Chapter 23

The cameras were on, and Mina had put on her cloak over some leather-like leggings and top. It felt weird for her to wear that black and dark purple cloak again after being away for several months. Her storyline needed to be adjusted and she was back into the Judgment Day's club house to shoot a segment. She went through all the hair and make-up process to look perfect.

- "Come on, don't you understand I was just trying to choose the best for the team?" Damian said to her with his deep voice.

- "The best for the team or the best in your bed?" she answered. Hunter had allowed her to spice up her words a bit.

- "Turned out I was wrong. You should be happy with that. Damian Priest was wrong, and you proved it to the world, what's the matter? Damian shouted.

- "The matter? Well, I'm not sure if it's you exploring her throat or me being stuck at the hospital because of your stupidity."

Damian remained silent.

- "Maybe I should show to everyone the scars I got because of you!" Mina spat out before grabbing the back of her top to show the scars she had from the surgery. "That's your doing big boy!"

- "I was just trying to do the best for us all, including you." He said, lowering his gaze.

- "The best for us or the best for you? Because you got a World title, and I got rehab."

- "You're all good now" he tried.

- "Yeah, the Witch is back and maybe she should stand with Finn for your title." She threatened before living the room.

After the segment Hunter came in the club house to congratulate them on their good job on the segments and promos. He also praised them for their professionalism, not letting their personal griefs intruding in their job or tearing them apart. Once he had finished with them, he went back to his office and Mina headed to her workshop without a look behind for Damian. She was not fond of the idea of showing her scars, especially since she never had surgery, but they needed it to explain her absence as the love story with Damian was not official, they kept on this storyline with clues in their conversations implying that Damian had cheated on her with Liv. They all agreed for that storyline. She was about to open her door when Rhea stopped her.

- "Nothing new between you and Priest, right?" She asked.

- "Even worse than that" Mina said, inviting her to come in her workshop.

She took the flashlight of her phone and put it against the heart shaped charm of her bracelet. All the words and shapes appeared on the wall, surprising Rhea.

- "Damian gave me that for my birthday. And right after that, he started avoiding me. I don't get it. I thought I could start something new but now I'm completely lost, and I feel bad for Finn" Mina explained.

- "Oh! Slow down! What is the matter with Finn? Priest didn't explain anything. What the fuck is he playing?"

Mina explained everything to her best friend, how she discovered the charm, how Damian was avoiding her, how Finn asked her out, what had happened and how she was feeling terrible for him now. She didn't want to make him suffer because of her being lost. Finn was a good man, and he didn't deserve to be used as a spare wheel.

- "I'm feeling like shit right now" Mina ended.

- "No! You're not!" Rhea reacted. "You need to face Damian about this and don't give him the opportunity to run away. Either he explains himself, either he lets you alone."

Mina nodded before going back to work, hopping to be able to be firm enough with Damian so he has to he honest. She needed to move on not only for herself but also for Finn.

Later that day, Dom stopped Damian in the corridors of the performance centre, a serious look on his face. Rhea had asked him if he could have a word with the Puerto-Rican, from one man to another. He was not really fond of being involved in other's love stories bus this one was touching three of his friends, plus, there was no way he refused anything to his beloved Mami. He was thinking about proposing her.

- "What do you want Dom?" Damian asked.

- "I want to know if you still love Mina" Dom answered, chewing his gum.

- "Of course, I do" he answered sadly "How is that even a question?"

- "So stop running away from her or she will move on" Dom explained

- "I know, I told Finn he could ask her out" he said, trying to escape his friend.

- "Damian, I sincerely like you, but you're not the sharpest knife in the kitchen" Dom said with a heavy sigh. "You're making mistake after mistake, you come to her to say how much you love her, then you run away when she wants to talk to you. You want her back, but you tell Finn to date her. How fucked up is your logic bro?"

Damian sighed in resignation. Dominik was right, he knew it, but what else could he do? He both mentally and physically hurt the woman he loved and couldn't hide his feelings anymore after opening himself so much to her.

- "You know bro, you should consider yourself lucky she is that kind. Mami would already have lost patience and kicked your stupid ass out of her life for making her go in circles like this" Dominik warned

- "I know man… but I can't figure out what to do"

- "Stop it!" Dom erupted, tired to see his friend finding excuses and running away. "You've got two choices: either you somehow repair what you've done, or you move on and leave her alone. Stop making Finn and Mina suffer from your cowardice" he said before turning around and leaving Damian alone. "Finn? What's wrong with Finn?"

Later that week, Finn entered Mina's workshop between their training time and the live event that was happening that night. He found Mina explaining to her assistant how to do some administrative work and how to bring creations to life. As Mina was now the boss, she would need somebody to help her with everything and her assistant seemed to have build some self confidence and show herself more capable. When the two women saw him, Mina excused herself to Rose, that was the first time he heard her name, and her voice, she was usually so quiet he almost forgot bout her.

- "Hey Mina, would you come for a drink with me tonight?" He asked with his brightest smile.

- "Is this a second date Finn?" Mina asked playfully. She didn't know why, but all her concerns always vanished when she was with the Irish man.

Finn parked his car in front of an Irish pub and opened Mina's door to invite her inside. It was one of his favourite pubs, and every time he would come in this city, he'd stop by and have a beer. The typical Irish music and atmosphere were appeasing to him. Sometimes, small bands were here to play jigs and make people dance. He was not a good dancer, but he knew that Mina was. She smiled widely at the selections of drinks and at the sight of the traditional instruments. They ordered their drinks and sat at a table far away from the windows. Finn looked at her, she had braided her hair with ribbons, put a light make-up on and was wearing a long swirling black dress, it was the perfect outfit to dance even if he had kept the place a secret from her. He noticed she was not wearing the bracelet Damian had given her and grinned. It was a good sign for him. They joyfully talked for some time before the music started and Finn could tell Mina was struggling to not to go dancing.

- "Go dancing if you want it so bad" he laughed.

- "You are not coming with me?" she asked with puppy eyes.

- "I'm not good at dancing baby girl" he said.

Mina went to the centre of the pub and started to dance along with the people. She didn't know Irish dances but managed to copy on pro dancers. Finn didn't move his eyes from her, he found her beautiful with her gorgeous smile and her swirling dress. She came back to him between each dance, taking her breath and drinking, thanking him for the night she was having. After a few drinks, she heard what sounded like a waltz, grabbed Finn by his hand and guided him to the dance place. He placed his hand behind her back and took hers in the other, counting the steps in his head.

- "Don't focus on the steps" she chuckled

- "May I only focus on you then baby girl?" He asked, making her blush.

The waltz lasted several minutes, Finn was stuck in Mina's eyes, letting her lead them. He saw in the two shining emeralds that she was truly happy with that moment with him. She was enjoying her time and getting closer to him, he could feel her chest against him, and his body immediately reacted, making him tight in his pants. She made them swirl around the place before snuggling in his arms when the music ended. He leaned forward and softly kissed Mina to close the waltz as he had always dreamed of.

After some more time in the pub, they decided it was time to go back to the hotel, Finn had only drunk one beer, so he didn't have to call a taxi, he was very serious about security and wanted to show Mina that there was a reason she was feeling safe in his arms. He wanted to protect her, to show her how serious he was about her; if she wanted him, she would have him forever. He was not the kind of man who was dating for fun, even with Liv he wanted it to be serious, she played him for a fool. During the short ride to the hotel, he thought about what his relationship with Mina could be. Maybe she was the good one and he would marry her one day, he was hoping so, already picturing them living in a house with a huge garden where she could have fun outside, next to a lake so they can take a swim during summertime. He was brought back to reality by Mina's hand touching his leg.

- "Are you okay bear? What are you thinking about?"

- "I'm perfectly fine baby girl, I was thinking about you." He replied with a warm smile. "I want to kiss you so badly right now"

He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly, still smiling. Surprised at first, Mina didn't react for a second, still feeling bad for having feelings for Damian, but by some kind of magic, Finn's lips made her forget about everything. She couldn't resist and closed her eyes to let him deepen the kiss and explore her mouth one more time. The softness of the sensations of Finn's caresses on her face and his tongue stroking hers made Mina moan in pleasure, her mind and body starting to surrender to lust for the handsome and caring Irish man.

Her moaning made Finn tense up, he grew hard, struggling to stay soft with her. He wanted her so much but refused to hurt her. He grabbed one of her hands to put it over his heart to make her feel it racing and understand how much he loved her. They eventually separated and got out of the car, still panting from the heated kisses. They rushed inside the hotel and Finn guided Mina to his bedroom, holding her hand. As soon as he closed his door, he started kissing her again, gently stroking her hair and back, going lower and lower to her butt. He breathed heavily when she responded to his touch by gently stroking his ribs, his back, his belly and kissing his neck. She was losing control and he loved it. He took her in his arms and put her on the bed, where he laid on her to kiss her neck, lick her chest, enjoy her hands exploring him, getting under his shirt and gently caressing his upper body. He groaned in her neck and opened his shirt, offering himself to Mina, letting her feel his warmth and do whatever she wanted with his body. As she kissed and bit his bare skin, he let his own hands wander on her, undoing her belt and softly opening her dress to be able to feel her skin. She let out a moan when he slowly kissed her breasts and hugged her tight against him, making her feel his erection. This moan aroused him even more, with her permission he kept undressing her until she was just in her underwear, kissing her whole body, feeling her tense up and her heart thundering under his hot body, a wet patch appearing on her panties.

She wanted him, he always had this power to make her surrender and drop all her defences when he was here. His expert mouth and hands made her give herself away in pleasure. His body was burning from desire, she felt his erection when he took her in his arms, he was breathing heavily, trying his best to remain soft with her, she could feel it. She was also aroused by him, he seemed so perfect for her, she wanted him to know it, she started to let her hands wander to his belt and undid it, letting his trousers slide along his legs. Finn was panting at all her moves, his piercing blue eyes were now darker with desire; she grabbed his head and kissed him deeply, feeding her arousal with images of the handsome Irish man who was over her. When her eyes closed, Finn's face was for a split second replaced by Damian's, making her open her eyes and get out of the moment. Screw this guy, she kept letting Finn explore her and enjoying his hands on her, chasing Damian's portrait from her mind. She lowered her hands to Finn's boxers, feeling his shaft stretching it, making the wrestler gasp from surprise, she set it free and grabbed it full hand, making him grab her and hug her tighter. In a blink of an eye, a thought came in her mind: "not as big as Damian's". Finn kissed her deeply while spreading her legs, ready to give her some pleasure.

- "I love you Mina" he said in a heavy breath, close to her ear, giving up on finding a better moment to tell her.

Mina jumped at his words, not only because of the words but because they were not said by a deep Puerto Rican voice. At this very moment, she realised she was missing hearing it from Damian. But Damian was not here anymore, she was with Finn.

- "Finn stop, please… I-I can't do that" she said.

- "Are you okay baby girl?" he asked, stopping immediately what he was doing. "Did I hurt you? Is it because I said I love you? Is it that you don't feel ready yet? Talk to me baby girl." His voice was concerned, and he was feeling guilty. He pulled the covers around her shoulders to reassure her before hugging her tight.

- "It's not you Finn, it's me. I can't get over him yet and I don't want to make you suffer." She said, tears beginning to fill her eyes. "I'm a bitch, sorry Finn, I like you, I want you, but I can't move on yet."

She felt Finn tense up and saw a sad look in his eyes that he immediately replaced by his usual soft gaze.

- "I understand baby girl, he was your first one after this asshole, you trusted him, right?" She nodded. "I just want your happiness, Mina. You loved him, I can't replace him, but I want to try to make you the happiest woman in the world. Take all your time. I am not going anywhere."

- "Oh, Finn, I don't deserve you" she said. "I'll talk to him tomorrow; this has to come to an end."

- "You don't have to hurry things for me" he replied with concern.

- "I'm tired of being torn apart by his contrary signs. One day he wants me back and gives me the most romantic message, the next day he avoids me when I want to talk to him. I can't do this anymore. I need to make sure this is over; I want to hear it from him so I can move on." She said with anger.

She gave a look at Finn, mentally cursing herself for making such a good man being sad. He didn't deserve this treatment. Why on Earth did Damian's face and voice have to come haunt her mind at this moment? He had betrayed her, she should hate him, so why? Finn was everything she could dream about, but Damian was still here in her mind, and she was fed up with it. Deep inside her she was knowing she was still deep in love with the tall Puerto Rican but was not ready to admit it. Her feelings for Finn were growing up day after day, but he was not Damian and it was killing her.

- "Hey, I just want you to be happy" Finn said, hugging her tight. "No matter how, because I truly love you."

- "How can I deserve someone like you bear?" Mina answered before letting herself go in his powerful and reassuring arms. "I will talk to him; I want this sorted out… for you. I won't be able to sleep with you with his face in my head, it feels so wrong."

- "Thank you Mina" Finn answered. "Thank you for caring about me, thank you for being honest".

He cupped her chin in his hands and delicately brush his lips against hers. He loved her, she was the only one to truly care about him in years. Every other woman he had known just wanted to take advantage of his fame or money, and the Judgment Day was relying on him as their backbone. He was there for everyone, but nobody was there for him. Except this little seamstress who seemed so weak but was so strong. He was jealous of Damian, the man that had the right to love her and was wasting his chance one more time as he did with Frederica. The two women were head to toe in love with him and he wasted it, whereas him, Finn, just wanted to be loved and fill his beloved one with happiness. That's why he decided to try his luck with Mina. The way she loved Damian should be the way she loved him. He wanted her to be his, her love to be his; he was fed up with Damian receiving all the attention.

- "Do you want to sleep here tonight?" he asked, wanting to feel her presence against him the whole night, hoping she will accept and that it will make her love him more and turn her back to Damian.

- "I don't want to bother you" she answered.

- "You won't bother me baby girl, I just want you by my side, I need you" He pleaded while curling up against her, knowing she wouldn't be able to resist.

She hugged him tight and went to her bedroom to grab some clothes, pyjamas and bathroom stuff and got ready to go to bed. As soon as she was under the covers, he wrapped his arms around her waist and snuggled against her back, kissing her neck and cheeks.

- "Goodnight bear" she whispered before closing her eyes and fall deep asleep

-"Goodnight Mina, my Mina" he quietly said before following her.