Chapter 4

September 19th, 2015still

Bulverde, Texas

"Lex? It's time to get up. We're here." Baron said softly against her hair. During their nap, she had snuggled into his chest, splaying half her body across his. The last thing he wanted was to wake her.

She felt good in his arms; against his body. And his hard-on really loved the pressure of her pelvis against it; every subtle shift and slight movement of her body making him throb with need. 'This could be awkward. Come on, go down, asshole!'

"Mmmkay…" She mumbled; stretching like a cat, her breasts rubbing against his chest before her eyes fluttered open. "Hi." She sighed in a semi-awake state.

"Hi, munchkin. Did you sleep okay?" He stared down into her eyes, shifting his hand to rest on her lower back. 'Come on, dick! Go down before she feels you asking for attention that you won't get!'

"Apparently you're pretty comfy." She traced her hand over his warm chest and Baron held his breath, until she woke enough to sit up. "I guess I should let you up now. I'm sorry for using you as a body pillow."

"You won't catch me complaining." He mumbled beneath his breath; stealthily snatching the edge of the blanket to drape over his crotch.

"What was that?" She cocked her head inquisitively.

"Nothing." He coughed, clearing his throat.

"Come on; grab your things and let's move this inside. The beds in there are actually big enough to accommodate someone your height." She crawled off the end of the bed, putting her slippers on and stepped out of the room.

Baron sighed longingly; unhappy with the thought of sleeping alone.


"This isn't San Antonio, is it?" Finn followed along towards the house, looking fondly at the green acreage. "You have deer!" He grinned, seeing a buck and a few does grazing roughly fifty feet from them.

"No, this is Bulverde. We call this the Hill Country of San Antonio. We're about 20 miles north of the city." She glanced back at him, smiling at the sheer enthusiasm on the man's face. "And yes, I have deer. I have feeders for them but when I'm home, I like to throw their corn myself to interact with them. They get used to me; remember here as a source for food and hopefully it keeps them safe from hunters. Oh, thank you." She said softly when Baron took the handle of the one of her bags, pulling it along beside his.

"Are they friendly?" Tyler asked when he saw Sami about to comment on Baron's behavior again.

"They are if you keep some distance between you and me. That buck is extremely possessive since he grew up here." She pointed one out a few acres away that began to slowly walk towards the house.

"Possessive of you? I can't imagine." Sami coughed out behind his fist, getting a few laughs from Finn, Joe and Tyler.

"One thing you always want to be sure of around bucks is not to wear a hint of musk on you or they will make you their bitch. Also, don't antagonize them. Those young bucks get pissed off and will tear your ass up." She cut her eyes to Sami, getting a smirk and nod in return.

"Come on in, guys." She pushed the door open, leading them into her home.

"You don't lock your doors?" Tyler glanced at her with raised brows.

"Nope, I have an excellent security system." She shut the door behind them, turning to a very excitable Solomon.

"Can I use the same room I crashed in the last time I was here?" Sami looked on the verge of running before she said yes and just barely waited for her nod of approval.

"Johnston, take Joe and Fergal with you! They can have the rooms on either side of yours!" She yelled after him, shaking her head when he huffed in frustration while waiting on them.

"Each room has its own full bathroom and it's stocked. Jacuzzi tubs big enough to soak in but you'll find the reason Sami likes his room is because the hot tub is situated right outside his French doors. If you need anything just ask. You'll pass the kitchen and den so you'll know where to find sustenance and entertainment. There are TVs in your rooms though. I'll make us lunch in a few hours. Make yourselves at home!" She rambled off quickly when Sami kept rolling his hand to speed up the welcome speech. "He is such a little shit. I should punch Ambrose in the throat the instant I see him for saddling me down with him."

"Now you know how we feel." Baron smiled at her, dimples making an appearance.

"Oh I've known him longer." She held up two fingers to her temple and pulled an imaginary trigger. "You two are upstairs with me." She crooked her finger at them and started up the stairs. "Two-story houses completely suck when you come home tired and loaded down with luggage. Oh Tom, come on; don't be ridiculous!" She rolled her eyes when he took her gym bag off her shoulder, draped the strap over his and picked up both of their carry-ons.

"I've got it." He jutted his chin out to get her moving; darting his eyes to Tyler who bit his lip to keep from grinning.

"Matt, you're down here to the right." She led him along the loft to a door on the left, standing back to let him enter.

"Is this the master?" He looked around at the king-sized bed and mahogany furniture, clearly in awe of his accommodations.

"No, my room is the master. All the guest rooms are made up like this with one small exception." She walked past him and pushed open the door of his bathroom. "The rooms upstairs have the Granddaddy of sunken tubs with massaging jets. Don't think for a second I didn't notice that sex cramp you're walking around with."

"Sex cramp?" Baron chuckled from behind her.

"It is a cramp women get from spreading their thighs too wide or too long during sex. It is right here where the outer thigh meets the hip. Hurts like hell when the sexual high wears off." She cast a blushing grin at Baron before patting Tyler on the shoulder. "Male athletes get it too from certain activities but I still call it a sex cramp. The others have the hot tub downstairs and the normal Jacuzzi tubs. You can make use of the tub outside too but this one saves you the trip downstairs. There is some Epsom Salt in the hall closet. Get a good soak to loosen that up before the show tonight and you should be feeling marginally better."

"Thank you, Lex."

"You are welcome, Matt." She turned and stared up into Baron's soft, brown eyes. "Let's go get you settled, Sas."

He followed her down the hall, stopping so close behind her that she startled when she turned. "Where is your room?"

"The next one down past yours is mine. I figured you need to get used to having me close sooner or later. Technically Finn should be up here too but out of the four of them, it seemed like Matt irritated you less." Her big blue eyes fixed on his handsome face when he crowded her against his bedroom door.

"I appreciate that. They have been pushing my buttons more than usual on this trip. And by the way…" He bent forward just enough to stare directly into her eyes; so close their breath mingled. "I'm already used to having you close. Now how about you show me to your room so that I can deliver your luggage and see for myself where you are in case I need you."

For the first time in Lex's life, she felt like prey; this large predator caging her in and making her feel small and vulnerable. Another first was that it didn't bother her as much as it should. The fact that she swallowed heavily while staring up at him with wide eyes irritated her though when a satisfied smirk appeared on his face. So did the act of biting her bottom lip and giving him a hesitant nod. The man was positively beaming with masculine pride over her little acts of submission.

"As you wish, big man." She kept her eyes lowered, skirting around him and led him down the hall, opening the door to her room. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, shaking her head when his gaze settled on her bed and remained fixed there. 'Typical.' She rolled her eyes before turning to face him fully; pursing her lips to keep the smirk from growing. "This is the destination for my luggage and where I rest my head in case you have need of me." She slid the strap of her gym bag off of his shoulder, dropping it in front of her closet before taking the handle of her carry-on from his hand. "Thank you for seeing me safely to my room, Tom. It was very sweet of you. I'll see you in a few when I get out of the shower." She placed a hand on his firm chest, pushing him backwards out of her room. "Oh and some time before we leave, I need to speak with you about something – privately."

"Did I do something wrong?" His expression shifted to concerned and crestfallen in an instant; all pride and satisfaction from moments before gone.

"No, not at all. I just don't believe in secrets between my clients and myself, and I need to explain why I'm sticking around longer than I planned. Everything is okay, big man." She cupped his cheek in her palm, standing on tiptoes to place a kiss on his hair-covered jaw line. "See you in about twenty minutes if you're awake."

"Lex! May I go outside and feed the deer?" Finn shouted from downstairs.

"Are you musk free?"

"Yes, luv!"

"Give me twenty minutes to shower and I'll be down to take you out. I'd rather be there to head them off if they are in dickish moods." She laughed silently when her amused eyes took in Baron's scowl. "What is that look for?"

"The 'luv' thing." He mumbled beneath his breath; staring at a spot over her head when she outwardly chuckled at his attitude.

"The 'luv' thing is Irish, and I get that constantly from Sheamus as well as Barrett and he's English. In fact I think Cesaro does it too. I don't think Stephen, Stu or Claudio have ever used my name beyond our initial meeting. You need to learn to work on that low tolerance to irritation you have going because it gets way worse than this, Sas. The main roster is an epic pain in the ass. It's worse than fucking high school." She patted his cheek with a smile, stepping back into her room. "I'll help you as much as I can. Now get so I can shower Austin off of my skin."


Twenty-five minutes later found Finn and Lex standing off the back patio with pails of deer corn. Baron and Joe elected to watch from loungers on the deck, Solomon stayed in the house watching TV and Tyler was taking that soak in the tub.

"Let's stick to the safe side of things and have you wander twenty feet or so to my right and throw towards those does. They'll come in to get it and once they do, make the next spread closer to you. The fawns will come right up to your toes as long as you don't make any sharp moves. Excellent!" She nodded her head before walking straight ahead and passing the distance of the does. "I'm throwing for their buck to keep him content and away from you, and then I'll go with my big boy over there to keep him away from everyone."

"So he'll attack the other buck then?" The Irishman asked while he threw out another handful.

"He'll attack the buck, the does and the fawns if they get near me. I've seen him turn on his own females and kids to keep them away from me."

"He's very possessive of his ma." Finn darted his eyes to her when she wandered away from the smaller buck. "That is one big boy." He said in awe when the other male moved to meet her.

"He was the size of the smallest fawn you're feeding when he showed up here. He's been sharing my home for a very long time. Haven't you, Hades?" She held out a hand; letting him eat from her palm and ran her free hand down his neck. "Who's my handsome big boy? You are!" She mimicked the buck's snort; happily giggling and patted him on the chest. "Fergal, if you see that male move towards me, throw some corn just behind him to turn him around. I don't need to get stuck between two males."

"Sure thing, luv."

Baron kept a wistful smile on his face. The sight of seeing Lex hand feed this magnificent buck had such an endearing quality to it. This was another facet to the woman that he felt himself drifting towards. He thought he was stuck in her orbit last night when he saw the tough side of her but this gentle, down-home side made the pull even stronger.

"Finn, you're letting that buck drift too close." Joe spoke in a calm but stern tone; trying not to spook the animal but worried about his friend.

"Fergal, slowly but steadily back up." Lex moved in tandem with him, entering the buck's line of sight. "Hermes, chill out, boy." She dug a hand into the pail, pulled an apple and held it out for him to take a bite out of.

"Lex!" Tom stood up but stayed put when she held out a hand.

"Hades, back the fuck off!" She tossed the apple in the opposite direction; Hermes following after the treat while she turned to face the angry buck. "Don't you snort at me, you big fucker." She snorted back; the two of them staring each other down until she ran a hand from between his eyes down his nose, and he lost his aggressive stance. "Mean ole bastard. Go eat and quit making a scene." She dug around in the bucket for another apple and tossed it on the other side of the yard. Hades took in the scene of his domain before walking after it.

"And this is how I deal with ya'll. Shut up, Sas. It is a word! I don't have an accent!" She turned to the men on the deck; fists planted on her hips and stomped her foot when he laughed at her.

"That was cute, munchkin! Do it again!"

"Fucking men!" She rolled her eyes; sighing loudly with a shake of her head. "Are you musk free?" She cocked her head at Baron in question.

"Why? I'm not getting near those things." He eyed the two bucks hesitantly before focusing on the woman.

"We're going for that talk while I check the feeders, and I don't need one of the Olympians raping you on the way." He narrowed his eyes on her while she smirked, crooking her finger at him to follow.

"We'll be back shortly and I'll start lunch, guys." She looped her arm in Baron's; putting herself in between him and Hades while keeping an eye on Hermes as they walked.

"So are you going to tell me what you want to talk about?" Baron asked Lex while he filled one of the feeders for her.

"You remember Paul saying that Bloom needed to speak with me in private?" She closed the lid of the feeder she filled and wadded up the empty bag, turning to face him and caught his nod. "He called maybe a minute after we parted company last night. We spoke about you." She took his empty bag and threw it in the large trash can outside of the small barn, replacing the lid before turning back to him.

"What about me?"

"Come on; we have company." She held her hand out; jerking her head towards incoming deer. He took it and replaced it back in the crook of his arm; letting her lead them further out on her acreage.

"He told me it was him that put in a word with Paul that I work your detail." She proceeded cautiously, not knowing how he'd react to what she had to say. "He explained to me that he's been trying to talk to you about your heel character connecting with the crowd; generating some real heat. He says you nod your head when he tells you what you need to work on but he hasn't seen anything in the way of progress on that front. Does it piss you off that he discussed this with me?" She glanced up at him curiously.

"No." He shook his head; covering her hand on his forearm with his free hand. "Will you get into trouble for telling me about your conversation with him?"

"No. Remember I said I don't lie to my clients?" He nodded. "And you said you like that I don't bullshit you?" He nodded again. "Neither of those things will ever change. I will never leave you in the dark about something that pertains to you; not ever. I'm responsible for your safety and well-being. Trust is just too important between us that there is no way I'd risk jeopardizing it over anything. Do you understand?" He nodded once again, playing with her fingers while his eyes darted between hers.

"Matt asked me to work with you like I did with Dean but in your case it would be that connection in front of the cameras and crowd. With Jon, it was relatively easy to teach him how to act just personable enough to be approachable in public. With you, they want me to essentially work on being a toned down dick on camera. I'm not an acting coach but I am a bitch so that helps." She gave him a small grin and a shrug of her shoulders, trying to lighten the mood. "In truth, I don't know if I can do it but I'll give it a shot if you're willing to try. Even if it is something as simple as just talking or being an ear for you to vent to while you work it out, I'll do that too. It is up to you, Tom." She stopped their trek through the woods at a running creek; sitting on a boulder on the edge and patted the spot next to her.

"So you'll be staying around for a while?" He emphasized the last two words when he sat beside her. "This isn't something we can do in your trial run as my personal security."

"I'll stay as long as it takes or until Paul pulls me away but even then I have veto rights, remember?" She nudged him with her shoulder, getting a nod in return.

"Won't Rollins get pissed?"

"Probably; no one can throw a bitch-fit like Lopez but it doesn't matter. I'm a self-contractor and I go where I want. It just so happens I'm invaluable to the company so they put up with my picky ass. And let's face it; NXT is Paul's baby so he isn't likely to give me a lot of shit over protecting two of his precious up-and-comers. What do you think?"

"I think I'd like that a lot." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side and sighed in contentment. "I've talked more with you in the past day than I have with anyone on the roster in over a year." He said in passing breaking the comfortable silence they sat in. "I'm in it for the same end result they are but I can't relate to them on any other level so I prefer to keep to myself. Until you, that is."

"I'm kind of kick ass like that." She chuckled; laughing hysterically when he put her in a head-lock.


"Whatcha got there, Sami?" Lex glanced at him over the kitchen counter. He was sitting at the table tuning an acoustic guitar, and looked up at her with a glint in his eyes.

"Do you want to?" He cocked an eyebrow, running the pick over the strings when it was tuned to his satisfaction.

"Sure; just don't play anything that requires me to go up any octaves or my voice will crap out." She checked the vegetables steaming on the stove and moved the tray of steaks to sit on the counter next to the stove, waiting their turn in the oven.

"How about Creep by STP?"

"I'm good with that." She nodded; moving to the music when he began.

The others had drifted into the dining area to see what was going on – and wait on lunch. Baron leaned on the counter next to her; his arms crossed over his chest while he watched her pour her soul into the words coming out of her mouth. She handled the verses and Sami joined her on the chorus; the two of them singing while staring at the other. The others were smiling; their heads bouncing to the beat tapped out by feet that knew that song.

(Lex and Sami) Take time with a wounded hand

(Lex and Sami) 'Cause it likes to heal

(Lex and Sami) Take time with a wounded hand

(Lex and Sami) Guess I like to steal

(Lex and Sami) Take time with a wounded hand

(Lex and Sami) 'Cause it likes to heal

(Lex and Sami) I like to steal

(Lex) I'm half the man I used to be

(Sami) This I feel as the dawn

(Sami) It fades away

(Lex) Well I'm half the man I used to be

(Sami) This I feel as the dawn

(Sami) It fades away

(Lex) Well I'm half the man I used to be

(Sami) This I feel as the dawn

(Sami) It fades away

(Lex) Well I'm half the man I used to be

(Lex) Half the man I used to be

(Lex) Half the man I used to be

"I think this is the most fun I've had on a tour." Finn smiled with shining blue eyes, clapping his hands. "The two of you sound wonderful."

"Thank you. I'm honored considering everywhere you've been." Lex blushed prettily; averting her eyes from the attention.

"This is just something Sami and I occupied our time with while Ambrose was busy getting laid. He'd bring poor Johnston along for a show and abandon him so we entertained ourselves doing this. Why are you friends with him again?" She cocked her head at him; scrunching her face.

"Why are you?" He shot back at her with chuckle. "It is hard to hate the fucker. Trust me, I've tried."

"Me too. I thought about leaving him to the tender mercies of a horde of his fangirls a few times after he pissed me off but he can pull this pathetic as shit look that makes my heart weep. I hate that I'm a sucker for that look and save his ass every damn time." She shook her head with a frustrated huff.

"I don't know what you two are laughing at. She's not kidding." Sami shifted his eyes between Finn and Baron; a sinister smile on his face and a matching one on Lex's. "Be very nice to your guardian angel or face the consequences. You won't be hurt but you'll think you're going to die before she pulls your ass out of the fire. What do you want to sing now, gorgeous?"

"Did you tune the other one?" She asked while pulling the potatoes out of the oven.

"Yes, ma'am." He reached down beside him, grabbed another acoustic and handed it to her when she sat in the chair next to him.

"Seasons by Cornell?" She darted her eyes to her rhythm guitarist; whose eyes went comically large and nodded eagerly before the two of them plucked at their strings for a moment. "I'm good. Let's jam." Lex focused on her finger placement before they started their dance.

They began together; hands moving in perfect sync during the intro until Lex clasped her hand around the neck, silencing her strings while Sami started the rhythm. Her head and foot bounced while he played until she jumped in along with the lyrics.

Summer nights and long warm days

Are stolen as the old moon falls

And the mirror shows another face

Another place to hide it all

Another place to hide it all

And I'm lost, behind

The words I'll never find

And I'm left, behind

As seasons roll on by

Sleeping with a full moon blanket

Sand and feathers for my head

Dreams have never been the answer

And dreams have never made my bed

Dreams have never made my bed

During the previous verses, the two of them kept the same rhythm until Lex began to play harder for the next round of the chorus. Baron noticed her expression turn sullen despite the strength of her voice and the sound she pulled from the guitar.

And I'm lost, behind

The words I'll never find

And I'm left, behind

As seasons roll on by

Yeah

Woohoo

Well I want to fly above the storm

But you can't grow feathers in the rain

And the naked floor is cold as hell

Mmmm, the naked floor reminds me

Oh the naked floor reminds me

And I'm lost, behind

Words I'll never find

And I'm left, behind

As seasons roll on by

Yeah

Sami joined in on the next verse; both of them struggling to go up an octave but pulling it off with a half smile.

If I should be short on words

And long on things to say

Could you crawl into my world

And take me worlds away

Should I be beside myself

And never ever even stay

Oooooooooo

And I'm lost, behind

Words I'll never find

And I'm left, behind

As the seasons roll on by

Yeah

"That was bad ass, gorgeous!" Sami stood, leaned down and kissed the top of her head with a big smile.

"Definitely our personal best and we just keep getting better." She handed the guitar over and moved to put the steaks in the oven.

"That was incredible." Baron whispered in her ear, standing behind her with his fingers lightly resting on her waist. "I asked you last night if you've ever considered singing professionally but maybe I should have asked if you already did."

"No, I have always had a deep voice for a woman and a semi-decent singing voice if I don't try to sound like a girl. Touring with bands for so long definitely taught me a thing or two on how to hit my range with my diaphragm. And I have good taste in music." She glanced up at him over her shoulder with a smile.

"You have more than a semi-decent voice, Lex. It is emotionally powerful and fucking perfect. I would love to hear it again." He breathed out into her ear; smiling when she shivered against his frame.

"Hey, your boys are here." Sami sat the guitars down in the den and moved to the French doors leading out to the back patio. "Can I let them in?"

"Yes, please."

"Your boys?" Baron questioned; his mouth so close to her ear that his lips brushed her hair.

"My security system; the rest of the Olympians." The sound of clicking nails and excited feet heralded a rush of red into the kitchen; Lex turning when Baron took a step back and smiled down at the new arrivals. "Hello, boys! Did you miss Mama?"

"Are those Pitbulls?" Finn turned to Sami with a smile.

"Yeah, they are, and they are kick ass. The two red brindles are Ares and Apollo, and that big, solid red is Zeus. Get used to them because she travels everywhere with them. Hey, Big Red!" He landed on his butt when Zeus plowed into him; sprawling across his upper body and licking his face. "You ready to go to the show tonight, Zeus?"

"If they come then it will be up to you to get them home, Sami. Tom and I are going to see Imagine Dragons and BRMC tonight. No. No!" She pointed at him when he rose up on to his knees, clasping his hands before him in a pleading motion. "Come on, Sami! I haven't brought on the extra security for you guys yet, and didn't plan on it until we got back to Florida. I have enough on my hands just watching over Tom in that kind of crowd."

"I'm kind of wanting to go too." Tyler said hesitantly, glancing up at Lex with a youthful grin.

"I wanna go." Finn raised his hand; chuckling when his bodyguard growled loudly.

"If it means anything to you, I don't want to go so I'll bring the dogs back with Dave." Joe smirked from his place at the table.

"Thank you, Joe." She glared at the others before turning to take the steaks out, placed the tray on the stovetop and shut the door, turning off all the heat. "Bring your plates over here." She took a set of tongs and set her rare steak on her plate before dishing out the others. "There is broiled fish, wild rice, broccoli with and without cheese sauce, baked potatoes and the steaks you all chose to cheat with today. I pulled out sour cream, butter, cheese and bacon bits for the potatoes. Top them how you wish. Serve yourself."

"You didn't answer us about coming along, gorgeous." Sami reminded her once she sat at the dinner table.

"I'll make a call and see if I can get us backstage. At least that way I can enjoy myself too and not be paranoid about the safety of all four of you. If I can't get a hold of Dan or he says no then y'all stay home." She said in no uncertain terms, giving them a look that said the discussion was closed before she quietly ate her lunch.