him brush against me and grab my hand. Heat shot up my arm from the feel of his hand like before. I blushed, thankful that he couldn't see me. I'd been living here for almost three years now, straight out of college. I knew the house like the back of my hand, and I easily lead Mark to my room. It was dark in here, too, but I could see the pictures I'd taken and developed myself on the walls. Mark let go of my hand, and the room suddenly felt colder. I felt my way to the head of the bed and slid under the covers. Mark had slid to the other side and sighed.

"Comfy?"I asked giggling slightly.

"Yes, actually. Not all hotel beds are soft, ya know."

"I know. I was in Arizona taking photos and had to stay over night. The magazine I work for paid for it, but the hotel was horrible."

"You're a photographer?"

"Freelance most of the time, but yeah. That's the reason you can't stay in the guest room;I turned it into a darkroom years ago."

"Not bad, darlin'. How about ya take a picture of me? I'll even autograph it."

I laughed again."I just might take you up on that. You seem like someone that can keep a straight face for a good picture."

"I've got experience. Between the photo shoots they make us do and the idiots I work with, ya get lots of practice."

"I hear ya. I once did work for the WWE. The guy, Miz I think, couldn't do it to save his life. I was close to snapping on his ass."

"The newer ones always do that."

"I noticed. How long have you worked for Vince?"

"Just about twenty years now."

"Wow."He must loved what he does. I flopped down on my pillow."I'm not sleepy."

"Neither am I."

Before I couldn't make a comment. Lightning flashed outside the window for the first time. I jumped slightly before hearing the thunder boom soon after it. I then heard Mark chuckle.

"Scared, darlin'?"

"A bit, if ya must know. My house was flooded when I was little because it was raining like this. I knew how to swim, but I was to scared to do it at first and nearly drowned."

"Oh, sorry."

"It's alright,"I said shuddering when the lightning flashed again.

I suddenly felt the bed shift followed by two warm arms around me.

"Mark."

"Ya need a hug, darlin'. I saw how ya were with your mom. If ya wanna talk, I'm here."

I didn't know what to say. He was so warm. I'd just met him, and I was ready to spill my heart out to him. I settled in his arms and moved my leg. He'd taken off his jeans but left his boxers on. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I quickly moved my leg back.

"Thanks, but it feels weird not knowing anything about you."

"Well, what do ya wanna know? I'm not that much for talking about myself, but I'll tell ya what ya wanna know if I can."

"Hmm. You said you had a brother. What's he like?"

"Well, he's really my younger half-brother, but we've grown as close as real brothers. His name's Glenn, and he's a bit bigger than me if you can believe that. Most people think he's a freak. Which is true."

"That's not nice."

"It's true, and he knows it, too. We're always pranking each other, but I love his stupid ass. He's all I've got, and I'm all he's got."

"Wow. I always felt weird in school since I was just about the only kid that was an only child. Most kids thought I was selfish and got everything. The sad thing was that most kids got more than I did, especially when we moved to Boston."

"Boston? Ya don't sound like you're from there at all."

"Nope. My mom married a rich guy, Frank, when I was 15. We moved out there, and I hated it. I survived 3 years with them and went to college without their help on a scholarship."

Mark hugged me tighter, and I rested my head on his chest. I was started to get sleepy now, and I think he had something to do with it.

"Hm. I'm guessing ya didn't like her call all that much then."

"Not really. My old friend Jill is getting married in a few weeks and wants me to come. I hate going home, though. My mom always tries to fix me up with guys from Frank's office."

"Well, then go with a date."

"Ha! Tried that, and the guy nearly pissed his pants around all the rich people and left me to flirt with one of the other 'princesses'."

"That sucks. How about ya take me?"

"You?"

"Yes, me. I'm not exactly the 'high class' type, and I definitely wouldn't leave ya for a bimbo."

"I doubt my mom would approve of you."

I couldn't almost feel him smiling against my hair."That's the fun part."

"You sure you won't feel used or anything?"

"It's my idea. I don't mind. As long as ya promise to go out with me afterward."

I yawned."I like it."

"Me coming with ya or the date afterward?"

"Both."

Lightning flashed again, but I didn't jump this time."Sleep tight, darlin'. I'm right here."

For some reason, his last statement made me feel completely at ease. I was asleep in seconds.

TBC