Chapter 2

I was on a plane before you could blink…or before another one of my infinite loop brain spasms. During the flight over, I talked to Colby, and he said that Jon found out from Punk (of all people) where she was after he took a trip to "visit" her, so in effect, Jon was betraying his mentor by sending me off to her. I promised myself I'd take him out drinking when I got back. He isn't hard to make peace with.

So, there I was standing at the front door of the guest house she occupied on this television star's property, and I didn't have a clue what to say when she opened it. I think I swallowed my tongue when she smiled at me. It seems to happen every time she does that so why would it be any different then? I almost couldn't hear her invitation to come in over that constant 'mine!' growl in my head, but I've learned to read lips a little better to avoid standing there like a deaf mute that happens to growl on occasion.

I used the excuse of work for being there just like everyone else that visited her. I couldn't feel like a bigger ass, but we had barely exchanged words (except for the ones she yelled from ringside that threatened my life) prior to that so I had no other possible reason for showing up on her doorstep. Like a dumbass, I went with it, and much to my surprise, she seemed to have reverted to a bit of her original form and invited me to stay.

I wasn't expecting that. I unknowingly made it through a door. Her trust had to be earned, remember? And I couldn't think of a single reason why she would extend me that trust along with that generous offer. Oh I accepted it. My mother didn't raise a fool. My beauty was tanned, looking renewed with life and…wearing a bikini. Of course, I accepted it.

There were actors there randomly throughout the day and night, and I didn't spare any of them a glance, not while she was in the same room. We sat huddled at her computer going over some photos, and all I could focus on was the smell of her hair and how it felt when it brushed against my skin. 'Mine.' Yeah, guess who? The animal rearing his head, demanding his mate like a petulant King Kong ready to bat some planes out of the sky.

I spent as much time as I could with her before I eventually had to return to the job. I walked away not with my intended mate but with the knowledge that she was returning to me…us…whatever. She knew who I was now. She always knew who I was, but I think she knew the real me. She called me Joseph, and I felt my heart pound every single time she did. She invited me into her home, knew who I was, called me by my real name and I was allowed to hear her voice, take in her scent and feel her hair brush against my skin.

Of course, wait for it. 'Mine…' but oddly this time the animal purred it. He was temporarily content because his intended mate was returning to his hunting ground.

Before long, Stephen (Sheamus) managed to pout her back on to the job. Hahaha! If he ever decides to leave the industry, I have it on good authority that he could be a professional pouter and make a damn good living. I don't think I've ever actually loved a huge red-headed Irishman before, but I came damn close when he walked in with her beside him.

Beside him! Now that man knows how to treat a woman. I'm going to man up and stand at the intersection of Neanderthal Way and Lecherous Beast Blvd and say at that particular point, I would have been happy if he walked her in on a leash (a solid gold one, I do have some class and damn, a gold leash and collar would look so hot on her…uh, right) because at least she was home but yeah, normally she always deserves to walk ahead if not beside anyone and everyone.

I remember exhaling a breath when I walked down the arena stairs, looked at the ring and saw her black eyes peering at me over the edge. She was home, she was here and she was working my match. So this is what Cloud 9 looks like. Jon elbowed me in the crowd and gave me a smirk. Colby asked if we kissed yet. He was like a kid hopped up on sugar, pelting out question after question until I silenced him with a glare and we put our game faces on.

I took absolutely every opportunity that I could to hang around her on the job and at the hotels. Any chance to see her, talk to her or come into physical contact with her; I grabbed on to with both hands and held on tight. We weren't in the inner circle just yet but we were getting there. There was a way to know for sure if you made it into the circle…one surefire way.

There was this special thing the elite of the superstars did at the hotels we booked, and it centered around her. They had a room party. With all the computer equipment she carries to each job, she can blast out some serious tunes and had a library from hell at her disposal. Here is the special part – the part that makes the mid-carders and jobbers jealous – she sings.

The company would book the top 3 floors of every hotel we stayed at, and the upper echelon would meet in her suite to sing and dance. I had the fortune of staying in a room on the floor below hers a few times and could hear her…them having a great time. Her voice was like a siren's call to me. Don't get any ideas about these sweet dance tune numbers or ballads. No, this woman has a deep, commanding voice (kind of like…mine) and she belts out rock songs by the likes of Seether, Staind and Godsmack.

The hotels put up with the parties as long as they kept it on the top floor with a two floor buffer in between them and the "normal" hotel occupants. The company loved the parties because it kept the superstars out of bars and clubs, off the streets and in the hotel where they stayed out of trouble. It worked all the way around except for one thing…not all of us were invited.

It wasn't a case of needing an actual invitation. It was a matter of knowing your place in the company. The veterans and upper tier stars walked right in. The door was literally open so that people could come and go as they pleased, but just because it was open didn't mean just anyone could walk in. It was just something the rest of us knew. We didn't need to be told.

On a few occasions, I'd be walking down that penthouse floor hallway, hear the music, glance in as I passed the door and see them having their fun. I'll admit I was trying to catch her eye to see if she'd call me in, but the room was packed with bodies and she was at the epicenter. I never had the nerve to walk in that door. Neither did Colby or Jon.

Many times I'd find myself lying awake, staring at the ceiling just listening to the voice that called to me and wished I was in that room. I could hear some of the songs she sang, and her voice was filled with such longing and loneliness, two things I wanted to erase from her life.

"Joe?" Colby whispered from his bed. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah, brah."

"Do you think we'll ever make it into that room?" You could hear his absolute need for acceptance by his peers in his tone. It was almost as heartbreaking as the pain in hers when she sang.

"I know we will, man." I was bound and determined to make it into that room for a different reason, but in doing so, I would get my friends in there too.

More weeks went by, and something changed within my beauty. It was in the way she moved, held herself and there was a predatory gleam in her eye. The woman was sexy as hell on any given day and drew quite a few of the single guys (and married ones – the pricks) to her without even trying. She shot them all down but that change was still riding shotgun within her. She was on the hunt.

A man knows these things. He can sense it just like women can read almost every single one of us. My sweet lady was looking for a man, and seeing as how she roomed with Stephen, almost everyone thought it would be him. The thought made me sick. I really didn't want to throw down with the Irishman. He did me an unknowing solid by bringing her back, but there was no way I was going to let him take what I wanted.

I didn't even think twice about it. I knew she was out of their suite, so I made my way up and banged on the door. He opened it with his trademark grin in place. "What's up, fella?" The guy never fails to make me feel like laughing even when I'm furious with him. I asked if I could come in, and he let me, pointing to the couch as he shut the door.

I asked him why…why did he have to go after her of all people, and he just shook his head, asking what the hell I was talking about. I breathed out her name and saw red (not him – the color) when he laughed at me. I distinctly remember shooting to my feet, balling my fists and okay, I was seething with anger that the man was laughing at me while he was stealing my mate. The man put his hands up, trying to stop his laughter while trying to keep me chilled, and then he said the words that dropped the floor out from under my feet.

"You've got it wrong, Joe. It ain't me she's after, fella. It's you."

What the fuck did he just say? It must have shown on my face because I'm fairly certain I swallowed my tongue again. I couldn't manage a coherent word if I tried. I stood there staring at Stephen, chest heaving for oxygen while the man narrowed his eyes on me and told me to sit back down.

"How do you know?" I managed to ask, staring at him like I was waiting for him to deliver the punchline of a joke.

"I can't tell you that, it's a secret, but I heard it directly from the mouth that interests you. Look, Joe, this woman," he paused for a moment, "we're closer than most happily married couples, but we will never be more than what we are. She's my family. Thing is, that closeness I share with her means I will tear you apart and leave you bloody if you ever hurt her. Get me, fella?" I swear he could pull the craziest eyes when he's threatening you. I just nodded my head. What else can you do when the big man delivers the best news you've ever heard and threatens your life in the same breath? "Glad we understand each other. Now get out." He slapped me on my shoulder and herded me towards the door like we were running a fire drill.

"Big date?" I asked quickly.

"Yeah, with her. It's game night. Bye!"

And a door was slammed in my face while another opened in my life. I walked down the hall, my head down, just thinking about how I'd approach this with her when I saw a pair of bare (and quite adorable) feet enter my field of vision. "Might want to watch where you're walking, big guy. You're liable to take out anyone coming down the hall lost in thought like that." Yep, there it was. My heart being pulled towards that voice and the usual swallowing of my tongue when I looked up and saw that smile directed at me. "You okay?" She had a look of concern in those eyes that have fascinated me since I was a kid, but that gleam, the predatory one I mentioned before, it was there too; and damn, if the animal in me didn't raise his head with a growl when its mate was showing interest.

"Yeah," I breathed out, nodding my head. It amazes me that she could continuously reduce me to the mental age of an awkward teen. She looked like she was waiting on something more from me, and damn, I wanted to give it to her but couldn't get the words to form in my head.

"Okay then," she said, deflating slightly but still smiling. "I have a game and an Irishman waiting on me. Night, Joseph," she nodded before skirting around me to go to her suite.

Her elbow brushed mine as she passed, and I felt that damn spark hit me like a lightning bolt. "Wait!" I must have said it a little too loudly because when we both turned to face each other, her eyes had widened with concern and dare I say, a look of anticipation? "I've, uh, got some things I need to pick up tomorrow, and I was wondering if you'd like to hit the strip malls with me?" I saw her eyes light up, and it suddenly dawned on me – that damn rule about her being seen in public in the company of one of us. As much as I didn't want to cross that line that was drawn in the sand by her legendary brother, I could tell by the look in her eyes and the smile on her face that she wanted it — needed it more than anything — and who am I to deny her what she needs? I swallowed the desert in my mouth, waiting for her reply which was an enthusiastic nod and grin. "Okay then, I'll be by to get you after breakfast."

"I'll be ready." I'm embarrassed to say those 3 little words made me swell painfully in my pants. When she winked at me and turned to bounce down the hall to her shared suite, I almost passed out from all blood flow hanging out south of the border. The rest of the night held my favorite pastimes since meeting her – cold showers and staring at the ceiling while I lay awake in bed. Then an unexpected thought ran through my head when I heard Colby snort in his sleep. I made it into the room. Hell, I pounded on the door and practically demanded entrance. Okay, I asked the big man if I could enter but if he said no, I would have demanded to come in by making a scene in the hall. The shit-eating grin on my face had to have lasted well past falling asleep because my face hurt in the morning.