Chapter 7: Lost Time
Punk and AJ headed to her local grocery store after throwing out most of her food.
"I really don't need much" AJ said to him "Unless I get fired in that case I should stock up so I can live off of it for a while so I won't starve" she mumbled and he glanced over to her as she pushed the shopping cart
"You think I would let you starve?" Punk scoffed
"I'll be gone from WWE and gone from you too" AJ reminded him
"No that's not how it works" Punk smirked "Whether you left the company or I left you'd still have me around"
"Promise?" she asked him. And he smiled at the cute innocent face she made towards him
"I promise" He confirmed as he tossed some items into the cart "So you and Trent seem to be on ok terms" he noted casually
"I guess" AJ said to him with a shrug "I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't let it go"
"He knows" Punk said to her and she looked over to him as they walked down an aisle "Or at least suspects something was going on between us"
"He asked me about it during our story with Brian" AJ noted "Which was the only time we actually weren't doing anything"
"That's when Amy asked me about it too" Punk said to her
"Are you sure you're ok?" AJ asked him "You didn't really tell me what happened with Amy. I mean you told me about Atlanta but not why you left"
"She knew I wasn't happy" Punk said simply as he reached and put some coffee into her cart. She smiled because he knew exactly what kind of coffee she drank. "So she told me to go"
"Where you unhappy?" she asked curiously
"Yea I guess I was" Punk said to her "I feel bad about how it all went down but it was for the best"
"I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation" AJ said to him "I'm sure you wanted to travel less"
"Flying out to see you didn't bother me" Punk admitted as he watched AJ toss some things into the cart "I'm glad you called I just with it was under different circumstances"
"Me too" AJ sighed
"I'm still going to fix this" Punk promised
"You're still away and it's not like you and Orton are buddies. I'll make it work I just might need you near a phone to walk me through some of it" AJ said to him
"There's nothing to make work" Punk said to her "You're doing all you should do." He said with a shrug then stopped in the middle of the aisle and looked towards her "Do not let him touch you" he warned her and she just nodded "I mean it AJ I know you want a way to fix it but giving into him isn't the way to do it"
"You were right" she sighed as they began to walk again "I underestimated him"
"That because you weren't around a few years back when Hunter, Dave, Ric and Randy ran the locker room. The 'evolution' story wasn't really fictional. All of them were snug assholes and treated everyone like shit. The only one to grow out of it was Hunter and that's only because he had to please his new daddy"
"I feel like I have this giant question mark looming over my head" AJ admitted "I just wish I could get back to work and feel out the situation"
"Don't worry about work today" Punk said to her
"It's going to be impossible" AJ admitted
"I'll just have to distract you then" Punk shrugged with a grin
"Oh yea?" she teased with a giggle "Well I hope you're not looking to distract with a batman movie because Trent took my copy"
"No I told you I'm going to cook you dinner" Punk said to her "And you're going to help"
"Can't my contribution just be cleaning up?" she asked hopefully "I'm not much of a cooker. You saw my pantry"
"I can't cook much myself but I've been told I make a good sauce. I'm going to teach you" Punk said proudly
"Ok fine" AJ said to him
"I noticed Nacho wasn't there last night" Punk said as they passed the pet food aisle
"He's with my sister" AJ said to him "I was traveling too much. I miss him"
"I bet" Punk frowned "I think we're all set" he said looking at the cart
"It's too much food" AJ said to him folding her arms
"I plan on eating most of it" Punk said seriously "If I'm going to be staying with you I need real food and I don't have to worry about my diet for another week or so"
Later that afternoon Punk was in the kitchen near the stove.
"Did you cut up the garlic?" Punk asked
"Yep" she said proudly and her turned to look at it and laughed "Why are you laughing?" she pouted
"It's nothing" Punk said still smiling "But you're going to need smaller pieces" he smirked
"This is how I cut garlic" AJ defended
"Have you ever cut garlic before?" he questioned
"No" she admitted shyly. She was still holding the knife and he came up behind her and placed his hand over hers
"Just like this" he said using her hand to cut the garlic and pressed his body into hers from behind
"That's what I did" AJ said seriously and she heard him laugh against her ear
"I'm sure it is" Punk smirked "The garlic is the best part so if you don't do this right you can ruin the entire dinner" he warned
"That's a lot of pressure" she said teasingly
"Yea it is" he said softly then let go of her. The feel of him not in her space or touching her made her feel cold.
"I don't think I like garlic" she said scrunching her nose at the smell
"You're going to like it" Punk laughed as he worked on the stove
"How can you be sure?" she asked
"Because I know you" Punk said with a simple shrug
"Here it's done" she said turning around with the dish of cut up garlic
"Perfect" Punk said looking at the finished project and poured it into the bowl
"What else can I do?" AJ asked him
"Can you boil water?" he asked seriously and she punched his arm hard causing him to laugh again
"Of course I can boil water" she said to him
"Come here turn the sauce" he instructed handing her the large spoon
"I can do that" she said smugly. Punk grabbed a box pasta of the shopping bag and filled the pot with water and placed it on the stove.
"This is a lot of work" AJ noted
"It will be worth it" Punk assured her. He came up behind her again and AJ could feel his hot breath against her ear
"How am I doing?" she asked
"Good" he said and she felt his hands gently move to her hips and began to slowly massage them. Her shirt rode up slightly so they were finally making skin-to-skin contact for the first time in over two weeks. She was trying to concentrate on what she was doing but his movements increased and she felt him push himself into her butt slightly and she rolled her eyes slightly. She was ready to take the entire pot of sauce and chuck it down the sick and jump all over him right this second.
"Phil" she whispered
"Yea" he responded quietly and she felt him kiss her behind her ear while his hands still moved against her hips
"What are we doing?" she asked him
"Cooking" he replied innocently
"This is how you cook?" she asked with a smirk
"Oh yea" he said surely. "We're going to have to turn the heat down now on it and let it cook for a little" he said reaching around her and lowering the heat on the burner. His hand went right back on her except it moved to the front of her and as one hand un-buttoned her jeans the other one zipped them down. He began to kiss down her neck and rested his hands on her until she felt him grab his hands.
He didn't want to jump the gun or do something she didn't want to do. He felt her hands wrap around his crossed wrists and she pushed his one hand underneath the jeans he had just loosened. That was the permission he was looking for. He reached his hand underneath her panties and palmed her delicate flesh. She let out a soft moan and leaned against his chest as he continued to kiss her neck and then her shoulder.
"Phil" she whispered
"I love it when you call them that" he admitted as her hands gripped his arms. He continued to tease her folds with his one hand while the other gripped her hip bone. "Do you want me to stop?" he questioned with a whisper in her ear.
"No" she said softly "Take me into the bedroom" she said to him and with that he pulled his hand out of her jeans and turned her around. He cupped her face and pulled her into a deep and almost bruising kiss.
They stumbled backwards into her bedroom removing articles of their own clothing on the way. He hit the bed back first and AJ landed on top of him. She leaned down and began to kiss him again. He was only wearing his boxers and AJ had on her matching underwear set. He reached her hips and pulled down her bottoms and in an instant they were forgotten on the floor. He was able to flip them over so he was now on top and curled in-between her legs. He looked down at her lust filled face and big brown eyes and he knew he was where he was supposed to be. If he had any doubt that AJ was the one the look on her face right now washed it all away. He was home.
AJ ran her hands over his bare chest and reached up to kiss it, she loved the beauty of his tattoos and appreciated them every time they were intimate. He gently grinded into her so she could feel his desire for her and it pulled her away from leaving wet kisses across his chest. He cupped her face and began to kiss her lips gently as he continued to grind against her. She pulled away and she could feel how swollen her lips were and reached down to his hips now and pulled his boxers down. He kicked them off the rest of the way of her.
"Fuck" he muttered
"What?" she asked confused. They were seconds away from physically reconnecting and now he was backing out "What's wrong? Did I…"
"No" he said cutting her off then smirked "Believe me sweetheart it's not you. I didn't bring anything"
"What do you- oh!" she said finally catching on "I think Trent left-"
"When you're naked laying underneath me try to reframe from saying another mans name please" Punk requested and she just smirked
"Sorry" she giggled and reached over to the nightstand table and handed him a box. He looked at it and laughed
"Not going to fit me" he said smugly tossing the box onto the floor
"Oh come on" AJ laughed and Punk just arched a brow at her "Ok fine we have two options. Either you need to be really careful or you have to get dressed and go to the store. It's right down the block"
"Why do I have to go to the store?" Punk asked and she just made a face at him "Fine" he groaned
"You're going to go?" AJ asked hopefully
"No we're just going to be really careful" Punk said leaning in and peeking her lips "You ok with that?" she just nodded "Besides I don't think I'd be able to pry myself away from you at the moment" she placed her hand at the back of his head and pushed his face against hers and they began to kiss again. She was sure that kissing him was her only addiction and she never wanted a cure. She reached between them and gripped his throbbing member and began to stroke him while he pulled away from her lips
"Don't" Punk warned but she just gave him a devilish smile. He grabbed her hand and pinned both of her arms over her head. He entered her swiftly and she let out a pleasurable moan while arching her back off the bed.
"Holy shit" he muttered once he was fully in her. They had never had unprotected sex together before and he didn't think there would be much difference but there defiantly was. He felt like he was one with her finally.
"Oh god Phil" she moaned as he began to thrust into her gently "So good" she moaned. Her arms fought against his hands begging for him to let her go which he did. He gripped the sheets tightly on the side of her head while he reached her arms around his shoulders.
"You are so beautiful" he muttered as he watched her face closely as he weaved in and out.
"You make me feel beautiful" the words hit him like a ton bricks. She really did value him; she may have even loved him even though she had never said it. He knew he had to take care of her no matter what. He reached down and kissed her again and sped up his thrusts. They remained in a lip lock until the urge to cry out began too strong for her. Punk let out a throaty growl as he moved now even faster and felt her entire body tighten around him. He was so lost in the moment that he almost forgot to pull out but he did at the last minute and spilled his warmth onto her toned stomach.
"Wow" AJ said catching her breath, as she lay almost frozen looking up at the ceiling with a goofy smile. She felt the bed move and saw he headed into the bathroom and a second later he came back out with a small towel.
"Sorry" he said wiping her stomach down
"It's ok" she said to him and cupped his cheek with one hand so he would look at her "Did that feel different to you too?"
"It did" Punk agreed as he finished cleaned her up then tossed the towel into the nearest hamper in the room.
"Good different?" she asked hopefully as he got back onto the bed
"Great different" he confirmed and she was again put at ease "The fact that we're not technically sneaking around might have helped it"
"Yea" AJ agreed.
"I really missed you" he confessed looking towards her and she tilted her head to the side to make eye contact with him "These last two weeks without talking to you at all, being with you- it was just brutal"
"I feel the same" AJ said to him sweetly "If being apart is so hard and being together feels so right why have been fighting it?"
"I honestly don't know" Punk said to her
"Can we really make this work?" she asked him
"Yea" he said positively "We have to make it work"
"But what about work?" she asked him
"We'll figure it out" he said to her
"Can we just stay here the rest of the night?" she requested turning completely on her side and snuggling against his warm body.
"You can" Punk said to her "But I slaved over a hot stove all afternoon for you and you're going to eat" he then got out of the bed causing her to let out a needy whine. He grabbed just his boxers and put them on. "You wait here" he said to her
An hour later they were both in bed eating the plate of spaghetti and sauce he made.
"Good?" he asked
"So good" she almost moaned and he let out a laugh
"Don't moan like that while you're completely naked" he warned. She was only wrapped up in a thin bed sheet. "I will jump you"
"Is that supposed to scare me?" she asked seriously looking over to him before he could respond they heard her doorbell.
"Are you expecting somebody?" Punk asked her and she shook her head 'no'
"Maybe it's Trent" she shrugged "He probably forget something" she said getting out of the bed and reaching for some clothes.
"I got it" Punk said slipping on his shorts and t-shirt. He headed out of the bedroom and over to the door. He looked through the peephole and groaned at the sight of the person on the opposite side of the door. AJ stepped outside her bedroom door, which wasn't far from her front door "Go back inside", he instructed her
"Why?" she asked confused
"Just go back inside" he said in a firmer voice "You trust me right?" she nodded in response and he gestured for her to go back into the room which she did. He opened the door swiftly and came face to face with Randy himself.
"Oh shit" Randy laughed "It takes a lot to surprise me but I am surprised to see you here. Last I heard you were in Atlanta" he went to take a step inside the small apartment but Punk held his arm up so Randy couldn't get in "Are you going to let me in?" he asked with a laugh
"No" Punk said to him coldly "This isn't backstage Randy you can't just push yourself around here. Also if you step inside of here I can't promise I won't hurt you"
"Oh so I guess she told you about the bus" Randy said to him and Punk glared at him "I gave it a shot so sue me" Randy shrugged simply "Don't tell me she's still pissy about it"
"You gave it a shot, got shot down yourself and then preceded to get her sent home" Punk shot at him
"I'm flattered you think I have that kind of pull but I don't" Randy informed him
"So why was she sent home then?" Punk asked
"She wasn't feeling well" Randy defended "I just passed the message along for her that's all"
"Bullshit" Punk muttered "What are you doing here?"
"I was at NXT checking out some of the young blood with Hunter and thought I'd swing by" Randy shrugged "Check in to see how she was feeling"
"Or were you checking in to see if she changed her mind?" Punk challenged and Randy gave him a slow arrogant smile
"I'm assuming since you're here that I don't have a chance tonight" Randy said "Or is she one of those kinky-"
"I'm going to stop you right there" Punk warned
"I'm just kidding" Randy laughed
"No you're not" Punk said in an almost disgusted voice
"You're right" Randy smirked "Well tell AJ I stopped by-"
"She's coming back to work on Monday" Punk informed him "And you're going to stay out of her way. You're going to work your crappy story and let her do her thing. Also she isn't going to be getting on your bus anymore.
"You'd rather a pretty little thing like April Jeanette travel by herself. Who knows what kind of freak and weirdo's are lurking" Randy said to him
"I'd rather take my chances with the random freaks then the one I already know" Punk said eyeing Orton "Also she won't be alone. I'll see to it she's taken care of"
"I bet you will" Orton said to dryly
"If you give her any more trouble you're going to be dealing with me" Punk threatened "And trust me you do not want that"
"Scary" Randy mocked "Does Amy know you're here?" he asked curiously
"Stay the fuck out of my business Orton" Punk warned "Or maybe I'll start poking around yours. I bet your lovely ex has a ton of stories she'd love to share with me. We always got along so long" Punk remarked "Actually during our last Wrestlemania story I was pretty sure she had a thing for me." He told Randy smugly and effectively wiped the grin off of Orton's face.
"Fuck off" Randy spat
"You first" Punk challenged standing straight "Stay out of my business and AJ's career" Randy just eyeing Punk from head to toe and he wasn't sure if Randy was going to jump him but he slowly began to walk backwards away from the front door
"I'm actually looking forward to you coming back" Randy said with a dry laugh to Punk he then walked down and Punk waited for him to get into his rental and take off.
"What was that about?" AJ asked coming up behind Punk
"Just an old fashioned pissing contest" Punk mocked and closed the door "You're going to be fine"
"He didn't seem too mad" AJ noted
"Because he has no power. Just keep your head down and work the angle with him" Punk said to her "I'll take care of the rest"
"You didn't tell him that you and Amy broke up or the fact that I told you he was blackmailing me" AJ pointed out
"Let's let him think he has something over you" Punk said to her "If we take all of his power away he's going to get crazy. He still thinks he's winning so be it."
"I don't want him to tell anyone" AJ said to him "It's one thing if we're together and public about it's still a whole other thing if people find out how long this has been going on for"
"I agree" Punk said to her "I don't want to hurt Amy" he admitted "I also don't want your name dragged through the mud. So we just play it by ear for now"
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" she asked him almost fearfully
"Don't" Punk said to her "I know how to get to him. If anything you should be feeling better"
"Well now I have to figure out traveling plans" AJ said to him "You don't think he'll give me a hard time about not traveling with him do you?"
"If he does you call me" Punk said to her seriously "And as for your traveling needs you can use my bus"
"I am not using your bus" AJ scoffed
"Why not?" he frowned "It's collecting dust on my street"
"Because its your bus" AJ reminded him
"And I'm lending it to you I'm not giving it to you" He laughed "I'll want it back when I come back."
"Ok" AJ said to him
"Did you finish eating?" he asked he curiously
"Yes I did and it was delicious" AJ said moving her mind away from Randy and now back in the present with Punk.
"Good it's time for dessert" Punk said turning his back towards her as he headed into the bedroom and took the dishes out
"I'll clean up" AJ said to him.
"We'll clean up tomorrow" Punk said to her "Dessert time" he said seriously
"I don't remember you picking up anything for dessert" AJ said and he turned around and lifted her easily over his shoulder
"Punk" she laughed hanging over his shoulder and down his back. She shimmed down so she was almost past his back and he was gripping her by her knees.
"Stop wiggling or I'm going to drop-" he stopped when he felt a pinch on his but "Tell me you didn't just bite my ass" he was no laughing as he dropped her back onto her bed
"I didn't bite your ass" She said with a serious face as she held back her laugher
"Liar" Punk said in fake shock
"I thought it was dessert" She shrugged innocently
"No, no dessert is you tonight" he said pulling his shirt off again and crawling over her body.