A/N: Don't own the WWE characters still.
Lanay arrived at the hotel for brunch with Seth early sitting outside near the pool drinking the mimosa. Her mind didn't even know how she was going to react to him but she was going to play it by ear. The weather was still a bit warm as she wore a tank top, jeans, and flip flops. Her braids were pinned into a bun showing off her neck.
She saw him walking up and her body instantly responded to his movement. Seth commanded the room wherever he was, even in just wearing skinny jeans, shoes, and a Metaliica shirt. His hair was in a high bun which always did something to her.
I need to stop giving him so much control over my body. Her mind was racing looking at him because he was the potential enemy. She had to be on guard as she sipped her drink staring at him. You can still admire him from here.
His face was smiling as he got closer to her and she felt like blowing her cover there and just wanted to demand answers so he could fuck her into the mattress later. She smiled back at him when he reached her standing up to hug him.
"You smell good." HE said pressing himself into her also trying to control himself.
"So do you. Do all this for me?" Lanay smiled trying to keep the negative thoughts to herself and slowly bring them up.
"Maybe." He winked taking a seat giving the waitress that came over to take their orders while eyeing him. Lanay raised her eyebrow at the waitress ignoring the looks. He was very attractive so she couldn't blame her.
Mine. She whispered more to herself.
"I didn't know if I was going to see you; I know Hunter can be reckless." He spoke once the waitress was out of ear shot.
"He didn't notice I was gone but he did have a meeting with us." The lie came easily from her lips as she gauged his reaction but he was trained under Hunter and Stephanie like she was.
"What happened?"
"He's on guard of course and he put someone else to go after Stephanie. I'm too close and he didn't want another fuck up like with you..." She whispered the lies coming easier to her now. "I don't know who though. It might be Cass."
"Cass to go after Stephanie?" Seth cackled at the name of the 7 foot guy who Seth deemed too nice to be in the business.
"You've been gone awhile he's reckless."
"Interesting." She watched as he took his phone out and she assumed it was to take Roman and Stephanie to be on the lookout. He would never doubt her because she gave no reason to. "Are you going to join us?"
Lanay shook her head wanting another drink and now. "I need to keep an eye out on Hunter."
"Of course."
A comfortable silence fell over the table as Lanay thought of the best way to approach the situation and learning more from Seth.
"Do you ever miss working with Hunter?" Safe, just start off safe.
"Miss it? I miss certain parts of working with him." The look he gave her let her know she was definitely one of those parts. "But I don't miss it entirely. We're enjoying working more alone."
"You and Roman?"
"Of course, there is no Dean." His eyes narrowed. "Dean was more of Roman's guy than mine. WE were friends by association not by voice but he was a part of me. I'm glad the mutt is gone."
Lanay stopped stirring her drink as she looked at him. "The mutt?" The words were too familiar, she heard them just from Hunter.
Seth chuckled again. "Bad habit, Hunter used to call him that and it slipped."
"Hmm… you and Hunter were close at one time." It wasn't a question just an observation and an invitation for him to explain more.
"Yeah, we were." His face frowned and Lanay waited to hear more however the waitress came back very promptly with their meals. She got the eggs over easy with crab cakes and he got chicken and waffles.
They both started eating their food and all Lanay felt was a clock over her. She caught him looking at her and she was doing the same. The air felt different around them compared to the previous night. He doesn't trust me. Lanay thought sadly and felt her stomach tighten. The food didn't even taste right anymore as she took a few more bites.
"Your mind is racing." He took another bite of his waffle looking at her.
"It is. I didn't get a full answer from Hunter and here I am. I'm putting myself and you in danger." Half-truth.
"I will never let harm touch you, ever." His words were firmed and the guard on her heart started to crumble a little. "II will always be here to protect." He grabbed her hand from across the table and she wanted to run away with him, one away from this, maybe have a normal life for once.
"I don't' always need protecting Seth. I've gotten past almost 10 years without you giving me that extra guard."
Seth looked at her face and was about to speak when the waitress came back over to see if they wanted a drink. She ordered another mimosa and he placed an order for a bloody Mary. Once she walked away again after interrupting them Seth looked at her.
"I always felt I had to protect you for some strange reason. I know you're a natural ass kicker and killer but you held this innocence about you."
"Really? Me? Innocent?" Lanay smiled. Her innocence was gone and this was now the life she led. "I've taken care of myself and all my targets without any help from you."
Seth gave her a look. "Yeah, you did and survived all of Hunter's tests."
"Didn't he test you some days?" Come on Seth, be honest. Tell me what's going on.
"Some days? Ha! I think he wanted to drive me away from you, well obviously he sent you after me."
"Did you ever question why?"
"I have and it was cause he saw me as a threat to your well-being."
"That's it?" Hunter believes in keeping family close until they betray him. He's never led me astray.'
"You sound like a Hunter white knight?"
"He was the only father figure I knew so yes, I will always owe loyalty to him."
"What about Stephanie?"
"I owe it to her as well and I'm torn."
"Can I make it easier?"
"Please." Lanay took another sip of her mimosa hoping that he would be honest with her. She couldn't handle having to take matters into her own hand.
"Hunter was training someone to be his successor and it wasn't you."
"Who was it?' Lanay looked at him her eyes wide open feigning surprise. "He never told me. I thought I was next in line."
"No, it was someone else. It was me."
"You were being trained and you hid it from me?" Lanay felt her breath release. Finally but now that I know, now what? "Why wouldn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to but I didn't know what was going to happen to you. I don't think you understand how much you mean to me Lanay." He reached his hand across the table taking hers in his. "You reminded me there was life outside of what we do. I didn't know if he was going to tell me to go after you but you got to it first." Seth let out a sarcastic chuckle his brown eyes staring into hers. "I couldn't let that happen, I couldn't be the one to go after you."
"Yet you let me go after you." Lanay felt like shit at this moment. It hurt her to know that she put her life above his, he was selfless as she was selfish.
"I wasn't going to ever touch you. I would die hoping you were safe."
Lanay squeezed his hand within hers and she knew that regardless of any decisions she would not let anyone touch him, not again and definitely not by her hands.
"I don't know what to say to that Seth."
"Don't say anything, it was on me. I let myself be played by Hunter."
"Have you considered that you were being played by Stephanie?"
"Of course. I don't trust her either but she's a means to an end."
"Means to an end?"
"Roman and I want out of this shit. If I'm not going to run it then I don't want to be in it anymore. I would rather just flee but until then I'm stuck here plus, as long as you're here I'm not going anywhere."
"I don't' want to be the one holding you back."
"Never. You make me live."
Lanay put her head down trying not to smile and also trying not to cry. He was the only one to make her feel like this, make her want, need, helped remind her that there was more to life than violence. She did have more questions such as what was he doing with everyone she was set off to kill. Don't get played into his shit. What if it's that and just shit? What if he's playing you? You have to find out about the men and women he would speak to.
"Did you ever watch me while I was working?" Lanay smiled at him trying to make the question come off sillier than her needing to know.
Seth looked at her cocking his head to the side as the waitress came back over interrupting them again. "We'd like the bill." He told the woman, dismissing her with his hand.
"Rude."
"You were already shooting daggers at her."
"She was staring at you too damn much. She's lucky I only kill for profit."
"Oh, you got paid for Bailey then?" Seth smiled at her with his eyes.
"She was a bonus for me, stupid bitch smiled at you too much for me."
"So jealous."
"Shut up."
"What if I told you I got a room here? Would you come with me?"
"You know I would, now do you?"
"No. I could get one though." He looked at her expectantly, hoping she would come with him. He was rethinking his past words about keeping her at a distance. He was already fucked with his emotions so would making love to her really affect it more.
"I'll pay the bill, you get the room."
"You know I'm going to pay for it and we can get it together." Seth smiled at her and she felt herself melting. His genuine smile did so much to her; his defenses were always down when he smiled. He became the young man he was and not the calculated individual she knew he could be.
The waitress came over and the bill was handled quickly. Seth took her hand as he led them towards the hotel that wasn't cheap and she felt giddy, young and brash. The lust between them was evident and even with the shadow of doubt she held between them she owed it to herself, to them, to their past and even a possible future.
It was easy for them to get a room as Seth paid cash and his hand felt tighter in her hands. This was something she missed, the closeness between them, the sexual energy that was always between that. Once they reached the elevator Seth pressed the button and his lips were immediately on hers and she gave in easily.
"You're never leaving me again." Seth murmured against her lips. "Never."
"Never." The words came back but his kisses always made her weak and lightheaded, this time was no different.
"I've been doing all I can to keep you safe for too long to let you walk away again from me this time."
His words were like a giant bucket of water being splashed on the moment as the elevator stopped on their floor.
"You've been doing what?"
Seth didn't speak instead walking towards the room which they stumbled upon quickly. He pulled her into the room that was extravagant but both of them were used to the seediest of hotels to something as extravagant as this.
The door closed behind them but Lanay didn't forget what he said. "You've been doing what." She repeated.
"Don't ruin this moment please." Seth scooped her up easily placing her into the bed as he climbed on top of her grinding his hip into hers and licking her neck.
"Don't…" The words were moaned out as she tried to get her bearings again but he wasn't making it easy. It has been so long since she was intimate with him, so long since she felt his weight and body on hers.
"I won't ever let anyone hurt you again." Seth whispered as he sucked her neck harder knowing it was going to leave a mark. "I would kill Dean again and again if I knew it would protect you."
Those words were enough to place both hands on his chest. "Don't mention Dean again while we're in bed and what do you mean that you've been 'doing all you can' to keep me safe?"
"Lanay please not now."
"No exactly now, what have you been doing?"
Lanay braced herself for his words, she had to know what he did. "What did you do Seth?"
A/N: Thanks for reading!
