Insight
AJ headed to her Brooklyn shared apartment. Once she arrived outside the building she used the stairwell to walk up the twelve flights and avoided eye contact with everyone who was doing shady deals and ignored the pleas from the homeless sleeping in the hallway and asking for money.
"I was beginning to think I'd have to send the police after you." AJ's roommate greeted as he rolled off the mattress on the floor.
"I didn't realize I had to run my schedule by you." AJ teased throwing her back on the messy floor of the one room apartment.
"I worry about you ok?" the dirty blonde haired man insisted.
"I know I'm sorry." AJ said softly. "You look hung over."
"I'm not hung over." Her friend Dean laughed. "I think I'm still drunk. Where the hell have you been?"
"I had work." She shrugged taking her jacket off.
"For two days? They kept you last night?" Dean laughed.
"I met someone." AJ shrugged.
"Little April Jeanette did not have a one night stand." Dean laughed.
"I did." She said almost proudly. "And it was great." She gushed.
"Get the fuck out!" he laughed. "Good for you!"
"You are so brotherly." AJ teased.
"Hey I love you like a sister but that doesn't change the fact you need to get laid." Dean said seriously. "I was going to just fuck you to help speed up the process."
"Robbie must be smiling down on you now." AJ joked.
"Robbie was my brother." Dean said seriously referring to AJ's blood brother. "I went to war with him, we served to tours together and I promised him I'd look after his family for him."
"I know and you've done a great job." AJ assure him with a smile. "Once I save up enough money we're out of this rat hole." She said to him.
"I don't want your money. You left Primo and asked to crash here and I said you could, I didn't ask you to get a job and take me with you." Dean reminded her as he picked up a beer and sipped it.
"You're just as much brother as Robbie was, where I go you go." AJ said to him.
"I like it here." Dean grinned. "But I do want you out of here just because it's not safe and you deserve better."
"You just want me out of here so you can have all of your disgusting guy friends over." AJ smirked.
"They'd hit on you then I'd have to hit their faces." Dean shrugged. "So tell me about this mystery man."
"He's not a mystery." She shrugged.
"You're frowning, did he do something you didn't want? Do I have to track him down and beat the shit out of him?" he asked seriously.
"No." AJ smiled lightly. "But the two guys I ran into this morning you could."
"What two guys?" Dean asked seriously now.
When Robbie passed away while fighting for his country in Iraq, Dean came home and took AJ under his wing. She was closest to Robbie out of everyone in the family and when he died a piece of her died too. She left her husband, her family and wanted to start to live her live life. Dean took AJ in even though he didn't have much to offer and she repaid him by waking him up during his many nightmares caused by what he had seen in Iraq, she would kick his one night stands out of the house and she fed and took care of him for the most part. Dean protected AJ while AJ took care of him.
"These guys showed up looking for the guy I was with and they creeped me out." AJ shivered. "I was at his hotel but he was already gone by the time they got there. They pushed their way into the room and pulled my towel off of me."
"Was that it?" Dean asked warily.
"Yes." She said and he nodded.
"What's their names?" Dean asked.
"I just know their first names." AJ shrugged. "It's not important I'm never going to see that guy so I doubt I'll see them again."
"Names." He repeated.
"Randy and Ryan." She said to him.
"They have gang colors on or anything?" Dean asked.
"No Dean." She sighed pushing some clothes off a chair and taking a seat.
"Oh Primo stopped by last night, bought some more of your stuff." Dean said nodding towards the corner were there was a garbage bag.
"How was he?" AJ asked.
"His usual stuck up better than everyone else self. Dude works at a gas station yet looks down at me." Dean spat. "He said you should be expecting the papers at some time next week."
"Well try not to lose them because I wont be here." AJ said to him.
"And where are you going?" Dean asked her.
"Chicago for the week on business." She informed him.
"I can't get a job flipping burgers at McDonalds and you landed your first job on your first interview and already get to travel." Dean laughed. "You were born under a lucky star girly."
"Yea." She said lightly. "That guy I slept with is going to be there. He lives in Chicago."
"Awkward." Dean laughed. "Here's a tip, pretend like you don't even remember him. It will piss him off."
"I don't want to piss him off." AJ argued.
"So you want to bang him again?" Dean asked her. "Because if that's the case just take your clothes off."
"No I just want to be professional." AJ said to him.
"Can't help you there, I'm sure you'll be fine." Dean said taking a swig of his beer again.
A week later AJ and Paul were standing outside of Punk's house.
"Why are you so nervous?" Paul asked AJ. "You've already seen the man naked, have you not?"
"Paul." She hissed and he laughed.
"I like you." Paul said still laughing as the door swung open.
"Nine in the morning?" Punk asked annoyed. He was only wearing a pair of shorts and his hair was messy.
"Wakey, wakey sun shine." Paul teased stepping side and before Punk could close the door he was surprised to see AJ.
"AJ." He forced out.
"Hi." She said with a shy smile.
"Come in." He said nodding for her to enter his home. "Paul didn't mention you'd be joining him."
"Sorry I forgot." Paul shrugged. "I need coffee." He said walking right into the kitchen.
"Look about-" Punk started.
"It's fine you don't have to say anything." AJ said cutting him off. "I'm sorry if I forced you into something you didn't want."
"It wasn't that." Punk said with a laugh. "I just had a flight to catch and uh-"
"Hey baby have you seen my phone?" a perky red head asked as she bounced down the stairs.
"Yea it's right there." Punk said pointing to the coffee table in the living room.
"Thanks I'm going to be so late for work." Maria sighed. "Oh hello." She smiled towards AJ.
"This is Paul's new assistant." Punk introduced. "AJ, this is my girlfriend Maria."
"Nice to meet you." Maria smiled shaking her hand. "Last one he bought was Trinity, how is she?"
"She's good." AJ smiled to her. It was impossible to not be nice to the woman.
"I'm going to say hi to Paul before I go." Maria told her boyfriend as she headed into the kitchen.
"Girlfriend?" AJ asked him.
"Yea." Punk said scratching the back of his head. "I left that out huh?"
"Yea I think you did." She said coldly.
"You're married." Punk pointed out.
"Separated." She corrected. "And she is so sweet and now I feel like crap so thank you." She hissed as Maria walked back in.
"Bye baby I'll see you for dinner." She said giving Punk a slow but still passionate open-mouthed kiss. "AJ it was nice to meet you, hope you're at dinner too."
"Perfect." Paul said sipping on his coffee as Maria walked out the door. "Want a tour Andy?"
"No I actually have to make a phone call." AJ said to him.
"Sure." Paul said as AJ passed him as she walked into the kitchen herself.
"AJ wait." Punk said walking after her. "I'm sorry-"
"I'm not mad because I thought something would happen between us I'm mad because I feel like shit." AJ argued.
"I'm sorry I should have said something but I didn't think I'd see you a week later." Punk admitted.
"Just forget it." She said to him as she pulled out her old fashioned flip-phone. "I really need to make this call."
"One more thing about the guys that stopped by the hotel-" he started.
"Don't worry about it." She said to him again.
"I do worry about it because they shouldn't have come there or bothered you." Punk said seriously. "I'm so sorry about it."
"It's fine." She said again. "You should get dressed." She said gesturing to his lack of his clothes.
"Ok." Punk said then as he walked out the door he heard her on the phone.
"Hey Dean it's me, I need you to talk me down…." She trailed off.
Punk realized Dean must have been her ex and he was now sending her straight back into his arms.
Punk and Paul were at work going over sketches and dialogue for hours. Most people would be bored but both Punk and Paul were in awe of how invested AJ was in all of this. It had been nearly six hours and everyone was starving. They asked AJ to order up food for them and Punk used the time to confront Paul.
"Why did you bring her here?" Punk asked him.
"She's my assistant." Paul shrugged.
"You have two other ones." Punk argued.
"She needs the experience." Paul said simply. "She doesn't seem bothered it's you who seems to be having the problem." He pointed out.
"Maria was here. What if AJ said something." Punk whispered.
"She's not like that." Paul laughed.
"How do you know? You've known her for two weeks." Punk said to him.
"Stop." Paul said seriously. "There's nothing wrong with the poor girl, she's just doing her job and trying. Maybe it's you who shouldn't be around her."
"I can't stop picturing her naked." Punk whispered as low as possible, so low Paul barely understood it.
"I'm sorry what?" Paul asked with a slow smile.
"I keep picturing her naked." Punk repeated looking towards the kitchen to make sure she was still in there.
"What's she look like?" Paul asked seriously and Punk rolled his eyes. "You have Maria in your bed and you're fantasizing about Andy?"
"She's different." Punk said unsurely. "I don't know I feel like I haven't gotten her out of my system."
"Please be gentle with her." Paul said annoyed. "I don't want her to quit."
"They said half an hour then we can go pick it up. If you give me the directions I'll just go." She volunteered.
"No I'll go." Paul said already standing up. "I need the fresh air, you two stay and work."
"You still have half an hour." Punk pointed out.
"I walk slow." Paul shrugged and walked out the door.
"He did that on purpose." AJ noted.
"Paul is a lot of things, subtle isn't one." Punk groaned. "Sit I don't bite." He said gesturing to the seat next to him and she arched a brow at him. "Oh I mean while I'm dressed I don't bite." He smirked remembering he did nibble on her a few times during their tryst. AJ took the seat next to him and looked at some of the paperwork.
"I'm upset that you have a girlfriend because it sucks to be cheated on." AJ said to him. "But I don't feel bad it happened because I needed it." She admitted and he smiled lightly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He smirked. "So how have you been? You get a new place or-"
"I'm fine were I'm living." She said to him and he just nodded. "I just started things take time."
"Yea I remember that." Punk said to her.
"And now you live in dream home." She smirked.
"Yea it's not bad." Punk agreed. "I just worry about you living alone in Brooklyn and traveling at night that's all, I'm sure Paul could help you find a place."
"I don't live alone." AJ said casually.
"I didn't realize you had a roommate." Punk said to her.
"You don't really know a lot about me." AJ pointed out.
"Well two girls living in Brooklyn and what I can only assume a bad building is still shady to me." Punk told her.
"I live with a guy." AJ said with a laugh as she moved some paper work around and didn't notice his frown.
"Your husband?" Punk asked.
"No my best friend." AJ said to him. "When I left Jersey he let me crash there."
"Oh." Punk said to her. "Most be awkward."
"It's not." AJ said to him. "He served with my brother."
"I didn't realize your bother was in the military." Punk said to her. "I have the outmost respect for military men."
"He was in the military, he died a year ago." She said casually never looking back at Punk.
"I'm sorry." Punk said to her.
"Me too." She said. "So, do you want me to throw these out?" she asking picking up a pile of papers.
"No- AJ I didn't mean to push you." He started.
"It's ok." She shrugged. "He passed away and he always knew deep down he wouldn't be coming home. He made peace with it I'm still working on it." She said with a sad smile. "Dean reminded me of him and he's really looked out for me."
"Dean." Punk said quietly to himself realizing that was who she spoke to.
"Yea that's him. I actually think you two would get along well." She said to him.
"I'd like to meet him." Punk said without thinking and she gave him a weird look.
"Why?" AJ asked trying not to laugh.
"You said we'd get along, why not? I have room for friends." Punk shrugged.
"I'll set it up next time you're in New York." She laughed sarcastically.
"You look great by the way." He said referring to her nice tight jeans but she was wearing a blazer over a simple tank top. She looked professional yet casual.
"What are you doing?" she asked him as his face leaned close to hers.
"Just let me try something." He said then pressed his lips to hers.
AJ would have pulled away had she had any will power, instead she let Punk pin to her the couch and link his hands with hers over her head as he grinned his lower half into hers. Neither could explain the intensity that came over them every time they were close. AJ felt Punk's hand slip under her tank top and run up her stomach and cup one of her breasts while his tongue continued his assault on her mouth. Punk's other hand moved to her zipper but halted when his front door swung open.
"I was halfway down the street and realized I forgot my wallet." Paul laughed pretending like walking in on his friend and assistant practically having sex was ok and normal.
"I'll go." Punk said pulling himself off of AJ.
"Maybe that's a good idea." Paul agreed and Punk ran out of the house without looking back at AJ.
"I'm sorry." She said to Paul. "You must think I'm unprofessional."
"I don't. I'm not judging you sweetheart it's him." Paul smirked. "Now let's get back to work."
The week had come gone by fast and AJ had seen Punk everyday but after Paul left them briefly on Monday he didn't make the same mistake again and sat in-between the two. She also spent time with Punk's lovely girlfriend Maria who went above and beyond to be nice to her. She felt so guilty every time Maria smiled at her or complimented her. She couldn't wait to be back home and away from Punk for good even though she did enjoy spending time with him. The two clicked remarkably and even Paul and Maria commented it. Sometimes Punk and AJ would be laughing about some obscure comic or TV show.
AJ packed her small bag when someone knocked at her door. She knew better this time and peeked before opening it and rested her forehead against the door hoping the man would just walk away. He had to walk away because she couldn't.
"I know you're in there." She heard Punk's voice. "I have something for you, just let me in."
AJ sighed and opened the door and he took in the sight of her. She was wearing night shorts that were incredibly short and a tiny white tank top. She coughed to get his attention because he was looking at her legs.
"Sorry." He smiled and passed her a bag. "There are some comics in there I thought you'd like to read."
"You didn't have to do that." She said to him but took the bag anyway. She never turned down free comics.
"Can I come in?" he asked her.
"Yea." She said stepping aside and closing the door behind him. "I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Shoot." He said simply looking at her eyes this time.
"Who were those two guys who came looking for you?" she asked him.
"Oh them? Nobody's." he said to her.
"They were somebody's." she snorted. "They circled me like pry and stripped my towel off of my body." She said to him and she could seem him stiffen slightly.
"They're from past." Punk told her. "We grew up together. We all moved to New York and they got into some bad stuff." He said to her. "I didn't follow in suit of them, made a name for myself and got off the streets. They don't like that."
"It seemed personal." AJ noted.
"It is but it's nothing I like to talk about." Punk said to her as he eyed her again.
"We can't." she said knowing what he was thinking.
"I feel like I have you in my head constantly and there's only one way to get you out of it." Punk admitted. "I know you're thinking it too."
"Punk-" she started but he placed his finger over her lips.
"I'm not going to push you into anything, I just wanted to say have a safe trip." He said and leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
Punk's lips lingered for a few moments before lifting his head up and looking down at her who was looking down at her own feet. He walked to the door but felt her jerk him around and jump into his arms. Her legs were wrapped his waist and her tongue ravished his. She could feel Punk's body ease as he dropped her onto the bed.
"Are you sure?" he asked parting their lips and she just nodded as she reached for his t-shirt and pulled over his head and leaned down and crashed his chest against hers.
AJ pushed him off of her and he came to his feet thinking she had come to her senses because one of them had to but instead he watched as she pulled her top off and she didn't have a bra on. He grabbed both of her hands and tugged her up to her feet and pulled down her shorts and panties leaving her completely naked before him.
Punk dropped to his knees and up her thighs until he reached the center of her things and placed a kiss thing. AJ bit on her lip as she felt his tongue massage her there and let out a needy moan. She scratched as his hair as he lapped her up sweetly. Punk pulled his face away and pushed her so she fell back first onto the bed but her legs danged off of it.
"You taste so good." He said with a throaty growl. He lifted her legs up over his shoulders as he rested on his knees and placed his tongue in a place that drove her wild. AJ was arching and shaking as he pleased her in a way her husband never could.
"Oh my god." She cried, literally cried as tears escaped her eyes. He slipped a finger into her and sucked on her clit until she came leaving her slick enough to glide into her all night.
AJ lifted half of her body up and rested on her elbows as she watched Punk shed himself of his jeans and boxers. He watched as she licked her lips and he chuckled because he was sure that she hadn't noticed she even did it. He had a condom already in his hand but AJ tugged it from him as she fully sat up. She grabbed him by the shaft and licked his head causing him to look up at the ceiling because if he saw her do that he'd loose it.
AJ ripped the condom paper and slowly placed it over him fully and grabbed his wrist and pulled him onto the bed, this time though he was on his back and she was straddling him. She lifted her hips and dropped onto him without warning. There was something about being with AJ that was so different then with being with Maria.
AJ didn't slow her movements as she moved her hips as quickly as possible and continued to drop up and down him with such ease. It was like they fit perfectly together and neither could explain it. Punk's hands moved to her ass as he squeezed it, letting her ride him. His eyes never left hers and hers him as she felt she could do this with him forever.
"You are beautiful." He said to her and leaned down and kissed him slowing the movements of her hips, it was at the moments their lips touched he was buried as deep inside of her as he could be that her orgasm hit her. She wanted it to go on forever and cried not from the pleasure but from the fact that it was now almost over.
"No." she said resting her head against his but he just smiled and nipped at her lips.
Punk rolled her over and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he now took over her. AJ's neck arched as he consumed her body and pushed into her as hard as he could without breaking her small body. He was just as disappointed when he came only a few thrusts later but refused to leave her body yet. His mouth latched over her nipple and sucked there for a while before moving to the other one.
"You feel so good." AJ said running her hands up and down his back.
"You feel right." He murmured against her skin.
A half hour later AJ watched with a sheet wrapped around her small frame as Punk cleaned himself off and quickly got dressed. He looked back to her before leaving and gave her a kiss.
"I could come to New York next weekend." He offered.
"What are we doing?" she asked with a laugh. "You have someone."
"I could still come to New York next weekend." He said with half a smile.
"It's just not a good idea." She said to him.
"Either was this but it felt good." He said simply.
"Do you want to see me next weekend?" AJ asked him.
"Yea I do." He admitted without shame.
"Its just a bad idea." She said shaking her head. "Stay home with your girlfriend."
Punk didn't respond he just moved away from her and walked right out of her hotel room. Punk headed straight to the elevator when he saw Paul coming down the hallway and tried to turn around.
"I already see you." Paul informed him and Punk let out a sigh and walked towards him. "Came by to see me?" he asked him
"Yea but you weren't there." Punk laughed. "Clearly you were out."
"What did you need?" Paul asked playing along, enjoying this far too much. "Was it tips on how to dress? Because here's one- your shirt would look better if it wasn't inside out."
"Oh fuck." Punk groaned looking at the shirt.
"What are you doing?" Paul asked. "You've got a very pretty and loyal girlfriend at home waiting for you."
"I know." Punk hissed. "I just- I don't fucking know anymore."
"One time is fine, two times it's not a one night stand it's a fling. Feelings get involved and it gets messy." Paul warned him. "She's legally married, you have a girlfriend and do I have to remind you why you shouldn't be hanging around New York a lot?"
"I'm not afraid of those assholes." Punk scoffed.
"Those assholes are dangerous and blame you for ratting out their leader and sending him to jail." Paul reminded him.
"It wasn't a gang Paul." Punk laughed. "We were a bunch of idiots and Mike got caught because he went too far."
"You testified against your own brother." Paul said seriously. "They loved him and they blame you for breaking a code."
"Mike went to scary place. Knocking off a liquor store or breaking a car window is one thing. Assaulting and beating the shit out of a woman on the street who wouldn't give up her purse was wrong." Punk said seriously.
"I'm not disagreeing but you were the only witness." Paul said to him. "You didn't even try to hide the fact that it was you who went to the police."
"I have nothing to hide. I was young and stupid but even back than I had a moral code, they never did. If they have a problem with me they'd come to Chicago because they know where I live. They're pussy's and if I want to go to New York I'll go to New York." He said almost coldly.
"Sorry I bought it up." Paul said to him. "Call me Monday and send me over the sketches." He said to him.
"Yea ok." Punk nodded and waited for Paul to go back to his room. He looked back and his eyes wandered towards AJ door and saw her in the doorway. She must have heard him talking to Paul in the hallway, he wasn't sure what she heard but it was nothing he was ashamed of or hid.
Punk gave her a light smile and she returned it with an added small, but sweet wave. He wanted more than anything to go back to her right now and rip the sheet off of her body and take her until she couldn't take anymore but he was going to be the strong one and just walked away from her.