Thank you everyone who's still reading! I love reading your reviews. I've got a question for you all, would you be interested in hearing JJ's story? What about going back to the NXT days with Ravyn and Corey?
Corey had disappeared right after his offer, leaving Ravyn standing there in shock. She managed to get herself together and meet up with AJ to go to their rental car. She doesn't mention the run in with Corey at all, afraid to upset him. They arrive at Madison Square Garden early enough to beat most of the early bird fans. Only a handful of people see them crossing the street from the parking garage to the venue, and no one seems to suspect a thing.
The two of them locate AJ's locker room and change into workout clothes. Ravyn is anxious to get in some ring time after being off of shows for over a week already. They work out with Tyler and Becky for a while before AJ leaves them to meet up with his opponent for the evening. Ravyn rolls out, leaving Becky and Tyler in the ring as she makes her way up the ramp. She swings through catering to grab a granola bar and some Gatorade on her way back to AJ's locker room. Footsteps behind her raise her guard. She's relieved to see her best friend appear at her side.
"Hey... I... Uh.. I've been looking for you," the pretty redhead stammers shyly, assuming Ravyn will be angry with her.
"I was beginning to think you were avoiding me," Ravyn tells her.
"Never!" JJ balks. "I feel like a horrible person. I've just been avoiding everyone because of what happened in Mexico..."
Ravyn senses something is off, "Wha.. Um.. What happened in Mexico? I've had a lot going on the last week or so... So maybe I'm a little out of the loop."
"I'm almost glad you don't know," JJ laughs nervously. "I.. Uh.. I kinda got into it with Nikki our last night there. And I didn't manage to just get heat with her. My stupid ass managed to get heat with Cena too. Because I'm too damn good... At screwing up apparently." JJ steals her boyfriends catchphrase.
"I can't decide if that's better or worse than having your sex life broadcast for the entire world to see," Ravyn ponders. "Both are potential career enders. What happened?"
"I had been stewing over the news you told me about Corey all day... Eventually I was so pissed off I drank a bit too much," JJ pauses. "Said some shit about Cena. Maybe even to the point of saying he sucked dick to get to the top... It got slightly physical. Nothing too crazy, but it happened."
"You told Nikki Bella that her boyfriend sucked dick," Ravyn snorts. "Oh that must have been absolutely stunning."
The girls chat a bit more about Mexico before Renee Young cuts in to check on JJ. She alerts Ravyn to an incident she had had a few nights ago where she was almost assaulted by a drunk outside of their hotel. The details come pouring out of her best friend. She soon learns that since returning from Mexico JJ and Dolph had been fighting. She pulls her friend into a tight hug, relieved to see that's she's okay after what could have been a bad situation. The girls continue down the hall so busy talking amongst themselves that they don't see Corey leaning against the wall ahead of them talking to Baron Corbin. The girls are stopped in their tracks as the two muscular men block their path.
"Well, if it isn't my two favorite hobbits," Corey snarls. "Have you come to take me up on my offer?"
JJ looks at Ravyn quizzically. "I'll explain later," Ravyn tells her. "Fuck you Corey."
"You already did that," Corbin smirks. "I think he's hoping you'll do it again."
Corey laughs, "That WOULD be a nice Valentine's Day gift."
Ravyn grabs her friends hand and pushes their way past the guys. With a promise to explain Corey's words to JJ later. The girls split up when JJ sees Dolph down a hallway. Ravyn smiles to herself, happy to see that her friends relationship seems to be okay after their fight. That fleeting moment of happiness is gone almost as quickly as it had come to her. She continues down the hall to AJ's locker room. She showers and changes into a grey plaid skirt and a black corset top. She's pulling a pair of high heeled black boots on when AJ returns. He can tell something is bothering her, and after some gentle prodding he gets her to spill the beans. As she tells him about Corey's advances and all of the other interactions she's had with him she watches AJ's fists clench repeatedly. He seethes just listening to what his girlfriend deals with. He wraps his arms around her protectively when she's finished speaking.
The show begins, Ravyn spends almost the entire time watching the monitor in the TV room to follow the direction of the product. She gets up to stretch during a commercial break, grabbing a bottle of water on her quick lap of the TV room. Raised voices in the hallway grab her attention, especially when she realizes that she recognizes them. She rushes into the hall to find AJ with Corey backed up against the cold brick wall. Rage in his eyes Ravyn fears that AJ is about to do something stupid.
"You're pushing your fucking boundaries, Graves," AJ growls. "You stay away from her."
Ravyn grabs AJ's balled up fist before he can hit Corey, "AJ, stop. He's not worth it."
AJ's demeanor softens when he sees her, but doesn't let his guard down. "I mean it," he warns Corey.
Corey backs away from them slowly, then disappears down the hall towards catering. Ravyn squeezes AJ's fist in an attempt to get him focused back on her. He stares down the empty hall angrily. When he's satisfied that Corey won't be coming back he turns to Ravyn and wraps his arms around her tightly. He kisses her forehead, the fiery rage in his blue eyes slowly dissipating. Her arms sneak into his vest letting her breathe in the delicious mixture of leather and his cologne.
"I'm going to kill him if he touches you ever again," AJ tells her matter of factly.
"I don't necessarily want him dead. As must as I enjoy the sentiment," she looks into his eyes. "If you killed him I would miss you far too much... I think I might love you Styles."
A smirk flickers across his face brightening all of his features, "I was starting to think I would never melt that icy heart."
A flurry of little kisses follows the statement. Their eyes lock for an intense moment before AJ presses his forehead to hers. A cat call whistle from the TV room snaps their heads in its direction. The doorway is filled with the heads of their coworkers smiling like guilty children watching something they weren't allowed to. They scatter like roaches when they realize they've been found out.
"Well, guess that's not a secret anymore," AJ laughs.
Ravyn is worried though, "How much do you think they saw?"
"Doesn't matter," AJ shrugs. "They'll make up whatever they want anyways."
AJ gives her a quick peck on the cheek and heads to gorilla for his match. Upon returning to the TV room Ravyn is relieved to learn that her coworkers did not see AJ confront Corey. They had only been alerted to the couple hugging in the hallway by a passing by Natalya. Ravyn watches AJ's match while avoiding as many questions from the small crowd as possible. As soon as he's back through the curtain Ravyn is at his side heading back to the locker room. He cleans up quickly and they get back across the street to their rental car before the show ends.
Ravyn settles into the passenger seat, preparing for their drive to Atlantic City. Instead AJ starts heading uptown into Manhattan. She looks at his questioningly.
"Eh, I don't feel like driving tonight," he shrugs. "Booked us a room."
Confused, she keeps quiet as he pilots the car through the always busy New York City streets. She recognizes Central Park as they drive alongside it and barely even pays attention as AJ pulls the car to a stop in front of a beautiful stone building. She recognizes it when she finally looks to see where they've stopped.
"You booked us a room at the Ritz Carlton!?" She says stunned.
"My girlfriend is the Women's Champion," he retorts
He opens his door and hands the keys off to the awaiting valet. Grabbing both of their bags he leads her in to the lobby of the grand hotel. Moments later they're in an elevator on their way up the the room AJ had booked. He clicks the keycard into the door and holds it open, allowing her to enter the room first. She flips on the first light switch she finds and the impressive room comes alive with light. A California King bed, a pair of couches with a fancy wooden coffee table, and a bathroom almost completely made of grey marble. The elaborate room oozes opulence making her feel like a princess inside a magical castle. On the table between the two couches sits a silver platter with cheeses and chocolate dipped fruits. Next to the couch is a raised bucket stand with a bottle of champaign sitting in ice.
"Babe, she turns to face him, but instead of getting to finish her thought he kisses her gently.
"Happy Valentine's Day, babe," he almost whispers to her.
His hands snake their way around her. One ends up on her lower back and the other entwined into her thick colorful hair. Their bodies creep closer together as their kisses deepen. Ravyn's fingers tease the waistband of his jeans, caressing his soft flesh.
"This puts what I got you to shame," she says breathily.
He pulls away from her, surprised, "You got me something?"
"Of course I did," she tells him as she goes to her bag and fishes out a small gift wrapped box. "Why don't you open this while I get changed."
Ravyn disappears into the bathroom and slips into some skimpy black lingerie she had purchased for just this sort of occasion. She adds a button up shirt and fishnets to the skirt and lingerie.
"Bonk 3!?" She hears AJ exclaim from the other room. "You got me Bonk 3!?"
She saunters out of the bathroom and stands next to him on the couch. "I noticed it was missing from you collection last week," she says slyly.
His eyes slowly move from the TurboGrafx-16 game to her feet. She watches as he takes in the sight of her outfit. She seems to take his breath away. He stands up, setting the game case down distractedly. His hands reach for her hips as he looks her up and down again. The hungry look in his eyes tells her that he likes what he sees. Fingers toy with the buttons on her shirt. He pops one open to discover the elegant lingerie underneath. His eyes twinkle in anticipation. He takes her hand and leads her to the large bed where he guides her down into the soft mattress.
He takes his time, unwrapping her like a present. She works his clothes off of him while he's busy playing with her. He's got her squirming under his touch by the time his clothes are gone. Unable to hold off any longer she nearly begs him not to stop. Their lips crash together as their bodies become one. She catches his lower lip between her teeth on the tail end of a kiss eliciting a throaty moan from him. Tangled together they become a sweaty mess of flesh until they collapse into each other's arms where they fall asleep swiftly.