23. Eve and the Halo
"Damn babe, you've got to chill out. You know how important this week away is to me and the guys."
Eve sighed and continued flicking through her magazine, trying to remain as cool as possible. Mike stood in front of her full length mirror, meticulously smoothing the spikes on top of his head and trying to catch sight of his hair in as many different angles as possible. She looked up at him briefly and rolled her eyes. Sometimes she swore he loved that mirror more than he loved her.
"I get it, Mike. It's just that I know these trips you guys take tend to be pretty..."
"Pretty what?"
Again, she sighed. There was no winning this argument; it had been going on for months at this point.
"I trust you, Mike. But some of the guys are pretty wild."
Mike laughed and shook his head. He sauntered over to the bed and took a seat beside his girlfriend.
"Of course they're wild, that's why they're my buddies! It's just a little vacation to the Hamptons. No biggie. Dolph's gonna be there and I'm sure Kelly hasn't gone whining to him."
"I'm not whining!"
"Then just drop it, Eve, sheesh. Me and the boys have been looking forward to this for months. We're just gonna get out there, relax a little, have a little fun and then come back home so summer can really begin. It's tradition for us to have our post-prom getaway."
"I guess," Eve said hesitantly. Those guys had a bunch of traditions, most of which made her more than uncomfortable.
"That's my girl."
Mike leaned over and pulled her in for a kiss. She reciprocated until his hands began travelling up her shirt, at which point she froze up and quickly moved backwards.
"Eve," he groaned, trying to pull her closer.
"Mike," she hissed, giving him a firm shove to the chest. "Now isn't the time."
He gave a defeated sigh and lay back on the bed.
"If not now, then when, Eve? We've been together for ages. We love each other. I'm ready for the next step."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I am."
She folded her arms across her chest and got off the bed, heading over to her wardrobe to put another sweater on. Mike followed, coming up behind her and linking his arms around her waist.
"I'm sorry babe," he said sweetly, his face nuzzling her hair. "It's just hard having a girlfriend who's hot as hell. I just can't keep my hands off you."
Eve rolled her eyes but giggled.
"Shut up, Mike."
She tried to push him away but the way he tickled her waist caused them to engage in a mini-playfight that led them back to the bed. Before long, he was resting on top of her. Eve bit her lip as she looked up at him, stroking his smooth face.
"I love you, Mike."
"I love you too Evie. Soon?"
She let out a dreamy sigh and nodded.
"Soon."
"Great job, guys; I'll see you next week!"
Eve grinned as her class clapped and began packing away their belongings. After sticking around for a short while to answer some of their questions, she let out a long sigh and grabbed her own bag before heading to the gym's staff room; where she was more than happy to collapse onto a couch and close her eyes in the silence for a few brief moments.
Her job at the gym had come as an unpredicted yet much appreciated distraction. Sometimes she wished she had more classes just so she could make her schedule busier, but for now, a few classes a week was good enough for her.
"Hey Eve."
And the company didn't hurt, either.
"Roman," she said, quickly sitting up. "Hey."
He was heading straight to the kitchenette area but was more than happy to shoot a warm smile her way.
"Good class?" He asked as he grabbed a coffee mug. He gestured to her to offer her one too; an offer she readily accepted.
"Great class. They all pick up on the stuff really quickly."
He nodded.
"Sounds good. Like I've said many, many times before, you're a great teacher so I'm not surprised."
She blushed, thankful that his back was turned at this point. As he busied himself with the coffee machine, she noticed that he couldn't stop rubbing the back of his neck and groaning quietly in discomfort.
"You okay?" She asked innocently, getting off the coach and heading slowly towards the kitchenette.
"Yeah," he said dismissively. "Just the usual aches and pains. I am getting old, after all."
Eve laughed quietly but gave a concerned frown.
"Even so, you shouldn't ignore things like that."
Now it was his turn to laugh. He flicked the 'on' switch on the machine and turned to face her, his arms folded and a smirk on his face.
"Alright, sensei. What do you suggest?"
"Well..." Instinctively, she bit her lip and looked him up and down, taking in his huge frame. "Back in college I dated this guy who was training to be a sport therapist. He gave a killer massage."
Quickly realizing how Roman could – and judging by his facial expression most likely did – interpret these words, Eve blushed again and bowed her head as she laughed to herself.
"So you wanna give me a massage huh?" Roman grinned and Eve poked her tongue out at him in response.
"Just get your ass over to this couch before I change my mind."
"Yes ma'am," his deep voice boomed as he followed her over to the sitting area, allowing her to sit first so that he could settle in between her legs.
She sighed peacefully as she began rubbing his broad shoulders. She was slightly taken aback as he moaned and leaned his body more comfortably back towards her.
"Mm. That feels good."
She laughed warmly as her hands ran up and down his neck and shoulders. A heavy sigh escaped from her lips as she too began to relax, closing her eyes and simply enjoying the peace surrounding them. She and Roman had quickly hit off behind the scenes of Believers. He was always ready to listen to her ideas and input regardless of her status as a newbie, and likewise she was more than happy to accept his feedback on her classes. Their business relationship was smooth, and only strengthened by the passion both shared for fitness.
Mike had been right when he described Roman as a workhorse. Eve was quick to find that the Florida native could easily spend an entire day in his office, coming out occasionally to use his gym facilities or check in with his employees before returning back to what he described as his sanctuary. She was constantly impressed by his business vision and ventures, many of which he had discussed in great detail at the dinner party. For example, when Justin had brought up his and Kelly's plans to move to Miami, Roman couldn't help but to enthuse over the idea of Florida as the home base for his businesses; with gyms, nightclubs, bars, even restaurants spread out across the state. And then, as he had described, he would continue moving across the country. Connecticut was a great start, but he had an itching to get out as soon as possible. There was too much to do and far too much to see.
As Eve sat with him now, she couldn't help but to stare down at him in disbelief. He had not even hit thirty, yet he had an empire in the making. Meanwhile, it was difficult enough for her to leave her mother's house.
"What are you sighing about?" He asked suddenly, making her snap out of her daydream. He tilted his head backwards and grinned up at her.
"Nothing," she giggled, pressing harder into his shoulders. "Just thinking about my next move."
Roman laughed and rolled his shoulders backwards, moving further against her smaller body.
"You mean what you're getting up to after work? Or are we talking more existentially here?"
She paused in thought for a moment, before shrugging and laughing lightly to herself.
"Well, I know that all I'm gonna do after work is head back home and continue moping a little before dragging my sorry ass to bed. So I'm trying to distract myself by thinking a little more long term."
"Oh really? So what does your long term look like? Where do you see yourself, say, five, ten years down the line?"
The Latina suddenly stopped mid-massage and found herself resting her arms comfortably around Roman's shoulders. To her surprise, he leaned upwards and began stroking her bare arms, his eyes still closed as he leaned against her. This time, even more surprisingly, there was no breath hitching or nervous stammering. All she could feel was that this felt perfectly natural... even if he was technically her boss.
"Let's see," she hummed. "Well, high school me knew exactly what she was doing. Her ten year plan was to go to college, get a degree, move to California, jump straight into a job as a journalist for some big shot magazine or newspaper, and then become Editor-In-Chief by the age of thirty. And of course by then my husband The Miz would have become one of the biggest names in the entertainment business, and our two kids would already be right on track for an Ivy League education. We'd have a beachfront mansion and a car for every day of the week."
As Eve finished talking, she caught eyes with Roman and the two immediately burst into laughter.
"Yup, that definitely sounds like the Mike Mizanin I know."
Eve shook her head and sighed through her laughter.
"So, you guys were really gonna get married, huh?"
"Oh yeah," she sighed. "We talked about it all the time. Had the blessing of our parents too. If we hadn't had broken up just before senior year I know for a fact I would have gone to the same college as him and everything."
Roman let out a low whistle.
"Crazy how it all works out, huh?"
"You don't even know the half of it."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with a little change of plan, right?"
She looked down at him and smiled softly.
"No," she sighed. "There isn't."
He looked up at her with a grin before giving her a warm pat on the knee and getting to his feet.
"I've better get going," he explained, stretching out his limbs. "I've got a meeting in five."
"Yeah," Eve replied as she cleared her throat. "I better get ready for my next class."
The two stayed looking at each other for a moment until Roman grinned and raised his hand before her, signalling for a high five.
"Thanks for the massage, Torres. I'm feeling much better; you're a very talented woman."
She laughed and high-fived him, keeping her hand in his as he helped her back to her feet.
"I hope you enjoy your afternoon," he said as he released his grip. She replied with a friendly 'thanks, you too' and eyed him as he poured his fresh coffee into a mug before leaving the room; sighing when the door finally shut behind him.
'Remember those walls I built?
Well baby they're tumbling down...
And they didn't even put up a fight,
They didn't even make a sound.'
"You okay, babe?"
Eve nodded; her breathing laborious. Mike grinned and continued planting kisses down her jawline, further down her chest... Before long he was fumbling with the zipper on the back of her Prom dress, roughly yanking it down so that he had access to the bare skin beneath. Staring straight above him towards the ceiling, Eve tried to slow her breathing as Mike clumsily undid the hooks on her bra, tossing the flimsy material to the side so that he could plant more kisses on her bare breasts.Closing her eyes tightly, she mouthed along to the Beyonce song playing in the background.
'I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo,
I got my angel now...'
"You're so hot, babe."
Mike moaned as he buried his face in his girlfriend's neck, his hands playing with her as he did so.
"Help me get out of this tux."
She nodded and moved her shaking fingers upwards so that she could carefully unbutton his shirt buttons, before sliding the material down his arms. Clearly lacking in patience, Mike moved her hands away and quickly shrugged himself out of the shirt. He then took her hands in his again and moved them down his abdomen and to his lower region, gesturing for her to undo his belt. With even more shakiness, she fumbled with the leather and metal before eventually reaching the button of his pants. His face still buried in her hair, he moaned at the feeling of her hands reaching closer to the important region.
'It's like I've been awakened,
Every rule I've had you breakin',
It's the risk that I'm taking,
I ain't ever gonna shut you out...'
Mike was more than eager to finally shake himself out of his pants before sliding Eve's dress further down her body. In what felt like a matter of seconds, he had found himself resting comfortably between their legs; his boxers and her panties the only thing in the way of what he had spent years waiting for.
'Everywhere I'm looking now,
I'm surrounded by your embrace,
Baby I can see your halo,
You know you're my saving grace...'
His lips darted all across her body, as if he was trying to kiss every single part of her. As she lay beneath him, she did her best to react to his ministrations; moaning in appreciation as his lips touched her skin.
'You're everything I need and more,
It's written all over your face,
Baby I can feel your halo,
Pray it won't fade away...'
"I want you so bad, Evie," he moaned, raising himself onto his elbows so that he could look her in the eye. "I love you so much. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you... You're everything to me."
"I love you too," she sniffed, not even attempting to stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
"Promise me that whatever happens, it's you and me 'till the end. Forget college and the boys and the girls and whatever. It's just me and you, babe."
His voice had taken on a new level of earnestness that was more than rare to The Miz. For a moment Eve could swear she saw a tear in his eye.
"Me and you, babe," she repeated, her voice a hoarse whisper. She cupped his face in her hands, her thumb massaging his soft cheeks.
'I can feel your halo...'
As the music lifted for its refrain, Mike leaned down and kissed Eve's lip passionately. He ran his hands through her face, across her chest, lower and lower until he reached her soft, tanned legs. In one swift motion, he parted them so that their private parts could finally access each other; even if it was through underwear.
"I'm so glad you're my first," she breathed as his hands began sliding her panties down her legs.
"Me too," he grinned, his face diving down between her legs.
'Hit me like a ray of sun,
Burning through my darkest night,
You're the only one that I want,
Think I'm addicted to your light...'
"You ready?"
He held the square package between his thumb and forefinger, waiting patiently for her blessing.
'Swore I'd never fall again,
But this don't even feel like falling,
Gravity can't forget to pull me back to the ground again...'
When she nodded, he quickly tore through the wrapper and slid the rubber down his length. As he entered her and began his sharp, swift thrusts, the sound of their moans and groans became smoothly intertwined with the music in the background.
Packing up her bag for the end of the day, Eve let out a long sigh and rolled her neck around her shoulders. Another day, another dollar. After stopping briefly for a chat with one of the other trainers, she made a beeline for the exit. She took a deep breath as she approached her car, seeing Roman digging through the trunk of his SUV.
"Quitting time for you too?" She called across the parking lot, grinning over at him.
Frowning at the sound of this voice, he looked around and matched her grin as he laid eyes on her. She was leaning casually against her car, her bag still slung on her shoulder. He walked the few paces over to her.
"I can't really say I ever have a quitting time," he joked, towering his large frame over her small car. "But it feels like one of those days where I need to do right now is head back to my place and enjoy a few hours of peace.
"Sounds good," Eve smiled, playing absent-mindedly with her car keys. "Anyway, I'd better get going. Wouldn't want to keep you from your night off."
He nodded and stepped back so that she could get into the car. But as she stepped in and went to close the door, he put his hand against the frame to stop her.
"You know what?" He cleared his throat. "If you're not doing anything and I'm not doing anything..."
Eve frowned, trying her best to quickly put two and two together.
"What I mean to say is, do you wanna come over to my place and just hang out? Get some takeout, watch a movie, whatever."
He shrugged casually as he finished talking while Eve tried to do her utmost to keep her jaw intact. Roman Reigns inviting her over to 'hang out'?
"Um," she giggled nervously. "Yeah." What was she saying?! "Yeah, let's do that. You head off in your car and I'll follow."
He nodded with a grin and headed back over to his SUV. She took a deep breath as she pulled out of her spot, following the large car ahead of her as it ahead through the downtown area.
"Hey Florita, is Mike home?"
Eve gave the Mizanin family's housekeeper a bright grin as she was welcomed into the foyer.
"Hello Eve, it's great to see you. Mike's just out by the pool."
Eve gave an appreciative nod and headed out back through the bright, spacious kitchen. Now that summer was upon them, Mike was surely always to be found lounging by the pool. Eve laughed to herself at the thought of her boyfriend lying out in the sun, working on his tan. He and 'the boys' were off to the Hamptons this weekend which meant that she was determined to fit in as much time with him as possible. She was still not wholly convinced by the sound of the week in the Hamptons, but he was her man and she trusted him.
"The Miz, the man, the legend!"
Eve paused and frowned as a male voice that was not her boyfriend's came from outside. She stopped, hidden slightly behind the door, to listen in.
"Guys, guys, guys," Mike laughed.
"So come on, dude, is it or is it not true?"
Eve recognized this voice as Jack Swagger's; the star football player who just so happened to be Alicia's ex-boyfriend and one of Mike's good friends. Or in other words, one of 'the boys' Eve just couldn't trust around her boyfriend.
"Yeah man, spill the beans." Montel Vontavious Porter's voice rang out. "We all know Ziggles over here has been balls deep since day one-"
"Very funny," Dolph protested, shaking his head as he continued his lounging. Knowing that this was a reference to Kelly, Eve could feel anger bubbling through her. That, however, was nothing compared to her reaction to Jack's next statement.
"Mizanin," he began. "We all know that you are a lucky son of a bitch to even be dating a piece like Eve Torres in the first place. If you didn't pop that cherry on prom night, I might have to take her off your hands and see to it myself."
The boys let out a series of 'oohs', laughing hysterically. Eve peered closely, trying to determine Mike's reaction. To her shock, he too was laughing along.
"Don't you worry about that, Swagger." Mike put his hands up, silencing his friends. "You guys know full well The Miz has tapped that so good no other man will ever be able to."
The shouts and jeers returned as Mike received a round of applause and several pats on the back. Eve stood frozen in shock, having to grab hold of the kitchen counter to level herself. She knew full well that Mike liked to talk big, but never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that she would be the butt of his jokes. She felt sick to her stomach.
She was still staring down at the counter as Mike came in through the door, almost dropping his glass as he saw her.
"Evie? What are you doing here?" He chuckled nervously, approaching his girlfriend and winding his arms around her waist.
She quickly pushed him away and turned around to face him.
"I hope those pats on the back from your boys were worth it. We're done."
She shook her head in disbelief and went to storm out of the house. Mike quickly followed after her, grabbing her arm.
"Eve, I don't know what you heard but-"
"But I heard enough. Enjoy the Hamptons. I guess going as a single man will be even more fun, right? You're a piece of shit."
She spat out these last words and hurried swiftly back through the grand foyer, out the front door, back into her car and out of the Mizanin compound for the last time.
Roman's penthouse was just as swanky as Eve had imagined; if not more so. The large windows gazed out onto the large city on the outside, while remaining high enough to keep his home private. Roman smirked as he watched Eve peer around in disbelief.
"Not bad, huh?" He joked.
"Something like that."
He laughed and tossed his jacket to the side, heading over to the kitchen area.
"There's a bunch of takeout menus over by the couch. You pick whatever you want and I'll get some drinks. Cocktails sound good?"
Eve couldn't help but to laugh. He really was something else.
"What?" For a moment she could swear a blush rose to his tanned cheeks.
"Nothing," she shook her head, still grinning at him. "I love cocktails."
He nodded and got to work in the kitchen while she flicked through the menus, still glancing around the penthouse as she did so. It was definitely not particularly lived in. There were very few personal affects; barely any photographs, not even a homely rug. Roman spoke often of his endless travelling and long days (and even longer nights), so it was no surprise to Eve that his Connecticut home felt more like a hotel suite than anything. Looking back over her shoulder, she smiled to herself as she watched him hum to himself as he retrieved drinks out of the refrigerator. Dressed in grey sweatpants and a black tank top with his long hair pulled back into a bun, she couldn't help but admit how impossibly attractive he was to her.
"Try this."
He sat himself down on the couch beside her as he handed her a drink.
"Mojito?" She asked, sipping the clear, minty beverage. He nodded, a satisfied grin on his face as she gave her approval. "Take out is all ordered," she said as she placed the drink down on the table in front of her. "I hope you like sushi."
"I love sushi," his low voice murmured, his eyes not leaving her.
"Roman," she giggled, gently nudging his arm. "Do you realize how much of a tease you are?"
"Who's teasing?"
He stared her down and licked his lips. She tried her best to maintain eye contact with him until the two finally broke down and burst into laughter.
"Very funny," Eve laughed as she leaned away from him and grabbed the two glasses on the coffee table. She handed him his and began sipping at hers as she crossed her legs on the couch.
"I try," Roman joked, leaning back on the other end of the couch with his own drink. "While we're waiting for this food, why don't I give you the grand tour?"
Eve agreed and followed as Roman took her around the penthouse; around the spacious living room which linked with the bright kitchen; out onto the balcony; the huge bathroom and the even bigger main bedroom. She let out a low whistle as he showed off the room, complete with fully made up king size bed in the middle of the room and the walk-in closet across the room. His room had a smaller balcony of its, with a set of double doors that opened out and gave him the perfect view of what felt like the entire city.
"Okay," Eve breathed as they went back into the living room. "I am officially impressed."
Roman gave a coy laugh and shrugged, making Eve laugh as he poured her a second drink. While they waited for the food delivery, they sat on the couch and continued their earlier conversation; each discussing what Roman described as their 'ten year plans'. Eve was surprised when she found herself admitting that she no longer had the same goals and plans she used to have. Of course, her future husband was certainly out of the question, but now she could hardly determine whether or not she still wanted to move to California or become a journalist. She was nowhere near as set in her path as Roman was.
By the time the food had arrived, Roman and Eve had gotten onto the subject of their backgrounds and upbringings. She listened intently as he discussed his huge Samoan family; brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents... She was shocked at how far he could lay out his family tree, and even more shocked at the fact that the extended family still kept in close contact with each other with reunions several times a year. Aside from a cousin here and there, Eve's family did not really extend much further out than her, her parents and her younger brother who was now at school in Denver. Her Latina background came up briefly, although she was quick to admit that none of her family spoke Spanish.
"Well, so much for that movie." Roman chuckled as he glanced at the clock on the wall. They had spent so long talking that it was now approaching ten.
"Wow," Eve laughed. "Time flies when you're having fun."
Roman laughed and rose to his feet, clearing the dishes in front of them. Eve got to her feet with him, helping him carry the glasses to the kitchen. He was however quick to shake her off when she offered to help him load the dishwasher.
"It's only fair," he said, taking the glasses from her. "Seeing as you didn't let me help out at your dinner party."
She stopped her protests with a shrug and leant against the counter as he loaded the dishwasher; their conversation carrying on as he did so.
"One more drink?" He offered.
It took her a moment to make up her mind, but when she eventually agreed a smile spread across his face. He grabbed two fresh glasses and mixed another set of drinks. When he finished, he held a glass out to Eve and she again expressed her approval. As he led her back to the sofa, he grabbed a remote control from the side and switched on his sound system.
He took a seat and patted the space next to him, gesturing for her to come closer. With a nervous giggle she inched closer to him and struggled with how to position herself. At the moment her hands sat awkwardly in her lap as she could feel Roman's inching closer to that direction.
"You like Beyonce?" He asked casually, his gaze meeting hers.
"Who doesn't?" She responded, almost as casually.
With a grin he skipped a few tracks until he was satisfied with his song choice. Eve had to take a moment to catch her breath as the first few bars kicked in. Those all too familiar strings took her all the way back to prom.
Roman, however, was firmly in the moment. He was already playing with her long hair, and it didn't take long for him to inch his face closer to hers and plant a kiss on her lips.
'Remember those walls I built?
Well baby they're tumbling down...'
Eve shook it off and leaned in to kiss him back with just as much fervour. As the music disappeared into the background, Roman and Eve embraced passionately; his muscular arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her onto his lap. She moaned into his mouth as his large hands gripped her ass, and she moved her hands into the mess of his long hair.
'It's the risk that I'm taking,
I'm never gonna shut you out...'
The make out session was giving no signs of easing up. Roman slid down the couch so that Eve was lying on top of him, their lips not once separating.
'I can see your halo...'
Moving her body around, she found herself holding back as she felt his growing hardness.
"You okay?" He spoke lowly as she positioned herself upright and away from him. His hands were still running up and down her thighs, making her urge him to stop.
"I should go," she said quickly, swinging her legs around and getting to her feet. Fixing her hair and smoothing down her clothes, her eyes darted around the room as she refused to make eye contact with him.
"Eve..."
She shook him off as he attempted to reach out to her, quickly shoving her feet into her sneakers and looking around anxiously for her jacket.
"So you're not going to say anything?"
In one quick stride he had got to his feet and stood in front of her, his large frame stopping her from darting across the room.
'Pray it won't fade away...'
"Roman," she stuttered, her eyes glued to his broad chest, the tattoos on his arms; anywhere but his eyes.
"I thought we were having a good time?" He slowly advanced forward and ran his hands up and down her bare arms. The feel of his skin on hers felt better than she was willing to admit, but once again she pushed him away.
"Yeah," she stepped back firmly. "I've had a great time but it's getting late and I've got a bunch of stuff to do in the morning so-"
"Have I done something wrong? If I overstepped any boundaries..."
"I barely know you, Roman! And yeah, you're gorgeous, but were you really expecting me to just jump into bed with you the second you snapped your fingers? Not to mention the fact that you're my boss."
Her fists clenched by her side as she stood opposite him and maintained her composure. Now her eyes moved up his body and slowly but surely met his confused gaze. He went to say something but then simply sighed and raised his hands in protest.
"Fair enough. Your jacket's over by the door."
Looking over guiltily she nodded and quickly crossed the room. Roman remained where he stood, his hands on his hips as he watched her leave.
"Eve," he said suddenly, making her let go of her grip on the door handle.
"Yeah?" She croaked in response.
"This is about Mike, isn't it?"
She looked down and swallowed, once again avoiding his gaze by any means necessary. She stammered for a moment in an attempt to conjure up a response, but very quickly came up short. Instead a mumbled one last 'goodbye' and hurried out of his apartment.