Chapter 19
Atlanta was fine as long as Samantha made her residence in St. Louis; Randy never wanted to go back there. Actually, anywhere was fine as long as he was with Austin. "It would've been the biggest mistake of OUR lives." He corrected, knowing he would've never been able to watch her marry John; he would've interrupted the ceremony. "God Austin, all those years..." He buried his face in her neck. "We're together now, though."
"I know and that's all that should matter." She whispered in his ear, running her nails over his head, smiling at how short he kept his hair and started raining kisses over his handsome face. "I'm not going anywhere and I'll never run from you again, Randy." She smiled when he muttered something about if she did he was going to whip her ass. Giggling softly, Austin felt her back hit the bed while he hovered over her, staring back into mystic blue eyes. "So what else did you want to talk about or have we covered everything?"
"Hmmm..." Randy murmured, staring down at her, which was incredibly stupid on his part because all rational thought was flying out of his head. Groaning, he pushed away for a moment. "Yes...two things. First of all, I don't want your folks mad at you." Or him, but more importantly her. "And what about my job?" He stared at her intently. "What is it you do now?"
"My parents will have to get over it and I work for a law firm here in Atlanta. I'm a legal secretary if you want to call it that." She answered with a smile, slowly sitting up on the bed, watching as the different emotions went over his face. "Randy, you can still work, just come here on your days off and we'll call each other every night." There was NO way she could go on the road with him, not when John worked in the same organization. That was just spelling and ASKING for disaster. "The first thing we need to do is get your things here."
"Yeah..." Randy knew fully well she couldn't come on the road with him, not until things with John cooled down, which might very well take the next decade, if ever. "I can be home three days out of the week, at least." Not saying they would be back to back, but if it meant he got to see her, if even for an hour, he'd do it. He wasn't losing anymore time then he had to when it came to Austin.
"I understand I'm not going anywhere, Randy." She kissed him reassuringly, sighing. "When I was with John, I sometimes had to go two weeks straight without seeing him so I'm used to it." She didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, caressing his face with her hand, and kissed him again. "We're together and nothing is going to tear us apart this time. The only thing that will end us is if you walk away because I'm here for the long haul." Her eyes locked with his, so much love and emotion swirling through them. "I'm yours for as long as you want me, RKO." She smirked, having called him that when they were in high school, which was now his patented finishing maneuver in the ring.
"Oh ha-ha, I knew you'd wind up throwing that at me." Randy grumbled good-naturedly, blue eyes sparkling as he stared down at her, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly. "Was always just a matter of time and I don't care what it takes, you'll see me more than every two weeks, trust me." He assured her, knowing firsthand how his job took a toll on relationships. His failed marriage was a perfect example.
There was nobody else in the world Austin wanted, nobody who completed her the way Randy did, and nothing would ever change that. "I'll look forward to every time you come home. My job keeps me busy too so it's not like I won't go stir crazy from boredom. I know how much your job means to you and I support you one hundred percent." She smiled when he kissed her again, muscular hands running up and down her sides, sighing in contentment. "Did it really happen? Are we here?" She whispered against his lips, praying to god this wasn't a dream and squealed when he pinched her side, only for her to do it right back. "Fucker."
"You want to be like that, huh?" Randy flashed her a smile, capturing her wrists in one hand, using the other to tickle her sides mercilessly, loving her laughter and squeals. He could listen to her laughter forever. It was cheesy, but also very true. "We are here, Austin." He assured her, finally stopping so she could breathe, then started all over again.
"Randy, stop it!" She squealed out, trying to get free from his grasp and felt him stop, moaning as his lips captured hers. Randy released her wrists as her arms wrapped around his neck, loving the feeling of him on top of her. "So when do you have to go back on the road?" She murmured after pulling back. Her golden auburn hair fanned all around her, running a nail lightly down his cheek before moving to his neck, not pulling away from his hypnotic gaze.
"Not for another couple of days. Plenty time for us to get my things, loiter in bed..." Randy bent down, nipping her throat with a slow grin. "Catch up...Lots, and lots of catching up." He murmured, wondering if Vince would be totally put out if he asked for another week. Though Vince would want a reason and Randy wasn't telling him he got back together with his ex-girlfriend, who was also John's ex-fiancée that left him at the alter, so to speak, for him. That would have wound up a storyline.
"Mmm catching up sounds wonderful..." Austin purred and ran her nails down his muscular chest, back up over his shoulders to his head and down his arms, just exploring him. "You should ask Vince for another week off, tell him you're dealing with your impending divorce and you're in the process of moving." When Randy's eyebrows furrowed, Austin shrugged. "I want more time with you; it's your decision though."
"You kinda read my mind." Randy admitted with a grin, catching her hands when she ran her nails down his chest again. "Don't do that, makes shivers run up my spine. No, I was thinking about the pros and cons of asking him." He said thoughtfully. "Stay out of my head, Austin; you might not like what you find in there." He teased, deciding he would call Vince up and request that additional time off.
"I wasn't in your head." She giggled softly and felt his heart pounding against her palm, sighing in gratification with sparkling green eyes. It felt as if they were picking up right where they left off, minus the fighting and whatnot. Austin kissed him softly before standing up from bed, stretching her arms in the air. "I'm starving." She announced, smiling when Randy pulled her back into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder while she caressed the back of his head. "Why don't you call your boss and request that time off while I go fix us something to eat?" She suggested, smirking when his stomach growled, and kissed him before flitting out of the room.
"Wench." Randy growled, reluctantly rolling out of the bed, wondering if she'd be interested in being a buffet bar for him.
Whipped cream, some fresh fruits, maybe a little chocolate. Groaning, he shook all those thoughts out of his mind. He had to focus on convincing Vince to give him time off, not think about getting his rocks off.
Vince ended up giving Randy an extra week off, which elated Austin. They spent the first few days moving his things in and setting everything up, rearranging, things like that, before making love. Every night it was something new and exciting. Randy had made her body his own personal temple that he worshipped.
They caught up with everything in their lives, telling each other what happened after Austin left him. It was a hard conversation to have, but both felt relieved when it was finally over with, both promising to leave the past behind them and move on. To commemorate it, Randy spent the night making love to Austin, showing her how much he missed and loved her.
That's what the last few days of his time off was spent doing. They ate, stayed in bed making love and talking, while adding a flick here and there, but Randy absolutely couldn't get enough of Austin and the feeling was more than mutual. Austin was in paradise and finally felt complete, knowing Randy was always her soul mate.
Honestly, Randy tried to do as much talking as love making. But it was very hard, no pun intended. Nine, almost ten, years without her was like setting a man who had spent a long time in the desert with limited water in front of a lake. He was diving straight in. When his time off was up, he felt like he was in hell. Randy had to leave her, go back to work, and deal with John. Not good. He wasn't looking forward to it. Though on the other hand, he now had something at home to look forward too finally.
"We'll call each other every day and night." Austin said as she watched Randy pack the rest of his things up. Knowing he was going to be on the road for two weeks straight, since Vince gave him extended time off, which was fine with her. It would give her a chance to recuperate from all the love making they'd done. Austin moaned as Randy pulled her into his arms kissing her, cupping his face in her hand, and broke it with a smile. "I love you so much." Austin helped him pack up the rest of his things, slowly, stealing kisses from him and listened as Randy told her what was going to happen over the next two weeks. John had asked for a match against him and, as much as Austin hated admitting it, she didn't blame John one bit.
Randy didn't blame John either, even though he knew this wasn't going to be a safe; choreographed match with a predetermined winner and preplanned moves. Nope, this was going to be a free-for-all brawl and Randy would be taking his punishment, along with Austin's, since he knew John would never lay his hands on a woman. Not even the woman who had ripped out his heart and stomped it to ashes. After he packed, Randy lit up a cigarette, dropping on the bed and reached for her hand, smiling when she instantly took it.
"Going to miss me?" He asked affectionately.
"I miss you already." Austin softly replied, snuggling against him, taking his cigarette, after he had the first drag, taking one herself and handed it to back to him, resting her head against his. She knew it was going to be hard being away from him, but the distance would also bring them closer together. "It's only two weeks though and we have computers, phones, it'll be like we're never even apart, except the whole touching and not having sex." She giggled when Randy groaned, kissing him softly and nuzzled his neck, committing his smell to memory. "Just come home safely to me."
"I always will." Randy promised, contemplating the computer thing, and grinned. "You know...my laptop has a webcam..." He said slowly, a teasing smile spreading across his lips. "If it gets TOO lonely on the road...you could always remind me what's waiting back home." He laughed when she cocked an eyebrow at him, passing back the cigarette, smoke rolling out of his mouth as he chuckled.
"Hmmm...that could be very interesting." Austin smirked wickedly and took a drag before handing it back to him, green eyes glittering. "The question is, I hope you can deal with either having blue balls until you come home to me or if your hand is strong enough to deal with the repercussions." She laughed when Randy growled, straddling him as she took the cigarette from his lips before he could take another drag. Setting it in the ashtray beside them, Austin passionately kissed him.
"I can get carpal tunnel surgery." Randy snorted after the kiss had ended, rolling his eyes at her smirk. "You're not even funny, well okay...maybe just a little bit." He used his thumb and forefinger to emphasize how little, glancing at the clock, groaning. "Time is against us, Austin."
"I know." She whispered softly, kissing him one last time and slid from the bed, extending her hand, smiling when he took it. Austin wouldn't cry until he left, wanting his memory of her to be happy so he would carry it with him while on the road. It was killing her on the inside as she lead him downstairs, feeling his arms wrap around her waist. Before she knew it, they were at the front door. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you to the airport?" She asked for the umpteenth time, sighing heavily and felt his lips caress hers softly, the sadness evident in her eyes. "Alright fine, be stubborn."
"Honey, there's no point." Randy said softly, knowing fully well if she did, she would break down. Hell, he might break down himself and Austin definitely did not need that visual to remember him by for the next two weeks. "You come to the airport and we both know I'll get on my hands and knees and beg you to come on the road with me." He would too without a doubt in his mind or heart.
"I know, I know." Austin whispered, knowing that was NOT an option right now, nodding as she pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes. "It's just two weeks and then you'll be back in my arms again." Her eyes opened to stare into his mystic blue orbs that were filling with tears, causing her own to do the same thing. "Go on before you miss your flight." She gasped when Randy pulled her against his chest tightly and kissed her breathlessly. Her hand ran up his back to his neck and cupped it as their tongues danced, each of them not wanting to break it.
Randy had to tear his lips from hers, knowing he wouldn't be able to stop if he didn't end the kiss right now. "I'll be back." He promised in a husky whisper, pressing his forehead to hers, eyes closing for a moment. "I love you, Austin." He pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth before pushing himself away, hoisting his bag over his shoulder and walked out, knowing better then to look back. He had to keep telling himself that, over time, leaving would become easier.
"I love you too!" Austin called out to him, not wanting him to leave without knowing that, tears already swelled in her eyes.
Watching him flash a heart stopping smile, Austin leaned her head against the door frame, crossing her arms in front of her chest, his bags being tossed in the backseat. Randy slid in the driver's seat and winked at her, causing Austin to laugh tearfully as she waved to him, blowing him a kiss. When the car was out of sight, Austin finally let the tears slip down her cheeks as she walked back inside the house and closed the door behind her, pressing her back against it, and wondered if seeing him leave would get any easier because, right now, she was in a lot of pain.
If it didn't get any easier, Randy had no idea how the hell he was going to manage this. It felt like he had left a major piece of himself behind with Austin, knowing fully well just what it was that he had left: his heart. He went to light a cigarette, frowning when his knuckle brushed against something wet on his cheek. After a moment, Randy realized he was crying and laughed out loud.
