With nothing much left to do but wait for April so he can figure out the rest of his move to California, Ricardo turns his attention to training, trying to get booked to other things. He does the best he can to keep busy, passing the hours by walking his puppy, spending time with Alicia, and whatever else he can think of.

It's frustrating, feeling like he's in limbo, he's antsy and his insomnia makes a reappearance here and there, but things have been a lot worse in the past, so he keeps reminding himself just to breathe through the dark hours. Things even seem better with Alberto, although he's still slow to trust him after everything, but he watches the hype on Twitter leading to his debut on TNA, hoping for the best for him.

After a rough night of sleep, he wakes up to find Alicia playing with the puppy, laughing and rubbing behind his ears as the dog tries to lick her face, wiggling and waggling all over the place. She spots Ricardo and grins, eyes lighting up with he joins them and helps her hold the dog in place to pet and tickle him, his soft ears flopping all over the place as he now fights to lick first one, then the other. "You have good taste in pets," she tells him with a laugh, squeaking when his wet nose presses against her collarbone.

"And other things," he tells her with a soft smile as she leans in and kisses him, eyes fluttering when he rests his hands on her side, pulling her in closer. They laugh and separate when puppy pushes between them, settling on their knees. "Hey! You're getting heavy," he lectures at the dog, pushing him off gently.

"He is growing up fast, isn't he?" Alicia asks, leaning against Ricardo as he nods and loops a hand around her shoulders, kissing the side of her face. "So what are you doing this week? I have to leave for Raw stuff soon, but then I am all yours for the rest of the week once I come home on Tuesday."

He smiles, liking the sounds of that. "I have training and stuff scheduled towards the end of the week. Beyond that, just... figure some things out, run some errands. Take care of business." His hand is resting lower on her ribs and she hums, leaning into him.

"Sounds like a relaxing week," she murmurs, pressing a kiss to his lips as he hugs her.

"Hopefully." He traces his fingers against her warm skin and feels as she exhales shakily against him. "You're going to watch TNA with me, aren't you?"

She makes a face. "You're really going to watch that?" she mumbles, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

"Yeah, I think so. I mean, I helped him with his contract, it only seems fair, right?"

She sighs at him but strokes his face. "I suppose. Just because I like you," she tells him, rubbing her nose against his. "But you owe me one."

"I owe you a lot," he says honestly, kissing her. She hums and kisses him back, holding him in place as her nails bite into the back of his head, causing him to hiss softly.

"I guess so," she murmurs, pulling away from him with a small smile. "I need to go pack, but I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Alright." He watches her go, idly stroking the puppy. He's not sure if watching TNA is a good idea, either, but he still feels like he owes it to Alberto, just a little. If something is off with the company, Alberto will be far from happy, especially after all of Ricardo's uncertainty. Well, I tried to warn him.

The first part of the week passes quietly, Ricardo getting as much done as he can before Alicia comes home. She greets him with a hug and he takes her out to a sushi place that she likes, the two of them sharing a huge sample platter while telling each other about their days apart. "... so they're all stalking me and trying to give me gifts and, ugh." She rolls her eyes. "Men."

"We suck," Ricardo agrees, heat and possessiveness thrumming through his veins as he reaches out for her hand and strokes her knuckles gently. "Maybe we should get you a tattoo that says... property of Jesus Rodriguez."

"Where would that go?" she wonders, coloring prettily as he stares at her thoughtfully. "You have nothing to worry about, though. I'm not interested in any of them. I promise."

"I know." He leans over the table and kisses her, hands lingering against her warm skin as she hums into his mouth. "Let's finish eating and go home."

"Sounds good to me," she exhales, hands petting around his collar before she dives for her chopsticks, the two of them all but racing to clear the plates.

The puppy is thankfully asleep when they return, the door slamming shut not waking him up, nor their stumbling through the apartment to the bedroom, her jacket and his shirt hitting the floor before he eases her onto the bed, leaning over her. She shakes her head, frustrated, and tangles her fingers in his hair, drawing him down and kissing him deeply. He groans softly, her skin warm against his and he mumbles, "You feel so good."

"So do you," she says quietly, drawing him in closer. "Hey." Cupping his face, she makes him look at her. "I know things are really up in the air right now, and you're kind of second guessing the move to California... but whatever happens, whether you stay here, or you go there after all, I'm following you anywhere. Because I'm in this for the long haul, no matter what. Alright?"

He closes his eyes, tilts his face and kisses her palm as her fingers slip down, begins to work on the rest of his clothes. "Thank you," he murmurs. "Thank you so much."

She digs her heels into his back and draws him in flush against her, sighing softly as she arches up into him. "My pleasure." Her low, husky voice sends warmth down his spine and he whimpers, fingers tracing against her thighs. "Move," she whispers into his ear and he swallows hard, following her commands in slow, steady increments, his toes digging into the carpet as he leans on his elbows and stares down at her in awe.

Her lips are parted, eyes gleaming in the pale light coming from the window, and he thinks he's never seen anything as beautiful in his entire life as he presses his thumb against her lips, kissing her deeply. She whimpers into his mouth, arching up and changing the angle so sharply that it makes them both dizzy while they cling to each other, unwilling to let this moment go. "I..." Ricardo hisses out, his body trembling. "I-"

She cups his face with shaking hands, kisses his nose, and whispers, "I'm right there with you." He nods jerkily, sweat dripping into his eyes as he rocks forward once more and they both groan each other's names, the world melting away entirely.

It takes time to regroup but eventually they end up curled together under the sheets, the TV quietly droning on before them while they watch TNA for Alberto. The announcers are arguing through the whole show and Ricardo finally finds the remote and mutes it, both exhaling in relief when quiet reigns in the room once more. He chuckles when she leans up and begins to kiss him eagerly, completely ignoring the TV as she settles into this impromptu, but very welcome, make out session, Ricardo's fingers rubbing circles against her back.

She completely loses interest in TNA about half way through and rolls over, straddling him, but he can still see the TV even while he responds enthusiastically to her affections, half-heartedly watching as Alberto wins the title to end the show off. He feels a rush of relief and happiness for his former friend but then Alicia's lips trail lower, down his jaw to his throat, not seeming too eager to stop there, and he fumbles around in the sheets until he finds the remote, shutting the TV off so he can focus on her and only her.

Her lips are fresh heat against his ribs when he grips her face and draws her back up, staring into her eyes. "Alicia," he breathes out, marveling in how her eyes darken at the sound of his voice. Thumbs stroking her cheeks, he smiles. "I can't believe we're here," he murmurs. "After Paige, I thought I'd never feel like this about anyone else again. I'm pretty sure you felt the same way... " He wavers, losing his nerve briefly before she kisses the tips of his fingers and re-encourages him. "This probably seems early, and I hope I don't scare you, but... I'm falling in love with you. I have been for awhile."

Courage failing again, he closes his eyes and chooses to focus on the feeling of her breathing against him, the steady rise and fall of her chest against his. He's still laying there, motionless, waiting for her to get up and leave, when she presses her nails against his jaw and whispers, "Ricardo. Open your eyes please." He obliges and she smiles gently at him, leaning in to press slow, soft kisses against his forehead, his nose, both cheeks, before hovering over his lips, her gaze calm and full of an emotion he suspects but doesn't want to name, just in case he's wrong. "I'm falling in love with you too."

She finally presses her lips to his and he shivers, thinking dazedly that, as great as every other kiss they'd shared felt, this is somehow more special, intense, because of the words they've now exchanged, the promises they've made to each other.