Salvation

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

People had always told her from before she could remember there were two roads to take in life.  The ‘good’ road and the ‘bad’ road.  It was ultimately up to her which road she took and, unfortunately, Maxlyn had taken the ‘bad’ road.  Being sexually assaulted throughout her childhood from countless men, thanks to her mother’s whoring ways, hadn’t helped matters any.  It started shortly after she sprouted tits, age 13 or so, and her mother had even been paid to allow these men to assault her own daughter.  Needless to say, when those nights came around, Maxlyn had taken to drugs, mostly ecstasy and a little bit of coke on the side, and alcohol to help her get through what she knew was coming.  Fighting them off wasn’t an option, so she just lay there like a good little whore and took what they had to offer without a sound. 

 

Dropping out of high school at age 16, the ‘bad’ road continued, along with her alcoholic addiction, and Maxlyn had become a stripper at that tender age, figuring since she was a whore for her mother, she might as well make some money for herself on the side.  Maxlyn’s ultimate goal was getting the hell out of here when she turned 18, never wanting to see her mother again as long as she lived.  Along with stripping came prostitution and Maxlyn did what she had to do to gain her escape, even if it meant letting dirty old men have their way with her.  It was a matter of survival, a matter of self-preservation, and she had the body and looks that men apparently loved and enjoyed.

 

The second that clock struck midnight on her 18^th birthday, Maxlyn was gone.  She was free of her mother whoring her out to her ‘clients’ and she also quit the strip club, along with the prostitution.  She had plenty of money to make it wherever she decided to go, hopping on a bus to get as far away from Chicago, Illinois as possible.  Maxlyn would never forget that night as long as she lived, watching the city lights of Chicago fade into the background, the darkness, until they were no more.  She had left while her mother was being gang-banged in her bedroom, not even bothering to leave a note or anything.  Maxlyn had no idea where she was going or what she would do with her life, but hopefully, she would get on the ‘right’ road sooner or later in life.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to happen.  She remained on the bad road, winding up in Las Vegas, Nevada, of all places, and her drinking had gotten worse as the years slowly ticked by. 

 

Fourteen years later, her demons had gotten the better of her when she was found unconscious in her apartment from consuming too much alcohol.  Alcohol poisoning is what they called it.  And now she was sick, not only from her drinking addiction, but also from the disease she now had.  Cirrhosis of the liver.  It was the early stages of it, so as long as she stopped drinking, which she had for the past year now, all would be good and she could live with the damage already done.  There was no healing cirrhosis, it was there for life.  They highly advised her to go to a rehabilitation center to clean herself up, to stop her drinking and beat her addiction.  Maxlyn agreed, not wanting to die yet.  Sitting in the ‘activity’ room of the rehabilitation center, all Maxlyn could do was stare out the window like she did every day, her caramel honey hair hanging down loosely over her shoulders and down her back while her dead brown eyes stayed glued on the outside.

 

This was where she was at 30-years-old.

 

~!~

 

Jon Good could not believe he had done this to himself.  Well, no, he could.  He had woken up after one hell of a bender and just stared at himself in the mirror, struggling to suppress the worst of his massive hangover.  He had been red with yellowed eyes, looking a lot more swollen and older than he was.  It had occurred to him that he was going to die; he was on the path to death via alcohol.  It had been a startling realization, knowing he was likely to die sooner rather than later, and then equally startling was the fact that he had been able to acknowledge he had an addiction.

 

So, now, he was here.  Reviewing the rules and regulations…for the first time in his life.  No cell phones or computers.  No music and television -at first, apparently, they could be triggers.  No romantic relationships.  He snorted, that was a given.  Who was going to fuck junkies?  No coming and going as he pleased; he had to follow a tight, structured schedule.  Jon understood all the reasons behind this, he did, but he was rebelling anyway.  His blue eyes narrowed in at a line that was taunting him.

 

It is natural to reject and rebel against these rules.

 

“Great…”

 

Grant’s death played a huge part in this as well.  Jon could not come to terms with it, no matter how hard he tried or how many tears were shed over his friend’s death.  Grant was like a brother to him and he hadn’t watched out for him the way he should’ve.  In a way, Jon blamed himself for Grant’s death, even though he knew the man had died from a broken heart after losing his wife from some mysterious coma.  It wasn’t COVID-related either.  Within the span of a year, he had lost two close friends in Brodie Lee – Jon Huber – and Grant, who the wrestling fans around the world knew as Danny Havoc from the independent circuit.  This combined with the stress on the road and the job that he loved to do…Jon had fallen into the bottle and now it was time to crawl his way back out again.

 

It was time to kick the hell out of these demons that kept haunting him since childhood.

 

“Now then, Mr. Good, if you’ll just sign here, we’ll show you to your room and give you a tour of the place.”

 

Jon legitimately felt like he was signing his life away even as he scrawled his signature at the bottom of the paper.  This place had come highly recommended, had a great success rate, the works, and yet…some of the patients looked insane.  He was realizing that was the addiction withdrawals, swallowing hard.  That was going to be him, he already knew it, and could feel it creeping on, the urge for a drink.  The idea of being treated like a kid again was appalling, making him indignant; he was a grown ass man!  He paid his bills, his taxes…and them, for this.  Nodding, the coordinator gave him all the information while he was listening.  Mostly.  Jon was also battling his instincts to get the hell out of here.  He wanted to get clean and sober, so leaving wasn’t an option.

 

After the tour was over with, Jon was shown the room he’d be staying in.  It was standard and luckily, the facility had a gym that he could work out in to keep his body in shape while he detoxed.  There was a reason this place was recommended to him because a lot of athletes had come through here and had left within two to three months’ time.  Some bounced back faster than others and some…didn’t.  Or they did bounce back at first, but then right after getting out of rehab, they fell back into their horrible vices and ways.  If one TRULY wanted to cleanse and better themselves, they had to feel it in their minds and hearts or else it would not happen.  It was mind over matter, which was a lot easier said than done.

 

“Your first meeting will be in two hours with Mrs. Hendricks, so settle in until then and we’ll come get you when the time comes.  You’re in good hands here, Mr. Good, I promise.”

 

“Yeah, thanks.” Jon muttered with a nod, dropping his bag on the bed before walking over to the window.

 

Reinforced of course, he imagined there were probably some wealthy people court ordered here or something. He had done this voluntarily, had known he had a problem, so that was something, right? Exhaling, he ran his hands over his head, sometimes missing his curly hair because it gave him something to grip. Why did this place feel like a prison?

 

~!~

 

“Did you see him? He’s gorgeous…”

 

“Minus the alcohol problem, he’s got that jaundiced look.”

 

“Yeah well, you were a meth head, so shut up.”

 

Gossip was a thing, even in rehabilitation, there wasn’t much in the way of the ‘outside’ world in here since cell phones and computers were banned.  So, whenever a new person came in, he or she was a person of interest.  Jonathan Good was definitely a person of interest in the activity room.

 

Maxlyn didn’t interact with gossip and kept to herself, though she did overhear a lot of things, including those women talking about somebody named Jonathan Good.  A newbie, had to be.  Slowly moving from the window, a few eyes followed her as she moved to the shelving unit to pull out a puzzle, not realizing the time in the activity room was up for now.  It was time for the morning meeting with Mrs. Hendricks for the alcoholics.  The announcement came over the speakers and Maxlyn set the puzzle right back where it was before heading towards the exit.  Her hair was currently pulled back in a braid that hung down her back, keeping most of her hair out of her face besides the bangs that somewhat shielded her eyes.  She hated this part of the morning because Mrs. Hendricks was a firm believer in ‘sharing’ each other’s pain to help get through it.  Every time she was called on, Maxlyn stumbled through the same story and had flat out refused to add the fact she was a former stripper, prostitute, and drug addict.  Since she was only here for alcoholism, that was what she stuck with.

 

The point of it was being part of the therapy and addressing those terrible facets of one’s life.  Obviously, there was a catalyst, or plural catalysts, that sent people spiraling into their addictions.  That was one of the hold-ups on Maxlyn, her refusal to do more than the basic treatment. They couldn’t fully help her without her opening up completely, however…what bit she had told them was enough to give people nightmares.

 

Jon was escorted to his first appointment and he was a bit concerned at the number of people present. He had thought he’d be gently guided into the waters with a few private sessions before this public forum.  No…they were shoving him straight into the deep end and he felt his inner rebel beginning to kick up dust.

 

Her eyes slowly moved to the doorway as a very tall, disgruntled man with a beard came trudging inside, wearing the exact same clothes they all had on.  Everyone was the same here.  Nobody was better than anyone else.  The clothes were an off white color, nothing fancy or flashy.  He took the first empty seat he saw in the circle and plopped down on it, leaning back with his long legs stretched out.  Maxlyn had never seen a man quite like him before in her life and she had her fair share of them, thanks to her mother and herself.  Was this the Jonathan Good those women had been gossiping about in the activity room earlier?  It had to be considering this was the first time she saw him in this meeting.  The newbie. 

 

Being a newbie wasn’t fun and it sucked.

 

Mrs. Hendricks smiled at everyone, sitting in the ‘front’ of the circle and clasped her hands together. “Good morning, everyone.”

 

“Morning.” They all mumbled in reply.

 

She kept the smile on her face. “Let’s try that again, this time with a little more vigor!  Good morning, everyone!”

 

“Morning.” It was still a mumble, but a little more enthusiastic.

 

“That’s better.  Now, before we begin today’s meeting, allow me to introduce all of you to our newest member, Jon.” She gestured to him with a bright smile. “He’s going to be with us for the next two to three months, so please welcome him with open arms!  Jon, would you like to say a few words to everyone?”

 

Jon’s inner street kid was tempted to shank this woman, wondering if she were out of her mind.  Obviously, nobody here was overly pleased and he wondered if the reviews on this place were true, or maybe hadn’t meant this portion of the rehabilitation. “Hel-” He stretched it, his eyes narrowing slightly. “lo.” Two syllables was about all he was telling these strangers.

 

Naturally, Jon was a private man and barely used social media, preferring to connect with his fans on a more organic level.  Coming out and talking to strangers in a rehab clinic wasn’t high on his list to do.   It was embarrassing, there was a serious lack of dignity in it.  He wanted to get help, not feel like a naked mole rat baring his soul in front of a bunch of strangers.

 

“Hello, Jon.” Everyone replied unanimously, not a single judgmental eye in the room.

 

The sound of his voice was soothing and different, but had a slight edge, a bite, to it.  Maxlyn had lowered her eyes to her lap as soon as Mrs. Hendricks stopped embarrassing the newbie to start going over what would happen in this class.  This was the part Maxlyn hated because it was all about interaction and coming to terms with the problems, the addictions, everyone here had.

 

“Maxlyn, are you listening to me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then why are your eyes lowered?  What did I just say?”

 

“Three random people will be chosen to stand up and state why they’re here and how they feel, just like always.” Maxlyn replied with clear boredom in her tone, a rebel in her own way. “Just because I don’t look at you doesn’t mean I can’t hear what you’re saying, Mrs. Hendricks.  I’m paying attention, cross my heart and hope to die.”

 

“Stick a needle in your eye?”

 

Maxlyn rolled her eyes at that, folding her arms in front of her chest. “Sure, yeah, whatever.”

 

“Well then, why don’t you show everyone how it’s done, Maxlyn?”

 

“You chose me last time…”

 

“And I’m choosing you again.  Go.”

 

Dragging herself up from the chair, Maxlyn didn’t make eye contact with anyone. “Fine, my name is Maxlyn and…”

 

“Eye contact, please.”

 

“Christ…” Maxlyn growled under her breath and slowly lifted her eyes to look around the room instead of at the floor. “My name is Maxlyn, I’m 30-years-old, and I HAD a drinking problem.  It’s been a year since I came here and for some reason, they just don’t want to release me.”

 

“You know why that is, Maxlyn.  You’re not being truthful with us here.  Drinking is not your only problem, right?”

 

“Sure, Mrs. H., whatever you say.  You’re the expert after all.  There, done.  Next.” Maxlyn plopped back down in her chair and curled up with her legs beneath her, this time feeling a particular pair of eyes on her from none other than the newbie himself.  Briefly, she locked eyes with him and looked away, trying to get the burning in her cheeks to go away from the embarrassment she just had to suffer through.

 

In theory, Maxlyn was free to check herself out whenever she wanted.  By law, she was of sound mind and perfectly capable of making her own medical decisions.  However, Maxlyn didn’t, even with her rebellious ways.  It was likely because for as much as this place was a pain in the backside, it was safe for her and good for her.  It provided her with the structure and safety she had never gotten as a child.  It provided her with proper nutrition and a decent bed; there was a lot to be said about a person who preferred to remain in a place like this and what their life had been like prior.  Now, she wouldn’t have their seal of ‘addiction free’, if she did, but she also wasn’t court ordered, so it wouldn’t likely matter.

 

One year…they could hold someone for that long?  Jon was blinking, wondering if he had lost his mind when he had done this to himself.  Well, a year had apparently been kind to her because Maxlyn was beautiful with a body to match.  Her eyes, however, were telling a story, one he was curious to learn.

 

Chapter 2

 

Jon had lucked out because he wasn’t chosen to stand up and do what she did for this session.  These meetings happened every day, so it was inevitable when it would happen.  Once the meeting was finished, everyone filed out of the door one at a time with Maxlyn being the second to last.  Jon was the last.  Once again, she looked at him for a few seconds and then pulled her gaze away before heading out the door, trying to slow her rapidly beating heart.  What the hell was that about?  No man had ever made her heart do that before. 

 

It was time for lunch as Maxlyn stood in line, moving forward when the person in front of her did.  This place did serve decent food, so that was one good thing at least as she grabbed a tray and let them load the food on it.  There was also a concession stand of sorts if someone didn’t like what was offered for lunch that day, but they would have to pay out of pocket for it.  Walking over to the farthest corner of the cafeteria, Maxlyn took a seat and began to slowly eat by herself like usual. 

 

However, a few minutes later, all of that changed when the newbie himself, Jon, cleared his throat to make her look up at him and asked if he could join her. “Knock yourself out.”

 

She obviously had been here a long ass time, – One year – which meant she probably knew how things worked around here and all that.  Also, Jon had to know if she was being held here against her will or something.  He did not recall anything about this place being a crazy house when he had been looking up rehabilitation facilities, though, he supposed it would serve him right if he had checked himself into the nut farm.

 

“Are you here by choice or are they really keeping you here?” He asked without bothering to ease into it because that just wasn’t who he was.  Jon didn’t even glance down at his tray, not sure what he had grabbed, but had been assured that he’d be able to ‘maintain’ here, which had been one of his ‘must have’s’ when picking a place.

 

“Who wants to know?”

 

“I do.”

 

He was very blunt, straightforward, and had the most beautiful set of blue eyes she’d ever seen on a man.  Then again, Maxlyn didn’t exactly look into men’s eyes while being raped or prostituted.  A lot of them just liked going in the back and taking care of business quickly.  There were a few that had more…dangerous intentions with her, but somehow, she managed to get out of those situations relatively unscathed.

 

“You afraid you’re trapped here and there’s no way out, huh?” Sipping her juice box, she took another bite of food and chewed thoughtfully. “Rest easy, you can leave here whenever you want.  They just won’t say that your rehabilitation is completed until THEY’RE satisfied with your progress.  That’s all.” They were not satisfied with hers, not even after a straight year because more had happened to her than just drinking, and she refused to divulge that darkness here.

 

“So, in theory, you could leave?” When she nodded, he felt both relieved and confused. Relieved because there was no way in hell he was spending his life here for one year.  Jon had come here to get better, not change his mailing address for YEARS. “Load off my mind, thanks dollface.” She looked like a doll, that was for damn sure.  Jon leaned back in his chair, finally paying attention to his tray and figured it wasn’t going to be any worse than the shit he had eaten in school as a poor kid. “So, you’re just…hanging out?” He couldn’t see anyone getting behind the mandatory sharing is caring, let’s all hold hands and sing away our pain, circle jerk sessions in the morning. 

 

But…that was him.  Different strokes for different folks.

 

“I wouldn’t call it ‘hanging out’, but I’m not done with my rehabilitation according to them, so…I’d much rather leave here with their signed approval than as another failure.”

 

Maxlyn honestly had nowhere else to go.  The moment she stepped into this place, she lost everything.  Her apartment was gone because she couldn’t work to pay the bills or the rent anymore.  What money she DID have was stocked away in her car, which was in the parking garage of this place at the moment in a trunk. “What about you?  You seem like a man who has his shit together, so what pray tell are YOU here for, Jon?”

 

“I’m an alcoholic.” He almost added ‘duh’ behind that statement and refrained. 

 

There were also drug addicts and other kinds of people in this place besides alcoholics.  Drugs were something he definitely steered clear, especially in his profession.  It was too easy to fall under the sway of pain pills and other pain killers, or to roid it up to get a ‘look’.  Instead, Jon had substituted alcohol for drugs, pretty full of himself for not being one of ‘them’ and now, he was…just a different vise was all, but an addict all the same.

 

“So, is that not talking thing you got going the hold-back for getting out of here?” It seemed simple to him just spill to a therapist and call it a day.  However, having seen the morning sessions…maybe he needed to rethink that. “It was interfering with my life, my job…”

 

“Yeah, tends to do that.” Maxlyn had no idea why this man was talking to her, but she found him intriguing for some reason.  Nobody else had approached her quite like he did in the year she’d been here.  Maybe that was why it was easy to talk to him? “I was…found unconscious in my apartment.  Alcohol poisoning, apparently, and I was also diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.  Early stages of it.” She took another bite of her food, smoothing her bangs out on top of her head and then let them go wild again on her forehead. “And to answer your question, yeah, that’s what’s holding me back is the fact I won’t talk because they don’t need to know.” Nobody needed to know.  It would just give them nightmares. “My turn – what’s your job?”

 

“Who said this was share time?” Jon asked around a mouthful of whatever it was he was mindlessly eating, raising a brow at her. 

 

He was starting to feel irritated; he wanted a drink and knew rationally, that would be the addiction beginning to really make itself known.  Withdrawal was going to suck.  He had asked a question and she had volunteered more information than necessary.  Jon probably should have gotten himself checked for that cirrhosis stuff.  Something about scarring the tissue of the liver, he had Googled alcohol issues and it was one of the many reasons he had done this.

 

“I’m a professional wrestler.” He answered when she just raised a brow right back at him.

 

“If it wasn’t share time, you wouldn’t have sat down and started asking me questions.  It’s only fair that you answer a few of mine about yourself.” Maxlyn didn’t let him ruffle her feathers with the tone of his voice, already knowing what he was experiencing or about to experience. 

 

Withdrawal.  That ache in the gut for that one sip of beer or favorite liquor.  He would taste it on his tongue, it would fill his mind and drive him crazy, but detoxification wasn’t fun for anyone.

 

“I don’t know what that is, but hopefully once you’re out of here, you can continue being a professional wrestler.” Not really knowing what else to say to him, she started eating quietly, not really tasting the food. 

 

It was sustenance, plain and simple.

 

“Nah, it was panic time.  A year is a long time to spend in what’s basically a nice jail.” Especially this place, they probably would drain her for every last penny for one year, unless she was beyond rich. “Just had to make sure I wasn’t screwing myself here.  You don’t know what wrestling is?  Really?” WWE had been a pretty big deal, still was, even if it was run by a bunch of morons who all reported to the head moron.  At her negative shake of the head, he grunted, not sure what to make of that.  It was inconceivable to him that she hadn’t heard of wrestling, period. “Sports entertainment?” He’d try that one, shoveling some form of protein into his mouth when that was also a negative.  Usually, he’d get ‘it’s fake’ by now from those who didn’t watch.  She was…different.

 

“I don’t even know what professional wrestling is.” Maxlyn hadn’t watched a lot of television growing up and she was too busy trying to survive to really get into anything. 

 

Her life was hard, the ‘road’ she’d taken was nasty, brutal, unforgiving, but it had also taught her valuable life lessons.  The look on his face made her raise a slow brow because Jon looked absolutely bewildered at the fact she’d never heard of his profession. “The only ‘wrestling’ I’ve ever heard of is the shit in high school they do, but even then, I didn’t pay attention.  And as far as this place being a prison goes, well…it’s better than actual prison, I’d imagine.”

 

“I hope so, we’re paying out the ass for it.”

 

Paying to be deprived of everything basically, working out those demons.  Jon was hoping by the end of it all, his attitude changed, knowing what was going on with him right now.  He needed, no WANTED, a damn drink!  How had he let it get this bad?  Go this far?  Jon hadn’t had an easy childhood; he had done some shady things he wasn’t proud of, including drugs, but at the end of the day, he had always considered himself a survivor.  Now, Jon was inwardly terrified he wouldn’t survive this.

 

“What I do is more entertaining than that high school shit.  It tells a better story and is way more physical.” With less awkward posturing and grabbing…way less.

 

“I’ll take your word for it since I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Maxlyn cracked a genuine smile for the first time in what felt like ages.  It felt foreign to her.  Hell, the whole conversing with someone in this facility was foreign to her.  She noticed his hands shaking slightly and knew it was the beginning of his detoxification. “Jon, you’ll be okay.  It may not feel like it at first, but you will survive this.  You seem like the type that never quits and survives, against all odds.  I’m getting that vibe from you.” Trying to get his mind on something, anything, besides the beginning of that indescribable craving, Maxlyn decided if Jon needed her help, she would do what she could for him. 

 

However small it was.

 

“I’m not gonna lie, dollface, I’m not buying this kumbaya, positive thinking shit.”

 

Based on her performance earlier in the group session, he didn’t think she did either.  Or at least, Maxlyn wasn’t on board with publicly airing her issues; some things should just remain private or confidential between a person and a shrink.  Seeing a shrink was a pretty big thing for him, so being thrust into a group session this morning had been a real shock. She was beautiful, regardless of her facial expression, but when she smiled, something about her changed.  Jon had a feeling that her genuine smiles were very rare and he held her gaze, really studying her.

 

Being studied made her uncomfortable.  Maxlyn wanted to ask him what his staring problem was or if he had one, but her mouth wasn’t working at the moment.  Her vocal chords picked a FINE time to stop working!  Finally, she dropped her gaze after a solid two minutes of their eyes locked and a rush of warmth flowed through her…a warmth she’d never experienced before.  Granted, having sex with men generated warmth due to the body reacting instinctively, but she’d never felt anything for any of them.  No boyfriends, no relationships…who the hell would want to date a prostitute and a whore?  So once again, this was a foreign feeling to her and she didn’t know what to do about it, if there was anything she could do.

 

“You should eat the rest of your food before it goes cold.” And stop staring at me while you’re at it!

 

“And stop staring, huh?” As if reading her mind, Jon added that with a bit of a smirk.

 

He was used to being stared at.  It came with his line of work and admittedly, he wasn’t a bad looking guy.  When he wasn’t screwing his appearance up, thanks to all that alcohol his body hadn’t been able to flush out.  But…he also knew people in general didn’t like being gawked at and wasn’t that much of an impolite jackass. 

 

No, he was. “I’m sorry, but this morning, you had this dead eyed thing going on and now you were smiling, so it changes your entire face.” In a good way, or else he wouldn’t have bothered trying to bask in it.

 

“What?” Maxlyn was staring at him now like he suddenly sprouted a second head out of his neck and raised a slow brow.  Did he just compliment her?  She wasn’t used to men complimenting her…well, she WAS, but it hadn’t happened since she checked herself in here.  And those compliments usually revolved around parts of her body, not her face.  What if this guy was just in here to get a piece of ass or something?  Would a man actually do that, check himself in a rehab center just to find some pussy?  That was really far-fetched, but then again, Maxlyn wasn’t very trustworthy of men in general.  Then it registered what he’d just said to her about having dead eyes and she immediately dropped her gaze again, clearing her throat.

 

“Thanks, I think?” Whether she realized it or not, Maxlyn would be smiling a lot more in the coming days because of the man sitting across from her.

 

He was Jon goddamn Moxley and arrogant enough to know that he would never run out of a shortage of women.  He didn’t even have to chase them anymore, hadn’t in a long time.  They came out of the damn woodwork looking for a piece of his fine backside.  Checking himself into what was essentially a posh prison for alcohol rehabilitation was not his idea of fishing for women.  If he decided he needed to troll for a woman because he was feeling picky, Jon would do it on the Strip in Vegas, not a glorified nuthouse.

 

“You’re welcome.” Given Maxlyn was a bit on the unsure side regarding her beauty, Jon was going to hazard a guess that that banging, very womanly body had caused her a lot of grief.

 

He shoveled more food in his mouth to shut himself up.

 

Chapter 3

 

Over the next two weeks, everywhere Maxlyn seemed to go or turned, Jon was there.  Moments of solitude were gone.  It wasn’t that he was up in her business bugging her either.  They just gravitated towards each other and it was easy to talk to him.  About anything that came to mind.  Movies, music, food, favorite places, wrestling.  Maxlyn was still clueless about that and just listened to him talk about it, pretending to understand.  Any subject sparked conversation.  Eating together in the cafeteria was an everyday occurrence neither seemed to mind.  In the activity room, they would pull a board game out randomly and play together or simple cards like UNO or Phase 10.  It was so strange having someone else to talk to because Maxlyn had kept to herself, not making time for anyone…until Jon Moxley. 

 

Why was that?  One thing they hadn’t opened up about was their past history and she was perfectly fine with that, not wanting him to know who she truly was outside of being a recovering alcoholic with cirrhosis of the liver.  Also, Maxlyn was helping Jon through his withdrawal and detoxification as well by keeping his mind occupied, even working out in the gym area with him.  She had to admit, watching him pump iron while she ‘spotted’ him was incredibly hot.  Not that she’d ever admit that out loud; she’d be taking those thoughts to the grave.

 

She didn’t have a damn clue about wrestling, however, Maxlyn definitely had no problem faking it, but he never forgot that first conversation where she had admitted she hadn’t a clue.  It amused him and it was interesting, weird somewhat, that she cared enough to pretend.  He had figured out really quick when she was pretending to care about something and when she did.  Jon had watched her throughout the two weeks, nailing down her cues and all that jazz.  Pumping iron was his way of coping through the withdrawal, forcing his body to obey him in about the only way he still could.  If he had tried doing this his way, it would have been a combination of exercise and sex.  Sex was against the rules here, so working out was the only other option.

 

“FUCK!” Therapy didn’t seem to help, he was ready to call it quit. “I need a beer…”

 

“No, you don’t.  You only think you do, but you don’t.” He growled at her and she merely rolled her eyes in response, thumping him in the forehead. “Knock it off, I’m not the enemy here and you know that.  Now come on, push through it.  It’ll pass, you just have to breathe through it.” Maxlyn coached, already knowing what he was going through and the first month of detox and withdrawal was the hardest thing she ever had to get through. 

 

Here they were in the gym again and she had once again came with him for the spotting while he pumped iron.  His shirt was off, revealing his slightly hairy chest.  That didn’t bother her at all or when his body was coated in a fine sheen of sweat.  This man fascinated her, she’d never met anyone like him in the 30 years she’d been on this earth.

 

“Think of it as an opponent in the ring, okay?  This feeling you have burning in your gut right now, that’s your opponent and you have to destroy them.  Think of it that way, maybe that’ll help you work through it.”

 

“No, because an opponent is a flesh and blood person I can fuck up!” An addiction was all in his head and ravaging his own body.

 

Jon had never felt so weak, so helpless, rage coursing through his veins at his stupid situation, one he had done to himself no less.  She thunked him again on the forehead and he turned away from her, just in time for his already roiling guts to spew over the floor.  Well, that was fucking awesome.  The nurse assigned to Jon, who had been watching from a chair, since he was going through active withdrawal and they had no idea if he would be violent to others or himself, paged for a janitor without batting an eyelash.  His body was definitely purging all that bile from itself.

 

Vomit didn’t bother her at all.  Maxlyn had spewed her own guts out and thought they’d actually come out of her mouth with how much she vomited during her own cleansing.  Buckets upon buckets of vomit and sweat…for a straight month until finally that burning within her, that overwhelming feeling and the addiction, slowly began to fade away.  It would never be gone completely.  Once an addict, always an addict.  It was a person’s choice and responsibility on how they handled the problem.  Instead of running out of there and leaving him on the floor like that, Maxlyn waited for him patiently to finish up as he kept spewing the bile out in the bucket she had grabbed nearby.  Telling Jon any words of encouragement at the moment wasn’t an option, but Maxlyn also stayed by his side, waiting for him to finish up.  This wasn’t the first time she did it and it wouldn’t be the last either.  He would see that once the purge was over with and he was cleansed of the poison in his body, he’d be a lot better for it.

 

“I wouldn’t rap him on the head for a while.” The nurse, Sue, suggested flatly, once Jon had finally reverted to dry heaving since everything was emptied though his body hadn’t gotten the memo yet. “I imagine he’s been dealing with massive headaches…” Jon was trying to work through it with exercise and she was worried he’d overdo it.  It was easy to mistake fatigue for withdrawal in these cases. “Jon, let’s get you cleaned up and you need to take it easy for a few days.” Because he was entering the really fun phase of detoxification and working out like this wouldn’t help.  It was only going to mask some of the problems caused by the detoxification.  Sue had noticed that Maxlyn was coming out of her shell around Jon; apparently, the quiet young woman had taken a shine to him and it made Sue happy, seeing Maxlyn emerging from the walls she had built around herself.

 

Maxlyn frowned, immediately taking a step back and looked down at her hands…the same hands she was thumping him in the head with.  Shit!  Did she cause him to start throwing up like this?  She didn’t even think about the possibility of his head feeling like it was going to split wide open!  That was one of the side effects to the lovely detoxification and withdrawal he was going through right now.  Maybe she’d just stay away from Jon for a while…and the thought of doing that made her stomach twist.

 

“He, um, he’ll be okay, right?” Worry and concern were etched on her face as Sue nodded, her eyes solely on Jon at the moment. I’ll never touch him again.  What the hell was I thinking thumping him on the head like that?!  I’m such an idiot! Instead of going to the activity room, Maxlyn went back to her own and stayed there, really hoping and actually praying to whatever God above that Jon would make it through this.

 

She had not caused this and Sue had read that flickering across Maxlyn’s face before the younger woman retreated into herself, tossing those walls right back up and going flat in the eyes.  If it hadn’t happened from those gentle raps, it would have happened from somewhere else because Jon was simply pushing himself too hard as he struggled to come to terms with what was going on.  That was part of the therapy in this program, having to accept the fact that once one started coming through the addiction, their body wasn’t exactly their own anymore until it had been purged.  Maxlyn was pushed out of her mind as she assisted Jon back to his room, calling in for a male nurse to get the man into bed. The shakes were officially here.  Once settled, Sue remembered Maxlyn and took off to find her, knowing feeling guilty about what was out of her control wasn’t going to help her make any progress.

 

Maxlyn heard the rap on the door, but didn’t respond to it, which was normal for her.  She heard the door open and didn’t look up, her eyes glued to the floor.  The bed dipped beside her and she felt a hand on her shoulder, but still, her eyes didn’t move from the floor.  She listened as Sue explained that none of this was her fault.  The light raps against his head didn’t cause this to happen.  This was his body’s way of finally being purged and cleansed of all the poison.  It was the same thing she had to go through. 

 

Finally, she looked up from the floor at Sue, tears glistening in her eyes. “I-I just wanted to help him through it…” She whispered, not trusting her voice at the moment and started crying, something Maxlyn hadn’t done in months. Jon, I’m so sorry, please be okay.

 

“And you are, more than you both realize.”

 

Having someone else to focus on, someone who wasn’t offering platitudes about ‘getting to the other side’, and being ‘normal’ with him, was just what he needed.  Sue was NOT a psychiatrist or anything, but even she could see that the normal therapy wasn’t working on Jon any more than it had worked on Maxlyn.  Being coerced into sharing their personal stuff, their shame, wasn’t happening with these two and it was natural they had come together.

 

“He’s probably going to be in bed for a few days, the shakes are hitting him now.  You could go visit him during dinner.”

 

It was probably a bad idea to do this, but Sue’s offer did not fall on deaf ears.  Maxlyn had grabbed something quick for dinner and then made her way back to the rooms…to Jon’s room.  Gently and quietly, she opened the door and stared at him for a minute from the doorway, swallowing hard at his big body in that bed.  It was too small for him, but it looked like he was somewhat curled up with the cover on.  Honestly, it broke her heart to see him this way.  There was a bucket by the bed as well, just in case he vomited, which would likely happen for a while.  Closing the door, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, placing her hand on his blanket covered trembling leg.  Not a word was spoken, Maxlyn was here to support him any way she could and that didn’t require talking.

 

Groaning, Jon poked his head out from beneath the blankets, probably looking just as horrible as he felt.  He slowly began sitting himself upright, having been informed he was banned from the gym for the rest of the week because he was pushing his body too hard and too fast.  It took him a minute to adjust himself so he was sitting with his back to the wall, staring at the tray she had set down on his table. It was laden with what looked like a lot of bland, easy on the stomach food, and he figured if anyone knew about this, it would be her. “Sorry about earlier.” His throat felt raw, like he had screamed himself hoarse or something, and his ribs ached from dry heaving.

 

“Shhh, you have nothing to be sorry for.  I’m the one who should be apologizing to you, Jon.” Maxlyn spoke in a low, gentle voice, barely above a whisper because she knew his head was throbbing at the moment.  It had to be. “I know you probably don’t want to eat, but if you feel like it, I recommend the crackers.  They’ll be very easy on your stomach, along with the sandwich.” She didn’t put anything heavy on it, trying to recall what she’d eaten during her own detoxification. “I-I shouldn’t have thunked your head the way I did.  I wasn’t thinking and for that, I’m truly sorry.” There was no reason to ask how he was feeling because that answer was clear as day in front of her.  Like shit.  Like absolute dog shit.  And he was STILL the most handsome man she’d ever met in her life, despite how he looked at the moment.

 

“It wasn’t even that hard…”

 

She had barely tapped him, though she wasn’t wrong about his head ACHING – pounding, really. It was hard to describe, it was almost like the worst hangover of his life only magnified by a million. He would have taken the arm surgery and MRSA again over this.  Jon didn’t want crackers, his mouth already felt bone dry and they wouldn’t help anything.  Instead, he went with the small soup cup, pulling of the plastic top and inhaled.  Broth of some kind and it smelled bland, which was probably for the best, and he sipped it, just studying her.

 

“Is this how it was for you?  When you were coming off the sauce?”

 

Maxlyn nodded with a sympathetic smile that barely curved her lips. “Yeah identical.  The vomiting and shaking, feeling like you’re on the brink of death.  No appetite, that horrible burning sensation in your gut…it was hell on earth.” Alone…I had to endure it by myself. “Some people become really irritable and want to be left alone through it, so if you want me to go, all you have to do is say so.  I just…I wanted to make sure you were okay.  I was worried about you, so Sue said I could come in here and sit with you during dinnertime.” It was amazing he was sucking the broth down because she hadn’t wanted to eat for a good straight week once the symptoms really kicked in with the detoxification. 

 

This man was incredibly strong, in both mind and body.

 

“If I get cranky, you can leave without feeling bad.  I’m a cocksucker when I’m in agony.” Jon had not been the most pleasant during his stint with MRSA and rehabilitation in Alabama. 

 

If that was any indication of what he was likely to be like during this, she didn’t deserve his wrath.  Nobody did.  He could already feel irritation creeping into him and it wasn’t aimed at anyone, just this situation in general, at himself for letting things get this bad.  No matter how miserable he felt, Jon knew he HAD to eat because this body wasn’t going to maintain itself without any help from him.  He had already been told he wasn’t allowed in the gym anymore until the worse had passed.

 

“Did you have someone with you?”

 

The inevitable question had finally popped and Maxlyn slowly shook her head, staring down at her hands in her lap. “No I didn’t.  To tell you the truth, I don’t even know if it would’ve made a difference or not.  I mean, it would’ve been a distraction of some kind to have someone to talk to, I guess.  I slept a lot, I know that.  At one point, I think I slept like 12 hours straight and they finally had to pull me out of bed to get me moving, to get the blood circulating again.  They were scared I would die in my bed and they had to change the sheets on it because of the amount of sweating I did.  It wasn’t the greatest thing in the world, but when it was all said and done and I started feeling better and stopped throwing up and stopped sweating it out and stopped trembling so hard, my teeth chattered…I felt reborn.  This will be the worst of it, I won’t lie to you or sugarcoat it.” Detoxification was no joke and no laughing matter. “Get cranky all you want and be as big of a cocksucker as you want to.  I don’t scare away easily, Jon, and there’s nothing you can say or do to me that hasn’t already been done.  I’ll help you through this the best I can, unless you want to be left alone and then I’ll respect your wishes.”

 

Sad, Jon thought as he studied her. 

 

In the two weeks since he had been here, however, he had learned Maxlyn didn’t talk to anyone unless she had too.  He imagined she spoke to a therapist or something behind closed doors, or at least, a therapist talked at her, but…she was lonely.  Jon could tell it was by choice; she had walls tossed up and, even with him, they were still there.  They just weren’t as…high as before or with others.  She was leery of everyone and had little trust, especially when it came to men.  He knew instinctively, if he brought it up, she’d retreat from him, which led him to some very, very dark thoughts.  Thoughts he didn’t want to entertain.

 

“Think they’d let me have some Sprite or something?” He asked, changing the subject with a bit of a strained grin, mentally filing it away to pick up this conversation when he wasn’t at risk of puking.

 

“Want to know a secret that’ll help you with the nausea?” Jon nodded, clearing his throat gently and she pulled out a green can from the pocket of her shirt, handing it to him. “I figured you’d be parched, so here.  Ginger ale.  Better than Sprite and it’ll settle your stomach too.” He quirked a brow at her and took the can, cracking it open to take a very small sip. “Don’t drink it too fast or it’ll have the opposite effect.” Maxlyn cautioned, watching him nod again and once again lowered her eyes to her lap. 

 

There was a very good reason for her trust issues and why she was so leery as well.  Jon could never know about any of it, her past had to stay buried, otherwise he’d want nothing more to do with her.  Who would?  Yes, she was lonely and maybe that was why she gravitated to him so easily.  Maxlyn still didn’t quite understand why she enjoyed hanging out with Jon and helping him, but she did and, as long as he wanted her around, she would not stay away from him.

 

Ginger ale was disgusting.  He could very vividly remember his mother making him drink it when he was sick, had a stomach, a cut on his finger, basically everything involving sick or ouch was treated with it.  Also, Vick’s Vapor rub slathered on the chest and the feet. “Are you from the Midwest?” Because so far, that seemed to be a regional thing and he set the can aside, not able to deny that it did help with settling his stomach.  He just never got past the taste of it, especially if it wasn’t anything ice cold.  He managed a smile at her confusion. “Ginger ale and Vick’s, I swear it’s in every midwestern medicine cabinet.”

 

He had no idea what was going around in her head, but Jon did know one thing, he had learned it the hard way.  People were a lot more forgiving and understanding than he gave them credit for…Well, some people.  Not all.  It was moving past one’s own self-loathing about their situation, themself, or their past that had to be done or else they’d never be able to fathom or accept that some people looked past all that.  Basically, they were so hung up on it themself, they couldn’t imagine someone NOT being.

 

That pretty much nailed it on the head for Maxlyn. “Oh yeah?  That’s a pretty solid observation, Jon.  Yeah, I am from the Midwest.” She had a feeling he was too, even though he had told her about living here in Vegas during one of the many talks they had. “If you don’t like Ginger ale, I can try to go find something else for you.  I’m not sure if they have Sprite though…” Sprite really wouldn’t do anything for his stomach, but then again, maybe it did.  Maybe that was what he enjoyed drinking whenever his stomach was up in arms.  Everybody was different. “Do you want me to go check?”

 

“No, this is fine,” Sprite was definitely his go-to for hangovers.  Sprite mixed with Pedialyte, of all things.  Sprite was good for an upset stomach, he knew ginger itself was, but…it was just one of those things from childhood that lingered. The ginger ale thing, or whatever the Walmart generic version had been…his upper lip curled at that. “Thanks, by the way, for bringing me dinner.” He sipped the soda again before setting it aside, not about to even try crackers or the sandwich.  The broth was still threatening to come back up and he wasn’t sure if he could handle tossing his cookies in front of her twice in one day.

 

“No problem, Jon, I’m just glad you’re okay.  Don’t know what I’d do if something happened to my UNO partner, after all.” That made him crack a small smirk and it was enough for her. 

 

They talked for a little while longer together until the door opened and it was Sue letting her know dinnertime was over.  Lights out would be in about an hour and, as much as Maxlyn did not want to leave him right now, she knew it had to be done. “Get some rest, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Probably for dinner again like tonight.  Maxlyn covered him up with the blanket, squeezed his hand, and walked out with great reluctance as the door closed behind her. “Hey Sue, is there any Sprite here?  He didn’t like the Ginger ale.”

 

“I’ll check, but I think there might be that lemon lime generic stuff.”

 

“Yeah, that should work.  Thanks for everything, goodnight.” Maxlyn went to her room and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for a long while before finally she drifted off to sleep.

 

Sure enough, the minute she was out of the room, Jon hurled everywhere in him again.  How he had managed to keep himself from doing it before her was beyond him, but he did.  When he was finished, he dropped back onto the bed properly, groaning as he held his aching ribs.  She had done this ALONE?  Well, obviously, she had the nurses and doctors on hand, but alone as in without a friend.  Were they friends?  Yeah, he supposed so and it was weird because he had never expected to like anyone here, let alone make friends with them.  Maxlyn was an entirely different breed and he wondered, finally feeling like maybe he could fall into a fitful sleep, if things would have been the same between them if they had met on the outside.

 

Unless he visited a strip club or paid for sex, probably not. 

 

Chapter 4

 

For the next two weeks during Jon’s detoxification, Maxlyn spent her dinners in his room with him. 

 

It was the only time they could spend time together because Jon refused to leave his room.  He didn’t want to face anyone and missed the meetings too, not giving a damn about them.  Maxlyn didn’t blame him and the nurses assured that it was probably a good idea to keep him in his room, besides taking showers and having good hygiene, until his detoxification was mostly finished.  Every day, little by little, Jon started feeling better, even if he didn’t realize it or believe it.  Maxlyn assured him that it would not last forever.  One thing Jon never did was throw up in front of her again, always holding it back until she left.  After a week of vomiting everything he consumed, it finally tapered off and he was left feeling weak.  The color was back in his face, but Jon had lost a considerable amount of weight, which was to be expected during the detoxification.

 

Jon had learned that Maxlyn had a wicked sense of humor, dry and sarcastic, and then she was also very observant.  She was able to pick up on minute things about people, it was odd as hell.  She was afraid of letting anyone in, not the typical beautiful woman he had come to know and love to despise, even as he was pounding them.  Speaking of pounding, he wasn’t necessarily thinking about fucking Maxlyn blind, but he couldn’t lie he had thought about what it would be like just to kiss her.  Rehabilitation was doing insane things not just to his body, but his mind as well.

 

“I need to get back in the gym…and start eating again.” He was eyeballing the broth he had been given along with a chicken breast, a small tit at that. They were slowly ‘reintroducing’ solids, just in case.

 

No sex or fraternizing with each other was one of the main rules of this place.  If Jon and Maxlyn broke that rule, they’d be out instantly without their clearances.  Maxlyn would not risk losing the place she called home for anyone, not even Jon.  Honestly, it terrified her that she felt this warmth, this likeness, for a man.  Never in her life had she been able to experience that, to experience liking someone the way she should’ve back in school when she was a kid.  Thanks to her mother whoring her out at such a young age, Maxlyn didn’t know the first thing about intimacy, what it was, or building up feelings for someone.  It really was a weird feeling.

 

“You’ll get back in the gym soon enough.  You just gotta prove to them that you’re ready and you won’t push yourself too hard.”

 

“Yeah…you mean to Mommy Sue.” Jon snorted, his blue eyes automatically flickering around for the nurse that seemed to be his and Maxlyn’s shadow.  He got the rules and regulations here, why they were tailed.  He just didn’t realize that Sue cared about them as more than just ‘routine’ patients and saw that they were helping each other out more than therapy ever could.  Jon was GOOD for Maxlyn and vice versa, and Sue wanted that to continue.  When Maxlyn just shook her head with a smile, he grinned as well, watching as she popped a grape into her mouth. “Next up is all the intense therapy, right?” At her nod, he groaned and then snitched one of her grapes. “Fun…the detox was the hardest part of this….” He had the therapy part, right?

 

“Physically, yes.  But they’ll make you go to a therapist once your detox is over with and it’s up to you on whether or not you wanna open up to them.  Every time I go in, I don’t really say anything.  We just sit there for a full hour in silence and I usually have a Rubik’s cube in my hands or something.  To me, that’s harder than getting through the detox.  They don’t need to know everything about me and I refuse to tell them, which is why they haven’t given me my clearance yet.” The sooner Maxlyn opened up to tell them about her past, the sooner she’d get out of here with her clearance, even though she could leave at any time. “I have a feeling it won’t be hard for you.  You won’t be stubborn like me and you’ll do what it takes to get out of here as quickly as possible and back to your wrestling.”

 

“You can leave at any time, but you won’t because you want their full approval…yet you won’t do what you know you have to in order to get it.” That was a mystery Jon was tempted to try solving, wondering just what was so bad that she couldn’t even tell these people she was PAYING to treat her.  It made no sense.  Well, yes, it did.  He knew better, now. “I get the theory, addressing the issues and shit that led to the addiction, it helps avoid it again and all that…I just…” Came from old school in that one kept personal issues to themselves and worked through it.  Obviously, he hadn’t worked through it on his own very well and neither had she. “Don’t you want your life back, dollface?” What did she do before all this?  Who was she before?

 

A life full of regret.  A life full of nothing except bad decisions in order to survive.  A shoddy, miserable, lonely life.  A life full of pain, anguish, and nothing but darkness.  Did she want any of that back? “I don’t really have a life to go back to, Jon.  Not a life worth living anyway.” Maxlyn swallowed hard, not moving from the bed, but she refused to meet his eyes while she spoke. “If you knew the real me, the me outside of here…you would run as fast as possible away from me.  I don’t have friends.  I don’t have family.” Well, she did, but her family absolutely sucked and Maxlyn never wanted to see her mother again as long as she lived. “I came here to get clean of alcoholism and nothing more.  They don’t need to know every single thing about me.  I did what I was supposed to do, but because I won’t open up to them, they won’t clear me.  If I cave and tell them everything, it’ll break me and I won’t be broken by anyone or anything in this world again.  Ever.”

 

“So, don’t worry about getting their all clear and just go.” It was so simple to Jon, just leave already. 

 

Maxlyn was over her addiction, that was obvious.  Now, she was just hanging out and it made no sense. And then it did. He realized, she was afraid of leaving this place. It took him a long time to mull that one over, not saying anything or allowing his expression to change as he dunked the last of his chicken into the broth, just so it wasn’t totally dry and popped the piece in his mouth. She could leave whenever she wanted but she chose not too and was using the fully ‘approval’ thing as her excuse. He had sort of put his foot in his mouth by not realizing it quicker. “Well, actually, this worked out… if you had bailed, I might not have gotten to meet you, Maxlyn, and I’m glad I did.”

 

Her eyes went wide at those words and Maxlyn lifted her gaze to turn her head to look back at him, seeing the sincerity in his own.  He meant every word he just said.  Holy hell, her heart was thundering against her chest and had definitely picked up in speed a bit.  Once again, one of her rare genuine smiles crossed her face as well and that warmth spread throughout her entire body, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

 

“Everything happens for a reason, or so I’ve been told.” Reaching out, she took his hand to squeeze it, her eyes not leaving him. “I’m glad I met you too, Jon.  I didn’t think I’d ever make a friend in a place like this, but…I did.  And even when you leave here and move on and continue your wrestling, I won’t ever forget you.  You’re unforgettable.”

 

Jon almost said what was on his mind, but managed not to, keeping it behind his lips for probably the first time in his life. Sorry dollface, but you’re coming with me. He understood she was afraid of what was outside of these walls but she didn’t have someone before.  Someone to help her navigate. She did now. Maxlyn had him. She just didn’t know it yet and there was still some time before he left. He knew exactly who to talk to about this, Mama Sue, who seemed to genuinely care about Maxlyn. “You are too, dollface.” Jon winked at her before draining the broth, pretty sure he was still hungry, but knew to wait and let things settle first.  Jon had a new goal in mind, not just recovering and putting his alcoholic past behind him. 

 

He now wanted to take her with him and show her the world could be a fun, safe place.

 

If Maxlyn had an inkling of a clue as to what Jon was planning on doing, she would’ve ran from that room instantly.  There wasn’t a life for her outside of this place, these walls, no life worth going back to.  At least here, she was safe and secure, she didn’t have to take her clothes off for money or prostitute for that matter.  It was a damn good thing Maxlyn could not read his mind. 

 

They chatted for a while longer, even after dinnertime was over with, and she had brought the deck of UNO cards from the activity room to play with him.  Jon started telling her more about his life on the road as a wrestler, the different places he’d been, and it was fascinating to hear.  This man had been all over the world, on every continent!  Traveling the world and doing what he loved for a living…so why would Jon get lost in a bottle with a life like that?

 

“So wait, if your life was so fulfilling and you were doing what you love most on this planet, then why did you drink so heavily?  I mean, it doesn’t sound like you were depressed or anything…” The look on his face turned somber and Maxlyn knew she must’ve struck a nerve with him. 

 

Nothing could truly prepare her for the next set of words that came out of his mouth.

 

“I lost two friends in the span of a year…friends I considered brothers.”

 

Grief.  No matter how good life was for a person, grief was truly unforgiving and could drive a person mad.

 

The beautiful thing about having money and living like this for a few years was the ability to start over, do the clean slate idea.  Jon didn’t want that; he LIKED his life and was genuinely in a good spot professionally – one where he wasn’t on a script like a dog, no less – and he wanted that back.  He gathered she was running from her old life and that was fine because she didn’t need to go back to it.  She could have a do-over.

 

“Well, sometimes it was just for fun, and then sometimes…it’s a way to deal with the pain.” Jon admitted slowly, wondering how much he wanted to tell her or how he wanted to word it. “Wrestling is physical as shit, it takes a toll on your body no matter how good you try to keep your shit in shape.  It’s easy to get lost in a bottle of pills, I thought drinking was a better thing to do, for physical pain…I didn’t realize it was just as addicting.” Of course, he had also drank away emotional pain and the frown on his face deepened.

 

“It makes you forget too.  It numbs you from the inside out and pushes away that pain and anguish you don’t want to feel.  And the more you consume, the higher tolerance you build to it until you’re downing two-three bottles of Vodka a night…” Maxlyn’s entire demeanor changed, the pain radiating from her in waves and she had to stand up from the bed, scrubbing a hand down her face. “Addiction never goes away, not completely.  You can detox and cleanse yourself all you want, but until you come face to face with it and conquer it, say no to it constantly, you don’t know if you’re strong enough to overcome that addiction.  I think that might be what I’m most afraid of and why I’ve stayed here so long is…facing that.  The world is cruel, unforgiving, and full of darkness, Jon, and some of us just can’t find the light anywhere.”

 

She wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know.  He knew once an addict, always an addict, and he would always crave that forbidden fruit, even while knowing what it could do to him.  What it HAD done to him.  Jon also knew how depressing and dark life could be; his childhood had not been the easiest and he had seen people worse off than what he and his Mom had.  He had seen women and men fall into vices and whoring, seen what they would do for their addictions, or just because they were crazy.

 

“Maybe you just haven’t looked in the right spot yet.” He was here, bound and determined to be that light for her.  He didn’t know why, not totally, maybe it was because of what Maxlyn had done for him while he was here.

 

Maxlyn didn’t respond to that because she knew whatever she said he wouldn’t like or appreciate.  If Jon was smart, he would stop hanging out with her and get out of here as quickly as possible, get away from her as quickly as possible.  She wasn’t a good person and never had been.  The only thing Maxlyn had never been in her life was a liar.  Lying didn’t get a person anywhere and she was always true to who she was, even while stripping and prostituting.  It was all she’d ever known in life and no matter how hard she tried, that ‘good’ road was nowhere in sight. “I should start calling you Mr. Optimistic.” She smirked, dropping back down on the bed gently and took the cards to start shuffling again. “How’s your stomach feeling?”

 

Being a whore by choice, after all one knew was being used as a kid, did not make someone a bad person.  She selected to STAY here to avoid falling back into that life.  That spoke volumes about the kind of person Maxlyn could be if she could get over that fear of falling back into that life.  Sometimes, the hardest thing was taking that first step, and if she let him, he’d be right there with her for every step of the way.

 

“I am a very optimistic sort of guy, dollface, can’t you tell?” Jon had been a royal prick during the past week and she had been patient as a saint with him. “And I’m still hungry, let’s go raid the kitchen.” He had made friends with the kitchen people over the past few days, pretty sure he could charm his way into something more substantial than broth.

 

“Raid the kitchen?” Maxlyn started laughing when he hopped up out of bed and took her hand, pulling her back up to stand in front of him. “I don’t think…” Before she could get the words out, they were out the door with his hand clasped firmly in hers, both heading towards the kitchen area. 

 

Jon was going to get booted out of here and sent back to his room, she simply knew it!  Maxlyn couldn’t stop laughing either and it felt good to do it, to be happy for a change.  Was this happiness she felt?  He winked over his shoulder at her before pushing open the doors to the kitchen, turning the charm on the ladies that were in here.  They were all older women, but Jon had a charisma about him, a charm, that was very hard to get away from.

 

Chapter 5

 

Jon would do no such thing.

 

They couldn’t just kick them out for making a kitchen run.  Now, screwing around with someone or sneaking out of the premises completely, that was grounds for a warning or something but a kitchen raid?  Highly doubtful.  Within minutes, Jon had weaseled them some cookies and chocolate milk, wondering where the hell this was during snack time in the facility.  Laughing, he took Maxlyn by the hand and led her to a small corner table in the back of the kitchen while the women continued cleaning up the kitchen for the night.  He had signed a few pieces of paper for kids and grandkids, hoping these women didn’t run their mouths about his presence in a rehabilitation facility.

 

“This is how you raid a kitchen.” Jon laughed, dunking his cookie right into the milk.

 

“You definitely proved me wrong, that’s for sure.” Maxlyn giggled softly, dunking her own cookie in the milk and they actually toasted with the cookies before devouring them. 

 

This was the most fun Maxlyn had in…ever.  Never had a man made her laugh quite like this and it was very perplexing.  Somewhere deep in the far recesses of her mind, she had to keep reminding herself this would not last forever.  Jon would leave here sooner rather than later and getting attached to him wasn’t a smart idea.  She would be heartbroken when he left, but Maxlyn would not show it until after he was gone.

 

“You must be really famous if even the workers here know who you are and wanted your autograph.”

 

“I’m famous for a certain audience, like…movie buffs and shit, not so much.”

 

He had done two movies: 12 Rounds: Lockdown, which was when he was in the WWE and then Cagefighter, which was via AEW.  Reviews were all right, not stellar.  He wasn’t Dwayne Johnson, that was for damn sure.  Not that Jon would tell HER about those movies, it was a little embarrassing.  Making them had been interesting, he wasn’t thinking about making it a career, though.

 

“Wrestling fans?  They’re the best, the most passionate people in the world.” Sometimes, a little on the crazy side and toxic, but he was a little crazy and toxic himself.

 

“I can imagine.  I wish there were TVs here, so I could at least see what this wrestling is all about.”

 

Dunking another cookie in the milk, Maxlyn couldn’t believe the words that just came out of her mouth.  She actually missed watching television.  One year without it…one year without any technology and just board games and cards…there was a big world out there to see and she was terrified of what it had to offer.  Her fear would be her ultimate undoing and she would not be able to overcome it, no matter what.

 

“You know, every time you mention wrestling, you get this unbelievable twinkle in your eyes and the blue in them lights up.  They become even bluer, if that makes any sense.  It just shows how passionate you are about what you do for a living.”

 

“There are TVs here, but you have to show that you won’t be triggered by it.” Jon never liked that phrase and thought it was for people who were weak.  He got it now.  Did he want to see a beer commercial?  Hell no, he might want a beer.  Did he think it needed to be stopped for the world at large just because he had issues?  Also, hell no. “Uh, doctor what’s-her-face said once you, and by ‘you’, I mean me because she was speaking to me, said that I was able to pass some benchmark in our therapy, we get that shit back.  I miss music.  You got any favorite bands or anything?”

 

Apparently, due to her not opening up to the therapists here, those privileges hadn’t been given back to her. “I haven’t listened to music in a year, I wouldn’t even know how to answer that question honestly.” She thought back to the songs she’d stripped to, which wasn’t very good memories, but it was the closest thing to music she enjoyed. “Def Leppard, AC/DC is pretty cool.  I like the occasional country song, if it has the right vibe.  I really don’t know, can’t think of any other bands or music, really.” Then one did pop into her head and she snapped her fingers. “Oh!  Disturbed, I do like their music too.  What about you, Jon?”

 

“I love AC/DC.” Hands down, his favorite band and his go-to music as a general rule. “I like Disturbed too.” They were going back on the road this year and there was talk about getting in the studio for their next album. 

 

Not that she would know about that, she had been here for one year.  She had basically lived behind these walls throughout the Covid crap that had taken over the world and brought a lot of things to a standstill.  Jon frowned at that, realizing she had likely missed a lot of those things, the restrictions and how so much had changed.  If, when, she got out of here and if things hadn’t gone back to ‘normal’, she was going to be screwed.

 

“Back In Black or Thunderstruck are probably my favorites, but I also love Dirty Deeds.” She had NO idea what that song actually meant to Jon either. 

 

He had named his finishing maneuver when he worked for the WWE after that song.  The smirk on his face made her tilt her head slightly as they continued sharing cookies and milk together.  What she wouldn’t give for a radio just to be able to listen to some AC/DC with Jon.  Jesus, what the hell was wrong with her?!  Why was Maxlyn suddenly getting THOSE thoughts in her head?!  This man was corrupting her…changing her ways of thinking and Maxlyn didn’t know if she liked it or not.

 

“So being a celebrity, have you met any of your childhood heroes while wrestling?”

 

Her problem was, Jon was making her realize that she was missing something on the outside.  Something she had never experienced before and that was life, truly living and enjoying life.  What Maxlyn had grown up with, eventually moved into on her own because that was all she had ever known, that was not it for life outside these walls.  There was so much more, and most of it good; she just needed someone there with her to show the way.

 

“Sure, I’ve met a lot of them.” His blue eyes were now on the cookie he was dunking, needing that perfect cookie to milk ratio. “Meeting your heroes can either be the best thing ever or the worse.  Sometimes…they’re assholes.” And then there were the ones who were good people, so it was always up in the air. “What about you, dollface?  You got any friends at all outside of this place?” Jon wouldn’t be surprised if she said no, glancing over at her.

 

Lowering her eyes while dunking another cookie, Maxlyn knew she was about to sound extremely pathetic, but she also wouldn’t withhold the truth from him either. “No, not really.  I mean, my coworker is the one who found me in my apartment passed out before I was sent here, but…I don’t really consider her a friend.” Maxlyn had trust issues for good reason because every single person she had put her trust in throughout her life had somehow broken it. “And if that’s not pathetic enough for you to hear, I’ll tell you something else.  I didn’t have friends here either…not until you, so I guess you’re my first actual friend I’ve ever had.”

 

Jon had met people from all walks of life and seen some messed up scenarios throughout his own, especially when growing up.  He wasn’t judging anyone for anything because sometimes, a person was born into a horrible situation.  And sometimes, that situation never improved, it got worse.  He was a firm believer that some people could definitely be a product of their environment.  He was equally a firm believer that with the right tools, resources, and sheer strength of will, anyone could overcome all of that.  Most of the time, obviously, there were outliers of that theory.  He was actually hoping she wasn’t one, that there was still time and a chance for her.

 

“You’re not pathetic,” Jon had finished his cookies and drained the milk, slowly licking away his milk mustache. “You’re different,” In a good way. “Not pathetic.”

 

“Thanks.” Yes, she was pathetic, but if Jon didn’t want to believe her on it, Maxlyn wouldn’t try to convince him otherwise. “And it looks to me like you’ve finally gotten through the worst part of this detox shit.” He was looking so much better, the color had returned to his face and now he just had to build back his stamina, little by little. “Congratulations.” She held up the rest of her milk, downed it, and then cleaned up their mess, wiping away her own milk mustache.  They both headed back to their rooms and Maxlyn bid Jon a goodnight before heading to her own, thanking him for the kitchen raid due to his celebrity status.

 

No, the worst part was going to be the therapy.  Jon understood why she was balking on it.  It was embarrassing having to bare one’s soul to a complete stranger.  He had agreed with himself that he would do the solo therapy, but if they tried coercing him into that group situation, he would pull a Maxlyn and clam the hell up.  Jon sort of got the point of it, but at the same time, he didn’t want to talk about Grant and Jon to a bunch of strangers.

 

Okay, maybe the detoxification had been the worst part physically…but emotional tended to leave more lasting scars.  Maxlyn was a great testament to that, she was carrying a lot of damage and for some reason, Jon wanted to help her heal from it.  Maybe because of what she had done for him, a total stranger, or maybe because the sadness in those beautiful eyes of hers made him want to do whatever it took to make her happy. 

 

Either way, he was a man on a mission.

 

~!~

 

Every day, Jon got stronger and healthier, working out incessantly to try to get back some of the muscle mass he lost during the detoxification.  Right now, he was at 205 pounds and he really wanted to at least get to 210 or 215 by the time he left.  Maxlyn joined him, of course, just to keep him company and spotted him, even though she probably wouldn’t have been able to lift the damn bar off his neck if he did drop it for some reason.  Watching him work out became an everyday occurrence, though Jon was also limited on how much time he could do, so he didn’t push himself too hard again.

 

They started sharing meals together again in the cafeteria, laughing and talking about anything that came to their minds.  Never once did Jon ask Maxlyn about her past either, which she greatly appreciated.  The only thing he did say to her was he knew there was more to this than just her drinking and when or if she was ready to talk about it, he’d be there for her to listen, like she did for him.  That meant a lot to her, but Maxlyn was steadfast in burying her past as deep as she possibly could, refusing to ever talk about it, even with Jon.

 

Maxlyn had no idea what he was told and was currently in the activity room with a book in hand, knowing Jon had a meeting of some sort today.  Even he didn’t know what it was about, but she got this sick feeling in the pit of her stomach and couldn’t push it away or rid herself of it, no matter how hard she tried.  Also, she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it was coming from either.  There was a very good reason for that feeling too due to what Jon was currently finding out in his meeting.

 

Because of the impressive progress he made, Jon was told he could leave in one week.  One week was all he had left in the rehabilitation center and he could go home to continue living his life.  It was going on three months since he came here and the light was finally seen at the end of the tunnel…for him. 

 

It wasn’t a bad meeting, just being told he was about to be set free within a week.  Obviously, they had had concerns that he wasn’t as ‘open’ as they had wanted during those meetings where everyone was supposed to talk, the group therapy crap.  He had flat out told the psychiatrist signing off on his completion of treatment that the group therapy wasn’t necessarily the best course of treatment for everyone.  It probably worked great for some people, being able to connect with others who were dealing with similar experiences, but it was NOT for everyone.  Then, there was Maxlyn and Jon realized, as he was finally released after signing some paperwork, he only had a week left to convince her to come with him.  She could leave whenever, she was just using that ‘total approval’ thing as her excuse.  He knew badgering and pushing would make her retreat…so how would he get her to drop her guard and take a chance with him?

 

It would NOT be easy at all.  Maxlyn felt safe here and out in the real world was the complete opposite.  Sure, she didn’t have television or music, but there were other things she did to occupy her mind and time.  Reading, playing board games and cards, even though she’d do it by herself until Jon came around.  Maybe Jon leaving would be the jolt she needed to finally want to leave, but her fear was insurmountable.  It was like Mount Everest and that would be the biggest climb Jon would ever embark on.  He only had one week, seven days, to get the job done too before he was released and it would definitely be a challenge for the ages.

 

The book Maxlyn had in her hand was plucked away as Jon plopped down on the couch beside her, setting it beside him.  It was clear Jon wanted her undivided attention at the moment as Maxlyn folded her arms in front of her chest. “Well hello to you too, Jon.”

 

“Hey there, dollface.” He was grinning, but his eyes were semi-serious. 

 

On the walk to find her sweet backside, Jon had been giving it some thought.  He was going to build up the outside, or the part of it he planned on living anyway, not that dark, dank part she had lived.  He was going to try coaxing her into excitement over these next few days, get her wistful for seeing the things he could show her, visiting places, the works.  Jon needed to basically sell her on the idea of living outside of this place again.

 

“So, I get out in seven days.” He had a readjustment period apparently, time to call whoever he needed to get his life back on track, so everything was ready for him when he left.  That was nice, considering he’d been here three months.

 

Now Maxlyn understood where that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach was about.  Jon was leaving.  It was inevitable and she knew it, but it still didn’t stop the sadness from filling her eyes or registering on her face.  Momentarily.  Then a smile spread across her face, not wanting to bring Jon’s mood down because he was happy and she was happy for him, truly.  Maxlyn knew he wouldn’t stay here forever and after the detox was finished, he started really ramping up the recovery.  He looked in better shape than when he first walked into this place, the slight flab on his stomach GONE.  Jon was all muscle now, his arms weren’t as big as they were, but he was slowly rebuilding himself and it would take time to get his jacked body back fully.

 

“Congratulations, you’re at the final stretch and soon you’ll be free as a bird and back in that wrestling ring.  I’m happy for you Jon.”

 

Chapter 6

 

Naturally, Jon caught that sadness in her eyes and on her face, though he kept his own grin firmly hitched in place. “Dollface, I was always free as a bird.  I came here because I wanted to.” He had known he needed the help and he had done what he had to in order to get it. “Now, I’m just a sober bird and I intend to stay that way.” He remembered laughing at Hunter, being totally sober, refusing any offer of even a basic drink.  Apparently, the man had always been that way.  He got it now because addictions were too easy to fall into. “It’ll be great, getting out of here.  I miss biking in the Red Rocks…and my dog.  I miss my dog.”

 

“You have a dog?”

 

For the next half an hour or so, Maxlyn listened as Jon boasted about his English bulldog, Blue.  Blue was such a cute name and the reason he named him that was because he had the most stellar blue eyes on a dog Jon had ever seen.  So Jon was an animal lover.  She laughed at the story about when Blue was a puppy, chewing on everything in sight and Jon nearly strangling him.

 

“He sounds like quite a character.  I’m sure he misses you too, but you’ll see him soon.” He probably wouldn’t go back to wrestling right away, unless he took the dog with him on the road.  Did wrestlers do that?  She had no idea. “I’m sure there’s a lot of things you’ve missed while being here that you can’t wait to get back to.”

 

“Yeah, my house, I have one outside of Vegas.”

 

He loved Vegas, but not enough to live in the actual city.  Though, the city had its own charm and mystique.  He went there to let his hair down, so to speak.  Jon went outside city limits, to nature, to unwind and relax.  There was also a grave he needed to go visit and pay his respects too, frowning as his gaze turned faraway, thinking about his dead friend.

 

“Obviously, I miss wrestling too, being in front of a crowd, even with the restrictions sometimes, it’s the best thing.” At her raised eyebrow, he frowned.  They had the protocols in here, she had to of heard something about how things had changed out there.  Even with the pandemic going on, he was ready to get back to it. 

 

Suddenly, the harsh reality crashed on Maxlyn like a tidal wave and, no matter how hard she tried, she could not keep the tears from filling her eyes.  Jon would be gone.  She would never see him again and she made the mistake of getting attached to him, to anyone here.  Everyone always left her in the end and Maxlyn suddenly didn’t feel very good, not wanting Jon to see how upset she was.

 

“I’m gonna go to my room for a while and lay down before the meeting this afternoon.  See you then.”

 

Jon nodded as she headed out of the activity room, suppressing the pain deep inside of her until she was in the confines of her room, immediately sliding down the door the moment it completely shut.  For the first time in a long while, Maxlyn broke completely down and cried, letting out her emotional pain to the silence.  One thing was certain, she had to distance herself from Jon Good, by any means necessary, before she grew any more attached to a man that would be gone in just a week’s time.

 

Raiding the kitchen after she had bailed on him, Jon knew she was going off to cry in her room.  He had wanted to chase her down and hug her, but he knew that was against the rules and she would have probably shut herself down immediately.  He knew she came from a traumatic background; there was definite sexual abuse trauma and who knew what else from adulthood.  Jon was usually conscious of what he was doing when it came to Maxlyn, when he wasn’t in the middle of detoxing, and he made sure that while he might have pushed at some of her boundaries, he didn’t smash through them. “So…what do you suggest?” He had naturally dragged Sue in here with him, hiding at his corner table with some leftovers from lunch.  His appetite was BACK.

 

“Give her some space today, for a little while, to process and then keep at it.  Don’t let her change the nature of your relationship and she’ll try.  She’s going to try to put you back at arm’s length.”

 

Confiding about what he wanted to do with Maxlyn was about the sweetest thing Sue had ever heard a man do in her life.  If Maxlyn let him, Jon would give her the world and so much more.  She knew the woman didn’t have a home to go back to and that was why she just stayed here, where she felt safe and protected.  That was something Maxlyn had confided in her and she had told that to Jon.  This man was determined, but Maxlyn was very stubborn and set in her ways…the next week was going to be very interesting to say the least.  But if ANYONE could break through Maxlyn’s barriers and walls she’d put up, it was this man.

 

~!~

 

Two days had passed with Maxlyn staying holed up in her room, only coming out when she had to.  She took her dinner back to her room instead of staying in the cafeteria and she did not go to the activity room either, staying confined where she belonged.  Jon had come up to her to greet her and she had mumbled ‘hi’s’ and ‘morning’s’, but that was about the extent of it.  Always making an excuse to get away from him, Maxlyn knew it was her only option at this point.

 

Desperate times called for desperate measures…Sue had warned Jon about this and was willing to do anything to help Maxlyn, even if it meant breaking a rule or two.  What the higher-ups didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.  Tonight, there was a comet that was flying across the sky and Jon had BEGGED Sue to let him take Maxlyn outside to watch it, to see the stars.  It was VERY late at night and Maxlyn was sleeping when her door opened to her room, making her shift a little.  She felt something warm, even in her sleep, across her cheek rubbing up and down, forcing her out of the dream she was in.  Slowly, her brown eyes slowly fluttered open, her vision a little hazy at first, but it cleared up rather quickly in the darkness. “Jon?  W-What are you doing in here?  W-What’s going on?”

 

So, Jon was a total asshole and he knew it.  He had been careful with her boundaries, respecting them, and then he had gotten a wild burr up his backside and…here they were.  However, the fact that she hadn’t woken up screaming bloody murder was a good sign.  Did Maxlyn even realize that?  She wasn’t carrying trauma as badly as she used too; she was carrying shame was her problem.

 

“Come on, we’re going outside, there’s a comet that’s supposed to pass us by in ten minutes.” She smelled delicious, it had been a shower night, apparently. If this was any other situation and any other woman, he would have kissed her.

 

“W-What?  B-But…” Maxlyn blinked as Jon pulled her out of bed, not forcefully, but hard enough to get her to her feet, tossing her shoes at her. 

 

What had gotten into Jon?  How did he get into her room?  The answer to those questions she found the moment the door opened with his hand clasped firmly in hers and Sue stood there, an apologetic smile on her face.

 

“He was insistent on seeing the comet with you.  Don’t worry, you won’t get in trouble for this.  Enjoy yourselves.”

 

Maxlyn was wide-eyed and could only let Jon guide her through the double doors of the facility to the front of it.  One year.  One year of being in this place and the fresh air hit her almost like a ton of bricks.  Fresh air.  She continued walking with Jon hand in hand, trying to wrap her mind around what was happening and finally, they stopped, her long caramel hair hanging down her back loosely.  It wasn’t in a braid or ponytail, she never slept with it in a hairdo because it gave her headaches if she did.

 

“Wow…” The night sky…it’d been so long since she saw it and there were a million stars glistening in the sky at that moment. 

 

Closing her eyes as another breeze blew over her, Maxlyn breathed that air in as much as her lungs could hold and opened her eyes again, looking back at Jon.  She was acting like she hadn’t been outside in forever and it made Jon wonder if she had kept herself inside for the past a year.  Being outdoors was actively encouraged here.  Sunshine did some weird brain chemistry to produce happy endorphins and he had been out quite a bit, usually in the mornings pre-breakfast since getting his head out of the detox fog it had been in.  The HELL kind of torture was Maxlyn doing to herself?  He would have kicked her out of here at this point because obviously, remaining wasn’t doing her any good mentally.

 

“Yeah, wow.” He echoed, finally taking his eyes off of her and turning them upright onto the sky.

 

No light pollution, no city noises, it felt like an eternity since he had seen something like this.

 

Being outside was incredibly scary for her, so no, Maxlyn hadn’t stepped foot outside or breathed in fresh air in a year.  One year of confinement and all her doing.  This place was fantastic and the only reason they didn’t kick her out was because she refused to open up completely about her past.  She had a reason to stay here or else they would’ve booted her already.

 

“I haven’t…I don’t go outside, even though I know we can.  I haven’t felt fresh air in a year, so if you were wondering why I’m shaking a little, that’s why.” She wasn’t cold, it was just really shocking to her system to breathe in fresh air after so long. “So, I see Sue is your sidekick now since she’s the one that let you in my room.  I’m curious, why did you choose me, of all people, to see this comet with?”

 

“Have you seen me really making pals with anyone outside of you and the nurses?” Jon asked with an amused laugh.

 

From his understanding, Maxlyn was holding herself back and she had money before coming here.  He had to wonder what happened when her money ran out.  Everything cost money and he had learned the hard way that people who didn’t have money or just had state insurance, it was…bad.  Jon would forever be grateful for his situation and the hard work he had put in to get where he was today.

 

“I’m selective about my friends and fresh air is good for you.” The center was helping her basically harm herself at this point, could they be an accessory to self-abuse?

 

The money came from years of hoarding funds from stripping and prostitution.  Every month, a certain amount was direct deposited from her bank account, which was completely open to her to use.  She could’ve left at any time and gone anywhere she wanted in the world.  Maxlyn was well-off financially, but the outside world scared the hell out of her.

 

“And the fact I haven’t talked to you in two days since you told me you were leaving, right?”

 

Maxlyn didn’t think he would pull a stunt like this, however, and figured he’d get the hint and leave her alone.  That wasn’t how Jon operated.  What she also didn’t know was Jon told a little lie about the comet.  It was happening, just not as soon as she thought.  He wanted some alone time with her, away from prying eyes and ears, and Sue had given him that.  The comet wouldn’t streak the sky for at least another two hours and Maxlyn didn’t know it, but her entire world was about to change.  Right now, the only thing she owed him was an apology for trying to cut ties with him since he was departing.

 

“I’m sorry, Jon.  I’m not mad at you for leaving, I’m really not.  I’m mad at myself for…for getting attached and used to you being around when I knew it wouldn’t last.  I knew better and I let you get close and once you leave, we’ll never see each other again.  I didn’t want you to see me upset about it, that’s why I’ve been locked in my room these past two days.”

 

Jon had been patient since he still had four full days to work on convincing her to leave with him.  The fact that she had come out here with him, instead of booting him out the minute she caught him in her room…Well, that spoke volumes. “So, not seeing you upset, but knowing you’re upset is better how?  Besides, not like we won’t see each other again.  You can’t stay here forever, eventually they’re going to have to turn you loose, you know that, right?” Because a rehabilitation center was not meant to be a permanent home.  If she didn’t make ‘progress’ sooner or later, they’d refer her to some sort of psychiatric center or an adult foster care situation, which would be more suited for her anxiety about leaving.

 

Shutting her eyes at the thought of being kicked out of here, Maxlyn wrapped her arms around herself and swallowed down the jolt of fear that pierced through her.  Her back was turned to him, so he couldn’t see the tears budding in her eyes and she looked up at the night sky, slowly shaking her head. “I don’t want to think about that, Jon.  I don’t want to talk about that happening.  Please…”

 

He was not backing down, not this time and walked over to stand directly behind her, not touching her yet. “It’s the reality of your situation though, Max.  You can’t hide here forever and that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

 

“N-No I’m not…”

 

“Then what would you call it?”

 

“Y-You don’t understand…”

 

“Then HELP me understand.” His hands slid up her arms, feeling her tense, but Jon did not pull away and felt her back press against his chest. “You can’t bottle this shit up anymore, darlin’.  You have to let someone in.  I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, what lead you here and I know it’s more than just binging on alcohol and your cirrhosis.  It’s the same reason why they won’t clear you to get out of here.  It’s your crutch, your way of staying here locked up away from the world.”

 

“No…” Maxlyn shook her head, tearing her hands through her hair and tried getting away from him, but Jon held her tightly, his arms now around her waist. “N-No…No please…please let me go…” Jon was steadfast, refusing to break his hold on her while she squirmed and tried to fight, but eventually, she ceased her movements and lulled her head back against his chest, her face a mess of tears. “W-Why are you doing this to me?  I-If you knew the t-truth…you’d n-never look at me the s-same way again…” Damn it, she hated hiccoughing and had to take more deep breaths, trembling. “B-Believe me, Jon, please believe me w-when I say you DON’T want to k-know the real me…”

 

See, Jon was playing nice, he had worded it as ‘they won’t clear’ when that wasn’t even the issue anymore.  She could not be legally held for this long.  SHE was doing this to herself, keeping herself locked up in here.  He had figured out the system really quick and had grown up knowing how medical places worked when it came to money and all that.  A person had it, they got perks and all the fun stuff.  If they didn’t, their backside was bounced quicker than a bad check.

 

“No, YOU don’t want to know the real you.  This is all about your shame, not mine.  I don’t judge, dollface.” He knew where he had been and some of the shady things he had done, he was NO saint.

 

“You’re wrong.  So very wrong.  I DO know the real me and I never want to be her again.” Maxlyn muttered, sniffling since her sobbing had subsided, but the silent tears kept spilling slowly down her cheeks.  He didn’t let her go for a second, keeping her against him just like this and Maxlyn had to admit, it felt so nice being in his arms like this.  She knew he was only doing it to keep her out here or else she would’ve hightailed it back inside by now. “You don’t know what I’ve done, Jon…what I had to do in order to survive…and a lot of times I wish I would’ve just died from that poisoning.  I-I don’t have anywhere else to go and I dread the day when they eventually do kick me out of here.  I’m broken and there’s no fixing me.”

 

Chapter 7

 

Maxlyn was broken and it was all on her.

 

She had no faith in herself, so of course she had no faith in other people.

 

She was going to wind up killing herself the day she was released because she couldn’t actually imagine herself being happy. “Had too, all that could be in your past if you let it.  You obviously have money, so whatever it was you did before all this…you don’t need that anymore.  You have to believe in yourself, Maxlyn…you believed in me, a total stranger.  Spare some of that for yourself, darlin’.”

 

His words rolled through her mind on repeat. This is all about your shame, not mine, I don’t judge. Was that really true though?  How could he not judge her for what she did, willingly, even after what her mother forced her to do? “I am ashamed of myself, you’re right…” Damn, her heart was thundering in her chest rapidly because Maxlyn swore she would never tell a living soul about her past…everything she went through.  Was she about to go back on that vow?  What would she gain from this by telling Jon who she really was?  Her resolve with him was deteriorating at an alarming rate and it’d been so long since someone actually wanted to HEAR what she had to say. “Are you sure you want to hear my story, Jon?  Do you want to know where my shame comes from?  If you do, I’ll tell you.”

 

Given everything Jon had seen while growing up, and then as an adult due to his terrible habit of looking for slummy places to frequent, there really wasn’t much she could say that was going to shock him.  Outside of murder or perversion with animals, those two things would be surprising.  He had done quite a bit he wasn’t exactly proud of, but he wasn’t trying to hide it either nor live with the shame of it.  It was over and done with, life was going on with or without him.  What was important about this was her getting her story out there, allowing herself to voice it out loud, and hopefully, she would heal from it when she realized that he wasn’t judging her.  There was some guy in the building who admitted to sucking spilled drinks out of table clothes, people with problems had…problems.

 

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t, dollface.”

 

Why did shivers rush down her spine every time he called her that?  Why did warmth spread throughout her body at just his simple touch?  Right now, even though it was chilly outside tonight, she wasn’t the least bit cold.  Jon was a furnace and holding her like this made her soak in his body heat.  Slowly and carefully, she explained to Jon about her childhood, how her mother whored her out at the age of 13.  It was just after her thirteenth birthday that the raping began and she was powerless to stop any of it.  Night after night, her mother sold her to the highest bidder, using her daughter to get by with bills and anything else she wanted.

 

“As soon as midnight struck on my eighteenth birthday, I was gone.  I dropped out of school when I was 16 and started stripping for a living because I needed as much money as I could get to get away from her.  I was determined to leave and never look back, to start my life over somewhere different – a new beginning, even if that meant degrading myself for men.  Only it didn’t change.  Nothing changed.” Her voice grew darker and lower, her body tensed. “Nothing fucking changed when I came to Vegas.  I went right back down that road of stripping and…I started prostituting as well.  It was one of the conditions at the strip club I worked at.  Every stripper there had to sign a waiver of consent for sexual activity to happen within the club and some of them did it outside too.  All of mine were in the club.  Night after night, I allowed men to do ungodly things to me for money, all to survive.  I let it happen, unlike when I was a kid and didn’t have a choice.  It was either that or my bills wouldn’t have been paid and I would’ve been living on the streets.  So there you have it, you’re holding a worthless, shameful whore in your arms.”

 

“Worthless, shameful whore are YOUR words, not mine, Maxlyn.” Jon informed her gently, somehow not surprised at all with how she had grown up or what had happened to her.

 

Jon was pretty desensitized to this topic because he knew of people who had sold their babies just for a crack pipe.  It wasn’t right and it was beyond wrong, and he knew he should appalled or something, but he wasn’t.  Was she shameful for continuing that line of work once leaving?  No, because it was how she was raised and it was what she knew.  She had a screwed up sense of survival because he knew she was wealthy.  This place wasn’t cheap and she had been here for a year.  She had a private room, she wasn’t hurting for money.  Maxlyn could have probably ‘retired’ and been all right for a good long while, but all of that had been BRED into her and that was the issue.  Or was.  One year sober and out of that life…she didn’t have to fall back into it.

 

“I don’t think you’re worthless, or a whore.”

 

Considering she had stripped and prostituted for the better part of 12 years, nearly straight, and hoarded all of that dough she’d made, only using what was necessary to survive…Maxlyn was extremely wealthy.  However, not working for a year straight and staying here was slowly starting to dwindle her money down.  She wasn’t worried about it yet, but sooner or later, she would have to start making a contingency plan.  Maxlyn slowly extracted herself from his arms enough to turn around to face him, looking up into his eyes.  Soft pale blues…though she had seen when electricity sparked through them whenever he got angry about something.  It had happened a few times during his stay here.

 

“Then you’re the biggest fool on the planet.  Even when I leave here, I have nowhere to go.  No job, no place to call home, not like you.  I’d just end up going back to doing what I did before and…God, I – I don’t want to live that life anymore!” At least here, Maxlyn wouldn’t travel down that ‘bad’ road again.

 

THIS was what she needed therapy about.  She was convinced she’d just go straight back into selling her body because it was all she knew. “I’m a fool?  Darlin’, you are wealthy.  You could go buy yourself a freaking cottage on a beach and retire, live the life of luxury and shit.  Instead, you want to hide here from your past.  Money opens a lot of doors and smooths over a lot of shit.  The only thing holding you back is YOU, Maxlyn.” Jon never once raised his voice at her, he was just stating the facts. “You don’t have to live that life anymore, you can have any life you want.  But eventually, you’re going to have to leave here.  You could leave with me, you don’t have to go it alone.”

 

Her brown eyes shot open at that offer and Maxlyn actually took a stumbled step back from him, certain her heart would fly out of her chest.  Leave with him? “What?” She gasped out quietly, feeling her stomach tighten and could not pull her gaze from him.  He was serious.  This man…this gorgeous man, who was a wrestler, with his own house and dog, was offering her to leave with him?  To get out of here? “Y-You want me to…to…” Didn’t he hear a WORD she just said?!  She was a whore!  She was worthless!  Why would Jon want to do something like this for her? “I-I don’t…I don’t understand w-what you mean when you say I-I don’t have to do it alone…”

 

Of course she’d be alone!  It wasn’t like Maxlyn could go with him wherever he went! On the road to wrestle or whatever!  She didn’t even have her high school diploma, for Christ sakes, which was why she couldn’t get a regular 9-5 job and had to resort to stripping and prostituting when she came to Vegas.

 

“No, you don’t, darlin’, and that’s your problem.  You’re so bothered by what you’ve done and what’s happened to you, that you can’t believe anyone else would be willing to look past all that.” Jon stated patiently.  He wasn’t faulting her at all.  Maxlyn had been raped and abused, conditioned to that way of life, but that did NOT mean it had to define her either.  She really had no idea just what her money could do for her either.  It would have been hilarious if not for the fact that it was so tragic. “You can go anywhere, do anything, and the world can be a wonderful place, Maxlyn, if you give it a chance.”

 

Silence stretched on for what seemed like forever between them as Maxlyn breathed through her panic attack, not expecting Jon to say any of this to her.  Where was this stemming from?  Did he truly want her to go with him when he left in four days? “It doesn’t bother you at all, does it?  Everything I told you about me, about what I’ve been through and done…I can see it written all over your face.  None of this bothers you at all…” The sound of her voice was full of bewilderment and shock.

 

“No, it doesn’t.”

 

“Why do you want to do this for me, Jon?  Why are you offering to…to help me like this?” What was in it for him?  Everybody wanted something and there was ALWAYS a price with offers like this.  Nothing was completely free or given in the world. “What exactly do you want from me?  What’s your motive?”

 

Now he was laughing, though it wasn’t loud or filled with anything negative.  It was just a simple laugh because he found it amusing.  It also made sense, given her history. “What was YOUR motive for helping me, dollface?” Jon asked in return, knowing that was a fair question given he was a famous person with money to spare. “You didn’t have one, you’re just a genuinely good person.  I’m returning the kindness and I know if you don’t get out of here, you’re going to only become more timid, more fearful and what fire you do have left inside, it’ll be gone.”

 

Could this man really help her start living again?  Or rather for the first time in her life?  Maxlyn had never lived and turned around to look up at the starry night sky again, pressing a hand over her heart.  There was a big world out there, huge, and it terrified her, but if she didn’t have to face it alone, if Jon helped her… “I trust you, Jon.  I don’t know why either.  The moment I met you, somehow, I knew you would be the one to help me.  I didn’t know how, but…now I do.  I told you everything about me, every heinous thing I’ve done and even about my horrible childhood…I thought for sure you’d want nothing to do with me after hearing all that.  The truth is I…I want to see the world.  I want to travel that ‘good’ road instead of the ‘bad’ one.  One thing my mother always said to me when I was younger, before she did what she did, was life puts you on the path of two roads.  The ‘good’ road and the ‘bad’ road.  You choose which road to take and for years, I’ve taken the ‘bad’ one.” Not because she wanted to, but because she had to survive and keep living, no matter what. “So as long as your road is the ‘good’ one, I…I’ll do it.” She turned to face him, the fear and uncertainty still in her eyes, but there was also a newfound determination as well. “If you really want to do this, I’ll go with you.” Maxlyn could only hope and pray to whatever god was above that this wasn’t a mistake.

 

“Good.”

 

Jon was so glad he had fibbed a bit about the time before the comet came or else they may not have gotten to this point.  She was so adamant about hating herself, he just hoped he wasn’t making her any promises he couldn’t keep.  Hell, he already knew having her around was going to keep him on the straight and narrow.  Having someone around who he had to care for tended to do that.

 

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want too anymore, dollface.” Maxlyn didn’t have to sell her body for money since she had plenty of it and now him. “You can see the country with me, I travel a lot for work.”

 

“Really?” Jon had told her about some of his traveling and how he’d been all over the world.  Every continent besides Antarctica he’d been on.  And now he wanted her to go with him on this new journey. I really hope I’m doing the right thing here. As if sensing her doubts and trepidation, Jon closed the distance between them to take her hands in his and squeezed them gently with reassurance.  Everything would be fine as long as she was with Jon.  No more stripping, no more prostituting. “I’m not broke, Jon.  So I can pay my own way, so I won’t be a financial burden to you.”

 

“Yeah, I kind of figured, Maxlyn.” Jon laughed, knowing he was also fairly comfortable so it wasn’t like he needed a sugar mama anymore. 

 

He had a feeling she had been one of those kids who hoarded things like food and money, always afraid of running out, that there was NEVER enough.  Simply because, if she was as well off as indicated, she had continued stripping and all that past the point of ‘need to survive’ and into obsession with it caused by all the trauma inflicted upon her.  Jon was no therapist, but damned if he wasn’t going to try to help her out as best as he could.  Maxlyn went to say something and Jon turned her around to point up at the sky, her eyes lifting back up to watch the stars again.  There it was the comet he had brought her out here to watch.  It streaked across the sky beautifully and another rare genuine smile spread across her face.

 

“Wow…” It was breathtaking.  Maxlyn would never forget this moment, searing it to her memory.  Regardless of what the future held, at least she would have this night to think about if everything went south and straight to hell. “You’ll probably hear this a lot from me for however long I travel with you.  Thank you, Jon.”

 

“You’re welcome, Maxlyn.” His eyes were on the sky as well, watching that comet’s progression.

 

So, this had been the perfect opportunity to talk to her because this moment would be imprinted on her memory.  She’d always, ALWAYS, remember this exact moment in her life.  He would too, truth be told.  That had been a lot easier than Jon thought it would be, but…there was still time for her to change her mind, his next step was making sure she didn’t do that.  All it would take was her letting her mind spin her around, overwhelm her with fear, and they’d be back to square one.

 

He was operating on a serious time limit.

 

Chapter 8

 

Sure enough, the next day Maxlyn was pacing a hole in the floor of her room, not believing what she agreed to do. “What the hell am I doing?!  I’ve completely lost my damn mind!!  Shit!”

 

Jon had been so understanding and incredible last night while she laid her soul bare to him.  She’d gotten caught up in the whirlwind of the moment, the stars and comet, the fresh air…it messed with her mind.  Admitting she wanted to see the world…that wasn’t a lie, but it was also a declaration she planned on NEVER revealing to anyone.  Now here she was, the clock was ticking, she had said she would go with him, and that fear was making her insides quake.  Maxlyn had to tell the facility she was leaving in three days, but she hadn’t done it yet, looking down at her trembling hands.

 

“Fuck!”

 

“What’s wrong, Maxlyn?” Sue asked, coming in with fresh bedding.

 

Was it her job to be doing this?  No, that was what housekeeping was for, but unfortunately, they were starting to have a staff shortage, so everyone was having to help with the slack.  Admittedly, she would have done this anyway, wanting to see and speak with Maxlyn because Jon had told her what had happened last night.  She wouldn’t say anything just yet; she wanted Maxlyn to feel comfortable coming to her directly.  Sue set the bedding on the nightstand, frowning at Maxlyn’s shaking hands and walked over to gently take them in her own.

 

“Not getting sick, are you?”

 

“I-I think I’m having a p-panic attack…” Maxlyn mumbled in a shaky voice, squeezing Sue’s hands and the waterfall of tears poured down her cheeks, her heart hammering in her chest.  Was she really going to do this? 

 

Sue sat her down on the bed and ordered her to breathe, immediately going to retrieve a paper bag. “Slow, deep breaths, Maxlyn.”

 

Nodding, Maxlyn did as she was told and breathed in slowly and then out, the sound shaky while the tears kept flowing.  Once she felt she could talk without stammering like a fool, Maxlyn slowly pulled the bag away and asked Sue to sit with her for a minute.  Sue wrapped an arm around her shoulders and listened as Maxlyn told her everything that happened with Jon, thankful the door was closed.  It was just them and she trusted Sue above anyone else in the facility.

 

“I-I know I can’t stay here forever, but…fuck, I’m terrified to do this.  What if…everything falls apart and I wind up in a worse predicament?!” The bag went right back over her mouth as she began to breathe in and out slowly again.

 

“Honey, why on earth would you wind up in a worse predicament?” Sue asked gently, beginning to stroke Maxlyn’s hair in what was meant to be a soothing manner. “Maxlyn, you have money, you don’t need to fight to survive, and you’ve been sober for a long time now.  I don’t think you’re going to fall back into it, not with everything you’re so afraid of.” Not to mention, she thought Maxlyn and Jon were good for each other and would probably keep each other on the straight and narrow. “You and Jon will have each other, which is important, having someone on the outside who is there for you.”

 

“B-But that’s just it!  W-What if he…gets sick of me and wants nothing to do with me?” She was scared of being abandoned, of being alone, even after he said she didn’t have to do this by herself. “I-I told him everything, Sue, EVERYTHING.  I didn’t hold anything back.  And he still…” Lord, Maxlyn had to get a hold of herself and take several deep breaths before she wound up having an actual cardiac arrest. “He still wants me to go with him, to leave here with him.  A-Am I ready for that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You gave that zero thought.”

 

“I’ve actually been hoping he’d be the one to pull you out of the slump you’ve been in since arriving here.”

 

Maxlyn put her head in her hands, gripping her hair slightly. “I’m a fucking mess.” Slowly, she looked up after a few minutes and wiped her tears away, letting out another shaky breath. “But as scared as I am, I’m also excited.  It’s a very strange feeling.”

 

“Honey, you’ve been living in safety and security here for a year, it’s time to get back out there.  The world is a beautiful, terrifying, wonderful place and it’s never going to be perfect.” Sue said gently, knowing Maxlyn was running out of time here, especially with the staffing issue.  They were going to have to downsize, so priority could be on the patients who actually needed them, not the ones that were hiding. “Wherever you’ve been and whatever you’ve done, that life is behind you.  You’re in charge of what comes next, you got to believe that.”

 

All Maxlyn could do was nod, warning Sue that she would probably experience a few more panic attacks in the few days left to come.

 

~!~

 

This was it. 

 

Her eyes opened and Maxlyn stared at the ceiling, not believing the day had arrived.  Everything was set.  Paperwork was filled out.  Her belongings, what little she had, were packed up in a single box.  Today she was leaving the facility with Jonathan Good…and she was a jumble of nerves.  Sleep evaded her until she finally managed to fall out in the early morning hours.  Swallowing hard, Maxlyn pushed herself up and looked around the room, taking a deep breath to slow her racing heart.  It was already racing and she hadn’t even left yet! 

 

Standing, she walked over and grabbed her clothes…day clothes…normal clothes…for the first time.  Sue was an angel and had gone out to buy her a farewell gift, which was a brand new outfit.  It wasn’t anything fancy, just blue jeans and a red short sleeved shirt, new socks, and even a pair of new tennis shoes.  Slowly, Maxlyn dressed in the clothes and felt weird, folding up the facility outfit she had to wear for the past year.  It wasn’t her only one, but the one she had slept in her final night here.  It was going with her.

 

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

 

Jon was THRILLED to be getting out of here.  He knew there would be a lot of temptation on the road; there always was, but he was pretty confident he’d be able to overcome it.  Having Maxlyn would definitely help keep him on that straight and narrow because he had to think of her too.  It was weird, having someone who depended on him to help them and vice versa.  He supposed that was another good thing to come out of this entire rehabilitation thing – Her.  She had taken a chance on him and he was returning that with interest.  Also…he liked her, maybe more than he was willing to admit.

 

“Ahh…MY clothes…”

 

Even after she was dressed, Maxlyn was having a hard time opening that door to step out of it, trying to talk herself down.  No panic attacks, not today!  Jon kept reassuring her over the past three days he would not abandon her and he was here for her completely.  Everything would be fine.  The look in his beautiful pale blues spoke volumes and Maxlyn found herself believing every word he said.

 

“Believe in me, Max.”

 

She had nodded and tried to keep that in the forefront of her mind every time a new panic attack tried to surface, her fear trying to take over.  Reaching over, Maxlyn put her hand on the door handle and pushed it down before pulling the door open, feeling a wave of different emotions flood over her the moment she was in the hallway, the door closing behind her.

 

Jon was so much more comfortable out of those weird pajamas they all wore here, in a pair of his blue jeans and a t-shirt that fit a little better then when he had arrived.  He had trimmed off the fat while in here and it was amazing how much alcohol had altered his body and his thinking.  Everything felt clearer and less bogged down.  He was whistling, his bag over his shoulder as he headed towards Maxlyn’s room.  They’d take an Uber to the airport and head straight to Vegas.  Jon had contacted his friends, his dog had been cared for, bills paid, all of it, and the place was ready for THEM to come home too.  All the alcohol had been removed, thankfully.

 

“Hey, dollface.” He realized she was also in street clothes and did a double take, she looked…delicious in a pair of jeans.

 

Hearing his voice, Maxlyn turned her head and felt the breath temporarily leave her body.  Or maybe her heart skipped a beat.  Or maybe she stopped breathing all together.  Or maybe all three combined.  She actually stepped back to press against her door at the sight of him. Holy crow… This man had transformed from simple clothing and looked positively drop dead gorgeous.  Those jeans fit him like a second skin and she admitted right now, the jeans were SO much better than those pajama uniform pants.  Maxlyn knew he had a body, but she had NO idea how amazing Jon would look in regular clothing. BREATHE DAMN IT! “Hi.” She breathed out, clearing her throat and took a step towards him. “M-My stuff is already by the front door.” Including a duffel bag that had a lock on it and full of cash she’d kept in her beater car, which no longer ran.  Sitting for a year hadn’t done the vehicle any favors.  A box and a duffle bag, that was it. “It’s weird being in jeans again…”

 

So, in a pair of pants that actually showed off that delicious figure, she had a backside he could easily admire every day.  Jon knew better than to do that though, not when she was already terrified of what was going on and what she was about to do.  All good things came in time and he had to remind himself he wasn’t doing this to date her.  He didn’t date people who might be borderline crazy, which was why he had never settled down.  He was borderline himself.

 

“I think it’s comfortable.” Jon laughed, also a shorts kind of guy, and not the denim ones either. “Are you ready to check out and leave this place, dollface?” His tone gentled as he moved to stand beside her, peering into her face.  Maxlyn looked pale and peaky; he knew today was a big deal for her. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

 

She took his hand and squeezed it, those eyes of his once again entrancing her. “I trust you, Jon.  Let’s go.  Together.”

 

He grinned down at her and she cracked a smile in return before they headed down the hallway through the exit doors.  Sue was waiting for them and Maxlyn immediately hugged her, followed by Jon, thanking her for everything she did.  Sue kissed her forehead, wishing her well, and just then an Uber pulled up in front of the facility and Maxlyn knew there was no turning back.

 

I’m doing this, I’m really doing this.  Holy shit, I’m doing this!

 

Carrying her own duffel bag, while Jon had his own, Maxlyn grabbed her box before putting it in the trunk of the Uber.  The driver opened the door for them and Maxlyn looked back at Sue, who encouraged her and she nodded in return before sliding into the backseat, followed by Jon, the door closing moments later with the Uber driving away.  Jon hadn’t thought about the upcoming flight until now; he had probably said something about it to her, maybe, he wasn’t sure.  He had been so concerned with actually getting her OUT of this place, he may not have completely covered the logistics with her.  Maxlyn only knew he flew a lot, traveled a LOT, because it was part of the wrestling gig.  Maybe he had just assumed she would reach that conclusion – the flying part – herself.  He was grinning, just glad to be out of that place, and reached out to touch the top of her head, drawing her gaze from the window.

 

“You ready for this, darlin’?  The new start?”

 

“I don’t know…maybe?” She smiled tentatively at him, the fear and uncertainty shimmering in her brown eyes. “I’m in the cab – Uber – so that’s step one, right?” He nodded, that grin never leaving his handsome face. “Step two is…what again?” Her eyes widened when Jon informed her they were on their way to the airport to fly to Vegas.  Oh god…they weren’t driving there?  That had been her assumption and now…now the nerves were REALLY setting in. I can’t do this!  I’ve never been on a fucking plane!!  Don’t freak out, don’t freak out, DON’T FREAK OUT!! “Um Jon?  I – uh – I probably should’ve mentioned this sooner, but…I’ve never…flown before…” Holy hell, she congratulated herself for keeping her voice steady and calm.

 

Why wasn’t he surprised?  Jon frowned for a moment, seeing that she was struggling to keep her face calm, but those beautiful brown orbs were in panic mode.  Before rehabilitation, Jon would have legitimately offered her a drink, a sedative, or something.  A lot of people needed something to calm their nerves before a flight.  He also knew if she lost it at the airport, she’d wind up traumatized because TSA would assume she was crazy and go to town on her.  Maxlyn would wind up in jail or a psychiatric floor.

 

“We can rent a car and drive, it’s not that bad a drive from here.” He offered, wanting her to be comfortable and their first day ‘out’ to not wind up terrible.

 

This man traveled everywhere, including overseas, and for some reason Maxlyn didn’t think about the flying aspect…until now.  Then again, she had DAYS, just DAYS, to come to terms with leaving the facility with him. “No, no.” She shook her head, knowing she would have to suck it up and get used to flying. “If I’m going to be traveling with you, I need to get used to the planes.  I’m going to be okay, I can do this, Jon.” I have to do this. “I promise…” She never once released his hand, feeling more secure and safe holding it for some reason. “I told you I trust you and I meant it, so you lead the way and I will follow.”

 

Obviously, they were going to have to get her a passport and all that, but with the restrictions in various countries right now, he doubted they’d be going overseas anytime soon.  No, for now, for the foreseeable future, he wouldn’t leave the states, not wanting to go anywhere she couldn’t. “Are you sure?” He asked once they turned down the road that led to the airport.  Maxlyn had never flown, she didn’t have a passport, and he hoped her ID would work. “I don’t mind driving, it would give us both a chance to get used to being on the outside again.  Not to mention, the scenery.”

 

Jon made a very good point and, honestly, Maxlyn needed to take baby steps with this situation. “Are you sure that’s okay?  I don’t want you changing your schedule around because of me…” He nodded his head, squeezing her hand and that familiar warmth spread throughout her body at the pure understanding and certitude in his eyes. “I have to admit, riding in a car instead of being on a plane sounds a lot better.  I know I’ll have to fly eventually, but…if we can drive, I’d much rather do that.” She blinked when Jon ordered the driver to head to the nearest car rental place instead of the airport, winking down at her. “Thank you.”

 

“No worries, I still have time off and don’t have to go back this week.” He was told to take as much time as he needed.  Obviously, he didn’t get paid, but he wasn’t being pressured to return until his health both physically and mentally was one hundred percent.  It was nice, knowing that he wouldn’t be coerced to work while injured and not fully prepared. “You know, once we hit a nice, lonely stretch, if you wanted to drive…” Because it had been a minute since she had been behind the wheel and he definitely preferred to NOT be in a car accident in a city while she got her bearings back. “You know the way to Vegas from here?”

 

“Not really, but I can definitely follow a GPS.  Google Maps.” She held her Android up to wave it at him and he nodded, letting her know that was fine. 

 

It wouldn’t be that hard to follow the GPS and she wouldn’t mind driving.  It’d been a year, but one never really forgot how to drive just like one never forgot to ride a bicycle.  They arrived at the car rental place a half an hour later and they ended up with an Equinox, which was big enough for Jon to be comfortable in for the drive from Arizona to Nevada.  Now that they were completely alone, Maxlyn started relaxing a lot more as she slid in the passenger seat while Jon was behind the wheel, adjusting the seat and settings.  Within minutes, they were on the road and headed towards Vegas – towards home.

 

Chapter 9

 

Now, the way Maxlyn had said it, she had absolutely nothing waiting for her on the outside.  No family, no friends, no house, nothing.  Jon imagined she had a bank account and that was about it.  Now, if anything did pop out of the woodwork or she did ‘have’ them all of a sudden, he would support whatever she wanted, as long as it wasn’t leading back down that bad road she talked about.  As it was, he was thinking about his place being theirs already and finding her a job or something to pass the time once she got settled.  It wasn’t until they were a few hours into their drive that he realized he had been sort of planning out their future, hearing the brakes squealing in his head as he stopped that train of thought immediately.

 

“Hey, you can hook your Bluetooth to the car if you want to hear some music.”

 

That was why she’d been so terrified to do this with him.  Maxlyn had nothing.  Her bank account, the box and duffel bag in the back was it.  No home, no job, nothing.  So in her mind, Jon had invited her to travel with him, which meant she would be staying with him at his home in Vegas.  He told her to trust and believe in him, so she was doing her best to do exactly that and could only hope he didn’t abandon her.

 

“Hmm?  The radio is fine, this station is actually really good that you picked.” The Equinox had satellite radio and it was awesome because there were almost zero commercials.  Just one song right after another.  Maxlyn was soaking it all in, just listening because it’d been a year since she heard any kind of music. 

 

Maxlyn didn’t NEED to work.  She had to disclose her finances when she was admitted because the place obviously needed paid, and he may or may not have done something shady, like peeked.  Jon knew now that it was ingrained in her that she had to ‘work’ to survive, but she didn’t.  Maxlyn was comfortable.  His job, so to speak, the task he had given himself, was to get her to that place where she realized she was safe and no longer had to do anything at all, unless she WANTED too.  After another few hours, he pulled over to stretch, fill the Equinox with gas, and he was famished.

 

“You wanna drive after we eat?” He asked, offering her the key as they both walked around the front of the car.  He smiled when he seen her stretching as well as soaking up that beautiful sunshine.  Give him time and she’d have a healthy glow on that gorgeous face.

 

“Sure, if…” Maxlyn had to stop herself, knowing she had to start making decisions for herself instead of doing whatever Jon wanted to do.  That was part of her freedom and he had talked to her about this a few times. “I mean yes, yes I’ll drive.” She took the key from him after stretching, taking another bite out of the delicious chicken sandwich she’d gotten from the truck stop they were currently at. “It really is beautiful out here.  Driving to Vegas was a great idea.  Did you want to drive straight through or stop for the night to get a room to rest?”

 

“I don’t mind either way.” It was an honest answer and Jon realized that she hadn’t driven or been in a car for a year, himself for a few months, and he knew better than anyone that traveling was exhausting.  Add in not doing this in months, or a year, and it went beyond exhausting. “I already let my buddy know I probably won’t be in until tomorrow, so we have time.  Would you be comfortable driving through the night or…No, it’d probably be better to drive a bit more and then stop for the night.  I know some nice places on this route that are safe.” He also knew where some shady as hell places were too and would avoid those.

 

Slipping behind the wheel of the car, Maxlyn blinked at how far back the seat was and had to adjust it…a lot.  She hoped Jon didn’t mind her doing this, but there was no way her feet would reach the gas peddles.  He was as long taller than she was.  Once she was settled in and adjusted, including the mirrors, Maxlyn buckled up and fired up the ignition, praying she did indeed remember how to do this.  The car was in drive moments later and just as she thought, it wasn’t forgotten.  The longer she drove, the more relaxed she felt and Maxlyn enjoyed the cruise control and the fact the traffic wasn’t congested.  Nightfall arrived and she kept driving along, looking over at a sleeping, snoring Jon with a smile on her face.  No, they weren’t stopping any time soon and he could sleep while she kept driving, rather enjoying herself.

 

She couldn’t drive if she couldn’t reach the pedals.  Jon was a big man and he knew it.  His house sort of reflected that as well given he was 6‘4’ and ducking under doors wasn’t something he enjoyed doing; he had a tendency to bash his head in the process.  So, high ceilings, tall and wide doors, sturdy and large furniture and a California king sized bed in not only his room, but the few guest rooms too.  Maxlyn would feel like a midget in his house, he already knew it.  Having no idea what time it was when he woke up and it was still nighttime out, Jon had to blink a few times, realizing he wasn’t at the rehabilitation center.

 

“Sorry, darlin’…” He grunted, shifting in his seat.

 

“Good morning, we just crossed into Nevada.” He slept the entire night, though the sun was just about to rise over the horizon.  It was still dark, but the light was just barely visible. “I know you wanted to stop for the night to rest, but you fell asleep and I wasn’t sleeping, so I just drove right on through.  We need to stop for gas again though.  I stopped about four hours back while you slept.” Maxlyn informed him, on her fourth cup of coffee, and she had even bought it herself without any assistance. “I bought some donuts if you want some and some more drinks too.  We’re about…” A quick glance at the GPS told her the timeframe before they arrived. “Five or six hours away from your house, if this GPS is right.”

 

“Probably.” Jon scrubbed a hand down his face, knowing they needed to pull over and switch out, also…he had to piss like a racehorse on steroids. “There should be a rest stop about twenty minutes down the road.” He yawned into his hand and instantly regretted it, morning breath after not brushing his teeth was disgusting.  He couldn’t believe he had done that with ALCOHOL, wrinkling his nose. “We can switch out there and stretch, I bet you’re tired.” Maybe, she looked pretty pleased with herself and it made him smile, seeing Maxlyn looking happy.  However, he realized how much caffeine she had ingested and hoped that didn’t backfire on her.

 

“Good because, as much caffeine as I’ve had, I know I’m gonna crash soon.” She smiled apologetically back at him and he winked at her in return, taking her free hand to squeeze it gently. “I’m okay, Jon, really.  One step at a time like you said, right?” He nodded, sitting up a little more in the seat and began chomping down on one of those delicious donuts. 

 

Before long, a truck stop came into view and Maxlyn pulled into it, parking the car on the side.  She stepped out and groaned at how sore she was, cracking her back when she stretched her limbs in the air.  Jon made a BEELINE for the bathroom and, honestly, she needed to empty her coffee filled bladder too.  Jon had to PISS and was moderately concerned with how long he took, finally sighing in relief when he was finished.  Afterwards, he browsed the vending machines, eyeballing the expensive toothbrush combinations and shrugged, getting himself one because he was just that lazy to go back to the car to retrieve the one he had from his bag.  Once his scummy teeth had been brushed, he ambled out into the morning sunshine, stretching his arms over his head with a grin. 

 

Nevada.  Home wasn’t too far off and Jon wouldn’t be surprised at all if Maxlyn slept the rest of the drive. “You feel better?” He asked when she finally joined him, after handling her own business.  Obviously, she hadn’t had a panic attack or anything.

 

“Oh yeah, note to self: Do not consume five cups of coffee while driving because your bladder might explode.” Jon burst out laughing and Maxlyn’s eyes twinkled back at him, joining in the laughter a few seconds later. “How about you, feel better?” Jon nodded, closing the distance between them and dropped a kiss on her forehead, making her smile up at him. “I’m actually excited about this, seeing your house and where you live, and your dog.  Blue is his name, right?” Another nod and she handed him the keys, stifling a yawn in the process before looking out at the sky, the sunrise taking her breath away. “Wow, Jon, look.”

 

“Yeah, that goes without say, darlin’. He laughed at her coffee remark, shaking his head.  Jon couldn’t say anything because he had done the energy drink route more than once when he was pressed for time between shows.  Coming down from that stuff was almost as bad as alcohol, or at least it felt like it, what with the headaches and crashing. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?  I’ve seen it out in the Red Rocks so many times and it’s always…amazing.” It was beyond remarkable and he imagined, for her, it was practically a spiritual thing given her year in a rehabilitation facility.

 

Once they watched the sunrise, it was time to get back on the road again.  Maxlyn bunched up Jon’s sweater to use as a pillow and curled up in the seat, after putting it down, snuggling against it.  He smelled so good and she couldn’t quite pinpoint his scent, but it was soothing and relaxed her.  In no time, she was fast asleep with her hand right next to his, her breathing even.  Strays of caramel hair fell into her face and she didn’t feel Jon brush them away with his fingers, tucking it behind her ear.  She didn’t snore either, just breathed in and out and looked the most peaceful he’d ever seen her, like an angel.  There would be good times like now and there would be bad times, but hopefully with Jon, the good would far outweigh the bad moving forward.

 

Jon kept it down while driving, playing classic rock and singing along softly.  He figured with as deeply as she was sleeping, it would take an accident or three to wake her up.  Driving had been the way to go; it gave her time to mentally sort out the changes in her situation, as well as start adjusting to being outside the safety of the center’s walls.  By the time they rolled up his driveway, she was beginning to stir and he was grinning, seeing his truck in the driveway.  He had shot his friend a text about an hour ago, so the house was vacated and Blue was waiting there for him.

 

“Hey darlin’, we’re here.”

 

“Hmm?” Her soft brown eyes slowly fluttered open at the sound of Jon’s voice and it took her a minute to get her vision to come into focus. “Where…?”

 

Her eyes SHOT open when a very LARGE dog came barreling right at Jon, making her bolt upright in the seat.  That’s right, she was with Jon and she wasn’t at the rehabilitation center anymore.  Blue was a HUGE English bulldog with glittering blue eyes and currently trying to suck face with his owner.  It was actually cute to see Jon laughing as the dog kept jumping on him to lick his face.  Slowly, she stepped out of the car and the dog immediately made a beeline for her with Jon hot on his trail.  It was too late and she let out a small yelp as the dog launched at her, landing Maxlyn right on her backside on the driveway with a thud.

 

“Aw hell!” Blue didn’t know her and was sniffing her, growling and barking excitedly, unsure if she were friend or foe.  Jon began laughing when Blue finally turned and launched at him again, having already cleaned a bunch of slobber off his face.  He dropped to a knee right there in driveway, catching his bulldog with another laugh. “I missed you too, Blue!” He wasn’t embarrassed to get down with his dog in the dirt or talk to the animal like it understood him plainly because to Jon, he did. “Your ass okay, dollface?” He asked, keeping Blue from any more sucking face as he tried looking over the excited mutt at Maxlyn.

 

“Y-Yeah…yeah I’m fine.”

 

That dog was HYPER and very happy to see his owner, but she hadn’t moved to pet him or anything, not wanting her throat ripped out.  She had just stayed put on the driveway until Jon managed to get his attention again.  Slowly, she pulled herself up to dust off her jeans and turned to look at the house, her eyes nearly falling out of her head.  It was…definitely a lot bigger than she thought it would be.  Not a mansion, but a good size house, nevertheless.  And it was beautiful as she admired the landscaping, the huge yard and the porch as well.  This was Jon’s life…and she was invading it, turning it upside down with her presence. 

 

This man was WAY out of her league and Maxlyn was out of her depth here. I don’t belong here.  What the hell am I doing?!

 

Jon had told her all about Blue, how he was hyper at times, at other’s he was the laziest damn dog in the world, all of it. Blue was his baby, or as close to a baby as he planned in the foreseeable future. “I know, it’s huge, right?” Jon followed her stare once he had joined her again, looking over his shoulder to see what she was frowning at. “But, darlin’, I’m pretty big myself.” She was probably used to his size right now; he had felt like a giant at the rehabilitation center, even with some of the things intended for athletes who were on the larger size. “I promise, it’s not that bad.” He was now moving to get their belongings from the car.

 

All Maxlyn could do was nod and followed Jon inside the house, with Blue right on his heels, refusing to leave his side for a second.  He took her hand while having their belongings in the other, showcasing his strength and stepped through the door, shooing Blue away.  Looking around the house, Maxlyn couldn’t move for a few minutes and just looked around, taking in the surroundings.  It was breathtaking on the inside, decked out in warm browns, tans, oranges, reds…without realizing it, it was the same colors as the Red Rocks.  It wasn’t TOO over the top though and it really fit Jon. 

 

Jon left the bags by the door and took her hand, jolting her out of her thoughts to look up at him and she smiled, nodding when he asked if she wanted the grand tour. “This is a beautiful house, Jon.”

 

“Thank you, darlin’.”

 

Jon had grown up poor, so…this had been his dream home, once he got over the whole ‘need a mansion and fifty cars’ idea as soon as he had some money in his pocket.  That had been a fleeting dream and he gathered it was usual for people to have that, wild streaks going on in their head and the ‘dreams’ of grandeur.  Jon had learned to sit on his money and then, as he got older, he realized what he really wanted.  Now, he had it.  It was a beautiful house, but more importantly, it was LIVED in and anyone could tell, at least usually.  Obviously, being gone a few months meant his mess had been cleaned.

 

“Want the tour?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The house was very open and spacious, an open-floor plan, so whatever was going on in the kitchen could be seen from the living room with the dining room in the middle of them.  Jon also had a game room with a foosball table and air hockey, both vintage and classic.  She giggled as he told her, in a serious voice, how much he longed to get a pinball machine in here, along with some other vintage games.  He also had a record player with vinyl’s and a bar as well, which wasn’t stocked anymore.  His friend had gotten rid of all the alcohol in the house, pouring it all down the sink.  Maxlyn squeezed his hand to let him know everything was all right, giving him support like he’d done to her.

 

Chapter 10

 

They continued on with the tour, not at all surprised to find Jon also had his very own workout gym.  What she loved most about the house, however, was the kitchen.  It was HUGE with two stoves, two ovens, two sinks…it was basically two kitchens in one, along with an island.  Jon lead her to the patio sliding glass door and they stepped out, her eyes widening at the outdoor living room in front of her.  That was only way to describe it.  There was furniture and a table with a fireplace on top of it in the middle with the chairs and couches surrounding it.  Blue went bolting in the backyard, which was massive as well and the landscaping was amazing.  Back inside, Jon finally lead her down the corridor to the opposite side of the house, where the bedrooms were located. 

 

It was a ranch house, so there were no stairs, but he did have a basement.  Jon grabbed the bags on the way and showed her the room she’d be staying in, which was a standard guest room that had a balcony seat and window.  He picked this room specifically for her, so she could sit there and look outside if she wanted to and keep the window open.  The bedding was white, the furniture wood and she had her own television and closet as well.  The house itself had four bedrooms, but only the master bedroom, his room, had a bathroom and then there were two other standard bathrooms, one on each side of the house.  Jon had not been lying to her when he said there was plenty of room as his house and a bedroom with her name on it.

 

Jon had requested the bar be emptied while he was gone.  He wasn’t sure what he’d do with that area now, maybe put in a juice bar or something.  He’d probably have it removed all together and just plop a couch or something there, a nap area.  He grinned at the thought as he continued on with the tour. “So, I know it seems like a lot, given where you’ve been living, but it’s not.” It was manageable, he didn’t have to hire people to come do things for him and he never felt like it was overly big. “Or at least, I don’t think so…so, are you going to be okay here?  Do you think?”

 

“You kept your word.  You weren’t lying to me about any of this.  T-This is more than okay, Jon.  T-This is…I mean I thought…” Maxlyn was overwhelmed with emotion because she honestly thought he’d leave her high and dry, that he wouldn’t take care of her.  Her breathing hitched in her throat as she tried in vain to keep the tears at bay, but one blink and they were flowing down her cheeks.  He immediately pulled her gently into his arms as her face buried in his chest, soaking through the shirt he had on and felt his arms wrap around her, his hand gently resting on the back of her head. Trust in me. Those words just made her cry harder because she did…she trusted Jon with everything inside of her and that trust was building now that he’d actually brought her home, just like he said he would. “I-I’m okay, I-I’m definitely okay here…”

 

“You thought I was talking out of my ass?” He chuckled softly, nodding in understanding.  He had felt the same way before, like people were building themselves up and then the reality didn’t match what had been said. “That I wouldn’t bring you, that I may live in a hovel?  Well, I DID bring you here, you can stay for as long as you want, and it’s not the Ritz, but it’s better than the rehab center.” Jon dropped a kiss on the top of her head, using his thumbs to wipe away her tears when she finally raised her face out of his chest. “Sometimes, I may screw up, but I’m a man of my word.  You’ll always be safe with me and I will never lie to you, Maxlyn.”

 

“Y-You’re the only person I have in my life that actually cares about me and what happens to me, Jon.  And I do trust you, now more than ever.” Now that she knew he wasn’t full of malarky and he did keep his word.  He was a man of honor and that made her smile while he continued wiping her tears away. “Thank you…and sorry about your shirt and having a meltdown on you…again.” This was a lot to take in, a lot to absorb, so there would be a few more meltdowns in the coming days.  Slowly, they would taper off the longer Maxlyn was out of that rehabilitation center and actually started living life the way it was supposed to be lived. “When do you go back on the road with our company to wrestle?”

 

He shrugged, leading the way out of her room and back to the main areas, heading straight for the fridge to rifle in it.  Pulling out two bottles of water, Jon slid one across the counter towards her. “Whenever I feel like it.  I don’t get paid obviously, but they’re not rushing to get me back in that ring unless I’m one hundred percent across the board.” The difference in companies was amazing, it really had put a lot into perspective for him.  He wasn’t hurting for money either, so that helped. “I’m not going back just yet, darlin’.  I want to get us both settled back into a normal life.” Baby steps, especially for her.

 

That made a wave of relief flood over her because Maxlyn wasn’t ready to handle all of this by herself.  However, if Jon wanted to go back on the road to wrestle, she would not stop him or stand in his way. “You’ll know when the time is right to go back.” Cracking open the water, she took a swig of it and felt someone nudge her leg, looking down at Blue. “You were right about your dog, he is very handsome.” Jon grinned, nodding in agreement and she went to pet Blue, but the dog pulled away to walk around to nudge Jon. “He must’ve really missed you while you were gone.”

 

“Yeah, he’s been my best friend since the day I got him.” Jon chuckled, knowing that Blue was going to be up his backside for a while, which was only natural. 

 

All his buddy had known was that Daddy was gone and gone for a long time.  Jon had asked the center about being able to Facetime his dog and to their credit, they hadn’t laughed in his face when they had gently informed him he could not.  Crouching down to be eyelevel with Blue, Jon groaned when he instantly got slobbered on by hearty ‘kisses’ to the face.

 

“I did NOT miss your breath!”

 

Maxlyn laughed, remembering Jon telling her that story about asking the center for facetiming abilities with his dog.  That was hilarious and she had spent a good half an hour laughing at him.  That was after finding out he had a dog.  Jon boasted about Blue a lot and at first, she thought it was his son.  In a way, that was exactly what Blue was to Jon – his son.  Maxlyn didn’t dare ask him about his family or if he had children of his own, a girlfriend, nothing like that because it wasn’t her business.  Jon would never see her as anything more than his rehab friend he was helping and she accepted that.

 

“I’m gonna go unpack my things while you two get reacquainted.” She winked at him while Blue kept pawing at him and headed back to the room he gave her, the smile not leaving her face.

 

Jon would not have brought another woman home if he had a girlfriend or a wife, anything of that nature.  That was begging for trouble and Jon did not have the best track record when it came to women anyway.  Even he knew not to be bringing other women home if there was already one there.  He had no kids, not with his job, so it was just him and Blue.

 

“All right, I’m gonna see what I have for groceries.” He should’ve been stocked and he was famished, definitely grateful that he would be in charge of his meals again and not that facility. “Just shout if you need me, darlin’.”

 

“Will do!”

 

~!~

 

It’d been two weeks since they arrived at Jon’s home in Vegas and so far, Maxlyn loved it here.  Blue had started warming up to her and Jon was very attentive, making sure to never leave her alone, but also giving her space when he knew she needed it.  It was almost like he had a radar or something.  Whenever she started to feel down or guilty, he was there to pick her up, suggesting to watch a movie or go outside for a walk with Blue, anything that popped into his head.  Working out had also become an everyday occurrence with Jon and she knew he was trying to get back in shape to wrestle again.  Truthfully, she didn’t want him to go back on the road, but she would never say that to him, so whenever Jon asked her to do something with him, she did not turn him down, knowing her time with him would eventually have to come to an end.  And that terrified her because it meant she would be alone again.

 

Currently, she was outside in a tank top and capris, digging at the ground to plant the flowers they’d bought at the store earlier that morning.  Maxlyn made some kind of comment about how desolate his backyard looked, so Jon decided to rectify that and together, they picked out some plants and flowers to put in the backyard to spruce it up a bit.  Her hair was piled on top of her head and the sun was beating down, but it wasn’t scorching hot and she had a hat on as well, a visor, to protect her face.

 

“Okay, this row is done, I think…”

 

Jon would never, ever forget what she had done for him, a total stranger.  He had pieced together Maxlyn’s story from what she had willingly told him and then from Sue, along with the other nurses he had been able to sweet talk.  Then she had basically confirmed everything and told him a lot that night of the comet.  Maxlyn had helped a total stranger go through detoxification even with her issues involving men and he never, EVER forgot something like that.  She was basically stuck with him in some capacity for the rest of their lives, however long they had left.  It was still morning, or else they wouldn’t be out here.  Jon remembered his first time planting in the afternoon in Vegas, that had been a bad idea all the way around.

 

“It is and it looks good, dollface.” Jon was shirtless, working on reviving his long lost tan. “Just one more and we’re done.”

 

This man was shirtless A LOT.  Jon did not like wearing shirts, even in the house in the AC.  Maxlyn didn’t question him on it and had to admit, she found herself ogling him a time or two whenever he wasn’t paying attention.  And now here he was again, sweat coating his upper body and she found herself looking at him, nodding when his eyes locked with hers.

 

“I don’t know about you, but I really could use a shower after this or a dip in the pool.”

 

Jon did have a pool that had been on the side of the house with its own deck wrapped around it.  He also had a hot tub and preferred that over the pool, whereas she enjoyed the pool.  Digging more in the ground with her shovel, Maxlyn wiped the sweat from her brow and kept working alongside Jon.  T-shirts were constricting for a man of his size and, to be honest, after living in the Midwest through some hellacious winters and horrible weather, Jon preferred to soak up the sunshine.  With sunblock because he wasn’t about to get skin cancer and the Vegas hot sun was more lethal than in the Midwest.

 

“A dip in the pool sounds like awesome.” It was that warm, even in late November, and he would prefer doing that before a shower, what with the chlorine and all.  The pool was also heated, so it always stayed at a specific comfortable temperature. “You got a swimsuit, darlin’?” Jon wasn’t entirely sure what all she had when she’d gone into rehabilitation and he didn’t overly pay attention to the clothing she bought, just voicing his thoughts if he was asked.  Maxlyn was regaining that independence and reliance on herself, even for basic decisions and he found himself loving to see it.

 

“Yeah, when we went to the store the other day and you convinced me to pick out some more clothes, I figured I better get a bathing suit.”

 

It wasn’t anything special, a red and black one piece because she did not want to show off anymore of her body than necessary.  There was a keyhole type design in the back, but other than that, it was simple.  Maxlyn enjoyed the simpler things in life now that she was actually living it, thanks to Jon.  He nodded at her with a grin and she smiled back at him in return, not able to stop herself from doing it.  She was…happy, for the first time in her adult life.

 

It was easy, being happy and feeling safe here because they were still secluded.  They had gone to the store, that sort of thing, but Jon was purposefully keeping the interaction with the outside world at a minimum while she adjusted to life outside the facility.  Not to mention, he was selfish.  The more Maxlyn came out of her shell, the more he wasn’t inclined to share her with the world.

 

“Okay,” Jon wiped his hands off on his knees, surveying their work and nodded, smiling when she began lightly watering their fresh transplants, gently and on the dirt near the stem, since splash back tended to fry leaves beneath the hot sun. “Swimming, darlin’?”

 

They really were beautiful and Maxlyn nodded while finishing up the watering, knowing she’d have to come out here daily to do it.  That was fine by her.  This was something simple for her to do and keep an eye, some kind of goal. “I’ll meet you there.”

 

Heading inside, Maxlyn went to her room and closed the door, pulling out her bathing suit from her dresser drawer.  This would be the first time Jon saw her in a bathing suit and it made her nervous.  Why?  She knew the answer as soon as the question popped into her head.  It would show off a lot of her body, even being a one piece.  Her legs, arms, some of her back and upper chest…it would all be exposed to him.  Swallowing hard, Maxlyn had to fight back the temptation to cancel the swim and instead undressed, pulling the material on.  Looking in the full length mirror that was in the bedroom, she took another shaky breath and let her hair down from the messy bun it was in, letting the caramel waves flow down her back and over her shoulders.

 

“This is so stupid to be nervous about.  I need to get a grip.” Maxlyn muttered, grabbing a towel from the bathroom and wrapped it around herself on her way out to the pool, sunblock in her hand.

 

Naturally, Jon was very aware of the predicament they were about to be in.  She was already a stunningly beautiful woman with a delicious body, a bit on the thin side, but delicious.  Even in the rehabilitation center’s uniform, she had been gorgeous, and she was healthier now, more sun-kissed and relaxed.  Her in a bathing suit of any kind, wet, was going to be hell for him.  Jon was only a man after all and it had been a fair few months since his last sexual encounter.  Normally, Jon would have rectified that situation, but…she was different, special, and introducing any type of physical relationship, given her history, would probably wind up sending her running for the hills.

 

“Damn…”

 

Chapter 11

 

Stepping outside, the heat was starting to intensify a little more as the day progressed.  She could feel it and headed towards the pool area, seeing Jon wasn’t out here yet. Maybe he changed his mind. It didn’t bother her if he did and eased her mind a little, truthfully. 

 

Slowly, Maxlyn pulled the towel from around her body and began spreading suntan lotion on her body, refusing to burn.  It was 100 SPF, the strongest one could get, and she did her arms, legs, upper body and face, smelling like cocoa butter.  Once she finished, she tossed the bottle on the nearby table and headed towards the water, shutting her eyes.  A second later, she sliced through the water, a firm believer in diving headfirst instead of dipping toes in.  Maxlyn wasn’t disappointed, the water felt absolutely amazing after working hard on the backyard all morning.

 

Either this was the best idea he had ever taken part in or the worse and Jon hadn’t quite decided yet.  He had walked out just as she launched herself into the pool, her body cutting through the initial splash with ease. “You have more balls than I do, darlin’!” He called out when she surfaced, watching as she began treading the deep end. “I have to baby step my ass into it.” He had never been fond of cold weather or cold water.  Jon grinned when Blue appeared by his side, wagging his tail and a second later, Blue had basically tossed himself in. “He’s a water boy.  Traitor.” Blue had doggy paddled happily straight to the beautiful lady while Jon began baby stepping into the water.

 

Maxlyn giggled softly, petting Blue behind the ears, one of his favorite spots she learned, and he licked her face in response while moving his legs. “You’re such a good boy, Blue.  Such a brave, beautiful boy.” She kissed the top of his head, laughing when he licked her again on her nose and her eyes went to Jon, shaking her head. “You know, that is the worst way to get into a pool, Jon.” She swam towards him, slowly out of the deep end with twinkling brown eyes. “Here, let me help you get used to it quicker.” She splashed him on the chest, making him hiss out and did it again, laughing. “Oh come on!  Just bite the bullet and jump in or I’ll keep splashing you!”

 

“You ever been tossed in the water, darlin’?” Because she was on the fast track to having her beautiful backside snatched up and sent flying.  She wouldn’t get hurt, but he bet she wouldn’t appreciate it either since it was a pretty big, deep pool. “Heckling a man is not the way to avoid going airborne…” As if daring him too, Maxlyn splashed him again, aiming for his face this time and Jon was completely in the water now.  He was by her in seconds, hoisting her laughing body up over his head. “Ready?  Better hold your breath, dollface.”

 

“Oh my god, Jon!” She screamed out just as he popped her body into the air and it crashed into the water a few seconds later, making sure to hold her breath like he instructed.  Blue was still having a blast in the water, paddling over to his master and Jon made sure not to hit his dog with that move.  Maxlyn surfaced a few seconds later, letting oxygen go back into her lungs and instead of being upset, she was laughing. “That was so great!  And look, you took the bait and you’re in the water, Moxley.” Splashing him for good measure, she was under the water instantly and swimming away from him.

 

Moxley, that was different, hearing her calling him by his wrestling name.  It was also amusing, her thinking he had ‘taken the bait’, when all he had been doing was making her smile.  He had warned her what he would do if she kept it up, so that was basically telegraphing – As good ol’ JR would say – his intentions.  Jon was such a schmuck sometimes, doing things he did just to make this woman smile.  Yawning, he rolled onto his back and began floating, closing his eyes while the sun baked him.

 

“Laugh it up, chuckles.”

 

Over the past two weeks, Jon had started watching AEW programming, one of the companies he wrestled for.  He claimed it was to ‘get a feel’ for what was happening in the company now.  Naturally, Maxlyn had watched as well, her curiosity boiling and she asked questions about it too.  Jon was a wrestling encyclopedia and knew everything there was to know about the sport, telling her what each move was when it was performed and who the wrestler was.  They had mentioned Jon Moxley on their programming coming back soon and when she asked who that was, he had a big grin on his face.

 

“The one and only, darlin’.”

 

“That’s you?  Jon Moxley is your wrestling name?”

 

“Yeah…you don’t like it?”

 

“Actually, it really fits you.  Moxley.” Then she started asking him how he came up with that name and Jon launched into the story about how some wrestling promotion, when he was 16 years old, had given it to him.  And it stuck all this time and was known worldwide now.  It was originally supposed to a character off a movie called the Varsity Blues, whose name was Jon Moxon.  However, the name had been misheard and Moxley was born from that from the promotion.

 

Maxlyn snapped out of her thoughts while floating in the water and wound up beside Jon, her eyes moving from him to the floats that were blown up on the deck. “I think this is probably my favorite part about your house, Jon.  This pool is amazing and I’m just sorry I didn’t use it sooner.”

 

“It probably would have helped if I had gotten it opened up sooner.”

 

Admittedly, Jon preferred the hot tub.  Actually, one of his more childish, favorite things to do was to run between the pair.  Soak in the hot tub until he was sweating balls and then jump in the pool.  For someone who hated the cold the way he did, he had some issues with things he did and he was the first to admit it.

 

“Well, if you’re used to the cold season, it’s open all year round.” Because he did have a heated pool for a reason and figured if he was going to have one, he would do it right with all the bells and whistles.

 

She grinned upon hearing that and giggled because it WAS the cold season right now.  It just wasn’t cold in Vegas.  It was the month of January, they had missed Christmas or rather spent it at the rehab center.  A new year, a new beginning, for both of them.  However, Maxlyn decided not to point that out to him or poke the bear, enjoying the tranquility she had with Jon.  There were a times he had gotten a little short with her since their arrival, but he always came to her apologizing and she forgave him.  Nothing in life was all wine and roses, she wasn’t stupid enough or naïve to think otherwise.

 

“Good to know.” Back under the water she went since the top of her head was starting to get hot from the sun.

 

Jon wasn’t very good with time unless he was working.  During the downtime, he had a habit of being pretty loose with schedules and remembering dates. “You know,” he said, now treading water properly, with it up to his neck because he had made sure the ‘deep’ end was properly deep, watching as she surfaced. “I think I should do one of those retractable shade things, you know?  What do you think?” Since he no longer had a mop of curly hair to protect his head…and of course, for her and any other guests.

 

Why was he asking her something like that?  If he wanted to make an addition to the pool, it should’ve been his decision.  This wasn’t her house, she was just staying here until…well, Maxlyn really didn’t know how long, to be honest.  She hadn’t thought about it, only focusing on trying to live a normal life for a change.

 

“Umm…if you don’t like the sunlight all the time when you’re in here, I guess it couldn’t hurt?” What was she supposed to say? “If you want one, get one, Jon.  It’s your pool, honey.” Where the HELL did that come from?!

 

So, it was customary for friends to ask their friends for advice on stuff and Jon figured, and this was sexist to think or assume, she was a woman and might have an opinion.  Something functional and decorative, his taste ran pretty…basic.  He blinked though, the awning idea shelved because she had called him honey.

 

“Honey, huh?” He echoed, aware her cheeks were tinting pink and couldn’t help the slow smile that spread across his face.  Jon had been calling her terms of endearment from day one, so…finally, progress? “I like it.”

 

Her brown eyes widened as he slowly came closer to her and Maxlyn felt as if her heart might burst out of her chest. CHRIST, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! “I-I didn’t mean for that to come out…” Her cheeks felt like they were on fire and she could not meet his eyes, clearing her throat. “It just – uh – slipped out…” This water was no longer cold from the way those electric blues were staring at her, heating her from the inside out. “I’m just gonna go drown myself over here, thanks.” Then, she was back under water again, really hoping her cheeks returned to normal soon.  That was so embarrassing calling him something like that!

 

He was beyond tempted to go continue with this whatever it was, but he knew better.  She had been sold into what was basically sex trafficking at an early age and then stuck with it because it was all she knew.  Maxlyn didn’t really trust men and he knew he was an exception, so he’d like to remain that way.  Anything that ever happened between them would have to be initiated by her, just so she knew that he wasn’t out to just screw her and call it a day.  Sighing, Jon turned to give her a moment, figuring he’d take a second to talk his potential erection back into stasis mode.

 

~!~

 

Before long, it’d been a little over a month since Maxlyn left the rehabilitation center behind to stay with Jon and he was ready to return to the road.  She had walked in while he was on the phone with someone and, instead of walking away, she pressed her back against the wall to eavesdrop on the conversation.  Jon was going back to AEW.  He was leaving home to go do what he loved most in this world and that was wrestle.  Maxlyn knew he missed it a great deal and he had been hammering it in the gym the past two weeks, doing everything in his power to get back into shape.  He looked better than ever and had trimmed his beard a great deal, though it was still thicker than scruff.  Jon called it a five o’clock shadow or something, Maxlyn really didn’t understand and had just nodded, telling him it looked good on him.  The beard did too…there wasn’t anything this man could do to himself to make him less attractive to her.

 

Ever since that phone call, Maxlyn had grown a little distant from Jon and started wondering what she was supposed to do once he left.  Would he leave her here alone with Blue?  Would he take her with him?  Would he ask her to leave?  So far, all he’d told her was he was going back on the road ‘soon’.  How soon was that though?  There were so many questions and not enough answers…and truthfully, she hated that he was leaving.  She wanted to keep Jon home, all to herself, and Maxlyn knew how selfish that way of thinking was.  Jon wasn’t hers, no matter how much she wanted him to be, and she couldn’t keep him locked up here any longer.  Wrestling was his life, his world, his universe, the main love of his life and nothing would change that, not even her.

 

Jon was torn on what to do with her himself, honestly.  Maxlyn had made a LOT of progress in this past month, though he had noted she never called him ‘honey’ again.  It was like she was guarding herself from making a mouth mistake like that.  He was a patient man though, especially when the prize was worth it and she was very, very worth it.  Jon knew, as the time drew near, they needed to talk.  He figured Chinese food was a good way to do that, delicious dinner and some conversation.

 

“Hey darlin’, you wanna come down and have some dinner with me?” As if he hadn’t noticed she was distancing herself from him?  Of course he had! “I’d like to talk.”

 

Those words were never good to hear. “Sure, just give me a minute!” She called back through the closed door, shutting her television off before slipping from the bed. 

 

Opening the door, there he was with a tentative smile on his face and she tried to give him one back, but the sadness in her eyes was unmistakable.  She could not hold it back.  How many more meals would they be having together before he left?  How long would he be gone for?  Jon told her he wrestled for MULTIPLE companies throughout the world, including Japan.  The road was his life and he only vacationed at home when he had to.  Silently, he held his hand out to her and she took it, relishing the feeling of doing something so simple with him because soon it would be gone.  Jon guided her out of her room to the kitchen to grab the Chinese food before veering her towards the living room, where everything was set up for them.

 

“Is that from the Chinese place you took me to when we went shopping last week?” It was delicious and Maxlyn had told him how much she loved their food. “Yes!” She even did a little fist pump, taking the container he handed her.

 

“I even remembered everything you like.” It had been a lot because they had done this sampler type deal, with ‘appetizers’ sized portions.  So basically, he had ordered a LOT of Chinese and they were going to have leftovers for DAYS.  It was a good thing she liked it as much as he did.  Jon took his chopsticks and dropped down on the couch, the coffee table LOADED with everything, including each of their favorite sodas.  Hers was some cherry Pepsi type deal and he was…not, he liked the weird Mountain Dew flavors, just rarely because that was terrible for his body and diet. “And extra egg rolls and crab ragoons, so I won’t be stealing yours.”

 

“Hey, I don’t mind sharing my food with you, Jon, you know that.” Maxlyn leaned back against the couch with her own food, along with a few crab ragoons, groaning at how delicious it was.  This was hands down the best Chinese food she’d ever had in her life. “Sooo good!” He nodded at her in agreement, both of them too busy indulging in what would be known as their favorite fast food. “Oh man, I can’t eat another bite.” She muttered about a half an hour later, setting the container on the tray in front of her and stifled a burp, taking a sip of her cherry Pepsi.  Jon gave up about five minutes later after her, both of them stuffed and content, and they were staring at each other. “You said you wanted to talk.  What’s on your mind?”

 

Jon had meant to do this while eating, figuring it would be easier because then they could distract themselves or stall for time via stuffing their mouths.  However, it was delicious and he was weak willed when it came to food he enjoyed.  Jon had a feeling the rehabilitation center’s bland and boring meals hadn’t helped with that.

 

“So, I’ve noticed you’ve been shutting down from me again,” Just like she had when he told her he was leaving the center in a week.  This was almost like that except they weren’t in the rehabilitation center this time. “And I don’t have a comet coming this week to coax you out with.”

 

That was a night she would never forget as long as she lived.  Maxlyn had been completely truthful with him and opened up about her past, not leaving anything out.  Jon had still accepted her and they spent that night/early morning under the stars and moon, watching the comet fly by.  She imagined it would’ve probably been an even more spectacular view from Vegas.

 

“I know.” There was no reason to play dumb or coy, her brown eyes lowering to her lap. “I just…I know how hard you’ve been working to get yourself back into shape for your job…and I didn’t want to interfere or distract you.  I figured leaving you alone was the best thing to do.” He was hitting the gym at least three times a day and had increased his meat intake, trying to ‘bulk up’ as much as possible.  He had lost over 20 pounds while being in the rehabilitation center and now he was around 213 pounds instead of 234 like he had been before entering it. And I don’t want to make things more painful when you leave either.

 

Chapter 12

 

“I still have a lot of time I’m not in the gym.” Jon gently pointed out, knowing those were not the true reasons.  Maybe smaller, side ones, sure, but not the truth. “I’m not leaving out this week, and I wouldn’t leave, period, until we’ve sorted out what you want to do.” Leaning back into the couch, Jon was glad he was in shorts today because he needed that elastic waistband.  He had definitely overdone it on dinner with that delicious Chinese food. “Do you want to stay here?  You can come with me too.  It’s a lot of traveling, and not always fun, but it’s never boring and you can see a lot of the country.”

 

That made her head snap up as soon as those words came out of his mouth, her eyes wide. “What?  Y-You want me to go with you?”

 

What about Blue?  What about the house?  Jon had said a friend came over to keep up with the place and take care of Blue while he was away.  Was that the same person that took care of Blue when he was on the road for his job?  The last thing Maxlyn wanted to do was be a burden to Jon, but at the same time…the thought of him leaving her behind made her stomach turn.

 

“Only if you want to.  It’s your choice, dollface.”

 

Her choice…Maxlyn was still having a hard time making her own choices, but Jon had slowly been baby stepping her to do it.  The flowers and plants they put in the backyard recently, for example, half of those she had picked out.  This was his house, but Jon still incorporated her into that decision.  Now he was doing it again with his job, his love…he was including her in it.  Why did that leave her feeling warm and fuzzy inside?

 

“I’m such an idiot.  I thought…I thought distancing myself from you would…would make saying goodbye easier when you left to go back to your job.  I didn’t want to tell you that, I didn’t want to make you feel guilty for having to go back and I knew it was coming eventually.  It was nothing you did, I promise…”

 

“You’re fine and I knew it was coming.  It’s the same thing you did when we were in the rehab facility, darlin’.” Jon pointed out, studying her face intently, knowing that patience was key with Maxlyn.  It was weird how he seemed to have a lot when it came to her.  Granted, there were those moments where he had snapped at her too; he wasn’t perfect by any means and he made sure he apologized quickly once his temper simmered down. “You have some time to think about it and me leaving doesn’t mean you have to leave and find somewhere else to go, or that I’m abandoning you.  I come home on my downtime and you always have a place here, dollface, even if I’m not on the grounds.  Mi casa su casa.”

 

“But…this isn’t…” Jon stopped her before she could get the words to come out and scooted closer to her, her gaze lifting to meet his. 

 

Could she do that?  Could Maxlyn stay here while he was on the road?  This wasn’t her house and that was what she wanted to say, but Jon stopped her.  It was almost as if he could read her mind and they’d only known each other a little over 4 months.  He was so sweet, kind, and understanding with her, even when she tried to shut him out.  It didn’t even occur to her she’d done the same thing to him back at the rehabilitation center and that was why he had mentioned the comet.

 

“I’m sorry, Jon.  Like I said, I’m an idiot and…I’m going to make you a promise right now, I’ll TRY not to do it again.  I’ll try not to shut you out again or distance myself from you.” Maxlyn took his hands in hers, resting her forehead against his. “You really are slick using certain things to get me to talk to you though, Good.  First the comet and now Chinese food.”

 

With any other woman, right about now, he would’ve gone in for the kill, stealing a kiss.  With Maxlyn, as tempting as that was, he knew better.  Sure, he had caught her ogling at him recently, she had slipped with that ‘honey’ a while back, but anything outside of a platonic relationship was going to have to be initiated by her.  Even then, Jon knew it could crash and burn spectacularly because she was still carrying a load of trauma. 

 

He inhaled her scent, smiling slightly and nodded acknowledgement at her slick comment. “I’m pretty good at that, aren’t I?” Jon gently boasted, being playful. “Take a few days or whatever to think about what you want to do, okay, darlin’?”

 

If Jon kissed her, Maxlyn would’ve tensed at first, then relaxed and shock would’ve taken over because of the fact it was happening in the first place.  She really didn’t think Jon saw her in a romantic way at all, especially with all of her emotional baggage and trauma.  Still, he had invited her to go on the road with him, but he was also giving her the option to stay here.  Maybe she would go and see what it was all about, what all was involved, and then she could always come back to Vegas if she didn’t feel up to the traveling.  That actually wasn’t a bad idea and she pulled her forehead away from his, but didn’t release his warm, calloused hands.

 

“I’ll admit, I’m really intrigued by what you do for a living and, after watching it on TV, I want to see what it’s about in person.” Maxlyn was a curious person at heart and always had been.  Sometimes that was a good thing and other times it was bad. “I can always come on the road with you and, if I don’t like it or it’s too much for me, too overwhelming, I can come back here.  Would that be all right or would that cause more chaos for you, Jon?”

 

“No, darlin’, you don’t cause any chaos, no matter what you decide to do.” Maxlyn was probably the easiest thing in his life and he was so glad he didn’t say that out loud because it didn’t sound right even in his head. “If you want to come and decide the traveling circus life,” Which was basically how it was “Isn’t for you, you can come back here.” Jon trusted her; she already had money, so it wasn’t like she was going to case his place or anything, and she obviously wasn’t a crazed fan girl out to worm her way into his life.  NOBODY did things as drastic as rehabilitation and trauma for that. “Blue likes you, so that helps.” He added as a teasing afterthought, chuckling when she raised a brow at him.

 

She blushed at that because the dog had attacked her the first day and now Blue was all over her whenever the opportunity struck. “I like him too and his owner isn’t too bad either.” She retorted in a tease of her own, laughing because Jon was raising a brow at her now. “I like you too, Jon, don’t get jealous now.” Squeezing his hands again, Maxlyn let them go and stood up to start gathering the Chinese food containers, cleaning up their mess.  She did it every time they ate out here with the trays and Jon began helping her, both heading into the kitchen. “What day is it?” When told her Wednesday, her eyes widened a little and a quick glance at the clock told her Dynamite would be starting soon. “Do you wanna watch Dynamite together?”

 

“The owner is the best part and hell yes I do.”

 

Normally, if he was watching a show, Jon would grab himself a beer and settle in.  Jon was realizing, now that he was sober, how many things he had done with a beer or a bottle of something stronger in his hand.  He had made it a habit.  A bad habit.  Instead, he swiped a few bottles of water, passing one to her before they retreated back to the living room and the massive couch.  Maxlyn automatically reached for the remote and Jon sat back, watching as she navigated to the channel.  In some ways, she had made herself at home and it warmed his heart to see it.

 

“You’re turning me into a fan of this and I really want to see some of your matches.  Maybe we can watch a match or two of yours after Dynamite is over with?” Maxlyn suggested, snuggling against his side and set the remote down beside her, feeling his arm wrap around her.  They watched television just like this or movies and Jon pulled the handle to let his recliner out.  It was a couch with two recliners, one on each side, in an L shape.  The show started and she sipped her water, her eyes glued to the screen. “Wow, I like Darby Allin.  I love his face paint and the skateboard he rides to the ring on.  Have you wrestled him before?”

 

“Yeah, I have.” Amusement laced Jon’s tone as he considered it, wondering if she’d be bothered by what he wanted to tell her. 

 

She obviously knew now that it wasn’t meant to be ‘real’, but instead stories that were told with a lot of action and a good amount of old-fashioned crazy.  He began telling her about the matches he had with Darby.  Darby had brought out a body bag to the ring and Jon…well, it hadn’t been used the way Darby intended.  Jon had stuffed Darby into that thing instead.  Jon wasn’t surprised by the amusement in her eyes as Maxlyn listened, his attention going back to the television.

 

“You know, you’d be able to meet some of these guys, if you wanted.”

 

Her eyes turned back to the television because she’d been paying attention to what he was telling her, her eyes widening at the realization he just tossed at her.  She would be meeting some of these men and women that were on television…they were celebrities and Jon…Jon was a celebrity too. “Wow…” She was staying in a celebrity’s house and that put A LOT of things into perspective for her. “Heh…” I’m about to go on the road with this man and meet some of these wrestlers…this is insane.  This is my life now.  Holy crow… “I’ve never met a famous person in my life and I’m just NOW realizing you’re famous.  I don’t see you like that at all.  I see you as Jon Good the man, not Jon Moxley the wrestler.  And now I’m about to go on the road with you and meet some of these…celebrities, I guess?  This is crazy…I’m still waiting to wake up in the rehab center and all of this is a dream…” Just to make sure it wasn’t, Maxlyn pinched herself like she’d done several times since arriving here.

 

“Hey, stop, whoa,” Jon took her hand in his, shaking his head with a slight smile. “I LIKE that you see me as the man and not the character.” Granted, who he was onscreen was just him with the voltage cranked to the max, all the best characters were.  However, he wasn’t THAT extreme and it was nice to be known as the man and not what was on television.  Jon had never, ever thought he would care one way or another, but with her, he did. “I’m not that famous, just in wrestling.” That was like…C-list celebrity. “And most of the guys aren’t like…they don’t act like they’re famous, you know?” A lot of them knew all it took was one bad day to be back to square one with their careers.

 

“I think you underestimate yourself, Jon.  You don’t just work for AEW.  You work for multiple wrestling organizations, from what you’ve told me.  Even Japan knows who you are and I know you have fans there.” They had watched a few of his matches such as the ones when he first entered AEW.  The Lights Out match with Kenny Omega, for example, and when he won the AEW championship from a wrestler named Chris Jericho. “I think you’re more of a celebrity than you realize.  You used to wrestle for the WWE too, so you’re known globally.” He was known as Dean Ambrose and she had laughed at him for the name, listening as he explained who had given him that name.  A legend named the American Dream Dusty Rhodes and it was meant to be a James Dean type of character with the Ambrose attached.  It was horrible, she definitely liked Jon Moxley a lot better. “I do have a question about being on the road with you.  What do you want me to call you when around the other wrestlers?  What do the others call you at the places you wrestle at?”

 

“Depends on who it is.” Jon had no problem being an arrogant bastard when it came to his wrestling ‘fame’, except with her…it felt awkward and like boasting and he didn’t want to do it.  He liked her thinking he wasn’t a total douchebag. “Chris, he calls me ‘babe’ or ‘baby’, but he does that with everyone.  Some guys call me Mox or Moxley, or Good.  Mostly, they just call me Jon…usually with something attached to it, like insane or crazy.” He grinned, shaking his head.  Maxlyn would meet actual legends, something he definitely was not.  Not yet anyway, he did have some lofty goals that involved reaching that status.

 

“Hmm…okay, Mox.” Maxlyn said it in a way to test how it sounded when it came out of her mouth. “Mox.” Turning away from him, her eyes moved to back to the television and rolled it around in her brain. “Moxley?” No, Mox sounded better since it just rolled off the tongue, short and sweet. “Okay, I’m gonna call you Mox when we’re at the arenas.  I like Mox.  Not as much as Jon, but Mox definitely fits you too.” Unless something serious happened, then she’d revert to calling him by his birthname, regardless of who was around.  But around the wrestlers and while at his job, it would be Mox. “Now Chris…you told me about him, right?  The rockstar that also wrestles?  What was his last name again?” Nodding when Jon answered her, she was trying to remember all of these names from the different wrestlers, so she didn’t look like a complete moron while traveling with him. “Jericho, right, got it.”

 

“You might know him from his music, maybe?” To be fair, Fozzy didn’t really start making a mainstream name for themselves until their last album and he did not remember what it was called.  He owned it, but it was more as a courtesy to his friend than anything. “Uh, Judas, I think was their lead single, it did pretty good.” He had RIPPED Chris over that music video.  It was basically Chris singing into a camera with a few shots of the band.  Chris had explained the ‘art’ behind it, but that was beyond Jon’s paygrade.  He’d stick to wrestling, his first love.

 

“Isn’t that his theme music that he comes out to?” Maxlyn grinned when Jon told her she was correct and suddenly got up again. “I want some ice cream since there’s a commercial.”

 

Jon looked torn if he wanted some or not and she laughed when he plucked the freezer open to grab the Neapolitan flavor out.  It was a big container and he handed her a spoon, both of them heading back into the living room to share it.  This was something they started about a week into her stay here.  Jon had taken her to the local market and when he asked her what her favorite ice cream was, Maxlyn told him Neapolitan and he fist pumped in the air in the middle of the aisle.  It was adorable and she laughed at his antics before he dropped three cartons of it in the cart.  They were currently on the second one and it was halfway gone.

 

“Hey!  Stop hogging the chocolate, jerk!”

 

Chris’ ‘theme’ was going to wind up in the books because every time he walked out, the audience sang it at him.  Oftentimes sounding louder than the vocals on the track.  It was…something else entirely. “There is another carton!” He laughed, though he got his business out of the chocolate, going straight for the strawberry next. “You know what’s good on ice cream?  Pop, like root beer or cream soda, or even Vernors.” Ice cream floats, he loved those. “Oh, or that Faygo Red Pop, they don’t sell that stuff out here.”

 

“I remember that soda.  Wow, talk about a blast from the past!” Maxlyn shook her head, recalling how her mother would buy that stuff by the bottles from the local Dollar General store. “I’m gonna whack you with this spoon if you don’t start eating some of the vanilla, Jon!” She threatened, waving her spoon threateningly and could see the blues in his eyes glitter, knowing he was doing it on purpose. “Fine, I’ll just get my OWN carton then, you ice cream thief!” Standing, Maxlyn took about two steps and squealed out when Jon grabbed her from behind, making her land sideways across his lap.  The next second, a spoon full of strawberry and chocolate mixed ice cream was in her mouth, making her glare playfully at him.

 

“You got cherry Pepsi, darlin’.” Jon chuckled, taking advantage of her having a mouthful of ice cream to keep her from talking. “Pour it on the vanilla.” He glanced at the carton. “Uh, put it in a glass first.” He scooped up some of the vanilla and popped it into his own mouth, his eyes straying back to the television before purposefully spoon blocking her from touching the chocolate. “Nuh uh.” He was joking, eyes still on the show, but he removed his spoon, an impish grin spread across his lips.  Jon would be the first one to admit that he had a childish streak and it manifested at weird times.

 

Maxlyn bided her time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike with her spoon ready.  When Jon hollered at the television, with his mouth wide open, she shoved a nice healthy dose of vanilla ice cream in his mouth, laughing at the look on his face. “Did you REALLY think I wouldn’t retaliate, Good?” She hadn’t moved from the spot on his lap and watched him eat and swallow that bite, her own eyes sparkling impishly.  She could act like a kid when she wanted too as well. “Now, are you ready to start sharing, mister?”

 

“No, not if it means I get spoon-fed, I’m a lazy man, dollface.” Jon laughed, knowing he wasn’t exactly lazy.  Hell, they both did, but he was definitely teasing her now.  He opened his mouth for the next bite, grimacing when it was laden with vanilla. “You know,” He said thickly, around a mouthful of half-melted ice cream. “I like vanilla…mixed with something, it’s…boring.” Compared to all those other flavors out there anyway.  He usually mixed vanilla with copious amounts of chocolate syrup or something, licking the corner of his mouth as he turned his blue eyes onto gorgeous brown.

 

Never in her life had Maxlyn felt any type of desire or want for a man.  She always forced herself to be with them for survival or it was forced on her.  Maxlyn’s first kiss had been stolen from her by the man who forcefully took her virginity when she was 13.  She’d never willingly kissed a man before and didn’t consider the times she did do it because it’d all been forced.  Jon was unlike any man she’d ever known or come across and that warmth she felt back at the rehab center frequently had returned.  It was pooled in her belly and slowly spread through every inch of her body being this close to Jon.  She wanted to kiss him, feeling her lips tingling at the mere thought, and often wondered if his lips were as soft as they looked.

 

“You missed a spot.” Even her voice had gone softer and just as she leaned in to brush her lips against the corner of his mouth, Jon’s cell phone began to blare.  Moment over.  Maxlyn snapped out of whatever trance Jon had her in and hopped off his lap, heading into the kitchen to put the ice cream away while he took that phone call. WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?!  How could you do that?!  You almost kissed him, you fool! Air…she needed Jon-free air right now and headed to the backyard to take a walk around it, deciding Blue could go potty as well.

 

Jon was inwardly cursing out…Tony.  He was cursing out his boss, Tony Khan, who had called to check in.  He got up, needing space between him and the woman outside, who had just given him a raging hard-on.  Jon needed to get laid, it had been months, and just that simple, innocent action from her had him harder than a schoolboy looking at his first pair of tits.  He got off the phone quickly, pretty sure he had made all the appropriate responses and walked over to peer outside.  Maxlyn was out there playing with Blue and he groaned, lightly running his fingertips down the glass. A shower, Jon needed a COLD shower and alone time with his hand.  Turning, he headed upstairs, refusing to go to bed with blue balls.

 

Chapter 13

 

Padding down the hallway later that night, Maxlyn stopped in front of Jon’s bedroom and chewed her bottom lip, petting Blue on her way.  What was she doing?  No, she knew exactly what she was doing and what she wanted.  Jon.  Opening the door silently, Maxlyn stepped inside and closed it, making sure Blue hadn’t come in because she wanted no interruptions.  There he was with the moonlight bathing him in a glow on the king-sized memory foam bed that he had talked about at the rehabilitation center.  She looked around, smiling at how simple yet tasteful his bedroom looked before her eyes landed back on him.  Maxlyn was no stranger to sex, she knew the mechanics of it and what all was involved.  Pulling her nightgown over her head, she stood completely naked and walked over to the side of the bed while his breathing remained even, carefully climbing into the big bed under the covers.  Reaching down, her hand found what she was looking for and gently, Maxlyn began rubbing his cock, massaging it, feeling it start to harden little by little against her hand.

 

“Jon…” She breathed in his ear, not stopping what she was doing and softly kissed the side of his neck, a smile crossing her face at his slight stir. “I want you, honey…”

 

Jon was BEYOND confused, but that did not stop him from waking up, a hand around his dick had a tendency to do that. “Maxlyn?” Confusion was in his sleepy tone as he reached out to touch her.

 

He woke up quickly when his fingers brushed nude skin, realizing that she was in his bed, beneath his blankets and naked.  Almost of its own volition, his hand skimming along her bare shoulder and down her arm until he reached hip.  Growling softly and completely awake now, he shoved the blankets down and rolled so she was on her back and he was hovering over her, able to see her naked form quite clearly, thanks to the moonlight pouring in through his windows.

 

Reaching up, Maxlyn caressed his face tenderly with her hand, enjoying the feeling of his scruff against her touch and she could see the desire flooded in his electric blues.  His head turned, softly brushing his lips against her wrist and it sent shivers throughout her body, a breathy moan escaping her. “You’re so good to me, Jon, so let me be good to you now.” She loved the way he hovered over her and crooked her finger at him to lower himself, her heart pounding in her ears.  Her hands glided up his muscular chest and back down again, caressing him.  The moment his mouth met hers, Maxlyn melted against him and slid her hand up his back to grip the back of his neck, their other hands lacing together on the bed. “I’m yours, do whatever you want to me…”

 

“Anything, darlin’?” He rumbled, busy moving his lips down along her throat, wondering if she had been holding out on him all this time.

 

He remembered her story of her life, what had happened to her as a child and then what she had done for survival as an adult and wondered if she had been making it up.  Lying.  What woman kept selling herself for sex LONG after becoming rich?  Was she really that fearful of being poor?  Was it compulsive?  She was kissing his shoulders, her hands caressing him skillfully, as if she knew each place to touch on him to set his blood on fire.  Jon growled, nipping at her pulse point, even as he was positioning himself against her soaked sex.  She was drenched for him and it made him heady, made him want to do some extremely wicked things to her.

 

“I knew you were nothing but a lying whore, Maxlyn.”

 

“W-What…?”

 

Jon suddenly wrapped his huge hand around her throat, letting out a harsh, almost psychotic laugh and his eyes were glowing down at her while he strangled her. “Did you REALLY think I brought you home just to take care of you, hmm?  Did you really think that’s all I wanted from a whore like you?  You’ve been stringing me along for MONTHS, lying to me about who you really are and now…” Jon flashed his teeth before sliding inside of her forcefully, hard thrusts repeatedly back and forth. “Now while I kill you, I’m going to fuck you, darlin’.  Just remember, you were never safe and you brought this all on yourself…” He was practically whispering to her, in a loving voice, but his eyes were nothing more than ice. “That’s it, let me watch that life fade out of your eyes and then I’ll bury you in my backyard, where you’ll be forever…”

 

Struggling against him, Maxlyn couldn’t overpower him and felt the life slowly draining out of her, her oxygen being cut off while Jon kept thrusting in and out of her…

 

~!~

 

Bolting upright in bed, Maxlyn was drenched in sweat from head to toe, looking around the room frantically.  Blue was in the room with her and had jumped up on the bed, but she ignored him.  It’d been a while since she had a nightmare and she couldn’t believe it was with Jon.  The man had never said a cruel thing to her and had been there for her…but she could not get his words out of her head.  Did he think she was lying about her past and who she was?  Dreams could be premonitions of sorts, right?  Damn it, her hands were trembling and she was so glad she hadn’t screamed out, knowing the only reason for that was she’d strangled in her dream.  Touching her throat, Maxlyn could feel a panic attack coming on and buried her tear-streaked face in her trembling hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

 

Now, Jon had an ex-girlfriend that had, whenever she had a nightmare involving him, a horrible habit of mistreating him because of the nightmare.  Like, if she had a dream he cheated on her, he was literally in the doghouse over her dream.  Jon had nixed that quickly because there were only so many times a man could be punished over someone else’s dreams and issues.  Maxlyn was a whole new barrel of issues, however.  Fortunately, Jon didn’t know about her dream.  He was up bright and early making breakfast, figuring they had a decent night prior, minus the awkward ending.  He was hoping they could avoid that today.

 

Running away wasn’t an option. 

 

Maxlyn had ran her entire life from what bad situation to the next, living her life in a hamster wheel and she was DONE running.  It was a nightmare, plain and simple.  People had them every day and given everything she’d been through, and what happened last night…her subconscious had twisted it up.  Instead of running from this, she was facing it head-on and walked into the kitchen, delicious scents permeating the air.

 

“Smells good, Jon.” Blue came up to her, whining a little and she bent down to scratch his ears, kissing the top of his head. “I’m okay, boy, I promise.” Jon was staring at her quizzically now and she took the plate he handed her, setting it down. “So, I had a nightmare about you strangling me while fucking me last night.  And I think that’s why Blue isn’t in a good mood because I probably scared him when I woke up from it.  Sorry about that.  Is there coffee?”

 

So, Jon had been tasting his eggs, making sure he got that pepper ratio spot on and he regret it so bad because he had started choking on them.  He was going to aspirate scrambled eggs into his lungs and die out here!  Blue would probably eat his corpse, his egg and pepper filled corpse and she would wind up crazier than she already was.  He nodded, pointing to the coffee pot, his other hand pounding his chest.  Whirling in time to hock that bit of egg into the trash, his entire face was beat red and tears were in his eyes.

 

“I’m sorry…what the fuck?!”

 

“Shit, are you okay?!” Maxlyn blinked at his response to what she just said and bit her bottom lip, wondering if maybe she should’ve just eased him into it instead of blurting it out.  She had a problem blurting things out on a whim and it was also one of the main reasons she refused to open up at the rehabilitation center.  Patting his back a little, Maxlyn handed him some water, and he coughed some more, making her step back. “Sorry, I just…I don’t wanna hide this stuff from you.  I thought about just leaving and running away because it scared me, but…I’m not gonna do that.  I’m gonna stick it through.  It was just a nightmare, it doesn’t mean anything…” He took a couple more gulps of water, pinching the bridge of his nose because hacking that egg up had not felt good at all. “I’m really sorry, Jon…”

 

“No, you’re fine,” Jon waved it off, knowing his reaction to her words was his problem. “I wasn’t expecting you to say anything remotely like that.” He never expected ANYONE to inform him that he had fucked, raped, and murdered someone in their dreams, let alone her. “I’ve heard of some shit I’ve done in dreams from exes, but nothing like that, darlin’.” Jon needed coffee now, going to pour them both some and avoided looking in her face, not sure what to think right now. “Uh…any idea what brought that kind of dream on?” He passed over the mug, gesturing to the sugar and creamer he had out.

 

“Hmm…well…” Maxlyn couldn’t look at him either, taking the creamer to pour a healthy dose of it in the dark liquid and scrubbed a hand down her face. “Something almost happened between us last night, Jon.  There’s no sense in beating around the bush about it or pretending it never happened or ignoring it.  I mean, we COULD, but if that phone call didn’t happen…” She cleared her throat awkwardly, stirring her coffee with a spoon and took a sip of it, sighing heavily. “My guess is it triggered because of what almost happened on the couch last night.  There is one thing about the nightmare that bothered me the most.” She waited for him to grunt out a ‘what’ and finally looked up at him from her coffee. “You said in the nightmare you didn’t believe me.  A lying whore is what you called me.  Everything I told you is the truth, so what I’m asking is do you believe everything I’ve told you or do you think I’m full of shit?”

 

Jon heard the brakes screeching in his head, wondering if he was about to repeat history with a potentially bigger ball of crazy than any of his exes.  He knew Maxlyn had a LOAD of trauma, but a dream was a dream, and it usually stemmed from the person’s own mind screwing with them, bringing their insecurities to light. “Time out,” He even did the motion with his hands, shaking his head. “If I didn’t believe you, you wouldn’t be here.  Shit like that, that nightmare, it’s usually your own insecurities and your own mind fucking with you, Maxlyn.” Obviously it had if she was asking him that question. “I brought you home with me, darlin’, and I HAVEN’T made a move on you.  That should speak volumes about me.” Considering what they knew about each other was learned in a rehabilitation center, of all places.

 

Did that mean he wanted to make a move on her?  How could Jon want to be or even fuck someone as damaged as her? “Okay.” It may have seemed a little harsh, but after that nightmare, Maxlyn needed some reassurance that Jon DID believe her. “I-I wasn’t…I just needed to be sure, Jon, that’s all.  That nightmare jacked me up a little, I’m not going to lie, but now I know and I promise, I won’t ask you that again.  I believe you.” She had no idea about the trauma he suffered with his ex, regarding dreams or the fact this had dredged that back up. “How about we talk about something else entirely and enjoy some breakfast together?  And since you cooked, I’m cleaning up.”

 

He understood needing reassurance, truthfully, but he was also taking care of this completely in case it became a reoccurring event.  Part of him was flattered because, obviously, the woman was attracted to him, but she had a lot of emotional baggage that was probably going to cock block them both.  Now he definitely knew, Maxlyn wasn’t ready for any kind of intimacy and he would wind up with blue balls a lot in the future. 

 

However, Jon was also grinning because this also felt like progress. “All right darlin’, you had me sold at clean up.”

 

Together, they ate breakfast together and Maxlyn felt a lot better after telling Jon about the nightmare.  Instead of keeping it bottled up inside, she came out and told him because she trusted him.  She didn’t run away from him like her instincts told her to either.  With Jon’s permission, Blue got a few pieces of bacon as a way of an apology to the poor boy for dealing with her emotional mess the previous night.  Blue happily took the pieces and she smiled over at Jon, thankful he understood why she told him about the nightmare. 

 

Once breakfast was over with, Maxlyn cleaned up the mess and shoved Jon out when he tried helping, shaking her head. “Go sit down and watch TV or work out or something.  I got this, I promise.” It was the least she could do after making him nearly choke on eggs.

 

No, aspirated.  Choking implied it got stuck in the throat, aspiration was when a person made it a new wall in their lung.  Jon was a dipshit sometimes and he knew it. “Mmm, I’ll be in the gym.” He contemplated the mess, which wasn’t overly big since he was in the habit of cleaning while he cooked. “You going to join me this morning?” Sometimes, she came in and used his treadmill and she seemed to be one of those people who naturally kept the weight off.  When Maxlyn just shrugged, Jon clicked his tongue and pat her shoulder before taking off, Blue at his heels. “I know you want the treadmill…Fat boy.”

 

Halfway through his workout, Maxlyn decided she really did need to burn off some of these calories and had changed into appropriate attire.  A tight black spandex halter top with matching shorts that molded to every portion of her body the material covered.  Her hair was piled up on top of her head, held by a large clip and tennis shoes were on her feet.  Jon was pumping iron and her eyes could not pull away from him, remembering how he asked her to be his partner whenever he was in the gym.  His spotter.  She walked over and looked down at him upside down, smiling at the buds in his ears and she could faintly hear some kind of hard rock flowing from them.  They didn’t have to say anything to each other and she stood there, being his spotter like back in the rehabilitation center. 

 

Some things truly never changed.

 

He didn’t require one, he kept a speaker on to call for help if he decided he was going to be a moron and overdo it while solo.  Jon had done that a LOT during his drinking days, put on more weight than was safe.  Jon was sober.  However, he wasn’t telling her any of that, it was nice having her nearby, even with her weird, terrifying dreams.  Blue was beside them on his little doggie treadmill, walking at a leisurely pace and Jon grinned when he seen Maxlyn smiling at the sight.

 

“He’s walking off the bacon. He joked, racking the bar in order to pop out his ear buds.

 

Maxlyn had no idea doggie treadmills were a thing and remembered the first time she’d come in here to work out with Jon.  It was a few days after arriving and Blue had promptly gotten on his little treadmill, right by his Daddy, and started walking on it.  Maxlyn gushed at how adorable it was and Jon waved her off, though he’d been grinning at his boy.

 

“He deserved that bacon.  Thanks for letting me reward him with some.” Dropping a kiss on top of his head, the same way he did to her, Maxlyn headed over to where the bigger treadmill was and hopped on, putting her settings on to start her own workout.

 

Doggie treadmills were definitely a thing, Jon had been amazed and amused when he learned of it and had promptly ordered one recommended by Blue’s vet.  Mostly because he had had a habit of overfeeding and Blue had gotten kinda fat, which was apparently just as bad for a dog as it was for a human.  Jon went back to his weights, minus his music blaring, working out in amicable, relative silence with both his dog and his woman…friend, his woman friend.

 

Don’t even, moron.  She JUST had that nightmare and you are NOT doing that again.

 

Chapter 14

 

Before long, it was the night before they were heading out on the road. 

 

Well, to the airport and Maxlyn’s stomach was in knots.  She’d never, ever been on a plane before and Jon assured her it wasn’t as scary as she thought.  She had to get used to it if she planned on traveling with him for his job.  Sure, driving was an option, but flying was a lot faster and easier, especially when AEW was on the East Coast and they were on the West Coast.  That was a three-hour time difference.  Jon was coming back after over three months of rehabilitation and he was ready, deciding to shave his beard, but kept the scruff since he planned on growing it back sooner or later.  His hair was longer, no longer buzzed around, but there were no curls, it was still very short.  Maxlyn was in her room packing, trying to remember everything she needed because they’d be gone for a good two weeks. 

 

It wasn’t just AEW Jon was returning to – it was the world of professional wrestling, in general.

 

Early on in his career, he had done the driving bit.  Now, he utilized those frequent flier miles he racked up and appreciated the trade-off of that extra money on the flight in exchange for the extra downtime he picked up.  Jon had learned, as he got older and some money, how to prioritize what was important to him.

 

“Hey, you okay?”

 

His stuff was ready to go and down by the door already.  Jon knew she was going to have issues, the first hurdle was the airplane.  Pre-sober Jon would have told her to have a stiff drink to calm the nerves, but sober Jon…he wasn’t sure.  Other than he would be there with her, he had made sure they had side by side seats.

 

Maxlyn decided to be absolutely prepared for this and nodded, waving the small bottle of pills at him that she dropped into her bag. “Sure am.”

 

She had gone to the doctor for some anxiety medication and sleeping pills because the nightmares hadn’t stopped.  She didn’t tell Jon about any of them, keeping them to herself.  It didn’t happen every night, maybe two or three times a week.  It had been two weeks since she made the mouth mistake that upset Jon.  The doctor told her to take the anxiety pill two hours before take-off and then once she was on the plane to pop the sleeping pill if she felt the need.  This was her carry-on bag, her other one by the door already zipped up.

 

“You’re about to do a first with me, Mox.” Maxlyn smirked, needing to get used to calling him that since they were leaving. “What about you?  How are you feeling about making your epic return?”

 

It wasn’t a mouth mistake on her part so much as that was not something anyone ever expected to hear from someone else.  He bet that rarely happened and he felt bad for anyone on the receiving end, especially if they had something in their mouths. “I’m nervous about how the fans will react.” That was always a concern when a wrestler had to take time off because of an injury or something because wrestling fans could either be the most devote, loyal fanbase in the world, or they were fickle hellions who would turn on them at the drop of the hat. 

 

He loved this messed up business.

 

She smiled at him with soft brown eyes and zipped her bag up, walking over to him. “I don’t have a doubt in my mind they’re going to welcome you back with open arms.  What you did was very brave.  Not a lot of people have the balls to admit they have a problem and you did.  You got yourself clean, sober, and you’re in the best shape of your career.” They had watched all of his AEW career thus far and even Maxlyn had to admit, Jon had let himself go drastically and she remembered the way he looked when they first met at the rehabilitation center. “I don’t know if this means much coming from me, a fellow recovering addict, but I’m proud of you, Jon.  And I know your fans are too.  Just wait until ‘Wild Thing’ blares through the speakers and you stalk out there through the fans.  They’re going to go nuts and it’s going to be great!” The best part was Maxlyn would get to see it live in person.

 

“Well thanks for the vote of confidence, darlin’.” Jon couldn’t help laughing at her enthusiasm. “You’re a great little cheerleader.” He teased, ruffling her hair playfully before eyeballing her bag on the bed. “You know, the WWE would have tried using it as a storyline or something.” With or without his consent because Vince McMahon was a demon sent straight from the pits of hell.  Of that, Jon was convinced.  He obviously wasn’t the only one, a lot of entertainers were jumping ship and he didn’t blame them one bit. “If I was the kind of guy who had a valet, I’d offer you a job.”

 

“Valet?  What’s that?” Maxlyn tilted her head, following him out of her room since this would be the last night they spent in this house for a little while.  She listened while he explained and he pulled his phone out, navigating it to google some of the best valets in the wrestling business. “Wow, she’s beautiful.  What’s her name?”

 

“Miss Elizabeth.  Rest In Peace, classy lady.”

 

“She’s dead?”

 

“Yeah, happened a while ago.”

 

“Oh.” Maxlyn kept looking at the other valets, noticing a lot of the women were dressed to the nines and she could never see herself doing something like that.  It reminded her too much of her past. “You know, we’ve been watching Dynamite since we got here and I don’t think I’ve seen hardly any valets.  Is that normal?”

 

“Yeah, it is, wrestling is finally catching up with the times and women don’t want to be known as eye candy anymore.” That was basically what valets had been for the most part.  Sure, some had done the ‘managerial’ route with it and even made it believable, but for the most part, until recent years, it had been a male industry with a lot of sex tossed in. “They want to be in that ring fighting for gold like the rest of us.” Now Jon began showing her some of the greats in terms of wrestling, including some of the originals from ‘way back when’ who had paved the way.

 

“Wait a minute, that guy’s name is The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes…” Her eyes widened in realization as she looked up at Jon, who had a sheepish look on his face. “THAT’S the guy who gave you the name Dean Ambrose?  A legend like him?” He had to be one, he LOOKED like someone who didn’t screw around.  She frowned when Jon informed her he too had passed away and wrapped an arm around his waist to give him a gentle hug. “He was a mentor to you, but that name still really sucks.” Jon nodded in agreement, kissing the top of her head and showed her others like Rowdy Roddy Piper, The Undertaker, Jake the Snake Roberts, Yokozuna, Macho Man Randy Savage, Sting… “Whoa, isn’t he on AEW television right now?  How old is that guy?  He’s gotta be pretty up there and he’s still doing this?”

 

Leave it to her to ignore the women he was showing her, the female wrestlers who had been trailblazers in their own rights, to focus on the men.  More importantly, the man who had given Jon his first ‘big’ wrestling name, the name he had made it under before leaving the dumpster fire that was the WWE. “Sting?  He’s been around since I was a kid, so yeah, he is and he does still does this.  He’s like in his sixties.”

 

Jon wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Sure, working with living legends was a big deal, but at the same time, at what point did one say enough and hang up their boots?  It was a big thing when the Undertaker finally ‘retired’ because the man had kept coming back, long past the expiration date.  The body could only handle so much.

 

“Interesting.”

 

Wow, these men did this for a LONG time and it made Maxlyn wonder if Jon would do it until he was 60 years old too, immediately answering her own question.  Yes, he would because he loved professional wrestling.  The way he talked about it made his eyes light up and it was intoxicating to listen to him, to hear his passion for it.  Maxlyn still didn’t quite understand it all, but she paid attention to him and listened to what he had to say.  Jon was also very knowledgeable about the business too and had told her about his 8 year run with a company called WWE under that horrible name Dean Ambrose.  She was glad he had gotten out of there, even though had no idea what the company was about or everything he’d gone through.  Jon refused to watch anything to do with his tenure in WWE and the only thing he had been proud of during that time was the run with a group called The Shield.  He googled some pictures for her to show her what The Shield was about and even she had to admit, it looked like a fine group of men that had most assuredly left their mark on WWE.

 

“I know you did that tag match with him and Darby Allin with your friend, Eddie Kingston, but have you ever faced Sting one on one before?” Jon shook his head. “Hmm, maybe you will have one with him in the future.  That’d be cool to see.”

 

Currently, Jon had no intentions of wrestling when he was that old.  He got to see in real time how that jacked up one’s body. Also, maybe, one day, he’d do the family route.  Maybe, emphasis on maybe. “We’ll see.”

 

Would it be cool?  Yes.  Did Jon wish Sting was younger if they ever went toe to toe?  Also, yes.  Not that he would ever discount all the experience that came with that age, he wasn’t entirely stupid.  He also didn’t feel like breaking an old man’s bones.  Sometimes, admittedly, Jon was a bit of an asshole and usually, he kept it inside his head.

 

They had a 6 AM flight to head straight to Washington DC, where Dynamite was located for Wednesday’s show.  They were flying out a day early, so Jon could meet with the bosses to discuss what he would be doing for his comeback.  All Jon had told Maxlyn was he was going out to the ring to deliver a promo about what happened to him, in his own words.  There were no scripts in AEW.  There were no writers in AEW either.  The professional wrestlers were responsible to do their matches and their promos, to tell stories the way it as supposed to be.  That meant an early dinner followed by bedtime because they had to be at the airport by 4 AM due to getting through security.  Maxlyn had a passport and everything situated, with Jon’s help, so hopefully, nothing would go awry once they were at the airport boarding the plane.

 

Jon had explained the boarding process to her, more than once, and he did it again in the morning as they sipped their morning coffee while standing in line.  Since she had never flown before, he was hoping that didn’t make TSA decide to have an extra eyeball at them, wondering if she had a criminal record or something.  Given what Maxlyn had done for a living, it was possible, though he had never asked because he wasn’t one to pry into the affairs of others, not always anyway.

 

“How’re you feeling?” Jon asked as they took the next step forward, watching as others went through security ahead of them.  He figured her seeing other people doing everything might help her out too.

 

It did to an extent and she was holding Jon’s hand while having her coffee in the other, her bookbag, which was her carry-on that had her medication and things she absolutely needed that could not get lost.  Jon assured her it a bookbag was fine and he also had one himself for his carry-on bag.  She was taking tips and learning from Jon, not minding if she was a copycat and he had laughed at her when she said as much.

 

“I’m nervous, but…also excited for this.” It did help Maxlyn popped an anxiety pill before they left the house, just as her doctor instructed, so her brain wasn’t a jumbled mess. “What about you?”

 

“I’m ready.” Jon laughed, nodding his head with amusement in his blue eyes. “You know what helps?  Having you along.  I’m focused on you, so I’m not nervous about my end of this.” Returning to the ring and all that, having someone to help out or care for, that sort of thing, tended to lessen one’s own issues or push them aside.  He wasn’t bitching, nobody liked being nervous, him included. “It’s not the first time I’ve done this, had to leave for whatever reason and come back, you’d think it gets easier each time you do it, but it doesn’t.”

 

She was helping by just being here with him?  For some reason, that made the roses in her cheeks bloom and Maxlyn wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Well, you’re nervous because there’s always that chance you’ll be ridiculed and judged since it was announced why you were leaving.  I don’t know how you do it, you look so calm, cool, and collected right now, like nothing bothers you.  You definitely have a great poker face.  You could probably hit it big at the casinos in Vegas.” She teased, trying her best to keep the mood light for them as they stepped forward, then again, while he just shook his head at her. “For the record, I don’t mind your focus being on me, Jon.  Just know, my focus will be on you too, always.”

 

That wasn’t necessarily a good thing.  That dream, or nightmare rather, she had came to mind and how she had nearly killed him the following morning.  Asking him about her own insecurities…Jon got it, needing that reassurance, that validation with what her subconscious was saying wasn’t the truth.  Hot damn he never wanted to do that again.  It was also the reason he now made sure first thing in the morning with her, he didn’t have anything in his mouth until she started speaking, just so he knew which way things were going.  However, he also liked having her focused on him; damn it, this woman was the ultimate catch 22.

 

“We’re next, darlin’.”

 

Maxlyn had learned her lesson the hard way that morning and decided to keep any nightmares or dreams regarding Jon to herself.  She had told her doctor about them and, given how much trauma she’d been put through, it wasn’t unheard of or surprising to have them.  This was her way of dealing with the huge life changes that happened and all that trauma wouldn’t just melt away.  It would take more than over a year for her to completely be at peace, so the anxiety medication and sleeping pills were a way to hopefully give her a peace of mind.  Unfortunately, the sleeping pills didn’t keep the nightmares at bay completely, but she’d only had one other one since her doctor’s appointment.  Stepping up with Jon, Maxlyn handed over her plane ticket and nodded when she was asked for her identification, sliding over her driver’s license.  Luckily, that didn’t need to be renewed for another year.

 

Chapter 15

 

He didn’t mind Maxlyn asking him questions and just wanted to be clear that those awful thoughts she had didn’t stem from HIM.  It was, unfortunately, from HER and her mind and subconscious.  He could reassure her all he wanted WITHOUT food in his mouth.  Or a drink.  They went through the security check, answering the questions and the bag thing, being pat down, the works.  Everywhere people wore masks, unless they were sipping a drink, and it was insane.  Jon was…used to it, she was not, and her brown eyes were darting every which way once they were allowed to board. 

 

Apparently, she was trying to take it all in. “All right, plane next, dollface.  Did you bring your music?”

 

Breathing through a mask SUCKED!  The fact she had to keep this on her face the entire plane ride sucked even more.  It made her feel suffocated, but Maxlyn knew it was the way life was these days.  In grocery stores or any public place they were mandatory to wear.

 

“Yeah, my MP3 player is in my bag.” She spoke through the mask, hating how muffled she sounded even to her own ears.  They had to sit for a little while until the plane was ready to board, so they found two seats that were away from others and she pulled her mask down long enough to take a swig of her cherry Pepsi before pulling it back up again.

 

Well, not everywhere.  A lot of places had relaxed the masking rule, just not airports and airplanes.  Made sense, enclosed area with a lot of people crammed in. “You’ll get used to it.” Jon assured her sympathetically, knowing it was going to take time to get used to them, or she’d be miserable a lot.  He hoped Maxlyn wasn’t miserable. “Ugh…the waiting is what gets me,” He groaned, stretching his long legs out before him and his arms along the seat to his side and hers, leaning in until his head rest against hers. “Wake me when they call us.” He half-joked, knowing he couldn’t sleep like this.

 

She smiled at him through the mask, leaning her head against his as well and slid the pad of her thumb across his brow, tapping his nose gently with her fingertip. “I make no promises because it’s difficult to wake you up once you’re out cold.”

 

There had been several times where Jon had fallen asleep on the couch and she was sure not even a foghorn blown in his ear would’ve been able to stir him.  He didn’t snore loudly, so that was a plus, but waking him up did not happen.  Jon chuckled, keeping his arm around her shoulders and she wound up leaning her head on his shoulder since the seats were right next to each other.

 

“You can sleep on the plane.” It would be a five or six hour flight with one layover, unfortunately.

 

He let his head rest on hers, knowing he couldn’t fall asleep like this.  Well, not right now, he mentally amended because he knew once he got back in the swing of life on the road, he’d have no problem in falling asleep in weird places.  Jon would just have to remember to set his very annoying alarm that was guaranteed to wake him up because it drove him up a wall.  He would also have no problem falling asleep right now if it were her breasts he was using as a pillow and Jon jerked himself upright at that thought, clearing his throat.

 

“I’m starving, are you starving?  There’s a Starbucks.” That would cost an arm and a leg and save him some embarrassment, providing he could get his heartrate in check.

 

Maxlyn didn’t realize just the strong, intense effect she had on Jon and simply nodded, looking down at her near-empty cup of coffee. “Yeah, I could use a strawberry lemonade with three pumps of raspberry.” He nodded, taking her hand to lead her away from the seated area and they headed towards the nearest Starbucks.  Inside, there were small quaint tables and Jon chose one in the back, after they placed their orders.  They would call them up once it was ready, but in the meantime, they could chill at the table instead of standing around waiting. “You’ve got me addicted to Starbucks, I hope you know.”

 

He had also ordered food since Starbucks did bagels and muffins. Jon had ordered a few different things, in case she also felt like she could eat.  Basically, breakfast cost him an arm and a leg, and he had signed over rights to his first born. “You’re welcome.” He didn’t do anything complicated; he was aware social media was a thing and that a lot of people were throwing up videos of people they thought were being assholes.  He was not aiming to be one of those people. “In the Midwest, some places have a Biggby’s, those are also delicious and cheaper.” He liked coffee and sampled it from everywhere.

 

“Never heard of that place.  Maybe if we’re near one on the road, we can stop and I can see if they are better than Starbucks.” Maxlyn doubted it, rather enjoying the strong taste of their coffee, but nothing beat out the strawberry lemonade with the three pumps of raspberry.  That was her absolute favorite. 

 

One of the neighbors had come over to Jon’s house while he’d been out on a run and she had asked the kind woman, Margaret, what kind of drink she had in her hand.  She noticed the Starbucks logo on it and Margaret told her about the strawberry and raspberry mixture.  The next time Jon had gone to Starbucks, Maxlyn ordered it and fell in love.  Their food was ready a few minutes later and they grabbed it, deciding to go back to sit down in the waiting area in case their plane was ready to board.

 

“This banana bread is so damn good, it melts in your mouth.”

 

“It better.” Jon joked, considering how expensive it was.  He still remembered being poor very well, so while he was considerably well off, he knew better than most all it would take was a few terrible days and he was back to broke.  Well, it’d take more than a few days; obviously, he had been all right to not work for months and still be fine, but still.  Once a poor kid, always a poor kid, and he realized that had been her mentality, studying her thoughtfully while munching on his bagel.  Maxlyn had been terrified of not being able to survive, even when she had the obvious means to do whatever she wanted, be whoever she wanted.  Perspective had him reconsidering a lot all of a sudden.

 

“Oh it is and worth every damn penny too.” Maxlyn finished it in record time before pulling out a scrumptious looking cooking, smiling at Jon. “Do you remember when you charmed those gals in the kitchen at the center to give us cookies and milk?” She giggled at the memory, watching the smirk curve Jon’s face.  He looked like the cat that ate the canary and it made her stomach clench a little. “I did NOT think you would be able to pull it off.  I thought you were insane and you proved me wrong.  I will never forget that.” They had sat and talked for a couple hours while eating milk-dunked cookies and it was the best. “Have to admit though, these cookies are WAY better.”

 

“Hey, I can be a very charming, persuasive guy when I want to be, darlin’.”

 

Jon was busy licking the cream cheese topping off his fingers since that bagel had been a little messy.  His charm and powers of persuasion had gotten her here with him, now hadn’t it?  Jon knew better then to even consider voicing that one out loud.  Maxlyn would either go running for the hills or bean him with that coffee of hers.

 

“Maybe I missed my calling or something.  I would be a great motivational speaker.” He snorted when she began snickering at him, both of them knowing that was definitely not for him. “Laugh it up, chuckles.”

 

“I will, thank you…HEY!” Jon had plucked a piece of that cookie in her hand and popped it in his mouth, making her gap at him. “How DARE you steal a piece of my cookie!  You could’ve asked and I’d gladly share it with you.”

 

He wiggled his brows at her and she could not stop laughing at his antics, splitting the rest of the cookie with him.  Maxlyn had to admit, he definitely was a charmer and she STILL couldn’t believe she was here with him, about to travel with him for his job, and living in his house.  Jon was her best friend, but she didn’t feel anything familial with him and even with the dreams, it was moments like these that made the walls around her heart crumble more and more.

 

Jon definitely did not view her as family.  Family had never, ever given him a boner, not even once in his life.  This woman…she was going to drive him up a wall, eventually, with the way she was.  Maxlyn was experienced, probably more than he was if one looked at body count, but at the same time, she wasn’t.  She knew how to go through the motions when it came to sex, but that was it.  One couldn’t recreate natural chemistry and passion, and he shoved those intrusive, boner inducing thoughts right the hell back out of mind.

 

“Are they calling our flight?” Distraction, Jon needed a distraction.

 

“I’m not sure?”

 

The announcement came over the intercom at that moment and Jon hopped up a lot faster than Maxlyn was prepared for, her brown eyes widening slightly.  It was time to go.  This was it.  Her first time on an airplane, flying in the air…and she wanted to experience every part of it.  Her anxiety wasn’t intense due to the medication she’d taken, but she didn’t want to sleep.  Jon grabbed her hand, both tossing their trash in the nearby can, and then headed to the terminal that was connected to the plane they’d be boarding.  It took about a half an hour, but before Maxlyn knew it, she was sitting on the plane next to Jon and he’d offered her the window seat, so she could look out during the flight.  Jon winked at her, fastening his seatbelt while she did the same with hers and both popped gum in their mouths, under their masks, to hopefully make their ears pop during takeoff.

 

That was one of the most irritating things about flying was the ear popping.  Jon really felt terrible for the babies who were brought on flights and had that pressure built up in their ears, not able to pop it naturally.  He had the middle seat and purposely bought the third, just to avoid having anyone beside him.  He was 6’4 and used that extra room to stretch his legs on an angle, avoiding them being out in the aisle.  Did that make him a jerk?  Nope.  He just knew how to book his own seats properly.

 

“You ready for this, darlin’?” The flight, the journey, they were about to embark on.

 

Maxlyn grabbed his hand and laced their fingers together, her eyes meeting his with a soft smile, even though he couldn’t see it.  He could convey the truth through her eyes and that would have to be enough. “I trust you, Jon.  I’m ready, let’s do this and get you back to what you love doing the most.”

 

Dropping a kiss on his forehead, Maxlyn turned her head to stare out the window and then up at the speaker when it was announced the flight was getting ready to take off.  It was…a weird feeling, like her stomach had just lodged in her throat or something, but that feeling didn’t last long.  Never once did she let go of Jon’s hand, but Maxlyn did start looking out the window and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.  How high were they?!  This was incredible!  She felt like a kid on Christmas morning and the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, which made it even more spectacular.  It took her breath away.

 

Some people got seriously sick with window seats, seeing the climb and then being up in the sky, nothing except whatever weather conditions were for miles to be seen…Jon had been ready to reach for the puke bag just in case…he was relieved, and pleased, at how she took to it so far, even once they hit the altitude they needed.  Maxlyn looked like a kid who had just opened the best present ever and he would have snapped a picture on his cell phone if it wouldn’t have distracted her from the view.  Still smiling himself, he let his head drop back in his seat, tugging out his earbuds and put them in, soon enough closing his eyes as AC/DC took over.

 

She was so enamored with staring out the window, watching how fast the clouds went by, before long they were at their first and only layover.  Maxlyn had to wake Jon up, gently pulling the buds out of his ears and slid her hand over his hair.  It was a little longer than when he came into the rehabilitation center because back then, he was practically bald.  Grinning when those beautiful electric blues opened to stare back at her, Maxlyn dropped the earbuds in his open hand.

 

“Hey sleepyhead, time to get off the plane and board another one.  You slept the whole way here.” He nodded, stretching his arms in the air and kissed the top of her head through the mask before rising from the seat, taking her hand to guide her off the plane.

 

Another hour later, they were in the air again, headed straight for Washington D.C and this time, Maxlyn did fall asleep while staring out the window again.

 

Unfortunately, layovers were just a part of the flying gig.  It seemed rare when he could catch a direct flight, especially these days.  This time, it was him waking her up once they landed in DC and Jon felt refreshed, even energetic.  He liked DC, usually, though in the winter… “This sucks.” He hated the winter; Jon had become soft, thanks to living in Vegas.  They had cleared the airport and were now out heading for the rental he had reserved, Jon popping the collar on his coat to ward off the chill. “I miss our house already.” He jested, wrapping his free arm gently around her waist to guide her through the busy walks.

 

“Y-Yeah, definitely don’t miss the Midwest winters, that’s for sure.”

 

Maxlyn was chattering a little, even though she was bundled up in a sweater and a heavy coat, a scarf wrapped around her neck, ear warmers, and gloves on her hands.  Being close to Jon like this was allowing her to soak up his warmth and she didn’t want to move away from him, having taken the mask off as soon as they were out of the airport and in the parking garage, where their rental was waiting.  They found it in no time and Jon put their luggage in the trunk before sliding into the SUV, immediately cranking the heat on.  It would take a minute or two to warm up, unfortunately.

 

“Man, I really could use some coffee right about now.”

 

“You and me both, I know where the nearest Starbucks is and it’s on our way.” Jon could also do with some proper food, his stomach rumbling and letting him know that it had been a minute since they had eaten earlier before boarding the flight.  He wasn’t big on airplane food, especially for the economy classes; that was just cruel and unusual punishment. “Or actually, I know a decent sit down place that has good coffee and food, and it’d be warm.” He laughed, realizing there were heated seats and flipped those on as well. “What sounds good, darlin’?” Besides not flying again today or freezing their respective appendages off.

 

“Any place that has warm drinks and food to fill my belly.” Maxlyn answered honestly, holding her gloved hands against the vents of the car and really wished it was warm up already. 

 

She couldn’t remember the last time she was this cold…and immediately shut those memories out before they came flooding to the surface.  Yes, Maxlyn did remember and it was her mother’s doing.  She had missed an ‘appointment’ for a ‘client’ of her mother’s, so her punishment was to stay outside all night in the freezing cold of winter.  Maxlyn wound up going to her friend’s house and sneaking in through the window to sleep on the floor with a pillow and blanket.  The parents never found out or else they would’ve strung her friend up by their toes, especially since said friend was a boy.

 

Chapter 16

 

Jon had plenty of ice cold, freezing nights, especially when he had first started trying to make it as a professional wrestler.  He had slept in his own piece of shit car in some dangerous temperatures and had no idea how he had managed to survive his own stupidity.  Either way, he didn’t take his current, much better situation for granted, ever.

 

“All right, let’s go.” It was defrosted enough to drive and they weren’t going to sit here and wait for the heat, it’d warm them up as they went.  He navigated the are easily enough; one of the beautiful things about this job, one learned a lot about different places. “Here we are.” He announced about twenty minutes later, laughing when he looked over to find her eyes glued out the window. “Trying to see it all, darlin’?” Washington DC was impressive, especially with all the monuments and history.

 

“Yeah…I’ve never been here before and it’s a beautiful city.” She knew this was where the White House was located, along with that other monument she couldn’t remember the name of.  It was a tall one though with a pointy edge.  Hmm…what was it again? Gah!  I can’t remember! “This place looks nice, Jon.  Come on, I’m starving and since you bought Starbucks today at the airport for us, I’m buying dinner.  No arguments.” Before he could say anything, Maxlyn was out of the car and waiting for him just as it began to lightly snow. “Oh wow…I haven’t seen snow in so long…” Since she was 16, as a matter of fact.

 

Jon wasn’t about to really argue.  He would have offered to split things with her since he knew she had money.  Hell, Maxlyn was just as well off as he was, probably even more given her survival issues.  He also knew it was important that she realized she could use that money for whatever the hell she wanted, including buying his handsome backside dinner.

 

“I may make you regret that, dollface, I’m famished.” He winked down at her as they headed inside, shaking his head when snow began landing and staying in his hair.  She had it on her face and her smile was angelic.  It made something in his chest do a weird, flurry feeling.

 

Maxlyn couldn’t help how happy she was and it would take a lot to wipe the smile from her face. “Order as much as you want, honey, I got you covered.” Without realizing it, Maxlyn had dropped the term of endearment she’d been skeptical of before.  Now, it came out as if the most natural thing she’d said in her life. 

 

If Jon was surprised by hearing it, he didn’t react to it and they headed inside, granted a table a few moments later.

 

“All right, what can I get for you two?”

 

“Coffee.” They both said at the same time and then chuckled while shuffling out of their coats and winter wear.

 

The waitress grinned, jotting that down. “Anything else?  Appetizers?”

 

“Do you have some mozzarella cheese sticks?”

 

“Sure do.”

 

“I’ll take an order of those and whatever this handsome man in front of me wants.”

 

Jon was surprised by hearing it, but also knew not to mention it or point it out because then she would become aware and conscious of it.  She’d stop saying it again.  Nope.  He was all about letting things shine through naturally; he had learned, mostly, when to shut up when it came to Maxlyn and her quirks, not wanting to send her back into her shell.

 

“Fried mushrooms, and the mozz sticks, with ranch please.” That’d give them time to decide what they wanted for their actual meal. “Darlin’,” Jon tapped the waitress’s hand before she could leave them. “Bring a pot of coffee please, plenty of creamer and sugar too?”

 

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

 

He made a face as soon as she turned away.  Sweetie?

 

Maxlyn saw the look on his face and chuckled, rubbing her hands up and down her long-sleeved red colored shirt she had on. “She likes you.” She didn’t bother beating around the bush or not acknowledging what just happened, not blaming the waitress a bit.  Calling Jon ‘sweetie’, however, left a bad taste in her mouth for some reason.  He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly and she looked outside again, watching the snow fall. “When we’re done here, I’m going outside to eat some of the flakes before we head to the hotel.” She hadn’t done that since she was a kid either.

 

He hoped she didn’t like him.  That woman had at least twenty years on him and he could tell she had lived a rough life because it showed on her face.  If one didn’t get out of that kind of life, the drinking and smoking, partying and anything else, early enough, it would show up as lines and wear and tear, a ‘look’.  Jon had a feeling Maxlyn would recognize it too; they had been lucky.  Not that their situations had been even remotely similar, but at the same time, Jon’s mother had gone into sex work to put food on the table and a roof over his head.  Maybe they were cut from a similar cloth.

 

“You’re gonna do what now?” He asked, listening as she repeated herself and raised a brow. “Okay.” Could be fun.

 

“I’m so glad I decided to come with you, Jon.  I haven’t seen snow in so long and I forgot how beautiful it is.”

 

Maybe not to drive in, but to play in and just watch, definitely.  Their beverages were set down a few minutes later and she immediately held the mug while hers was poured.  Maxlyn emptied about six or seven creamers in it, grinning at Jon’s shaking head.  He would never understand why she liked a little coffee in her creamer and she didn’t care, refusing to drink it any other way.

 

“Mmm, oh yeah, that hits the spot.” Looking out the window again at the snow, Maxlyn continued sipping her coffee thoughtfully before finally looking back at Jon, who was staring at her. “You look like you have something on your mind.”

 

“I was just thinking is all.”

 

Jon hadn’t spent a year in a rehabilitation clinic, not even venturing outside – that was something he still couldn’t believe they let her get away with, holing herself up with no fresh air at all – and he had never really given thought to things like snow.  He had purposely asked for a lot of creamer and sugar since Maxlyn preferred that stuff with a splash of coffee…he was guessing for warmth or something.  Weird, quirky woman.

 

“You know, we could go skiing or sledding, if you want, during one of my days off.” Obviously not today or tomorrow, but they could definitely fit it in. “Find a place to build a snowman.” He hadn’t done that since he was a kid.

 

“Really?” Why did that excite her so much?  She knew why.  Doing things like building a snowman, sledding, and even skiing were things she’d never experienced before. “I don’t know about skiing, but you definitely peaked my interest with sledding and building a snowman.” Where would they do that though?  There was so much snow on the ground in Washington DC right now due to a blizzard that hit just a few days prior to them coming here. “And will you have the time to do that with your job and stuff?” Surely with his return, Jon would be up to his ears in work.

 

Jon was thinking ahead, nodding. “Yeah, there’s downtime, darlin’.  I know of a state park we can visit for a day near where a show will be.  We can go play in the snow.  I think they do cabin rentals, so I can just cancel the hotel and we can do that instead.  What do you think?” A snow day with a cabin and fireplace would be a proper wintery type situation and the look on her face had him getting excited.  Jon hadn’t done anything like this in his life. “Yeah, we can do that.  Ooooh, appetizers…” His eyes were now on them coming towards them, his stomach once again reminding him it was hungry.

 

This man was incredible in every way and Maxlyn could feel another chip in her armor disappearing, evaporating.  Sharing a cabin with him instead of a hotel, building a snowman and sledding…everything about that sounded fantastic. “I’ll pay for half if you want, Jon.” He shook his head and she left it at that, beginning to eat her own appetizers, and they put their actual lunch orders in.  They wound up sharing them, talking more about what they would do besides sledding and building a snowman.  There was also ice-skating, another experience Maxlyn had never done. “Only if you have time.” He waved her off dismissively, assuring her he knew how to manage his time and they’d be doing all of this.

 

Lunch, which he totally forgot ordering or had done it on autopilot, was delicious.  Even with it still snowing outside, being in here and making plans like this over a good, hot meal had him in a good mood.  Jon had every intention of making sure they could do things other than eat, sleep, work, travel and rinse and repeat that routine.  It was one of the things he liked about AEW, he didn’t feel like he was being rushed constantly.  The company was a LOT different than where he had been in WWE and he loved it.

 

“You want some dessert, darlin’?  Or is it too early in the day for that kind of thing?” He grinned wickedly. “They may have ice cream I’d be willing to not steal.” Like with their Neapolitan.

 

“Ugh, I can’t eat another bite!  That was so good and filling.” Maxlyn tried to stifle a yawn and failed, smiling apologetically at Jon.  Was this what jetlag felt like?  She was suddenly very tired and stretched her arms in the air, sipping more of her coffee to try to wake up. “If you want dessert, go for it.  I’m gonna pass though.  Maybe next time.”

 

Another yawn came out and Jon nodded, asking for the check.  A few minutes later, it was paid and he guided her out of the diner to the car, stopping when she did.  Just as Maxlyn said she would, she spread her arms out wide open and opened her mouth, letting the snowflakes fall into it.

 

“You should join me and eat some snowflakes, Jon.”

 

“Wait,” Jon covered her mouth with his hand, laughing when those beautiful brown eyes widened at him and then narrowed. “You just said you couldn’t eat another bite!  What are you doing eating snow, woman?  It’s just water flavored ice cream.” He was heckling her, obviously, but the way she actually considered it was amusing.  Maxlyn never failed to keep him entertained, one way or another.  He let her get back to eating the snow while he got the SUV started, glad they hadn’t been sitting overly long or else it would be right back to freezing their backsides off waiting on the dethaw. “Come on darlin’, let’s get you to the hotel, so you can nap.” Jetlag was horrible and even he was feeling it a little bit, given he hadn’t done a flight like that in months.

 

“You are no fun, Good!” Maxlyn laughed, staying out there another minute or two before finally getting into the slightly warm car, unable to wipe the smile from her face. “Put the pedal to the metal, man!”

 

They arrived at the hotel around 20 minutes later, just when the car started to warm up, and Maxlyn followed Jon inside with their bags in hand, taking everything in.  Jon stepped up to the receptionist desk, gave his name and everything…only to be given some rather unfortunate information.

 

“So that’s one King-sized bed with non-smoking for Mr. Good, is that right?” The receptionist asked, seeing the man’s eyes widen and really hoped she didn’t get screamed at. “Mr. Good, sir?”

 

“Jon, what’s wrong?  Is everything okay?  They didn’t cancel the room or anything, did they?” Maxlyn inquired, noticing some of the color drain out of his face and frowned, placing a hand on his arm to gain his attention.

 

“No, they didn’t cancel our room, they messed up the reservation.” Apparently, Maxlyn hadn’t heard that part, even though she was right there.  Then again, she had also been looking around the lobby; it wasn’t anything special, but all things considered in this day and age, he expected a courtesy call to verify it would be all right.  Jon had booked with the hotel directly for a reason. “What other rooms are available?” He asked, turning back to the receptionist.

 

“None…” Because her manager had overbooked on purpose thinking some people wouldn’t show up…she was cringing.

 

Jon inhaled deeply and just nodded. “Okay, that’s fine.” It probably wasn’t her fault and honestly, how bad could it be?  Unless Maxlyn had another nightmare…he frowned at that.

 

Maxlyn was still confused, not understanding how they could’ve messed up the reservation when they still had a room.  What was going on?  Jon finished up with the receptionist and they walked away towards the elevator, stepping on it as soon as the doors glided open.  Once inside and the doors were shut, she finally turned to look up at him, seeing how annoyed he was.

 

“Jon, what’s wrong with the room they gave us?”

 

No, she hadn’t been paying attention and suddenly wished she had when his head dropped forward, his eyes closing and just shook his head in response.  Frowning, she decided to wait and see for herself as the elevator came to a stop, the doors sliding open again, and Jon lead her to their reserved room.  All of Maxlyn’s confusion drained away and was replaced by anxiousness as soon as they stepped inside and there was only one bed…one king-sized bed…for both of them.

 

“Ooookay, I understand now what you meant…” She would have to share a bed with Jon…a man…and Maxlyn felt butterflies the size of Texas flutter in her stomach. “T-That’s fine.  It’s fine.  It’s big enough to, um, have our space and everything, so yeah…no worries…” Shuffling her coat off, Maxlyn walked over and went to sit down, but instead turned to look at Jon, praying to god and all that was holy her face wasn’t red as a cherry at the moment. “Which side do you want, Jon?”

 

“The side closest to the door.” While he liked DC, he didn’t trust it, even in the nicer areas. 

 

A standard king-sized bed was not as big as most people realized.  It was the California king, which he had at home, that was the really big bed.  He was pretty big compared to her tiny backside.  Maxlyn would know he was there in the bed and vice versa, there was no two ways about it.  Especially with them and their already messed up physical chemistry that he was politely trying to ignore and she was likely unaware of.  She probably knew more about sex than he did, but he was more emotionally aware and mature about it.

 

Maxlyn knew sex from a physical standpoint, but that was it.  Emotionally, not at all.  Never had she been made love to or felt an actual connection with a man that either raped her or she fucked willingly.  Moving over to the side facing the window, Maxlyn sat down and started removing her snow boots, tossing them on top of her bags.

 

Don’t freak out, it’s just Jon.  He won’t hurt you, no matter what your dreams tell you.

 

Pulling the comforter back after standing up again, Maxlyn didn’t bother changing out of her clothes since they’d only be able to take a short nap.  Jon pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side, his boots already off.  She noticed something and scooted closer to him while his back remained to her, a single finger gliding down the scar on his right shoulder blade.

 

“I never noticed this before.” It looked pretty deep, somewhat jagged, and Maxlyn could only imagine what kind of story was a behind it. “Did it happen during a match?”

 

Chapter 17

 

“Yeah.” Jon knew exactly what she was talking about, feeling her finger ghosting along the scar again and didn’t bother looking back at her.  Here he was, trying to be chivalrous and knowing she had some serious baggage – that he did NOT need in his life in a romantic sense, damn it! – and she was screwing it up.  She was altering him and didn’t even realize it.  For the first time since leaving rehabilitation, Jon felt like he needed a drink.  Of course, he knew he would have those moments all his life, it was just getting through them.  Shifting so he could look down at her, he quietly began telling her about the barbed wire match he had been in over in Germany.

 

“Jesus, Jon…” Maxlyn whispered once he finished, wondering what else he’d put his body through while in the Indies prior to making it in both WWE and AEW.  She knew about his stint in WWE, but never watched any of it because Jon wasn’t proud of his career there.  While he spoke about the barbed wire match with a man named Drake Younger, she had stopped ghosting that scar to listen to his story, enamored with the way he told it. “I can only imagine other things you’ve been through and done, but I’m glad you told me about this.  You’re a born storyteller, you know that?  I enjoy when you tell me about your career and the matches you’ve been in.  I could honestly sit here with you and just listen for hours without getting tired or bored.  That’s why I’m telling you that you’re a born storyteller and I’m glad you made it out of that match alive.”

 

“You can ghostwrite my biography or something, dollface.” Jon teased, having considered it a time or two, but…so far, nothing. 

 

Putting one’s life on paper was a lot more difficult than it seemed like it should be.  He pulled out his phone charger and plugged it in, leaning back against the headboard and began searching for their next rental, the one for their snow day.  THAT would not be ruined, though…his blue eyes widened slightly when he realized a lot of these small cabins were meant for ‘romantic’ couples and weekends.

 

Yeah, she’s going to think I’m a creeper. He booked it anyway.

 

Those cabins also had one bed since they were for romantic getaways, so Maxlyn was about to get very comfortable and closer to Jon, even if she didn’t want to.  She grinned when Jon showed her his phone, seeing the reservation booked for the cabin for their snow day getaway. “You really did it.  We’re really doing this.” He nodded and she tossed her arms around his neck, hugging him tight against her.  It was brief as she pulled back, her hands still on his bare muscular shoulders and she looked down at his phone again with warm brown eyes. “I’m so excited for this, you have no idea!  I can’t wait to go sledding and everything we said we were going to do!  You’re too good to me, Jon, you know that?  I’m the luckiest girl in the world right now because I have you in my life.  I thought maybe I’d regret leaving the rehab center with you, and, at first I did, but…not anymore.  I’m happy to be here with you.” For however long it lasts. Even Maxlyn knew all good things eventually came to an end.

 

That was the thing, the one bed, the two person whirlpool…things of that nature.  The one bed, the décor, was meant to help set the mood.  It was like…the universe was telling Jon they either had to learn how to get over their issues and get it on or learn to get over it completely.

 

“Wait, hold up,” Jon did the time out gesture. “Why did you regret it at first?” He asked curiously, because that was news to him.  Maxlyn seemed to take living outside of that facility so well and, for the most part, unless one knew her and her past, they would’ve assumed there was nothing mentally wrong with her.

 

“Well…” Maxlyn lowered her eyes and began twisting her fingers together, sitting sideways on the bed with her head resting on the headboard like Jon was. “I was scared to death to leave, even though I knew deep down it was time.  I didn’t know if it was the right decision because…I didn’t know if you’d keep your word about everything.  Bringing me to your home and helping me get back on my feet and live life again…it sounded too good to be true.  I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, the hammer to fall on me.  I was waiting for the carpet to be yanked from under me and for you to abandon me.  Nobody has ever done something like this for me before, taken care of me the way you have.  And I need you to know that I do trust you, Jon.  Completely.  But there’s still that small part of me that…that’s waiting, bracing myself for the abandonment.  And I know it’s not you, it’s me and my mindset and I’m getting there.  I’m slowly getting there and I hope one day, those inner fears will be gone and I won’t have to have that constant worry in the back of my mind that all of this could be taken away.  I feel like I’m living in a fantasy world, a dream, and I’m going to wake up any second and be back in that center again, in that room alone, abandoned, with nobody to talk to and it’s just me and my thoughts.” Maxlyn had demons that were far deeper than she could describe and it was a daily battle to fight them off and keep them at bay.

 

Jon nodded, thinking about all of that, what she had said and he couldn’t lie, it all made sense.  He supposed, to her, after everything in her life, he had come in spouting sweet words and promises, words she had probably heard before.  Her nightmare, about him fucking her, raping her body after murdering her, all of that was probably never going to go away, not really.  He’d have to continuously prove he meant what he said and sometimes, he would screw up and set everything back, but…that was life.

 

“Well, darlin’,” Jon loosely draped his arm around her, forcing her to sit up from the headboard and dropped a kiss against her hair. “This is it.  This is life outside the facility and it’s yours as long as you want it.” And him, by extension.

 

What if he found someone and wanted to spend the rest of his life with them?  What would happen to her?  This wouldn’t last forever because there was no way Jon saw her as anything more than a close friend.  He never gave her any indication otherwise, not realizing how MUCH he was holding himself back.

 

“I never want this to end, Jon.”

 

Snuggling against him, Maxlyn had never opened up like this to anyone in her life, not even at the rehabilitation center with Suzette.  There was something about Jon, something she still couldn’t quite put her finger on that made her believe every word that came out of his mouth.  She believed him, in him, and when they were close like this, it relaxed and soothed her in ways she didn’t understand.

 

“Can we fall asleep like this, with your arm around me and my head on your chest?” He nodded, scooting down until his head hit the pillow and Maxlyn did the same, her arm draped around his torso, her eyes drifting shut.

 

Jon never really gave thought to a future with a wife, kids, the whole kit and kaboodle.  Sure, he had the house and the dog, the figurative white picket fence, but not the family that was supposed to go with it.  Who the hell would want to marry a professional wrestler?  He knew some marriages made it, thrived, in this industry, but he had a seen a lot of them crash and burn because they couldn’t find that balance between personal life and the road.  Since he didn’t see himself giving up his dream, Jon didn’t think he’d ever find someone and resigned himself to that fate.  He lay there, feeling her slowly relax fully into him, the way one only could when they were drifting off to sleep.  He was starting to think about his future because he had promised it to Maxlyn without a second thought…and he couldn’t imagine, already, a future that didn’t have her in it.

 

~!~

 

Around five o’clock that night, Jon and Maxlyn pulled into the arena parking lot in the area designated for the professional wrestlers and staff.  It was snowing again, lightly, and the sky had already began to darken.  Maxlyn was refreshed after the nap she’d had with Jon and her dreams were bliss.  No nightmares.  After a quick shower to freshen up, Maxlyn was dressed in record time and out the door with Jon, holding his hand.  She stepped out of the car, having changed into a pair of jeans and a brown long sleeved shirt that shimmered gold, along with her black knee-high winter boots. 

 

Jon grabbed his backpack from the back of the car and once again reached for her hand, their fingers lacing together as they headed inside the building.  Doing his best to prepare her, he already knew Maxlyn would be overwhelmed and promised her everything would be all right.  AEW backstage wasn’t as chaotic as WWE had been, but…it was still really busy.  The security guard stopped them briefly, nodding at the recognition of who it was and immediately allowed Jon through with his guest.  Taking a deep breath, Maxlyn headed inside through the huge metal door and felt her eyes widen in wonder, trying to soak and take in everything.

 

“Mox, baby!!”

 

Blinking, Maxlyn immediately released Jon’s hand as the one and only flamboyant Chris Jericho came barreling towards them, giving Jon the biggest hug.

 

“It’s so GREAT having you back, man!  How’ve you been?!”

 

Maxlyn felt Jon grab her hand again instantly and could not wipe the smile from her face even if she tried.

 

Chris wasn’t oblivious to it either, his blue eyes darting to the beautiful brown eyed babe and then back to Jon.  He may have overdone it a lot on the alcohol, but Chris wasn’t a fool either.  He hadn’t gotten where he was by being stupid. “So, Mox, baby, introduce us.” He grinned widely.

 

Jon rolled his eyes, smiling down at Maxlyn.  He had told her about Chris and the B word he used constantly. “Chris, this is Maxlyn.  Maxlyn, this is Chris, but you know him as Chris Jericho.”

 

“Pleasure, baby.” That was aimed her way, along with one of his hands and he raised a brow when she didn’t immediately take it. “It’s not my hand that bites.” It was meant to be a joke since he was quite happily married.

 

Just shake the man’s hand already, what’s wrong with you?! “It’s nice to meet you in person, Mr. Jericho.” Maxlyn replied, sliding her hand into his and decided if Jon trusted him, she would try to as well.

 

“The pleasure is all mine and please, just call me Chris.  Any friend of Mox’s is a friend of mine.” He noted how slightly skittish she was and knew there was definitely a story here.  Maybe Jon would tell him, but then again, maybe not.  His baby blues turned back to his friend and Chris placed his hands on the man’s shoulders, giving him a scan. “You look good, man, really good.” Nobody, not even Chris, knew Jon was leaving to go to rehabilitation for alcoholism.  It was a shock that blasted throughout the entire AEW locker room, especially Chris because he had no idea Jon was secretly suffering with addiction. “Better than ever, baby, you ready to get back into the thick of it?”

 

Jon was aware Chris was now curious, but contrary to his brash persona and personality, Chris did know how to shut the hell up and press for answers at the proper time.  This wasn’t it, obviously. “Yeah, I’m more than ready.”

 

This was his dream, his passion, and he felt better than ever.  Giving up drinking was hard, probably one of the hardest things he had ever done.  However, looking at himself before and now…the difference was incredible.  The way Jon FELT was noticeable, it was insane how much his ’little problem’ had been affecting him.

 

“Yeah, you look better.” Less bloated, which was something Chris knew all about.  He was too old at this point to give up his vices though…too old and with no inclination.  That did not mean he didn’t support Jon’s choices in life.

 

Tonight would just be a promo in the ring to explain what happened, in his own words, and then he’d have his first match that Friday on Rampage.  The good thing was the fans were back in full capacity from the Covid-19 restrictions, so Jon would be able to feel that electricity in the air when he made his entrance.  Maxlyn could not wait to see it live in person, even if she was in the backstage area.  Was there a way to go out into the arena to watch him in the ring live?  No, she would not burden Jon with that request and would simply enjoy watching him from backstage with the other wrestlers and employees.

 

Her anxiety wouldn’t allow it and Jon knew it, which was why she would not be out in the arena with all those people.  Wrestling fans were passionate and admittedly, could be a little obsessive, a little crazy, and all it would take was one wrong fan and progress would be set back. “It’s not going to be a long night.  I don’t have to stay for the whole show.” Well, it would be long until he went down to the ring.  Then it would be off to the cabin for their snow getaway.  Lord knew they were getting plenty of it. “You going to be all right back here?”

 

“I’ll keep an eye on her.” Chris offered, flashing them both a smile. “You already know no one will mess with her, Mox.”

 

“You trust him, right?” She waited for Jon to nod, smiling brightly back at him, the snowy getaway the last thing on her mind at the moment. 

 

This was AEW.  Maxlyn was backstage at an actual show and wanted to soak as much of it in as possible.  Jon had already told her she could stay in his locker room if she wanted, but he had meetings to attend for his return with the higher-ups and whatnot.

 

“Then I trust him too.” Squeezing his hand again, she giggled softly as Chris offered his arm to her and she looped it through his, not seeing Chris wink back at Jon to let him know he’d take care of her.

 

Chris was considered one of the best in the world, even with his age creeping in along with his excess.  Chris was claiming it was his three teenagers that kept him young and Jon could sort of believe it.  The man was juggling his family, wrestling, and his band and made it look easy.  He was also good people, someone who would give it to a person straight and have their back when needed.  Jon gave a wave when Maxlyn glanced back, shaking his head when the pair rounded a corner and sighed. It was time for his least favorite part of the job – meetings.  On the bright side, this wasn’t the WWE were meetings actually gave him a severe case of anxiety.

 

Chapter 18

 

AEW was completely different from WWE. 

 

It was black and white there and pure color here.  The wrestlers decided how to portray their characters and there were no ‘brands’ to worry about.  They did what they did best with Tony Khan accepting or denying any kind of match the men and women wanted.  No scripts, no writers, the promos were straight from the heart like they used to be back in the day.  Tony was very old-school, believed in the work ethic and trusted his wrestlers, men and women, to do the right thing and be professionals.

 

“So Max, you mind if I call you Max, baby?”

 

“Not at all, Le Champion.  Or is it former Le Champion?” Maxlyn grinned at the surprised look on Chris’s face and chuckled, explaining while they walked how Jon had gotten her into AEW during his time off.  She was not a fan of the Inner Circle and refused to say that out loud, inwardly groaning when Chris asked her the very question. “Umm…well, not really.” Instead of being offended, he laughed and shrugged, making her feel at ease little by little.

 

“Wait, what?  How can you not be?” Chris mocked being surprised and disappointed, though the amusement in his eyes gave him away. 

 

People either loved or loathed the Inner Circle, which was the point.  He liked being a heel, it was fun, and when people really hated his guts, it meant he was doing his job.  So long as they left their hatred in the wrestling world and for Chris Jericho.  Chris Irvine had been known a time or two to go toe to toe with those who accosted him outside in the real world over wrestling.

 

“Baby, Max, honey, it’s the best in the world.” She was beginning to laugh at him and he felt like mission accomplished. “Hungry?  Thirsty?  We have catering here.”

 

“Not really hungry, but something to drink would be great.  Thank you, Chris.”

 

He really was larger than life and she felt zero danger from him, meaning what she said to Jon.  Whoever he trusted, she would too.  Maxlyn was bound and determined to put her past behind her and move on with her life, refusing to be a complete anxious spaz around Jon.  He’d get tired of it, of her, so she had to find a way to clean up her act before it was too late.  Sleeping in his arms for their nap was some of the best sleep she’d gotten in years and Maxlyn didn’t want that to end.  She didn’t want her time to end with Jon, period.  Chris guided her into catering and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, seeing all the different people in here.  She recognized some of them and felt her heart start pounding in her chest at the sight of Darby Allin.  He was her favorite, besides Jon, in the ring and Maxlyn headed over to the soda machine to grab something out of it while Chris was talking to someone that approached him.

 

Chris was talking to his former stable mate, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, more commonly known as MJF.  Someone he had some hellacious matches with since they had parted ways and Maxwell had formed The Pinnacle.  Naturally, he kept his eyes on Maxlyn, watching as she wandered and then realized she was getting a drink, trying not to gawk.  He caught her sneaking glances over at Darby, which was cute.  Darby was a good kid, one who had learned early on to avoid the vices that a lot of them had fallen into, thanks to being in a car accident in which his drunk uncle, who had been driving, died.  He made a mental note to introduce the pair since it was obvious she was excited to see the younger man.

 

It wasn’t a crush so much as admiration for the things he could do in the ring.  Maxlyn was a fan, she had even told Jon as much, but there were no romantic feelings towards the younger man at all.  Jon was a huge fan of his too, Darby Allin was one of his absolute favorites in AEW.  No, her feelings were all for Jon and she kept them bottled up, locked away in the far recesses of her mind.  It wasn’t just Darby she was eyeing either, it was all the professional wrestlers, men and women, in catering.  There were some she recognized and others she didn’t from watching them on television.

 

“Max baby, come over here and let me introduce you to a friend of mine.” Chris gestured her back over, a big grin on his face.

 

Maxlyn nodded, heading towards Chris and for some reason, a chill shot down her back.  What the hell was that?  Danger…her brain was giving her a big, fat DANGER with a neon arrow and everything.  It was pointed directly at Chris’s friend she hadn’t been introduced to yet.  Keeping the smile on her face, she stopped in front of them and Chris made the introductions.

 

“Max meet Max.”

 

“It’s nice to meet a fellow Max.” She extended her hand politely, even though every fiber of her being wanted to get as far away from this man as possible.  Again, Maxlyn didn’t understand why and felt that unbelievable chill rush through her the moment he took her hand to shake it.

 

“Pleasure,” Maxwell preferred being called by his proper name, or by his initials, and he glanced at Chris, rolling his eyes. “I prefer Maxwell, or MJF.” Obviously, her name wasn’t Max, but Chris didn’t seem inclined to make proper introductions.

 

Nope, he wasn’t at all.  Maxlyn seemed fidgety again and Chris felt one brow rise while studying her, watching as she seemed to erect some walls and barriers, inwardly wondering what her deal was.  He was going to be pressing Mox on where he had met this woman at a later date.  She was stunningly beautiful, but there seemed to be something…broken, with her.  It never once occurred to him that Jon would bring a friend home from the rehabilitation center he had checked himself into, much to everyone’s surprise.

 

His voice and touch…why did it seem so familiar to her?  Maxlyn felt him release her hand and wished Jon was here with her right now, having to swallow down the anxiety slowly building inside of her. I know him.  I don’t know how, but I do.  I’ve never met a wrestler in my life besides Jon.  Right?

 

Granted, there were A LOT of men who she prostituted for in the past and didn’t bother with names.  Most of them demanded her to call them ‘Master’ or ‘Sir’, which she complied with because, at the time, she wanted their money.  Strip clubs, the faces are blurred together too.  So why did this man’s touch and voice make her skin crawl and send chills down her spine?

 

“My apologies, MJF,” She figured going with the man’s wrestler name was better than calling him Max. “I meant no disrespect to you.” Her smile may have remained warm, but her eyes were guarded, along with her demeanor in general.

 

Maxlyn had been a drunk who had screwed men for money while usually disguising herself.  That would have definitely been a blur, especially given how traumatic her past was.  However, some things were just embedded in a person and the subconscious mind and body would have a recollection, even if there was no logical explanation for it.

 

Maxwell raised a brow down at her, wondering if she thought he had been rude.  He had just stated a preference and her natural response was…pleasing, actually.  A woman who knew her place, he liked that. “It’s fine, Max.” He didn’t like that, her name was not Max. “I assume Max is short for something else?”

 

“Oh hey baby, go grab me a soda, yeah?  While I finish up with Maxi boy.” Chris put some cash in Maxlyn’s hand, recusing her from the conversation. “We need to get going anyway, I’m showing her around.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

“Sure thing.” I owe you big, Chris! Maybe she would end up becoming an Inner Circle fan after all. 

 

Maxlyn knew when a hint was being tossed at her and she took that money, heading away from them to grab Chris his drink.  She went as slow as she could, without making it noticeable, and put the money in the machine.  What kind of soda did Chris like?  It probably didn’t matter, so she just randomly picked one, while trying like hell to get her heartrate to return to normal.  Maxwell Jacob Friedman…something was trying to prod at her brain, to jog her memory, but it was way too fuzzy.  She couldn’t remember anything about him and it wasn’t a good feeling as she dropped down to grab Chris’s soda.  Discreetly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Maxwell leave the cafeteria and shut her eyes, breathing a huge sigh of relief.  That chill was gone now and she slightly jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder, looking up into the concerned eyes of Chris.

 

“I-I didn’t know which one you wanted…” Her deep brown eyes conveyed a different message, however, Thank you.

 

Nobody could ever accuse Chris of being a total bastard, all of the time anyway.  Because he could be a total prick and he knew it, obviously he could, he was GREAT at playing a heel.  However, he reserved that for people who deserved it as a general rule.  He had appeared on TMZ a few times too many for getting into fights and altercations for his own taste.  His gaze dropped to the Coke Zero in her hand and grinned.

 

“How’d you know I was on a diet, baby?” He had gained some weight, sort of back in shape, but he was over 50.  His body wasn’t bouncing back like it used too.  He nodded down at her, looking serious for a moment before looping an arm around her shoulders. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.” This room, near Maxwell, something had been off about Max to…Max.  Curiosity was burning now.

 

The thing was Maxlyn had no idea why she was reacting this way.  How was she supposed to explain it was a BAD feeling when she shook Maxwell’s hand?  How was she supposed to explain the chills and feeling as though she was in danger in the man’s presence?  She didn’t even know him!  Maxlyn was so confused, walking with Chris down the hallway from the cafeteria and nodded while he started talking about the show, obviously trying to get her mind off what happened in catering.

 

“I’m actually a really big fan of Darby Allin.” That made her cheeks redden a little when Chris asked her who else she liked in AEW. “He’s amazing in the ring and I’d have to say he’s my second favorite with J-I mean Mox being the first.”

 

Some people just gave a person the creeps; it was a natural reaction to weird people.  Chris had met his fair share of fans who had given him the heebie jeebies, the ‘get the hell away’ feelings.  He usually had to suck that down and then Lysol himself afterwards.

 

“Jon?  You can use his name, a lot of people do.” Jon was called a lot of things backstage, but most did refer to him as Mox or Moxley. “But not a fan of the Inner Circle, damn,” Chris joked, snapping his fingers in a dejected way playfully. “You want to meet them?  They’re not as bad off-screen.”

 

“After helping me back there, I very well may be changing my mind on that, Chris.” Maxlyn grinned up at him, feeling a lot more at ease now that they were away from MJF.  She never wanted to be anywhere near that man again as long as she lived. “And sure, I wouldn’t mind meeting them.  Lead the way.” He nodded, once again guiding her down the hallway towards the Inner Circle locker room.

 

“All right, boys, you better cover up because there’s a lady present!!” He announced boisterously, winking down at her and even had his hand slapped across her eyeballs. “Seriously Sammy, cover it up.”

 

“You’re no fun, man.” Sammy laughed, pulling up his trunks he just yanked down to flash Chris for the hell of it. “Who’s the hottie?”

 

Jake promptly popped him upside the head. “Manners kid, fuck.”

 

“This gorgeous lady is Max.” Chris made sure to stress lady, not wanting these idiots to think he had brought a fabled ring rat into the locker room.  Ring rats were still a thing just not like they had been back in the 90s and early 2000’s.  Now, they were more like groupies…A lot like groupies now that he thought about it and could say he had experience with them since Fozzy had hit mainstream.  Chris began making introductions, gauging Maxlyn’s reaction to each of the boys, just to see if she would respond to them like she had MJF.

 

Jake Hagar was a MONSTER in person, but each handshake she gave both Hagar and Sammy Guevara, that ‘danger’ feeling didn’t surface.  The smile on her face was genuine and the trepidation in her eyes was gone as well.  Sammy apologized for his antics, even kissing her hand and she waved him off dismissively, letting him know it was fine.  Hagar didn’t even intimidate her, surprisingly, though it did help he had a very friendly aura about him.  Chris was right, he was a big teddy bear backstage and she couldn’t believe how his hand practically swallowed hers whole when he shook it.

 

“Okay, you guys aren’t that bad.  Maybe I’ll start cheering you on.”

 

“Wait, cheering us on?”

 

“You’re a fan?”

 

“Well…yeah, I suppose I am, but I actually came here tonight with…”

 

“Enough with the questions, guys, she’s a friend of the Demo God’s and that should be more than enough information.” Chris winked at her, letting her know he had her back and not everyone needed to know who she came here with.  It wasn’t their business. “Make yourself at home, Max baby, take a load off.”

 

Jake unfolded a chair for her to sit down in, offering a bottled water and she took it, thanking him in a soft voice.

 

She could watch Jon’s promo here, in relative safety and without being heckled because she would be heckled.  She was beautiful in a non-artificial way, she wasn’t even wearing any make-up.  Or it was so light, he couldn’t tell, but either way, natural beauty was shining through.  Maxlyn would have been hit on a fair few times, of that he was certain because men were men, no matter what sort of times they were in.  Chris let her watch the show once it kicked off and focused on getting himself ready, always glancing over to see what the look on her face was.  When Jon came out, he raised a brow because a beautiful smile had just lit up her face.  Interesting.

 

This wasn’t the first time Maxlyn saw Jon make his entrance on AEW, but this was his comeback after three, long, hard months in rehabilitation.  Those fans were going crazy and her heart warmed as they began to sing along to his theme song ‘Wild Thing’.  She even started doing it under her breath, her eyes glued to that monitor and watched as he stepped into the ring, soaking the welcome back in as much as he could.  He grabbed the microphone as the music died off and Maxlyn listened, as well as the others in that locker room, her hands clasped together.  Jon spoke about the dream he’d had about a black cloud hanging over him, a demon, and it was something she never knew about him.  Yet she knew without a doubt, every word he said in that ring on this night, was the truth.  This wasn’t just Jon Moxley making his triumphant return to AEW, this was also Jonathan Good, baring his heart and soul to the masses and explaining things in his own way.

 

“I don’t run from demons, I just beat the shit out of them!”

 

Maxlyn nodded, tears building in her eyes and a few even slipped down her cheeks because she knew, better than anyone here, what he’d gone through to get back to his life and what he loved most.  Professional wrestling.  This was his passion and he’d worked tooth and nail, fought every single day, to come back…with her by his side every step of the way.  Jon was an inspiration and this was his message to everyone – he was back, better than ever, kicking his demons right in the ass, and ready to go to war with anyone willing to take a shot at the Purveyor of Unscripted Violence.

 

“Wow…” She whispered, wiping her tears away with her thumbs and took the tissue Chris handed her, using it to finish the job.  No makeup was on her face.  Maxlyn hadn’t worn a single drop of makeup since entering rehabilitation and now that she was out, she didn’t see a reason to go back to doing it. I’m so proud of you, Jon.  You did it and I knew they would welcome you back with open arms.  You are loved by these fans and I hope you never forget that. She thought back to what he said  in the ring about the dream he had and how he’d woken up bloody on the side of a road with that demon cloud hanging over him…and it made her realize in that moment, she wasn’t the only one battling demons on a daily basis.  Jon was too and it also made Maxlyn feel a little better, in a weird way, because at least she wasn’t alone in the dreams and nightmares she had. I don’t run from demons, I just beat the shit out of them.  I’m going to remember that from now on every time I feel like my own are trying to bring me down.  I won’t let them.  I will fight them and win against them because now, I have something and someone to fight them off for.  Just like Jon did and does. They really were more similar than she originally thought and it made her wonder why it took her so long to realize it.

 

This was different.  There was a major difference in seeing something on a television screen and being in the same building.  There was a feeling, magnetism, in the air, even if one wasn’t out in one of those seats near the ring.  Chris had always called it electricity, it was felt whenever a person was in the area for a show and someone was out there giving their absolute best.  Chris had stood behind her, quietly dressing and watching the show, aware she was crying when he spotted her hand shoot up to brush away tears. 

 

He appeared at her side when it was over, a tissue in hand. “He’s damn good at what he does.”

 

Jon had FLOURISHED here, being able to do things his way, and Chris was loving it.

 

Chapter 19

 

“Yeah, yeah he does.  He let me watch his matches, so I’m familiar with his character and everything, but that…that speech he just gave out there was incredible.” Chris nodded in agreement and she dried her tears up, not wanting Jon to know he made her cry with his promo. “Don’t tell him I cried, okay?  Please?” Another nod had Maxlyn standing from the chair, feeling slightly embarrassed for showing emotion in front of these strange men. “Is there a bathroom in here?”

 

“No, but if you walk out and turn left and go down a little ways, you’ll see the restroom signs on your left.” Sammy offered, knowing she needed a few minutes to compose herself. “Want me to walk you down there, Max?” He remembered her name, a warm smile on his face.

 

“I don’t want to be a bother, you said it’s just a little ways down, right?  I’ll be fine to go there, you guys should get ready for your matches or whatever it is you’re doing tonight.  If I’m not back in 10 minutes, send the search party.” Maxlyn joked with a smile and headed out of the locker room, turning left like Sammy instructed and headed towards the restrooms, trying to blend in the best she could while keeping her eyes peeled, making sure to stay out of the way.

 

“Follow her.” Chris ordered without making it sound like an order.

 

It was weird being the locker room leader.  He was so used to someone else having that role, but when he had jumped the shark, so to speak, he had…it didn’t matter.  He was respected and after being considered an underdog for most of his career, now he was called the GOAT – partially because he had called himself that, partially because people deemed it true.  Regardless, when he spoke, people usually listened.  It was a good thing Chris wasn’t a total tool.

 

Nodding, Sammy gave her a bit longer before following.

 

MJF was in the hallway, busy for his own stuff, and he had heard Moxley’s fiery speech as well.  Who hadn’t?  The arena had gone crazy over it and he rolled his eyes, then spotted the strange beauty from earlier.  The one who had apologized with such deference.  It was strange, a woman who knew her place.

 

Maxlyn didn’t see MJF watching her walk because she was too busy trying to sandwich herself against the wall as much as she could.  People were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, going both ways, and she was doing her very best not to draw attention to herself.  Finally, about 20 feet away, she saw the signs for the restrooms and continued on her path, managing to swerve past a woman wrestler before finally making it to her destination.  After doing her business, Maxlyn stood at the sink for a minute and splashed cold water on her face, taking a few deep breaths because of all the chaos backstage.  It was a lot for her to take in, to handle, but she was bound and determined to manage it as she dried her face off with a paper towel, making sure to wash her hands as well.  Nodding at her complexion staring back at her, Maxlyn headed back out into the labyrinth and could only hope she remembered how to get back to the Inner Circle’s locker room.

 

“Hey, how’d you get back here?” Security had shown up, doing patrols and all that, and seen a woman who obviously wasn’t a professional wrestler disappear into the bathroom.  He had waited patiently for her and was speaking to her calmly but sternly, taking his job seriously.  She didn’t have a backstage pass clipped anywhere on her, so he was guessing she had managed to sneak in from the seats or something. “Miss, you’re going to have to return to your seat, come on.” Gently but firmly, he took her by the elbow.

 

Having watched all that, MJF raised an eyebrow when she opened her mouth, but then instantly closed it, her cheeks tinging red. “She came in with Chris Jericho.” He said flatly, pushing himself off the wall and approached the pair. “I don’t think he’d be very happy if you removed his friend, hmm?” The condescension in his tone could NOT be missed.

 

Christ, that chill was back the moment MJF approached them and Maxlyn immediately pushed it away, her eyes on him.  Guarded.  Her guard was up around this man, no matter if he was helping her or not. “Actually, I came here with Jon Moxley.” She ignored the surprise expression on MJF’s face and pulled out the backstage pass from beneath her shirt that was around her neck on a lanyard, flashing it in the guard’s face. “My apologies for any confusion this caused, I should’ve been wearing it to where it would show to go to the bathroom.” This was humiliating as the guard reluctantly released her arm, making her instinctively grab it.

 

“Whoa Max, what’s going on here?” Sammy jogged up to them, having been detained by his opponent for the night on his way to follow her, like Chris asked.

 

“Sir, do you know this woman?  She’s claiming she’s a guest of Jon Moxley’s and has a backstage pass, but…” The guard was leery, skeptical, eyeballing her with narrowed eyes that made her very uncomfortable.

 

“Yeah man, she’s also a friend of Jericho’s and she IS a guest here, so you can step off.” Sammy wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a smile, seeing how shaken up she was, even though she tried hiding it. “Come on, let’s get you back to the locker room, Max.”

 

Maxlyn had no idea what made her do it, but she stopped them from walking away and turned to look back at MJF, cracking a small sincere smile. “Thank you for stopping him, MJF, and helping me.  I really appreciate it.”

 

“You’re welcome.  Next time though, keep the pass out of your shirt.  Not all guards are as nice as that one.” Or had been, the guard had gotten an attitude towards the end, which was not his problem. “A guest of Chris and Mox’s?  Well, you are interesting, aren’t you?”

 

“She’s also on her way back to Jericho.” Sammy swerved her about face and kept walking. “You know, he’s a jackass on screen and off.” He informed her quietly, once out of earshot.  It was weird how he had intervened on Max’s behalf, the man was a self-serving asshole usually. “You okay?”

 

“I’d be lying if I said yes.” No, she was not all right, not after being grabbed by that guard and then the chill she got from being near MJF.  What the hell was this feeling she couldn’t suppress or ignore, no matter how hard she tried?  Was it demons or something else? “Thank you for being there, Sammy.  I owe you one.”

 

They walked back inside the Inner Circle’s locker room and Sammy explained what happened while Maxlyn took her seat in the chair, just trying to get her anxiety under control.  Being grabbed like that from the guard made her anxiety shoot up and now she was doing everything to calm down, fingering her backstage pass.  Jon…she needed to see Jon and looked up at Chris, wondering if he’d take her to see him or maybe someone could.

 

“D-Does Mox have a locker room, Chris?”

 

“No, he’s not scheduled for anything except what he’s done, so there was no point.” Chris answered, studying her intently.  He was going to get the story out of Mox sooner or later because there WAS a story. “He’s probably talking to the bosses and should be along soon, okay?” Jon was probably also having a bit of a head rush, even if he hadn’t fought in the ring.  That promo had been received well and it would have put the other man on a natural high that no drugs or alcohol could replicate. “You want to see if we can go find him?”

 

Causing problems was the last thing Maxlyn wanted to do for Jon, so she just shook her head and lowered her eyes. “No, it’s fine.  Like you said, he’ll be along shortly.  I can wait here.” Would he even know to come here to find her?  What if he abandoned her?  NO!  Don’t you dare think like that!  Stop it right now!  Jon would never do something like that to you! Chris nodded and her eyes moved back to the monitor to start watching the program, not even hearing them leave when it was their time to go out for the show.  When Maxlyn realized she was alone in the locker room, she finally let the tears fall down her cheeks and wrapped her arms around herself, not believing how many problems she caused her first night on the road with Jon. Maybe I’ll just stay at the hotel from now on instead of coming to the arenas with him. 

 

She hadn’t caused anyone any problems, not really, outside of herself with that backstage pass thing.  However, that was a mistake a lot of people made and she wasn’t the first nor would she be the last to do it.  First nights were always hectic to the uninitiated as it were and things would get easier once Maxlyn got into the routine.  Sure enough, shortly after Chris and them had left, Jon came waltzing in.  He had known exactly where she would be because he knew Chris and what Chris would do with her.  He’d show her around a little and then take her to the dressing room.  Sometimes, Chris was very predictable.

 

“Hey darlin’, how’d it- are you crying?”

 

Her head snapped up at the sound of Jon’s voice and Maxlyn immediately flew to him, tossing her arms around his waist to bury her face in his chest. “I-I’m s-sorry, I-I s-screwed up a-and…” His arms went around her instantly and her eyes closed, the shaking of her body slowly tapering off.  Pulling back, she looked up at him and felt his thumbs wipe away her tears with the pads, the concern boiling in his blue eyes making the former chill she felt melt away. “I-I’m okay.”

 

“What the fuck happened?”

 

Maxlyn swallowed hard and proceeded to explain what happened with the bathroom incident, how the guard grabbed her arm thinking she had snuck backstage or something. “I was stupid, Jon.  I should’ve had the damn pass out all along and I didn’t.  I didn’t even realize I had tucked it away in my shirt and then MJF stopped the guard and then Sammy came and…” She was rambling again and stopped herself, taking another deep breath. “I screwed up and I’m sorry.” He was never going to bring her on the road with him again after this and it was only the first night!

 

She was really crying over nothing and if it were anyone else, Jon would have snapped at them to pull up their big boy or girl panties and get over it because it really was trivial.  Things that could happen to anyone.  However, it wasn’t anyone else, this woman really had no idea how life outside of being a prostitute and the rehabilitation facility worked.

 

“It’s not your fault, dollface.” Jon soothed, wiping away more tears with the pads of his thumbs. “I should have warned you about the pass being visible.  It was just a misunderstanding and there’s no harm done, you don’t need to beat yourself up over it.”

 

“Not gonna lie, it made my anxiety flare up a little being grabbed like that.  I understand the man was just doing his job though, so from now on, I’ll make sure the pass is visible to everyone.” Hell, she’d even start putting her hair back in a braid or ponytail, just so her chest wasn’t covered since it was rather long.  Maybe she’d even get it cut.  That wasn’t a bad idea actually and Maxlyn would wait until she was back in Vegas to find a shop to get it done professionally. “I’ll get used to this.  I think I just got overwhelmed with everything, but the more I’m on the road with you, the better I’ll get.  Your speech tonight was amazing, by the way.”

 

“Thank you.” Jon wasn’t entirely sure she was better, but…he also didn’t want to keep dragging her down, searching her face intently. “Outside of that, was everything else okay?” He asked, watching as she nodded, though he swore he seen some hesitation in it. “You hungry?” It was time to leave, he bet she’d feel a lot better outside of this building.  Maybe bringing her to the arena was a bad idea.  Or maybe having her backstage was the issue.  Next time, he’d see if she did want to be in a seat, when he had an actual match.

 

There was no reason to tell him about how she felt towards MJF.  Jon would think she was really crazy and probably send her packing.  No, Maxlyn didn’t need to tell him every single thing and decided to keep this feeling to herself.  Now that she was back with Jon again, she felt a lot better and knew she couldn’t be co-dependent on him forever.  She’d have to start finding her own way since he was busy with work on the road.  Maybe it would be best to stay in Vegas after this, that way she wasn’t a burden to him or anyone.  Chris and Sammy probably thought she was nuts after acting the way she did, not blaming them a bit.

 

“I am hungry, but do you mind if we just eat back at the hotel or…” Her words trailed off as he opened the door, stepping out with him behind her. “Wait, when are we staying at the cabin?  Was that tonight or tomorrow you booked it for?”

 

Nobody thought she was nuts, the backstage area was not for everyone, especially someone who was new to this scene.  Chris personally thought there was something about her, a story he wanted to know, but he had a feeling Jon was going to be quiet about it.  He’d have to wheedle it out of his buddy at a later date.

 

“We can eat on our way to the cabin.” Sure, the room was paid for overnight, but Jon wanted to beat the weather that was coming and they had a lull. “Roads are clear now, we got more snow coming in in the next few hours and I put all our stuff in the SUV before we left earlier.  I also ordered some necessities to be delivered to it, that okay?”

 

“Of course, sounds good to me, Jon.” Maxlyn had to stop herself from apologizing again for what happened, swallowing it down and held Jon’s hand on the way out of the arena.  However, they were stopped by none other than Bryan Danielson, a good friend of Jon’s.

 

“Hey man, you got a second to talk or are you on your way out?”

 

Jon went to say something and Maxlyn squeezed his hand, smiling up at him. “I have my pass, I’ll walk out to the car and wait for you.  I’ll warm it up while you talk to him, okay?” He was hesitant and handed over the keys, assuring her it wouldn’t be long. “Take your time, no worries, Mox.”

 

Winking, she left him there to talk to Bryan Danielson and headed outside, immediately closing her eyes the moment fresh, cold air blasted her in the face.  Oh, did that feel good!  With keys in hand, she started jogging across the parking lot towards the designated area where she knew they parked, bundling up because it was cold outside.  Finding the car, Maxlyn unlocked it and slid in the passenger seat before sliding the key in to fire it up, doing exactly as she promised Jon.  Perfect weather for sledding and building a snowman if she did say so herself.

 

Jon did his best to rush the conversation along.  He liked Bryan, he really did, but Christ, the man had picked a terrible time to strike up a conversation.  Bryan wanted to do a line with him, okay, cool.  This could have been sent via a damn text.  Jon knew he was only impatient because of the beauty waiting in the car, feeling bad she was sitting out there in the cold.  By the time he had freed himself, ten minutes had passed and he was jogging out the doors.

 

So, that woman had come in with Moxley.  MJF watched as Mox took off down the hallway, actually doing some ridiculous half-jog type thing and curled his upper lip.  What on earth was it about her?  Something about her seemed…not familiar, not necessarily, but there was something hidden beneath the surface.

 

Chapter 20

 

Maxlyn watched Jon jog towards the car and felt her eyes widen when he started SLIDING across the parking lot, blinking when he hit the car with his hands. “Are you okay?!” She was trying really hard not to laugh and luckily, Jon hadn’t lost his balance or that would’ve been a nasty fall, her gloved hand covering her mouth.  He was grumbling as he slid behind the wheel and that was her undoing, the giggles surfacing. “I-I don’t mean to laugh, but…you looked like some kind of character out of Looney Tunes out there.” He flipped her off, no malice in it, and Maxlyn stuck her tongue out at him in return. “Keep it up and I’ll nail you with a huge snowball when we go sledding, Mox.”

 

“Keep it up and I’ll cake you in snow and make you a snowman, Max.” Jon shot back good-naturedly, imagining he had probably looked pretty ridiculous.  He had no business running in winter and…he was lucky he hadn’t bit it and given himself a concussion or something.  Grinning now, Jon slowly began to pull out of the parking lot. “Sorry for taking so long, darlin’, that was Bryan and he wanted to run an idea by me.” It wasn’t a bad idea and it wasn’t like Jon had anything lined up right now, outside of a comeback, so…it was definitely doable. “You ready for our winter getaway?” He knew her size, she now had winter wear, proper outdoorsy stuff at the cabin.  So did he.

 

“You don’t ever have to apologize to me for needing to talk to a coworker about your job.  And yes, I’m more than ready for this.  I’m ready to freeze my ass off sledding and building a snowman with you, maybe a snowball fight,” Maxlyn smirked at him, already knowing it was coming.  It was inevitable. “And then warming up in the cabin you booked us, that you won’t let me see.” He kept saying it was a surprise and she’d enjoy it.  Jon liked surprising her and Maxlyn wasn’t much for them, but for him, she made an exception.  Deep down, she loved Jon surprising her like this and hoped they continued doing spontaneous things in the future together. “That speech tonight you gave in the ring was incredible and I told Chris not to tell you this, but I cried.  I had no idea you had a dream or a nightmare about a demon like that.” She grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently. “You said something that really struck home with me and, no matter what happens in the future, I’m never going to forget it.  I’m not going to run from my demons anymore, I’m just going to beat the shit out of them.  I’ll never let my demons control me again and it’s all thanks to you.  And if I ever stray from that vow, you have my permission to kick me square in the ass and put me back on the right path.” Providing they were still in each other’s lives by then. “You inspired me tonight, Jon.  Thank you.”

 

Jon had no words, not expecting her to say anything like that at all and he cleared his throat.  He wasn’t sure how to respond to her heartfelt words, glad he was driving because it kept him from having to look at her and instead squeezed her hand to acknowledge he heard her. “You’re welcome, darlin’.” He rumbled when he was sure his voice wouldn’t come out sounding odd. “Though, I have big feet, so I’m not going to kick you in the ass…More like a few slaps.” He probably shouldn’t have said it because now he had some interesting thoughts rolling around his head.

 

Giggling, Maxlyn turned to stare out the window and could see the snow was starting to come down a little harder than before.  Jon stopped at a local Chinese place that wouldn’t take long to make their food, ten minutes tops, and they were back on the road again.  It was a good half hour drive before they finally arrived at the cabin they’d be spending the next several days in.  Rampage was on Friday and Jon was set to compete, so they had to head out Friday morning, which gave them the rest of tonight, and all day tomorrow, before needing to make it to Rampage.  Cutting the ignition, Maxlyn helped Jon carry everything in, luggage and food respectively.  The moment she stepped inside the cabin, her eyes nearly fell out of her head and her jaw dropped at how…beautiful it was.  No matter how hard she tried, no words came out of her mouth as the luggage dropped from beneath her arms, the food gently being set on the nearby table.

 

This was…a bit more then he had expected.  Jon had browsed the pictures of the cabins and then just booked ‘flexible’, they all had the ‘couples’ thing going, so he figured it wouldn’t matter which one.  Apparently, it did. “Wow.”

 

He picked up a brochure out of a waiting basket, noting the chilled champagne and knew that would have to be dumped out immediately.  Candles, his and her pheromone body oils…he was aware Maxlyn was now rifling through the basket, hearing the champagne being popped followed by it going directly down the sink.  He was glad she had done it because he wasn’t sure how he’d react.

 

“Body…chocolates…how does that…oh…You melt them first and then, got it…” That was different and he glanced over at her and she was staring at him and the chocolates in his hand. “So, about the cabin…”

 

Maxlyn was red as a cherry, knowing exactly what was in his hands and swallowed past the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. “You, um, melt them down into a paint of sorts and…um…well…” How the HELL was she supposed to describe this to him?! “Look it’s edible body paint and you use your tongue with it, after melting it down to…”

 

She was going to explode from embarrassment and Jon didn’t look much better either, immediately dropping the chocolates back into the ‘gift’ basket.  If Jon asked her how she knew about the chocolates, she would flat out refuse to answer him.  Being a former prostitute gave Maxlyn all the sexual experience in the world, in every KIND of sexual world…there probably wasn’t a thing out there she hadn’t done at least once.

 

“A-Anyway, what about the cabin, Jon?” Change of subject was in order NOW!

 

Jon was just gawking at her, his mouth ajar and his blue eyes wide as he stared at her.  The rational part of his mind was SCREAMING at him to knock that off, the other part was SCREAMING she had done it again!  Just blurted out something so completely unexpected that he was AGAIN at a loss for words!  He knew what Maxlyn had done for work in her ‘former life’, as he referred to it mentally, so it shouldn’t have been surprising, but it was because he had started equating Maxlyn with innocence.  Damn it, he was screwed!

 

“Uh…it’s apparently a romantic getaway cabin…” Jon finally managed to say and began laughing, full on laughing, because this was just ridiculous and hilarious rolled into one.

 

Maxlyn was FAR from innocent.  Now she was the one staring at him incredulously while he laughed so hard, tears were forming in his eyes.  What was so funny about this cabin being romantically themed?  And then it hit her like a ton of bricks, her eyes darting from Jon to the ONE king-sized bed with silk sheets and linens on it, then the heart-shaped jacuzzi that was in the corner of the room not far away from the bed.

 

“No wonder they had chocolate body paints and oils and shit in that basket.” Why was THAT the first thing out of her mouth?!  Jon was ROLLING by now and dropped to a knee, his face covered with his forearm while she continued looking around the cabin, noting there was indeed a fireplace. “It makes sense since this is supposed to be for romantic getaways…” Her cheeks were never going to return to their normal color again. “I’m surprised they don’t have sex toys and shit to go along with the chocolate body paint and oils.” Another blurting moment in the books!  Nope, she had another one right behind it. “Or even one of those sex swing contraptions to hang over the bed…”

 

“No…no darlin’, stop, fuck stop!” Jon was laying on the floor now, his face beet red and he was CRYING from laughing so hard.  She was so goddamn red! “There’s a fucking MIRROR over the bed!” He began going off all over again before rolling to his knees and pushing himself up, walking over to said bed just to tip his head and grin up at himself. “Darlin’, I SWEAR, I didn’t think it would be like this…it was all that was available on such short notice.” And it had cost a lovely chunk of change. “Fuck it, I’m eating the chocolate….” Her body was totally optional and he figured he should go dunk himself in the snow and cool his jets.

 

“Wait, what?!” Maxlyn immediately went over to the bed to stand beside him and looked up, her eyes wide as saucers. “Wow, that reminds me of Bride of Chucky.  You know that scene where the newlywed couple is fucking in the bed and they end up cutting the couple up by smashing the mirror above them.  It was a waterbed too and flooded all over the room and then Chucky and Tiffany started fucking.” Now Jon was staring at her wide-eyed and she started laughing, shrugging her shoulders. “What?  That’s one of my favorite movies.  I love the Chucky movies and I was Tiffany for Halloween one year.  I stole one of my Mom’s leather jackets and got a wedding dress from the local thrift store.  I even dyed my hair platinum blonde, can you believe that?” Platinum blonde was also her hair color during her prostitution/stripper days.

 

“You were platinum blonde?” He had a hard time imagining that, rather liking her hair the color it was now.  Blonde would be…well, he figured it would wash her out.  Nope, he liked Maxlyn the way she was now. “So…Chucky movies, got it.” He chuckled, enjoying them as well.  The more movies they had made, the more humorous they had gotten and, admittedly, he was a big fan of the sexy Jennifer Tilly.  What man wasn’t?  He bounced on the bed, relieved it wasn’t a waterbed or else they would be long gone.  Jon wasn’t risking that. 

 

Jon had seen enough horrors movies to know the cliched, warning signs.

 

“Hey!  I will have you know that I rocked being a platinum blonde for a long time, Good.  Expensive as hell and hard on the hair, but…” Maxlyn plopped down on the bed as well, after retrieving their food and handed his over, along with chopsticks.  She’d never understand why Jon enjoyed using those stupid things.  Forks all the way for her. “Now, if I didn’t know you as well I do, I would assume that you’re trying to seduce me with a romantic cabin getaway and Chinese food.  Great combos, by the way.  Mmm, crab ragoons are SO good!” Nudging him playfully, she took another bite of her actual dinner and nodded, putting her thumbs up to let him know he was right about this place having amazing food.

 

Jon loved chopsticks and he had gotten into a weird habit that had lasted about a year.  He had eaten ONLY with chopsticks, unless it was soup.  He had done it because someone had told him it forced a person to eat slower, so one would know when they were actually full and walk away from the plate instead of cramming it all down and regretting it when the food coma hit. “I’m not gonna lie, dollface, a cabin in winter isn’t my usual seduction technique.  It used to be offering to buy a beer, I need some new moves, eventually.”

 

“Well, doing this for a woman you’re interested in would definitely have you in her good graces for sure and probably get you laid.  I’d be surprised if any woman turned you down, quite frankly.” Jon was incredibly handsome and had such a big heart, kind soul and spirit, with a mean streak whenever he was in the ring. “I saw the way those women were swooning all over you tonight while you were in the ring giving that epic speech.  And when you were walking to the ring, I’m surprised they didn’t try jumping you or something.” That thought made her chuckle and she had no idea just what kind of crazed fans Jon had dealt with in the past.  Maxlyn probably wouldn’t have made that joke if she did. “Oh man, I can’t eat anymore.  I think my stomach shrank.”

 

Jon cleared his throat, really glad he had a mouth full of fried rice, so he hadn’t been expected to talk.  He still had some seriously whacked out fans, female naturally.  Some who had carved themselves up for him, thinking it would turn him on or something, proven their devotion.  That was just sick.  Even when he had been new to the business, younger, he still hadn’t been overly amused with it.  It was disturbing to see young women mutilate themselves over a man they didn’t really know.  Doing this for a woman he was interested in…Jon finished what was left in his carton before standing up, grinning down at her.

 

“You ready to unwind, darlin’?  I’ll get a fire going after we clean up dinner.” He LOVED fires.  Vegas was a bit hot for them, even in the winter, but…oh well.

 

“Yeah, let me go change into my pajamas.” She stood up as well, staring up into his deep blues and instead of feeling the chill earlier with MJF, it was pure warmth with Jon.  Leaning up, Maxlyn wrapped her arms tightly around his neck to hug him close, loving how his arms encircled her whenever they embraced. “I don’t care what the room represents, thank you so much for doing this.  It’s beautiful.” Pulling back, she kissed his cheek softly and stepped away before grabbing her bag to go into the bathroom to change, leaving him standing there with a burning cheek. If I’m not careful, I’m going to really fall for this guy, if I haven’t already.  Damn it. It was too late and deep down, Maxlyn knew it.

 

Jon was thinking along the same lines as Maxlyn as he got to work taking care of what remained of their dinner before starting the fire.  He sat crouched before it for a moment, hands outstretched as he considered it.  What was it that he was starting to feel for her?  Genuinely or was it a proximity thing?  He knew people tended to bond with others who they spent a lot of time with.  Maybe that was what was going on.  However, the way Maxlyn acted around him, most of the time, indicated she was reciprocating these feelings.  Or was it because they had bonded in the center and they were both doing this new life thing together?  Or did Maxlyn have a thing where she felt like she owed him for bringing her back out into the world?

 

“Damn it…” Jon whispered, pushing himself back up to peel off his shirt.

 

Whoa… Maxlyn walked out of the bathroom just as Jon did that, with his back to her, her brown eyes drinking every inch of him in. 

 

The way the firelight reflected off his skin made her own fire inside ignite.  This was desire.  It had to be.  It just wasn’t forced, everything she felt for Jon was natural.  All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him from behind and hold him close, to start kissing every inch of his sexy back before moving to his chest to do the same thing.  There he was, shirtless, in just his jeans still from the arena and she was in a simple red tank top and matching pajama pants, nothing special or sexy at all.

 

“I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, Jon, and I’m scared.  My heart feels like it’s about to fly out of my chest and I can’t explain or describe this warmth I feel whenever I’m with you.  And seeing you now I…I think it’s desire?  Maybe?  It’s foreign to me, everything I’m feeling when it comes to you and…it scares me.” While she spoke, Maxlyn slowly walked towards him until she stood in front of him, looking up into his eyes and took his hand, her other hand gently resting on his chest. “You scare me with how I feel, but I won’t run away from you, not now – not ever.  And I won’t hide how I’m feeling either.”

 

Jon slowly pulled his hand away from her, frowning slightly while studying her.  She had a night terror about him raping and killing her, not in that order, for fuck’s sake.  She had come out the morning after demanding to know if HE thought what she had dreamt about was real.  About her being a liar.  Anything with her was begging for trouble and he knew it, she had too much baggage.  Goddamn it, why did he want to carry that baggage for her?

 

“I have…similar feelings,” He confessed slowly, feeling like admitting this was wrong somehow even when it felt right. “I worry though, darlin’.  I’ve never been very good at…this.” Neither had she, they were a perfect fit, weren’t they?

 

“Me either.  I-I don’t even know what I’m saying right now.  I just…these are the thoughts that are in my head.  All I can do is describe it to you because…I’ve never felt anything like this before.  With anyone.” Maxlyn began pacing slowly back and forth in front of the fireplace, chewing her thumbnail. “I’m damaged goods, I know that.  I’m used up after everything I put myself through.” All for survival, all so she didn’t wind up dead on the streets after what her mother did to her. “I have so much baggage, I surprise myself I’m still able to carry it.  And I’m not perfect.  I’m tainted and I have darkness inside of me…demons, just like you said in your speech tonight.  You said we all have scars…scars that nobody can see and we have to bear them day in and day out.  I have so many scars, I don’t know if I’ll ever fully heal from them.  All I can do is carry them and all I can do is be honest with you about how I feel, what I’m experiencing.” Her mother had taken away her innocence, shredded her to the point where Maxlyn never had enough trust in a man to be in a relationship of any kind. “I don’t want you having feelings for me, Jon.  I’m not worth those feelings, I’m not worth anything to anyone and that’s my burden I have to bear for what I’ve done.  You deserve someone far better than me, someone who isn’t damaged goods and who isn’t emotionally handicapped.”

 

“Yeah, you don’t get to decide that, dollface.” Jon informed her with a bit of a snort, half wishing he had a beer right about now because it sounded great.  Cold and crisp, that bitter taste, he could practically feel it washing over his tongue and he had to close his eyes, knowing that he was going to have these moments all of his life. “Just like I don’t get to decide, we get what we get and we don’t have a say in what we feel, that’s just how it works.” Moment was over and he opened his eyes again, staring intently down at her. “If I didn’t think you were worth it, worth anything, I never would have tried bringing you out of that place with me.  You might not see it, your worth, but I do.”

 

Chapter 21

 

“But…” He pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her from saying whatever she was about to. 

 

A drink did sound really good right now, he wasn’t alone in that at all.  It was a battle they would constantly suffer through for the rest of their lives, unfortunately.  Addiction was a very powerful thing and with her cirrhosis, Maxlyn couldn’t drink anymore or it would very well kill her.  Grabbing his wrist, she pulled his finger away and kept her eyes locked with his, golden brown on electric blue…and it took her breath away.

 

“Doesn’t it bother you what I’ve done?” She allowed man after man to plow her day in and day out, night in and night out, for money. “We may not get to decide how we feel and who we want in life, but we do have the power to make that choice ultimately.  And I’m deciding here and now that I won’t ever be with you.  You’re too important to me to taint and I won’t do it.  Friends, that’s all we’ll ever be, Jon.  No matter what I’m feeling inside.  You saved my life and even though I don’t know what love is, how it’s supposed to feel, I know that’s what I’m feeling for you.  And this is the one and only time you will ever hear those words out of my mouth.” They would never have this conversation again after tonight, Maxlyn would make sure of it. “Hate me, be angry at me, kick me out of your life, do what you have to do, but I won’t change my mind, no matter what.” Turning, she looked back at the fire and sunk down on the carpet in front of it, sitting on her knees. Abandon me, I deserve it.

 

For a brief moment, Jon did consider abandoning her ass, her had sex to survive after the point of being relatively well off ass, her had some serious issues ass!  However, that was his ‘only human’ coming out and he retreated to the kitchen to get a glass of water while examining the things he had delivered to keep them comfortable for tonight and tomorrow, and Friday morning of course.  This was supposed to be a fun, snowy trip and now he had a feeling it was going to be uncomfortable as hell.  He stepped outside, shirtless and all and studied the snow.  It was night, but with the moonlight, the snow sparkled in the dark and he inhaled deeply.

 

A few seconds later, Maxlyn had gotten a small bit of snow down the back of her neck. “We’ll deal with it, darlin’.” Jon informed her with a grin, watching as she scrambled from the cold. “More snow is coming down, tomorrow is going to be great.” He wasn’t getting mad, he wasn’t hating her, or abandoning her.  He’d just…deal with it.

 

“OH MY GOD, THAT’S COLD!!” Maxlyn squawked, not believing he just went outside and did that to her, shocking her right out of her deep, depressing thoughts.  Tomorrow, she planned on returning the favor with interest, but not tonight, not when she was in a tank top. “You are so evil for doing that.” She muttered good-naturedly, the sparkle back in her eyes and Jon pulled her into his arms to hug her, his words filtering through her mind. We’ll deal with it, darlin’.

 

What did he mean by that?  And then Maxlyn started thinking back to what she said to him, about not changing her mind…No. Matter. What.  Could she do that?  Could she keep Jon at arm’s length for the rest of her life and ignore how she felt for him?

 

Damn it…he’s so stubborn and refuses to see just how bad I am for him. “Come on, sit by the fire with me and tell me all about what it was like to be back in that ring tonight.  And I’m curious about what Bryan Danielson wanted to talk to you about too.  Are you going to have a feud with him next?”

 

Jon had grown up in a horrible situation and had learned plenty about surviving, but he had not gone the ‘sell me’ route.  Was he saying his situation was as bad, as messed up as hers?  Nope.  But he also refused to not acknowledge that he hadn’t had it easy either.  Everyone had their own road.  Jon also knew you could overcome the past; it just took time and the willingness to fight one’s own demons and sometimes, that was harder than the horrible situation itself, fighting one’s own mind.  He had started this journey with Maxlyn and he wasn’t about to drop her like a bad habit because she thought she could control stuff that she really could not.  Or that she thought she could make decisions for them both, again, when she couldn’t.  They’d just have to deal with it and take it a day at a time.

 

“He wants to do this line where we eventually team up.  I don’t usually just jump in bed with a guy, you know?  So, I told him we’ll see about something happening, gotta think it over.  Why?  You think we’d have a good feud?”

 

They had settled down on the carpet in front of the fireplace with Jon positioning her to sit right between his legs, his arm draped around her waist lightly.  His chin was resting on her shoulder and she side-eyed him, not pushing him away and instead leaned her head against his. “Hmm…you and Bryan Danielson, huh?  Well honestly, teaming up with him doesn’t sound so bad.  I’ve seen both of your wrestling styles and maybe it could work?  I don’t know, I just don’t see Jon Moxley in a tag team.  I mean, you and Eddie Kingston worked great together and you told an amazing story.  So, if you did something like THAT with Danielson, maybe.  But personally, speaking as a fan, I’d love to see you guys fight instead.  I think you two would tear the house down.  Have you wrestled him before in other wrestling companies?”

 

Jon would continue on business as usual and it wasn’t unusual for them to be touchy with each, especially over these past few weeks.  Hell, just yesterday she had fallen asleep in his arms.  This was the longest Jon had gone without sex in a long time and he definitely could not remember a friendship with a woman like this before, not without someone making a move sooner or later.

 

“Actually, we’ve had some lines together in other companies.  Back in the WWE.” The place he loathed and she knew it. “We had a feud with him and another guy, masked dude who went by the name Kane, and by we, I mean the Shield.” She nodded, having discovered that when they had been discussing his career. “Then like, over a decade ago, in a smaller company, Dragon’s Gate, Bryan and I had a feud there too, so we’re not strangers.”

 

“And now you’re both in AEW.  That’s crazy how wherever you’ve gone, he seems to follow or vice versa.” Maxlyn didn’t know this, but Bryan was in the WWE long before Jon, got fired, then was rehired back a second time.  This time around, he was the one who left WWE of his own accord and joined AEW. “I take it you guys are friends, yeah?”

 

Jon nodded, admitting Bryan was one of his best friends and had been for years.  Bryan had asked Jon to be in the wedding to his wife, Brie, but he refused and simply attended with a friend of his, staying in the far back while they did their vows and everything.  It was in Sedona, Arizona and it was beautiful, but definitely not Jon’s cup of tea.

 

“I want to see your matches with him.  When we go back to Vegas, can we watch them?”

 

Being in professional wrestling, one was bound to cross paths with a lot of wrestlers in this business, especially in the Indies, it was just a fact of life.  Did a lot of them become big names?  Hell no, they did not.  However, the ones who did…were the ones who made something of themselves in a mainstream company and one had a good chance of meeting up with them again in one ring or another.

 

“You got a cell phone, you can watch them anytime you want, darlin’.” He chuckled, then realized that might be a bad idea.  She might wind up googling him and finding out some crazy stuff he did back in the day.

 

Nodding, Maxlyn stared into the fire as silence fell between them, her thoughts drifting from their talk earlier to what happened at the arena.  MJF.  Maxwell Jacob Friedman.  He was nice enough to her, but there was something about him that rubbed her the wrong way.  Every time she was around him, that chill shot down her spine and merely shaking his hand caused her body to tense.  No matter how hard she tried, Maxlyn couldn’t jog her memory if she’d ever met MJF before or not.  There was no way.  What were the odds?  Granted, perhaps she did prostitute for wrestlers and didn’t even know it, that was a possibility.  If she ever did Jon, Maxlyn would’ve remembered him…maybe.  That was a troubling thought…what if she had prostituted for Jon before and she just didn’t remember or he didn’t remember or recognize her?

 

That would be impossible.  Jon had never, not even once, had to pay for sex nor would he allow someone to buy him a woman.  Sure, he had gone to strip clubs back in his younger days, but outside of lap dances – strippers usually had a no touching rule – he hadn’t been dipping his dick in used goods.  Jon had seen way too much on the streets to even think about that one.  Sex with a stranger he had picked up the good old fashioned way at the arena or at a bar, of course.  PAYING for it?  He had way too much pride for that.

 

“What’s on your mind, darlin’?” Jon asked after a long silence, aware she was thinking because her brows kept scrunching together and he had been sort of bent around her just to watch her face.

 

Maxlyn broke out of her thoughts and Jon’s face was so close, their noses were practically touching.  Did she tell him about MJF?  What if he was with her and they crossed paths with him again at one of the arenas? “Jon…” Sighing softly, she rested her forehead against his, deciding to go a different route. “Have you ever been around someone you’ve never met before, but you just have this BAD feeling about them?  Like a chill runs down your spine and the hairs on the back of your neck stands up?  I…met someone at the arena tonight that made me feel like that and it’s confusing the hell out of me.  I feel bad because how can I feel that way about someone I’ve never met before, you know?” She really was scatterbrained tonight.

 

“Because that’s your gut telling you something is wrong.  Listen to it.” Jon advised immediately, wondering who it was she had met.  It could have been a wrestler, security, some backstage assistant, anyone really. “I’ve felt that way about people before, a bad feeling, like get the fuck away and don’t look back.  Do you know who the guy was?” Since it was a guy, she had said ‘he’, Jon had moved to sit by her side to see her properly.  This was a definite change from only moments ago, when she had been talking about not acting on how she felt. 

 

Things were never black and white with Maxlyn, that was for damn sure.

 

“Look, the ONLY reason I’m telling you this is because I don’t want you being surprised if it happens again.  Like if we’re walking down the hall at the arena and run into him.  And maybe it was just a onetime fluke, I don’t know.” Rambling again, Maxlyn had to stop herself and took a deep breath, feeling Jon’s hand reach out to take hers, her eyes meeting his. “It was the wrestler called MJF.  Chris called him Max when he introduced us…he said Max meet Max.” That made her crack a small smile, but it faded just as quickly. “We went to the cafeteria for something to drink and he was there and…just being near him gave me the creeps.  I felt this chill rush down my spine and I don’t know why.  I shook his hand and felt…like I had to get as far away from him as I could.  He made my anxiety go up, that’s how bad it was.  But I’ve NEVER met him before, so how can I judge someone like that when I don’t even know them?  He wasn’t mean to me or anything, only asked that I call him MJF or Maxwell instead of Max.  And then he helped me out with the guard situation, before Sammy arrived to smooth things over.  But even though he helped me, that chill was back and that feeling of ‘get the fuck away from him right now’ came over me.  And I’ve been trying to jog my memory because maybe I did meet him before and I just can’t remember.  Or maybe it’s my mind playing tricks on me.  Or maybe I’m finally losing what’s left of my damn mind.”

 

Jon would be the last person to tell her she was losing what was left of her mind.  He could very vividly recall Sue, the nurse from the rehabilitation center, telling him that Maxlyn was going to have a seriously lengthy period of adjustment.  Anxiety, nervousness, even paranoia were going to be common because she had very little trust in people as a whole.  Was this one of those issues or her gut?  He knew Maxwell, the little shit bag.

 

“No, he’s a douchebag with a capital D.” Jon stated emphatically, that attitude of Maxi boy’s being legitimate both in and out of the ring.

 

While Jon was AEW champion, before he even entertained the thought of going to rehabilitation or came to terms with his drinking addiction, he had a feud with Maxwell Jacob Friedman.  The little pissant had BEGGED and PLEADED with Tony Khan to give him the title, to give him a chance to be the face of the company.  Jon was riding on a serious high, even through the pandemic when there were no people allowed in the arenas during shows.  It was a very trying time for AEW because they were a new company that had just gotten their feet wet on national television.  MJF truly believed he could be the face of the company and Tony didn’t see it, didn’t agree with him, and refused to take the belt off Jon.  To say MJF was angry would’ve been an understatement, so when the ‘beatdown’ on Jon came, to spark the feud between them, he hadn’t lightened a single blow and nearly broke Jon’s nose. 

 

Jon was PISSED when he stalked to the back and had actually throttled MJF, demanding to know what the hell the kid’s problem was.  Of course, MJF feigned innocence, but everyone knew backstage he was lying through his teeth.  When their match came at the pay-per-view event for the title, MJF did every underhanded thing he could think of to win the title, things Jon did not approve of happening during their match because they had to collaborate and work it out together.  MJF refused to play ball, so Jon outwrestled him, planted him with a Paradigm Shift that could’ve snapped the kid’s neck, and left that night with his title on his shoulder.  To say MJF and Jon Moxley did not like each other was putting it mildly. 

 

They HATED each other.

 

“I’ll try my best to stay away from him, Jon.  If you don’t trust him, then I don’t either.” Maybe there was a very good reason why she’d felt the way she did around MJF after all.

 

Jon had to cheat to beat that bastard.  Well, no, he didn’t HAVE to cheat, but he had.  Just because that jackass had gotten his signature move BANNED and Jon hadn’t been having that malarkey.  That little douchebag was an entitled moron who had whined until he got some concessions.  Jon had force-fed those concessions down his arrogant little throat.  Violently.

 

“Like I said, dollface,” Jon released her hand and was getting up onto his feet, doing a one legged stand to remove his socks. “Sometimes, you get that feeling and you need to listen to it, it’s instinct.”

 

He was right and those instincts would go on to protect her in the months to come while she traveled the road with Jon.

 

Chapter 22

 

“Wow, you weren’t kidding about the snow!” Maxlyn exclaimed the next day, dressed from head to toe in snow gear, alongside Jon, both of them grinning like fools at all the white goodness in front of them.  Jon had rented some sleds for them and currently pulled them behind him while they trekked up the hill.  There was a very good reason he chose this cabin and it was the hill outside in the front. 

 

Even though she had tried to sleep on her side of the bed, Maxlyn had woken up with Jon’s arms wrapped around her, her little body spooned up against him, his bearded face buried in her hair.  It was so nice waking up like that and instead of fighting it, she just lay there for a while, enjoying the sound of his soft snoring behind her.  It wasn’t super loud and annoying, thankfully.  Eventually, Maxlyn had woken him up that morning with a cup of coffee, just the way he liked it, and demanded to know when they were going sledding.  She wanted to get the day started, refusing to let last night’s intensity get in the way of doing this.  Her face was already freezing, even with the layers she had on, including a scarf, and it felt amazing because it’d been too long since she enjoyed playing in the snow.  Something so simple and fun…and the best part was Jon was here with her.

 

“We’re going to be sick of it before the day is over.” Jon laughed, even with knowing he had cuddled her, – he had woken up during the night and had her pert little backside nestled right in his groin, which was awesome – today was going to be a blast. 

 

Just like he said last night, they were just going to have to deal with things one day at a time.  That was all they could do.  There was even a pond that was just a short drive away and they had ice skates in the cabin.  That was something he had never done, but he had rollerbladed, so it was the same thing, right?

 

“Ready?” He asked once they were on the top, staring down to the bottom and was glad that the path had been cleared for them because that walk would SUCK in all the snow.

 

“Yeah!  Let’s do it!” Jon nodded, waiting for her to get on the sled and then hopped on right behind her, leaving his own sled behind. “What are you – AHHH!!!” The hill was STEEP, so it was a fast ride down the slope and she screamed out in laughter, along with Jon, his arms around her waist.  It was amazing with his size that he could fit on the sled with her, but they were pretty big, so Maxlyn hadn’t worried about getting crushed or hurt. “I did not expect you to ride with me like that!  That was so much fun!  Again!” He laughed as they both got off the sled and started making their way up, when Maxlyn decided to get her revenge for last night.  A second later, Jon was doing a little dance of his own since she’d poured a LOT of snow down the back of his gear, making sure it hit bare skin. “Payback!”

 

“Oh, you evil, little…fuckin’,” Jon was doing a weird shimmying dance trying to get snow out of his snowpants and all that did was make it go down further. “Minx!” It was now down the crack of his backside and Jon whipped around to glare at her through narrowed blue eyes. “I’m about to toss you into that snowbank.” The one they had just sort of flattened by hitting it. 

 

It was a warning, so she could brace herself because a second later, Jon had hoisted Maxlyn up onto his shoulder and began spinning.  Hearing her laughter echoing around them, they both went down into the snowbank.  Jon made sure she landed off of him and he wasn’t on her.  Might have been kinder the other way, he groaned when he felt more snow in his collar.

 

“Damn it…”

 

Maxlyn was laughing so hard, she could barely breathe and didn’t care she just got a face full of snow.  She went face first into it and flipped to where she was on her back, beginning to wave her arms up and down. “Snow angels!  Come on, Jon, make one with me!”

 

They could take a picture afterwards with her cell phone he’d gotten her shortly after arriving in Vegas from the center.  Jon rolled his eyes with a smile on his face and did as requested, both of them making snow angels side by side together.  Jon got up with ease and helped her up, both of them stepping back to admire their handiwork.  Maxlyn pulled her phone out and snapped a few pictures before taking a selfie of them together, one goofy one with their tongues out and one with just smiles.

 

“Come on, let’s go down again and I promise, no more snow down your pants.”

 

“Yeah, you better keep that promise.  Eventually, I might want to use my dick again and it might be literally blue now.” Jon wasn’t checking because his hands were covered in snow and nobody needed iced over balls. 

 

If Maxlyn did get him again, however, he was going to wake her up with snow in their bed tomorrow morning.  One day here didn’t seem like enough and it wasn’t even past eleven yet!  Jon was having fun, even with the drama they had last night, and he didn’t want this to end.  He let her go first, grumbling about not trusting her as they climbed back up the hill.  He was grinning though once they got back up there, flashing her a smile.

 

“I promise, I’m going to behave and NOT send you flying down that sled on this hill…” Naturally, he’d go with her. “I bet we could ramp over that snowbank…”

 

“Wait, what are you…JON!!” Maxlyn squealed out when they took off like a bullet down that hill and Jon turned the sled, heading right for the snowbank he’d pointed out. 

 

There was no way…THERE WAS NO WAY!!  Maxlyn felt them take to the air and felt Jon tighten his arm around her, keeping her against him.  It felt like it was happening in slow motion and when they landed, Maxlyn groaned at the harshness, even though they were in snow.

 

“Oh man, my ass is bruised for sure!  Nice flight, bad landing, Jon honey…” She grunted, rolling out of the sled and landed in the snow again, staring up at the sky. “I don’t wanna leave here.  I know we have Rampage tomorrow night at the same arena, so can’t we just come back here and stay until we have to move onto the next town?  I’ll pay for the extra days.”

 

Jon had deliberately launched them with some extra oomph and considering what he did for a living and the condition of his body…yeah, there was a LOT of ‘oomph’.  He had been laughing the entire ride down and now he was just lying there in the snow after she had gotten off the sled.  He had slumped backwards, not minding the cold anymore because he was getting used to it.  It was cold to be sure, but not frost bite, going to die, hell no cold.  He raised his head up to look at her, lifting himself up onto his elbows.

 

“We can stay longer and we’d even get a discount.” Jon chuckled, knowing how the management would view it, but he didn’t care.  Couples cabin…this was paradise, a snowy paradise. “It’d give us more time to do stuff.  You ice skate, darlin’?”

 

“Ice skating?  We can do that here too?” Maxlyn sat up on her elbows as well, enjoying the feeling of the cold snow and reached out to brush some off his beard. “I’ve never done it before, but I’m willing to try anything once.” If they were staying, and it sounded like they were, that would have to be added to their to-do list. “Discount or not, I’m paying for the rest of the time we’re staying here and I want no lip, Jon.” She tapped his nose with her gloved finger and went to stand up in the thick snow, only to be tackled by him lightly.  He would never hurt her and she went down easily enough, making her laugh harder while staring up at him. “You made my hat go flying, now go get it.”

 

Jon raised his head again, looking to see where her hat had gone and groaned. “But it’s too far away…” He whined, perfectly comfortable laying on top of her, though he was mindful not to go crushing her with his considerable bulk. “It’s like…three feet away…” Grumbling when she tapped his red nose, Jon made a great fuss of pushing himself off of her and began doing a weird crawl to get the hat.  A second later, he felt her boot in his backside and he was eating snow. “Oh, it’s ON!” Maxlyn was giggling though and it was music to his ears, this cheeky wench.

 

“Damn right it is, Moxley!  I’m tougher than I look, hombre!  Bring it on, WILD THANG!” Maxlyn taunted, laughing at the look that crossed his snow-covered face. “You look like Frosty the Snowman just came all over your face!”

 

Giggling uncontrollably, Jon cursed while wiping the snow away while she kept backing up, knowing it would NOT be easy to outrun Jon in this thick snow.  Instead of running, she decided to go to war and formed a snowball, pelting him right in the chest with it after throwing as hard as she could.  A few seconds later, she got one in the arm and threw another one, nailing him in his own.

 

“Oh, you little sneaky…shit!” Jon was tempted to tackle her, obviously lightly so he didn’t hurt her.  Instead, he tossed himself behind a pine tree and began assembling his own snowballs after those first few tosses. “This means war, dollface!” He laughed, glancing up at the snow covered branches above his head.  A second later, he had pulled one back and then let it snap forward as she approached, dousing her with snow. “Ha!  Shit!” Right in the face from her, again!  This woman was something else entirely and he snatched her up, planting her against the tree while laughing. “You win, you win.  War is over.”

 

Her hair was full of snow because he still hadn’t given her back the hat and Maxlyn didn’t care, taking the snowball that was still in her hand to smash it right over his head, making her laugh harder. “I definitely win now.” Jon shook his head at her, keeping her pinned there and the smell of him combined with the snow, the pine tree she was against, and the winter surrounding them was intoxicating.  Even though she was incredibly cold at the moment from being out here, just gazing into his eyes caused that warmth to flood her body from head to toe, her cheeks reddening from both the cold and that warmth. “So since I won, Good, what’s my prize?”

 

She was TEMPTING him and he had to wonder if she knew it.  Maxlyn did, there was no way she wasn’t aware of what she was doing to him, teasing him with that question, especially after last night’s confessions. “Well, darlin’,” Jon was right there pressed against her and his voice had lowered to a husky rumble. “What do you want?” If that wasn’t a loaded question…not that he could help it. 

 

Would she shy away from him if he kissed her?  Would she think the worst of him?  Damn it, this woman and her past made everything so complicated and he lowered his head, giving Maxlyn time to stop him.  If she didn’t, he was kissing her.

 

This, right here, would be her first real kiss.  She’d kissed a lot of men, but not by choice and not because she wanted to.  With Jon, she wanted to and it was if that vow last night, and everything she said, flew out the window.  Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing picking up along with her heartrate.  Maxlyn did not push him away or move, slowly closing her eyes the moment his cold lips connected with hers, both warming each other up instantly from the inside out. 

 

His lips were soft, even through the coldness that was quickly melting away, and her gloved hands moved to rest on his broad snowsuit covered shoulders, her entire body beginning to tremble.  It wasn’t from fear either, Jon did not scare her and would never hurt her.  Just to prove she wasn’t scared and she wanted this in return, Maxlyn returned the kiss, her arms now wrapping around his neck to pull him closer to her instead of pushing him away.  The only thing that mattered in this moment was her and Jon and this unbelievable first kiss of hers.

 

Everything she stated from last night had just been flushed down the toilet.  Day by day was how they were dealing with this, with their feelings, and everything else.  She tasted still like her toothpaste and it was a weird contrast, feeling so heated even as cold snow began landing on them.  Jon wanted to deepen the kiss, taste more than just her lips, pin her to this tree and kiss her breathless until her head was spinning and her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest, but he didn’t.  Instead, he kept it simple, yet even simple was still passionate, the natural chemistry between them coming through.

 

We’ll deal with it. Those were Jon’s words penetrating through her mind when she told him she’d never change hers about being with him.  Just because they were kissing against this tree, in this winter wonderland, did not mean she would fall into his arms.  Did it?  Truthfully, Jon was the only man Maxlyn had ever desired and wanted in her life.  That was so much pressure to put on a man and that was the last thing she wanted to do.  Still, the simple passionate kiss slowly grew a little more heated the longer it lasted and she finally opened her mouth for Jon once she felt his tongue swipe across her lips, giving him access to taste her, to taste each other.  That was when the moan escaped her and just as Jon wanted to do, he was taking her breath away, making her head spin, and her heart felt like it would fly out of her chest at any second or completely explode.

 

Yes, she would fall into his arms.  Even if it wasn’t tonight or tomorrow or even next month, eventually, she would want more than his kisses.  Maxlyn would want to know what it felt like to be made love too, to be fucked out of mutual desire and need by a real man.  She would want ALL of him, mind and body.  Maxlyn was already halfway there; she definitely had her odd little hands on his heart.  Jon had her firmly against that tree trunk now, trapped by his body and his hands had moved down to her hips, wishing for less clothing so he could feel her curves.  It was probably a good thing they were wearing layers because his formally frigid balls and dick were working great.

 

All too soon, at least to her, the kiss broke between them because they both needed oxygen before they passed out in the snow.  That would definitely not be a good thing to happen.  Jon had very reluctantly been the one to do it and both were panting.  Her usual brown eyes were alight in golden toffee and his were a smoldering cerulean blue, the colors mixing together while both tried to figure out what to say.

 

“Jon…” Maxlyn breathed out shakily and cupped his bearded face with her gloved hands, loving how she felt as if she was being consumed by him.  They were pressed together so close against that tree, not even a slip of paper could wedge between them. “I-I think we should head back inside and warm up, yeah?” There was no reason to tell him he was her first actual kiss, right?  What if he thought she was a complete freak because of it? “Y-You’re the only man that’s ever…that I’ve ever wanted to kiss me.  You’re my first kiss and I’ll never forget it.” Damn her blurting out crap!

 

Chapter 23

 

Jon knew he wasn’t her legitimate first kiss though his head was reeling from a combination of that kiss, being out of breath, and her blurting that out at him.  She had been a prostitute and definitely kissed before.  Not even taking into consideration what her mother had put her through, she didn’t count those.  THAT hit him like a ton of bricks.  The paradox between what Jon knew about her past and history, her experience, and then the reality of her situation and how Maxlyn viewed it…was amazing and beautiful sometimes.

 

“I hope not.” Jon grinned finally, brushing his nose against hers. “Hot cocoa?” Before he kissed her again.

“Yeah, yeah that sounds good.” Maxlyn agreed in a soft voice, feeling Jon take her gloved hand to guide her through the thick snow back to their cabin. 

 

It took a bit of time because it had started snowing again and trudging through the snow wasn’t very easy in heavy snow boots.  Once inside, Maxlyn and Jon stripped out of their snow gear and he hung them up to dry near the roaring fireplace.  She prepared the hot cocoa for them since he was still busy with the gear and brought the mugs out a few minutes later, both piping hot.

 

“Here you go.” Handing it to him, Maxlyn went to sit in front of the fireplace, holding one hand out to warm it with the flames and then the other, carefully sipping her hot beverage.

 

He sat beside her, careful to give her a hint of space, and stretched himself out with a contented sigh. “I like the snow and all, but I hate how it seeps into your bones, you know?” Cincinnati had gotten COLD in the winter, nothing like Chicago, but cold enough to make one appreciate their single blanket in a crappy apartment. “Like, no matter how warm you are, how many blankets and shit, it just won’t leave.  Unless you have a fire.” Jon was a happy camper right now.  This morning had been fun and he also enjoyed the impromptu kissing session, wondering how she felt about it. “I don’t regret kissing you, Maxlyn.”

 

“I never thought you did or would, Jon.  You’re the type of man that when you want something, you go after it, damned the consequences.  Stubborn and bullheaded.”

 

Maxlyn refused to talk about Chicago and her time there, that was one subject that would forever stay off-limits.  The ONLY time she had spoken about it was the night of the comet, when Jon convinced her to leave with him to start her new life.  Now here she was, in a lavish romantic getaway cabin, having just played outside in the snow for the first time in decades, and feeling more alive than ever with a gorgeous man.

 

“Why did you kiss me?  Not that I didn’t enjoy it or regret it because I did and I don’t.  I’m just curious what made you pull that particular trigger and…how long have you felt something for me besides friendship?”

 

“No idea on the friendship one, and as for the kiss, well…” Flashing her a boyish smile as he sipped his hot chocolate, his blue eyes sparkled with amusement. “You did ask what prize you got…and I am a damn fine prize…” Given last night she had blurted out those feelings and how they weren’t being acted on…he was calling mulligan on that one.  He was an action kind of guy and kept that tamped down for her, knowing he needed to think things through before rushing into it headfirst.  Not today, apparently, and like he had just told her, there were zero regrets.

 

“You’re full of yourself, you know that?” Maxlyn muttered with a roll of her eyes, though the smile on her face couldn’t be wiped away either. “But I have to admit, having you as a prize doesn’t sound too shabby.  I’m the heavyweight snowball throwing champion, after all.” That sounded so lame even as she said it and she started laughing along with him, sipping more of her cocoa. “You also don’t play fair, Jon.”

 

“Never said I didn’t, darlin’.”

 

“You said we’d deal with it after I told you I wouldn’t change my mind, no matter what.  It still hasn’t changed.”

 

“Now who’s full of themselves and lying?”

 

“I’m NOT lying.  I can’t be with you, I can’t be with anyone and the sooner you accept that, the sooner we can go back to being friends.” Maxlyn stood up since she’d finished her hot cocoa and walked to the sink to rinse it out, with Jon hot on her trail. “You’re pushing me…”

 

“Well maybe you need to be fucking pushed.” Jon stopped her from walking past him, standing right in her way and took her hands in his, forcing their eyes to meet. “Stop running away from me.  I know what you’ve done, I know the bullshit you had to endure to be here today with me, all right?  I know all of it and it doesn’t mean a damn to me.  Your past, everything you’ve done, the sins you committed, the scars you have deep inside…it doesn’t matter to me.  And after the way you kissed me and I kissed you out there against that tree, I’m NOT walking away.  I’m NOT giving up on you and I never will!”

 

“Jon…”

 

“No, you have to listen to me, Maxlyn.  You have to believe what I’m telling you.  I’m NOT your mother.  I’m not all of those scumbags that used you like a cheap piece of meat either!” His hands released hers to cup her face, keeping their eyes locked even as tears began flooding from hers down his fingers.  Jon didn’t pull away, knowing he had to do this in order to break through the rest of those walls she had up. “Goddamn it, just let me in!  LET ME IN and let me show you how different I am from them.  The way I kissed you out there earlier, you told me it was your first kiss.  Because it was a kiss YOU wanted me to give you.  Everything you’ve told me up until now I’ve believed you without a second thought, a moment’s hesitation.  What more do I have to do to prove to you that I am DIFFERENT than all the others?!”

 

“I…”

 

Christ, her heart felt like a jackrabbit’s pounding in and out of her chest from what he was saying to her, sometimes yelling, sometimes lowering his voice to a dark timbre.  It reminded her of last night when he was in the ring, baring his soul to his fans about what happened to him.  Jon was doing it again now, baring his soul to her and all he wanted her to do was let him in, to give him a chance.

 

“D-Don’t you think I want to let you in?!  Christ, look at everything you’ve done for me since we left the rehab center!  You gave me a room in your house, you opened up everything to me, you invited me on the road with you, and I…damn it, Jon, you’re too good for me!”

 

A smirk curved his lips as he stepped closer, invading her space like he had outside earlier against that tree, only now he had her cornered by the sink. “We’ll work through it.” The same words he used last night were repeated and he brushed his lips to hers. “Let me in, dollface, please…”

 

“I-I want to, but…”

 

“We’ll work through it.”

 

“Stop saying that!!”

 

“Then stop fighting me and I will!”

 

“No!”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Damn it, Jon!”

 

“Damn it, Maxlyn!”

 

“YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!” They both said in unison at the same time and just like that, the tension between them shattered to pieces, both bursting out laughing.

 

Now Maxlyn knew where he stood and that was dangerously close to her and he wasn’t leaving.  The fact that SHE thought HE was too good for her…wow, those were words he never expected to be told.  It was usually the other way around and, even with everything she had done, her past, Jon still felt she was too good for him.  There was an innocence about her, as illogical as it seemed, and he usually felt he was too harsh and tainted for her.  They had issues.

 

“I’m making lunch, minx.” Jon informed her, nuzzling along her jaw with his nose. “One day at a time, okay?” Kisses, however, were going to be more frequent.

 

“You’re such an idiot.” Maxlyn murmured softly, the affection in her voice seeping through her tone, and slid her hands up his bare chest, the walls around her heart crumbling into dust. “And I’m a bigger idiot for what I’m about to say.” First, she initiated the kiss this time, soft and gentle, no pressure to it.  What was this man doing to her? “Okay, Jon.  One day at a time, like you said.  Okay.” The way his electric blues lit up, they were glowing and Maxlyn did not understand why.  How was it possible to make him this happy?  And what did this mean for them going forward? “Do you want me to help you make lunch?” Food was the last thing on her mind and something told her Jon felt the same way.

 

“I know.” Jon agreed to her idiot comment cheerfully, already moving around the kitchen.  Was he hungry?  Not for food, but he also knew he needed to eat and maintain, especially if they were going to be building up their appetites with outdoor activities and breaks for intense kissing sessions. “I got it, anything in particular sound good?” He wasn’t big on making a big, time intensive lunch; Jon saved that for evening meals. “Sandwiches and maybe some soup?” He was so glad he had them shopped for; he’d do it again tomorrow morning before they headed out for Rampage since they were coming back.

 

“Sounds good.”

 

Truthfully, as much as Maxlyn loved it here in this winter wonderland, she missed Vegas.  She missed the house and Blue, sitting on the couch with Jon watching wrestling and eating ice cream.  Even though he hogged the chocolate or tried to.  She knew the homesickness would come and go, needing to get used to being on the road.  They would not be heading back to Vegas until the following week, providing Jon didn’t find another getaway spot to take her to.  She smiled at all the possibilities, the adventures they would go on and felt her heart lift little by little.

 

“Thank you.” He dropped a kiss on her lips as she took the plate before sitting down at the table with her, both eating their food in companionable silence.

 

~!~

 

“My ass is never going to be the same again!” Maxlyn groaned later that day, limping into the room with Jon following, both taking their winter gear off.  It wasn’t snow gear since they had gone ice-skating, which wasn’t as fun as it sounded. “I don’t know about you, but I need to take a dip in the hot tub to soak my sore ass, Jon.”

 

“Me too.” Jon was wrestling tonight and he was glad he didn’t fight in anything dumb because he had biffed it just as many times as she had. “You know, I rollerbladed as a kid and shit, so I thought it would be the same thing, basically.” It wasn’t, there was a major difference between rollerblading and ice skating, namely the ice. “Let’s get into what we’re dipping in and I’ll grab the Epsom salt…” Getting the Whirlpool going was basically like drawing a giant ass bath, with jets and those jets would feel AWESOME on their backs. “Remind me not to suggest doing anything like that EVER again, darlin’. Your ass okay? Need it checked?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

 

A smirk curved her lips at his tease and Maxlyn had found herself reciprocating quite easily over the past day. “I’m not sure what you can do for a bruised ass, but if you must, go ahead.” She even turned to bend over a little in the jeans she had on, looking at him over her shoulder. “Well, are you gonna check it or not?” His response was a growl followed by whipping her around to plant a passionate kiss on her lips, muttering something about her being a minx. “You offered, I was just accepting it.” Locking her hands around his neck, Maxlyn rubbed her nose gently against his. “Want me to check and see if your ass is okay?”

 

“No, you’ll fall in love, I have a fine looking ass.” Jon joked, laughing when she gave his beard a bit of a light tug. “Not funny?  It was funny, dollface.” He brushed his lips against hers again. “Go get around for that hot tub.” If she wore anything like her swimsuit, he’d get a decent look at her pert backside.  Hot tub, Maxlyn, this new open, physical affection…he was mentally letting his dick know that boners were not going to happen and they needed to be patient.  His dick was basically saying screw that, it had been months since they saw someone besides Rosy Palm and her five daughters along with a tube of KY.

 

Jon watched as Maxlyn all but bounced to get her bag, inwardly groaning. Fuck.

 

When Jon told her to pack a bathing suit for this trip, she figured it’d be because of the pool in the hotel they were staying at or something, not in a winter wonderland romantic getaway cabin.  Just for them.  It was the same bathing suit she had on in Vegas, a one-piece, black, nothing sexy or alluring about it.  Maxlyn knew she was playing a very dangerous game with Jon by being affectionate like this and giving him a chance, but…the man was very convincing.  She couldn’t turn him down or deny him anything…and truthfully, she wanted to be with him too.  When she entered the rehabilitation center a little over a year ago, Maxlyn made a vow to never have sex again, to remain celibate for the rest of her life.  There was a very good reason for that celibacy…a piece of Maxlyn’s dark past that she could never tell Jon about. 

 

It was also the catalyst as to why she had drank herself into an alcoholic coma.  Why she was found by her coworker, why she wound up in the hospital finding out she had cirrhosis of the liver, and why she met Jonathan Good.  It had been a domino effect, colliding one piece after another as they all fell and that final piece was Jon, who refused to budge.  It was also the night she vowed to never prostitute again, to sell her body for money, to show her body off to strangers for survival…all because of one asshole that did not know the meaning of the word ‘no’. 

 

To this day, Maxlyn did not remember who it was that took what was not offered, or even paid for, because she’d been drugged and kidnapped for 24 hours.  Unseen.  Unheard.  Wherever she had been taken, Maxlyn didn’t remember any of it, only that after the 24 hours was up, she was dropped off in front of her apartment building with a wad of cash and a black hood over her head.  Throughout the horrible experience, she’d been blindfolded while the man assaulted and raped her repeatedly, with her arms and legs tied down, unable to fight back or defend herself.  Just as the car had sped off with squealing tires, Maxlyn had yanked the black hood from her head and stumbled inside her apartment for a scolding hot shower, sobbing her heart out to the silence.

 

And then she cracked open the Vodka, finished it off, then the Tequila, finished it off, then the bourbon, finished it off, then the whiskey…within one night, she had consumed five bottles of different liquor and it was a miracle she survived.  In a way, she didn’t want to survive and figured killing herself with alcohol was the way to go.  That had been the first time she’d been raped and assaulted since leaving Chicago.  All because she denied this one man her body because she felt a dangerous presence from him and tried to protect herself, only to fail miserably.

 

Chapter 24

 

Just like Jon had said in his promo in the ring on Dynamite, some scars could not be seen and they ran deeper than scars that COULD.  At the same time, however, Maxlyn knew it was only a matter of time before she gave into Jon completely, sex and all.  He already had her heart and try as she might, every part of her belonged to him except one thing.  Her body.  That was the one thing that would be very hard for Maxlyn to relinquish and give him because, even though she’d been fucked in every position, in every way humanly known, none of it was sex she WANTED.  Jon, in her mind, would be her first actual sexual partner, just like he was her first actual kiss.  The way he kissed and held her, touched her…Maxlyn could feel herself wanting, craving, more of that, to go deeper with it, and didn’t know how long she’d be able to hold back before surrendering everything.  The mere thought of Maxlyn being with Jon sexually sent both shivers and warmth throughout her body while she stood there, looking at the reflection staring back at her. 

 

Sometimes when she did it, the platinum blonde prostitute with fake lashes, caked makeup, and stiletto heels flashed for a second, reminding her of who she used to be compared to now. This is who I am now.  I’m no longer that person and I never will be again. Nodding to affirm what she just thought, Maxlyn headed out of the bathroom and smiled at the sight of Jon already in the jacuzzi, his head leaned back, and those electric blues popped open to look back at her.  Padding over, she slid inside the hot bubbly liquid and groaned the moment it hit her sore backside, reminding her of the damn ice they had smacked several times earlier that day. “Oh man, this is the ticket right here…” Maxlyn groaned out, choosing a small seat and let the jets work their way down her lower back, leaning back just like Jon was as her eyes drifted closed.

 

She had been in there for a rather long time and Jon didn’t bother asking if everything was copesetic.   She could have been grooming, using the toilet, or simply reflecting and taking a moment for herself.  He knew things were going to be hard for her whenever she had a moment to stop and think, realize today was at odds with what she had said she wanted, and Jon expected more of that in the future.  He also knew he wasn’t going to let Maxlyn have too many of those moments because he didn’t want her scaring herself and running from him.  He’d have to track her down then…and he would.

 

“How’s your ass now, darlin’?” He asked after about ten minutes of silence, just pure, comfortable relaxation.

 

“Mmm, much better and these jets are doing the job beautifully.” Maxlyn opened her eyes and saw his locked on her, seeing the concern in his blues.  She didn’t even realize she’d been in the bathroom for a good 20 minutes thinking about the past before coming out here.  Deciding to ease his mind, she moved from her perch over to him and felt his arm encircle her waist to pull her close, straddling his lap beneath the water. “You know, as lovely and wonderful as this place is, Jon, there’s another place that’s even better.  And I think we’ve had about as much fun here as we’re going to get.  Everything we’re doing here, besides the snow, is back home in Vegas too.” He had his own hot tub there and swimming pool. “I miss it there and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss Blue so much.  So instead of coming back here after Rampage tonight, since we haven’t paid for the extra days yet, how about we just go home until the next Dynamite show?  And since we’ve been sharing a bed together since I came on the road with you, I’ve gotten used to sleeping in your arms, so I want to share your bed with you at home.  What do you think, honey?”

 

“You’re not going to have a nightmare and bean me or something, are you?” This was great and all, but they had only spent what, two nights together?  No, they had napped together on the bed yesterday before coming here.  So a nap and one night.  Jon felt almost smug, as cocky as that sounded, but Jon never claimed to be a saint, that she couldn’t stick to her guns and her word.  Good.   He didn’t WANT her too, he wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. 

 

Maxlyn on his lap was good as well, mostly. “Not to be a pervert, but don’t smack me or freak out, but… uh…” It’d been a long time.  He was starting to come alive and when her eyes widened, Jon smiled somewhat apologetically. “Sorry.” There was no way she was missing THAT.

 

“I’m not going to smack you and freak out.” Her eyes lowered from his, however, the roses in her cheeks blooming and lighting her face up. “It’s a natural reaction from you and I can’t fault you for it.  I’m not stupid or naïve either, I know what will eventually happen between us, Jon.” Hell, it may even happen once they returned home to Vegas.  Maxlyn honestly didn’t know. “And this may sound completely stupid considering my past and everything, but…sex scares me.  I’ve never been with someone who’s wanted me for more than a fuck, for more than just sex.  And I’m also scared because I’ve never wanted a man before,” Her eyes rose at that moment to lock with his, the truth shining through them. “Until now.” Her hand reached up to caress his bearded face, gliding her fingers across to the other side and then down his wet chest beneath the water.  Brushing her lips against his, Maxlyn softly moaned the moment their tongues touched and tasted each other like before, her body melting into him. “Until you, Jon.”

 

Or it would happen right now in this cliched cabin that he honestly hadn’t thought would live up to the couple’s thing.  This was the luckiest mistake he had ever made, that was for sure.  He didn’t think they would have come together like this in Vegas, not as fast anyway.  Something had started changing between them when they had been able to get out of their Vegas routine.  Jon liked the change-up and wanted it to continue when they went back.

 

“I won’t lie, darlin’,” He rumbled, not able to hide the fact he was turned on and she could FEEL it as well as hear it. “I do want your body, you’re a beautiful woman and I’ve seen that from day one.” Dear Christ, did he want her body right now! “I also want the woman, the person inside, you’re beautiful inside too.  I just want everything when it comes to you, Maxlyn.”

 

She breathed out a little harshly, tears forming in her eyes at his sweet words, and could tell he meant every word he said.  He wanted her and she wanted him just as much, if not more. “You make me feel beautiful, Jon, both inside and out.  You’re an incredible man and you have the biggest heart, and more importantly than that, I trust you.  I know this is fast, I know we’ve only been out of the center for a little over a month, but…Christ, I don’t care about time.  I’ve known you for over four months and that’s more than enough time for me to come to terms with what I want.  You’re not just the man I want in every way possible, you’re my best friend, and I want to give you everything I have.  It’s yours.  All of me is yours.” Please don’t hurt me and break my heart, please don’t abandon me, Jonathan Good.

 

No pressure, Good, none at all.  She’s only the most fucked up person you’ve ever met, she beats everyone else hand’s down…but there’s something innocent and pure about her, so DON’T be the thing that totally destroys that. That might have been Jon’s biggest fear when it came to Maxlyn.

 

Contrary to her past, she WAS pure and innocent, learning about life and its joys as they went.  He was terrified that everything she had gone through hadn’t broken her, but somehow, someway he would.  He wasn’t sure what to say, but he knew how to convey his thoughts and actions with actions.  Jon was always a man of action and it seemed perfect because she had the words he didn’t.  He cupped her face, staring into her eyes intently before gently kissing her, trying to pour all those words Maxlyn possessed he didn’t into it.

 

Unfortunately, the moment was ruined when Maxlyn broke the kiss and glanced up at the clock, seeing they only had a few hours before needing to make it to the arena for Rampage.  Jon had followed her gaze, looked back at her, and then at the clock a second time, cursing a blue streak.  Maxlyn kissed him to shut him up, promising him they could continue this later on…after he beat the snot out of his opponent.  She wanted to assure him she wasn’t upset in the slightest, they had plenty of time to delve into the sexual part of whatever was building between them.  Was it a relationship?  Were they just dating?  Was that the same thing?  Or were they something more than all of those things combined?  Maxlyn didn’t know or care at the moment as they hurried out of the jacuzzi to get changed, Jon hopping in the shower to wash off from the chemicals. 

 

After that, Jon quickly stopped while toweling himself off and asked her point blank what she wanted to do for his days off.  Stay here or go home? “You already know the answer to that question, honey.” Home…home all the way.

 

Within an hour, they were out the door headed to the arena, which would take about 45 minutes to an hour to get there and their fingers were laced together while classic rock played from the radio, each deep in their own thoughts.  Jon would have his first match back with a serious case of blue balls.  Or he would have, if not for the fact that while he was in the shower, jacking off in RECORD time.  He was NOT going to go into that fight with a bunch of pain in his nuts, that would be the worst stomach cramp of all time.

 

“You want to hang with Chris again?” He asked, pulling into the parking lot. “I’ll have a dressing room if you want to use that.” Unless she was concerned about MJF, not that he imagined the idiot would bother her, but still…she might feel better and safer with Chris. “And I mean when I’m out in the ring, not all night.”

 

“I’ll just stay in your room and watch your match from there.” Maxlyn didn’t want to bug Chris or the rest of the Inner Circle tonight, deciding to just stay in one spot. “Don’t get me wrong, I like Chris and he’s funny.  The rest of the Inner Circle, Sammy and Jake are cool too.  I just caused a lot of issues for them on Wednesday…” She held her hand up before Jon could start protesting. “You weren’t there for most of it, Jon.  Believe me, I’ll just feel more comfortable staying in your room.  Now come on, we need to get in there so you can prepare for your first match back.” Stepping out of the car, bundled up again, Maxlyn waited for him to join her with his bag in hand before grabbing his hand, both heading inside.  This time, her backstage pass was VISIBLE to even a blind man and her hair was pulled back in a braid, so it wouldn’t cover up the laminated pass.

 

“All right darlin’, here it is.” Jon pointed to the door with the name MOX in big bold black letters on it on a piece of paper, after they had navigated the hallways and found his room.  Laughing when he opened the door to find Chris and said Inner Circle waiting with…Sprite to douse him with. “Don’t-!” A second later he had been doused in shaken up Sprite.

 

“Welcome back to the RING, Jonny baby!” Chris laughed because, usually, he would have done this with the bubbly, but…he wasn’t a complete dick.  He wouldn’t do that to a recovered alcoholic.

 

Jon was about to tell her that she hadn’t caused Chris a damn thing because Chris was crazy and now, he didn’t have too.  She got to see it.  He blinked, wiping soda off his face. “You…Pricks…” It was said without any heat though and pure love for his friend.

 

Luckily, only a little bit had gotten on Maxlyn and her brown eyes were wide as saucers, not believing what Chris just did to Jon.  Bombarding him with Sprite…that was actually a really awesome thing to do.  Most people did that with alcohol, but after what Jon had gone through…Chris was crazy, but he was also a sweetheart as well.

 

“At least it wasn’t Pepsi, so it won’t stain.” She stepped aside while Chris hugged Jon, whispering something in his ear and Jon had nodded in return, both of them sharing a brotherly embrace. “I’ll get you a towel, Jon.  Hello again, boys.” Maxlyn acknowledged them all while pulling out a towel Jon had snaked from the cabin, handing it to him.

 

“Hey there, Max baby.” Chris grinned at her, having been aiming at Jon, but she may have been a casualty of the war.  Usually, he would have offered his ‘bubbly’, which he was now hocking on social media because he was a businessman and people would buy anything, but he wasn’t a tool. “We had to give you a proper welcome back, man.”

 

“Yeah, I got that.” Jon laughed, peeling off his shirt with a snort and tossed it over a chair.  He was a man of simple tastes, so he literally had an identical one in his bag. “You okay, darlin’?”

 

Feeling more at ease with these men was a good sign in Maxlyn’s book and she smirked at Jon, setting up a steel chair in front of the monitor. “I won’t melt from being splattered with Sprite, honey.  I’m right as rain.  But if you don’t wanna go out to the ring smelling like Sprite, you might wanna take another shower.” Not that Sprite smelled bad or anything, but it was really sticky once it dried on the skin.  She was a lot more relaxed after their cabin winter wonderland getaway and it showed in her demeanor.  There was a lot less tension coming from her as she took a seat, taking another can of unopened Sprite from Sammy. “Thank you.  And um, thanks for what you did for me on Wednesday with the guard, Sammy.”

 

“With the… oh, that?  No biggie, it sometimes happens.” It really wasn’t that big of a deal and he had practically forgotten about it.

 

“It happens a lot.” Chris laughed, shaking his hair out from the tail he had been sporting. “And then you get these rent-a-cop security guards who think they’re big and bad.”

 

“Can’t bitch too much, it’s better than letting crazies wander around.  I’m not saying you’re crazy, Max,” Sammy cleared his throat, smiling to show he wasn’t trying to insult her or anything. “But there’s been some real whack jobs.  Ask Mox.”

 

“I can imagine and I was stupid for not wearing the pass outside of my shirt.  Lesson learned.” It may not have been a big deal to Sammy, but it was to Maxlyn and she would always show gratitude to anyone that helped her.  Just not as MUCH gratitude as she did with Jon, for obvious reasons. “And I’ll keep that in mind.” Ask Mox, huh?  She saw Jon emphatically shake his head and did the same while sipping her Sprite, once again scrolling through her phone.

 

“How about you two join us for some dinner after the show tonight?  No drinking, I promise, baby.”

 

“Actually,” Maxlyn’s face reddened a little when all eyes turned on her and she cleared her throat, not meaning that to pop out. “As nice as that offer is, we have a flight to catch right after the show to head back home.” They literally had to leave right after Jon’s match was over with to catch the red-eye flight that was booked.

 

Chris raised an eyebrow when she looked over at Jon, catching the look on Jon’s face, which was a bit of a smile.  Head back home, huh?  He had a feeling Jonny boy was going to avoid him for a bit, just to escape having to spill his guts.  Chris was usually pretty good about wheedling things out of people.

 

“Well, maybe next time,” Chris glanced over at Sammy and nodded. “We got to get going, we just wanted to welcome you back to in-ring action.”

 

“Thanks.” Jon tugged off his shirt, shaking his head. “Jackass.”

 

“We’ll catch you two later.”

 

“Thank God there is only one Chris Jericho.” Jon chuckled once they were out the door. “Damn it…you’re right, I’m sticky as fuck.”

 

Chapter 25

 

“I knew it.  Soda is very sticky, but at least he didn’t use that bubbly champagne stuff.” Jon nodded in agreement, tossing the Sprite soaked shirt into the nearby trashcan. “Are you sure you wanna throw that away?  It can be washed, Jon…” He shrugged, explaining to her he could get another one easily, and dropped a kiss on her lips before heading into the bathroom for a quick shower. 

 

Maxlyn hadn’t meant to just blurt out they were going home, but she also didn’t want Jon agreeing to have dinner with Chris and the others when they were catching the redeye.  When he stepped out in just a towel draped low on his hips, Maxlyn had to learn how to breathe again and forced her gaze to stare at the monitor instead of him.  She was suddenly wishing she’d worn a short-sleeved shirt because he just made her a little hot under the collar.

 

Chris wouldn’t have used alcohol simply because he knew Jon was a recovering alcoholic.  Chris drank, a LOT, and it showed, but that did not mean he was going to force that on other people.  Chris was getting really curious about the woman, about Maxlyn, and there was an obvious shift in their relationship since the other day.  Eventually, he was going to get his hands on Jon and wheedle it out of him.  Or maybe he'd just do some snooping; he had no shame.

 

“We’re gonna have to do a dinner thing or something with them next week.  Chris is getting curious.” Jon laughed, using a smaller towel for his hair as he moved to stand by his open bag. “About you, darlin’, he’s curious about you.  I’ve never brought a woman on the road with me before.” Not like this.

 

“You haven’t?” She was looking at him now, raising a brow at his affirmation and chewed her bottom lip nervously. “Is it really that weird for you to bring someone on the road?” Another nod.  That was a problem then.  As much fun as Maxlyn was having with Jon on the road, she had already decided not to join him all the time.  He had a job to do and she didn’t want to be a distraction all the time. “I don’t want him or anyone to know about my past, Jon.” That had to be made crystal clear as she stood up from the chair, wrapping her arms around herself. “What exactly are you going to tell him about me?  Obviously not the truth, right?  Because then he’ll think I’m some nutcase you brought home with you from the rehab center.” Jon was a rare breed of man because hardly anyone would do what he did for her and Maxlyn knew it. “Shit, and I called your house home earlier…” Me and my goddamn big mouth!!

 

“Yeah, you sure as shit did.” Obviously, he was not bothered by it and why should he be?  Jon had known when he brought her home that he was basically offering to share his life with her, his home, all of it.  He hadn’t anticipated all of this happening, the change in their relationship, so quickly either. “I’m just going to tell him you’re my woman and if I have too, I’ll say we met right after the center.  Nobody needs to know about your past, darlin’.” He reassured her, wanting to go hug her or something, but he was in the process of pulling on pants now, his back to her along with his backside. “And it is home, it’s where we both live, it’s fine, Maxlyn.”

 

Lord help me… That backside was BARE and she was staring right at it, the memory of them in the hot tub earlier flowing through her mind.  Maxlyn had felt just how big Jon was through his swim trunks and she could only imagine how much stamina is had in the bedroom. “Your woman?  That’s what you’re going to tell him?” Jon finished pulling those cargo pants up and fastened the belt before turning to face her, her eyes not able to stop giving him a scan with her eyes.  Her face was flushed red from the fact he just nonchalantly referred to her as his woman.  Was that true?  Or was it something to tell Chris to get the man to back off or satisfy him? “I have to admit being called your woman feels good.” Closing the distance between them, she took the towel that was draped around his neck and pulled on each end to force him to bend some to her level. “So if I’m your woman, that makes you my man, right?  Because that feels damn good to say too.”

 

Just as Jon was about to kiss her senseless, a bang on his locker room door ruined the moment and Maxlyn was back in her chair just as it pushed open. “Mox man, you took off on Wednesday without sayin’ whaddup to your boy!” It was none other than his on-off tag team partner, Eddie Kingston.  He embraced Jon tightly, cupping the back of his neck and pulled back a few seconds later, cupping his face. “I’m so goddamn proud of you, brother.  So fuckin’ proud and you look better than I’ve ever seen you.  How the fuck you been?” They went WAY back in Jon’s Indie days with CZW and Eddie was one of Jon’s best friends, more like a brother than anything.

 

Eddie was also loud and brash, kind of like Chris, but with less tone it down as Chris was capable of reading a room before opening his mouth. “Eddie!” He was so glad he had gotten his pants up before his friend had come barreling in.  Jon wasn’t body shy, but he bet Maxlyn might have been uncomfortable as anything.  She sort of looked it now, watching them from wide eyes. “Hey, man, I want you to meet someone.” Providing he hadn’t heard about her already; gossip was a thing in any business.

 

Eddie had heard about her, about Mox bringing a beautiful woman with him Wednesday, and he had heard someone mention her being here tonight.  Now, Eddie knew Mox was no stranger to one night stands on the road, but actually having a woman traveling with him?  That was new. “Oh yeah?  Where’s this mystery – oh damn, honey…” There she was, sitting quietly and watching them.

 

This man had a whole new energy about him compared to Jon and the others she had met, including MJF.  There wasn’t that shiver down her spine or the overwhelming urge to get as far away from him as possible.  Eddie had a fiery, warm spirit about him and she cracked a small smile, rising from the chair when Jon gestured her over. “Hi, Eddie Kingston, right?”

 

Where in the HELL did Mox find HER?  She was a golden brown-eyed, caramel haired beauty with a stacked figure and at least a foot shorter than his boy and him. “Well damn, she already knows my name and everything, man.” He extended his hand to her with a grin, his eyes nothing but warmth. “Yeah, that’s me and what’s your name, beautiful?”

 

“Maxlyn, most people call me Max.  Very nice to meet you, Eddie.  I’ve watched some of your matches with Jon and I enjoyed them.”

 

“Oh?  You’re a fan then?” Maybe a ring rat or a flavor of the month?  Eddie was just being realistic about this situation and kept the smile on his face.

 

“Truthfully, I didn’t know anything about wrestling or AEW until I met Jon.  He introduced me to it and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

 

“Did he now?” So, she wasn’t a ring rat, but could definitely be a flavor.  An interesting flavor since as long as he known Jon, he had never known the man to be bringing his conquests around. “So, how did you two meet?” Unlike Chris, he wasn’t shy about asking questions and he wasn’t about to wait around to catch Jon alone either.

 

“The normal way, we ran into each other.” It was sort of true. “Well, actually, I seen her at a table in a café by herself and joined her because she got my attention.” That was more to the truth; Maxlyn had gotten his attention at their first group morning meeting at the rehabilitation center.  Then, Jon had proceeded to integrate himself into her life, after being a bit rude and sitting with her during lunch, so he could pester her with questions.

 

“Yup, just plopped his ass down right at my table and he started striking up a conversation with me.  I had no idea who he was and…he kinda freaked me out at first.” Jon knew all of this because they’d had a talk prior to coming on the road about their first meeting in the rehab center. “But the more we talked, the more he grew on me, and we’ve been hanging out ever since.” Maxlyn had moved to Jon’s side, his arm wrapping around her waist and she leaned her head against his side, her arm on his lower back.  It’d been four months; it was crazy how time flew by in the blink of an eye.

 

“How long you been together?” Eddie knew Jon had only been in rehabilitation for three of those four months, so if they were dating, it could only be for a month, if that.  He never once considered the possibility that Jon was dating someone he went to rehabilitation with.

 

Jon wasn’t surprised at all when Maxlyn said a month, knowing she didn’t want anyone to know about her past and there would definitely be questions if people learned they had met in rehabilitation. Technically, one wasn’t supposed to date or have relationships of a romantic nature while in rehabilitation because it could cause problems.  Fortunately, the more romantic side of this relationship hadn’t really started until after the fact.

 

“Damn, you got in that saddle quick, brother.”

 

“Well, you know…” Jon shrugged his shoulder, dropping a kiss on top of Maxlyn’s head with a grin. “I still freak her out.”

 

“Don’t worry, honey, he does that to everyone.  It’s just his thing.”

 

Maxlyn giggled softly, nudging Jon’s side and rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “You do not.” Sometimes he did with his intensity, especially the moment they shared at the cabin getaway. 

 

Those were words had changed her mindset, even if she’d never admit it out loud.  A sudden thought came to mind and Maxlyn wondered how close Eddie Kingston and Chris Jericho were, if they talked and shared information.  They were both Jon’s friends…what if Chris mentioned the fact she lived with Jon?  Would that raise red flags for Eddie? 

 

There was a reason Eddie came in here and it was after he did indeed speak to Chris, both wanting to gauge this new relationship of their friend’s.  Chris felt like something was off about Maxlyn and Eddie was getting the same vibe, but they wouldn’t confront her about it, deciding to talk to Jon about it instead. “You mind if I steal your man here for a bit?  Gotta talk a little business, Maxie.”

 

“Just Max, I really hate that nickname.  I’m not a pad after all.”

 

Eddie promptly snorted the water he just took a drink of.

 

Jon was dying, his face going red as he began laughing into the crook of his arm. “Man, that’s gross.” He meant Eddie and the water going flying, not her comment, that had been comedy gold.

 

“Eat me, Mox…” Damn that hurt, he had even shot some out of his nose and he reached up to cup it, shaking his head at the fiery woman. “Honey, you gotta warn a man before you say something like that, especially if he has a drink in his hand.”

 

“Nah, that was funny, don’t warn him.  We’ll be out in the hallway, dollface.” Jon dropped a kiss on the top of her head before gesturing towards the door.  He was still laughing even as the door closed behind them. “Now you know, don’t call her Maxie.”

 

Maxlyn tried really, really hard not to laugh at Eddie, but the moment he snorted that water, she was bent over with her hands in her face, her shoulders shaking.  The moment they were outside of the locker room, she immediately flew to the bathroom to empty her bladder, laughing so hard, tears welled up in her eyes.  Her blurting tendencies had come out to play again and she had no fucks to give because she meant what she said.  She was not a pad or a tampon.

 

“Jesus Christ, my nose…” Eddie groaned out, blowing his nose with some tissue he pulled out of his pocket. “All right, all right, you can stop laughin’ at me, bro, and tell me what the hell is really going on.  A month?  Chrissy boy already spilled that you two are livin’ together and, last I checked when you left three months ago, you were single and ready to mingle, homie.  So what’s the REAL story, Mox?  Is she in trouble or somethin’ and you’re helpin’ her?”

 

“Whoa, slow your roll, Eddie.” Jon held his hands up in a ‘chill’ gesture, his blue eyes narrowing. “No, she’s not in trouble, the fuck man?” If they knew that this woman was probably loaded financially, they’d assume he was keeping a beautiful sugar mama or something.  That would be just as bad, he wasn’t exactly hurting for money anymore. “If she was in trouble, I sure as shit would not have her around my place of work…even I’m not that stupid.” Maxlyn just had a terrible background that wasn’t anyone’s business.

 

“Look man, I’ve known you how long?  We go way back and we’re family, we’re brothers.  I’m one of the few people you told about goin’ to rehab and I supported you.” Eddie was worried, legitimately concerned, about how Jon’s mental state was and it showed in his eyes. “We’re just lookin’ out for you, me and Chris.  It’s just weird how you leave here single, enter rehab, then you come outta it and now you have her.  And she’s livin’ with you.  That shit doesn’t add up, Jon.” He did not call this man Jon often, but when he did, Jon knew Eddie meant business. “Just…don’t jump into anythin’ too soon with this, all right?” How the hell was Maxlyn already living with him after just a month?  That was the million dollar question Eddie had, but something told him Jon wouldn’t tell him the truth. “I’m just worried about you, that’s all, brother.  Not tryin’ to piss you off or stick my nose where it’s not wanted, but…you gotta admit, this is outta character for you, no pun intended.”

 

“I don’t have to admit shit because I’m not the same guy I was three months ago.” Jon shot back flatly, wondering why he was being questioned when he was sober and clear headed all the time.  Nobody said a word when he had been an anxious, anxiety-filled, functioning alcoholic. “Appreciate the concern, but she’s not in any trouble.  I care about her, and how we do things or how fast we do them, isn’t anyone’s business.” The fact that Chris and Eddie had discussed this and decided it was odd, was wrong. “She’s helped me a lot since leaving rehab, so maybe I’m the one in trouble and she’s helping me.” He laughed at that because she had definitely saved him in the facility and been his only constant source of anything positive during the detoxification. “Stop worrying.”

 

In all the time Eddie knew Jon, this was…weird.  Very, very weird and strange behavior.  How the hell did Maxlyn help him a lot since he left rehabilitation?  Eddie had so many damn questions, but Jon was very good at keeping things close to the chest.  Maybe Maxlyn worked at the rehabilitation center Jon was at?  That did make sense, but it was also really disturbing because if she was a therapist or someone in that profession, and Jon was with her…Eddie had to stop speculating since he was worried enough about Jon as it was.

 

“All right, man.” One thing he could not deny was how much happier and content Jon was.  The way he held Maxlyn in the room and kissed the top of her head before coming out here with him…there was definitely a connection of some kind between them. “I’m an asshole, you know that.  Hey, you’re happy, I’m happy, Mox, all right?  I meant what I said, damn glad to have you back.  Now go out there and drop Ethan Page on his head.”

 

If they realized he was happy and content, that should have been enough.  Jon was very private about things of the heart as a general rule, especially in this business.  He didn’t do social media very often for a reason, he liked his private life private and saw no reason to go twittering or whatever it was called these days. “I’m going too.” Jon had a feeling he would have to set Chris straight soon too.  He didn’t need his friends being stupid out of worrying for him.  On one hand, it was good to know they had his back, but on the other…Jon was openly happy and obviously healthy, so they needed to take that as a sign and mind their own business.

 

Eddie would beat Jon to the punch, leaving to go talk to the older man about this situation.  They would have to step back and simply watch whatever unfolded with Jon and Maxlyn.  That was all they could do.  If Maxlyn was using Jon or hurt him, Eddie would make sure she regretted it.  He wouldn’t stand by and let any bitch hurt his brother, deciding to play it cool for now and see how everything panned out.  Chris would do the same thing, agreeing with Eddie while they talked it was the best course of action because Jon was VERY protective of Maxlyn.  There was a reason for it and, eventually, the secret would come out. 

 

Nothing stayed secret forever, it was just a simple fact of life.

 

Chapter 26

 

“You look annoyed.” Maxlyn observed when Jon reentered the locker room, standing up from the chair to walk up to him, concern in her eyes and touched his chest, feeling how tense his body was.  Eddie had been fishing for information and had probably grilled Jon outside. “You know the way they’re acting isn’t surprising, right?  They’re your friends and they care about you.  Don’t be too hard on them, okay?” She brushed her lips softly against his and rubbed their noses together. 

 

Jon just nodded, giving her a hug for good measure and another kiss before pushing away to start his warmup routine for his match.  Maxlyn could not help watching him do his pushups, admiring the way he did it on his fingers instead of his actual hands.  This man truly was an enigma.

 

It was surprising because nobody liked their relationships or life questioned or assumptions made.  Did he rag on Chris for some of the stupid things he did?  Nope, he let the old man deal with his own mess and just supported him…most of the time. “It’s annoying is what it is, darlin’.  I don’t question their life choices unless they’re really fucking stupid.” Like when Chris nearly beaned a fan for yanking on his hair.  Jon didn’t blame Chris for almost nailing the bitch, but did Chris really want to be splashed on TMZ again?  Especially with his band finally making strides?  See, THAT kind of thing.  He glanced up at her, pausing his workout for a moment. “And really, it’s nobody’s business but ours.”

 

“You’re right, can’t argue that logic, but I do understand where they’re coming from too.”

 

The way his muscles tensed and rippled while holding himself up on his fingers sent a new wave of warmth throughout her body.  All Maxlyn wanted to do was slide right beneath him while he did those pushups and let his lips dance on hers every time he pushed himself up and down.  Maybe he’d go for doing something like that down the road, but since he was annoyed with his friends at the moment, she didn’t want to aggravate him even more.

 

“You’re okay with us going home for the next few days, right?  I mean, I know we’ll have to fly right back to the East coast for Dynamite on Wednesday and it probably doesn’t make sense to fly back and forth…” Cleveland, Ohio would be the next stop for AEW, so in a way, it did not make sense for them to fly to Vegas and then back here. “We’re going to have to plan better from now on.  Like maybe we just stay on the East coast until we move more towards the west or something.”

 

“I own a house for a reason, darlin’.” Jon shook his head once he finally pushed himself upright. 

 

There was naturally a gap of silence from what she had said to him finally responding because he had been focused on his breathing while doing his push-ups.  Jon rolled his shoulders and shook out his hands, finally focusing on her again as he grabbed his water bottle to take a long pull from it.  He knew a lot of guys who purposely dehydrated themselves, so they would have that ‘ripped’, intense look and that wasn’t him.

 

“Besides, how else am I going to get my frequent flier miles if I don’t go home?” He had hit that age where he didn’t want to live on the road and he was comfortable financially, so he didn’t mind flying back and forth a couple times a week.

 

Even though Maxlyn was well-off financially, maybe even more-so than Jon, did NOT mean she wasn’t frugal when it came to money. “Right, of course.  Sorry, I’m just…I’m just overthinking things again, don’t mind me.”

 

Like Jon told her from the beginning, if she didn’t feel like joining him on the road, she didn’t have to.  There were going to be times that happened or she would fly home without him on occasion.  Maxlyn couldn’t be with him ALL the time or they would get sick of each other.  Not to mention, if she was truly going to get her life back on track, a job was in order.

 

“I think I’m gonna start job hunting while we’re home this week.  I know I don’t have to work, but I feel like I should do it anyway.  What do you think, Jon?” He was shadowboxing now.

 

Jon knew exactly how she was with money.  She had kept selling her body past the point of being financially secure because she was terrified of being poor and not being able to survive, thanks to her brutal, trauma inducing childhood.  With time, Jon was hoping to help her overcome those issues, or at least learn how to manage them to the best of her ability.  He wasn’t someone who went out and spent every last dime; he had actually done some investing after careful research and planned on living comfortably the rest of his life after his body called it quits with wrestling.

 

“Like, work as in staying in Vegas, darlin’?” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that idea.  Jon liked her with him, especially now that they were progressing in their relationship past the friendship zone.

 

“Well…yeah, I guess so.  I mean, I don’t even have a high school education or a GED or anything like that.  I dropped out when I was 16 years old and you know why that is.” Maxlyn didn’t have to go into it and honestly didn’t want to. “I have a nice nest egg built up now, but the money won’t last forever, not if I don’t continue contributing to it and keep it built up.  It’ll dwindle down to nothing and I…I can’t let that happen.” Never again would she be put in a situation she could not take care of herself. “I know that means I won’t be able to travel with you all that much, but…I gotta do what I gotta do to start rebuilding my life, just like we talked about, right?  It’ll probably be a waitress job or something that doesn’t require an education or GED, but I’m sure I can find something besides…what I used to do…”

 

“You could invest it like I did, a lot of shit now pays back and grows your nest egg.” Jon suggested thoughtfully, grabbing a towel to wipe sweat off his face and out of his eyes before snatching back up that water bottle, studying her meticulously. “Darlin’, you could get your GED online if you wanted.  Study up and all that, and then go job hunting.” Because she would NOT tolerate being a waitress in Vegas very well, not with the number of drunk, entitled dicks out there.  She’d probably wind up becoming a recluse, actually.  She was a beautiful woman and would be harassed, no two ways about it.

 

“That’s…not a bad idea, actually.”

 

Why didn’t Maxlyn think of that sooner?  Granted, it’d only been a little over a month since they left the rehab center, but most of it was just trying to get into a daily routine.  Investments were definitely an option too, Maxlyn had always been good with numbers from a young age.  Her grades were phenomenal throughout school; she was a straight A student in high school before dropping out to start stripping for money.  No matter what, she had been bound and determined to get as far away from Chicago and have enough money to get her to where she needed to go when her 18^th birthday struck.  And she did it.  When Maxlyn set her mind to something, it was hard to deter her.  There Jon went again, saving her, protecting her, and giving her the advice she needed to keep moving forward.

 

“You’re incredible, you know that?” Closing the distance between them, she leaned up to softly kiss him, not caring if he was a sweaty mess from his pre-match warmup. “I mean it, you’re the best.  I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jon.”

 

Maxlyn was more ‘sexually educated’ and Jon had the street smarts, as well as learning other things along this weird, twisted path he had taken in life.  She was a smart woman, there were no two ways about it, and still learning some things that normally would have been picked up as she grew into adulthood.  Unfortunately, Maxlyn had been robbed of that.

 

“You’re a fighter, darlin’, you would have eventually left that place on your own.” He very firmly believed that after knowing her outside the facility.  This woman was incredible and he knew once she was fully adjusted, she’d be able to do anything she put her mind to. “So, GED?” He grinned when she nodded, cupping her face in his hands and brushed his lips against hers.

 

She smiled against his lips, resting her hands on top of his and enjoyed this closeness, this intimacy with him.  Only him. “I’ll start when we come back on the road next week.  I wanna spend the weekend with you, doing whatever we want, and building whatever this is between us.” Jon nodded, kissing her again and this time it was a little deeper, his arms wrapping around her to press her against him fully while her arms encircled his neck, both getting lost in each other.

 

“Five minutes, Moxley!” A stage technician banged on his door, informing him his match was up next.

 

They broke apart with Maxlyn giggling while Jon cursed, tossing on his leather jacket with Mox down the spine, his black cargo pants with the word MOX on the side making up his attire. “Go kick ass, I’ll be watching you.” Maxlyn smiled as he sent a wink back at her before jogging out the door and she sat down to watch his first official return match against a guy named Ethan Page.  No matter who his opponent was, Jon was fantastic in the ring and she loved watching any match he was in.

 

So, switching from mildly aroused to what he needed to be for this match was interesting.  Jon made a mental note before heading through the curtains to jerk off prior to getting intimate with Maxlyn, which seemed to be coming on a lot quicker than he thought it would.  He would NOT be exploding like a thirteen-year-old boy during his first time with a woman.  Jon was not about to embarrass himself with a three minute or less explosion.  He pushed her out of mind, knowing the ring was no place to be distracted.  Damn that woman was a fine distraction, though.

 

Cheering when Jon won his match, Maxlyn clapped with a smile and watched him head towards the back, having a feeling something big was about to happen.  It did.  There stood none other than Bryan Danielson, clapping for Jon Moxley on a job well done in the ring with a big smile on his face.  That had to be what Bryan wanted to talk to Jon about and Maxlyn was looking forward to how this story unfolded between the two outstanding wrestlers.

 

~!~

 

“Home sweet HOME!” Maxlyn squealed out the last word as Blue came barreling out the door, tackling her in the grass with kisses.  Then he went to Jon, jumping up on him and she heard some grunting, turning her head in time to see Jon being bombarded with kisses as well. “Well someone is happy to see us!” Blue barked, making her grin and she walked over to start scratching him behind his ears, kissing the top of his head. “I missed you too, buddy, more than you know.  Come on, you want a treat?”

 

Patting her thigh, Maxlyn could hear Blue right behind her while Jon took care of the luggage, carrying it inside.  While she was giving Blue his treat and sitting on the floor petting him, Jon had promptly gone straight to his room to drop their stuff off, not bothering to put hers in the room she occupied.  They hadn’t talked about sharing a room yet, but Maxlyn made it clear she wanted to share Jon’s bed at home while they were in their winter wonderland getaway.

 

There really was no point in asking because she might say no just out of principal or having changed her mind, again.  Then again, she’d change it back after some making out and Jon was just going to preempt all of that now. “Hey buddy,” He greeted after putting their dirty clothes in the hamper, having carted it out to get the laundry going.  Jon set it down in order to greet his dog again. “Traitor, you like the pretty lady with the treats better now.” He was laughing though, watching as Blue went straight back to her on that floor, shaking his head. “Happy to be home, dollface?”

 

Maxlyn nodded with a bright smile, petting Blue again and dropped another kiss on top of his head before rising to her feet. “I’m gonna let him outside.” She slid open the sliding glass screen door and watched him bolt out, laughing at the adorable English bulldog. “I missed him while we were gone.  He’s such a good boy.” Jon nodded as she walked over, seeing he was sorting out their clothes to start a load of laundry. “So, there’s something I want to talk to you about now that we’re here.  I honestly didn’t know how long this would go on for or how long I’d be staying here with you when we left the rehab center.  I didn’t really put my change of address into the post office and I can do it online, but…I didn’t want you thinking I was jumping the gun or something.  This is your house and…” Jon pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her from rambling.

 

“OUR house.”

 

He pulled her closer, dropping the laundry with his full attention on her, those electric blues searing right into her soul. “Jon…”

 

It was true she had called his place home a time or two while they were on the road.  Maxlyn knew what her problem was and it stemmed from that same fear of being abandoned by him.  All of this was too good to be true and she was waiting for the bubble to burst, for something or someone to come along and rip all of this away from her.

 

“Our house, huh?  Our home?  Are you sure?  Because anywhere you are I feel like I am home.  You are my home, Jon.” Tears stung her eyes while staring at him, the emotions overwhelming her. “T-That’s not too much, is it?” Even though they’d just recently gotten together, they’d known each other extensively throughout the past four months and were still learning new things every day that passed by.

 

“Darlin’, why are you crying?” Jon asked quietly, knowing she was prone to being emotional and he was learning how to deal with it.  It had been awkward at first; he wasn’t used to it and he had a time with what he should say, what she needed to hear.  Now, it was getting easier and he knew it was a mixture of insecurities and fear, hopefully some happiness or something. “Get your address changed to here, Maxlyn.  I told you before this was our home and that hasn’t changed.  I don’t think it ever will, even if we don’t work out on a romantic level.” Because he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it; in a weird way, Maxlyn had become his best friend, someone who had been there during his darkest days and accepted it. 

 

Just like he accepted her.

 

“Sorry, I just…didn’t want to overwhelm you with what I said.  Or make you think I’m trying to move too fast or something.”

 

The way he made her feel was overwhelming and she knew they were moving really fast, but it didn’t SEEM like it.  It felt natural to her for some reason and she really hoped Jon felt the same way.  Those damn insecurities of hers would eventually go away the longer she was with Jon, the longer they were together, and she wished they would vanish now.

 

“Okay, I’ll change it later today after we get up.” It was 4 AM and she could tell Jon was tired from his match and the flight, so they needed to get some rest. “This can wait until we get up.  Let me go let Blue back in and then we can get some sleep.  You look dead on your feet, honey.”

 

That was the same issue Eddie and Chris had seemed to have, how FAST this seemed.  However, what they didn’t know was that Jon and Maxlyn had known each other for months, so to him, this wasn’t overly fast so much as natural progression.  Jon knew she had eyed him a few times in the rehabilitation center and he had returned that with interest.  The groundwork for where they were now had been laid down a few months ago.  Maybe he was just the odd man out here.  He stood up, pulling her with him and instead of kissing her, he brought her into his body, wrapping his arms around her in a loving embrace.

 

“If you ever feel like we’re moving too fast, let me know, darlin’.  Because I’ll be honest with you, I don’t.”

 

Chapter 27

 

A wave of relief flooded through her at his words and Maxlyn hugged him tighter, pulling back enough to stare into his eyes, softly brushing her lips against his. “I don’t either, Jon.  I mean it.  I know it should probably feel like this is moving too fast, but…I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer than four months.  And I’ve wanted this, to be with you, since the night of the comet when I told you everything about me, and you accepted me completely.  You didn’t judge me, you didn’t have a look of disgust, and I knew that night you were someone I wanted in my life forever.  You make me happy, you make me feel safe, wanted, beautiful…everything I’ve never felt in my life before.  I told you I’m yours for as long as you want me, so I’m all yours, honey.  And I don’t want to be anywhere else except here with you and Blue and any other animal you want to bring into our home.”

 

“I’m glad we’ve got that settled.” Jon glided his nose along her jaw and then scooped her up in his arms bridal style, heading for the door.  He opened it to let Blue in, not bothering to set her down and after using one hand to lock up, he carried her right up to their room, finally depositing her on the floor. “This is your home, with me and Blue, and it’s your home for as long as you want it, Maxlyn.  I’m yours for as long as you want me, and how fast or slow it’s going be damned, shit don’t work that way.  You don’t control how, when or who, none of us do.” It would be nice if they did, but that wasn’t the way life worked.

 

They were always on the same page with everything and it was the same way in the rehabilitation center.  It never failed to amaze Maxlyn just how compatible she was with Jon and she knew it the moment he kissed her outside against the tree, with the snow surrounding them, after a snowball fight. “Always, Jon.  I want you and Blue always and forever.” He was absolutely right in everything he said and Maxlyn agreed with him, reaching up to caress his bearded face with her hand.  Her other hand slid up the shirt he had on, touching those hard abs and felt the muscles twitch beneath her fingertips, just softly caressing him.

 

“Don’t be starting with me, woman.” Jon rumbled, knowing at 4 AM with no sleep and working in the ring, he wouldn’t be displaying any incredible amounts of stamina. 

 

Unfortunately, that was not how real life worked once one got out of their insane twenties and thought they would live forever and could sleep when they were dead.  Or maybe he could sleep when he was dead because he was drowning in molten chocolate, staring into her eyes as she pressed her palm flat until it rested over his heart.  The feeling of his heart beating against her palm and how fast it was pounding made Maxlyn smile, knowing she was having that effect on him.  The soft hair of his chest felt incredible too, definitely a different sensation.

 

“I’m not starting anything, just helping you undress for bed.” The way she said it was full of innocence, but her eyes were smoldering as her other hand left his beard to join the other one, once again gliding across his abs and upper torso. “Arms up.” Jon obeyed as she pushed the material up over his head, her mouth practically watering at the sight of him shirtless.  Just like it had at the arena earlier last night before his match while he was warming up for it with those exercises. “I have a confession to make.” While she spoke, Maxlyn slid her hands up to his chest and kept them there, the roses blossoming in her cheeks at what she was about to say. “When I watched you last night doing those pushups on your fingers getting ready for your match, every part of me wanted to slide right beneath you while you did them.”

 

“Sexy thought, bad idea, darlin’.” Jon shook his head down at her after she tossed his shirt to the side. “I’d lose my concentration and crush you.”

 

Not in the fun way either, this woman was a major distraction half the time.  Jon had to remind himself not to be thinking about her while in the ring because the last thing he needed to do was to botch a match and seriously hurt someone.  Before Maxlyn could even think about his jeans, Jon lightly scooped her up again and just as lightly tossed her in the middle of the king-sized bed, moving so he was sitting over her without actually pinning her with his weight.

 

“You have any idea how tiny you are?”

 

“You’re not a small man, Jon.  I don’t think I’m THAT tiny, but compared to you, I know I am.”

 

Maxlyn had shorts on, changing on the redeye flight here because she knew how much warmer Vegas was compared to Washington D.C. at the moment.  She currently had on just a pair of red cotton shorts and a matching tank top, much better than the long-sleeved shirt and jeans she’d boarded the plane in.  Jon had on a white plain t-shirt until she removed it and his painted on jeans that hugged all the right places.  It suddenly occurred to her why Jon asked that question and her hands slid up his muscular arms, feeling him come closer.

 

“I trust you and I know you won’t hurt me, honey.” It was a really bad thought, but Maxlyn had dick of all shapes, sizes, girths…she’d been put through the wringer, so that was why Jon’s size didn’t intimidate her as much as it should have. “I’m sturdier and stronger than I look, Good, and don’t you forget it.”

 

Jon was six foot four and had easily a hundred pounds on her petite backside.  It occurred to him that she was thinking he meant about his penis size, which was above average and that was a fact.  No, Jon wasn’t worried about THAT at all.  A woman’s body was a marvelous machine that stretched to accommodate, providing the man wasn’t grotesque in length and girth.

 

“Oh, no, darlin’, I’m not worried about THAT,” His grin turned dirty for a moment, knowing by the time he was done with foreplay, Maxlyn would be begging for his dick; he wasn’t a slouch in the bedroom. “You’re just tiny overall.” And he loved it, one of those men who loved smaller women.

 

“Oh.” Maxlyn felt a little embarrassed assuming what he was talking about and slowly backed up on the bed while he stalked her, making her heart race. 

 

It was pounding in her ears and the nerves were starting to set in a little.  Jon gently pushed her to lay down, hovered over her, and softly kissed her, loving his body weight pressing her into the mattress.  This was where she wanted to be, beneath him, feeling his hands gliding up and down her sides, wanting him to touch, lick, and kiss every inch of her.  They were home and this was the first time sleeping in their bed together, but something told Maxlyn sleep was the last thing on Jon’s mind.

 

“I want you, Jon…” She breathed out as his mouth sealed to her neck, her fingers burying in his short hair.  They could sleep the day away afterwards, she didn’t care about anything else except being sexed up by this gorgeous man. “You’re making me burn from the inside out, honey…” Foreplay could wait along with everything else as far as she was concerned. 

 

Sometimes sex didn’t have to be romantic and perfect…though this was about as perfect as Maxlyn imagined and dreamed it.

 

So, she had brought him to bed to get laid and Jon was actually pleased with that because he honestly thought after that nightmare, Maxlyn wouldn’t be all right with everything up to being in this bed with him, doing very sexual things.  Speaking of that nightmare… “You’re not going to freak out or anything, are you, darlin’?” He expected her to be tense and maybe even awkward during some of it, given her history, but Jon wasn’t looking to get jacked in the jaw either or her have some messed up nightmares he had to defend himself against.  He kept his tone gentle, wanting Maxlyn to understand he wasn’t asking to be mean, his hands busy caressing her sides. 

 

The nightmare.  Maxlyn had blurted out she’d had a nightmare about him and he’d nearly choked on eggs. “I’ve only had that one nightmare about you and ever since then, my dreams have been…dreams.  No nightmares at all.  Maybe sleeping with you in the same bed and feeling you hold me in your arms makes the nightmares stay away.” That made him smile and she did as well, gliding the pad of her thumb across his bottom lip. “I’ve always been honest with you, Jon, and I always will be.  Even if it’s something you don’t want to hear, but you need to know.  I’m nervous about this, about us, about sex in general.  Even though I’m not a virgin…I know this sounds crazy, but it FEELS like I am.  You’re the first man I’ve actually WANTED to be with.  Just like you’re the first man I wanted to kiss.  I don’t count any of the others I’ve been with because it was either for my job or…when I was assaulted.” There was no other way to say it and she kept caressing him, once again opening her heart. “Everything is different with you and I want this…I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.  Because it’s you.” Maxlyn kissed him, pouring everything she felt into it and felt Jon roll to where she was on top, giving her control. “We can wait if you want and just go to sleep, it’s up to you, honey.  Waiting is fine with me if you’re not ready yet.”

 

“I don’t want you to have any regrets, darlin’.” Jon admitted, knowing that might be asking for a lot.  Maxlyn may very well because of her past and there would be nothing to be done about it except try to continue on as normal and work through it with her. “I’m ready, I’m admittedly worried about popping my cork a bit too early.”

 

He wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed to admit it.  It had been over four months since he had gotten his dick wet and that was not his usual by any means.  Ideally, Jon would have jerked it before falling into bed with her, so that wasn’t a concern, especially after being up all day and into…the next day.  Nevertheless, that also required planning and sometimes spontaneous sex was the best sex.

 

“Okay first of all, I won’t regret being with you and having sex with you.  I don’t think that’s possible.” Maxlyn kissed him slowly, sensually, and glided her lips down his strong jaw to his throat, reaching down between them in the process. “And as far as popping your cork too soon, well…I can help you with that.” Worshipping this beautiful body of his didn’t sound like a bad idea at all and Maxlyn was not against giving head, having a lot of experience with it. “Ssshhh, you’ve had such a hard night, honey.  We won’t have sex right now, but since you think you’ll go off very easily, I might as well have a snack.” Also, exploring him and becoming acquainted with his body would hopefully relax Maxlyn’s nerves more since she was in control.  Never had a man allowed her to be in control, always forcing her to her knees for oral sex and never once letting her take the reins. “What do you think?  Want me to taste you and swallow you whole, Jon?”

 

He actually swallowed hard because regardless of what Maxlyn felt about her prior experiences this woman could have him eating out of the palm of her hand and he doubted she realized it.  There was also the fact she had probably done things he had only dreamt about when he was younger too.  There was nothing more dangerous than a woman who had experience and knowledge of how to use it, that was just truth.

 

“Yes.” He wasn’t going to lie and his cock was pressed firmly against his tight jeans, throbbing at her words.

 

“Just what I was hoping to hear…”

 

Maxlyn did not realize the power she held from her experiences, no matter how heartbreaking and horrible they were.  The fact was she knew exactly how to please a man, what to do, how to move, but never really paid attention to the man she was with in her past.  With Jon, she was hyperaware of him and every movement he made, his breathing turning ragged as she worked her way down his body.  Jon lifted his hips up for her to remove his jeans and Maxlyn removed her tank top, leaving her in just her shorts and bra.  It was a good thing her hair was still braided back or else it would’ve curtained around his throbbing cock.  He was well-groomed, took care of himself, and his dick was soft to the touch, making her lick her lips.  Jon was about to receive the best blowjob of his life; it wasn’t cockiness, just a fact because Maxlyn had a technique that always made a man go off like a geyser.  And now she was with a man blowing him because she WANTED to, which would make the experience even better.

 

“Mmm…”

 

Christ on the cross, Jon had already gripped the sheets, so he didn’t try ruining her braid, gripping her head or her shoulders.  He wanted Maxlyn to feel like she was in charge, in control, and that meant relinquishing his own.  It was probably a good thing he was secure enough in himself to do that and Jon folded his hands beneath his head, beneath his pillow, as she teased and tormented him by licking and kissing everywhere BUT his cock.  He was so glad he had showered before they made it home, which was habit, but he was extra glad because he had not been anticipating this happening at all.

 

“Darlin’, you trying to kill me?”

 

“No, I’m loving you and taking care of my man…and teasing him a little, I admit.” The growl he let out sent a straight shot down to her loins, lighting them on fire. “Just so you know, I don’t mind if you pull my hair while I do this.” She wanted him to be completely relaxed and react on instinct instead of holding himself back, feeling the tension in his body. “Hang on.”

 

Sitting upright straddling his legs, Maxlyn took the braid out of her hair, undoing it and shook it a little as the curly caramel framed her face and cascaded down her back.  Moving her hair to the side over her shoulder, she went right back to work and this time took the tip of him in her mouth.  Stroking the rest of his cock with her hand, she flicked her tongue repeatedly over it, moaning at the first taste of him.  When she felt his fingers in her hair, Maxlyn rewarded him by sliding him in her mouth as far as she could go, which was a lot more than the previous women Jon had been with in his life.

 

Her man.

 

Jon had definitely noticed that and it sent something really warm and cozy flooding through him.  Neither had said anything formal or official and he was totally comfortable without a label because labels did NOT define them.  He wasn’t a raging drunk and Maxlyn wasn’t a whore, those were not their labels.  They didn’t have to be boyfriend and girlfriend, a couple, in order to be together.  Maxlyn had definitely learned how to master her gag reflex, she wasn’t choking and kept on going, even after he thought maybe she should stop.  She was deepthroating him and his eyes rolled straight into the back of his head.

 

“Damn, Maxlyn!” That was a first for him, without feeling that involuntary reflex threatening to make someone vomit, which was gross.

 

This showed just how much of an expert she was when it came to foreplay and sex.  It didn’t hurt her, even after being away from any kind of sexual activity for over a year.  It was like riding a bicycle all over again.  However, this was the FIRST time Maxlyn actually enjoyed herself giving a man a blowjob.  Her man.  Damn right Jon was her man and if he ever hurt her or went to someone else, without calling things off first, it would probably kill her and send her into her grave.  He was the only man she EVER trusted and put her faith and heart on the line for. 

 

She was taking a huge risk being with him and Jon had destroyed the barriers and walls she had surrounded herself in.  It was all or nothing for her and Maxlyn already knew an even harder truth than simply having feelings for Jon.  She was in love with him.  She loved him with everything inside of her and Maxlyn did not know what true love was because she never experienced it.  But this feeling, this intensity, this emotional connection they had…it had to be love.  If it wasn’t, she had no idea what love was supposed to actually feel like.

 

Maxlyn wasn’t thinking about getting this over as quickly as possible or blanking out on him, he was damn aware of that because he kept raising his head off the pillow to sort of check in with her.  She was ENJOYING herself, which made this even hotter, knowing she wanted to do this with him, or to him rather.  Jon didn’t even have to tell her to fondle his balls, she was already there, working over his cock, massaging his balls, and the way she was moaning around him only added to all these other sensations, threatening to overload him.

 

She would’ve been done by now and slid her hand up his abs and chest, lightly raking her nails down and back up again, her head bobbing up and down at a rather fast pace.  It looked almost dangerous, but Maxlyn knew what she was doing and how far she could stretch her mouth and throat to accommodate his massive size.  Jon was going to cum straight down her throat and she craved it, wanting to fully taste him for the first time.  Just to add even more sensation, she began to hum around him, both of her hands now clawing down his thighs before one went right back to his balls, using every tool she could think of in her arsenal to make this man explode.  If THIS was how long it took for him to pop and he was scared it would be prematurely, then Maxlyn was in for quite a ride when they finally did have penetrative sex.

 

It was coming though, he had to talk himself down from that brink a few times already, imaging the most horrible stuff he could and there was plenty out there to pull him away from the edge of climax.  Not any longer though, everything in him was tensing up, coiling.  Jon managed to grit out a warning that he was about to whitewash her throat and maybe plaster her petite backside to the ceiling.

 

“Fuck, Maxlyn!” He was fisting her hair now, trying not to rip it out of her skull as he finally caved into the orgasm that had been steadfastly building, letting himself finally empty right into her very willing mouth.

 

Just as she wanted, a lot of his explosion slid right down her throat and she swallowed him whole, not letting a single drop escape her lips.  The taste of him was a little salty, but also had a sweetness that sent her mind reeling.  It was divine, it wasn’t disgusting like some of the other men she had to taste over the years.  Jon was the perfect blend and Maxlyn honestly could see herself giving him head every day of their lives.  That was how good he tasted and how much she enjoyed doing it.  Some women didn’t like giving head, but Maxlyn didn’t mind it so much and she loved it with Jon.  Slowly pulling back once his dick went completely limp, Maxlyn pushed her hair out of her face and licked her lips, breathing a little heavy with a smile on her face.  Jon was a hot, sweaty, raggedly breathing mess and it was delicious as she proceeded to kiss her way up the length of his body, nuzzling his hairy chest with a purr.

 

Jon was very much a mess.  That had been the first orgasm he hadn’t given himself in what felt like an eternity.  He was surprised she had been able to swallow it all, to be honest, because it felt like he had just unleashed on her like a fire hydrant.  He wrapped his arms around Maxlyn, pressing an open mouthed kiss to the top of her head.

 

“Jesus, darlin’…you’re gonna kill me…” And it would be the best way to die, that was for damn sure.  He needed to return the favor, not a selfish lover by any means, and just needed to catch his breath first because she had sucked him beyond dry.

 

As long as he was satisfied, that was all that mattered to her as Maxlyn fell into bed beside him, her breathing regulating a lot faster than his with a content smile on her face. “I gotta be honest, I never thought giving oral sex would be so…invigorating and amazing.  Just watching your face, the way it contorted, while I pleasured you was…something else.  And I definitely enjoy the way you taste.” It was definitely time for bed, Jon could pay her back later on after they got some decent sleep. “I’ll go get you a towel and warm cloth to clean yourself up and then we’re going to bed, handsome.  I’m bushed after that.” Dropping a kiss on his lips after she slid out of bed, Maxlyn went to retrieve what she said, yawning loudly.  Heading back in a few minutes later, she tossed both at him and joined him in bed, pulling the comforter back to cover up with. “Mmm…I love this bed…”

 

Jon cleaned himself up as best as he could without soap, reminded a bit when he was a teenager and thought he was being slick.  He snorted at that, finally tossing the cloth and towel in the hamper…no, on the floor, the hamper was downstairs to be washed later today.  Oh well, it was going on five AM and she wasn’t wrong, it was time for bed even though he felt terrible about leaving her sort of hanging.  He hadn’t initiated it, Maxlyn had, so maybe she wasn’t hanging?  Ugh, he’d get up a bit early and give her a great wake-up call.  Pulling her into his strong arms, Jon kissed the top of her head and sighed in contentment.

 

“You’re amazing, you know that, dollface?”

 

“Mmm, thank you, honey.” Maxlyn took his hand since his arm was curled around her and spooned up against him, lacing her fingers with his to rest on her chest. “This right here, this is all I need.  Just you and Blue.”

 

They were her family now.  Maxlyn wholeheartedly believed that and felt her eyes drift shut, not feeling Jon’s nose bury in her hair or kiss her neck.  She was out for the count, breathing evenly and deeply, every part of her body relaxed.  A couple minutes later, Jon was out for the count as well, both sleeping for the next eight hours straight.

 

Chapter 28

 

Unfortunately, Jon didn’t have a chance to give her that great wake-up call because Maxlyn was up before him.  She slipped out of bed silently, quietly, letting him sleep while she went to one of the other bathrooms in the house to shower.  Then, she fed Blue and made something to eat.  She was starving and felt like the biggest weight was off her shoulders.  Even though it was lunchtime, in her eyes, it was still breakfast time, so she got to work whipping up some French toast, eggs, and hashbrowns. 

 

Blue got some pieces of bacon because he was too adorable to leave out and she had stopped a few times to pet him, making sure to wash her hands afterwards before touching the food.  After brunch was over with, Maxlyn sat at the table with her laptop and started looking at possible courses for her GED, agreeing with what Jon said.  She could stay on the road with him and continue traveling while studying for her GED and THEN find a job with an actual education.  The man was brilliant and she felt so lucky to have him in her life, her brown eyes alight with happiness.

 

Of course, she was up before him, Jon had somehow not been surprised.  He had gotten cleaned up again before sliding into a pair of clean shorts and followed his nose downstairs.  Coffee was waiting and she had eaten.  She looked good enough to eat, at the rather large table with a laptop before her.  Jon dropped a kiss on the top of her head as he passed by, spotting what she was doing on the screen briefly before turning away.  He knew how to use laptops and all that, he just actively chose not to.  Making his much needed cup of java, Jon leaned against the counter, contemplating if he wanted a light snack before his workout or something more substantial…His Maxlyn did look rather tasty.

 

“Morning, darlin’.”

 

“Afternoon, honey.  It’s after 2, you know.” Maxlyn corrected him with a cheeky grin, looking at him over her shoulder and continued scrolling, nodding her head. “I fed Blue and took him out already.  Breakfast is in the oven, you just gotta pop it in the microwave unless you wanna make something else.  I should’ve made lunch, but I had a craving for French toast.” Currently, she had a bottled water beside her, wearing black cotton shorts and a racerback pink top, her semi-wet hair piled on top of her head in a fanned bun. “I think I found a GED program and it’s open enrollment right now, but I don’t know if it’s trustworthy or one of those scam sites.”

 

“I have just woken up and as far as I’m concerned, it’s morning.” He laughed, bending down to peer over her shoulder and was mindful not to get anywhere near her with his coffee, not wanting to burn her or ruin her laptop. “Check to see if it’s accredited, darlin’.  If it’s not, then it’s not worth the time.”

 

That much he did know.  A guy Jon had known years ago had busted his balls to get his GED and then found out it was from a worthless place with no accreditation so basically, he had gotten himself an expensive piece of paper.  After a few clicks, Maxlyn frowned when she discovered it wasn’t and, with Jon’s help, found an accredited program that would have her GED in half the time the unaccredited program would.  This was it.  There was no point doubting Jon and she trusted his judgment wholeheartedly.

 

“Thank you, I’ll sign up for it right now and they’ll send the study materials I need to go through in order to pass.  It’s all electronic too, so I can print it out here and then take it on the road with us.” One or two subjects at a time would be enough since she didn’t want to neglect Jon. “Did you sleep well?  I know I did and I have to tell you, I’m in love with that bed.”

 

“I slept great and I’m glad you like the bed.” Jon was busy heating up food to eat before he planted her pert backside somewhere and gave her the attention she should have gotten this morning, if he hadn’t been so tired and literally drained.  Maxlyn had drained him quite dry and his balls were feeling particularly light today. “I’m glad you’ll have something to do, darlin’.” He had set his coffee down, waiting until the microwave went off before grabbing his plate. “I know you’ll get bored on the road.” She couldn’t be with him all the time, his beautiful distraction. “You excited about this?” Because personally, he had hated school.

 

“Well, yeah I actually am.  Believe it or not, I loved school and I was a straight A student before I dropped out when I was 16.” Jon already knew why she had, there was no reason to dive back into it or rehash it either. “One of the things I regret most is missing out on an actual high school graduation.  Walking across the stage and accepting my diploma…I often thought about that over the years.” So many things Maxlyn had sacrificed, all to get away from her abusive, whoring mother. “But no sense in crying over what can’t be changed and this is the next best thing.  At least this way, like you said, I’ll be able to find a decent job with a high school education.” There would be times she’d stay at the hotel to study, so she hoped Jon would be all right with that because she couldn’t always be at the arenas with him.

 

He was very all right with it, like he had already thought, he didn’t need her with him all the time and vice versa.  They had to have some healthy boundaries in this and not be overly co-dependent on each other, given they both had shown they got addicted to things that made them feel better very easily.  Jon could see himself becoming addicted to her.  He had told her he was glad for this as it would give her something to do.  Once she got over the travel aspect and the novelty, she’d realize it got boring really quick.

 

“Mmm, delicious,” Jon had polished off his breakfast and was now rinsing off his dishes before stooping to kiss her. “Still hungry though…”

 

Maxlyn giggled softly against his lips, assuming he meant the food and caressed his bearded face with her hand. “You’re kidding me, right?  You just devoured five pieces of French toast, eggs, and hash browns!  I really didn’t make enough?” Jon had a huge appetite and Maxlyn was quickly figuring that out. “Well, I’ll make you something else then…” She went to stand up and he shook his head, forcing her to stay where she was with another searing kiss that left her breathless.  The smoldering look in his cerulean eyes told her exactly what he was hungry for and her cheeks reddened, her head tipping back as he began assaulting her neck. “H-Here?” Another nod had her mind spinning and all Maxlyn could do was comply, her fingers gliding over his short hair. “Jon…”

 

Here, there, anywhere was good as long as they weren’t giving people a show.  Unless she was into that sort of thing, then Jon might give it a try, but doubtful.  One, he didn’t share, not even just for viewing and two, she wasn’t that kind of woman.  He tugged the chair back enough for him to get on his knees comfortably before her, feeling her hands instantly going right back for his short hair.

 

“Hips up, darlin’.” Jon ordered in a rumble, fingers moving to her waistband and plucking at it teasingly.

 

Every piece of furniture was customized to Jon’s size because he was not a small man by any means.  He needed sturdy furniture to hold his 214 pound muscular frame, so the chairs were somewhat deep and cushioned.  They were very comfortable, he did not like plain wooden chairs or anything like that.  Obeying his command gladly, Maxlyn lifted her hips and let out a shaky breath at the feeling of his hands gliding those shorts and panties down her smooth legs.  Good thing she did some grooming in the shower earlier because her legs were silky smooth and she’d trimmed up her lower region as well. 

 

Contrary to popular belief, a lot of men that bought prostitutes for a night didn’t care for foreplay much.  Some did, but the majority didn’t, so it’d been a VERY long time since Maxlyn had any kind of oral sex.  Way more giving than receiving and Jon was bound and determined to make her receive it.  The first kiss to her knee made her quiver and she smiled down at him, letting him know she was all right.

 

Jon was one of those who loved to give as well as receive and he would have done this before falling asleep, but exhaustion hit him like a truck.  Working, all that traveling and then not getting in until the wee hours this morning…factor in her draining him dry, he had passed the hell out.  It was one of the reasons he preferred giving BEFORE receiving or doing anything that meant popping his cork.  Jon acknowledged that men could be basically useless once they got their rocks off.  He paid attention to her body language, on alert for trembling that was more fear or nerves based then pleasure, began tormenting her much the way she had done to him.  Kissing along her soft thighs, her hips, everywhere except the one place they both wanted, while also glancing up into her face.

 

Writhing.  She was writhing and drowning in ecstasy just from his lips and tongue alone on those areas, feeling her pussy quiver, along with the rest of her body.  The anticipation of what was coming, what she would feel, was what made her tremble.  Finally, his hot breath caked her lips before she felt his tongue, looking down at him to watch it all.  Maxlyn was spread eagle for him and he moved her legs to drape over his shoulders, pulling her to where her backside was on the edge of the chair.

 

“Oh god, Jon…” She moaned out breathlessly, gripping his triceps and felt her eyes nearly roll in the back of her head at his hot tongue caressing her flesh.  It was also a wonderful sensation with his beard too.

 

So, men had a little phrase for their beards.  Jon was a gentleman and would probably never divulge it to her.  Not a lot of women found the term ‘taint ticklers’ amusing.  Beards were definitely not just for keeping a man’s face warm and a fashion statement, they were great for additional sensations when going to town on their woman.  Maxlyn tasted better than the syrup he had smothered his French toast in and his immediate thought was to bottle her essence up for future meals because this woman tasted divine.  Jon knew immediately that he had a new addiction and no amount of rehabilitation and therapy would cure him of this one.

 

“JON!” That first climax was intense and crashed over her, her entire body tensed and her thighs were trembling. 

 

He did not stop after drinking that first dose and kept going, demanding another one from her through his actions.  Christ, she was going to ruin this chair!  Sensitive from her first orgasm in many months, Maxlyn could already feel another one building rapidly.  Jon growled against her clit while his tongue drove in and out of her, each thrust of that tongue making him shake his head back and forth.  He was using his beard to the best of his ability and she was at his complete mercy. 

 

Women could climax multiple times and when the second orgasm hit, she bellowed out, not giving a damn if the whole neighborhood heard her. “OHHHH YEAHHHHH!!!”

 

Fortunately, he didn’t really have much in the way of neighbors unless one counted wildlife.  They were getting a rude shock this afternoon, the animals, or maybe he was teaching them a thing or two.  Jon felt her trembling violently enough he had to move his hands to brace her from bucking herself off that chair, growling his satisfaction when she rasped his name.  All those horrible sexual experiences, the giving pleasure but never receiving it, he would do his very best to erase those from her memory and give her better memories instead.  Jon switched to one arm against her abdomen, keeping her pinned in the chair properly while he moved the other between her legs, sliding two fingers slowly inside of her.  His dick was now firmly at attention, he could only imagine that tightness around his cock.

 

“J-Jon!  JON!!” Maxlyn was riding that fine razor edge line between pleasure and pain…and it was an exquisite pain indeed.  It was a pain she wouldn’t mind feeling for the rest of her life.  The pleasure was a given, but the pain part of it had her world spiraling. “F-Fuck…FUCK!  There!”

 

Was that the fourth time she climaxed?  No…fifth?  Her brain was clouded in a thick passion haze and Maxlyn had lost count, only knowing that this chair was ruined and she was FLOODING Jon, who had a very vigorous appetite.  If he didn’t stop, she was going to end wind up passing out, her entire body soaked in sweat and those fingers had moved out of her to replace with his mouth, drinking her dry yet again.  It would be a damn miracle if she could walk without collapsing after this!

 

“F-Fuck me, fuck me right here and now, Jon h-honey…” Right on this table since the chair was far too small for them to properly have sex.

 

Instantly, his cock was taking control, practically pushing Jon up onto his feet as he hoisted her up onto the table.  He did make sure her laptop was in a safe spot before planting her there, knowing that chair was going to need a lot of TLC before it could be used again…unless he designated it as his special dessert chair.  Yeah…that sounded awesome, whenever he wanted to taste her, he’d just park her in that one chair and make sure nobody except her sat in it, all for him.

 

“You sure about this?” He asked, leaning over her, his lips finding hers and he passionately kissed her. 

 

Jon wasn’t moving to fuck her though, waiting for her consent and then it occurred to him that he did not have a condom.  She was panting, nodding her head and removed her racerback top with her bra, wanting to be completely naked with him for their first time.  On a kitchen table, of all places and somehow, it was the perfect setting.

 

“I’ve never…been sure about anything more in my life…” Just to prove how sure she was, Maxlyn reached between them to grab hold of his throbbing cock and rubbed the tip up and down her slit, making him groan out. “I-I’m yours, Jon, all yours…” Once again, his cock took the reins and she planted her hands behind her to hold her up, feeling Jon push inside of her. Holy shit! He was huge, much bigger than she could’ve imagined, and the burning sensation ignited around him, her pussy stretching to accommodate his size and girth.  Jon did not stop until he was full sheathed inside of her, snapping his hips forward to finish it and she cried out, her arms wrapping around his neck. I love you, I love you so much, Jon…

 

The feeling of his cock buried inside of her was incredible, indescribable, and as he began thrusting in and out of her, rocking her on that table, they locked eyes, both breathing raggedly.  No condom meant he would be pulling out and whitewashing her belly and thighs, knowing better than to even think about having a kid.  Neither of them were ready, no matter how they felt about each other, and he knew one bad day could be a setback in what they had.  Babies did not fix anything; they made it worse and he had seen too many people try fixing bad situations with a kid.  Those thoughts were pretty much gone the second he was fully inside of her, their eyes fastened on each other and then he buried his face in her neck, needing to breathe.  It wasn’t him, it was her, her and that deliciously tight, hot and wet, velvet lined pussy that was going to make him explode.

 

“Two seconds, darlin’…”

 

Once again, he was trying to maintain control and not give in to his primal instincts, even though Maxlyn wouldn’t have minded how long or short this was.  The only thing she wanted was to feel Jon explode inside of her and the thought of pregnancy crossed her mind as well. “D-Don’t worry.” He pulled back from her neck to stare into her molten brown eyes and she softly kissed him, keeping her arms around his neck. “I’m protected, Jon.”

 

Didn’t he think she’d be on birth control given what she’d done for a job before?  There was no way in hell she could be a prostitute and NOT be on birth control of some kind or protected by some form of contraceptive.  The relief mixed with desire flashed through his electric blues and the wait was over as he pushed her down on that table, their fingers lacing together while he powered in and out of her.  Tightening her legs around him to keep him in place, Maxlyn cried out uncontrollably, urging him to go harder, faster, deeper, wanting it all.

 

Maybe an IUD or something, which was good for years, unless the rehabilitation center had given her the pill or shot.  Either way, he trusted her and honestly, with her life, Jon was a little surprised she hadn’t bothered getting her stuff removed just to avoid a potential pregnancy with her clients.  Sweat was already beading again on her body and he bent down to run his tongue up along the valley of her breasts and then her throat until he was kissing her again, swallowing down the cries she was serenading him with.  Maxlyn returned it eagerly as he molded his hands to her voluptuous breasts, plucking at her nipples just to feel her tighten around him repeatedly.

 

It was indeed an IUD insert that had to happen every five years and still good for another three.  She had been forced to get it after leaving Chicago, refusing to have a baby in her line of work.  Shots and pills could be forgotten, but this contraption inside of her did NOT and it DID the job splendidly so far.  There was no way in hell she was walking right after this, not for at least a day, maybe two, and that was if Jon gave her a reprieve.  That was not going to happen, more than likely.  For four and a half months, Maxlyn had fought this man tooth and nail, fought herself, against what she wanted.  Now that she had what she’d fought against so hard, Maxlyn refused to ever let it go or lose him.  Whatever it took, she would make this man happy and if that meant a lot of sex, so be it.  Maybe he was her new addiction and she had no problem with that at all, wanting to be tied to this man in every way.  Jon decided to switch positions and slid out of her, both groaning at the lost, and pulled her from the table to turn her around, spread eagle with her bent over.

 

“Oh fuck!  Ohhh yes!!” Her nails were digging into the table as Jon began pounding her from behind, driving even deeper and harder in and out of her, another climax building.

 

His poor kitchen table, thank the lord it was sturdily built or else she’d be biting the floor right about now.  Not that they weren’t giving it a run for its money, he could feel it starting to sway with the movements and thrusts.  Jon ignored it, focusing on the way her hands were gripping the table, her fingernails digging into the wood to the point he thought she might actually leave grooves.  Blue, being a good best friend who knew to disappear when Daddy was doing bad things, was nowhere in sight. 

 

Jon lifted her off the table again when it gave another dangerous lurch.  He set her down long enough for him to lean against the counter, his feet braced firmly on the floor before hoisting her right back up and onto him, grinning when Maxlyn wrapped her hands around his neck and began bouncing on his dick.  With pure strength, he was holding her up while thrusting in and out of her and it took Maxlyn’s breath away.  It made her realize just how strong Jon really was and held onto him for dear life, his hands squeezing her backside.  That was how he was holding her up, allowing her to ride him with him standing up.

 

“J-Jon…fuck honey, please…please cum for me…” She was not above begging, not sure how much longer she could go, and could not remember the last time she exerted this much energy having sex.  Lifting her head from being buried in his throat, Maxlyn did not stop riding him and sensually kissed him, her fingers locked around his neck. “T-Together, cum with me…”

 

To be fair, Jon had also braced his weight with the counter to lean on and his feet, ensuring he was in a good position to do this without throwing out his back.  Nothing like making the first time with his woman memorable by throwing his spine out while fucking her senseless.  Hard pass on that one. “You don’t think you got a few more in you, darlin’?” He rumbled with a wicked smirk, nipping at her bottom lip and rolled her against him, hearing her whimper while she squirmed against him.  When Maxlyn shook her head, he took pity on her, moving to park right in the chair that had started all of this in the first place. “Make me cum for you then, Maxlyn.” He ordered, his hands dropping to her hips, beginning to guide her.

 

Obeying, Maxlyn began bouncing on and off him as hard, fast, and made him penetrate her as deep as she could, digging her nails into his shoulders.  This would go down as the best sex she’d ever had in her life.  Never had a man switched positions so frequently or made her cum so many times in one setting. “T-There…THERE!  JON!” Somehow, someway, another orgasm tore through her body, locking him down and nearly suffocating his cock, wrapping him in a warm, tight cocoon.  That was apparently what he wanted, one more release from her, and Jon roared out her name, the explosion forcing her to cum again. “JON!!  OH GOD!!” Her nails had streaked down his arms, leaving red welts in their path and her face collapsed right in his sweaty, hairy chest, trying to breathe before she passed out.

 

Chapter 29

 

He managed to lock his arms firmly around her, refusing to let her fall backwards because she was shaking violently.  Jon was too, if he were honest, letting his head lull back as he inhaled deeply through his nose.  Given it had been over four months for him and he’d had a relatively healthy sex life prior… it was no surprise he hadn’t exploded in her the moment he slid inside of her tight, lithe body.

 

“Jesus…Christ,” Jon rasped when he could finally take a proper breath, feeling her body trembling against his and looked down at her head, hearing her chuckling. “What’re you laughing about, darlin’?” He knew it wasn’t him, that was for damn sure.

 

“Glad I’m not…the only one struggling to breathe…right now…” His heart probably felt like it was about to fly out of his chest at any moment too.  She didn’t have a doubt in her mind. “You’ve ruined me, Jon.  You’ve completely…ruined me for every other man out there.  I’ve never, in my life, felt that amount of intensity during sex before.  That was…I don’t even know how to describe it.” Maxlyn smoothed out the hair on his chest with her fingertips and looked up at him, those beautiful blues staring back at her, warm and loving. “I knew sex with you would be great, but…you blew away my expectations, honey.” She loved the cocky grin that crossed his face and brushed her lips to his, sliding her hand over his short hair. “You feel better now, don’t you?”

 

“Don’t you?” He shot back with an amused smile, though he nodded his head when she began laughing.  Apparently, she was recovering quite well.  Next time, he’d fuck her until she lost function of her voice or something, screamed herself hoarse, the cheeky wench. “What I’ve learned, dollface,” Jon was setting her down now, knowing they both needed to rehydrate themselves. “Is that you’re addicting and I need to do more cardio.” He caught her lips in a light yet passionate kiss, smiling when he felt her hand in his chest hair again. “Any expectations I had…were shallow compared to what just happened.”

 

“Ditto.”

 

Maxlyn would never turn him down for sex, ever.  If this man wanted to sex her up twice, three, four times a day, she would do it with a big smile on her face.  His happiness was all that mattered to her because she knew as long as she kept him happy and satisfied, he’d never leave and abandon her.  There was no turning back, no matter what he said.  If they didn’t work out…that wasn’t an option.  If he proposed to her tonight and wanted to get married, Maxlyn already knew what her answer would be.  There wasn’t anything in the world she would not do for him from this day forward.

 

“I need another shower, handsome.  And I think you do too.” Then, they would have to scrub the kitchen down everywhere they just sexed it up at.

 

If Jon would have realized what had just happened in Maxlyn’s brain, he would have instantly tried to correct that way of thinking because it was all wrong.  It wasn’t supposed to work like that.  However, he was clueless and just grinned down at her, shaking his head. “Aqua first, darlin’.” He went to retrieve them both a bottle of water from the fridge, not surprised when Blue came wandering in finally. “Still a gentleman, I see.” He laughed, washing his hands before bending down to give Blue a scratch behind the ear. “I’m going to get in a workout before grabbing a shower, might as well just stay dirty before getting clean.”

 

“That wasn’t enough of a workout for you just now?” Maxlyn retorted with a smirk, chuckling at Jon’s eye roll and walked over to wash her own hands as well, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I know it’s not the same thing.  Go on, I’m gonna grab that shower and then clean the kitchen.” He nodded, kissing her softly, and watched him grab his shorts up from the floor as he padded his delicious naked backside towards the door leading to his personal gym. 

 

Maxlyn was thankful her legs still worked and knew a hot shower would loosen her up even more, bending to pet Blue on her way out of the kitchen.

 

~!~

 

“W-Who are you?  W-Why are you doing this to me?”

 

“Because you said no.” He brought the whip in his hand down across her thigh, making her bite her lip to keep from crying out. “You denied me.” Another crack on the other thigh. “And a slut like you should be more than willing to jump into bed with a specimen like me.” Another crack, this time across her stomach. “And I’m gonna spend the next 24 hours teaching you a lesson you won’t ever forget.  You know why, Rachel?”

 

The platinum blonde swallowed hard, slowly shaking her head, and gasped out when she felt a hand wrap around her throat.

“Because I’m better than you and you know it.”

 

~!~

 

Snapping her eyes open, it took Maxlyn a few seconds to remember where she was and looked down at her wrists that weren’t bound.  An arm was draped around her waist and she looked behind her shoulder, seeing Jon’s deep sleeping handsome face staring back at her.  It was day three at home and they were set to leave tomorrow to head to Cleveland for Dynamite on Wednesday, heading back on the road.  She had printed out the subjects she planned on studying while on the road and they planned on staying at a bed and breakfast instead of a hotel, just to make it more comfortable for them. 

 

The sex did not dwindle after that afternoon in the kitchen and continued later that night, into the next day.  One thing Maxlyn noticed about Jon was he really loved morning sex.  He did a promo on Dynamite about it and she recalled watching it with him, so when she asked him about it, he just grinned at her and admitted it was true.  He loved morning sex because it was indeed a great way to start the day off…and he wasn’t wrong.  Hell, any kind of sex with Jon was amazing, no matter the time of day or night. 

 

After a nice night on the Strip with dinner and a walk, just admiring the City of Lights, they had come back here and went crazy on each other.  Even with how sore she was from earlier in the kitchen, Maxlyn could not stop herself from wanting him and Jon was a lot more gentle with her, making love to her instead of aggressive fucking.  Glancing at the clock, Maxlyn saw it was five AM and knew she was not going back to sleep, so she carefully slid out of bed to grab a nightgown, slipping it on closing the bedroom door behind her silently.

 

What had triggered that memory, that particular nightmare, after all this time?  The last thing Maxlyn wanted to do was worry Jon, so she decided against telling him about this particular nightmare.  In fact, she never planned on telling him about what had triggered her to drink herself into an alcoholic coma.  That was a secret she would take to the grave.  It amazed her that he hadn’t asked about it already, even with all the time they’d spent together in the rehab center, and now living together being in a relationship.  They had talked about it the second night home, after she made a nice hearty meal for them and they made love, this time in the living room.

 

“I’m not big on labels, darlin’, but when it comes to you, me, us, we need to make sure we’re on the same page.” Jon had laced their fingers together and Maxlyn looked up at him, locking eyes.

 

“Whatever you want, Jon, you already know I’m yours.  Call me whatever you want.  Your woman, your girlfriend, your girl, all of it means the same to me.”

 

“Girlfriend…you’re my girlfriend, my woman, and I’m your man.  Your boyfriend.  You good with that?”

 

“Immensely.” Maxlyn had snuggled against him, dragging her nails lightly up and down his side, both content with the way their relationship had progressed in a very short amount of time.

 

Truthfully, being called Jon’s girlfriend somewhat terrified Maxlyn because it was all new to her.  She’d get used to it and hid her trepidation very well, swallowing it down.  There was no reason to be scared of it, this was how a relationship naturally progressed.  Jon didn’t pressure her into anything, he was a perfect gentleman and he even told her labels weren’t a big thing with him.  However, if they wanted to progress past girlfriend and boyfriend someday, they had to have that label established and she knew that.  Was that what triggered the nightmare?  Her fear of being locked down and committed to one man for possibly the rest of her life?  Did she want that with Jon? Yes. Of course she did, she loved the man with all of her heart and soul, but the fear of losing him was still there, just beneath the surface.

 

Heading into the kitchen, Maxlyn grabbed a glass of water and felt Blue behind her, sliding open the glass screen door to step outside onto the outside patio, the warm breeze flooding over her.  The sun hadn’t rose yet, but it would and she wanted to watch it, sitting down in one of the patio chairs with Blue by her side. “I’m okay, boy, I promise.” Without realizing it, she’d been crying from the moment she left the bedroom all because of that stupid nightmare and wiped the tears away.

 

She wasn’t left to her solitude for long.  Ever since they had started sharing a bed, unless he was dead tired, Jon had gotten into the habit of waking when she did.  It wasn’t a bad thing, she was an early riser and he had needed to get back into that habit, especially if he wanted to enjoy his Red Rocks once the cold season ended.

 

“Everything okay, darlin’?” Even for her, this was a bit early.  Maxlyn had a view before sunrise and he yawned, stepping out in just his shorts and not much else, reaching up to scratch behind his neck.  Jon sat down in the patio chair alongside of hers, smiling sleepily when Blue came to drop right on his feet. “Morning, buddy.”

 

The tears had dried up and only a few had fallen, so she was smiling at him with a nod. “Yeah, just woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep.  Figured I’d watch the sunrise since there won’t be many chances to do it.” Taking his hand, Maxlyn laced her fingers with his and the nightmare was suddenly nothing more than a fading memory. “I’m sorry I woke you up, honey.  I was trying to be as quiet as I could.” She looked at him, seeing the shrug of his shoulders and knew he didn’t really mind it.  They had an early flight in the morning, so this would be their last day and night at home and she wanted to soak every bit of it in with him. “How about a walk around the backyard?” Standing, her hand didn’t leave his and Jon rose from the seat, towering over her.  He took her face in his hands, staring into her eyes before softly kissing her, encircling her arms around his neck. “Mmm, I’ll never get tired of those, you know.”

 

He was studying her thoughtfully, tempted to smile, but he was somewhat frowning instead. “Your side of the bed was a little damp, darlin’,” And he would never ask if she was a bedwetter, he knew better.  It was sweat and he also knew that better than anyone from the horrible night sweats he’d gotten before going to rehabilitation. “Too hot?”

 

Jon would leave it up to her to tell him if she had had a nightmare or something.  He knew he had sort of put her off of confiding those the day Maxlyn had come downstairs and just blurted out about the nightmare she’d had about him, asking a totally off the wall question.  Just so she didn’t have to meet his stare, he looped his arm around her shoulders, guiding her out on that little backyard walk she had wanted.

 

“I don’t think I will either, of those kisses.”

 

Since he was asking her, Maxlyn would not lie to him.  She never had before and she wouldn’t start now. “I had a nightmare.  Not about you, I promise.  Just…about the past, it creeps in every once in a while.” There was nothing she could do about it, her subconscious could be vicious when it wanted to be. “I didn’t want to wake you up and bother you with it.  That’s why I couldn’t go back to sleep.” Please don’t ask me what the nightmare was about. If Jon did…she’d have to tell him as they continued walking, her eyes looking out at the sunrise. “One thing I’ll never do is lie to you, Jon.  I will always be honest with you, even if…it’s not something you may not want to hear or know.”

 

“Ah…” Jon nodded, comprehension dawning. “Dollface, if you just don’t ever want to tell me, all you gotta do is say so, you know that right?  Just because we’re together doesn’t mean I have to be privy to all your thoughts and shit,” And vice versa, of course.  Just because they had become a ‘we’ did not mean they had given up the ‘me’ aspect of themselves.  He wasn’t asking what the nightmare was about because Jon wasn’t sure if that would be cruel or not, forcing her to relive again something probably from her past.  No, better to let that one lie.

 

“Thank you.  It’s not that I don’t want to tell you about it, but…” Maxlyn heaved a sigh, sadness filling her eyes and felt Jon stop the walk to turn her to face him, his hands on her shoulders. “It’s hard, Jon.  It’s hard to talk about it and I hate it still haunts me.” What if it always did?  That was a huge possibility. “I just don’t want you to think I’m hiding things from you because I’m not.  I just want to move on with my life and the way to do that is just ignore these nightmares the best I can.  And I’m being truthful with you when I say I only had that ONE nightmare about you, that I told you about.  Ever since, you haven’t been in my nightmares, only my good dreams,” Stepping closer to him, Maxlyn kissed the center of his chest and still had the tears glistening in her eyes. “My VERY good dreams.  You believe me, right?”

 

“I do…darlin’.  Maxlyn, not to sound like a jackass because I know how well it went over in the rehab center, but have you thought about seeing a psychiatrist?  A proper one, not one you were court ordered to see, but one you pay to work for you?” Jon brushed away the tears that fell down her cheeks, his frown deepening because he wasn’t trying to cause her any distress. “I just hate it that you feel like this sometimes is all, dollface, I just want what’s best for you.” She was definitely making strides, no doubt about it.  Nevertheless, her past would always haunt her and one just couldn’t ignore something like what she had been through.

 

“I-I know, I know you do.  I just don’t…know if a psychiatrist can help with this.” What did he mean by having one she paid to work for her?  No, Maxlyn didn’t want to talk to a total stranger she didn’t know.  Her trust issues were still very real, even if she’d put all of it into Jon. “I’m happy for the most part, Jon.  I’m happy being with you, living here and calling this place home.  Not everyone is perfect, though, and like you said in your speech on Dynamite, we all have scars we have to carry with us.  These are my scars and the nightmares have been tapering off for the most part, so I’ll be okay.  Just…when it happens and I get up like this early in the morning again or in the middle of the night…please know it’s not you.  It’s just shit I’m working out on my own.”

 

“All right darlin’, just thought I’d throw it out there.”

 

What he meant was that there was a major difference in seeing a proper psychiatrist as opposed to seeing one that had been court ordered.  Seeing someone who had their own private practice meant a person would wind up with less of that hokey drivel, like they had dealt with in the facility and more one on one, intensive stuff, where they actively listened.  Still, Jon had put himself into rehabilitation, he knew not a lot of people were comfortable with admitting they needed help.  Or it was just so dark for her…either way, he had Maxlyn’s back and hummed an assent down at her, dropping another kiss on the top of her head.

 

“Whatever you want to do, dollface.”

 

“Thank you, Jon.” Wrapping her arms around his waist, Maxlyn soaked in his warmth and nuzzled his chest, turning her head just in time to start watching the sun rising over the horizon. “This is the only place I want to be, here with you and Blue.” He rubbed her back gently up and down, both admiring the sight before them, just enjoying the tranquility of the moment. 

 

Eventually, they did head back inside to figure out what to have for breakfast and Maxlyn started doing laundry while Jon went to do his daily workout routine.  She was doing his clothes as well, not minding it because she knew Jon had a lot on his mind at the moment.  Not only was he doing AEW shows, but now he had signed up for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event and GCW – all in March.  The man was going to run himself ragged and she already decided for the Bloodsport and GCW events, Maxlyn would fly back to Vegas unless Jon wanted her with him.  She just hoped, prayed, Jon didn’t stretch himself too thin with all of these shows and companies…the man truly did love wrestling with every fiber of his being.

 

Chapter 30

 

Maybe he was overreaching a little bit, but Jon was a free agent and he wanted his toes in as many pools as possible, or was it fingers in pies?  Either way, they were good opportunities for him and he had some missed time to make up for since he had spent several months in that facility. After his workout, Jon skipped the shower in order to do some routine maintenance on the house. He had learned a LOT about home ownership and when he was around, he preferred doing it himself, providing it wasn’t above his paygrade. By the time he was finished and showered, it was afternoon and he wasn’t surprised to see her on her laptop.

 

“Need a printer?” He asked curiously, knowing she had said she wanted to download the textbooks to take with them. “We can go into Vegas today, maybe grab a late lunch or early dinner of that Chinese?”

 

“I don’t mind studying on the laptop…”

 

Jon squatted down to be eyelevel with her, closing the lid of the laptop to take her hands in his. “Darlin’, staring at a screen for hours isn’t good for your eyes.  Printing it out would be better, don’t you think?” It was easier to read paperwork while laying bed rather than a laptop and he was genuinely concerned about her sight. “We can even buy one of those binders and make actual books for you to study.  That way you can highlight shit that you need to remember for the test.”

 

He made really good points that Maxlyn couldn’t dispute against and she found herself agreeing, accepting a soft kiss from him. “Chinese sounds good too.  All right, you talked me into it.  Let me go change and we can leave.” Cupping his face in her hands, she gave him a passionate kiss that made her toes curl, moaning softly. “I’ll be sure to properly thank you for being so wonderful later on when we get home.”

 

Rubbing her nose against his, she slid from the chair before they got too distracted and headed to the master bedroom to change her outfit.  Since it did get a little cooler at night in Vegas around this time of year, she went with some blue jeans and a shimmery blue short-sleeved top that hung off the shoulder on one side, slipping her blue flats on.  Fixing her hair a little, Maxlyn headed out downstairs to rejoin Jon and was stopped by Blue, bending down to give him some attention.

 

He had swapped out shirts, figuring his jeans were good enough and when Maxlyn finally appeared, ready to go, his eyes raked over her appreciatively. He let out a low whistle, the admiration plain as day on his face. “How the hell did I get so damn lucky?” He asked, more to himself than to her, so it was rhetorical.

 

This woman had been amazing in the rehabilitation facility; her sharp wit and sarcasm had instantly attracted him.  While it had definitely toned down a lot since they had left that place, other qualities and traits had surfaced.  She was less bitchy and prone to suspicion, though Jon imagined that would come back in a heartbeat if need be, which wasn’t a bad thing in this world. 

 

“I could ask you the same thing, honey.” Maxlyn blushed as he twirled her by the hand, loving his eyes raking over her, drinking her in. “You keep eyeballing me like that and we’re not leaving the house, Jon.” He growled, smacking her backside and she purred in response, doing the same thing to him. “Come on, you have me craving Chinese food now and we can have sexy time later after we get a printer and that binder you were talking about.”

 

Taking his hand, Maxlyn lead him out the door and slid her shades on over her eyes the same as him.  The sun was still bright outside, though it would be going down relatively soon.  Hopping up in his truck, Maxlyn fastened her seatbelt and Jon did the same thing, backing out of the driveway.  Once they were on the road, she grabbed his hand like always and laced their fingers together while listening to some classic rock.

 

~!~

 

The printer Maxlyn picked out was LaserJet, which held a lot more ink than regular cartridges and the ink wouldn’t dry out either.  They wouldn’t be home all the time to use it and could not travel with it either.  Jon insisted on paying for it and Maxlyn let him, even though every part of her wanted to fight him on it.  No, fighting him would be wrong.  He wanted to do this for her, to help her out, there was nothing wrong with that.  After the printer and ink was purchased, it was off to the Chinese place and Jon asked if she wanted to sit down and eat or take it home to chow on the couch.

 

“Whatever you wanna do is fine with me.  I’m open to doing either.” Jon thought about it for all of three seconds and decided to have a sit down meal, wanting to stay out of the house for a little while. 

 

Being cooped up at home while they were off the road was all right to do sometimes, but Jon also liked getting out and wanted Maxlyn to experience life to the fullest.  It also gave them a chance to really talk since it was just the two of them, hold hands, and just enjoy each other’s company.  Granted, they could do that at home, but there was something about doing it this way that was a little better at times.

 

“So, Bloodsport and GCW, huh?  Aren’t you the current GCW World champion?”

 

The way Jon had figured it, he had been the one to push the printer issue, so it was only right that he paid for it.  Maybe he’d even use it or something. “I am.” He chuckled, beginning to explain how all that worked when she asked.

 

This woman was becoming an avid wrestling fan and he was glad she had no idea about the WWE outside of what he had told her.  Once upon a time, it had been the best wrestling company hands down, but it had lost that title a long time ago in his opinion.  She had definitely missed the golden age.

 

“What do you think about walking the Strip at night?” It was his favorite time in Vegas.  Jon could do without the casinos – He had done that when he first moved here and the novelty had worn off quickly – but seeing everything lit up and the Ferris wheel, the performers, it was like a giant circus sometimes.

 

They had a very early flight in the morning to go to Cleveland for Dynamite and she wasn’t packed yet.  Jon wasn’t either.  Also, Jon didn’t know this or maybe he hadn’t thought of it, but walking the Strip at night…it brought back memories for Maxlyn.  She had to walk the Strip, looking for ‘clients’ to sell her body to for the night or a few hours.  Platinum blonde hair, caked on makeup, fishnet stockings, booty shorts or a skirt that was obscenely short, almost to the point of showing off the goods, tops that showed a great portion of her breasts, high Stiletto heels…as much as she loved Vegas, it was also tainted to her in a way, the Strip at least.

 

“Sure, sounds good to me.”

 

However, once again, Maxlyn agreed to go walking on it again after they finished eating, keeping a smile on her face.  Jon would probably get annoyed with her if she told him how she truly felt about the Strip, so it was best to keep her mouth shut and go along with whatever he wanted to do.  One thing she would never deny was the beauty Vegas had, however.  It wasn’t just the City of Sin, it was also the City of Lights.

 

“Racel, is that you?!”

 

Maxlyn froze in her tracks alongside Jon, her head turning slowly to watch as a half-dressed prostitute came towards them.  She let go of Jon’s hand as the woman hugged Maxlyn around the neck and she was tensed beyond belief, her heart pounding in her ears.  This was someone she NEVER thought she’d see again as long as she lived, even living in Vegas.

 

“Hi, Cynthia.” Christ, she could not meet Jon’s eyes at the moment and swallowed hard, doing her very best to wipe the panic off her face.

 

“Girl!  I can’t believe you’re alive!  When we dropped you off at the ER, I thought for sure you were dead!” Cynthia had been the one who found Racel, face-down, in her apartment with the five bottles of different alcohol surrounding her. “W-We all thought you died because we didn’t hear nothin’.”

 

“Oh.  I’m, uh, sorry about that…” What the hell else was she supposed to say? “T-Thank you for…finding me and for what you did.  You saved my life that night, gave me a second chance…”

 

“Oh no problem, girl!  Ricky was all too willing to do it, you know how he feels about you!” Ricky was the owner of the strip club she had worked at prior to going to rehabilitation. “He’ll be so happy to hear you’re alive and well!  Maybe you can come back to work and…”

 

“No.” Maxlyn backed away, shaking her head vehemently and could feel the tears burning her eyes, scrubbing a hand down her face. “I’m done with that life, Cynthia.  I’m done with all of it, including drinking.” Cynthia was frowning and watched as Maxlyn grabbed the very tall, handsome man’s hand with electric blue eyes and rock solid figure.

 

“I see.  And who is this tall drink of water?”

 

“My boyfriend, hands off.” Maxlyn ordered with a bit of bite to her voice, watching Cynthia’s eyes narrow. “You saved my life and I owe you for that, so I’m giving you some good advice right now.  Get out.  Get out of this life before it’s too late for you, Cynthia.  Now we have to go, come on, honey.” She was purposely not using Jon’s name around Cynthia, not wanting her to know anything about him.

 

Honestly, Jon hadn’t thought about it because she had been so dismissive of getting professional help and wanted to try resolving her issues on her own.  Confronting those issues usually helped and it just now occurred to him, that she probably had NOT wanted to come onto the Strip.  For her, it was ruined forever, even though he adored it.

 

Cynthia watched as Racel practically dragged off that gorgeous piece of ass, her eyes widening before she headed for the club.  Ricky would want to know that his favorite working girl was back in town and trying to live a normal life.  That just didn’t happen, one didn’t come back to the place where someone literally owned them for a normal life.

 

“Darlin’, let’s go home.” Jon was realizing what a colossal mistake he had made. “I’m sorry for this.”

 

Maxlyn didn’t say a word to him, too shaken up over the run-in with Cynthia, and knew what would happen now.  Ricky would find out she wasn’t dead, she was alive and well…and he’d come for her.  He’d hunt her down and demand her to start working for him again because he was, for all intents and purposes, her pimp.  How was she supposed to move on with her life, from this, when her past kept popping up to haunt her?  It wasn’t until they were in the truck and on the way home that Maxlyn finally spoke, her voice chilling and haunted.

 

“I’m sorry, Jon.  I’m so sorry about this…I never thought I’d see her again, or any of them.  Now Cynthia is going to go to Ricky and tell him I’m alive, when he thought I was dead.  He’s going to come after me because…” Oh god, she felt sick to her stomach and put her head in her hands, fresh tears sliding down her cheeks. “He was my fucking pimp.”

 

So, Jon had no idea how prostitution worked outside of what he had seen in the news and in movies.  From his understanding, freelancers didn’t survive very long and this shit was all basically sex trafficking.  Hearing her talk about it was bad enough, the nightmares and trauma she still carried, but to see it in action broke his heart.  It also pissed him off, that last bit.

 

“Emphasis on was, darlin’.” Reaching over to take her hand, Jon was aware she was crying even without looking away from the road.  It was probably a good thing it was fairly dark because his jaw had set into something grim and his eyes were pure ice. “And if he comes looking for you, well…he’ll never make that mistake again.”

 

This was her fault.  That was all Maxlyn could think about on the way back to the house, wrapping her arms around herself.  There was no way she could stay in Vegas anymore, not after the run-in she had with Cynthia.  Would Jon leave Vegas?  No way.  There was no way he would leave Vegas and they had JUST gotten together in a relationship.  She felt trapped here now, knowing Ricky was out there in the shadows and eventually, he would track her down.  He knew her real name, he wasn’t just her pimp, but also her former boss at the strip club.  It was a two-for-one deal, basically.  It was the reason why she had a nice nest-egg, but at what cost?  Was the cost worth it?  Jon pulled into the driveway and she didn’t move to get out, instead lifting her head to look at him.  Running from him wasn’t an option as she unbuckled her seatbelt, scooting across the seat and cupped his face in her hands to passionately kiss him, needing to feel his lips on hers.

 

“I need you to know, no matter how much I wanna run away, I won’t do it.  I won’t run away from you and I trust you.  I’m in this for the long haul, just like I said.  But you also need to know your life is in danger if you decide to stay with me.  We’re in danger here because of me and I’m sorry, Jon, I’m so sorry…”

 

Jon raised a brow, wondering if she honestly thought his life was in danger.  He wasn’t an A rank celebrity, but he was rather famous.  If something happened at his property, it was going to be leaked.  If something happened to him, shit would hit the fan.  Not to mention, he didn’t have this body just for looks; he knew how to use it and he had grown up in a pretty crappy neighborhood…Jon might’ve seemed domesticated, but he knew he was one bad day from reverting back to a wild animal.

 

“Darlin’, we’re not home all that much and even when we are, if anyone comes around looking for trouble, they’re going to wish they hadn’t.  I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Maxlyn, trust me.”

 

“H-How can you still wanna be with me after tonight?  H-How can you still want me in your bed, your house, your life?”

 

She just told him she used to have a pimp and he STILL refused to abandon and leave her, to kick her out of his life.  Jon had told her SOME things about his childhood while they were in rehab together, but…not all of it, only small fragments.  Maxlyn did know about his mother whoring herself out to put food on the table.  Here he was now, having a former prostitute, a whore, for his girlfriend.  She wasn’t good enough for him, for nobody, and yet he treated her like a queen, like the way a man is supposed to treat a woman.

 

“I never want to lose you, Jon.  If anything happens to you because of me…” Maxlyn would die right along with him and she already knew it.

 

“Darlin’, you told me about your past, you think I’m gonna run when I see the proof?” Jon was shaking his head, hoping she wasn’t assuming anything terrible right now.  His mother had whored herself out, there were some similarities between the women in his life, but that was all it was, similarities. “I knew what I was getting into when I asked you to come home with me, it didn’t faze me then and it doesn’t faze me now.” He had known Maxlyn would need reassurance; it would come and go and this had been a major thing thrown at her. “We’re leaving tomorrow and when we come back, if that prick decides he’s dumb enough to come out here looking for you, I’ll handle it.  You’re not going to lose me.”

 

Despite what happened, his words melted her heart and she knew he meant every word, feeling his thumbs wipe away the rest of her tears.  She wanted to tell him she loved him right then and there, feeling the words bubbling inside of her, but something held her back.  Maxlyn didn’t want to be too intense or move too fast since they’d JUST gotten together.  Surely those words would send him running for the hills and she would not blame him.  Thankfully, she managed to keep her blurting antics out of this and kissed him again, this time a little deeper and harder.

 

“While I set the printer up with my laptop to print these subjects out, you should pack your bag.  I know you haven’t done it yet and I was going to do it for you, but you wanted to take me out, so I didn’t get a chance to do it.  It shouldn’t take too long to print out the two subjects I’m bringing with me and then I’ll pack my own bag, and then maybe we can take a dip in the jacuzzi together to relax?  Sound like a game plan, handsome?”

 

Given he had shown he wasn’t holding her past against her, even when it was potentially about to come knocking on their door, and her habit of blurting the weirdest stuff out…Jon could take a LOT from this woman and her weirdness.  Said weirdness was one of the things he liked best about her.  If she had dropped the L bomb on him, he might have even said it back, he wasn’t entirely sure if it was intense like or edging into love on his end.  It was still growing, progressing.

 

“Darlin’, I don’t need you to wait on me or pack my gear.  I’ve been doing this awhile.” She was a mother hen, that was for sure, and he could easily see her with a few rug rats… STOP THERE, GOOD! “Sounds like a game plan.” Fuck all, did he really think that?”

 

“I know I don’t HAVE to do it, but I WANTED to do it for you.  I like doing things for you and you better get used to it, Good.” That smile was back on her face when he rolled his eyes and she kissed his nose before sliding out of the truck, feeling much better after their talk.  Ricky could sit and spin for all she cared. Let him come for me, Jon will make sure it’s the last thing he ever does.  He’ll kill him and we’ll bury him in the backyard.  Nobody will miss him. Whoa, Maxlyn needed to reign those kinds of thoughts in as she pulled her key out to open the door, carrying the ink while Jon insisted on grabbing the printer. 

 

Together, they set up it up at the kitchen table since it was wireless and she opened her laptop to pair it before beginning the task of printing.  Jon was right beside her, helping her through it all and it was moments like these that made her fall even more in love with him.  He sat down at the table with her and helped her put the two binders together, both making small talk while they did the project together.  Once those were done, Jon pulled her up from the chair and passionately kissed her, molding his body to hers.

 

“W-What about packing our bags?” She asked breathlessly once the kiss broke and he swept her up in his arms, already heading for the bedroom, both kissing the entire way.  Whether he was doing it to silence her protests or what, Maxlyn didn’t care and couldn’t get enough of the taste of Jon.

 

“Now, we can pack together.” Jon announced with an amused grin as he set her down, watching as she backed away breathlessly until her backside hit the bed and dropped down. 

 

Distraction was a great key and he was a bit amused with her staring up at him with near stars in her eyes.  That was a good feeling, he liked it and the fact that he could do that, put that there, was awesome.  Especially given how terrible this night had ended because he had wanted to walk the Strip.

 

“What? You said you wanted to hit up the jacuzzi…” Jon was not very good at pulling off the innocent look at all, his natural smirk threatening the attempted innocent look.

 

“You do realize the jacuzzi is in the opposite direction of our bedroom, yes?” She pointed out, folding her arms in front of her chest and gave him a look that clearly said ‘really?’.  He was trying to be cute and funny…and it was working like a charm. “Seriously though, packing needs to come first.” Maxlyn grinned at his salute and rolled her eyes, grabbing her luggage while he did the same. 

 

It took another two hours and probably would’ve taken less time if they wouldn’t have stopped to make out for five minutes at a time.  If this was Jon’s way of reassuring her that everything was all right and he wasn’t going anywhere, he was doing a damn fine job of it.  Eventually, they finished and set their bags by the door while Jon went to use the bathroom.  When he emerged not even two minutes later, there Maxlyn stood in just a towel wrapped around her body, hair down, with molten brown bedroom eyes blazing back at him.

 

Needless to say, when she dropped that towel, the jacuzzi was the last thing on Jon’s mind and they spent the majority of the night making love, barely catching their flight the next morning.

 

Chapter 31

 

Before long, a month had flown by in the blink of an eye.

 

Hard at work studying for her GED test coming up, Maxlyn was doing everything in her power to try to do the best she could.  Jon’s career was flourishing and it was announced, officially, that at the Revolution pay-per-view event, it would be Jon Moxley against Bryan Danielson.  Jon had done a KILLER promo, stating that he didn’t stand side by side with nobody until he bled with them first.  To say Maxlyn had attacked Jon in his dressing room as soon as he returned from the ring after that promo was an understatement.  He had no problem screwing her at the arenas and she didn’t either, enjoying shower sex.  Hell, any kind of sex with Jon was amazing.  Everybody in AEW knew they were together and Jon didn’t bother hiding it, showing PDA and the whole nine yards.  Maxlyn was his woman, his girlfriend, and very much taken.

 

Before long, they were back in Vegas and Ricky hadn’t reared his ugly head yet.  So either Cynthia didn’t tell him about their run-in on the Strip or…he was biding his time.  Because of that possibility, Maxlyn was nervous the closer it came for Jon to leave her at home to go do the Bloodsport event for Josh Barnett.  Of course, she didn’t tell him about her anxiety of him leaving her home alone, keeping it all bottled up.  Because Jon was so busy with multiple wrestling promotions, including New Japan, he hadn’t noticed thankfully.  Without realizing it, Maxlyn had also started doing his scheduling because Jon was a jumbled mess otherwise, so when she offered to start doing it for him, he handed it over without question.  So not only was she studying for her GED, but Maxlyn had also become Jon’s personal assistant with his scheduling, including booking flights and hotels as well as other things, all for these events he wanted to do.

 

Was it really two months since they became a couple?  Maxlyn blinked when she realized that, knowing towards the end of January was when they first got together and now here it was, going into the end of March.  It was the 29^th, Jon was leaving tomorrow for the Bloodsport event, and Maxlyn decided to make him a delicious steak dinner with all the trimmings, along with lobster tails.  She had YouTubed how to cook them to perfection, following the directions to a T.  Jon’s bags were packed and ready to go, he had an early flight in the morning that would require a layover, so that was why he was leaving a day earlier than usual.  He wanted to make sure he arrived and had time to talk out whatever it was he’d be doing on the show.

 

One thing about Maxlyn and Jon was they didn’t fight or argue, not once.  Her nightmares were a little more frequent ever since that night on the Strip, but Jon seemed to be handling them all right.  Instead of getting out of bed, he could tell when she was having one and would simply pull her tightly into his arms, spooning against her, and whispered soothing words into her ear.  Maxlyn would eventually relax and fall back to sleep, rewarding her man for being so loving and caring the next day with sex.  No matter what time of day or night it was, if they wanted each other, they didn’t hesitate and, for the most part, they were on the same page.  There were a few times here and there Maxlyn wouldn’t be in the mood, due to being stressed about her studying or Jon’s schedule, and he’d pull her away from it all, coaxing her to relieve that stress with him.

 

And she did without question, satisfying her man to the fullest of her abilities.

 

March 31^st would be a morning that would be forever burned in Maxlyn’s mind forever.

 

Jon was gone for the Bloodsport event and Maxlyn was inside, just finishing up cleaning the kitchen, when she heard gunshots. “What the fuck?”

 

The glass of the windows started shattering and Maxlyn dropped instantly, keeping covered as much as she could, her heart thundering in her ears.  Someone was shooting up Jon’s house!!  Maxlyn suddenly remembered a similar situation that happened while she prostituted for Ricky to one of the other girls he’d been pimping out.  The girl had gotten a boyfriend and she remembered clearly what he’d said about sending a drive-by to the man’s house.  The girl didn’t want to work for him anymore and Ricky had beaten her, or had her beaten, before promising to end her man’s life, so nobody else would take care of her except him. 

 

The truck was in the garage and it was her only escape as Maxlyn started army crawling across the floor, the shooting continuing as things broke and shattered around her.  Swallowing hard, she knew it was a risk, but she made a beeline for where the keys were hung, along with her purse that had her ID and everything in it, and then ran as fast as she could to the garage, bare feet and all.  She let out a whistle as Blue came charging towards her and just as the front door burst open with the gunmen, Maxlyn was in the truck, opening the garage door.  She screamed out as the gunmen noticed her squealing tires out of the driveway in Jon’s truck and thankfully, they didn’t hit any of the tires.  Blue was in the passenger seat, laying down and whining, and she did not stop while hitting the expressway, thanking god her cell phone was also in her purse.

 

This is Mox, you know what to do and if I don’t know you, don’t call back. Damn, it had gone straight to voicemail. “Jon, the house was shot up and I’m currently on my way to you with Blue!  Call me back as soon as you get this!  I love you!” That would be the first time Maxlyn ever said those words to him and it had been in a panic over a voicemail, fearing for her very life.

 

Whether she realized it or not, Jon had been paying her once she took over that personal assistant stuff.  He had found out what the average rate was, tacked on a bit more, and then just deposited money into her bank account about every other week.  Apparently, all one needed was the person’s name and they could put money into basically anyone’s bank account, that was crazy as hell.  Jon was thinking about his woman, who probably was glad he was gone, given he had been pulling her away from her books and studies whenever she got a pinched look on her face, when he made it to his dressing room.  That had been a HELL of a fight and he was feeling it right now as he dried his sweat covered face off on a hand towel while sitting on a chair, glancing over at his cell.  Maxlyn had called instead of texted and left a voicemail, that was odd.

 

“Yo Mox, hell of a fight out there tonight!” Josh Barnett complimented, walking into the locker room just as Jon had put the phone to his ear, hearing Maxlyn’s panicked voice and her confession, watching his friend’s eyes widen to the size of saucers. “Everything all right, man?”

 

Adrenaline was keeping her awake, along with copious amounts of coffee she had gotten from a local Starbucks, not able to eat anything at the moment.  Blue was currently sleeping and she had stopped to grab him some dog food at a local market, having it on the floorboard currently where he could reach it, along with some water.  The dog had to be taken care of along with her, if anything happened to Blue, Jon would completely lose his mind and she knew it. 

 

It had been several hours since she left Jon that voicemail and she knew he usually shut his phone off during events, so he wouldn’t get it until later that night.  According to Google Maps on her phone, it would take almost 18 hours to get there and Maxlyn had already stopped to fill up the truck with her card.  It didn’t seem like people were following her and she had her phone on charge, waiting for the inevitable call from Jon.

 

It came all right, with Jon informing her to get the hell off the road right now.  Was she really driving?  She had been panicking and rightly so; there was no WAY she was making that long drive by herself.  She had been up all day and was looking at things well into tomorrow.  Obviously, she was alive and he had called the cops in Vegas as soon as he had gotten the message, well aware she was fine…or hoping.  They were on their way out to investigate his house.

 

“Pull over at a rest stop, park next to a family,” Because there were always families. “And call me, darlin’.” He was not advocating driving and talking on a cell, not over something that was likely to lead to tears.  He liked her living and the relief that had coursed through him when she picked up was present in his tone of voice. “Darlin’, just find a spot to pull over, okay?  I’m waiting for your call and getting around to come to you, or we’ll find the halfway point, okay?”

 

“I’m nodding.  Okay…B-Blue is with me.  I-I couldn’t…leave him…there…” Rest stop was 20 miles away, Maxlyn could make it there and looked over at the dog, tears pooling in her eyes.  Jon ordered her to stay on the phone with him and told her to keep breathing, demanding to know where the next rest stop was. “L-Less than 20 miles…” Keep going was his order and she obeyed, silently praying, hoping, he made it to her unscathed.  This was the FIRST time they’d been apart since leaving the rehabilitation center and Maxlyn wondered if it was an omen of things to come. “I’m here…” She whispered when she’d gotten quiet on him and Jon demanded to know she was still with him, not trusting her voice at the moment, and now had him on speakerphone, both of her hands on the wheel. “I put you on speakerphone, I’m about 10 miles away now from the rest stop.”

 

“You’re not going alone, Mox.” Josh Barnett was a good friend of his and he was bound and determined to make sure his friend made it to his woman unscathed and in one piece.  Jon was in NO condition to drive at the moment, his stuff already packed up, along with Josh’s. “Let’s roll, I’m driving.”

 

Jon nodded, leading the way out to his rental and passed over the keys, not about to make Josh suffer the gas mileage on his own ride. “Appreciate it, bro.” He said, tossing his own shit into the back before sliding into the passenger seat. “Darlin’, I’m about six hours out from you. Google the nearest hotel okay? I don’t want you spending all that time at a rest stop.” He was so glad he had been paying her regularly since she became his assistant basically, because she was frugal with money and he knew she had issues about being poor. Adding to her savings was one way of hopefully alleviating that fear. He listened as she began looking, finally finding one not too far away that was pet friendly. “Okay, Maxlyn… are you okay?” Now that she was breathing more evenly and less panicked, and they had her sorted out until he arrived. Some people fell to pieces, obviously she wasn’t one of them because she had done what she needed too and hauled ass without thinking twice. Focusing on outside things wasn’t a bad thing, doing what had to be done and THEN breaking down… he bet she was scared shitless. He was, he was just hiding it.

 

“Yes, no, I don’t know?  I’m just…trying to keep my head on straight right now.” Falling to pieces was NOT an option, not after what happened to her today. “Come on, Blue, come on, thank you, ma’am.” She took the key and headed upstairs to her room, hating how dark it was. “Jesus, my hands are shaking so badly right now…” Jon ordered her to take another slow, deep breath, in through the nose and out the mouth.  She did and slid the key in the slot, looking behind her to make sure nobody had followed before ushering Blue inside.  He had already gone to the bathroom, so he was good to go. “O-Okay, okay I’m in the room now and I’m locking the door.” Turning the light on, Maxlyn half-expected to find Ricky right there waiting for her and knew her paranoia was at an all-time high.

 

“Mox, we can be there in four, I know a short-cut and we’ll be able to blow way past 80 miles an hour.”

 

“W-Who is that with you, Jon?” Maxlyn checked the bathroom, listening as he explained who his friend Josh Barnett was and swallowed hard, walking over to stare back at her reflection in the mirror. “I-I have nothing here…I-I didn’t have to bring a bag or anything…” How was she supposed to clean herself up before Jon got there?

 

“Fuck no, Josh, I’m not getting pulled the fuck over,” because that was how the law’s of the universe operated. If you were in a rush to get somewhere, something was going to happen. So, with that in mind, why would he push fate’s buttons? Especially in a fucking car that wasn’t his no less? “No back ways, in this shitty weather, at night…” shitty weather being rain, in Texas, in March… flooding would be a problem if this shit didn’t stop soon.

 

“Fine, fine, what’s that she’s saying?” because Jon was holding the phone away from his ear and he frowned when Jon relayed it. “Have her do that doordash shit from a store.”

 

“Doordash is for food…”

 

“Not just, people shop at regular stores now. They can deliver it to the front desk for her…”

 

That was either incredibly awesome or people were incredibly lazy. Or it was something that had sprung up from the pandemic.

 

It was a combination of all three and Maxlyn hung up with Jon long enough to do it, ordering from a local diner down the street that delivered.  She called him back not even 5 minutes later, wanting to stay on the phone with him until he arrived.  It was fine since he could keep his cell charged in the car while Josh drove.  The food arrived about 20 minutes later and she tipped the driver well, once again locking up the room. “I got Blue a hamburger, he needs to eat too.” Jon agreed, thanking her and she smiled tearfully at the big boy, who was mowing his hamburger like there was no tomorrow.  Looking down at her own food, Maxlyn went to take a bite and dropped it, holding her head in her hand while the phone was held with the other. “I-I can’t eat right now, my stomach is too twisted up, Jon…” Finally, the events of the day flooded over her and the tears followed, unable to stop the two raging streams coursing down her cheeks.

 

“Did you order yourself some clothes and personals too, darlin’?” Jon wasn’t surprised when she said no. She probably didn’t even know that much about Doordash, given her history and he hadn’t even been aware of it expanding its services, which said a lot about him he supposed. He took Josh’s cell when the other man passed it over, keeping his to his ear while getting into the app, somehow not surprised Josh had it.

 

“Just charge it to the card on the account, man, you can pay me back when we stop or something.”

 

“I’m ordering some stuff for you, darlin’, okay? You can get a shower, right? Have you checked your cell for messages? I let the police know what had happened but I haven’t heard back… or I should check my voicemail.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, hearing her sniffle and wished he was there with her right now. Jon had just decided her ass would not be staying at home alone anymore, not until this shit was resolved. “You think this was intentional or random, Maxlyn?” He asked finally after a long period of silence.

 

“Intentional.” Maxlyn knew there was no point hiding what she already knew to be the truth from him. “It was Ricky, Jon.  Or…it was Ricky’s goons.  The same thing happened to another girl that worked for him.” She heard Jon suck in a sharp breath and stopped talking, until he ordered her to continue. “She got a boyfriend and came into the strip club, telling him she was done with the job.  Ricky threatened her, after having his goons beat her up, right in front of us…” Maxlyn would never forget that and Ricky made them all watch to send a message.  They didn’t leave until HE said otherwise.  They were his property, to do with as he pleased. “T-They shot up her boyfriend’s house…just like they did yours…and when they saw me peel out of the garbage and down the driveway, they shot at me.  They were coming to kill me, Jon…me and you.  Ricky wants us both dead because I won’t go back to that way of life…”

 

Chapter 32

 

Jon believed her, even though it sounded like something out of a movie plot, just because he knew she was her own Lifetime story. “Well, we’re going to have to point the police that way because I imagine they’re having a fucking field day at the house with as bad as it is.” He didn’t say anything like ‘as you say it is’ or anything that would make her think he doubted her. He didn’t. He had started paying attention to some things, like sex trafficking was a major freaking issue in this country. “Did they clip the truck at all?” He asked after a very long, tense moment because his teeth were grit as impotent rage started settling in. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Maxlyn.” This Ricky was on borrowed time.

 

Maxlyn didn’t want to check her voicemails or text messages, wanting Jon to handle all of it.  She had no say-so in what happened to his house, even though this was her fault because the goons had been after her.  If she refused to go back to Ricky and be his money whore, he wanted her dead. “No, Jon…no, I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry for what I’ve put you through…this never would’ve happened if…”

 

“Stop.”

 

“But…”

 

“Don’t say it.  Don’t fuckin’ say it.  I don’t give a damn what’s happened to the house.  Houses can be replaced and repaired, people CAN’T.  YOU can’t be replaced.” Did she forget what she confessed to him in that damn voicemail?  Did Maxlyn even remember saying the words during her panicking? “This isn’t your fault, I want you to get that through your beautiful head, darlin’.”

 

“Jon…” She jumped out of her skin when a knock sounded at the door, followed by someone shouting ‘DoorDash!’ through it. “The doordash guy is here, hang on.” Pulling the phone from her ear, she opened the door and blinked at the HUGE bags that were brought inside.  They were too heavy for her to lift, apparently. “T-Thank you.”

 

“Tip is already covered, have a great night, ma’am.” The man bowed his head before taking off to go deliver other things to customers.

 

“Jon, what in the ever loving hell did you buy me?”

 

“Enough stuff to last you a few weeks,” Jon already had that in his bag because that was a habit at this point, have enough personals and laundry to live on the road for a few weeks without needing a laundromat. He even had a tiny, portable pump thing to put them all in these weird little plastic baggies and remove the excess air so everything was compressed and took little space. That had been a lifesaver when he learned about them. “Obviously, we can’t go home right yet, it’s a crime scene. A detective will probably let us know when we’re able to even go get our shit but I doubt we’ll be allowed in for more than that anytime soon.”

 

“Christ…” Maxlyn swallowed hard, looking through the bags and pulled out a shirt, seeing her size on it.  Jon had either guessed or knew what size clothes she needed.   There was even luggage to put everything in, toiletries, everything he could possibly think of. I love this man so much, he’s too good to me. Then Maxlyn thought about something, her laptop, and the subjects she’d been studying for her GED, knowing she’d have to replace all of it. “Thank you, Jon.” There was nothing more to say at the moment and she pulled out some squeaky toys for Blue, who just sat on the bed with a frumpy look on his face. “It’s okay, boy, it’s gonna be okay.” Dropping a kiss on top of his head, Maxlyn found the nightwear, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and even a loofah with a razor. “I need to get cleaned up, I’m a wreck right now and I’m gonna charge my phone too.  D-Do you want me to call you back when I’m out of the shower?”

 

Jon knew what size she was, he had snooped through her stuff because he had had this idea that he would buy her interesting clothes or shit, women liked that, right? He’d surprise her with something pretty, something her style, and maybe something hot and sexy for his eyes only when they were at home. He had definitely forgotten about the laptop and GED because that wasn’t an immediate concern, she had said she hadn’t anything with her, he thoughts of necessities. “You can if you want darlin’, or you can try to lay down.” Jon glanced over at Josh who had been mostly silent so far, though when he had spoken it was usually helpfully, like this doordash thing. “We’ll be there soon enough, okay? Try to lay down and sleep if you can.”

 

I don’t want him to see me like this. “A shower will help calm me down and hopefully, let me sleep a little before you get here.” Jon agreed reluctantly and they hung up, both letting out a deep, shaky breath at the same time.  Grabbing everything she needed, including a towel, Maxlyn headed into the bathroom for a shower with Blue following.  She did not mind and kept the door open, setting everything on the sink before staring in the mirror.  Minor cuts that had already healed were on her arms and knees from when she army crawled out of the kitchen to the garage door.  She also had a cut just above her brow and on her cheek, both also closed up and minor.  Sighing heavily, she undressed after turning the shower sprays on and as soon as she stepped beneath them, the tears started all over again.  That was the most terrifying experience of her life and after her shower, Maxlyn was popping one of her anxiety pills to calm her nerves.  Luckily, they were in the purse she nabbed along with the keys before making her escape.

 

This was the longest ride in Jon’s life, even though it was only a few hours. By the time they reached the hotel, it was early morning though the sun had yet to peek. They headed inside, with Jon getting Josh a room as it was the very least he could given what his buddy had done for him. “Get some sleep, man, I’ll talk to you in a few hours.” He wanted nothing more then to go to the room, which he had had a card waiting for him after he presented his ID, and pull his woman who had said she loved him into his arms. He was tired but not tired, it was strange, and he knew he needed to crash a few hours too, today was going to be busy as hell with phone calls. Sighing, Jon parted ways with Josh and headed to the room Maxlyn and Blue were in, hoping she had managed to get some sleep.

 

Thanks to her sleeping agent and anxiety medication, Maxlyn was currently curled up in bed with Blue right at her side, her arm around him.  The second the door opened, Blue’s head popped up and he started to growl, until he saw who it was.  That stirred Maxlyn awake as her eyes opened and relief flooded her at the sight of Jon.  Even through the darkness, she knew it was him and Blue moved to the end of the bed after being greeted by his owner. “Jon…” Meeting him halfway, Maxlyn was up on her knees as he took her into his arms, still standing, hers wrapped around his neck tightly.  He lifted her right off that bed and her legs encircled his waist, refusing to let him go while he held her against him.

 

Was he tired? Damn right he was, he hadn’t slept all night after a grueling match, but his relief at seeing she was okay physically had given him a short burst of adrenaline. It also, weirdly, relaxed him as he cradled her against him, his hand cupping the back of her head. He moved so he was kneeling on the bed, guiding her back down but kept her in his arms as he finally let his head rest against hers. “Fuck, I was so worried about you, Maxlyn…” that was a phone call he NEVER wanted to get again, minus the ‘I love you’ part, that part he was chill with, not all the rest.

 

Nodding her head, Maxlyn was overcome with emotion and couldn’t talk at first, caressing every part of him her hands could reach, just to make sure he was really here with her. “I know, I know you were.  I’m so sorry I had to do that to you, honey.” They’d been 12 hours apart since he forced her to pull over to stay here, so she hadn’t made the entire 18 hour drive with Blue.  Touching his bearded face, fresh tears glistened in her eyes because Maxlyn, for a brief moment back at the house, thought she was going to die.  She thought she’d never see Jon again.  Then, her survival instincts kicked into high gear and she got the hell out of that house as fast as possible, using her street smarts.  What Jon didn’t know was Maxlyn had mapped out the entire house whenever they were home, just in case something like this ever happened.  So the moment those gunshots rang throughout the house, she knew the fastest way to get to the keys, her purse, and to the garage where the truck was.  It was a miracle Blue hadn’t been hurt during the attack either. “I’m here, I’m safe and I’m with you again, and that’s all that matters.” Her lips met his softly, his arms tightening around her and Maxlyn didn’t want to be anywhere else.

 

When the kiss broke, he nuzzled her forehead with his lips, finally pulling his head away to rest on the pillow and just stare at her in the dim lighting. He hadn’t even removed his boots, they were dangling off the side, all he had cared about was getting her in his arms, regardless of how many layers and shit he was wearing right now. She had said they would come for her and he had said he’d be ready to protect her, he had failed at that miserably because time had lapsed with not a damn thing and he had gotten comfortable again. “Maxlyn, I’m sorry… I let everything drop and slide, I let you down, darlin’.” And she could have paid the ultimate price for it.

 

“Ssshhhh, no you didn’t.  We couldn’t live in fear, Jon, and you have a job that requires traveling.  None of this is your fault.” This next part was hard for Maxlyn to say because she didn’t fully believe it, but she also wanted to soothe her man. “It’s not mine either.” She was laying down with him, both facing each other with his arm around her to hold her close, neither pulling away from the other.  It still amazed her how much Jon was willing to go through to be with her.  He was steadfast, stubborn, bullheaded, and she loved him all the more for those qualities. “I told you this once and I’ll say it again, you are my home.  A house is just a house.  This right here, being in your arms, this is home for me, no matter where we are, where we live, or what we’re doing.” Maybe this was a sign that she wasn’t supposed to be away from him.  Maxlyn did not plan on being away from Jon for a long time to come after this and didn’t realize Jon had the exact same thought process going.

 

Jon had a feeling she didn’t believe her own words, about it not being her fault but that was okay. If she kept repeating it, maybe in time, she would come to realize this shit was not her fault. It was these prick’s who couldn’t take the word ‘no’ for an answer, who thought they were entitled to her and her body. She had been born into that life, it was all she had known for the longest of times, and now that she was trying to break free of it and live in peace and safety, it was coming out of the shadows to haunt her. After all the progress they had made, he’d be damned if he let this relapse her or worse, claim her again.

 

~!~

 

“You know what you need to do, right?  But don’t do it right away.  I don’t need these fuckin’ cops comin’ after me more than they already are.” Ricky was pissed, currently sitting on his couch with a whore at his feet, sucking him off while he had a cigar dangling out of his mouth.  The whore was Cynthia and she had a blackeye for her troubles, courtesy of his fist.  The whore kept the fact Racel – HIS RACEL – was still alive and kicking, refusing to come back to him to work.  He had to make her pay for it and the slut had gotten away, unfortunately. 

 

Not only had she left him, but she was shacked up with a huge wrestling star by the name of Jon Moxley.  His real name was Jonathan Good and his background was…unsavory, which made him a very dangerous man in Ricky’s eyes.  He was not to be underestimated.  Fortunately for him, Ricky had someone on the inside of Jon’s job at AEW, a good friend of his who would bring Racel back home where she belonged.  If she was lucky, he wouldn’t kill her for the insubordination, but killing Good in front of her needed to be done.  He just had to find a way to do it without the law breathing down his neck and that would not be an easy feat, so he was leaving it to his buddy to get the job done for him.

 

The man smirked wickedly, nodding his head and walked out of the bathroom of his penthouse in upper state New York, whistling under his breath. “Just remember to send the money to my off-shore account, Rick.  I don’t need the FBI and shit coming down on me because you can’t let the whore go.”

 

His eyes flashed dangerously at those words. “You should’ve sent the message right the first time and we wouldn’t be in this situation.  Remember THAT.” Ricky’s fingers tightened in Cynthia’s hair, forcing her to practically choke on his dick and heard her whimper out, doing it harder. “She’ll either come back to me willingly or wind up six feet under, makes no difference to me.  She’s MY property and the sooner she realizes that, the better off she’ll be.  I saved her fuckin’ life and I didn’t have to, she owes me hers.”

 

“Whatever man, just make sure you let me know where the drop-off point is to take her when the time comes.”

 

“It won’t be for a while, so mind your shit until then.  I’ll be in touch.”

 

Cynthia had to warn Racel – Maxlyn – what was coming, wishing she had the woman’s phone number or a way to contact her without Ricky knowing.

 

Chapter 33

 

Waking up next to Jon was the best feeling in the world and she simply gazed at him, not moving to touch him for fear of rousing him.  If she would’ve died during that shootout, she wouldn’t be here with him right now and that thought rocked her very foundation.  Jon had somehow gotten his boots off and removed his leather jacket and shirt, so he was just in his jeans and socks. ‘I love you.’ She mouthed silently, wishing she could just tell him.  Hell, she practically yelled it on the voicemail, but that also wasn’t face to face.  When would Maxlyn have the courage to tell this man those three little, powerful words in person?  Sighing softly, she went to slip out of bed, but Jon’s arm tightened around her, pulling her closer to him. “I was gonna go let Blue out to use the bathroom.  Did I wake you?”

 

“Yep, the second you moved, and I love you too,” he yawned, his eyes nothing but tiny slits right now but he was looking at her. “Not the best of times to tell you, but I got a really harsh lesson last night.” The fact that she had felt like he needed to know what she felt just in case she DIED. No, that shit wasn’t flying. She deserved something more romantic, not him announcing it first thing in the morning with seriously bad morning breath, but… there it was. “I’ll get Blue, darlin’.” He let go of her after dropping a quick kiss on her head, reluctantly rolling out of the bed and groaned. He was stiff as a board.

 

Maxlyn could only watch him move around the room with wide brown eyes, trying to wrap her mind around what he just said.  How he just nonchalantly said those words and then rolled out of bed to take care of Blue, like it was the most natural thing in the world.  Honestly, Maxlyn didn’t want to die without Jon knowing how she felt and she had no idea if Ricky’s goons would come after her in the truck.  She had to make sure her man heard those words from her once, even if it was over a panicked voicemail.  That had been her mindset yesterday and now today…a little after 11 AM, he had returned the favor and left her sitting there with her mouth ajar and her vocal chords decided to stop working.

 

Josh was outside on the phone with Chris Irvine, a good friend of theirs, and glanced over at Jon stepping out of the room with his dog, Blue. “Speak of the devil, he just got up and he’s taking Blue out to piss.  Wanna say hi?”

 

“Is he okay?  Is Max okay?”

 

“Hey man, it’s Chris.  What happened to your house is all over the news and shit.  People are panicking and Tony Khan has been trying to get a hold of you for several hours, I guess.” Jon had shut his phone off shortly after Maxlyn had fallen asleep, as well as hers, not wanting either of them woken up by the phone since they needed rest. “And yeah man, they’re fine.  Maxlyn is probably still sleeping.  Mox, you wanna talk to Chris for a minute?  I gotta piss.” He tossed the phone at Jon before going into his room, too much coffee did that to a person.

 

“Jon, what the hell happened?” Chris was not in Jericho mode right now, truly concerned for his friend and Maxlyn. “All the news is saying is your house was shot up in a drive-by shooting.  Nobody saw Maxlyn leave, but Josh told me she got out of there.  Is she okay?”

 

“Yeah, man, she’s shaken up but she’s fine.” Jon wasn’t telling anyone what they knew for a fact, that she had been the target. He was going to wait until they had a chance to talk to detectives more and he knew a lot of this was going to be on Maxlyn and if she was willing to admit what she knew and HOW she knew it, which would mean divulging her past. She couldn’t be tried for prior crimes, so at least there was that. If they didn’t tell, then it would be chocked up to a random drive by, probably based on his fame and then it would fucking happen again. Jon was not someone to run from a damn fight.

 

If Racel – Maxlyn – was a smart little whore, she would keep her mouth shut because sex-trafficking and prostitution in Vegas was HIGHLY illegal.  That was why Ricky did everything out of his strip club and he had trustworthy clients that wouldn’t go running their mouths.  If she told the authorities everything, including what happened to her prior to her alcohol poisoning, then he’d no doubt be exposed and all of his hard work would be flushed down the tubes.  Maxlyn had to be put out of her misery before that happened, if it was possible.

 

“Good, that’s the most important thing.  Look, I talked to Jess and if you two need a place to stay until this is all figured out, you’re more than welcome.  I got an extra place in Tampa, right on the ocean, so if you’re interested, you just let me know.” Chris knew they could not live on the road, but going back to Vegas wasn’t an option right now either.

 

“I still got some space in Cincy, Chris, but thanks.” Jon wasn’t about to plunk her down in a stranger’s house and he knew damn well Maxlyn would balk at the idea of going somewhere with children, fearful she might put them in danger. Chris had three teenagers, his boy and twin daughters. “We’re going to stay close for a few days though, I’ve got to see the detectives and Maxlyn is going to have to give a statement…” he imagined that going over well and decided they would be staying OUTSIDE of Vegas, like, a few hours outside. He had no problem making that drive, especially if it would give her peace of mind. “They’ll be letting us get some of our shit out, with an escort,” he was not overly pleased with this entire situation and it showed in his growl.

 

Maxlyn was digging through the bags, trying to sort out everything, and keep her wits about her with everything going on.  She heard the door open and looked over at Jon, who had an irritated look on his face.  It broke her heart and she immediately went to him, reaching up to wrap her arms his neck, softly kissing him. “You love me, huh?” It made both of them crack a smile at each other.  Six months, half a year since they met, and it was quite an adventure they’d been on since leaving the rehab center. “I love you too, Jon.  And I wasn’t sure what would happen on the drive here, so that’s why I said it over the voicemail.  I wasn’t about to die without you knowing.  You’re the love of my life, my everything, and it feels so damn good to say that out loud.  I fell in love with you back at the center, when you coaxed those nurses to get us those cookies and milk.  I knew then I loved you and it terrified me because I didn’t think I was capable of loving someone.  You showed me how to love, how to feel, and that’s how I know what I feel for you is real.  At least now you know, just in case something does happen down the road.”

 

“Nuh uh, nothing is going to happen. We’ve gone through way too much to let some shitty fucking moron with a tiny dick fuck this up for us,” that moron would be eating his tiny dick if he didn’t stand the fuck down. For someone who hadn’t had much to say when he first met her, he loved how she basically spouted poetry, the change never failing to bring a smile to his face, even now. “We’ll stay a few hours out until Detectives tell us we’re okay to leave, grab what we can and I have a place in Cincinnati we can stay at for awhile, okay? Nobody really knows about it except for a few of my friends.” Most people assumed he had dropped all ties to his hometown and made Vegas his exclusive residence. Mostly true, emphasis on mostly.

 

All Maxlyn did was speak from the heart and that was another thing Jon had taught her to do.  She spoke her mind, sometimes too much with her blurting out antics, but she meant every word she said. “Your Mom too, right?” Jon nodded, having a fantastic relationship with his mother and he had even bought her a house.  He made enough money to buy his mother a beautiful house and didn’t regret it for a second.  No matter what she did in his life, the woman had provided for him and sacrificed so much to keep him safe, to let him pursue his dream of professional wrestling.  She was one of his biggest fans and supporters. “Whatever you want to do, I’m fine with, Jon.  I don’t…” Maxlyn pressed her forehead to his chest, her arms still around him. “I don’t want to be away from you.  No matter how many promotions you work for, I’m coming with you from now on.” It would be a while before she felt comfortable enough to stay alone again after this incident. “Unless you don’t want me to or you need time to yourself…”

“I’d prefer it if you did come, darlin’, I’ll worry a helluva lot less.” He admitted without a lick of shame but given last night, shame was the least of his concerns. Last night had totally changed the course of their lives, whether they acknowledged it or not. “You’ll be able to stay in hotels, you won’t have to come to the buildings with me if you don’t want.” How was cockbag going to track her movements out of Vegas? Jon scowled, running a hand over his short hair and shook his head.

 

“Jon…” They were not just a couple and in love with each other, but they were best friends as well.  Not a lot was hidden between them and Maxlyn hated the way this upset her man. “T-The only reason why I stayed in Vegas this time around is because…I didn’t want you getting sick of me.  I know I’ll never get sick of you, but people also need space and I understand that.  I figured some time apart would be good for us, even though I really wanted to come with you.” From the moment he left, she missed him deeply and it hurt watching him leave without her.  Never again. “You need a shower.  I can tell you’re in pain from last night’s match and I already got your stuff in the bathroom waiting for you.  Go take a shower, try to relax, and I’ll give you a massage afterwards to help loosen you up.”

 

“Yes, we’re gonna need space, darlin, but not when it puts you in danger and like I said, you can stay at the hotels and shit,” he wasn’t about to have some fucked up toxic relationship with her, with them being needy and clingy, that would NOT last, they never did. It just got worse and worse until catastrophe hit. “No massage, none of that, just… breathe, okay? You’re the one who was running from all that shit, darlin’, not me.” He laughed, shaking his head as he headed for the shower. “Maybe I should just double book us for a massage, yeah?”

 

There was no flying, not with Blue, so they’d have to drop him off in Cincinnati with one of his friends after talking to the police.  In the meantime, where they were located and the hotel they were staying at, wasn’t five-star accommodations.  However, hours west of there, and a little north in Sedona, Arizona, Jon had found and made reservations at a five-star resort with all the bells and whistles.  Screw a hotel, he was going big for this because Maxlyn needed it after what she’d been put through.  Sedona was about four and a half hours away from Las Vegas, and that was the closest they were getting to the state of Nevada.  Jon did not want to step foot in that state with Maxlyn and would tell the investigators as much when they decided to call back.  In the meantime, they did have about a 9 hour drive ahead of them to get to Sedona, so they needed to checkout of here and hit the road.

 

“Yo Mox, you got a second, man?” A tapping at the door had Jon walking over to answer it, letting Josh in.

 

Holy crow, this man was HUGE and Maxlyn actually took a tentative step back, just to give the big man some room. “Thank you for not killing him.” Why was that the first thing out of her mouth?! “I-I mean, um…thank you for coming…”

 

Both men were staring at her wide-eyed and then Josh burst out laughing, seeing how red she was. “No harm, darlin’, I’d never kill Mox here.  I didn’t face him last night anyway.  Just came to say I gotta hit the road and wanted to make sure you two were good.  Have you figured out what yer doin’ from here on?”

 

“Yeah, we’re square man, thanks for everything,” Jon was going to have to start telling people she was dyslexic or whatever it was that made her blurt out the weirdest shit before others started wondering if she was crazy or if he was abusive. Given what had just happened with their house, his house, crazy was more likely. His buddies all knew he had a rough side, a dark side, but not like that, not when it came to women. “Don’t forget to take this,” he held out his hand, shaking with Josh while also slipping him several hundreds because he owed the man a lot. “Let Chris know we’re square, okay?”

 

“Because he’s going to believe me, you know how daddy is,” Josh rolled his eyes but nodded. Chris, being on the older side, tended to have a bit of weird, protective streak when it came to the guys he liked.

 

“Nice meeting you.” Maxlyn murmured quietly, giving an awkward wave and Josh nodded back at her, heading out of the room to hit the road back to Dallas. “He was really nice to come here with you.” Josh did not have to do that, considering how long they’d been on the road and then having to shack up in a hotel room once they arrived. “So, I think we should talk about the investigators and the upcoming interrogation.  Jon, I could end up incriminating myself if I tell them the truth about Ricky.” Stature of limitations had not passed yet, it’d only been a year and some change since she quit that way of life. “But I’ll do whatever you think is best.  I trust your judgment and if I wind up in jail because of it, well…that’s the price I have to pay, I guess.”

 

“Incriminate yourself for what? Being a sex trafficking victim?” Because that was the card that needed played and was also true now, since Ricky refused to take no for an answer. “Besides, prostitution is legal in most parts of Nevada, minus Vegas because of the population size. But because of the legalization elsewhere, it’s considered a misdemeanor and the statue of limitations for those are a year, they can’t touch you.” Not that they would anyway with since she could also provide valuable information. “I think if we run from this, it’s going to follow because that’s how people like Ricky operate. I don’t like the idea of running, I’ll be honest with you. I’d rather fucking see his ass behind bars,” or dead. “then let him run me out of my city for good.” He was fine with leaving for now but not forever.

 

Chapter 34

 

“First of all, I wasn’t a victim, Jon.  I wasn’t into sex trafficking, it was prostitution and…”

 

“Same thing.”

 

“What?”

 

“That’s the same damn thing, Maxlyn.  You said Ricky was your pimp, right?  He sold you to men on a nightly basis for sex.  That’s sex trafficking.  They call it prostitution for legal reasons, but what he was doing was highly illegal out of his strip club.”

 

“That I worked at.  Willingly.”

 

“Doesn’t matter, same difference.” There was something else Jon had wanted to ask her since the night of the comet, but he had no idea how to go about doing it.  He didn’t want her relapsing from all the progress she’d made in the past six months. “If you were willingly working for Ricky and prostituting, what made you suddenly stop?  I know you got severe alcohol poisoning and wound up being taken to the ER by that Cynthia chick and Ricky.  And I know you went to rehab straight from the hospital, but…before you met me at the rehab center, what was keeping you from leaving?” There had to be a reason for her to hole herself up in a rehab center for a year. “You were scared and you still are now, darlin’.  I love you, I’m not going anywhere…”

 

“Jon…I can’t…” Maxlyn stood up from the bed, feeling the biggest lump form in her throat and wrapped her arms around herself, shaking her head. “I won’t talk about that and besides, it doesn’t matter.  I’m out now, I left with you and I started my life over.  You’re right, I…I need to tell the authorities everything.  I won’t let this follow us everywhere we go and Ricky needs to be held accountable for everything he’s done.  Maybe this will save Cynthia’s life too and she can start over like I did.” Everything except the night she’d been kidnapped, raped, assaulted, and left at her apartment, all because a man refused to take no for an answer.

 

Jon felt like her guilt and fear were doing a lot of talking for her, along with a healthy dose of shame because at this point, she was a victim. What she had done in the past was just that, the past. The fact that she refused to go back to that way of life after everything and this prick wasn’t accepting that, that made her a victim. To him, it was very open and shut but he didn’t have her issues or live that life either so he was trying to be patient with her. “Chances are, darlin’, there’s already an investigation going on and you won’t have to tell them everything…” Given today’s current events, sex trafficking was taken very seriously and a lot of states were ramping up to crack down on it.

 

 

“You really think so?” He walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders and slid them down before wrapping his arms around her waist, her head leaning back against his chest. “Whatever they want to know or ask me, I’ll tell them.  I don’t want this haunting us, I want to move forward with you and Blue.  It doesn’t matter where we live either.  Vegas, Cincinnati, wherever you want us to go, I’m fine with it.” Not really, but she wanted to make him happy and if he wanted to stay in Vegas, after all was said and done, Maxlyn would have to deal with it. “How long are we staying here before we have to start heading back?  Did they call you back yet?”

 

Jon wouldn’t admit it unless pressed but after he had gotten out of rehab with her, he had begun looking into prostitution and all that shit. Maybe it was out of a sense of morbid curiosity but now he knew a LOT about the laws and about how sex trafficking was a major deal. Apparently, that morbid curiosity was coming in handy. “Well, we’re heading for Sedona now and I left a message with them this morning, I was told last night it can take a few days for all the evidence to be gathered, we’ll be able to go in then and should be able to be escorted out to get our shit from the house.” He’d prefer to do it all in one fell swoop and get the fuck out of town until this situation was resolved.

 

“Wait, Sedona?” Maxlyn turned to face him, the curiosity boiling in her brown eyes and Jon just kissed her, pulling her tight against him. “Do you have a show there or something I’m not aware of?” Rampage was now the same nights as Dynamite and taped to air on Friday nights.  Jon was off until the following Wednesday, but if he needed more time, she had a feeling Tony Khan would give it to him, no questions asked.  He shook his head and ordered her to pack up, that it was a surprise and they would enjoy themselves where they were going.  Blue was coming with them as well and the big boy would be pampered just like them since the resort had a special animal spa.  Within an hour, they were checked out of the room, most of what Jon bought her in the luggage, and hopped in the truck, headed for Sedona, Arizona on a spontaneous secret getaway.  First a winter wonderland getaway in a honeymoon cabin and now whatever this was.

 

She had cut short their winter wonderland getaway to return to Vegas, if Jon knew then what he knew now… shit would be so different. This was a type of resort and it had cost a pretty freaking penny but it also had GREAT security along with those relaxation services, two things which were requirements in his mind. Maxlyn dozed on the drive, which wasn’t surprising. She had woken up a few times since he had gotten in, he wasn’t sure if she remembered, but he had woken up as well to soothe her and get her back to sleep. “Hey, darlin’,” he reached over to gently shake her shoulder when he seen the gates looming. “We’re here.”

 

“Hmm?” Maxlyn’s eyes slowly opened as she turned her head to look back at Jon, a somewhat dreamy smile on her face.  Jon gestured to the gates that opened up to the resort and those half-lidded eyes suddenly shot open, not believing how beautiful this place was.  It looked like a tropical paradise they were rolling into.  The resort had its own waterfall, three different pools, each room had its own hot tub and balcony for privacy, king-sized bed, ridiculously elegant shower and garden tubs in the bathrooms. 

 

The rooms were suites, actually, and this place was also very animal friendly as well.  Maxlyn was in awe as Jon pulled up to the front and handed over the keys to the truck, hopping out to grab their luggage, Blue right by his side.  He took Maxlyn’s hand as soon as she was out, lacing their fingers together and guided her inside the lavish resort to check into their suite.  They would be staying here for at least a week and Jon had already called Tony Khan, letting him know he would not be at Dynamite due to what happened to his home.  Maxlyn didn’t know any of this at the moment and just tried taking everything in, feeling a little under-dressed in the cotton shorts and tank top she had on.  Texas was HOT and Arizona was even warmer, even in April.

 

“You know what’s awesome about this place?” It was way above Jon’s mental paygrade, that was for sure, his scruffy ass being treated like royalty because money talked. Pure, plain and simple. Maybe money didn’t buy happiness per se but it sure as shit did buy things that made them happy so same difference. “Onsite shopping,” clothing appropriate not only for the season but the resort, a market for those who wanted to do their own cooking, the spa and relaxation services, as well as freaking medical wing! “Holy shit.” He halted when he realized their suite was like… a luxury apartment, blinking as they were shown inside. “Damn…”

 

“Wow…” Maxlyn’s jaw was on the floor and her eyeballs were ready to fall out of her head at how exquisite and sumptuous their suite was.  Luxury everywhere.  Jon had asked for the best suite they had available, just like he had with the winter getaway at the cabin.  Maxlyn was way out of her league here, wondering how often Jon did something like this.  Was this the type of place he enjoyed? “I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman right now, not even gonna lie.” Even though she had her own money and could easily afford coming to places like this, Maxlyn felt way out of her depth here. “Umm…is that the hot tub on the balcony outside?”

 

“We also have hot springs here for you to enjoy.  I highly recommend them.” The hostess had the bellhop drop their luggage near the door, a bright smile on her face. “By the way, Mrs. Good, your spa session is scheduled in three hours, so enjoy yourself until then.  Mr. Good, yours is scheduled the same time as your wife’s.  Once again, welcome and enjoy your stay.” She walked out, closing the double doors behind her.

 

Spa session?  Now Maxlyn was eyeballing Jon, raising a slow brow. “Care to enlighten me, dear husband of mine?” What exactly did all Jon plan for them to do here?

 

Jon was raiding the massive, double doored fridge and pulling out what was apparently a high-end bottle of water. He had specifically requested NO alcohol, not even non-alcoholic beverages. “You, darlin’, wanted to give ME a massage after all that shit YOU went through, not me,” which was weird yet touching, even by his already odd standards. “So, instead of you trying to put me first, I figured we’d just both go at the same time and pay someone else to pamper us.” He had also requested a woman for her and a man for him, as awkward as that might be. “Also, I can’t help the fact that they’re assuming you’re my wife, when asked about guests, I just put down one extra adult.” He shrugged, opening the water and took a long swallow, swishing it around his mouth. “You’ll be fine for the week, Mrs. Good.”

 

Why did being called that send a shiver down her back?  There was NO way in hell they were ready for that step, not even close. “But I like taking care of you.” Maxlyn wrapped her arms around his waist, accepting a soft kiss from him and smiled up at him, his lips brushing her forehead. “You were sore from your match and then had to drive all that way to meet up with me.  You’re my man, I love you, and I love taking care of you. Mr. Good.” She tapped her finger against his nose, watching him wrinkle it and then dropped a kiss on it for good measure. “I have to admit, though, a spa sounds heavenly.” He nodded in agreement, her hands sliding down his t-shirt covered chest. “She said about three hours, right?” Another nod and those blues darkened immensely down at her while Maxlyn unfastened the belt of his jeans, reaching inside to start stroking him. “I think we should break this bed in, don’t you, honey?”

 

This woman, given all the issues she had had, had gotten right back on that horse with him like a pro and he didn’t think he’d ever be able to tell her no. Unless he was sick as shit and gross, then there would be a definite no. “You don’t want to unpack first? Visit the facilities?” He was teasing naturally, his hands busy pulling off his t-shirt and tossing it aside. Her hands were instantly off his belt and out of his jeans, her fingers burrowing into his chest hair. “I’ve noticed… you got a thing for my chest, dollface…” He wasn’t bitching, he had a thing for hers.

 

Unpacking could wait.  Facilities could be visited later.  This man standing in front of her in just unfastened jeans and those blazing blues were more than enough for Maxlyn.  She didn’t need anything else at the moment. “Mmm, yes I do…” Rubbing her cheek and nose against his hairy chest, she breathed him in and pressed a few kisses on it, gliding her nails gently down his sides. “I love your chest, honey…” Her hands moved around to start gliding down his back, muscles rippling beneath her touch. “You have the sexist back I’ve ever seen too…” That ass in the jeans wasn’t half-bad either. “And I know you’re sore from last night’s match, so I’ll be gentle.”

 

“That’s not scary at all,” but Jon was letting her back him towards the bed, emphasis on let because she was a tiny thing of a woman and he could easily overpower her. He didn’t want too, he wanted her to use those delicious feminine wiles of hers on him. “Fuck, Maxlyn… you got me harder than a schoolboy at his first prom…” No other woman had ever got to him the way she did, he doubted she understood the power she had over him. Or maybe she did, given her old profession, he groaned when those smoldering brown eyes flickered to his face, tempted to drop to his knees and worship his personal goddess.

 

“Mmm, there’s nothing schoolboy about you, Jon.  You’re all man and all mine.” Maxlyn stood between his legs, undressing in front of him until she was completely naked, loving how his eyes practically devoured her from head to toe.  It made warmth spread throughout every inch of her body and she never wanted that heated gaze to disappear.  It was the same every time and Maxlyn was not lying when she said she couldn’t get enough of this gorgeous man. “Lift up, honey…” He obeyed her command as she removed his jeans, sensually kissing him just to make their heads spin a little. “Mmm, get up on that big bed, I wanna ride my stallion.”

 

Who was he to argue? He had already denied her giving him that massage earlier today, he wasn’t stupid enough to turn this down. He was falling back onto the bed, his hands grabbing her hips to pull her down with him until her body was sprawled on top of him. “Mmm, I love it when you talk dirty,” he teased in a growl, nipping at her bottom lip before letting go of her. He tucked his hands beneath his head to prop it a bit, watching as she began scooting down the length of his body, his eyes fastened on her swaying, beautiful breasts. Again, how’d he get so damn lucky?

 

Instead of riding him like normal, Maxlyn decided to spice it up a bit. “I can tell you have a fetish with my ass just like I have one with your chest, so enjoy the view, honey.” Lifting herself, her pussy suddenly engulfed Jon’s pulsating cock, already wet and ready for him.  There was never a time she wouldn’t be ready for this man and they both groaned at the contact, the friction, her knees bent on either side of him.  Jon growled behind her, his hands immediately landing on her pert, plump backside and slowly, methodically, Maxlyn began rising and falling on and off him, using his legs for leverage.  Soon however, her cheeks were slamming back against his pelvis as her backside bounced up and down, her hands gripped on his knees, uncontrollable moans spilling from her mouth. “Yes, oh fuck…”

 

Jon had absolutely no idea how ogling her tits had led to him having an ass fetish but damned if he was arguing, again. This woman had him wrapped and was giving him plenty more issues, fetishes, whatever she called them. If she wanted to give him a show, he would definitely enjoy the view as she called it. The way her body was practically swallowing him, not to be arrogant but he was a little amazed he hadn’t split her in two by now. His hands had left that delicious backside to move to her hips, bringing her down harder on him and the way she was moaning and panting told him she was enjoying every second of this just as much as he was. “Go on, darlin’, ride your stallion, make him cum for you!” It was a shame the windows and balcony doors were open, people were definitely going to hear and he hoped they took notes.

 

Chapter 35

 

The whole world could hear them and she didn’t give a damn, only focused on the task at hand and that was making her stallion cum buckets loads for him. “Mmm, you will and it’ll be so much cum, I’ll be leaking…” She promised in a purr, smirking when Jon growled his approval and smacked her cheek, then the other, making her bounce even harder, going faster and driving him deeper in and out of her.  This was how a woman took care of a man, at least in her mind.  Keeping him satisfied in the bedroom, cooking for him, offering to pamper him, and treating him like a king.  This was her king and he surely treated her like a queen.  Bringing her to this amazing resort to stay in wasn’t necessary with five-star accommodations and a spa…Jon did it because he wanted her to relax after the trying two days she’d had. “Oh god…oh god, I’m there…JON!” She cried out his name, feeling his fingers reach around to start fondling her bundle of nerves to bring her over that edge.  Maxlyn kept going, riding through it, the sounds of their flesh colliding echoing around the room and definitely outside.

 

He wasn’t going to last much longer, it had been a long ass twenty-four hours, and feeling her entire body basically locking down around him, spasming around his cock, trying to coax him into giving her everything he had, make her leak as she had put it. “FUCK! MAXLYN!!!” If they got noise complaints already, he would die laughing because he had absolutely no cares in the world right now, letting his woman hear him, hear what she was doing to him. “Jesus -AGAIN- Christ!” She was still cumming, riding out wave after wave and he was briefly jealous for a moment, women being able to cum multiple times was freaking awesome! He gnashed his teeth, bellowing her name again just as he exploded inside of her very willing body.

 

She did not stop grinding and bouncing until his cock grew completely limp, forcefully leaving her body.  Maxlyn didn’t collapse and stayed there for a few minutes, lifting her hair up off her neck because she was heated, her frame slick with sweat.  That had been quite the workout and one she needed, slowly moving off him to slip out of bed, padding over to her purse.  Hair band, she needed to get her hair up immediately and tried to get her breathing under control.  Groaning when she felt those juices slide out of her down her thighs, Maxlyn rushed into the bathroom to clean herself up, hearing Jon chuckling in the other room.  He did indeed overfill her, just like she wanted, and it made her giggle in return while finishing up.  Walking out, she crawled back on the bed where Jon hadn’t moved yet, a warm wet cloth in her hand, and proceeded to clean him up, pressing a kiss to the top of his soft cock. “Mmm, I don’t know about you, but I feel MUCH better after that, handsome.”

 

“Amen to that, darlin’,” it was said slowly and between the breaths he was still trying to take, his whole body still twitching from the shocks that were spasming throughout his body. “Oh no, don’t look at it,” he lowered a hand to cover his now deflated dick. “Don’t even think about it…” he was pretty sure she had taken more than just his cum, he felt like he had run a marathon or something and was now severely dehydrated. Finally, he hauled his ass into a sitting position, raising a brow as he took in his own front and shook his head. “Definitely going to need a shower before that spa session.” He grinned broadly up at her. “Care to join me?”

 

“Always.” Maxlyn squealed out softly as Jon lifted her with ease, her legs encircling his waist and they passionately kissed on the way to the shower.

 

For the next solid hour, Jon worshipped her with his mouth and tongue, properly draining her of everything she had, before finally cleaning themselves up.  Maxlyn was in a daze as she dressed for the spa treatment, deciding to simply slip on a black tube top that had a built-in bra and blue jean shorts with some flip-flops.  Jon was in a white beater and jeans, slipping his tennis shoes on and positioned his baseball cap sideways on his head, shades over his eyes.  They made sure to take Blue with them since he’d be dropped off at the animal spa the resort had before going to their own appointments. “I can’t believe this place actually has an animal spa.” Maxlyn was amused, kissing the top of Blue’s head before Jon guided her away, leaving their baby boy behind.  It was time for them to be pampered thoroughly, which would follow a delicious dinner, and then whatever they wanted to do afterwards.

 

Maxlyn made it a habit to worship practically… always, the way she treated him, he had never been treated like this in his life by a lover, a girlfriend. She took CARE of him and she had been doing it basically since the day they had met in that rehab center. She had helped him through detox, sat there with him while he was spewing his guts out and being a total prick, patient as anything and calmly just being there for him. He kept saying it and he wasn’t sure she understood how much he honestly meant it, wondered about it, how in the blue hell had HE gotten so damn lucky? She thought she was damaged goods, broken, but didn’t realize just what kind of person she was pas the trauma and the alcohol, beyond her life as a sex worker, she was a woman with a heart of gold and she treated him like he was a damn king. He was trying his best to make sure she knew she was his queen, wanting her to feel that way all the time.

 

“See, you can’t believe that but wait until dinner, they have a special high chair so he can join us,” if they were going to be pampered, Blue was too, the poor dog had gone through Hell with what had happened. Jon had immediately noticed how much more protective and nervous Blue was, knowing dogs could get anxiety and that was quite an event in Blue’s normally peaceful life. “Oh damn…” they had entered the spa, his blue eyes widening.

 

“Oh wow…” How many times would Maxlyn say that phrase?  A lot.  This was absolutely incredible and it smelled so nice, her body was already relaxing.  The spa ladies came up to them, guiding Maxlyn away while Jon went in the opposite direction, both looking back at each other.  This was definitely off the charts and she was sat down, after instructed to remove her clothes.  A soft, terry cloth robe was replaced with her clothes and Maxlyn loved the feeling of it, never wanting to give it back.  The first thing they did was wash her hair, putting cucumbers on her eyeballs and face cream, her nails being buffed out as well.  Her feet were placed in a jacuzzi of sorts and the jets felt amazing against them, every part of this soothing and relaxing, especially her hair being rinsed and conditioned.

 

They were going to say ‘oh wow’ a LOT, he just knew it, because this place was fucking amazing. He bet this was what those exotic retirement communities were like, places wealthy old people went to live out their golden years and he was DOWN for it. Jon wasn’t sure how this was supposed to go but the men assured him it’d be handled and damn was it weird them putting his feet into this jetted thing to soak, weird but nice, and only after he was out of his clothes and in the softest robe ever made. He was never leaving this place, though he bet Chris would have a field day if he could see his masked face, feet being pampered, some kind of vegetable on his eyes… yeah, never telling Chris.

 

This wasn’t just a spa for massages the things of that nature, it was also a salon as well.  The lady asked Maxlyn if she wanted anything to change about her hair and after thinking about it for a bit, she agreed to it.  Her natural hair color was brown and it was caramel at the moment due to the blonde highlights.  Maxlyn wanted a drastic change, so she chose the color red and could only hope and pray Jon liked it when it was all said and done.  She also had her hair cut and styled, just below the shoulders, and that felt amazing to have the weight lifted from her head.  Her hair had been down to her backside, a good 10” or so chopped off.  After her hair was done came the massage and the robe was taken off with her laying facedown, her face going in this hole with her forehead resting on a soft rolled up towel.  Completely naked and exposed somehow didn’t bother Maxlyn in this place and she shut her eyes, groaning softly at the feeling of the warming oil being poured on her back.

 

Jon got the massage and a trim, he got oils rubbed into every crevice of his body that wasn’t his ass or front, those were covered with a tiny towel. The spaces between his freaking toes had been massaged and oiled, it was both the most amazing feeling and the most weird because he had grown up thinking feet were disgusting, reinforced by all the time his spent in boots. He had gotten his hands and feet done, like pedicure and manicure, it was insane. It was also, possibly, the most relaxed he had been in a long time, not counting sex with Maxlyn. He could only imagine how she felt right now and hoped she felt as good as he did. She definitely deserved this. He was offered what was a fancy menu for additional services, raising an eyebrow when he realized there was an option for waxing very specific areas of the body.

 

Now Maxlyn was used to waxing, she just hadn’t had it done in over a year due to being in rehab.  It was something that was required of her to do for her former job.  Now that she was done with that life, it made her wonder if Jon would enjoy her being waxed.  Did he enjoy a smooth kitty or a hairy one?  She wasn’t that hairy, keeping herself groomed, but…being waxed also had a lot of benefits.  That smooth tongue against her smooth pussy lips…Maxlyn shivered at the thought and decided to do it, wanting to be smooth from head to toe.  Even her eyebrows were done, shaped to perfection.  Her legs felt silky smooth when it was done and they made sure her pussy didn’t burn or anything from the aftermath.  Whatever they put on it afterwards was a cooling sensation and she was informed the redness would go away within an hour.  While that was happened, it was time to do the other side of her body, her front, with a massage from head to toe and Maxlyn lay another warm towel over her eyes, being swept away once again by the pampering.

 

Jon was not at all convinced about this waxing shit because those were his BALLS and then there wasn’t even considering the other area, men had hairy asses and he was not keen on wax being put on his taint. HIS ass wasn’t up for grabs so he saw no reason why he needed it waxed. He somehow, someway got himself talked into the frontal wax with the promise they left everything south of his nuts alone.

 

“SON OF A BITCH!”

 

Women were OUT of their minds! He had seen porn, he knew a lot of them got front AND back done and took it like champs. Women were SADISTIC. “Nope, nuh uh, don’t you-“

 

“Mr. Good… it has to come off. Let’s count to three. One, two-“

 

“YOU SAID THREE!”

 

“It’ll feel better afterwards when we put the lotion on.”

 

By the time the spa session was over with, Maxlyn felt as if she was floating on a cloud and they gave her the soft robe as a complimentary gift, so she didn’t bother dressing.  The robe covered her body nicely, reaching her knees, and she couldn’t wait to show Jon everything she’d had done.  Her hair was a beautiful auburn red and rested just below her shoulders now.  Maxlyn looked like a whole new woman and felt like one too as she slipped her card into the slot to open their suite, walking inside.  Blue came rushing up to her from Jon’s side and she bent down, scratching his ears and accepted a few licks on her cheeks. Good thing you still recognize me, boy. Jon was talking to someone on his cell phone and she gathered, just by the tone of his voice, it had to be the Las Vegas police department.

 

Yes, it was, they were done with his house yet but they would like for the pair to come into Vegas tomorrow to the precinct to deliver their statements, especially Maxlyn. Especially Maxlyn given she was the one who had been home at the time. The way Jon figured it, Maxlyn really was the one they needed because while he could repeat what she had said, the fact that she was the star witness was going to be really important if this thing blew up. Given this Ricky moron had had his house SHOT up and tried killing whoever was in it -Maxlyn and Blue-, Jon wanted this all to explosively backfire on the bastard. “Yes, sir, we’ll be there tomorrow.” He glanced to his side and did a double take, raising one eyebrow.

 

Maxlyn cracked a hesitant smile back at him, waving, and walked over to sit on the bed, waiting for him patiently to get off the phone.  They would meet in a disclosed location that would be texted Jon in the morning, then taken to the precinct with a police escort.  Jon had voiced his concerns regarding Ricky’s motives to kill Maxlyn and since he was a celebrity of sorts, the chief decided to pull some strings to ensure their safety. “Let me guess, I have to give my statement tomorrow and we have to go back to Vegas?” She asked once he was off the phone, finally turning to fully face her. What if he doesn’t like my hair or wax job? “What time do we have to leave in the morning?”

 

Her hair was startling, there were no two ways about it, he was so used to the brown and caramel and then going red was a pretty big change. “We won’t have to be there until at least one, he knows we’re a bit of a drive.” He glanced down at Blue, who was sporting a blue bow and looked cleaner than Jon could ever remember seeing him -and Jon bathed him regularly-, raising another brow when he realized his dog had gotten a canine version of a pedicure. Finally, he turned to survey Maxlyn again, reaching out to finger her much shorter hair. “It looks good, darlin’,” he bet it felt a lot lighter too.

 

He doesn’t like it.  Great. “They said a lot of it was dead.  Probably from my years of bleaching it.” Maxlyn couldn’t meet his eyes, feeling a little self-conscious, and tucked some of the auburn hair behind her ear.  She also figured changing her hair color might help out as far as Ricky searching for her.  No doubt Cynthia had told him about seeing her and she was no longer platinum blonde, but a caramel haired woman now.  Well, now she had switched to a rich auburn red. “You look refreshed and so does big boy here.” Reaching down, she pet Blue’s head again, smiling at how soft his fur was. “Will they let us go back to the house yet after I give my statement or is it still being investigated?”

 

It wasn’t that he didn’t like it, assuming was bad, he would know, he did that shit a lot when he was younger and usually got called out for being an ass. Maybe that was why he had gotten pissy with Eddie, because Eddie and Chris had been assuming shit about his relationship with Maxlyn. “Dead? Really?” That said what Jon knew about hair because it had always felt silky and smooth in his hands and he reached out hesitantly, a little afraid of messing up the beautiful new cut and color, realizing there was definitely a world of difference. “Wow… it does feel different, I gotta admit, the color change startled me, darlin’.” But it did look good on her, especially with those beautiful brown eyes. “And I won’t know until tomorrow.”

 

“I’ve never dyed my hair red before, but I always wanted to try it.” It was still long enough to pull back in a ponytail or pile on top of her head if she wanted to.  Maxlyn didn’t want to go super short and thought about maybe leaving it to the middle of her back, but they told her it wouldn’t be enough to cut off all the dead-ends. “It’ll grow back a lot stronger and healthier now.” It’d been over a year since she last did anything with her hair, so most of the dead stuff cut off had been the lighter blonde from the bleach. “Do you like it?” Turning those soft brown eyes up to him, Maxlyn reached up to caress his beard with her fingers and couldn’t believe how soft it felt. “Still find me desirable?”

 

“Your attractiveness isn’t contingent on your hair, darlin’,” he chuckled softly but he also knew where she was coming from too. Men had desired, still desired her for banging body, and beautiful face. Her hair had been an afterthought to him because of how they had met and now he was realizing that changing cut and color really did make a difference. “Yes, I still find you desirable,” because he knew she needed to hear the words and he bent down to brush his lips against her. A second later he was groaning when Blue butted his head into his shin, dropping down to not muss up his prissy dog. “You’re gorgeous too, buddy.”

 

Maxlyn giggled softly, looking down at Blue and dropped along with Jon to give him some much needed attention, kissing the top of his wet nose.  She was so glad she’d gotten him out of the house before something happened.  If they lost Blue, no doubt in her mind it would’ve devastated them and Maxlyn would’ve had even more guilt to carry.  After giving Blue enough loving to where he walked away to plop down on the carpet, Jon helped her up by the hand and pulled her into his arms, passionately kissing him to the point where it made her toes curl. “For the record, I’m in love with this robe and I’m glad we can take them with us when we eventually leave.”

 

“You know why, cause they have lotions and aloes in the damn fiber to help with after waxing and shit,” and Jon’s blue eyes widened when she gave him a curious look, clearing his throat. “They uh, explained it to me…” which was true but he wasn’t ready to revisit the trauma of getting the downstairs area waxed. He had shaved in the past and now was of the age where keeping things short and trimmed, nice and tidy, were satisfactory. Now, he was pretty freaking bald and it felt weird.

 

Chapter 36

 

Did he get waxed?  Maxlyn reached inside his robe and sighed with relief at the feeling of hair on his chest still there, nuzzling it affectionately. “Good, you didn’t wax your chest…” Jon raised a brow down at her and she smiled, reaching up to brush her lips against his. “I don’t know what it is about your chest hair, but I love it and your beard…and every part of you, actually.  You can alter whatever you want on your body and I’ll love you, no matter what.” As much as Maxlyn wanted to show him all that she’d had done, dinner would be arriving shortly and she needed sustenance before they went another round. “We should probably get dressed, huh?”

 

The fact that this woman thought he was getting his chest hair waxed when he knew how much she loved it, wow… that would have been a pretty dick move on his part. But she didn’t think that he may have gotten elsewhere done, which was going to be a pretty big surprise for her later on. He hoped. She had never expressed a preference, did she have one? He hadn’t checked yet to see if the red and bit of puffy had gone down yet and to be fair, he wasn’t sure he wanted too. “Yeah.” He had to make sure his dick didn’t look weird without its nest.

 

Did she tell him now or let him find out later?  Would he notice if she dropped her robe in front of him? “My hair isn’t the only thing I had done.  I got waxed too…” That brow was back up, almost to his hairline as Maxlyn slid away from him to grab her bag, putting it on the bed.  With her back to him, she did let the robe drop and pulled out some night clothes, along with undergarments. “My legs, underarms, eyebrows…and other places…” Those electric blues were boring into her intensely as she pulled her bra on then reached for her panties, finally glancing over at him. “What about you?  Did you get your legs or anything waxed?” She doubted Jon would go through the torture a woman did.

 

The fuck were they talking about waxing and shit for? They were not schoolgirls giggling about that shit. Jon raised a brow at her, distracted when he realized what she had said about getting waxed. He was ordering dessert to go tonight because she had obviously given him the perfect plate to eat it off of, his tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip hungrily. He grunted his answer, turning to get his own clothes because she was seriously distracting him from the fact that they were supposed to be heading to dinner soon. They had reservations at the main, swanky restaurant, he had gone all out for this. “No peeking,” he chuckled, keeping his back to her as he stepped into a pair of black slacks, not bothering with underwear or boxers and he had to admit, it felt pretty good… no hairs catching anywhere. “What sounds good for dessert?” He was thinking that far ahead and was glad the sheets were not standard white like everywhere else.

 

“Cheesecake.  I don’t know why, but I’ve had a maddening craving it for it lately.” Maxlyn suddenly wondered what she should wear, seeing the black slacks Jon was pulling on, and decided on a soft silver, sleeveless sundress that clipped around her neck, leaving her shoulders and part of her upper back bare.  It shimmered when she walked and would go with the black sandals he picked out for her.  They were actually wedges, with a slight heel, but nothing compared to Stilettos.  Heading into the bathroom, Maxlyn decided to just put her hair in a half up-do, leaving the other half down.  Clear gloss was applied on her lips and she was done, ready to go. “I hope this is acceptable because I don’t think I can get any more dressed up than this…”

 

“You could be wearing a burlap sack and be acceptable,” he laughed without turning to face her, his version of ‘dressing up’ these black slacks, some nice shoes and a black v neck t-shirt that clung to his muscular upper body. Turning, Jon about let his jaw hit the floor, realizing she hadn’t dressed up once like this since they had come home together for the rehab facility. “You’re beautiful,” it came out soft and simple as he just stared at her, realizing she couldn’t go out like this every day, he wasn’t going to fight off suitors all the goddamn time because this woman was stunning, inside and out.

 

“Thank you.  I love the sundresses you picked out with that delivery service deal.” Maxlyn couldn’t remember what it was called off the top of her head and did her own scan of him, trying hard not to blatantly ogle him. “So are you…I mean, you’re handsome.” White was incredible on him, but there was something about this man all in black that sent her heart racing more. “You got me a couple of them and I thought they were nightgowns at first, but then I realized they were dresses.” She figured Jon wanted to see her in some dresses and who was she to deny her man what he wanted? “If you keep staring at me like that, I’m going to burst into flames, Jon…”

 

“I’m perfectly okay with that, dollface,” she looked exactly like a doll right now, beautiful and soft, but fragile. “And I ordered them because of uh,…” he had had time to kill on that drive, looking up laws and ordering shit for her. “Well, okay, not here,” because he had done that after the fact and he had to shake his head to stop being all weird right now, she really was distracting him. “I was just adding shit to the cart, that app kind of sucked.” He had had a short selection on the app and either way, it worked out. “You’re a distraction.” Jon admitted, walking over to take her hands gently in his. “I’m almost afraid of messing you up.”

 

“Jon…” Stepping up to him, Maxlyn cupped his bearded face in her hands and softly kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I like it when you mess me up, though.  And you’re just as much of a distraction to me.” Was there any way they could just order dinner and stay in tonight?  No, Jon had planned all of this and she would not ruin it, taking his hand to lace their fingers together. “Come on, Blue, come on, boy.” On the way out of the hotel part of the resort, Blue was leashed by Jon and they proceeded to walk aways to another building on the premises for animals. “Okay first an animal spa and now an animal hotel?” What the hell?  Blue had his very own room, bed, treats, food, water, and it was all luxurious for man’s best friend. “Where did you ever find a place like this, Jon?”

 

“Bryan.” Jon shook his head, chuckling under his breath. “When he and Brie got married in Sedona, they stayed here for their honeymoon.  He recommended it to me and I thought he was insane, but…everything he told me was the truth about this place.”

 

“Sounds like you two are close.  No wonder you’re tearing it up in the tag team division right now after that outstanding match you guys had at Revolution.”

 

“Yeah, I’ve got some pretty tight knit friends,” even if they were overprotective sometimes but after a day or so, he had sort of seen it from their point. It was amazing because he would have said at one time that he had had damn good friends in the WWE, but this was different, a little more closer, a little more family like, and he was grateful for it. “He’s got his own special seat for dinner and then he gets to spend the night in his own little doggy suite,” this was all so weird and he hoped after this week, his dog didn’t expect to be treated like royalty at home, chuckling at the thought. “If they offered stud services, I’d be a little concerned.” It was meant as a joke and then he realized who he had made it too and felt bad, realizing it was in poor taste considering what she had just gone through with Ricky having their house shot up. “Shit, I’m so sorry, darlin’.”

 

Maxlyn was confused, tilting her head and didn’t realize the joke he just said.  Jon repeated it, reluctantly, and instead of being sad about it, she started laughing. “I tell you what, Blue would probably be their highest paying stud too.” There was no reason to be offended by what he said and she proved it by kissing Jon right on the lips, looping her arm through his.  The laughter died down as they continued walking and she finally broke the silence between them after a few minutes. “Jon, I vowed to myself I would never tell another living soul what really happened to me the night I was found in my apartment unconscious.  What lead to me drinking so heavily.  I vowed to take that to the grave and part of me still wants to, but…if I’m going to give a statement on Ricky, I have to be truthful about everything.” They both stopped to look at each other and she took his hands, lowering her eyes to his chest. “I don’t know if they’ll let you in the room with me to give my statement or not, but I don’t want you blindsided by what I say.  So tonight after we have dinner and we’re up in our room, I need to tell you about what happened to me before I entered the rehab center.  Before we met.”

 

“All right, let’s go eat then and go back to our room, Maxlyn.”

 

Dinner was mostly silent with Jon studying her, trying to figure out what Maxlyn had to tell him.  She had squeezed his hand, trying her best to eat the delicious food presented to them.  Surprisingly, they both did well and made small talk about the pay-per-view Jon just finished up.  Maxlyn had missed his match due to driving to Texas, so Jon explained to her how it went down.  It was a nice dinner, but the closer it came to leave to head back to the room, the more nervous she became.  The bill was already paid for, so Maxlyn left a generous tip, wanting to contribute in some way before Jon lead her out of the restaurant, both once again quiet going back up to the suite.

 

“You don’t have to do this, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, dollface.” Jon said before unlocking the double doors, pushing them open to let her inside first.

 

Yes she did.  Maxlyn set her purse down on the bed and kicked her wedges off before beginning to pace, grabbing a bottled water out of the fridge. “Okay so, to start off with, I’m not what people assume I am.  I’m not an alcoholic.  Did I drink?  Yes.  But I wasn’t a full-blown alcoholic when they sent me to that place.  It wasn’t an addiction for me like it was for you…you struggled with it far more than I ever did.  The only reason they assumed I was an alcoholic was because of the cirrhosis, but that could stem from other things too, not just alcohol.  There are other things that can cause it to appear besides alcoholism.  I feel like…I’ve been deceiving you all this time and I’m sorry, but…” Damn it, the tears were starting and Maxlyn couldn’t stop them as a few slipped down her cheeks. “I-I never counted on meeting you or falling in love with you or sharing a life with you.  I didn’t think I was capable of loving someone after everything I’ve done in my life and then you came along and changed everything.  And now with this whole Ricky situation crashing down on us, I…I have to come clean.  And if you don’t hear it from me now, you’re going to hear it tomorrow during my statement because I’m not holding back.  I’m going to tell them everything…and what that bastard did to me the night I decided to stop working for him for good.”

 

All Jon could do was stare at her, wondering what the fucking hell she was on about. Admittedly, a part of him felt a little betrayed because she knew basically all the worst shit about him for the most part and apparently she was… he didn’t know. He sighed, wishing he had another vise or something and he leaned against the door, watching her intently. Okay, so she wasn’t really an alcoholic, got it. No shame in that. “What he did the night…” that was not lost on him and his brows furrowed together as he watched her start fiddling with her bottle of water. “What happened that night, Maxlyn?” He asked softly, knowing that she had overdone it on alcohol and that was how she was found, the alcohol poisoning and ordered rehab but she wasn’t an alcoholic. What could be so bad in her already fucked up world, where she had been raped since thirteen, that had sent her over that edge? He was actually… scared.

 

“Ricky set up ‘clients’ for us every night.  So after we did our number on stage at the club, we were immediately taken by these clients wherever they wanted.  It wasn’t out of the ordinary for us.  I walked in that night, it was a Thursday, and I wasn’t dressed for work.  I was in regular, every day clothes.  Ricky knew something was up, so he took me to his office privately and I…” Maxlyn walked over to stare out the balcony, folding her arms tightly in front of her chest. “I told him I was done.  I was fed up with this life and I wanted out.  I thought for sure he’d backhand me or something, just like he did to the other girls that tried to quit on him.  Instead, he just smirked at me and I’ll never forget how malicious his eyes were.  Anyway, that night’s client he had me lined up for was pissed.  I walked out of the office and down the stairs, and out the front door.  My apartment was about three or four blocks away from the club, not too much of a walk, and I never made it there.  My world went dark as I was grabbed from behind, a black hood of some kind put over my head, and taken somewhere I still don’t know to this day.  They kept me drugged out of my mind and blindfolded, so I have no idea who this guy was.  But for the next 24 hours, he raped and assaulted me in every way he could think of.  ‘You made Ricky do this’, he said to me. ‘This is your punishment for trying to leave him and for denying me what’s mine.’  Just shit like that.  I couldn’t fight back, I was completely helpless, tied down on some bed.”

 

Wiping tears away, Maxlyn had to continue with the story, no matter how badly she didn’t want to. “Jon, that was the first time I’d ever been raped and assaulted since I left Chicago when I was 18-years-old.  I was obedient and did my job to the best of my abilities, and all because I wanted out, Ricky wouldn’t have it.  He refused and punished me by having this unknown guy rape and assault me for 24 hours straight.  When it was done, I was driven back to my apartment and pushed out of a car, a wad of cash thrown at me in a money clip, and still somewhat out of it from the drugs he pumped into me.  By the time I took the black hood off, he was long gone and I never saw his face, not once. 

 

“The trauma of my childhood came rushing back as soon as I walked into my shitty apartment and…I wanted to die.  I didn’t want to live anymore.  I had six or seven bottles of different liquor, so I started drinking them.  One right after the other.  I didn’t care anymore and I’d heard of another girl that offed herself by drinking herself to death.  I don’t even remember the kind of alcohol I consumed, but I drank throughout the entire day and night, before finally passing out at some point in the early morning hours the next day.  When I woke up, I was in the hospital with an IV in my arm and being notified that I had cirrhosis of the liver and I needed to go to rehab, or they were throwing me in jail.  Apparently, whatever drug was in my system, hadn’t filtered out all the way at the time and it was illegal.  The authorities cut a deal with me and I accepted it…I accepted the label they branded me with.  Alcoholic.  They probably thought I was a drug addict too from whatever drug they put into my system to keep me from fighting back.”

 

Chapter 37

 

Walking away from the window, Maxlyn sat on the bed beside Jon with her hands in her lap, her head down. “I did a little research while I was in the rehab center, thanks to Suzanne, and cirrhosis can be caused by all kinds of different things, not just from being an alcoholic.  I really don’t know where it stems from, but since I was branded an alcoholic because of the poisoning, they really didn’t look too much further into it.  Besides, I was a lowly prostitute and stripper, they had better people to worry about in the hospital.” For over a year, she had lived with this and the nightmares came and went from that night.  That one phrase the man said a few times throughout the time she was kidnapped ‘I’m better than you and you know it’.  It haunted her and probably always would, no matter how hard she tried to move on with her life. “Ricky orchestrated the kidnapping and everything and paid the man to rape and assault me to teach me a lesson and to send a message.  ‘You’re mine until I say otherwise and you are not leaving unless it’s in a body bag.’”

 

So, now he understood why she refused to do the group morning sessions, she didn’t want to divulge any of that to a group of people she didn’t know. She needed therapy and he knew it but it had been ruined for her because of that rehab’s well-intentioned but ridiculous bullshit ‘everyone helps everyone’ AA shit. He needed a drink, he needed a fucking beer and his hand opened and closed for one almost automatically even though he knew there wasn’t a drop to be found in these suites by his own request. He opened and closed his mouth several times, finally just closing it because he didn’t know what to say, there wasn’t really anything he could say. Finally, he just reached over and took her hand in his, squeezing gently.

 

The fact he wasn’t angry with her meant the world to Maxlyn.  Jon had sat there and listened her long-winded story, not saying a single word.  She had noticed the way his fingers flexed in a drink motion and it broke her heart because he was a former alcoholic.  If he went back on that bandwagon again, he’d wind up right back in rehabilitation and that wasn’t an option. “You know what’s funny about this whole thing?  Well, not really funny, but…surreal maybe a better term for it.” She looked up at him and stood from the bed, swinging her leg over to straddle him comfortably, her lips brushing against his strong jaw. “All of this, everything I told you, lead me to that rehab center and you.  And you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Jon.” It was a domino effect – Maxlyn trying to quit stripping and prostituting had lead to her kidnapping and 24 rape fest, which followed with her drinking herself into an alcoholic poisoning, and that lead to the rehab center, where she had met the love of her life. “You showed me life is worth living and how to love,” Very soft kisses glided across his throat until she began teasing the other side of his neck while she spoke, finally raising her molten brown eyes to meet cerulean blues. “I love you, Good.”

 

Jon had absolutely NO intention of falling back into alcoholism because she needed him and he LIKED himself better sober. He knew his addiction would be a life long battle and he knew there would be times when he may even fall off and have a sip or something, he would do his best to avoid it and keep on. “I love you too, darlin’,” he caught her and stopped her from kissing on him, feeling like right after hearing about her being raped was not the best time to even attempt anything physical. It was a confusing mix of shit and he could only imagine what she was feeling, probably needing -the irony- physical reassurance. “Maxlyn, dollface, be honest, are you going to be okay with telling this to the detectives?”

 

“It won’t be easy, but I need to do it.  You’re right with what you said earlier, Jon.  This will keep following us everywhere we go and I don’t want that.  You don’t want that either.” It was obvious he wasn’t in the mood for sex and she understood that, so she just snuggled against him, rubbing his arms up and down in a gentle caress with her head on his shoulder. “I want to build a life with you, a future, and we can’t do that if he’ll always be lurking in the shadows.  He has to be stopped and I’m probably the only one who can do it.” Ricky made a fatal mistake when he decided to come after her and shoot up a celebrity’s house. “It’s best to try to stop him right now in his tracks before anyone else gets hurt.  I’m not doing this just for me, I’m doing this for Cynthia and all the other women he has under his thumb.  I want to protect us, honey.”

 

Maybe that would be her therapy, one more step into properly letting go of her past, which she had yet to do and now he really didn’t blame her because it had come back to haunt her ass with a vengeance.  But seeing this through and maybe getting this guy arrested and his operation shut down, it would do her a world of good and she could finally stop running and fearing this stuff coming out of the shadows. He looped his arm around her, not necessarily in the mood for sex at the moment  but he definitely wanted the contact, the comfort in it and what he could give her. “You’re a damned good woman, you know that, darlin’?” He kissed the side of her head with a soft sigh, knowing if it ever got out what she was doing, she would become a bigger target. “We don’t have to go back to the house for anything, it can all be replaced.”

 

She shut her eyes upon hearing that, knowing how hard Jon worked for that house and how proud he was of it.  That was his dream house and Ricky had completely destroyed it, because of her. “No, I’m not.  I’m not even close to a good woman and not good enough for you.  I’ll never think otherwise, but I am blessed that you still want me after everything that’s happened and I’ve put you through.  And I’m sorry for keeping that secret from you.  I never thought I’d have to relive that horrible time, but now I do and…I just hope it’s for a good cause.” Sniffling, Maxlyn pulled away from him and Jon let her as she headed into the bathroom to grab some tissue, wiping her tears away and blowing her nose.  She had ruined this night for them and all Maxlyn wanted to do right now was sleep.  She felt drained in every way possible suddenly and knew Jon felt the same way, running the water to splash cold water on her face.

 

While she was in there, Jon used the smaller, secondary bathroom to get washed up and ready for bed, thinking about everything she had just laid out on him. It wasn’t even that she had ruined the night. Having sex all the time, every day was not a requirement and contrary to popular opinion, men did not want it all the damn time. What he wanted was to hold her and soothe her, knowing right now she was having doubts. Was sex the answer to those doubts? He was conflicted because honestly, the majority of her life was nothing but sex, unwilling at that. Did she now equal it with his affection because her experiences with men and sex were so fucking tainted? When he came out, she hadn’t emerged yet and Jon walked over to the master bath, knocking on the door. He heard her open the door but not push it all the way and opened it the rest himself. “I don’t give a fuck about my house or my stuff in Vegas,” he informed her, knowing she was also beating herself up over that as well. “My home is wherever YOU are, Maxlyn. We can start over somewhere else after this is all squared away and you ARE a good woman.”

 

All Maxlyn had ever known was men using her for sex, so she figured as long as she kept Jon sexually satisfied, he’d be happy.  She honestly didn’t know any other way to show affection and love except through sex.  That was where the affection and feelings happened the most, at least in her mind.  Of course, there were other ways to show love and affection, she wasn’t completely tainted when it came to being in a relationship, but sex was a huge intricate part of it. “But none of this would’ve happened if it wasn’t for me.  He was coming after me, Jon.  For Christ sakes, I could’ve gotten Blue killed!” When was the time Maxlyn actually raised her voice to Jon?  She couldn’t recall it and frowned, not able to look at him. “I-I’m sorry, that was…uncalled for…”

 

“Nope, you do whatever, yell if you need too,” these rooms were pretty solid and semi-soundproof, that had been a discretion thing and he had -at the time- been amused. Now, he was grateful. “Maxlyn, after what just happened with the house, you DROVE hours with Blue to get away and to me, you know what kind of resolve and strength that takes?” Because she had done what she needed to AND then cried and had her little breakdown. “But you can yell and breakdown now if you need too, scream yourself hoarse, and I’m still going to be here.”

 

She was breathing heavily, trying with every ounce inside of her to keep it all inside, not wanting to unleash it on Jon. “I-I’m fine and you don’t deserve that…” He booked them at this gorgeous resort and made sure Blue was taken care of as well.  The last thing Maxlyn wanted to do was unload on him when this wasn’t his fault. “I just…” The fury, pain, and anger was boiling inside of her and she gripped the sink tightly, rocking her body back and forth. “I fucking hate myself for this!  I hate myself for letting this happen, for ever working for that scumbag!  For being forced to be a whore in order to survive, for not finding a better damn way in life!  I hate Ricky for doing this to us, for destroying our home and nearly getting our baby boy killed!  For trying to kill me!  I HATE ALL OF THIS!!”

 

She had gone from yelling to screaming, letting it all out for the first time in…what seemed like forever. “I HATE THAT WE CAN’T GO HOME ANYMORE AND WE HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE OF THAT SACK OF SHIT!!  WHY CAN’T HE JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE AND LET ME LIVE MY LIFE THE WAY I WANT?!  HAVEN’T I SUFFERED ENOUGH BULLSHIT TO LAST A LIFETIME OR TWO?!  I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY AND I CAN’T BECAUSE OF THAT ASSHOLE!!” Dropping to her knees, Maxlyn didn’t let go of the sink counter and let the tears stream down her cheeks, crying and sobbing her heart out. “I-I just want him gone…I want him gone forever, Jon.  Until he is, I-I can’t move on…and I can’t be fully happy with you…”

 

Jon was pretty fucking proud of her and if it wasn’t such an emotional moment, he would have applauded because she had NEEDED that. THIS was what she should have been able to vent in therapy and he GOT it now. That shit would not work on her because no matter what, no matter if she paid for someone who was paygrades above the rehab, she didn’t feel safe enough to let those walls down. She felt safe with HIM and it was humbling enough to bring him to his damn knees, and down he went, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him in a tight embrace. “He WILL be gone, one way or another darlin’, and we’ll be happy and free, you’ll be free, from all of it,” he soothed, feeling her tears against his neck.

 

Tightening her arms around his neck, Maxlyn could only sob against him, every ounce of energy and strength drained out of her from that explosion.  Jon was one of the only people she fully trusted to reveal everything and she knew the police would have to be trusted as well.  Ricky did not own the police, that much was certain, he wasn’t that powerful.  There were more powerful people in Vegas besides him. “Y-You really believe that?” She felt Jon nod against her and he stood up with her cradled in his arms, carrying her out of the bathroom. “Okay.  I have no reason not to trust you, Jon.  I’ll always have my full faith and trust in you…” She whispered, trembling from head to toe and it was from the aftermath of her explosion.  It was so strong, she was slightly chattering, feeling cold even with his body heat soaking into her.

 

Given everything she had gone through since she was basically 13, when puberty had visited and given her what was essentially a curse: tits, she was allowed to have an explosion. Honestly, Jon personally believed there would be a few more before this was all said and done. This jackass Ricky had been willing to shoot up a house in the daytime, a house of an at least C-rank celebrity, that man had balls and Jon was looking forward to either seeing him in prison or force feeding him his balls. He would LOVE to go handle this personally but he had a feeling Maxlyn would somehow stop him or beg, and his heart couldn’t handle that shit. “I’m going to run the hot tub darlin’, and we’re gonna sit there and soak together,” he whispered in her ear, knowing letting out emotions like that had a way of exhausting a person. He wanted her to relax now, sit with him and enjoy the relaxation, the heat, and just hold her and try to reinforce that he loved her, for MORE than sex.

 

“O-Okay…” Shivering, Maxlyn managed to take her dress off and didn’t bother trying to remove anything else, wrapping her arms around herself.  Jon was back in no time, naked, and helped her out of her bra and panties, being gentle and caring with her.  There wasn’t an ounce or hint of lust in his touch, just love and he scooped her up again, heading right for the hot tub.  There were sweet smelling oils in it to relax them even further and Maxlyn sighed at the scent of vanilla, closing her eyes the moment her body was engulfed in the hot bubbly liquid, along with Jon. “Mmm…” This was what the doctor ordered and she sat sideways on Jon’s lap, feeling his hands run the hot water over her shoulders, trying to get her to stop shivering.  The water combined with his body was enough to get the chills to leave her body and Maxlyn began stroking his hairy chest, not able to do much else. “Thank you, Jon.  I love you so much.”

 

There was also a healthy dose of scented salts in the water, the aromatherapy and salts doing a double dose of relaxation. See, his spa day had been more than making him pretty, it had taught him some shit too. He was already putting it to use. “I love you too, darlin’,” it came out so easily, even though the words had only come the other day and from her, under duress and panic. It didn’t cheapen anything, it made him realize how terrified she had been of dying and him not knowing. “Here.” He moved down to the next level, immersing them to their necks and angled her so the jets were on her. “You gonna be okay?”

 

“Yeah.” The tremor was gone out of her voice and she was relaxing more and more, sitting between his legs, leaning her head back against his chest with his arms around her waist.  Nothing sexual about it and it made her smile, despite the explosion she had earlier. “I needed that.  Earlier.  I didn’t realize how much I’ve been bottling up inside me since we met.  How much weight I was carrying, the burden of what happened to me.  My mother…she trained me not to be ‘overdramatic’ and to keep things bottled up, no matter how I was feeling.  It didn’t matter to her as long as I was doing my ‘job’.” She did the finger quotation marks with her fingers. “Then Ricky would beat us if we got out of line or mouthed off to him or any of his ‘clients’.  I think that’s why I have such a hard time expressing how I really feel, but…I’m getting better with it.  I just didn’t want to explode on you, Jon.  However, I’m glad you were here for me when I did it because I’ve never needed you more than I did tonight after that.”

 

“Well, anytime you need to scream and vent, you do it, darlin’. If you want to disappear somewhere and just scream to the heavens where it’s nobody but us, we can do that too. It’s good to rage sometimes,” he got most of his shit out in the ring but she didn’t have an outlet like that. “You wanna learn to defend yourself?” WHY it came out right now was beyond him but it did. Learning how to handle yourself could be very freeing and empowering. “I could teach you.” So could Chris and Josh. Eddie could probably show her how to use her tiny fist to knock a man’s teeth out.

 

“Hmm…that doesn’t sound too shabby.” It would come in handy if Ricky decided to pursue this further, once he discovered she was in Vegas. That was inevitable, even with the secret police escort.  People would KNOW due to paparazzi and social media, who followed any kind of celebrity they could get to.  With Jon’s house shot up and it being all over the news, there was no way they could hide him going into the Las Vegas police precinct. “I don’t know how good of a student I’ll be, but I’m willing to give it a try.  And as far as raging goes, I don’t think I’ll be doing that again for a while.  That really tired me out.” Just to emphasize that point, Maxlyn let out a long yawn and snuggled back against her man, enjoying the jets licking at her lower back and legs.  It suddenly occurred to Maxlyn they were both naked in this hot tub and could have easily made a move on each other, but they didn’t.  That was a first for her. “So, when we go back on the road with AEW and the other wrestling companies you work for, Blue won’t be able to come with us.  You said you have a place in Cincinnati, but he can’t stay there by himself.” Their neighbor had been kind enough to take care of Blue while they were gone.

 

“My Mom will take care of Blue while we’re gone.”

 

Her eyes widened. “Your Mom?” So did that mean she would be meeting his mother soon? “How far away does she live from you in Cincinnati?  Do you want me to meet her?”

 

“Not too far and yes, you’re going to meet her,” because there was no way Jon was going ‘home’ without his mother knowing. She already knew he was on his way eventually, she had called him after finding out about his house -he was a bad son and hadn’t called her straight away because he had been worried about Maxlyn. She had made sure he was all right, his new girlfriend was all right and then yelled at him for not calling her ASAP. He had given her a helluva scare. “She knows we’re coming, she has the key to my house there and is getting it tidied and shit.” Not that it was messy, more like dusty and shit was covered up, windows and doors made winter ready, that sort of thing. “Is that okay?”

 

“Yeah, of course…” Maxlyn slowly turned to face him, staring into his eyes and figured she might as well get this out of the way. “I never want you to meet my mother, Jon.  To be honest, I don’t know if she’s still alive and in Chicago anymore.  I haven’t seen or spoken to her since I was 17.” They did not speak on her 18^th birthday because Maxlyn had stayed at the bus station and waited for her bus to leave to take her as far away as possible. “I don’t really know any of my other family.  I think I have an Aunt somewhere out there and maybe some cousins, but I’m not sure.  My mother kept us pretty isolated from her family and…I never met my father either.” Or maybe she had and he raped her as one of her mother’s ‘clients’.  THAT was a horrible thought, but also a possibility because of how much of a monster her mother was. “Hell will freeze over before I ever speak to my mother again.  I want nothing to do with her as long as I live, actually.”

 

Jon was actually shocked and it showed, wondering if she honestly thought he wanted to meet the evil monster his beautiful woman had been born from, no thanks. “Darlin’, not to sound like an asshole… but even if by some snowball’s chance in Hell you ever wanted to reconcile with her, I would be against it and I wouldn’t want to meet her, even to tell her to burn in Hell.” His mom had turned tricks to put food on the table and shit, she had never made HIM do shit like that to ‘help out’. To be honest, if Maxlyn’s egg donor was still alive, he would be very, very surprised because that lifestyle aged you.

 

“Good, we’re on the same page then.” Maxlyn leaned forward to brush her lips against his before turning back around to lean back against him. “I’m looking forward to meeting your Mom.  She sounds like a saint compared to mine.”

 

Chapter 38

 

“Mr. Good and Miss Lewis, I presume.” A rather tall policeman walked towards them, a badge on his uniform that read Lt. Evans with his number and all. “It’s nice to meet both of you, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

 

“So do we, sir.” Maxlyn murmured quietly, wearing a pair of black shorts and a white and black tank top, black sandals on her feet.  Her hair was currently pulled back in a ponytail due to how hot Vegas was. “We appreciate what you’ve done to ensure our safety as well.”

 

Blue was back at the resort in dog heaven, being pampered to the fullest at the spa again and enjoying his suite with treats and delicious food.  They would be going back after they were done with the police, unless they were permitted to go back to the house to grab a few things, if anything was salvageable.  Jon wanted to see the extent of the damage done to his house and Maxlyn didn’t blame him.

 

Jon had told her on the drive this way, that if she were more comfortable remaining with the police while he went out to the house, he was on board with that. He’d still have a police escort, if they were able to go back, he just didn’t want to put her through anymore trauma. He listened at Lt. Evans began explaining how this was going to work. He’d ask them questions, they’d review all the information, that short of thing. “Miss Lewis, where was it you went when you left the house? Why not come to the police?” He asked curiously, knowing most people would have probably hid in the bathroom and bawled. This woman had snatched up the dog and got the Hell out of dodge, which ultimately saved her life. 

 

“Honestly?  I just wanted to get to Jon.  I wanted to get as far away from Vegas as possible and I wasn’t thinking about the police or anything.  And…” Maxlyn took a deep breath, knowing how this was going to sound, but at the same time, it was truthful. “I don’t trust the police, sir.  Not entirely.  I know Ricky doesn’t have THAT much influence, but I couldn’t be sure and again, I really wasn’t thinking clearly.  I was just in survival mode.” Much like she’d been when she boarded the bus in Chicago on the 18^th birthday to start the next chapter of her life. “I’ve tried going to the police for help in my past and…it didn’t end well for me.” Her mother had been called to the precinct when she was 14-years-old and they hadn’t believed her about being raped and ‘sold’ by her own mother. “The only reason I’m here now is because of my boyfriend’s support and reassurance that the Las Vegas PD are trustworthy.”

 

Well, corruption was indeed a thing so he couldn’t fault her there but at the same time, a lot of major cities police precincts were definitely watching their asses because of technology being able to capture everything and social media made that information available almost instantly. The era of accountability was here and it was brutal. “Well, thank you, Mr. Good, for your confidence in us, and Ricky, are you speaking about Ricky (insert last name here)? The club owner?”

 

Jon felt something in him get just a smidge excited because it sounded like he could have been onto something with the sex trafficking thing. Also, hope that this would be over quickly.

 

“Ricky Garcia, yes.  He owns the strip club called Déjà vu Little Darlings.” Maxlyn informed the Lieutenant, who was jotting down some notes on his notepad on the way to the car.  There was a very good reason why she didn’t trust police and it stemmed from her time in Chicago.  One of her mother’s clients was the Chief of the Chicago PD and she had been raped by that man.  She had gone to the police precinct to rat her mother out about what she’d been doing and that very same Chief had held her while calling her mother to let her know what was going on.  That very same night, after he got off work from the police department, Maxlyn was punished and whipped with his nightstick for defying her mother.  After that, she never trusted police again as long as she lived. “It’s not just a strip club though, sir.  He’s been…forcing the strippers to prostitute for him to his clientele.”

 

Chicago police department was known to have serious corruption, the same as Chicago itself. If there was any city in the country that deserved to be walled the Hell off, it was probably Chicago. “We suspected as much. Now, as you may know, prostitution IS legal in the state of Nevada, so long as the town’s population is under 700,000. Obviously, Vegas is beyond that point but… as a general rule, a blind eye is turned to sex work so long as it stays… discrete, AND consensual.” Which, from what they had been piecing together, was not happening with Garcia’s place. “Why is it you believe Garcia to be behind this?”

 

“Do you mind if we wait until we’re at the precinct?  I’ll tell you everything I know there, sir.”

 

“Sure, not a problem.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

They were driven to the precinct with tinted windows to hide their identity.  Jon held her hand the entire time there, lacing their fingers together, and Lieutenant Evans informed them they were able to go to the house.  There wasn’t as much damage as originally suspected, just bullet holes, some broken windows and items inside, but the foundation itself wasn’t messed with.  The gunmen had left shortly after she made her escape, probably to pursue her, but Maxlyn had managed to make it out of there relatively unscathed.  They arrived at the precinct and were guided inside, both wearing hoodies with the hoods up to hide their identities.  Lieutenant Evans lead them straight to his office and closed the door behind him, gesturing them to take a seat.  Jon was allowed in here as well, as long as Maxlyn was all right with it.

 

“Now then, why is it you believe Garcia is behind this and the attack on Mr. Good’s home?”

 

“Because he has logs and everything with his clientele.  It’s all locked away in his office in the club, in a hidden safe.  This isn’t the first time someone has blown the whistle on him, I’m sure.  He’s sneaky about it and I’ve witnessed several of the girls that works for him being threatened with their lives if they don’t work for him.” Maxlyn went on to tell him about the girl she explained to Jon, how she had walked in to quit, was beaten and then raped right in front of their eyes.  It was a message sent to the rest of the girls not to even think about quitting or else they were dead. “Sir, I was kidnapped, raped, and assaulted a little over a year ago and the man who did it told me Mr. Garcia paid him to do it.  I walked in to quit, just like that other girl, and he had me kidnapped and assaulted for 24 hours straight.  I don’t know where he took me, I was blindfolded and drugged the entire time…and dropped off at my apartment building with a wad of cash thrown at me.  I never saw the man’s face and by the time I took the blindfold off, he sped away.”

 

“What did you do with the money?”

 

“As far as I know, it was left behind in my apartment.  I wound up drinking myself into an alcoholic poisoning because of what happened to me.  I tried to commit suicide with alcohol and if I wasn’t found by one of the other girls that works for Mr. Garcia and him himself, I probably would be dead right now.  They took me to the emergency room and left me there, thinking I was dead.  Shortly after that, I was sent to rehabilitation for alcoholism.  My apartment was given away and anything that was in it was confiscated by my landlord, as far as I know, including that wad of cash from my attacker that was hired by Mr. Garcia.”

 

“And why do you think it was Mr. Garcia that sent these gunmen to shoot up Mr. Good’s home?  Perhaps you have enemies you’re not aware of, Miss Lewis?”

 

This was why Maxlyn hated authorities and could feel Jon tensing beside her, squeezing his hand to let him know she was all right. “Because Mr. Garcia has done this to one of the other girls before.  He threatened the girl I told you about and told her he would kill her boyfriend in front of, send men to dismantle him.  He’s done drive by shootings before and I have no doubt in my mind he sent these men after me at Mr. Good’s residence.  They shot at me when I tore out of there in Mr. Good’s truck to make my escape and I’m just glad they didn’t puncture one of the tires.  I probably would’ve gone flying into a neighbor’s yard or house otherwise.”

 

“This is all speculation, Miss Lewis, and without actual, solid proof, that’s all it will be.  Your word against his.  You understand that, don’t you?”

 

“Yes, sir.  All I can do is tell you my side,” The truth. “And then it’s up to the authorities to do the investigation and try to find that evidence.” Ricky was a slick son of a bitch and she had no doubt in her mind he’d find a way out of this.  He was a cockroach and they always survived somehow, someway.

 

Jon was tensing because he had felt the shift in her when Evans had asked about potential other enemies. He got she had bad experiences with the police, he had too when he was younger and more stupid. Hers stemmed from Chicago and it occurred to him that was likely her one and only time going for help, let alone talking to an officer who wasn’t a ‘customer’ of hers. When Evans offered coffee, he nodded for them both. “Darlin’, don’t take what he said about enemies and speculation personal, he has to cover his ass until there’s solid proof and he has to follow all potential leads. The way he sounded earlier though… about Garcia, sounds like they’ve already been investigating.” And if she could put names to these girls, they probably had files somewhere in unsolved murders or something.

 

That was the Lieutenant’s next question. “The girl you mentioned about being beaten and raped in front of you and others?  Do you recall her name, Miss Lewis?”

 

Maxlyn was quiet for a minute, racking her brain and shut her eyes, trying to recall that memory, that night. “Amelia…no.  Emma…yeah, it her name was Emma.”

 

“Do you know the last name?” Maxlyn didn’t catch the change in the Lieutenant’s voice, but Jon sure did and it made his eyes slightly narrow. 

 

It was as if as big bucket of ice cold water crashed over her, her eyes widening while looking back at the man across the desk.  She swallowed hard, not daring to look at Jon or anything else in the office, her palms growing sweaty. “Evans.  Her last name was Evans, sir.  Emma Evans, I’m sure of it.” Holy hell, those gentle eyes had suddenly hardened that were staring back at her and Maxlyn’s blurting antics reared their ugly head. “Was she related to you or something, sir?”

 

“My daughter.” Lieutenant Evans had been investigating Garcia for a long time, over two years now, since his beloved Emma was found dead on the outskirts of the city, buried in the desert.  Some hikers out by Red Rock Canyon had found the grave and immediately called the police.  Prior to that, she’d been missing for just shy of two months and he’d known about her job at the strip club with Ricardo Garcia. “I need to know, Maxlyn,” This was personal now and he didn’t feel the need to be formal with this woman. “Who else was in that club the night Emma was beaten and raped?”

 

“Cynthia Mills, Alisa Rines, and Sara Vale, along with myself and Mr. Garcia with his goons.  I can’t tell you what the names of his goons are because I didn’t know them well.  I know for a fact Cynthia still works for him and she was the one to inform Mr. Garcia I was still alive and back in Vegas.”

 

“Why do you say that?”

 

“Because Jon and I were on a date, walking the Strip a little over a month ago and ran into her.  Or rather, she spotted me and we spoke for a minute.  She thought I was dead and so did Mr. Garcia.  She is the only one who knew I was back in the city with Jon, nobody else.” Maxlyn hated throwing Cynthia under the bus, but she was the only one who could’ve leaked the information to Ricky and she was putting herself and Jon first before anyone or anything.

 

“You don’t know if Rines and Vale still work for him then?”

 

“No sir, I don’t.”

 

Sighing, Evans slumped back into his chair, glad this wasn’t being recorded or watched like some interviews were. It would be if she agreed to make all this information on the books, and then he would go through questions in a very calm fashion, without the personal information. He knew he could build the case but he would have to let his partner take charge or else Garcia could claim personal bias and have the whole goddamn thing tossed out. “Here, by the way,” he slid over two paper cups of coffee towards them with a sigh, since that was what he had gotten up to do. “I know you don’t want to be in Vegas anymore than necessary, but you are staying within a decent range, correct?”

 

Jon nodded.

 

“I’d like to get a formal statement on file but you’ll have to be interviewed by someone who isn’t me. Is that okay, Miss Lewis?”

 

Was it because his daughter was involved in this? “The person who will be interviewing me…are they trustworthy, sir?” Maxlyn didn’t want to waste her time if there was any kind of corruption within the Las Vegas PD.

 

Lieutenant Evans nodded, already having the person in mind for the interrogation/interview. “Do you mind doing it today?  I know you’ve already been put through a lot…”

 

“Yes.  You said we can go back to the house, right?” Evans nodded and she turned to look up at Jon, knowing they could kill two birds with one stone by doing things separately. “Why don’t you go to the house, see what you can grab for us and Blue, while I give a formal statement?” Something she thought was happening already, but apparently not. “He can get a police escort over there, right, Lieutenant?”

 

“Yeah, I’ll go with him myself while you give your statement to Sergeant Collin.  Mr. Good, whenever you’re ready, we can head over to your residence.”

 

Hopefully, her binders for her GED, along with her laptop, were still in tact since they hadn’t been out prior to the shootout.

 

It was exactly because of his daughter. A decent lawyer would be able to have things tossed because of his involvement, as much as Evans WANTED to be the point man on this, he knew he couldn’t. He also knew which detectives were solid and which ones might be prone to bribery, it was a deeply flawed system and he knew it. “Okay, I’ll send in Sergeant Collin and he will basically be reviewing everything we’ve already covered and he’s nice, firm but fair, okay?”

 

Jon felt relief washing over him, standing up to drop a kiss on Maxlyn’s head. “If you need me, call, okay, darlin’?” He wasn’t looking forward to seeing his house, dread filling his stomach. He knew she could have died but he also knew seeing everything in person was going to really cement it.

 

“I love you.” Maxlyn reached up to cup his bearded face in her hands, feeling his forehead rest against hers. God protect him, please. “I’ll be here when you get back.” She watched Jon leave and took a seat, waiting patiently for Sergeant Collin to walk in to take her official statement.

 

Chapter 39

 

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Evans had lead Jon, with his hood up over his head again, to his tinted window car, letting the man take the passenger seat. “This is strictly off the record, but I promise you, Garcia is going down this time.” He said on the way to Jon’s residence, already knowing the address by heart. “I had no evidence about Emma’s death until today, thanks to you and Maxlyn.  I owe you both and I’ll make sure this is done by the book, so that bastard has no chance of escape.” Ricardo Garcia was living on borrowed time and would get life in prison or the death penalty, Evans would make sure of it. 

 

Nevada was a state that still employed capital punishment and Evans then wished that Garcia would go out in a fire fight or something, just because it could take years to wind up dead even if you were on death row.

 

“Isn’t the evidence hearsay?” Jon asked almost tiredly, staring out the window as he watched the scenery fly by.

 

“True, but now we have both ends of the situation, all we need is to find a way of connecting him to Emma’s death and to Maxlyn, solid evidence. There’s going to be something somewhere.” Of that, he had no doubt.

 

If they couldn’t find it, however, it was all still circumstantial and Garcia would end up walking.  That was the problem with the today’s justice system.  However, if no evidence popped up from the investigation, Evans was more than ready to take matters into his own hands.  Garcia was NOT getting away with this.  He killed Emma, his precious baby girl, and he would not rest until there was justice for her death.  Jon and Maxlyn did not need to know that.  Sometimes, hands had to get dirty in order, even in the justice system, and when it came to Emma, even if he was caught for taking Garcia down, it would be well worth serving prison time.

 

They pulled up to Jon’s house on the street and Lieutenant Evans stepped out, sliding his shades on over his eyes since the sun was so bright. “Most of the bullet holes we found are inside, only a few punctured the outside of your house. Mr. Good.”

 

Which meant a lot of them had gone through windows, this had been a pretty professional job and Jon removed his own sunglasses to survey the damage. There was police tape everywhere and his face turned to stone as he walked through the yard, taking note of broken glass before finally heading for the door. More police tape and he just used two fingers to push it open, his blue eyes narrowing at how bad it was. He was stepping on glass and realized there were no bullets anywhere, they had been gathered for evidence. Running his hands over his head, he exhaled slowly and got started, knowing he wouldn’t be coming back. This place was ruined.

 

There was little smears of blood on the tiled kitchen floor as well and that was from Maxlyn escaping.  There was bloody handprints on the door leading to the garage and the wall, a little lower due to her army crawling before scrambling to open the door.  Jon had noticed the blood and Lieutenant Evans watched him slowly squat down to look at it, the man’s eyes following the trail and he knew why.  The garage door was still open from her escape and the tire marks on the driveway was visible from how hard she’d slammed on the gas to get the hell out of here.  There were bullet holes in the walls all over, kitchen counter, island, living room, in the furniture, the sliding glass door shattered, among other things and damage.

 

“The fact that she knew exactly what to do and where to go,” Evans had noted it as well when he had first arrived on the scene. He had been impressed by how Miss Lewis had reacted, she had survived the initial onslaught, dropped and crawled her way directly to an escape and safety. “You know, she must have memorized the layout of the house.”

 

“Why do you say that?” Jon had found garbage bags that weren’t shredded, now preparing to go raid their bedrooms and look for her GED stuff.

 

“Because, glass and bullets flying everywhere, she probably had her eyes closed the majority of the time but she knew exactly where to go and how to get there from her spot.” The blood stains proved that.

 

Jon had not realized… the disturbing feeling in his chest growing even more. Even with him, she had been afraid, and she had done what she probably did everywhere she went, memorized the exits.

 

Survival was Maxlyn’s first priority, no matter where she lived or how happy she was.  The fact Ricky hadn’t made a move for almost two months after that run-in with Cynthia unnerved her.  She hid how she felt very well from Jon, not wanting to worry and stress him out more than he’d been with his hectic schedule.  Little by little, Maxlyn had ventured the house, mostly while Jon was either working out, showering, on the phone with one of the promotions, going for a jog or biking…they weren’t always together in the house.  It may have seemed that way, but Jon enjoyed his solitude and alone time as much as the next person.  Every room in the house she had an escape route planned in her mind, just in case an attack ever came, which was why she was alive today and not gunned down like an animal.

 

While Jon was scavenging his own belongings and hers, Evans was asking him questions. He wanted Jon’s perspective on everything that had happened, from the time on the Strip those months ago they had run into a former ‘co-worker’ of Maxlyn’s up until the shooting. The fact that Ricky had bided his time that long indicated that he had been watching the pair, getting their routines and schedules down. He was damn sure Jon had never been an intended target because of the fame thing would definitely attract more attention than it already had. But doing it so brazenly in the daylight was also… insane, to be fair. “We checked with the neighbors and nobody was able to really get a description of the vehicle. But there were security cameras, techs are pulling what they can.”

 

Miraculously, everything with her laptop and the binders for her GED information were perfectly intact, not a scratch on any of it.  Maxlyn would be both thrilled and relieved to see it since she’d been working hard for her upcoming test.  Something told him she’d want some quiet time to study once they were back at the resort.  With everything that had gone down recently, Jon just wanted her to relax, especially after seeing the bloody handprints and smears of it on the kitchen floor.  They were going to have a talk because he didn’t want her constantly scared or needing to map out every place they lived.  He wanted her to feel safe and secure, with or without him in the home. “Hopefully they find something.  I think I got everything I’m gonna take, so we can head back when you want to, Lieutenant.”

 

“Once we’re sure we’re done, we’ll let you know so you can get people out here for repairs and cleaning…” Evans sincerely hoped Jon had had decent insurance because it was going to cost a pretty penny not only for cleaning and repairs but also replacing lost belongings.

 

Jon did have good insurance because Chris had recommended not freaking skimping on the shit, he just never expected it to be a SHOOTING. He thought maybe storm damage down the road, hell a fire, NOT GUNS! “Thanks.” He tossed everything minus the laptop in the trunk and sighed, settling his ass back in the passenger seat. He shot off a message to Maxlyn to let her know he was on his way back before closing his eyes. Seeing it… was worse than hearing about it, he couldn’t even begin to imagine what living it must have been like.

 

Her statement was done by the time Jon returned and Maxlyn felt both relieved and nervous about doing it.  This was the first step and Sergeant Collins had been very kind to her.  Kind and firm, giving her all the time she needed to give her statement.  Questions were asked and answered, names written down, just like it had been with Lieutenant Evans.  Now it was up to the Las Vegas PD to investigate and hopefully bring Ricardo Garcia down.  With any luck, Cynthia and the other girls would testify against him as well, though Maxlyn doubted it and she said as much to Sergeant Collins.  Jon walked into the room she was in and Maxlyn took one look at him, her heart immediately breaking at the befallen expression on his face.  Not thinking twice about it, she went to him wrapping her arms around his neck and held him close, feeling his arms tighten around her. “Ssshhhh…it’s okay, Jon.  It’s all gonna be okay, honey…” She soothed, thinking he was upset about the state of the house and not what almost happened to her and Blue.

 

“Stop it,” he whispered, not wanting her to soothe him because of whatever she had saw in his face, especially not here when everyone present knew she was the victim here. A victim should not be comforting someone else, especially their partner, it should be the other way around. Jon knew he wasn’t angry, not really, he was feeling helpless because he should have been there with her, taken care of and protected her, and instead he had been on the road. “Are we done? Can we go?” He needed to get out of Las Vegas, he needed to get HER out of Las Vegas.

 

“For now, but eventually, you will be brought back in.”

 

“Yeah, that’s fine. You ready, darlin’?” He needed to be far away from here.

 

Maxlyn nodded, putting her hoodie back on and was lead outside to Lieutenant Evans vehicle to be taken back to their own.  It would take a little bit longer due to traffic and Maxlyn held Jon’s hand the entire time, staring out the window.  She could only imagine what he was thinking and going through at the moment, after going back to the house.  It was probably a lot worse than she thought up in her own mind, which broke her heart.  Everything he had worked for and sacrificed his body for, his blood, sweat, and tears…it was all destroyed because of Ricky.  The entire ride was made in silence and it was just past 4 PM when they arrived at their vehicle.  They shook Lieutenant Evans’ hand and were given the green light to go back on the road with AEW and other wrestling promotions for Jon’s job.  However, if they needed Maxlyn to fly back in for more questioning, they’d summon her.  She understood, waiting for Jon to grab things from the house out of the Lieutenant’s trunk, and then followed her man to their vehicle, slipping in the passenger seat. “Jon,” She finally broke the silence, worry shining in her brown eyes. “Do you want me to drive?”

 

“No, I’m fine,” he said after a moment, knowing driving would give him something to focus on. Sure, it had occurred to him that everything he had worked for his whole life was gone, ruined now, because he had no desire to save any of it. It was tainted now, his dream home, THEIR home, even if he had everything rebuilt, it would be never be the same and he would never feel the same. His belts and titles, mementos from this career he had been chasing for as long as he could remember it seemed, they were all destroyed, dented or broken. But that was minimal because SHE had gone through all of that alone and the blood… her blood, he passed her the keys. “No, you drive, dollface…”

 

Jon was far from fine, but Maxlyn would not push him to talk to her about what was on his mind.  He left her alone when she needed time and she would give him the same courtesy.  She would not smother him and try to make him feel better.  Sometimes, a person just didn’t WANT to feel better.  Slipping behind the wheel, Maxlyn buckled up, very used to this truck by now, and waited for Jon to do the same before pulling out of there.  She had no idea about her laptop or binders, or anything else Jon had grabbed from the house, refusing to ask him.  Maybe later.  Turning the radio on low to a classic rock station, she kept her eyes forward, not reaching for Jon’s hand because something told her he did not want to be touched right now.  Whatever he wanted from her, she would give, even if that was pure silence the entire ride back to the resort.

 

Or a person just wanted time to think and sort things through. Jon was one of those people, when he was faced with something like this -or as close as bad as this was given this was a first- he wanted time to think and yes, beat himself up mentally. Being coddled and ‘smothered’ would have done jack shit for him besides irritate him until he was done with the beating up process. By the time they made it back to the resort, it was several hours later, and he was done abusing himself. He hadn’t been there, they hadn’t known it was coming, and there was nothing he could about what had happened other then try his best to make sure it didn’t happen again. “I love you.” He said once she had turned off the ignition, shifting in his seat after unbuckling to look at her. “Seeing your blood all over darlin’… knowing and hearing about it and then seeing it…” he shook his head, knowing words weren’t going to convey the emotions it had brought out in him.

 

“My…blood…” Looking down at the mostly healed cuts on her hands, there were more on her arms and knee area.  Most of them were gone, but a few had been tad deeper than others. “I suppose they wouldn’t clean that up, would they?” Maxlyn wasn’t really asking so much as stating a fact, unbuckling her own seatbelt. “I love you too, handsome, so much and I’m just thankful I’m here with you and Blue.  I’m…sorry you had to deal with that alone.” Maybe she should’ve gone with him and immediately dismissed that, already knowing it would make her anxiety skyrocket. “What all did you grab from the house?  Did they…destroy everything?”

 

“They took samples, I guess they have cleaners who come in and clean up after a crime scene…” professional crime scene cleaners, who came and took ‘care’ of it after the place was no longer considered an active zone. “Obviously, all the blood is yours,” he took her hands, studying them thoughtfully, and her arms. “I got your laptop and binders, clothes and our paperwork, I got a few bags of things. Once everything is settled, I’ll get the rest that’s worth saving and sell the property.” Because it was ruined forever, he would never be able to think of that house without seeing her blood, even if it was burnt to the ground and rebuilt.

 

“Jon…” Her voice was choked up upon saying his name, the guilt once again crashing over her.  This was her fault because Ricky had been after her, wanted her dead. “A-All I’ve done since coming into your life is turn it upside down…” Maxlyn sniffled, tears falling down her face and hated that his home in Vegas was ruined.  Las Vegas was ruined for him because of her past that would not stay buried. “Thank you for getting my stuff.” Her GED wasn’t even on the forefront of her mind and maybe one day she’d go back to it, but not right now, not with everything else going on. “I’m sorry for everything…” Pulling away from him, Maxlyn slid out of the truck and let the back latch down to start carrying the bags of items inside the resort. How much more will he be able to handle before telling me to go to hell?  How long until I lose him and I’m alone again?

 

It was a double-edged sword they were sharing right now. Jon was pulling himself out of his own turmoil because he knew seeing him like that would destroy her. Just like she had hidden things from him because she had known it would hurt him. They were trying to keep the other from worrying, from being a cause of distress, that would eventually explode. He followed behind her with the rest of the stuff, a tote with her laptop and school stuff, he had wiped her blood off the tote, gathering she had passed by it on her way to the garage. It had held some shit they had been meaning to put out in the yard, little decorations and stuff. Those decorations were in the kitchen sink now, where he had dumped them. It was quiet as they let themselves into their suite and he set the tote on the floor, studying her posture as she kept her back to him. She looked defeated, slumped over almost, and he walked up behind her, slowly sliding his arms around her waist and lowered his face until it was pressed to her hair.

 

No matter what, Maxlyn had already made her choice on what to do and she would not run away from Jon.  If he wanted her gone, he would have to tell her.  That was the only way he’d ever get rid of her.  Running away wasn’t an option.  He had her heart, her soul, mind, and definitely her body.  All of it was his and it was up to him if he wanted to destroy it all or not.  She caressed Jon’s strong arms, holding him back, comforting him the only way she could. “You know, maybe this is a sign.” Turning, her tear-filled brown eyes gazed up at him and her hand stroked his beard lovingly. “After what happened to both of us in Vegas, maybe…maybe it’s all been a sign we need to leave and start over somewhere fresh together.  And with your job, we can go anywhere we want, Jon.  I know you loved Vegas, but there are other beautiful places to live in this country that are far better.  You love mountains, we could look in Colorado or Wyoming, maybe?  Or we could look at the east coast, maybe one of the Carolinas or up north in Maine, New Hampshire?” They could literally go and live anywhere, not just Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

He just shrugged, not thinking that far ahead and that was one of the major, fundamental differences between them, with living anywhere. She had been so terrified of being poor, of not surviving, that she had gone way past the point of wealthy and only decided to quit long after the fact. Even now, she was frugal with money when she was comfortable. She had never worked for a dream because her life had been one big ass fucking nightmare. She had no idea what it was like, seeing everything you worked for to come crashing down because one person was a gigantic, greedy cunt.

 

Then it clicked that she could have something like that. Maybe she was right, they could build something together. Something that wasn’t just him. “We’ll worry about it another time, for now, I got a place in Cincy, darlin’.”

 

Maybe they would make Cincinnati their new home to plant roots and build their life together.  Anywhere except Chicago and Las Vegas was perfectly fine with Maxlyn.  Those two places were off limits.  Stepping back, she took both of Jon’s hands and guided him to the bed, pressing a finger to his lips when he began protesting. “I’m not trying to sex you up right now, honey.  Just trust me.” Crawling into bed, still clothed, Maxlyn crooked her finger at him and beckoned him to join her.  Jon did and she guided his head down on her chest, his strong arm draped around her waist. “This is all I want to do, just lay in bed with you and stroke your hair.” A nap was in order after that long drive, or possibly just an early bedtime as she leaned her head back against the pillow, caressing Jon’s head, neck and shoulders before moving up again, everything done with a soothing touch.

 

“I should probably go get Blue…” he rumbled after a few moments of just laying there with her, feeling like he also should be the one caressing and loving on her. His poor dog had been left in… the lap of freaking luxury and was probably being spoiled rotten. He had noticed when he had first gone into that doggy hotel / spa thing that those people were genuinely excited about animals, probably made their work a lot easier. He was running his fingers up and down her stomach through her top, relaxing underneath the gentle caresses. “After things settle down and we get settled in Cincy, we can start thinking about what to do, where to go, but until this case is over, I don’t know about starting anything.” Because if shit went south, no doubt that asshole would come right for them, for her, because she had talked to the cops.

 

“I agree and if we end up staying in Cincinnati, I’m perfectly fine with that.  I know you have a soft spot for that city, even with your poor childhood.” It was leaps and bounds better than hers and he had a great relationship with his mother now too. “There’s no rush to do anything and I want Ricky out of our lives forever before we start planting roots, wherever that may be.” Jon nodded against her chest and she smiled, enjoying his hands anywhere on her body.  It felt nice and surprisingly relaxing just to do something this simple, laying in bed talking and caressing each other.  Maxlyn was starting to learn, slowly, that sex wasn’t the only way to please Jon and there were other ways to show how much she loved him…moments like these. “I love you so much, Jon Good, you know that?  And I never, ever want anyone else except you.  If we don’t work out, I’ve already decided I’m becoming a nun or something.”

 

“Yeah, I’ve met you, you’re not cut out to be a nun, darlin’,” no, she also wasn’t cut out for being a prostitute either. This woman deserved the house, the dog, white picket fence and about 2.5 kids. The American dream or whatever the hell it was. Given her habit of caretaker, which she had been doing since the day she met him practically, he figured a few little ones would- WHAT THE FUCK WAS HE THINKING? “We’ll work out, there’s no habit and rosary in your future.” He had to clear his throat to get the gruffness out of it, wondering where all THAT had come from? This woman had clearly corrupted him and stolen his soul.

 

If Jon told her he wanted to have kids, she would’ve agreed and informed him she’d have to get off her birth control.  If he wanted to marry her, she would agree in a heartbeat, refusing to live without him.  Marriage and babies…it was truly the American dream, along with the white picket fence.  It was a life she never thought she’d ever have and one she felt she didn’t deserve. “Good to hear.” She chuckled, leaning down enough to brush her lips against his before he snuggled back against her chest.  They would stay here for a few more days and then hit the road to head to Cincinnati, which would be a 25 hour drive, so they’d have to stop twice, maybe, to rest or to simply take turns driving straight through.  Whichever Jon wanted to do, she was onboard.  With Blue, they’d have to make frequent stops to let him out to go to the bathroom, so hopefully they could make it within two days from here once they headed out. “How about a bath?  We haven’t tried that out yet and we could both use a soak after the day we’ve had, don’t you think?”

 

If he would’ve realized the power he held over this woman and her heart, he would have been a weird mixture of amazed, awed and probably a healthy dash of loathing because he knew he wasn’t worthy of that kind of power. She probably didn’t realize the hold she had on him either, which wasn’t a bad thing because she might be afraid if she realized just how far he was willing to go to protect her, if the law didn’t work out the way it should.

 

“Sounds great, darlin’, want oils and the salts?” Jon was going to make those part of his whirlpool habit, he had really been missing out. He got out of the bed after moving her gently, reaching down to pull her up with him. “I love you,” he brushed his lips against hers. “Maybe we’ll order in tonight from the menu, sound good?”

 

“Yeah, sounds great, handsome.”

 

Chapter 40

 

“R-Ricky…Ricky, please…” Cynthia groaned out when she was kicked in the stomach again, rolling away from him while clutching her stomach, tears welling in her eyes. “I-I told you e-everything…”

 

“You waited too damn long and now the cops are breathing down my fucking neck, cunt!” He hissed out angrily, gritting his teeth, and could not believe Emma’s name had come up during his questioning session at the police department.  They had come into his club with a search warrant, found the safe in his office, and confiscated it, after he refused to crack it open for them. “Because of that bitch, I could go to prison now!”

 

How was this any of her fault? “M-Maybe we should’ve l-left her to d-die in her apartment then…” She groaned again, receiving a lash across her back with his belt. “I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!!”

 

“THAT’S. MY. FUCKING. POINT!” Ricky would blame everyone around him except himself and he knew the plan would have to be escalated with his accomplice sooner rather than later.  Both of their asses were on the line now. “ALL. YOU. WHORES. NEED. TO. LEARN. YOUR. PLACES!!”

 

In his rage, Cynthia wound up losing her life on this night by Ricardo Garcia’s hand, just like Emma Evans had.

 

~!~

 

Over the next few days left at the resort, Maxlyn and Jon took full advantage of all the facilities, including another spa session.  Blue was having the time of his life and they made sure to spend time with him as well, talking him for walks and just enjoying the peaceful serenity this place had.  Maxlyn decided she wouldn’t be studying for her GED again until they were settled in Cincinnati and she was back on the road, on schedule, with Jon.  Right now, she just wanted to enjoy as much time with him alone as possible, especially after her near-death experience.  It was sad to leave the resort, but also Maxlyn knew Jon was ready to go to Cincinnati and try to piece together their lives. 

 

They hadn’t had any kind of sex, not even foreplay, since coming back here, focusing more on healing each other.  Gentle touches, caresses, and soft kisses, along with holding each other in bed at night was the extent of their intimacy.  Maxlyn didn’t know if Jon just needed a break from sex with her or…if it was something more and she didn’t dare ask either, just went along with whatever he wanted to do.   None of his suggestions were met with hesitation, just straight agreement.  Climbing into the truck, Blue was in the back, along with everything they had, and Jon was taking the first round of driving.  Maybe once they got to Cincinnati to his house, he’d feel more prone to having sexy times then.

 

First priority, however, was meeting his mother, Dana Good, and then heading to Jon’s house.

 

It was establishing that their relationship wasn’t JUST sex. He knew it wasn’t, they had bonded in rehab and then afterwards, but when sex had entered the picture, dear God had it ENTERED the picture. He thought she needed to know that he LOVED her and not just what she physically did for him. Also, he was a bit nervous about her meeting his mom and that had led to some awkward thoughts for him.

 

There were parallels in their lives. Both their mothers had sold their bodies to keep a roof over their heads and food on the tables. They both had grown up poor and in shitty conditions. That’s where the path diverged. Jon had done some stupid, shady shit as a teenager because HE had wanted too. She had been raped and forced into selling her body, when she had gone for help, it had escalated. Yeah. His mom was getting Mother of the Year.

 

“You nervous?” He asked the closer they got to Cincinnati, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel in time to the music. He had dozed when she drove the last round, he was a bit wired now, thanks to coffee and being closer to home.

 

“Yeah, not gonna try holding it in either.” They had stopped at a hotel for the night to freshen up and get some sleep before hitting the road again.  Jon didn’t want to at first, but Maxlyn explained the fact she’d be meeting his mother for the first time and didn’t want to have that roadtrip ‘smell’ to her.  He had agreed with her logic and she was thankful for it because a shower felt amazing after being on the road for 14 hours straight.  Since it was still chilly in Cincinnati and winter wasn’t fully gone yet, she had a pair of blue skinny jeans and a long sleeved tye-dye colored top with black knee high boots on.  Her hair was pinned up on either side of her head and she just had some clear gloss on. “What is your mother like, Jon?  Is she…easygoing like you or…more intense?”

 

“Well, she’s a lesbian to start with,” which Jon gave no shits about, he didn’t care who you loved and if it made you happy, more power to you. Also, being a sex worker had soured her on men, along with his own absentee father he was assuming. He was a bit surprised Maxlyn hadn’t taken that route given men could be the ultimate scumbag. “She’s like me, I guess. A little rough around the edges, can be a loner… it might take her a bit to warm up to you but that’s nothing personal, it’s just her way with strangers.” If anyone would understand that, it would be Maxlyn. “Her partner is nice, totally the opposite of Mom.” It made sense, opposites attracted and all that.

 

It took a lot for Maxlyn to warm up to Jon in the rehab center, so she completely understood what he was coming from.  Dana didn’t trust others easily and for good reason.  Maxlyn was the same way and only opened up to those that managed to crumble through the barriers she’d put up.  Jon had demolished all of them, but that didn’t mean they were gone with other people. “Well, if she’s like you, then I’m going to love her no matter what.” Maxlyn grinned, feeling her nerves ease a little. “And just for the record, I don’t have a problem with gay people at all.  What about you, Jon?  Are you nervous about me meeting her – them?”

 

“I’m curious how it will go,” Jon hadn’t told his mother exactly how he had met Maxlyn and he also hadn’t dived into Maxlyn’s past because it wasn’t HIS business to tell other people that stuff. That was up to her and he didn’t blame her a bit if she didn’t want to share. His mother wasn’t proud of what she had done during her younger years to put on the table but she didn’t hide from it either, she was very practical about the matter. It wasn’t like she was going to volunteer a bunch of information to Maxlyn right out the gate. “Mom’s not for everyone.” He had obviously gotten that shit from said mom, because he wasn’t either.

 

“Well, we’re about to find out because we just passed the Welcome to Cincinnati sign.” Damn, the butterflies had erupted as well and Maxlyn glanced in the back at Blue, reaching to scratch him behind his ears. “We’re almost there, boy.  You’ve been so good for us.” He grumbled, licking her hand and she smiled, giving him attention.  She didn’t bother asking Jon if her mother was capable of taking care of their baby boy, trusting his judgment when it came to his mother.

 

About a half an hour later, since traffic was heavy in Cincinnati during the afternoon hours, they finally pulled up to what looked to be a two-story house.  Standard, but nice and there were flowers that lined the outside.  Maxlyn remembered Jon telling her about buying his mother a house with some of the money he made from WWE, wanting her taken care of.  He also had a sister, Jennifer, though Jon didn’t say much about her and Maxlyn didn’t ask, not wanting to get too nosy about his family tree. Here goes everything. Stepping out of the truck with Blue, she walked around to join Jon as they made their way up the sidewalk towards the house.

 

Because he could sometimes be a considerate son, Jon had shot off a quick ‘in town’ text so his mom knew to expect their asses. He was not expecting tea and cookies, though when he let himself in the front door, he spotted his mom down the hallway and in the kitchen. Usually, it was beer and sandwiches, she knew he was a recovered alcoholic so he was curious to see what was about to replace the beer.

 

“Ginger ale,” she said without even looking at him, hearing Blue’s paws on her hardwood floors as he headed straight for the bowl of food and water that had been set out for him. She glanced over her shoulder at her son, blue eyes moving onto the woman with him. “One second, let me finish this.” This being the plate of sandwiches and she turned, depositing it on the table before approaching the pair.

 

Like he said, his mom wasn’t for everyone but he grinned and bent down to hug her. “Ginger ale, huh?”

 

“It looks like beer, it was a mind-eye association thing.”

 

Dana seemed like a very loving mother, in her own way, and the way she held onto Jon made something twinge inside of Maxlyn.  She knew right away what it was.  Jealousy.  Her mother never embraced her that way and only thought of her daughter as a tool, nothing more.  Even though Dana was a former sex worker, she had never subjected Jon to that life and did everything she could to provide for him and his sister. “Thank you.” She appreciated the sentiment and gesture, lifting the glass of ginger ale to her lips to take a small sip.  Blue was too busy going to town on the dog food laid out for him, not a care in the world.

 

“Hello, Maxlyn, I’m Dana,” she extended her hand, her eyes studying the younger woman. Jon had told her outright not to call her Max or Maxi, she hadn’t liked the second one to begin with. The woman wasn’t a feminine hygiene product. “I’ve heard… not much about you.” She wasn’t going to lie. Jon had given her the basics and that was about it. “Ginny is around here somewhere, she’s my partner,” that last bit was for Maxlyn’s benefit. “Are you two hungry?” She gestured to the table, not surprised when Jon automatically went for a sandwich. “Never mind, he’s always hungry, are you hungry, Maxlyn?”

 

“Very nice to meet you, Dana.” Ma’am or Miss Good didn’t sound good in her own head, so there was no way she’d say them out loud.  If Dana wanted to be called something else, Maxlyn was sure the woman would correct her.  She smiled tentatively back at the woman, shaking her hand and nodded, pulling away a few seconds later. “Yeah, they look delicious and it was a long drive.” Jon nodded, already mowing down the first of what would be quite a few for him.  Dana had made at least 12 sandwiches, possibly more.  It was also interesting that Jon hadn’t told his mother much about her, even though she did appreciate it.  Did Dana even know they were living together, or had, in Vegas and planned on doing so in Cincinnati?  What all had Jon told his mother, exactly?  Maxlyn lifted a sandwich to put on her paper plate and took a bite out of it, thankful for the ginger ale.  It would calm her fluttering stomach.

 

Ma’am or Miss Good would have sounded really wrong to Dana so she was glad the young woman took the initiative to call her by her first name. What she knew about Maxlyn was: she lived with Jon and they were in love. There was more, stuff about her personality and what stories Jon felt comfortable enough to share about their day to day, but other then that… not much. Not that she blamed him, Jon had always been on the quiet side about his personal life, she imagined it came from knowing a bit too much about hers when he had been a kid. “We got your house ready for you, it was dusty as anything… on the floor, since you have yet to furnish it beyond a futon and some dishes.”

 

“Oh…. That’s right…” Jon had totally forgotten about that, he had had a habit of living very sparsely, not seeing a reason to deck out places he’d rarely be.

 

“Ginny stocked some stuff to make a woman comfortable,” Dana added, turning her attention to Maxlyn as she sat at the table with them, reaching for a sandwich of her own.

 

“That was very kind of her.  And thank you for helping with getting the house in order.  We’ll sort out the furnishings since we’ll be staying here for a while.” They had talked about it on the drive here and, with Jon’s hectic schedule, there really was no downtime in the near future to find somewhere else to live.  When it came right down to it, Cincinnati would be their new home and Maxlyn didn’t have a problem with it.  Sure, there were Red Rocks or the desert, but Ohio held beauty in its own way.  Jon assured her they wouldn’t stay here forever and eventually move again, but Maxlyn didn’t see it happening any time soon. “This is such a good sandwich.” Maxlyn complimented once she swallowed her next bite, following another sip of ginger ale.  Jon was on his second sandwich already.

 

Jon and Dana were both staring at her in amusement. Jon’s was obvious, tinged with open affection, and Dana was doing her best to NOT look amused. They were basic ham and cheese sandwiches, some had mayo, some had Miracle Whip… Dana had never gone for the fancy shit, she had grown up poor and now she was settled comfortably but she still wasn’t above processed cheese. She wasn’t sure if Maxlyn was being funny, being awkward, or sincere. “Thank you.” She gave Jon a look to quit with the grinning.

 

He couldn’t help it, after everything they had been through this week, that simple little sentence had struck him funny, it was cute. “We’re not decided yet if we’ll be living here, ma.”

 

“Ahhhhh… so, spartan furnishings it is.”

 

“You say that like it’s a bad thing…”

 

“Jon…” Maxlyn setting her sandwich down and folded her arms in front of her chest, raising a slow brow at him. “We talked about this on the drive here, honey…”

 

“I know, but…”

 

“We don’t have time to look for another place and you know it.  Your schedule is so jampacked from now throughout the summer and into the fall.” One bad thing about stretching himself too thin was how busy he was, even though Jon loved what he did for a living. “I know this because I do all of your scheduling and bookings.  You know we’re here for the foreseeable future, so we might as well furnish the place completely.  I’ll chip in, it’ll all work out.” He grumbled something incoherent under his breath, making her smile and Maxlyn reached out to place a hand on his arm, his eyes meeting hers. “You have enough to worry about right now with your career and everything else going on.” Vegas, for example. “Besides, if you ever decide to sell the house, it’ll look better with fully furnished pictures as opposed to being empty.  And we both want to be comfortable there too when we’re off the road.”

 

“Okay, wrong on the looking better furnished, that just tempts people to ask if the furniture is part of the deal and two, I’m not selling the house. It’s my emergency crash pad,”

 

“Damn right it is,” Dana snorted around her bite of food, knowing it wasn’t meant to be like that, an emergency crash pad, but his actual home had been shot the hell up. She had so many questions about that but figured she’d wait. “And nobody is going to ask for your furniture. He’s always been like this, he sees no point in using anything but what’s necessary and what’s necessary is what your woman wants to be comfortable,” that last bit was aimed at her son.

 

Jon was smiling, taking a sip of his ginger ale. He enjoyed heckling his mother.

 

“Jonathan, stop teasing your mother and girlfriend before I pop you upside the head, son.”

 

Maxlyn’s eyes widened at the BURLY woman that came waltzing in, her hair perfectly done, nails, makeup, and she was blinging with all the jewelry on.  Was this…?

 

“Genevieve, baby girl.  Most call me Ginny.  Pleasure to meet you.” The woman extended her hand with a bright, big smile, not believing how tiny this woman was. “Jesus Jonathan, you really like them small, don’tcha, boy?” One thing about Genevieve was she had ZERO filter, Dana had the courtesy to keep MOST of what she thought to herself unlike her wife. “Baby girl, you’re as skinny as a damn toothpick!  Well come here, boy, and gimme some sugar already!” Her personality was ten times as strong as Dana, which was why when Jon said they were polar opposites, he was not joking.

 

Chapter 41

 

Personally, Jon couldn’t understand his mom’s taste in women at ALL because he could not have dealt with Ginny’s very outgoing, affectionate, fucking insane personality around the clock. But… his mom loved the woman. He liked her but he also knew to keep it in small doses or else that might change. “Don’t even-“ Burly as in strong and heavily built, and this woman hoisted his ass out of the chair, his boots pushing against the floor to give her some help since she was old. Ish. “Damn it.”

 

Dana was snickering behind her hand.

 

“Shut up, ma… hi, ma two.”

 

“You’ve lost weight, you’re not so fat in the face anymore.”

 

“I take it back, no hi for you.”

 

Maxlyn was laughing so hard, tears welled up in her eyes and Blue actually came over to nudge her knee, making her scratch him behind his ear. “It’s nice to meet you, Ginny.  Or do you prefer to be called Genevieve?” Jon had told her both names on their journey here.  She blinked when the burly woman came at her, gently pulling her out of her chair to give her a squeeze, lifting her the same way she had Jon.  WOW! “Holy shit, she’s strong!” Damn that blurting antic of hers rearing its ugly head again! “I-I mean…”

 

“Oh don’t you fret none, baby girl!  I didn’t break anythin’, did I?  And call me Ginny or Ma two like Jonny boy does!” Genevieve had set her down, taking her by the hands and gave her a cursory scan, shaking her head. “We need to get some meat on those bones.  You two are stayin’ for dinner and I won’t take no for an answer.  Y’all could use a good hearty meal in ya, I’m sure.” She turned to Jon, winking with a grin. “She is a beauty though, ya done good, son.”

 

Maxlyn blushed furiously, taking a bite out of her sandwich to keep her mouth from running away with her again.

 

“We’re eating sandwiches, we don’t need to think about dinner!” Jon wasn’t doing that one, not on their first day back in the city. Well, his first day back, probably her first time ever. “Seriously though, she didn’t break you, right?”

 

Dana was cracking up with Ginny tugged on Jon’s beard, shaking her head. “Eat your sandwich and shut up, David.”

 

Jon rolled his eyes but obeyed, bending down to feed part of said sandwich to Blue when his little spoiled beggar came to him next. “Yeah, I know buddy, you miss all those people telling you you’re something special.” No dog had ever been more pampered than his this last week, that was for sure.

 

Maxlyn was perfectly fine, besides flaming cheeks, and finished up her sandwich before standing to toss the paper plate in the garbage, cleaning up after herself.  If Jon didn’t want to stay for dinner, she would do whatever he wanted.  Somehow, with his charm and wit, Jon had changed the dinner plans for tomorrow night and Maxlyn was amazed how he handled both of his mothers.  Ginny was boisterous and had a beautiful spirit, though Maxlyn had blushed all over again when asked how Jon managed not to break her in half in the bedroom.  That was all he could take because they left, after bidding the women goodbye, and Blue came with them since he'd only stay with his grandmothers whenever it was time to return to the road.

 

Jon was pretty goddamn private and that did include with both his mom’s. Naturally, Dana got a little more leeway because she was actual mom. Ginny was one of those loud people who meant no harm but was… boisterous. So, he had a limit of how much he could take in one setting without some prior mental preparation. “So, that’s ma and ma two,” he probably should have given more than ‘mom’s opposite’ in the description but he hadn’t been really thinking of it. “She has absolutely no fuckin’ filter, about anything, good or bad.” Which was amusing, when it wasn’t aimed your way.

 

“I noticed.” Maxlyn did not want to start laughing or make light of what happened, just in case Jon didn’t feel the same way. “I can see why you called her Dana’s opposite for sure.  They’re both wonderful mothers and they love you a lot.  I can tell that much.” You’re lucky, Jon.  At least you have loving parents of some kind in your life. “Just so you know, I’m not mad or upset by anything Ginny said or asked.  I know I’m a tiny woman compared to you and maybe she’s right.  Maybe I do need to put some meat on my bones, especially if you’re going to teach me how to defend myself.”

 

Jon glanced over at her, raising a brow. “Darlin’, you don’t need meat to learn how to defend yourself.” She had GAINED weight since leaving the rehab, she was probably at her ideal weight. Why there was a misconception about needing more weight to be able to capably defend yourself was beyond him but there it was. “You learn to use what you got, you’re already lean, wouldn’t be nothing to put a little muscle in those arms.” He knew for a fact she had muscle in those sexy legs of hers, she had done cardio with him a lot. “Also, Ginny’s a big bitch, everyone is small to her, even me.” Which was ridiculous.

 

“Okay fine, I should’ve said muscle instead of meat.” Not only did she have strong legs from working out with Jon, but it was also from years of stripping as well.  Being a stripper required a lot of strength in both legs and arms, Maxlyn was stronger than she realized, just not in the shape she once was.  Some of that muscle mass had gone away while she was in the rehab center, but if she wanted to get it back, it wouldn’t be hard for her to do. “Oh wow, is this it?” Her attention moved to the window, seeing another two-story house in front of them as Jon pulled into the driveway.  It wasn’t nearly as big as his house in Vegas, but looked a lot similar to his Dana and Ginny’s.  This place had stairs unlike the one in Vegas too.  Only difference was it was dark blue while Dana and Ginny’s house was a deep burgundy.  Hopping out of the truck, Maxlyn let Blue jump out as well before heading up to the front with Jon. “This is really nice, Jon.”

 

“It’s pretty basic,” it was just a house, you could ones like this all over the place. This wasn’t something he had built and envisioned, he had just bought the damn thing and then paid insurance, taxes and people to maintain it for him. “They weren’t kidding about it being spartan, darlin’, if we’re gonna live here… we’re going to need to uh, shop.” Fun times, fun times, but that was a problem for another day, it’d work for them tonight. They had a bed, there was stuff for them to eat and use, the dog was handled. Everything else was going to have to wait because that had been a long drive. He began grabbing things from the trunk, grinning when she joined him. “We’ll make it work, dollface.”

 

“Yes we will.” Maxlyn agreed, smiling up at him to let him know she did not mind not having a fully furnished house.  A bed was more than enough for her.  There were times when she didn’t have a warm bed to sleep in when she was younger, while doing what she could to survive.  Together, they hauled things from the truck inside the house, setting it all down in what she assumed was the living room.  Jon had NOT been lying…there was hardly anything here and they’d be living out of their luggage and the bags of stuff they had until it was rectified.  Once everything was inside, Jon grabbed their luggage before leading the way upstairs to where the bedrooms were located.  Another king-sized bed, one dresser, and a small stand with a television on it was what greeted them. “You really enjoy king-sized beds, don’t you, handsome?”

 

“That wasn’t me, where the Hell is my futon?” Jon was looking around a bit curiously, wondering what all his mother had done to his house. This was the problem with giving parent’s a house key, they moved your shit around. Or replaced it. “I loved that futon… you know, it was the first bed I ever bought myself when I- hmm.” Okay, he got why it was gone, it was ancient, probably uncomfortable as anything, and had seen more ass than he would ever admit out loud. “But yeah, king-sized beds are the way to go, darlin’. Not that you’ve complained once.” He wiggled his eyebrows down at her, they had definitely used every inch of every bed they’d share so far.

 

Since Jon was bringing a woman with him, there was no way in hell her son would fit on that futon with another person.  It was a full sized and he was a lot bigger now than he used to be, even after rehab.  Dana had gone out, along with Ginny, and together they bought him a comfortable king-sized bed, sticking with neutral black and grey colors for the bedding.  If he didn’t like it, he could change it as far as they were concerned.

 

“You’re right, I haven’t.” Maxlyn agreed in a soft murmur, her cheeks once again reddening and walked over to the bed, noticing the new linens.  His mothers really did care about him and took care of him, wanting to make him feel as comfortable here as possible.  Opening her luggage, Maxlyn began undressing, pulling her top over her head first to leave her clad in her black cotton bra and tossed it to the side on the floor, knowing laundry would have to be done.  Was there at least a washer and dryer set in this house?

 

“Mmm,” Jon was thinking the same lines, about laundry, also knowing he did not have a washer and a dryer because he had never been here for any length of time and he had usually just hauled his ass down to the nearest laundromat and called it a day. She wasn’t going to want to do that more than once or twice. “Tomorrow, we’ll go hit a Home Depot or Lowe’s, a Wal*Mart, anywhere you want and we’ll get whatever you want for the house. We should probably think about making a list.” Which would require him venturing back downstairs to view the cupboards and seeing what was in stock. “I’m glad they kicked up the heat and did the winterizing thing, this place would be ice if they hadn’t.” He owed his mom’s big time.

 

“Yeah, I think Ginny said they stocked the fridge and cabinets too, so we don’t have to worry about food unless we want something specific.” Maxlyn slid her boots off and jeans, setting the boots next to the bed out of the way and tossed the jeans into the growing pile.  Washer/dryer was needed for sure and she didn’t even see what he had in the kitchen.  They’d be fine.  It would be a lot to fill this place, but they weren’t hurting for money either.  Keeping her back to him, the bra went next and then she took the clips out of her hair, letting it pool down around her shoulders and shoulder blades, running her fingers through it.  Stifling a yawn, she grabbed one of the cotton nightgowns from her luggage that was clean and slipped it on over her head, covering the bare skin once again.

 

“Yeah, we’re going to want to see what they put in there…” he ate a little healthier than his mom did and had learned there were definite differences in brands, having a little money had made him somewhat uppity apparently. He was now stripping having already pulled a pair of sleep pants from his bag, contemplating her thoughtfully. This could be the start-over he knew they needed, even though it wouldn’t be the fresh start either of them wanted until the situation with Garcia and Las Vegas was resolved. “Anything you want to do, want to change, darlin’, let me know and we’ll make it happen, this is OUR home.”

 

“Okay.” Suggestion was about the only thing Jon would get from her.  Maxlyn did not feel right changing anything about this house and would just go along with whatever he wanted to buy for it.  More than likely, he’d only for the essentials and stop there.  There was a lot of potential with this house, but deep down, she knew what the problem really was.  It wasn’t Vegas.  It wasn’t HIS house that he worked hard for and had built. “We’ll need to get some Neapolitan ice cream.” That popped out of her mouth randomly and they both looked at each other, remembering the last time they shared a carton of it. “Or maybe our own cartons since you’re a chocolate thief.”

 

She didn’t sound very enthused which made his own face fall for a moment. Earlier at his mom’s, she had made the comment about it being made home, now… she didn’t seem on board. Maybe because it wasn’t the same as the place in Vegas, the two houses could not be more different. This was definitely the ‘spare’, something he hadn’t been invested in before, not like the other. “Maybe we should just get chocolate ice cream?” he laughed, pulling back the blankets on the bed and turning down the sheet. “Just skip the Neapolitan drama?” When she shook her head no, he tugged her into the bed. “You know why? Because you think it’s cute when I steal your ice cream.”

 

“It’s tradition.” She argued promptly, remembering the first time they shared ice cream together.  Jon had come to her bedroom door with two bowls and asked her to join him for a treat.  That was also the first time she watched Dynamite with him.  What woman in their right mind would turn down a specimen like him to share ice cream?  Jon had done the same thing as every other time and stole some of her chocolate ice cream with a cheeky grin on his face. “And yes, I think it’s adorable when you THINK you’re getting away with stealing my chocolate ice cream.” Caressing his bearded face with her hand, Maxlyn leaned forward to softly kiss him and felt his arm encircle her waist to pull her closer to him.  She had no idea what made her say the next thing that popped in her head, chalking it up to her blurting ways. “Ice cream can be used in other ways too between us, you know.”

 

“Wait, seriously?” He had turned her into a pussy platter, once, and never with anything that would MELT because he had been told that was very, very bad for a woman’s uh…. Natural chemistry or something. Something involving the sugar and yeasts and he had noped out of that pretty damn quick. His eyes narrowed at her, wondering if that shit were true or if he had been denied an experience because someone didn’t want to deal with sticky sheets. “We are talking about the same thing, right?” The way she was trying not to smile made him raise a brow. “Woman…”

 

“Well, what do you think we’re talking about?” Maxlyn could not help herself and slid her fingers through that delicious chest hair, sliding her fingers and nails down the length of his body. “Because what I’M talking about is taking some of that chocolate ice cream, smearing it down your body all the way to your smooth cock, and licking it away with my tongue all the way back up again.” Lowering her head, she pushed Jon back a little to lean on his elbows and used her tongue the way she wanted to, imagining that ice cream on his skin. “It would be the most delicious dessert I’ve ever had in my life…and creamy too.  In fact, I think I want some of that cream now, honey…”

 

Jon was UP and OUT of the bed, taking her by the hand and sweeping her off with him, right down the stairs to his rarely used because he was never here, kitchen. “Ice cream, ice cream… what the shit is a Hungry Man?” His mom had put a LOT of TV dinners in here, he remembered eating that shit a lot as a kid, but it was always from a red box. “No ice cream…” but there were ice cubes, that looked kind of weird and he tossed those in the sink. “Wanna make a quick trip down to the corner store?” There was probably something delicious down there and he could just envision her delicious tits covered in whipped cream and topped with cherries.

 

Maxlyn was laughing so hard, she couldn’t breathe and had to hold onto the counter, holding her stomach.  He looked like an excited kid that had just hit the jackpot! “Oh…oh my ribs…” They were in their pajamas and she was about to give him a blowjob, only for him to drag them down here to see if they did indeed have ice cream. “Tell you what, handsome,” She finally spoke, after getting oxygen back into her lungs and wiped some tears away from beneath her eyes. “How about YOU go and get some deliciousness at the store and when you get back, I’ll be waiting for you in that big bed?” Naked at that. “My requests are chocolate ice cream and sprayable whipped cream.  Get whatever else you want to coat me in.” Making a dessert out of each other sounded like a fantastic idea!

 

And it was right back up the stairs just so he could pull on some damn clothes. Jon had no idea what the hell he was doing, acting like some young idiot about to get his dick wet for the first time but… since the other day in Vegas when he had gone out to his house and she had given her statement not once but twice… things had seemed almost tense. Now, it wasn’t so much, there was almost hope, like they could start over and leave the bad shit behind them. “I’ll be right back, darlin’, lock the door.” Obviously, he had the key and he was laughing when she began giggling at him, bending down to capture her lips in a fiery kiss.

 

“Mmm, hurry back, I want my dessert, honey.” Out the door he went and Maxlyn moved to stare out the window, making sure he made it to the vehicle.  Turning her gaze away from the window, Maxlyn looked around the bedroom they were in and then opened the window, poking her head out of it.  There was a roof here she could run across if she ever needed to make an escape.  Once again, just like she did in Vegas, her brain was mapping out the quickest ways of escape because they could very well be attacked here too.  As long as Ricky was out there and not behind bars, Maxlyn would not be able to fully relax and enjoy her life.  For the moment, however, she wanted to enjoy her man making a full dessert out of her and removed her nightgown and panties, climbing into bed to wait for him.  The comforter was taken off, so it didn’t get ruined, but the sheets were an entirely different story.

 

Maxlyn got plenty of time to plan her escape routes throughout the house because the corner store was now a liquor store and Jon wasn’t even going to attempt going into the damn thing, he knew better. So, he used GPS to find the closest Walmart and it was off to the races there. Her ice cream, chocolate, sprayable whipped cream in sugar free since that was now a thing, cherries and a few other edibles. He was SO grateful for the self-checkouts, it saved him from having to get screwed up looks from a cashier. Not that the person beside him didn’t raise an eyebrow or two. “Fuck,” he grunted when he pulled up into the driveway and glanced at the time. He’d been gone WAY longer than he had thought, what should have been a ten-minute trip TOPS, had been… more. “Damn it…”

 

Naturally, by the time he had gotten inside and upstairs, he was not surprised in the slightest to find her asleep on top of the comforter. She was even naked, obviously having fallen asleep while waiting on him to get in. He gently deposited the items on the end of the bed, studying her thoughtfully. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful, he probably should have let her sleep.

 

About four or five minutes later, she was beginning to stir, probably in response to him using that sprayable whipped cream on her inner thighs.

 

~!~

 

“How in god’s name did you get chocolate ice cream in my hair?” Maxlyn laughed several hours later, both of them in the shower to clean themselves off.  Making each other dessert was a great idea, indeed, and she was happy Jon had woken her up for it.  That had possibly been one of the greatest sexual experiences of her life.  Just another incredible memory to lock away in her mind when it came to Jon.  She definitely gave as well as she received, refusing to leave her man hanging.  Just as she described that ice cream trail had gone directly down his toned stomach to his dick and she had covered it with whipped cream, making the blowjob extra creamy.  They hadn’t had penetrative sex, sticking with foreplay, and she was perfectly fine with it.  Now they would have to get new sheets for the bed and toss the other ones away, at least they still had the comforter to sleep on.  Jon had an extra set of sheets in the closet too, which is all they needed to cover up with. “Not that I’m complaining, I'd gladly have the entire carton in my hair to be able to do that again with you.”

 

“Well, maybe the calcium in it is good for your hair or something,” he laughed, busy getting everything sticky out of the crack of his ass and he KNEW how it had gotten there. Melted stuff thanks to the furnace and his body temperature skyrocketing thanks to this little minx, that’s how, it had all melted what she hadn’t gotten and slid down into other areas. Totally worth it. “We’re going to have to do wash tomorrow for sure, I don’t trust Blue to stay the hell out.” Because his spoiled dog had learned the delights of doggy ice cream and some shit called puppercinos thanks to that spa. Jon had been taking the food stuffs downstairs, smelling like sweets and ice cream, Blue had practically come running.

 

“We’ll get it all taken care of and we’ll just keep the door closed to the bedroom.  He won’t be able to get in until we can get a washing machine and dryer.” That had to be the first priority on the list.  Maxlyn finished washing up, rinsing her hair out a second time and stepped out to give Jon the shower to himself for a few minutes.  Towel-drying herself off, she slipped back into her panties and nightgown, brushed her teeth and hair, and then headed into the bedroom to start peeling off the chocolate, whipped cream, strawberry filled sheets off the bed.  Luckily, it didn’t leak through to the mattress, so that was a small blessing.  Jon was busy doing his own thing in the bathroom while she made the bed, balling up the sheets to toss them in the corner, away from their clothes.  By the time Jon was finished, the bed was completely made and Maxlyn was in it with fresh sheets from the closet, immediately snuggling up to him the moment he slid into bed with her. “Mmm goodnight, handsome, I love you.”

 

Jon had taken a moment to order something off the Internet, something he had at the time been unfortunate enough to hear about via the locker room. Sheets made for sex, waterproof sheets, after tonight, he decided those were a freaking requirement. “I love you too,” he murmured, draping his arm around her when she moved so her head was on his chest. Even without penetration, that had been some pretty intense, delicious sex. He had scoured his mouth when brushing his teeth, that had been sweet and sugary, he was looking forward to doing it again. He smiled slightly, brushing his nose against her hair. “I can almost smell the chocolate…” He could both hear and feel her chuckling, even as he was closing his eyes.

 

Chapter 42

 

“Do it when they get back on the road.  I want it done, do you hear me?!  I’m fucked here, I can’t join you to get the job done!”

 

The man scrubbed a hand down his face, heaving a sigh.  Did he really want to get involved in this any more than he already had?  Granted, Ricky was a good friend of his, but he had a career to think about, his future, and this man wanted him to put it all on the line because a former slut of his couldn’t keep her mouth shut.  A slut he had taken great, sick pleasure in having repeatedly for 24 hours. “I don’t think so.”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

“Sorry Ricky, you know I’ve got a lot of love for you, but my career is more important than your vendetta.  If you want it handled, you do it on your own.  I’d just leave her alone if I were you before you really do end up in prison.” An evil smirk curved his lips as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “And if you breathe a word of my involvement, I’ll make sure the final nail is put in your coffin.”

 

“You MOTHER…”

 

“Not nice to talk about someone’s mother now.  We’ll talk soon.” Or never, he hung up before Ricky could start ranting at him and tossed the phone to the side, contemplating what to do about this.  Did Racel – no…did Maxlyn remember him at all?  Did she remember what he did to her for those 24 hours and how good it was?  He’d never forgotten about being between her delicious thighs, pounding her and hearing her cry and whimper out while she was bound down on the bed.  Maybe they could have another round together, without the binding, without the drugs...the only problem was her relationship with Jon Moxley.  It would take some thought, but he planned on still going after Maxlyn, just not the way Ricky wanted him to.

 

~!~

 

Due to the pandemic, even with the mandates being lowered and almost non-existent, it would still take time to have everything they wanted delivered to the house.  That left Jon and Maxlyn with only one option and that was using his mothers’ house to do laundry.  Along with that came dinners over the past several days.  They were heading back on the road in the morning to resume Jon’s schedule and hadn’t heard anything from Lieutenant Evans regarding Ricky and the investigation.  Maxlyn wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, trying to push it out of her mind for the time being because they had enough on their plate with returning to the road.

 

Unbeknownst to Jon, Dana noticed a pattern with Maxlyn and she wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing.  Whatever her son wanted to do, Maxlyn agreed with.  No hesitation, no second thoughts.  There was one instance where Dana KNEW Jon was wrong in what he was doing with the laundry and Maxlyn nearly let him, which would have destroyed the clothes.  She had stepped in, explaining calmly what needed to be done and could clearly see the look of knowledge on Maxlyn’s face.  Yet she didn’t say a word to Jon.  That wasn’t the only thing either.  Jon had chosen what to have for dinner when asked and Maxlyn simply agreed, but later that night, Dana noticed she hadn’t ate some of the dinner made.  She didn’t comment on it, just watched, observed, and wondered just what kind of background this woman had to act the way she did with Jon.  Ginny noticed it too and surprisingly, she hadn’t said anything, deciding to stay out of it and hopefully, their son would cotton onto what was happening with Maxlyn sooner or later.

 

Probably not. A grown man who had spent all his adult life on the road and still didn’t know how to do his laundry wasn’t cottoning onto anything. Jon had always prided himself, since meeting her, on being fairly attentive to Maxlyn and her feelings, her moods. He had read her so easily when they had first met. Now, familiarity bred stupidity in this case opposed to contempt.

 

“I don’t know which one,” why was this so damn hard, picking out shit for this house? Jon groaned, shaking his head as he looked away from Maxlyn’s laptop. With the house in Vegas, he had known what he wanted for everything, he kept trying to envision it with this place and he kept drawing a blank. He moved from the table where his mother had been peeling potatoes while they browsed to the floor to play with Blue, knowing he was heading back on the road tomorrow and they had gotten a lot of the major stuff handled and either in or on the way, but everything else, nada.

 

“Microfiber is the way to go, I already told you that and you seem to think leather is better.  It’s not, especially in the Midwest when it gets to be 100 degrees outside with humidity and your ass is sticking to the leather, sweat and shit.” Dana folded her arms in front of her chest, shaking her head when Jon just tossed his hands up in the air.

 

It wasn’t that Jon didn’t know how to do laundry, but when it came to his whites…they weren’t so white anymore due to not using bleach.  He was not a fan of it, but his mother was and told him to put bleach in his clothes.  He had dumped WAY too much of it into the washing machine, not measuring it properly like laundry soap, and that was when Dana had stepped in to show him how it was done.  Maxlyn had also known it was too much bleach, but her mindset refused to let her argue with Jon, especially since he’d been very irritable the last few days while furnishing the house.

 

“Maxlyn, what do you think?” Dana looked pointedly at the woman, who was busy dicing up carrots and celery.

 

Jon looked up at her and her stomach immediately twisted, her brain informing her not to disagree with him. “Leather is fine with me.”

 

“But microfiber is easier to clean and like I said, do you really want your ass sweating on leather in your house?”

 

“Well…no, but…” Maxlyn knew Dana was right and that was the problem here.  Leather furniture wasn’t a good idea or very comfortable either, but since it was what Jon wanted… “Whatever Jon wants I’m fine with.  It’s just a couch, after all.  If he wants leather, then it’ll be leather.” And it’s his house, not mine.

 

Jon liked the smell of leather and in his still a poor boy sometimes mind, he had always equated leather with top of the line comfort. Maxlyn had been adamant about the house and not needing to look for a new home given his schedule, Jon wasn’t reading into her deferring on everything else to him, it never even occurred to him that she was doing it.

 

“You got any opinions at all, honey?” Ginny asked, once she was done checking on whatever it was Dana had popped into the oven. “Smells delicious,” she dropped a kiss on Dana’s head before joining in at the table, helping to peel the potatoes while staring pointedly at Maxlyn. “You’re not planning on living with him or something?”

 

“W-What?” Big Momma Ginny was staring a hole through her and Maxlyn could feel her anxiety rising with this conversation. Holy hell breathe, Max, just breathe… “Of course I am, I love your son and I’d never leave him.  He’s the love of my life.” They still had no idea how her and Jon met, came to be, and something told Maxlyn that bothered Dana a great deal. “I honestly don’t mind the leather furniture.”

 

“But is it something YOU want?”

 

It doesn’t matter what I want, it’s his house, lady! “Sure, yeah, and he likes it the best and I want him to be comfortable…” That was not the right thing to say and she knew it, her eyes lowering.

 

“But does it make YOU feel comfortable too or would you prefer something else?”

 

“T-That’s not…” Maxlyn was getting frustrated and slowly stood up from the table, needing a minute to herself. “If he wants leather furniture, then that’s what we’re getting.  Excuse me.” Walking out of the kitchen, she did not stop even when she was outside, taking in a big gulp of fresh air that wasn’t stifling with judgment. “Shit…” What if Jon was upset with her for walking out on his mothers like that?

 

Jon wasn’t upset, Jon was confused and he had pulled himself off the floor and away from Blue to stare at Ginny. Like he had said before, he liked Ginny but it had to be in small doses. Given they were around his mom’s a lot lately, he had been learning to deal with it and today was the first in a few that she had irked him. “What the hell was that about?”

 

Dana sighed, setting down her knife and reached for the hand towel to wipe the starchy wetness from her hands. “Jon, you really are blind as a bat sometimes, honey.”

 

“Don’t insult bats.” Ginny said dryly, raising an eyebrow at her son-in-law. “How’d you two even meet?”

 

What the shit was he missing? “I need to go make sure she’s okay. Leave her the hell alone.” He was up and out, following Maxlyn outside.

 

She wasn’t there.  Maxlyn had started walking back to the house, just needing sometime to herself and to get her anxiety under control.  Even with the medication, if she was pushed too hard too fast, it didn’t do anything to help.  She knew Jon’s mothers were only trying to look out for him, but being asked so blatantly if she planned on not living with him…it struck something inside of her.  Was it really so wrong to go along with whatever Jon wanted to do, to buy, to have?  It was his house, not hers!  Maxlyn had zero claim on anything Jon had and she didn’t want anything except him.  Sitting on the front porch steps, her eyes snapped up from staring at her lap at the sight of Jon jogging towards her.  Tears poured down her cheeks as she bolted off the porch and right into his arms, wrapping hers tight around his neck. “I-I’m sorry…” She stammered out in a whisper near his ear, hating that she had run out of his mothers house.  What they must think of her now… I’m such a fucking mess, why does he put up with me?!

 

That was the thing, she had offered to help buy things to furnish the house that she considered to be HIS. She had a say! Why pay for things if you didn’t consider it to be yours? Why invest? Dana had had to stop Ginny from going balls to the walls on questions but she also knew some things Ginny was going to open her mouth about, such as Maxlyn so blatantly deferring to Jon.

 

“Darlin’, why are you sorry?” She was crying, trembling in his arms, and he was so lost he didn’t think he’d figure things out without a map and written directions. Was this really all over a couch? They were doing microfiber, anything that made her happy because seeing her tears broke his heart.

 

“B-Because I r-ran out of there.” Sniffling, Maxlyn pulled back to stare into his eyes and pressed her forehead to his, letting out a few shaky breaths to calm her racing heart. “T-They wouldn’t stop.  I told them leather was fine and…and then Ginny asked if…if I didn’t plan on living here with you…” She felt Jon tense a little and stroked the back of his neck with her fingers, comforting him the same way he was with her. “S-She made my anxiety go up…and I had a panic attack.  T-They seem to think I don’t have an opinion on stuff and I do.  But I know how much you love leather furniture and I DON’T mind it.  I really don’t, Jon.  Just because I agree with you I suddenly don’t have an opinion.  It’s bullshit.” She gave her opinion on a lot of things, she just didn’t go against anything Jon wanted and that was the underlying problem.

 

“I would’ve too, I told you Ginny could be a lot,” actually, he had told her Ginny could be a big bitch, which it seemed Maxlyn had sort of just experienced first hand and he definitely did NOT appreciate the older woman making his woman feel like shit. He fell quiet, just holding her and stroking her hair as he considered what she had just said. She did agree with him a lot and for the most part, he assumed it was because she had very little experience in a lot of stuff that for most people was pretty basic. It wasn’t like she didn’t have her own sense of taste and style, she did, she picked out her own damn clothes, her hair color and shit. Frowning, he planted a kiss on her temple, wondering if he was really missing something here. “I know, darlin’, I know…”

 

“I really hate asking this, but…can we just go get something quick to eat and stop there to grab our clothes, so we can pack up for tomorrow?” It was still somewhat early, but Maxlyn did not want to spend any more time with his mothers, not today.  Her anxiety was sky high and she was trying her best not to let it get the best of her.  Jon nodded, making her breathe a little easier, and felt her feet touch the sidewalk, slowly releasing him to wipe her tears away. “Sorry, I’m such a mess…” Part of it was exactly what Jon assumed, but the bigger part was the way Maxlyn’s mind was programmed and only time would change that kind of mindset. “What kind of takeout do you want to get?” They’d have to sit in the bedroom eating since they hadn’t ordered a couch yet.

 

See, she had an opinion, she made decisions, Ginny was just being an ass and Jon would have words with his mom in private eventually. Obviously, it would have to wait a bit since they were leaving out tomorrow for the road, there was nothing to be done about that though, he had taken plenty of time off since the shit with Las Vegas. “I don’t care, what sounds good to you?” He asked right back, raising an eyebrow down at her. It was early enough where food wasn’t exactly on his mind but anything she wanted, they’d have, especially since Ginny had stressed the hell out of her and triggered her anxiety.

 

As long as Jon didn’t say what he wanted, she had no problem answering that and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Chinese.  Chinese sounds really good for some reason.” She chuckled when he saluted her, announcing in a goofy way with his balled fists on his hips and chest puffed out they were having Chinese.  It made her laugh harder and she hugged him around the waist, kissing his t-shirt covered chest. “After we eat, we can order that leather sectional, so that way it’s out of our hair.” His mothers were going to be here to make sure the deliveries came while they were gone on the road for the next few weeks.  Blue would be staying with them, obviously, so they didn’t have to worry about baby boy either. “Don’t be too hard on Ginny.  They’re helping us out a lot and I don’t want you to fight with your Moms because of me.  Everything is fine, okay?”

 

“Don’t worry about them,” because he wasn’t going to lie and tell her ‘okay’ and ‘I won’t’ when he would, indeed, be doing it and no, it wasn’t okay. “You don’t like the leather sectional, pick something else. I don’t really care anymore, darlin’,” Jon was racking his brain, trying to remember which Chinese place had the best food and least chance of giving them food poisoning. “It’s just a couch and this isn’t Vegas, this is a start-over, so it should be OUR house. Unless you’ve got shitty taste in furnishings, worse than mine, and you’ve been hiding it from me.” That was a joke, though it would explain why she didn’t have much in the way of opinions and shit on that kind of thing. He had yet to realize it went PAST the furniture.

 

This man was too generous and thoughtful for his own good. “How did I get so lucky to have you?” He had said that to her many times and Maxlyn was finally reciprocating it, moaning as soon as his mouth met hers in a rather intense, passionate kiss.  This would not be the first thing Jon ordered her to make a decision on in the future. “I don’t want to make all the decisions, Jon.  I want to make them WITH you.  If you say this is OUR home, then we should decorate it the way WE want.  Not just you and not just me, both of us together.  Just because I like something doesn’t mean you have to and vise versa.” Although, anything he picked out she would automatically agree with, even if she didn’t like it.  That was very contradictory on her part. “How about this?  After dinner, we’ll lay in bed together with my laptop and we’ll choose something we BOTH like.” Without realizing it, Jon had chosen every single thing so far for the house that he liked and she’d agreed with all of it.  He really did not have bad taste and almost all of it Maxlyn would’ve gotten herself.

 

Jon shook his head, he had heard that before from her, on their way into town actually when they had been talking about the house. She had been the one to insist that they didn’t need another when he already owned that was perfectly acceptable for their needs. “Nah, I’ll handle the garage and the bedroom.” He winked at her, wondering what she’d think if he had a sex swing and some mirrors installed. No, probably a bad idea given her prior occupation, she would likely think he was trying to turn her back into a whore. Which he wasn’t, he would never ask that of her, but no man was going to turn a woman who acted like a slut in the bedroom either. “You can sort the kitchen and living room.” He was actually curious how that’d work, what she’d do, if anything.

 

Chapter 43

 

Jon had no idea how twisted her stomach became at the thought of having complete control over two major areas of the house.  His house.  No…he said it was their house and she didn’t realize it, but this was a test from Jon.  He wanted to see what she would do, how she would handle this. “The garage and bedroom, huh?  A little suggestion about the bedroom then, I wouldn’t mind spicing things up between us and maybe doing a little dance for you.” If he wanted to install a pole or anything of that nature, she was all for it because he was the ONLY man she would ever be with. “Use your imagination, honey.  And don’t worry, I got the living room and kitchen handled.  You won’t be disappointed.” God I fucking hope not!

 

Admittedly, it was a bit of a test, but not out of cruelty or spite. More like curiosity and a burning desire to shove the ‘don’t you have any opinions of your own, honey’ shit right down Ginny’s throat. THAT was maybe cruelty and spite but he didn’t like anyone making his woman cry, hurting Maxlyn, it did some pretty terrible things to him. She was giving him permission to spice up their room, almost like she had read his mind or something. Well, he was a man, and she had a bit of experience there, experience she would ONLY be using with him. “Okay, darlin’, now that we got that sorted, let’s go grab the laundry and get that Chinese.” He felt much better now, like they were on the same page and he kissed the tracks left behind by her tears. “You okay?”

 

NO!  NO I AM NOT OKAY!  YOU’RE INSANE FOR MAKING ME DO THE KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM WITH NO INPUT FROM YOU!!  DAMN IT!! “Yes, I’m okay.” Maxlyn had kept all of that bottled up and leaned up to softly brush her lips against his, touching his bearded face with her hand.  That simple kiss had ignited something inside each of them and Maxlyn deepened it, tasting him.  Ever since they made desserts out of each other, the sex had dwindled again simply from how busy they’d been. “Tonight, after we’re done with everything, I need you, Jon.  It’s been too long since we made love and I miss it, I miss being with you…” Her brown eyes had darkened to near smoldering black, a burnt brown, and Maxlyn nipped his bottom lip for good measure. “I want you now, but we have things to do, so I can wait until later tonight.”

 

“Mmm, it’s a date,” it had been awhile since they had properly made love, fucked each other raw, whatever you wanted to call it. Granted, the other night with the desserts and stuff had left them both satisfied, but it wasn’t the same. It was like… a lot of foreplay and sex without the actual physical aspect they both needed and craved. “All right, vixen, let’s get our shit done so we can get back here and focus on us.” He ran his hands down her arms until they were on her hips, tugging her body right back into his. “You don’t have to go into ma’s with me.”

 

His truck was left there because they had both walked here, or rather he had chased her by jogging.  It wasn’t far away, thankfully, so Maxlyn didn’t feel too guilty about it.  Her mouth captured his again, this time pressing herself fully into him and they only broke when both needed oxygen back in their lungs.  Would that ever go away?  Just kissing him made her breathless and her toes curl, her breathing ragged. “I’ll stay here.  G-Go get the truck and come back here.  We’ll order a pizza, screw the Chinese.” Pizza sounded good, quick, and she could order it so it’d be here by the time he returned. “Go, before I drag you into the house and say screw everything else.” Forcing herself back from him, those swirling cerulean eyes devoured her and she gestured him to go before heading back into the house herself, immediately heading for the shower.  It was time to cleanse and make sure she was smooth in every way possible, including below the belt, something Jon enjoyed ever since she’d been waxed.

 

~!~

 

Returning to his mother’s wasn’t high on his list of shit to do but their laundry was there along with his truck. He let himself in the back door, grimacing when Ginny instantly gave him a look. “Nuh uh, no questions.” Because her fat mouth was what sent Maxlyn running out of here like her ass was on fire.

 

“She okay?” Dana asked when Ginny for once decided to bite her tongue, they were now in the process of wrapping up dinner, which was too much for just the pair of them but it was obvious Jon and Maxlyn wouldn’t be joining them.

 

“She’s fine, she was overwhelmed.” He planted a kiss on both their cheeks to show there were no hard feelings before heading to get their laundry. He wasn’t staying to chat, explain shit, none of it. He needed to get home to his woman, eat dinner, shower and handle some grooming and then fuck her until today’s awkwardness was a distant memory.

 

“Jonny,” Ginny stopped him from heading for the laundry, placing a hand on his shoulder and true concern shined in her eyes. “I’m sorry I pushed her too hard.  We…know something happened to her.  It’s obvious.  And we’re not asking about it either.” Some things were just better left not knowing and she knew that.  Ginny had a bad childhood just like Dana and Jon had, doing what she had to do for survival.  Born and bred Ohio too. “We were just trying to get her to make a choice for herself, that didn’t revolve around you.  She does that a lot and we’ve noticed it.”

 

“We’re just concerned, my boy, that’s all.” Dana chimed in, reaching out to touch the side of his bearded face tenderly. “She’s a good woman and loves you, but she also needs to be her own person.  Whatever she’s gone through in the past, it still haunts her.” Jon explained briefly what they agreed on and how she would take care of the living room and kitchen, keeping his voice low and firm. “That’s perfect.  I don’t know why we were so worried about you when we know you have a good head on your shoulders.  We love Maxlyn, we don’t want you to think that way.”

 

“Right.  It just worried us how every single time we’ve asked her something, you’re always involved in any decision and she agrees with anything you want.” Ginny was pretty sure if the woman was told to jump off a bridge by Jon, she’d do it without thinking twice.  That kind of mindset was frightening for a woman to have. “If you guys need anything, you know we’re here for you.  And tell her I’m sorry for being too pushy and…intense.  It won’t happen again.”

 

“Yeah, that’s a lie,” but it was without any bite and Ginny knew it. She was just that kind of person, that kind of woman, with a big, fat mouth and no filter. That did not stop Dana from popping him upside his head, even though she was shorter than him. “Sorry, ma’am.”

 

“Don’t you ma’am me.”

 

“No, ma’am.”

 

“Out, get out.”

 

Jon balanced their two baskets of laundry, laughing as he ‘got out’. He wasn’t planning on bringing Maxlyn over for awhile, knowing she would probably feel awkward and he didn’t want that with her. However, his mother’s had given him some serious food for thought and he took the long way back home, around a few blocks, giving himself some time to think about what they had said about Maxlyn’s decisions revolving around him and what he wanted. Was that true?

 

Well, there was only one way to find out, he supposed.

 

~!~

 

Cynthia was dead.

 

It took several minutes for Maxlyn to let that sink into her brain, trying to wrap her mind around what she’d been told by Lieutenant Evans.  He promised to call if anything popped up regarding the investigation with Ricky and this was it.  It’d been a week since she joined the road with Jon and most of her time was spent in the hotel rooms, for one specific reason.  Her GED was still needed to get a decent paying job and Maxlyn didn’t want to distract Jon at the arenas.  He assured her it was fine if she joined him, but something told her not to go with him.  It was a gut feeling and she used studying as an excuse not to go to the shows with him most of the time.  The hotels weren’t that bad and she also ventured out to get a cup of coffee or something to eat that wasn’t room service too. 

 

Currently, she was in the hotel room by herself, in Philadelphia, staring at her cell phone perplexed.  Maxlyn hadn’t been that close with Cynthia, but the fact the woman was found the same way, around the same amount of time, as Emma had…Ricky killed her.  There wasn’t a doubt in her mind about that.  Needing to get out of the hotel room for some fresh air, just to take a walk, Maxlyn slipped her sandals on, wearing a pair of blue jean shorts and an orange racerback top, her red hair pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head with orange large hoops in her ears.  They were her favorite kind of earring and Jon had surprised her by getting her them in almost every color, finding them in bulk on Amazon.

 

Grabbing her purse with keycard and wallet, Maxlyn headed out and decided Starbucks was in order, taking the elevator instead of the stairs.  Suddenly, a hand shot out to stop the doors from closing all the way and every hair on the back of Maxlyn’s neck and arms shot up at the sight of MJF joining her.  Shit, that feeling was back, that chill down her back and Maxlyn shouldered her purse, avoiding eye contact with him as the doors slid shut.

 

It was a little weird seeing Moxley’s woman without Mox. He knew what had happened in Vegas, they all did, the man’s house had been shot up. Official word seemed to be something about targeting the house, probably because of the celebrity status, who knew. The Vegas police were trying to keep things quiet as they ‘investigated’. “Maxlyn, right?” Apparently, she didn’t like being called Maxi, it equated her to a feminine hygiene product. She should remember him, he had intervened on her behalf when a security guard tried tossing her ass out of the building. He extended his hand anyway. “Maxwell, just in case you forget.” Which, she hadn’t, he was unforgettable.

 

Just shake his hand and don’t be rude. “I remember you, Maxwell.  I never forget someone who’s helped me out.” Smiling tentatively, Maxlyn slid her hand into his and that chill went right up her arm, making her sick to her stomach.  Why did she have this feeling every time this particular man was around her?  No matter how hard she tried, Maxlyn could not pinpoint ever meeting this man and it unnerved her.  She wanted to ask him if they knew each other or had met somewhere other than in AEW, but…instead, she just pulled her hand away, or tried to, but Maxwell did not let her.  Fighting him off was not an option, it would just lead to probably being harmed, so she just stood there stoic, her heart pounding a furious tattoo in her chest. Please let go of my hand. This man’s touch was making her nauseous and Maxlyn let out a silent breath of relief when he finally did, allowing her to step back.

 

She had told Jon that she didn’t like him, that she got a disturbing feeling from MJF, that he creeped her out. Jon had told her to listen to it, that was your instincts at work. Jon had also insinuated the reason his ‘character’ was so legit was because Maxwell was a jackass both on and off the screen.

 

Maxwell’s smile never faded as he took her in, noting that her skin had gone a little clammy and reached out with the same hand she had been shaking to gently take her by the shoulder, peering down into her face. “You look faint.” He informed her, though he also let go of her arm when she shook her head no. “You sure? We can call for a doctor, I’m sure.” Well, an EMT, this wasn’t the nicest of hotels.

 

“No, that’s not necessary…” DON’T TOUCH ME AGAIN!! Holy hell, her anxiety was sky high, even more so than when it happened with Jon’s mothers, and this man was simply trying to help her.  Instinct…it was on instinct and she remembered Jon telling her that, but why was she having this instinct?  Why was Maxwell the ONLY man, the only wrestler, she felt this way about?  Why?  Why him? “You make me nervous.” What the hell was she doing?!  Maxlyn’s blurting antics were rearing its ugly head again and she took another step back, swallowing hard. “I get bad chills whenever I’m around you…and I don’t know why.  I’ve never met you before, but you…freak me out and I’d appreciate if you just kept your distance from me, Maxwell.” The elevator dinged, signaling the doors were sliding open and she’d never been more relieved to hear a sound in her life. “And on THAT note, have a nice day!” Zooming away from him, she was out the door and tried to get her reddened face to return to normal. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING TELLING HIM THAT SHIT?!

 

All Maxwell could do was stand there in that elevator with his jaw on the floor. He only picked it up when the doors closed on him and the elevator began going up. He growled, wondering what in the hell THAT had been about? How dare she insult him, be rude to him when all he had done was shown her kindness, not once but twice? Obviously, Jon had brought a half-baked, crazy broad on the road with him to satisfy some itches. Snorting, he hit the button for the damn ground floor again, his eyes narrowing.

 

Ran into MJF at the hotel, rode the elevator with him, and told him he makes me nervous and asked him to stay away from me.  Just thought I’d let you know. Was the text message Maxlyn sent to Jon while she sat in Starbucks, waiting for her order.  Jon was working out currently at the local gym across the city, one of his favorites in Philadelphia.  He had a meeting regarding him and Bryan continuing with their tag team and Tony Khan wanted to shake things up a bit.  If Maxlyn knew what Jon had found out earlier that day, prior to his workout, she would’ve had a full-blown panic attack.

 

Chapter 44

 

The Pinnacle, which was headed by none other than Maxwell Jacob Friedman, was about to feud with Jon and Bryan, meaning FTR, Shawn Spears, and the leader himself would be closely involved with Jon and Bryan for the foreseeable future.  It would lead to some outstanding tag match action, but ultimately, Tony wanted Jon and MJF to break off and feud on their own while Bryan did the same thing with Shawn Spears.

 

“Hey Max, is this seat taken?”

 

She snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing her name, looking up into the kind face of Sammy Guevara and his girlfriend, Tay Conti, who was part of the women’s division of AEW. “Hi, sorry no it’s not taken.” Her brown eyes moved to the busty blonde, extending her hand. “I’m Maxlyn, most people call me Max.”

 

“Yeah, that’s what Sammy said,” Tay took the other woman’s hand with a grin before dropping down. Moxley bringing a woman on the road with him, into the arenas no less, had set a few tongues to wagging. Eddie and Chris had started dampening any rumors. Chris’ say went so far in the business, given he was on his way, if not already at legendary status, but… gossip was just natural. Especially with Mr. Moxley. “I’m Tay.”

 

In Jon’s defense, while he found MJF to be a creepy, obnoxious, arrogant bastard, he wasn’t about to say no to a what could be a good feud. Also, it just meant he got to whoop the little brat’s ass a few more times, Maxlyn would probably like that. Then, during a water break, he got her text message and groaned. “Fuck me…”

 

Maxlyn had coffee with Sammy and Tay, her anxiety slowly melting away over what transpired with MJF earlier.  She didn’t dare tell them about it, already telling the only person that really mattered.  Sammy made it clear not to mention the shootout to Maxlyn either since it wasn’t her house that had been shot up.  They had no idea those men were after her, not Jon, nobody knew the truth of the situation.  Jon was keeping it close to the chest, keeping his coworkers and friends out of the mess.  By the time Maxlyn returned to the hotel, Jon was already in the room waiting on her, dressed to go to the arena for that night’s show. “I probably shouldn’t have sent you that text message, huh?” She said by way of greeting, setting her purse down on the dresser and slid her hands in the back pockets of her jean shorts. “I’m sorry…”

 

Jon knew what the TV reports were saying, whatever they freaking assumed because the police hadn’t released too much information. They released speculation, which was a lot different from the truth. There was a chance it was some fanatic who had taken things too far and gone after the wrestler’s house, shit like that. Anything involving Maxlyn and Garcia was being kept OUT of the press because nobody wanted to tip that fucker off. “Why are you sorry?” Granted, her blurting that shit out to MJF probably wasn’t going to endear him to the cocksucker but… Jon never claimed to be on friendly terms with the guy either. “You can’t help it and now he knows he makes you uncomfortable, so he should stay away.” Embarrassment would probably keep Maxwell at bay when it came to Maxlyn, he’d try taking out said embarrassment on Jon in the ring and Jon was okay with that. “What exactly happened?”

 

Closing her eyes, Maxlyn walked past him to stare out the window of their hotel room, pressing her forehead against the cool glass window. “I got a call today from Lieutenant Evans.  Cynthia was found dead yesterday morning…around the same area as Emma, his daughter.  And I’m going to be completely frank with you, Jon, after hearing that, I could’ve really used a fucking strong drink.” She wasn’t close with Cynthia or Emma, but knowing what happened to them…knowing who was responsible for it…sickened her. “Instead of doing that and breaking my sobriety, I left the room to go for a walk to get some fresh air and took the elevator.  MJF stepped on and…damn it, that chill was back.  That strong chill I told you about before.  It shot right down my spine and he extended his hand to me, introducing himself again since he thought I forgot about him or something.  I don’t know.  But the moment I took his hand, that chill shot up my arm and…it made me nauseous.  Nervous and nauseous…and I don’t know why.  I don’t know why I feel the way I do around him, there has to be a reason for it.  It scared me being in that close quarters with him and…I told him what I texted you.  He makes me nervous and he needs to stay away from me.  I ran off the elevator like my ass was on fire and went straight to Starbucks, ran into Sammy and his woman, Tay, we shared some pleasant, non-MJF freaking me out or Cynthia being dead conversation, and then I came back here.”

 

Jon was silent as she explained her day without him, frowning when she mentioned wanting a drink but he definitely understood why. He had felt that way several times since leaving rehab, what was important was that they didn’t act on it. Or, if they did, they got back up again and kept on trying, it wasn’t a race, it was a fucking walking marathon and there would likely be slip ups. He hoped not, but they were only human and there was only so much shit a person could go through before saying screw it.

 

Jon didn’t have anything to say about the text and freak out, there was nothing else to say. She had set her boundaries with the jackass, in a very weird way, but boundaries nonetheless and MJF had best respect them or he’d be a sore MFeR with a swollen head. Moving so he was standing behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders and tugged her back into his body, letting his chin drop to rest of the top of her head. “I’m sorry, darlin’, for what happened today, about Cynthia.” He would never forget that woman and meeting her on the Strip.

 

“I’m sad about her death, but…that’s not what’s bothering me.” Maxlyn slowly turned to look up into his eyes, feeling his hands glide up and down her arms while her hands rested on his chest. “I was such a bitch to MJF and he did help me out the one time with that guard.  Sammy came after the fact, but MJF had stopped the guard from escorting me out of the building or wherever he wanted to.  But I can’t stop feeling this…dread and fear whenever I’m around him.  Being in that elevator…it almost called me an anxiety attack.  The last thing I want to do is cause friction between you and any of your coworkers, Jon.” Maybe it would be best if she just went back to Cincinnati and immediately pushed that thought away.  The last time they were parted, the house had been shot up, thanks to Ricky’s goons. “I just wish I knew why I keep feeling the way I do around MJF.  Everybody else I’m cool with, no problems, just him.  It’s weird…”

 

She hadn’t exactly met a lot of people in the company though and those she had been introduced to were all his friends for the most part or people he was on good terms with. Jon wondered if that was part of it, frowning slightly. “Maxlyn,” he began walking backwards until his legs hit the bed and sat down, pulling her so she was parked sideways on his lap. "You really haven’t met many people since we left the rehab, right? And those you have, the majority are friends of mine… Maybe because I trust them, you do too? Or because they introduced themselves as my friend or I introduced, you’re more comfortable with those people then strangers? Don’t get me wrong, he’s a creepy motherfucker and you should definitely trust your gut. I don’t know, I guess I’m trying to help and not doing a very good job of it.”

 

“I wouldn’t say he’s creepy…” The look in his eyes made her immediately backtrack on that and she rested her head against his, enjoying his arms around her. “Okay, fine he’s creepy.” They both smiled, chuckling softly together, and she knew he made a good point. “I think staying holed up in the hotel rooms needs to come to an end.  Maybe every other week I’ll come to the arena with you for the shows, just so I can be around other people besides people you know.” Maxlyn brushed her lips against his nose, cheeks, and chin, her arm around his neck while the other stroked his t-shirt covered chest. “How was your meeting by the way?  Did you find out who you and Bryan are going to be feuding with next?”

 

She had outright called the other man creepy before and given how she had spazzed on him today…. Jon was officially on board the creepy thing. “You want to come to the arenas?” He asked curiously, knowing she had needed time for studying for her GED since that had been brutally interrupted with their home in Vegas being shot up and then everything that had happened in the immediate aftermath. Studying and getting that slip of paper had been pushed aside, not that he blamed her for that, he would have had a hard time concentrating too. “Oh… oh…” now the seriousness was back and he wondered if she was going to want to backtrack out of that arena thing. “Darlin’, you uh, may not want to come with me… I did find out.”

 

Maxlyn listened as Jon explained who his next feud would be with, AFTER him and Bryan kicked the hell out of Pinnacle’s FTR for a few weeks.  Then it would move to Bryan against Shawn Spears and Jon against MJF in single’s competition.  They would still be a tag team, just doing their own thing for the next pay-per-view event.  That meant Jon would be working in close proximity with MJF for a while.  What was Maxlyn supposed to say?  This was Jon’s career, business was business, and she refused to stay away from her man just because of a feeling. “It doesn’t matter.  This might be a good thing, actually.” She smiled at his perplexed expression and brushed her lips to his, letting them linger for a minute. “What I mean is I can get used to being around him this way and maybe this creepy feeling will taper off.  I won’t always go to the arenas with you, but…I do enjoy going with you too.  Most of my studying is done and I’m about as ready for that test as I’m gonna get.  You’ve been so patient with me and I appreciate it, more than you know.  Oh, I also got your schedule worked out for next month, so look it over and if you want me to change anything or make calls, just let me know, handsome.”

 

So, she was going to try to get used to other people and maybe that was part of the ‘creepy’ factor, those people who were outside Jon’s social circle or Jon had distaste for. He had been paying a bit more attention after that shit happened with his mom’s in Cincinnati, about Maxlyn not having an opinion that diverged from his, that she might even be swallowing her own down. He didn’t like that idea at all, so… yeah. He was paying attention. “I will… thanks, darlin’,” he kissed her again, wishing that nagging feeling that had taken up residence at the base of his skull would go away. “I’m gonna have to give you a pay raise, you’ve gotten everything sorted better then I ever did.” He had it set to auto-fund into her account now, just so he didn’t forget.

 

She was still doing it, going along with whatever Jon wanted to do.  Still making her own decisions, but his choices were absolute to her.  However, she did order furniture for the living room and finished it up, along with the kitchen, and Jon didn’t have a clue about any of it.  She had paid for it out of her own pocket, knowing he’d be either really shocked and happy or really shocked and angry when they returned to the house in Cincinnati.  Luckily, his mothers were helping by letting the movers in, making sure everything was setup the way she wanted, and that included the décor too.  Dana had called her and she had a long, three-way conversation with both of Jon’s mothers, while Jon had been at a show and she was at the hotel studying.  They apologized for upsetting her and Maxlyn had cried, explaining to them it wasn’t their fault, it was her.  They understood and then they talked about the house and lack of time to get things done in it due to Jon’s hectic schedule.  With Jon’s blessing, in a separate phone call with him and Maxlyn, everything was settled and he agreed to let Ginny work her magic since she was an interior designer.  She owned her own business, actually.  Perhaps when that time came, it would feel more like a home like the house in Vegas did, which had been cleaned up and Jon was putting it on the market as soon as it was detailed. “Gotta make sure my man is taken care of with all these different companies you work for.” She teased gently, massaging his shoulders gently to try to relieve some of his tension. “Thank you, Jon.  You’re always on my side, no matter what, and I can’t tell you what that means to me.  Makes me fall more in love with you.”

 

“Mmm,” he wasn’t sure if he was tense or if it was leftover shit from his workout and meeting. Probably all of it, he hadn’t been expecting that message and then the dread of having to tell her he was going to be working with the guy she had called creepy. He hoped MJF didn’t take it personally because he would hate to have to actually smear the jackass. It was MJF, of course he was going to take it personally, the man was a walking bag of douche. “I need a shower, darlin’, you want to join me?” Usually, he did all that at the gym, then he had seen that message and hauled his ass back in case she needed him.

 

Even though she already had a shower earlier that morning, being outside in the humidity Philadelphia had made her feel sticky and gross. “And here I was thinking about giving you a tongue bath first.” Leaning down, she slid her tongue along his collarbone from one side to the other, moaning softly at the salty taste on her tongue. “Delicious…” Jon growled, promptly lifting her up over his shoulder making her squeal out with laughter, carting her right to the shower.  They couldn’t have sex because he had a match that night and she didn’t want his thighs blowing out on him during it, but Maxlyn did pleasure her man with her mouth, enjoying every second of it.

 

Chapter 45

 

That was about the equivalent of blowing his thighs out anyway, especially considering she had her own special ways of sucking cock and everything in him wound up tensing anyway. This woman was going to be the death of him, there were no two ways about it. “I think you’re trying to kill me, darlin’,” he informed her after the shower, watching as she dried herself off via the mirror, busy toweling his own upper body dry. “After work, your sweet ass is mine.” His eyes darkened when she met his stare, blatantly licking his lips with a wicked smile. He was going to be returning that favor, that was for damn sure.

 

“Looking forward to it, Mox.” She purred in response, laughing when he snapped his teeth at her playfully and finished up to give him time in the bathroom to get ready.  Since she was going to the arena tonight, Maxlyn pulled out one of Jon’s shirts…well, it was a t-shirt design, but it was a tank top.  It said BITCH AF on it in bold red letters and she loved it, remembering seeing that promo of him and Eddie destroying the Elite’s bus.  That had been hilarious to watch.  Slipping fresh panties on, she decided to wear the blue jean shorts she had on earlier, knowing tomorrow she’d have to get their laundry done.  Laundromats were disgusting, but some hotels didn’t provide that service, so they had to do what they had to do in order to have clean clothes while on the road.  With her red hoops in, Maxlyn brushed her hair up in a high ponytail, refusing to have her hair on her neck with how hot it was outside.  Jon walked out of the bathroom and started laughing at the tank top she had on, making her grin. “You ready to go kick some ass and take names, handsome?”

 

“Always, dollface, always,” a lot of hotels and motels didn’t provide that service because Jon did not waste money on the five star, luxury hotels and motels when his ass was usually there for a night, that was a waste of about 200 to 400 a night if he did. She was frugal and so was he, it was why when they retired, they were going to live comfortably as well off, fat cats. “If you ever decide you want to go old-school and be a valet, I MIGHT make an exception, just for you.” Highly unlikely but… it was vaguely in the realm of possibilities.

 

“Oh no, no, we’ve already had that conversation and my answer remains the same.  I’ll be your personal assistant, officially, once I complete my GED.  I should get an email from the school in the next few days to let me know when I have to take it.” Thankfully, she could do it remotely from her laptop and the results would not take that long to come back. “Besides, I don’t see The Purveyor of Violence, Jon Moxley, having a woman on his arm.  I know you used to in some promotions back in the day, but these days, I don’t think it’s necessary.” Women weren’t sexualized nearly as much as they used to and could kick ass and take names in the ring as much, if not better at times, than the men.  Taking his hand, their fingers laced together as they headed out of the room, her laptop bag over her shoulder just in case she wanted to get some more studying done whenever she was left alone in Jon’s locker room, along with her purse.

 

She was right about the valet thing semi on the assistant. He was considered an independent contractor, AEW did not pass out assistants, they were expected to do all that shit on their own. Unless, she wanted him to officially hire her with a proper paystub and taxes, all that shit, then yeah… that would be ‘official’ in a legal manner. No, nowadays, using a woman as eye candy explicitly was BEGGING for trouble. He got in enough of that without adding ‘sexist’, his mom’s would probably slap the shit out of him anyway.

 

“Ah, smell the greasepaint and body sweat,” he joked once they were at the arena, hoping given the events of today, she was going to be okay here tonight. He imagined if they ran into MJF, which was likely, that was going to be awkward.

 

Maxlyn would do her best not to have another blurting episode when it came to MJF, really not wanting anything to be awkward with him.  Jon was going to be working with him for the foreseeable future.  Not only was Tony wanting Jon and MJF to feud, but this whole idea of Bryan and Jon recruiting younger talent and bringing them under their wing to teach wrestling and violence in the ring had been tossed around.  They hadn’t finalized anything yet, wanting to see how this feud between Jon and MJF went first, as well as Bryan and Shawn.  Since Maxlyn was used to being on the road with Jon, people had introduced themselves and waved to her on their way to Jon’s locker room, greeting Jon as well. 

 

Chris had made the comment that Jon wasn’t as much of a recluse as he had been before meeting Maxlyn and whatever she was doing to keep it up.  The man was very happy with her.  They had stopped questioning anything regarding Maxlyn and Jon’s relationship, especially now they were over three months strong.  Social media had spotted Jon out with Maxlyn several times as well, so fans were naturally curious about the redhead that had stolen the Purveyor of Violence’s heart.  During meet and greets and signings, along with media, Jon had been questioned about her a lot and being the private person he was, no answer was ever given.  Maxlyn didn’t care if he told the world about them, but if he wanted to keep it private, she was completely fine with that too.

 

“Oh come on, it’s not that bad.” He had his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist while they walked, making sure to stay out of the way of people barreling by. “How about we drop our stuff off in your locker room and hit catering?” They hadn’t eaten yet and it was around dinnertime. “Thank god this place his AC, huh?”

 

Jon had been very protective of his personal life from day one. His commitment to that had only grown over the years as he realized social media was able to dissect every last bit of your life and display it for the world to see. Nope. He would never subject HER to that, trying to keep her identity a secret because nobody needed to know a damn thing about her or harass her. Fangirls were a terrible, crazy thing at times. “No kidding,” he laughed, following the paper signs for where they were heading. “I don’t know if you need anymore coffee though… food definitely.” He could eat, she had drained some of his stamina in that shower.

 

Catering was busy as usual and they grabbed the food they wanted, which was a chicken salad for her and some chicken breasts with vegetables and steamed potatoes for Jon. “Shit, I forgot my dressing, hang on.” She stood up from the table and stood in line, waiting for other people to grab what they wanted.  There was some roughhousing going on from the tag team called The Acclaimed and they were shoving each other.  Max Caster wound up sending his partner, Anthony Bowens, right into the line of people and Maxlyn plowed into the person in front of her, who hit the person in front of them.  It was like a Domino effect, the person behind her cursing up a storm.  Luckily, it was one of the women wrestlers, Thunder Rosa, who started cussing them out in Spanish.  Unbeknownst to Maxlyn, the person in front of her was none other than the man she had embarrassed earlier that day in the elevator – Maxwell Jacob Friedman. “S-Shit, I’m so sorry!  What the hell was THAT?!”

 

“That is a bunch of bullshit,” she had nailed him, which wouldn’t have been such a big deal given her size but she had had some velocity behind it on top of him being startled. He turned to make sure he hadn’t pissed off the guy behind him and so on, scowling when he turned back towards her, his eyes moving to the idiots who had started this shit. Then, MJF looked back down at her, noting how wide her eyes was and waited for it. For her to blurt out something about him being creepy and to stay away from her. “Are you okay?” He asked finally, when she didn’t say anything, wondering what he had done to her outside of helped her NOT get kicked out of the building once.

 

God help me right now. “I should be asking you that.  I’m the one who plowed into you.” It wasn’t her fault and he could see that, but after what happened earlier in the elevator…there was tension between them.  She was a tiny thing compared to MJF, he was built like a brickhouse, like a lot of the other wrestlers, but that didn’t stop her from feeling awful about what just happened. “But yeah, I’m okay, no harm done.  Thank you, Maxwell.” He really did seem like he was concerned for her wellbeing and had even moved her out of the way since The Acclaimed was being BODILY carried out of catering, with Jon and Bryan leading the charge.  They were PISSED.  Damn it, that chill was back from him touching her, but Maxlyn had to stop letting it control her. “I also owe you an apology for earlier at the hotel too.  I never should’ve said what I did and I don’t want to make things awkward between you and…Mox.” For some reason, it felt better calling Jon that than his actual name when it came to MJF. “You helped me in the past and I never forgot it, so…” Extending her hand, she decided to be the one to extend an olive branch to him with a soft smile on her face. “Can we just forget that nonsense happened, please?”

 

He was staring down at her out of unreadable eyes. He was thinking she had lost her fucking mind. She had said she got chills from him earlier in the elevator and freaked her out and now she was asking him to forget that had happened? He glanced behind his shoulder at the morons being bodily tossed out by Mox and Bryan, shaking his head before looking back down at her. He was fully expecting Mox to come after his ass next, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that this woman hadn’t told her man about their encounter in the elevator. “Sure,” his eyes turned warm and he smiled, taking her hand slowly, just in case she wanted to yank it away. “Water under the bridge, Maxlyn.”

 

Maxwell hadn’t been wrong, as soon as those assholes were out, he was on his way to Maxlyn, afraid she’d have a panic attack or something.

 

The relief flashed across her face as soon as those words left his mouth and that chill was still running up and down her spine, but Maxlyn was determined to ignore it.  There was nothing wrong with this man.  He wasn’t dangerous and she needed to get a grip.  She didn’t yank it away and gave MJF a gentle, firm handshake with a friendly smile of her own, wanting him to know she was serious about this. “Thank you, MJF.” Her eyes moved to Jon coming towards them and the handshake ended.  Jon took her face in his strong hands and the chill was slowly disappearing. “I’m okay.  I’m not hurt.  I was just apologizing to MJF for what happened, thanks to those idiots you and Bryan carted out, and earlier at the hotel.  We’re good, everything’s fine.”

 

“I’m gonna kick their fucking heads off if they pull that shit again.” Bryan growled in passing, shaking his head and cracked his knuckles, giving a curt nod to his partner.

 

What if Jon was right though, a little voice inside her head was whispering, what if it was an automatic mistrust of anyone who wasn’t a personal friend of his? She hadn’t trusted men all her life, it would only make sense for her not to trust any still, unless personally vouched for by the one man she trusted with everything. Heart, soul, and life. How many men had she come across since leaving the rehab without Jon or one of his friends with her? None. Save for this one when she had ventured out to use the restroom. He was the odd man out and the only one who gave her the chills.

 

Jon raised a brow, wondering why she apologized for how she was feeling. She couldn’t help it the guy creeped her out but he said nothing, just nodding down at her before turning his gaze onto Maxwell. “Everything good?” He was asking the other man, his tone even.

 

“Everything’s great, Mox,” MJF flashed them both a grin. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I was getting food before those morons interrupted everyone.”

 

“Oh yeah, I was getting my honey mustard dressing.” MJF plucked three packets of the dressing from the basket and handed them to her, making her grin at him. “Thanks!  Enjoy your meal and thanks again, MJF.” Taking Jon’s hand, she lead him back to their table, feeling a lot better now that there wouldn’t be awkwardness with MJF.  Opening the dressing, she poured it over her salad and felt a hand tap her shoulder, making her set the first packet down to look up at Thunder Rosa.

 

“Chica, you straight?  I’m so sorry about that, those fucking…” She started ranting in Spanish again under her breath and smirked when Maxlyn started laughing, both assuring the other all was well.

 

“She’s a firecracker.” Maxlyn commented, watching Thunder Rosa stalk back to her table, still cursing The Acclaimed to hell and back for their foolish antics.  A lot of people were NOT happy with the team at the moment, including her.

 

“Yeah, what she said was NOT PG friendly,” a wrestler eventually learned a bit of certain languages, namely the swearing parts, because of where the business tended to take them along with the different people they worked with. “Something about being a bunch of cocksucking-“ his blue eyes crossed when her finger was pressed against his lips, smiling wickedly. “You sure you don’t want me to finish that, darlin’?” He was trying not to laugh, resuming his own meal as he considered her, watching her adding more of those packets to her salad. “So, what made you decide to uh… talk to him?” He asked curiously, having seen her actually talking to the guy and then when those morons had been chucked out, he had turned to see her hand extended. It had been weird given earlier.

 

 

“I know it’s weird, okay?  And I still got that goddamn chill down my spine, but…” Maxlyn sighed heavily, trying to find the right words to explain her motive. “Look, you’re going to be working closely with him over the next several months.  This is your job, Jon.  I do not want to make things more awkward for you just because of a stupid feeling that I don’t understand.” She touched his hand, brown eyes pleading with him to understand where she was coming from. “It was rude of me to say what I said to him earlier and I did owe him an apology.  He’s done nothing to me, he’s been very polite and I never forgot him helping me out with that guard.  Then I go and plow into him from behind, even though it wasn’t my fault, it was still me that did it.  I felt it was the right thing to do to extend an olive branch and make things right.  You’re not…mad at me that I did it, are you?” Now her voice held a little hesitation, really hoping she did the right thing and didn’t anger her man.

 

All Jon could do was shake his head while staring at her, his mouth full of chicken breast and steamed veggies. “Darlin’,” he began once he had swallowed his food, clearing his throat as he reached for his bottle of water. “Why in the blue hell would I be mad at you?” He hadn’t been mad when she had declared the other man creepy, he hadn’t been mad when she had probably offended the piss out of MJF earlier, why would he be upset she had apologized? Just because he thought the little prick was a snot at times didn’t mean she had to. He did wonder if he had been right, about earlier and what he had said about her trusting men. “I’m not going to tell you how to handle your business, Maxlyn, or who you can and can’t uh, apologize too.”

 

“Okay.” Maxlyn kissed his cheek with a smile and started eating her salad, the chicken with the honey mustard absolutely delicious.  Everything was looking up and she had the same mindset as Jon.  That chill would go away the more she got to know MJF and others in the company that weren’t his close friends.  Or she would simply ignore it.  There was nothing wrong with MJF and maybe if she said it enough in her head, the rest of her body would get with the damn program, along with her anxiety and mindset. Mind over matter. They finished eating their meals before tossing their garbage away and headed out to go to Jon’s locker room.

 

Chapter 46

 

“YES!!” Maxlyn shrieked out, doing a fist pump with her arm and laughed at Jon staring back at her. “My GED has been scheduled, finally!” She jumped on Jon, straddling him and planted her mouth on his, wearing just a pair of panties and tank top since they’d gotten back from the show about an hour ago. “You know what this means?  My job will be official with you very soon, handsome.” All the money he’d been paying her would stay the same, nothing would change, only that she’d have an actual high school education.  He’d even been helping her study, when he had the time, which wasn’t often, so Maxlyn had done most of it on her own. “I owe you so much, you’ve supported me this entire time, never wavered.  Leaving that center with you was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.  I love you so much, Jon.  Because of you, I’ll finally have a high school education, something I never thought I’d ever have.  Do you know how amazing that is?  We are celebrating WHEN I pass that damn test too!”

 

Once Maxlyn had explained how things would change for her regarding her job, how she would FEEL more like it would be official, professional, he got it. Mostly. It was an accomplishment and she wanted that GED, badly. He was laughing right now, her excitement was contagious and damned if she didn’t look cute, freaking out and giggling as she bounced on him. “Damn right we are, dollface,” he cupped her face and brought her down for a kiss, smiling against her lips because that excitement was just seeping through, she was practically vibrating with it. “You have any idea how proud I am of you, Maxlyn?” Seeing how much she had changed, grown since leaving that place, it astonished him sometimes, especially when he remembered that morning meeting he had laid eyes on her sarcastic ass.

 

“You know what we should do?  So okay, first the GED is scheduled two weeks from today in the morning.  We’ll be in Florida, I believe, and it’s on a Wednesday, surprisingly enough.  But after I’m done with it and I get the results, which will be later that day, from what I read, we should do another getaway.” They had the snowy getaway in DC, the beautiful resort in Arizona, and she knew Florida had amazing beach houses that could be rented for a few days. “Instead of going home, we should rent one of those beach houses, swim in the ocean, and maybe make love on the beach itself.” On a blanket because there was no way in hell she’d get sand in the crack of her ass or anywhere else, not if she could help it. “Or we could go up to the mountains like you’ve wanted to for a while and do a getaway there in a cabin.  You and me, up in the mountains, where nobody can hear my screams…” He groaned as she began kissing along his strong jaw to his neck, his hands massaging her hips. “Mmm, another resort like the one in Arizona sounds amazing too…”

 

“Whoa, slow down, wench,” she was sending both his body and his mind reeling, his mind struggling to keep up while his body was busy putting a tent in the front of his boxer briefs. His hands moved from her hips to her panty clad ass, lightly slapping each cheek before digging his erection up into her, the material between them somewhat of a curse and a tease right now. “We’ll do the beach thing, we haven’t done that yet,” and he didn’t mind getting some sunshine and waves, Jon liked swimming. “Private beach… so we can go naked out there…” he was imagining her laying in the sand, glistening in the sun… “Fuck, woman,” he caught her lips in a passionate, demanding kiss.

 

“A private beach?  We can afford that?” Jon rolled his eyes at her mumbling words against his lips and sat upright, wrapping her legs around his waist.

 

“Anything, we can afford anything we wanna do, dollface.” He suddenly remembered that amazing blowjob she gave him earlier in the shower and had made her a promise earlier at the arena he would not break. “You deserve it after all the hard work and effort you put into this and sunbathing with you in the nude sounds delicious…”

 

This man wanted to give her the world and it wasn’t as if she was hurting for money either, not with him paying her to do his schedule. “Yes…” She moaned out, enjoying the feeling of his beard brushing against the sweet spot of her neck.  It always sent tingles of the best kind throughout her body and that wave of warmth as well. “The mountains next then, when it gets cooler outside and maybe we can go skiing or something…”

 

“Mmm, wanna be my snow bunny, don’t you, darlin’?” Jon flipped her to where she was on her back, hovering over her and kissed her hand when she cupped his bearded face, moving to her wrist. “My sunkissed vixen and then my snow bunny…all mine…” Tearing her panties clean off her body, it wasn’t the first time Jon showed aggression in the bedroom and the way those brown eyes of hers darkened, smoldered over, told him all he needed to know, thrusting in and out of her repeatedly. “Say it, Maxlyn…”

 

“Y-yes…god yes…only yours, Jon…forever…” She panted out, holding on for dear life and clung to him, not able to get enough of this man. “And you’re mine…say it, Jon…”

 

He smirked at her demand, wanting the feelings reciprocated and lit her up with another searing kiss, the thrusts never ceasing. “Only yours, Maxlyn…forever, darlin’…Now cum for me, cum all over me…”

 

“No…”

 

“No?”

 

She shook her head, refusing to listen to him, even though she knew it was a moot point.  It was a challenge, a gauntlet thrown down at him.

 

Needless to say, Jon more than willingly met that challenge and conquered it, making her cum harder than she ever had before.

 

~!~

 

It was a week until her big GED test and Jon was swamped with work, hopping on flights from one area to the next to make the shows.  They were spaced out, but he liked getting there a day or two early to feel things out, talk with the wrestlers he’d be performing with, things of that nature.  By the time Wednesday rolled around again for Dynamite, Maxlyn was jetlagged and spent the majority of the day in bed sleeping.  Jon had to go to meetings and then work out, so he left her there to get the rest she needed since they’d been running ragged.  Honestly, she couldn’t wait to get home to Cincinnati, to see their house completely finished with the décor, besides whatever Jon had planned for their bedroom.  They’d been living on the road for the past almost two months and it would be nice to spend a few days at home with Blue.  She missed Blue terribly and so did Jon, both of them facetiming with him and his mothers the other night just to see his cute wrinkly face.

 

Jon had called to let her know he’d be really late due to going out for dinner with Chris and Eddie, a guy’s night.  Apparently, he’d been neglecting them since Maxlyn entered his life and she laughed, telling him to enjoy himself with the boys.  So that left her with a dilemma.  Did she order room service and stay in the room or venture out to grab something from a local diner or something?  Scrolling through her phone, Maxlyn saw they had a few Chinese restaurants in the area, deciding she’d be going there.  Jon had left the rental for her, carpooling with Bryan to the arena and had texted to let her know, just in case she wanted to go somewhere.  He was so thoughtful, always thinking of her.  Grinning, she slipped into her sandals, already in a tank top and cotton shorts, refusing to wear anything else.  It was too damn hot in the Midwest and they were currently in Indianapolis, Indiana, right smack dab in the middle of summer, end of June going into July. 

 

The sun was setting, which was perfect, these long summer days were not conducive to Billy’s parttime career as a freelance agent. He said agent because it sounded much better than mugger/robber, but times were tough right now and he couldn’t freaking afford gas for his shitty car at 4 bucks a gallon! So, he freelanced as a mugger when he couldn’t get extra shifts at his crappy diner gig. He was leaning against the alleyway just outside the Chinese place, smoking a cigarette he had made out of scavenged cigarette butts from the street and a piece of yellow paper from an old newspaper he had found on the ground. He couldn’t afford health insurance either so… might as well die of something.

 

She was pretty, she looked well taken care of, maintained. Even with her low key outfit, the hair and her skin were a dead giveaway. This was a woman who ate decent and took care of herself, which meant… she had money to spare. He heard the jingle over the door, briefly got a sniff of the mouthwatering odors from the restaurant and groaned even as his stomach rumbled. It’d been a few days since he had something substantial. He'd wait. He could get money AND dinner.

 

Maxlyn had called ahead to place her order and took a minute to find the place because of the traffic throughout Raleigh.  It was going on 11 PM and this place was open, thankfully, until 1 AM.  She waited patiently for her turn and stepped up, handing the cashier her card that was linked to her bank account.  Maxlyn never carried cash on her, not even change, and waited for the transaction to go through before taking her card back. “Thank you, have a nice night.” She made sure to give a decent tip on the way out, the bell dinging over her head and fished for her keys out of her purse.  Just as she reached to open the car door to slip inside, she was suddenly grabbed by the arm from behind and felt something hard poking against her side, making her freeze instantly.  A gun.  Whoever it was had a gun and they were going to blow a hole through her insides if she did not cooperate. Don’t talk, don’t move an inch…holy shit I’m going to die, I’m going to die getting Chinese food! Without realizing it, tears sprang to her eyes as her purse was ripped from her shoulder.

 

“Don’t fucking move or I’ll kill you.  Nod if you understand, bitch.”

 

Maxlyn did twice, shutting her eyes when she heard a growl from her attacker.

 

He rifled through her purse, finding her wallet and his eyes nearly dropped out of his damn head when he discovered there was NO cash, NO FUCKING CASH! What was with people these goddamn days?! “You have no cash?” he tossed her little girly wallet over his shoulder, into a dumpster for all he cared. He began rifling in her purse itself, maybe jewelry or a phone he could pawn off, there was a phone but it was a stupid ass iPhone and those things weren’t being pawned, they were to easy to trace. No cash, no easy to scam off android phone, no jewelry… he snatched the bag of Chinese from her, his stomach gurgling as he kept the gun trained on her, moving back to set it out of harm’s way. “Don’t look at me, bitch!” He hissed when she opened her eyes, stepping forward and brought his gloved hand up and across her face, slamming his palm over her mouth when she whimpered. “You get a good look at me?” He demanded, feeling her hesitating before she shook her head no. “I don’t trust you, you’re a fucking prissy cunt… you’re worthless to me.” He was bringing the gun up.

 

Her face was on fire from that slap, but Maxlyn didn’t dare touch it, trembling from head to toe now.  This man was going to kill her.  He wanted to rob her and she had nothing of value, and he was going to kill her.  Right here in this Chinese restaurant parking lot in Raleigh, North Carolina, she would die.  Tears poured down her cheeks as she heard the click of the gun, knowing any second, he’d fire a bullet right into her forehead or heart.  Instant kill.  Would it hurt?  Would she feel any pain?  Or would she simply go blissfully with a quick death?  There was no sense in begging for her life because the man wouldn’t listen.  He was pissed off she didn’t have what he wanted and she knew what that meant.  Her mother had been robbed a few times at gunpoint in Chicago when she was a little girl and she’d wound up hiding beneath the car, leaving her mother to fend off the gunmen. Jon, I love you, I’m so sorry… That would be her final thought as Maxlyn’s eyes drifted shut, accepting her fate, and waited to meet her end.

 

Not all men wanted a piece of her sweet ass and this guy wasn’t dumb enough to even try, not in a parking lot of all places. Shooting her would be quicker, removing some clothes would take more time then he was willing to spend on this bitch with only CARDS and nothing of value! He would try to get something for her purse or shit, maybe find someone willing to buy her fucking cards, there were scammers everywhere who could use it, like those dicks who put skimmers on gas station pumps. Sighing, he prepared to shoot, right between the eyes or something, he wouldn’t have to do this if she hadn’t fucking looked.

 

“Hey, hey!”

 

A sound of a bag hit the pavement, followed by a scuffle as a body came right past Maxlyn, gently but firmly pushing her away from the gunman. When she opened her eyes, none other than MJF was wrestling the gun from the other man’s hands, his own bag of Chinese splattered on the ground from dropping it when he had seen what was going on.

 

What the HELL was MJF doing here?!  And was he crazy to wrestle with a man that had a gun?!  She was shaking so hard, her teeth were chattering and she couldn’t move from the spot she’d been shoved.  All she could do was stand there against the car, watching in both horror and shock as the gun finally skidded across the parking lot, landing right at her feet.  She heard some kind of crack, the tears flowing down her cheeks temporarily blinding her, and could hear the gunman scream out in agony.  MJF had just broken his arm while restraining him and bashed his head into the pavement a few times, splitting him open.

 

He was here because he had skipped going out in favor of grabbing some dinner and then winding down at the motel afterwards with ice and hot packs. He had gotten his food, walked out and heard some jackass going on about cards being worthless. Curiosity had killed the cat but he had been damned curious and then he seen some dickhead mugging a woman. He was breathing heavily, his adrenaline up as he pushed himself upright, wiping his hands off on his denim shorts and then stumbled over to her, blinking as he stared down at her in the white light from the overhead parking lights. “Maxlyn?!”

 

Chapter 47

 

“M-Maxwell…” Christ, it WAS MJF that had saved her!  She thought she was hallucinating or something, or maybe her brain was playing tricks on her.  Even through her blurred vision, she could see it was him and he had blood on his hands from the gunman, who was currently unconscious, face-first on the pavement. “Y-Your h-hands…” Holy hell, she could not keep her voice steady and watched him come towards her, the light overhead showing him the damage the gunman did to her face.  It was red, but slowly darkening into what would be a bruise by tomorrow.  Her bottom lip was cut as well on the side from how hard the slaps were from that gloved hand. “H-He w-wanted c-cash…I-I d-don’t c-carry c-cash o-on m-me…”

 

“Nobody does, it’s filthy,” why THAT came out of his mouth was beyond him, maybe it was because he was still a bit in shock. He extended one hand, it was shaking, definitely from adrenaline. “Shit, are you okay?” He glanced over his shoulder at the guy he had just finished pulverizing. “I heard him… and I seen the gun…” He hadn’t realized it was her but it hadn’t mattered, apparently he had hero tendencies or something. “Where’s Mox?” Gently, he took her by the hand and pulled her under a light so he could see her face better. “We should call the police, Maxlyn. That doesn’t look good.” Her face was already swollen and bruising.

 

That chill was back the moment he touched her, but she ignored it and felt his thumb gently brush across the bruise forming on her cheek, brushing tears away as well. “J-Jon is…o-out w-with C-Chris a-and…E-Eddie…D-Dinner…” Damn it, she could not get her teeth to stop chattering, even though it was very hot outside.  Maxlyn felt ice cold at the moment and it wasn’t from MJF’s touch either.  It was the shock of the situation and she was slowly coming out of it, her heart thundering in her ears.  She could finally hear it, feel it, and the realization of what happened crashed over her like a tidal wave. “Y-You s-saved me…a-again…” First the guard and now the gunman. “A-Are you h-hurt?  H-He could’ve…c-could’ve…s-shot you.  W-What were y-you t-thinking?”

 

“I wasn’t,” for once, the arrogance and condescension were not in his tone, it was still shock and uncertainty. “I just heard him, seen what was going on and… I don’t know, I just… wanted to help,” he ran his hand over his head, frowning when he pulled it back and seen the blood. “Come on, let’s go inside and get you cleaned up, call the cops…” because that asshole needed to go to jail. “Call Mox too,” tonight was a shitty night for the man to leave his woman alone. He looked down at what had been his food, shaking his head. “I need a drink.”

 

“T-Thank god…t-thank god you weren’t s-shot…” Maxlyn didn’t pull away when MJF took her hand gently, pulling her with him and she let him guide her wherever he wanted to.  It was the only reason she was moving because he was pulling her behind him.  They walked back into the Chinese restaurant and MJF explained what happened while Maxlyn took a seat, still trembling, still crying silently.  The restaurant’s owner, an older Chinese man, had come out to hand her an ice pack while the police were called.  Maxlyn’s phone was nowhere to be found, probably tossed to the side outside somewhere, but at least MJF managed to gather her purse and wallet with car keys and hotel keycard.  The gunman had probably confiscated her phone and MJF didn’t want to touch him since the police were on their way.  He asked Maxlyn what Jon’s number was and she gave it to him, shakily, having to repeat the numbers a few times.

Maxwell called Jon, not surprised at all when it took a bit for the man to answer, it was an unknown number after all. He nodded when the Chinese man appeared with two glasses of amber liquid, not realizing Maxlyn was a recovered alcoholic and mouthed a thank you. He got the voicemail and left a message, sighing and shook his head, hanging up. He picked up the glass and took a long swallow, really studying her now that they were in the light. “I wish I’d gotten out sooner…”

 

Jon was listening to that voicemail, having ignored the call because he didn’t know the number and it was rude to do that shit when out with friends.

 

Chris watched as Jon grew progressively paler and paler, already tossing money onto the table because whatever he was hearing, he was leaving. “Maxlyn?”

 

Jon just nodded, already up and moving.

 

“Whoa, whoa bro, give me the keys, I’m driving.” Eddie plucked them out of Jon’s hand, refusing to let his friend get into a car accident because of how shook up he was.  Chris nodded, all three of them rushing out to the car to go see what was happening with Maxlyn.  This woman was a ball of problems and trouble, it seemed, at least to Eddie.  Why did Jon put up with this from a woman?  He could have any woman on the planet and, yet, he was devoted completely to Maxlyn.  It made no sense to him and he wished Jon would tell them how they met, knowing the café story was bullshit.

 

Maxlyn just held the cup in her hand, staring down at the amber liquid and every part of her wanted to down it, to feel that burn down her throat.  However, she thought about Jon and how far he’d come from rehabilitation, not wanting him to relapse because of her. “I-I can’t…” She whispered, looking up at Maxwell from the amber liquid and extended the cup to him, fresh tears burning her eyes. “P-Please t-take this, M-Maxwell.  I-I can’t d-drink it…”

 

Some people weren’t drinkers and that was okay, he just nodded and poured it into his own cup. He wasn’t a big drinker, he found nothing fun in getting shit faced and vomiting everywhere, but the occasional drink was fine. He blinked when his cell went off, looking down at the message. “He’s on his way.” He’d probably arrive after the cops, hearing sirens in the distance.

 

“Here, here, egg soup,” the older man was back, dropping two bowls of said soup before them along with a plate of egg rolls. “Need fresh ice pack?” He bustled off when the woman shook her head no, frowning. He was just glad nobody had died in his parking lot!

 

The trembling had stopped and Maxlyn just sat there, trying to wrap her mind around what happened in that parking lot.  She was going to die.  If it wasn’t for MJF…slowly, she looked up at him and saw the man in a different light, not believing how wrong she’d been about him. “I owe you for what you did, Maxwell.” Calling him MJF did not sound right anymore and the man deserved to be acknowledged by his first name after what he did for her.  It was the least she could do. “You saved my life out there.  You put yourself in danger and I know you didn’t know it was me, but…that doesn’t matter.” Slowly standing, she stepped up to him and fought the urge to pull back, instead wrapping her arms around his neck to hug him. “Thank you, thank you so much, Maxwell…” It wasn’t a romantic hug, just a way of thanking him because Maxlyn didn’t know how else to do it.  Simply saying those words wasn’t enough when she could’ve ate a bullet and lost her life tonight.

 

Given the elevator incident where she had informed him that he ‘freaked’ her out and to stay away from her, this was… kind of amazing, actually. Granted, she had apologized in the cafeteria the same night after accidentally plowing him but… still, kind of amazing. “You’re welcome,” he said finally, slowly returning the hug, keeping it loose because he didn’t want to scare her off. She had just seen him beat a man down. “Shit, I might go to jail for assault…” because he had disarmed the guy sure, but then he had continued by pounding his head against the pavement. That went from defense to assault real damn quick.

 

“No.” Maxlyn pulled back, shaking her head and kept her hands on his shoulders. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.  If I have to bail you out, I will.  You saved me, he was going to kill me with that gun.” She didn’t have a doubt in her mind, seeing the red and blue lights swirling around outside, knowing the police had arrived. “It was self-defense, he would’ve shot you if you didn’t do what you did.” Between the two of them, there was no way MJF would wind up in the police car.  If that happened, the justice system truly was corrupt and she didn’t have very much faith in police to begin with. “It’ll be okay.”

 

An officer stepped inside at that moment, making her turn standing in front of MJF, and wrapped her arms around herself, her battered face lit up a lot better than in the parking lot.

 

Given he actually knew her, sort of, Maxwell got up to stand beside her. He already knew he was going to be asked questions and shit about what he had seen, done, etc. He would collaborate with whatever she said because all he knew was he had heard a noise, come looking, and here they were now. “Hey, it’s okay,” she had started shaking again and he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Mox is on his way, okay?” his voice was gentle, calming, nothing but concern in his eyes as he stared down at her.

 

It had nothing to do with what happened.  It was the fact she didn’t trust authorities and she was scared for Maxwell at the moment. “Okay.” Her trust for MJF had skyrocketed and that chill was almost non-existent now, though still present.  There was NO reason to be scared of the man that saved her damn life! Get it together, Maxlyn! The officer asked them both to step outside for some questioning and Maxlyn went first with Maxwell following suit, both standing in front of two officers now.

 

“Please tell us what happened to you tonight, Miss.”

 

Maxlyn explained to the best of her ability everything that happened, making it crystal clear Maxwell was defending her and himself with the gunman.  The gun had already been taken away for evidence and the gunman was currently in an ambulance, cussing them out violently while being stitched up.  He was awake and threatened to sue for assault, though the police officers made sure to handcuff him to the gurney, so the EMTs weren’t attacked.  The fact they were giving a gunman medical treatment sickened her and it just made Maxlyn believe further the justice in this country was absolutely horseshit.

 

They were obligated by law and everyone was considered innocent until proven guilty, it was just how things worked and Maxwell was patient, understanding the system. When they got to him, he answered everything honestly, explaining he had been getting himself some dinner -which was now all over the parking lot thanks to being kicked around, and had heard a commotion on his way out the door. He had heard something about no cash and followed it, spotting a woman being held up with a gun. When he was done answering questions, he gave his contact information in case there was a need for follow-up.

 

“There’s no cameras out here,” one of the policemen said from just beyond them, shaking his head.

 

“Well, their stories match and I’m betting that gun turns out to be stolen. This weasel doesn’t have a pot to piss in, let alone money for a legal gun.” Billy boy was known down at the station, this would be his third strike, his ass was heading for prison.

 

“Maxlyn!?” Jon had arrived.

 

Her eyes snapped to where that voice came from and Maxlyn immediately flew to him as fast as she could, tossing her arms around Jon’s neck, shutting her eyes at the feeling of his arms around her.  She didn’t start crying, just clung to him for dear life and didn’t care about anything else at the moment, feeling his hand grab the back of her neck to hold her closer. “I’m o-okay…” She murmured, feeling him pull back to give her a cursory scan and touched his bearded face with her hands, swallowing hard.

 

“What the fuck happened?” Chris’s blue eyes were wide, along with Eddie’s, seeing the police here and the last person any of them expected to see.  MJF.

 

“Maxwell…Maxwell saved me, Jon.” Her eyes were only for her love, trying to explain things the best she could. “I-I was attacked, I came here for dinner and some asshole came out of nowhere to rob me.  He got pissed I didn’t have any cash on me and…he hit me and…had a gun…he was going to shoot me.” Breathe, she had to breathe, but her heart was pounding hard and Maxlyn was saying all of this in a rush of words. “I thought I was going to die…” Jon immediately pulled her back into his arms, his eyes moving to MJF and she leaned against him, soaking in his warmth the best she could. “H-He stopped the guy…”

 

“Holy shit…” Even Eddie was in shock, seeing the blood on the pavement where the gunman’s head had been bashed in and the dent in Jon’s rental. “Were you examined, girl?  Your face is fucked up.”

 

“Classy, Eddie.”

 

“They told her to see the EMT before leaving,” Maxwell said, clearing his throat when he got Chris’ piercing blue eyes turned on him, followed by those icy blues of Mox’s. “They had to uh, take him out first…” Because he had had a smashed face, broken nose… he would be very surprised if that little bastard didn’t come after him or something even though he had been in the process of probably killing Maxlyn.

 

“You did that?” Chris gestured to the blood on the pavement and the dent in the car.

 

Maxwell just nodded quietly.

 

Keeping one arm wrapped around Maxlyn firmly, Jon extended his hand to the other man. His heart was still going a mile a minute, not believing that ANOTHER potentially life ending event had happened to her while he was AGAIN off somewhere else. “Thanks man, I don’t know what I’d do if something… if….”

 

Maxwell was shocked that Jon Moxley, of all people, was extending his hand to him and he immediately took it, shaking it firmly. “No need to thank me.  I was just in the right place at the right time.  I’m glad nothing catastrophic happened…to either of us.” There was a very good chance that gunman could’ve shot him dead and Maxwell hadn’t been thinking about that at the moment, only protecting the woman in need.

 

This woman was a magnet for trouble and Eddie kept his mouth shut, wondering how Chris felt about this.  On one hand, he was glad nothing bad happened and she was still alive, along with MJF, but he couldn’t help wondering why Maxlyn attracted all of this trouble.  She’d been home alone at Jon’s house in Vegas when it was shot up and now she’d been attacked all the way in Raleigh, nearly shot to death.  Who was this woman, exactly?  He wanted to pull Jon away from her and tell her to get lost, to protect his homie, but he knew Jon wouldn’t go for it.  Just the look on Jon’s face told Eddie the man was completely, irrevocably in love with her, and there was no changing the heart.

 

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Maxwell.  I-I’ll never b-be able to r-repay you for what y-you did for m-me t-tonight…” Maxlyn meant that wholeheartedly, sniffling, and nodded when an EMT approached her, asking her to come with him to check her out and tend to her bruising face.

 

Why anyone would be shocked was beyond him. This man, Maxwell, had just saved the love of Jon’s life, he would be eternally grateful. He had no idea how he was going to repay the other man but he would – one day. He followed Maxlyn without thinking twice, point blank refusing to let her out of his damn sight. The universe had obviously put a hit out on his women, given the Vegas house being shot up while she was in it alone and now this… she was never going to be alone again, ever. He’d make her wear a bulletproof vest and roll around like a damn hamster in a bubble, if that was what it took to protect her.

 

Chapter 48

 

“Yeah, Moxy is about to lose his mind,” Chris would be thinking the same shit if it were his wife, his Jessica. Shaking his head, he clapped Maxwell on the back. “You did good kid, need a new pair of pants or something?”

 

“No, I’m good, thanks.” Maxwell couldn’t believe how he was being treated by these guys, all because he’d helped Maxlyn out of a really bad situation. “Fuck, I need a drink.”

 

“Drinks are on me tonight, Max, come on.” That was the same thing he called Maxlyn, only he added baby to the end of it.  Chris didn’t know MJF that well yet, but he also wouldn’t deny the man a stiff drink after the heroic thing he did.

 

Eddie didn’t want to leave Jon alone with Maxlyn, wondering if another gunman or somebody else would attack them.  His paranoia was UP and rightfully so.  Jon looked ready to cry or scream, he wasn’t sure which one yet and he merely stood beside his brother, trying to find the words to say.  Jon’s eyes were zeroed in on Maxlyn being treated in the ambulance and he folded his arms in front of his chest, his jaw tightening. “Homie, she gets attacked a lot, huh?” He side eyed Jon, who mutely nodded and sighed heavily, keeping his voice down. “I know you’re lying about the café meeting, bro.  I know there’s more to her than you’ve told me…and after tonight, I think it’s time you come clean before you both end up dead.  Or you end up dead because of her.” They’d known each other a very long time, a lot longer than Jon had known Maxlyn, and Eddie refused to keep his mouth shut, not after this.

 

“What?” Jon barely even looked at him, wondering what the fuck Eddie was talking about. When Eddie repeated himself, Jon shook his head, wondering if they had room in that ambulance for another body. Maxlyn had been attacked at gunpoint, was in a fucking ambulance, and Eddie thought NOW was a good time for this conversation? “We did fucking meet in a cafeteria,” that was the honest to God’s truth, they HAD made their introductions there, in the rehab café. Jon wasn’t even lying, he just wasn’t saying the where because it was no one’s fucking business. “Walk away, Eddie.” Before he lost his shit and he was dangerously close to it too.

 

Deep bruising was the official diagnosis, no cracked cheekbone thankfully.  That was what Maxlyn had been worried about the most.  A deep tissue bruise was one thing, but a cracked cheekbone would’ve required a trip to the emergency room.  She had no concussion either, passing that test with flying colors.  Cold compresses and rest was pretty much all Maxlyn needed to do for the next week or so until the bruising diminished.  Ibuprofen would help with the swelling.  She thanked the EMT and walked over to where Jon stood waiting for her, not spotting Eddie, Chris, or Maxwell anywhere. “It’s just deep tissue bruising, no major injury…” She reiterated to Jon quietly, feeling the anger radiating from his body and assumed it was directed at her, though she wasn’t sure why. “H-Here are the keys, I don’t think it’s a good idea that I drive right now, Jon.”

 

Eddie had been removed by Chris who had walked up with Maxwell in time to hear Moxley’s very dangerous sounding growl of ‘walk away’ and escorted the dude before he became another part of the fucking crime scene. He’d find out later, away from Maxy boy, what the fuck that had been about.

 

“Can I drive it?” He asked fingering the keys cautiously and looked over at the cop near them. He repeated the question when he got said cop’s attention.

 

“In a moment or two, sir, they’re scraping blood from where Billy’s head got smashed in on it,” since they had already taken pictures.

 

“Billy?”

 

“He’s a known criminal, but usually it’s petty thievery and shit. This is a first for him but it always escalates so nobody is surprised. That’s how it works when you’re a criminal, small stuff at first but eventually…” he trailed off, his gaze drifting to Maxlyn and frowned. “You’re very lucky ma’am.”

 

“There’s not a doubt in my mind he would’ve shot me and killed me.” The officer nodded at Maxlyn and she did the same, having a feeling she wasn’t the first victim of this guy named Billy.  She would, however, be the last and at least she had survived his onslaught.  MJF had not held back on the man and she was grateful because it was kill or be killed in this world.  She had learned that lesson long ago.  That was why if MJF ended up in jail, she would’ve bailed him out without question or a second thought. I really need a drink after this. A nice, stiff Vodka cranberry sounded great right about now and she looked up at the sky, closing her eyes, saying a silent prayer of thanks to god for protecting and sparing her life yet again.

 

 

Jon was thinking a nice, tall Long Island Iced Tea, because that had been his go-to to get fucked up thanks to the multitude of alcohols in it. He scrubbed a hand down his face, nodding when they were finally told they could go and escorted her to the car, keeping his arm firmly around her shoulders. She hadn’t gotten to eat, she had gotten mugged instead, and for the second time in as many months, he could have lost her. He dropped a kiss against the side of her head before helping her into the car, flinching again at the sight of her face, very visible in the streetlights and he knew once back at the hotel, it would be worse. He took a moment after she was in the car, leaning against it and ran his hands down his face, realizing there were tears in his eyes.

 

Jon must’ve been really angry with her because he didn’t immediately get in the car.  She didn’t ask to be mugged!  She didn’t ask for any of this to happen, including the shootout!  Didn’t she warn him she’d end up ruining his life?  That she wasn’t worth all of this?  Yes, she had and he hadn’t listened at all!  A few minutes later, Jon joined her by slipping behind the wheel and Maxlyn kept her eyes focused out of the window, already buckled up with her arms folded in front of her chest, her purse in her lap.  The ride back to the hotel was completely silent, the radio not even turned on to drown it out.  Tension was so thick, it couldn’t be cut with the sharpest blade and Maxlyn felt nauseous from it.  The moment the car was in park, she immediately unbuckled and got out, shouldering her purse. “Look, if you’re pissed off at me about what happened tonight, you can save it, all right?  I needed something for fucking dinner, that’s why I went to that damn Chinese place!  I never asked to get mugged, I never asked to nearly eat a bullet either!” Go ahead, rip me apart and end the relationship, I deserve it after everything’s that happened lately. First the shootout, now this…how much more would Jon be able to take, to stomach, before calling it quits with her?  Before she was abandoned again?

 

All Jon could do was stare at her, at first alarm and confusion in his eyes and then sorrow and understanding, along with a heaping spoonful of pity. Maxlyn hadn’t snapped at him since maybe that first day at rehab when he had just blatantly imposed on her during lunch. He shook his head, resting his arms on top of the car as she defiantly met his stare, her jaw jut out as if to shield herself from whatever she thought was coming. “Darlin’, why would I be pissed at you?” He asked quietly but his voice carried to her, nothing but love and concern in his tone. “I know you didn’t ask for any of that, Maxlyn.”

 

“B-But…Argh, what is WRONG with you?!  Seriously, Jonathan Good?!  What the hell?!  Your house was shot up because of ME!  I can’t even go out and get dinner by myself because I’ll get MUGGED and nearly KILLED!!  And you STILL…” Maxlyn felt like ripping her hair out from how understanding, kind, loving, and concerned his voice was, all of it wrapped in one. “I-I don’t understand you…I’ll never understand why you…you insist on keeping a troublesome nobody like me around.” Yes, he loved her and she got that, she loved him too, but a person could only take so much. “You were angry earlier, and I thought it was at me.” Her own voice had lowered considerably from the hysterics and Maxlyn could not meet his electric gaze, fidgeting with her hands from nerves. “I-I’m sorry for snapping at you…but there is something seriously wrong with you for still wanting to be with me after this.”

 

“Yeah, there’s probably something seriously wrong with me for being in love with a wonderful, beautiful, kind, brave woman… tell me about it,” Jon said, sarcasm lacing his tone as he just stared at her. He knew she was damaged, he had known for awhile now, but hadn’t he proven he was with her until the end? “Darlin’,” he walked around the car, taking her by the shoulders before she could step away from him and bent down to brush his lips against her bruised face. “I wasn’t angry with you, I was angry with myself for not being there, at that piece of shit Billy for doing this to you, not with you. If it hadn’t been you, it would have been someone else, he was looking for an easy target.”

 

“It’s not your fault!  Do you understand me?” Tears slid down her cheeks as Maxlyn grabbed hold of his bearded face somewhat roughly, needing him to understand and believe that. “You went out with your friends.  I should be able to go out alone to get fucking dinner.  I will NOT let you blame yourself for this, for not being there.  You can’t always be there for me and that includes the shootout, honey.” She pressed her forehead to his, breathing him in and continued to cry while talking. “I have to find some semblance of independence and we can’t ALWAYS be together or we’re going to drive each other mad.  I love you so much and I’d love nothing more than to spend every waking minute, second, with you, but that’s not possible.  And you can’t expect me not to go out when you’re busy doing things for your job or with your friends, like tonight.  I-I can’t be dependent on you all the time, even though I want to.  You’re the only one I want to rely on, but I know I can’t live like that either.  Just like when I was back at the center, I relied on them for shelter and safety for so long…and then you came into my life and showed me there is a way to live outside in the open, even with everything that’s happened.”

 

 

“And it’s not yours either, Maxlyn,” he shot back, bending down to kiss away her tears. There was desperation in his voice now, wishing she could understand and believe that. “Darlin’, listen to me, as much as I’d like to lock you away, especially during times like this, I KNOW you need to be independent and have your freedom.” He was the one cheering her on, didn’t she see that? “You SHOULD be able to go out without having to worry but life doesn’t play fair.” So, they needed to find a compromise. “Come on, let’s head inside and we’ll talk, and I’ll order something, okay?” Just… he needed to get her inside, his heart was pounding a furious tattoo in his chest.

 

Seeing the slight panic in his eyes made her nod and Jon actually swept her up in his strong arms, her head leaning on his shoulder while he carried her inside.  He took the stairs two at a time, going as fast as he could and her hand pressed against his chest, feeling how fast and hard his heart was pounding.  Christ, he had to calm down before he gave himself a heart attack!  Maxlyn kissed his neck, trying to soothe him, even after they were in the room and he simply sat with her still in his arms, pulling back to capture her mouth in the softest of tender kisses.  He was trying not to hurt her more than she already was because of her heavily bruised face and Maxlyn broke the kiss, her hand never once leaving his heart. “I really don’t want you having a heart attack, handsome,” She breathed out, murmuring against his lips and knew the kiss was partially the reason why his heartrate had accelerated. “I’m okay, I’m here with you, safe and sound.  You won’t lose me, I already told you that.  If you want to get rid of me, you have to send me away, I’m not going anywhere.” God willing anyway.

 

“Then stop talking like you were,” he rumbled, feeling her shifting so she was more comfortable in his lap and cupped her face with both hands, mindful of the swelling and bruising, he could feel the heat radiating from the area and really hoped that bastard had a broken face. “Here,” gently, he set her on the bed beside him, pushing himself up again. “I got a salve that’ll help with that a bit,” and he was going to get her more ice from down the hall after that, he was now rifling in his bag, finally pulling out a small tub of the salve. “You still hungry, darlin’?” Probably not, he knew he wouldn’t be in her shoes. Jon moved so he was now crouching before her, letting her sniff the salve and wasn’t surprised when she made a face. “It’ll help, trust me.”

It didn’t smell bad, just strong, a medical scent that made her nose wrinkle.  It smelled a lot like Vicks, actually. “Okay.” Very gently, Jon applied the salve to her face, making sure to get every bit of the heavy bruised area.  Maxlyn stared at him while he treated her, not realizing her words had hit him like a truck. “I’m sorry, Jon.  I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was leaving you.  If anything, I’m scared you’re going to leave me because of everything that’s happened.” He shook his head, reassuring her in a low voice she was stuck with him and his words made her smile while he continued applying the salve, finally pulling his fingers away. “And no, I’m not hungry.  I just wanna lay down and go to sleep.” It’d been a very long night and she was exhausted in every way possible.

 

“There’s no chance you have a concussion right?” He knew the EMTs had checked her over but still, he was an athlete, he did not fuck around when it came to concussions and a very hard slap in the head could lead to one. When she shook her head no and said they had checked for that, he just nodded, figuring he could still keep an eye on her. “I love you, Maxlyn, and I’m not leaving… but the way you were talking, it seemed like you want me to.” He felt like she was punishing herself even more, thinking she was a walking target for disaster and maybe she was, but that didn’t mean she deserved it or that she should be alone.

 

“You should, yeah.” Maxlyn would never change her mind on that, already laying down on the bed and reached for his hand to lace their fingers together. “I might end up getting you killed in the future, Jon, because of mistakes and choices I made in my past that keep coming back to haunt me.” She had NO idea that was basically the same thing Eddie had told him earlier before Jon ordered him to leave. “If you had an ounce of self-preservation, you’d run as far away from me as you can and not look back.  But I know you won’t because you love me and love makes people do stupid things, like stay with people that could potentially get them killed.” It was a simple fact. “Just like I should leave you, I should get as far away from you as I possibly can and let you live safely, but…I can’t…I won’t leave you.  I guess we’re both stupid in love, huh?”

 

“No, I shouldn’t and you should shut it, woman,” Jon would probably argue that with her for all of eternity, that might actually be something that would become their first proper fight. “Being robbed outside a Chinese place has nothing to do with your past, darlin’,” that was just stupid, that was her looking at it as every bad thing was going to be because of her past and life didn’t work that way. “That was just plain bad fucking luck.” He wasn’t acknowledging her last remarks, they were fatalistic and he didn’t do with that pessimistic shit where you called yourself basically a walking jinx. “I’m going to go get some ice, get around for bed, dollface.” He felt like he was fifty right about now.

 

She just nodded, not moving from the bed and closed her eyes, hearing the door shut a few seconds later.  Maybe it was her paranoia rearing its ugly head, but Maxlyn didn’t think tonight was plain bad luck at all.  She would not put it past Ricky to send someone after her, even a nobody gunman.  Again, it was paranoia because of the shootout and the fact they still hadn’t heard a damn word from the Las Vegas PD regarding Ricky was on both of their minds as well. Sending someone after me, no matter where I am or what I’m doing…I wouldn’t put it past that asshole. By the time Jon returned with the ice, Maxlyn had passed out, laying on her side that didn’t press her bruised face against the pillow, letting the salve kick in.  Her even breathing and the way her chest rose and fell slowly told Jon she was out cold and not even a foghorn blown in her ear would wake her up probably.

 

It was paranoia. Maxlyn had a lot of trauma, a lot of mental damage from her childhood and then her very shitty, limited experience as an adult. They were across the country and it was insane to think that some jackass in Vegas who was actively being investigated for murder would be TRYING to murder still. That was just like lighting up a big, neon sign with ‘ARREST ME’. The cops had even said this dude had a track record and had been escalating his crimes.

 

Basically, Jon thought this idea of her being a target was bullshit and he wasn’t pleased that she thought that way about herself. Vegas, yes. Here, no, that was just bad fucking luck and if it hadn’t been her, it would have been someone else. That man had been looking for an easy victim and wound up finding one, as much as it pained him to think of her as a victim. He sat on the edge of the bed, just staring down at her, unaware that he was crying until it rolled down to his lips and he tasted that tear. Don’t give up on us, darlin’… he had a feeling, if she thought she was putting his ass in danger, she’d run and he was terrified it was coming.

 

Chapter 49

 

“P-Please…”

 

“No, you asked for this, you little bitch!  You should’ve been a good little whore and done your damn job!” The masked man growled, holding the gun right to her temple and clicked the safety off, his finger squeezing the trigger.

 

She was tied to the bed, unable to move or defend herself as tears slid down from the corners of her eyes. “I-I just w-wanted a n-normal l-life…”

 

The man laughed harshly, pressing the gun even harder against her temple while continuing to thrust in and out of her, completely naked except the mask on his head. “You were never normal and if you truly wanted that, you wouldn’t have entered this line of business.  And now you’re going to pay for thinking you’re better than me!” His free hand reached up, throttling her, slowly cutting off her air supply while he continued screwing her.

 

“I-I d-don’t…”

 

“Just remember, sweetheart, I’m better than you and you know it.  Take that with you to the grave.” Then the trigger pulled, her blood and brains splattered all across his chest just as he came inside of her…

 

~!~

 

That nightmare had been a mixture of the two major traumas that happened in her life.  The shootout she didn’t consider an actual trauma because nothing bad had happened to her.  She hadn’t been held at gunpoint and managed to escape that situation.  Maxlyn was up before Jon, sitting in bed with her earbuds in, studying for her GED and had applied more of his salve to her face.  His back was to her while she scrolled on the mousepad, trying like hell not to think about that horrible nightmare and sipped more coffee she’d made from the small pot the room had.  At the very least, her face wasn’t throbbing since she had popped an Advil liquid gel and applied that salve, so that was silver lining.  She also called Lieutenant Evans and left a message for him to call her back, wanting to tell him about what happened to her, just in case it was somehow linked to Ricky.  No matter what anyone thought, including Jon, this was too much to simply be a mere coincidence, wrong place – wrong time type of scenario.  If nobody wanted to believe her, that was fine, Maxlyn would deal with it on her own like she always did.

 

Jon woke up to the sound of Maxlyn’s quiet voice on the phone with someone, he just lay there, his mind refreshing him on what had happened last night. He had gone out for dinner with the guys and she had been mugged in a parking lot beside a Chinese restaurant. He inwardly groaned, bringing a hand up over his face.

 

It was Lt. Evans, he had patiently listened to what had happened but didn’t see how it had any connection to what had happened in Vegas. “Garcia isn’t some bigtime mobster,” the man was a vicious shark, there were no two ways about that, but he wasn’t affiliated with any of the mobs, which in most eyes made him small fish. “So I don’t see how he’d be able to reach out and touch you, so to speak, from across the country, especially with all the heat raining down on him right now.

 

Why did she bother with the police in the first place?  Nobody was going to believe her, not even the love of her life.  Her gut was telling her this was Ricky’s doing, he was having her followed, watched. “I understand, Lieutenant and I’m sorry for taking up your time.” They ended the call abruptly and she tossed her phone as hard as she could, smashing it into a million pieces against the wall, trembling with anger.  She didn’t care about the phone, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t afford a new one.  The police weren’t doing a damn thing about Ricky and this so-called investigation.  He was going to get away with all the killing he’d done in Vegas because they were nothing more than whores.  The police had bigger fish to fry and it was obvious Lieutenant Evans either didn’t care about his daughter’s death or his hands were tied.  Either way, Maxlyn already planned on carrying mace and a switchblade with her from now on wherever she went, refusing to ever be a victim again.

 

He WAS working on the case but unfortunately, this shit took time and there was a lot of legal hoops and protocols. It was why things always seemed to move so slow to the general public. Like those crazy people who murdered their kids out in Idaho, the police took ‘forever’ gathering information but by the time they were done, those bastards went to prison for the rest of their lives. If you wanted your criminal out ASAP, you rushed. If you were looking to get the bad guy locked up and the key tossed, you did your damn job properly.

 

“Whoa, Maxlyn, what the fuck?” Jon was UP, having heard the way her tone shifted and then her cell phone went FLYING.

“He’s gonna get away with it.  He’s gonna get away with all of it.  Emma, Cynthia, what happened to me…all of it.” Even last night, though she didn’t say those words and tore fingers through her hair, closing her eyes to try to get her anxiety under control.  Grabbing her usual carry-on bag, Maxlyn sifted through it for a minute and found her anxiety pills, immediately popping one dryly. “I’m gonna need to have these upped after what happened last night.  When we go home to Cincinnati, I need to find a doctor there, try to set up an appointment and get these changed to something a little stronger.  Gonna need a new phone too.” That would have to wait until they were back home since Jon’s schedule was pretty jampacked and going out by herself was not the best idea right now.

 

Jon was having a hard time understanding what the fuck she was going on about. He had JUST woken up. “Wait, what do you mean he’s gonna get- get-“ a yawn was interrupting him and he swung his legs out of the bed, planting his feet on the floor. “get away with it?” He listened as she went off about the cops not doing a damn thing on this case, how Ricky would get away with those murders and probably commit more, frowning as she began pacing before she finally just stopped. He got up and walked over to her, taking her by the arms and bent down to press his lips to her forehead. “Darlin’, all this takes time… I know it fuckin’ sucks, knowing the bad guy is there and free, but… we got to be patient. They will get him.” Or else Jon had to go back to Las Vegas just so he could murder the bastard just so she could finally have some damn peace. “How’s your head feeling?” It looked…. Fantastic….

 

“It’s fine, the salve is helping a lot like you said it would.” Maxlyn wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her forehead to the middle of his chest and let a shudder ripple through her body.  Did she tell him?  Did she tell him what her fear from last night really was?  Or did she keep it to herself?  Looking up at him, Maxlyn had never kept anything from Jon, but something told her he wouldn’t believe her. “I don’t think last night was a coincidence, Jon.” There went her blurting antics again! “That’s why I called Lieutenant Evans because I wanted to make him aware of what happened to me last night in Raleigh.” He groaned, immediately stepping back from her and she folded her arms in front of her chest tightly. “You told me to go with my instincts and that’s what I’m doing.  Something about last night just…doesn’t feel right.  I don’t know why, just like I don’t know why I get chills every time I’m around Maxwell, but…what if Ricky sent someone after me in Raleigh?  What if…what if he’s trying to kill me from across the country?”

 

All Jon could do was stare down at her, one hand up against his unshaven cheek as he contemplated what the hell to say to her. On one hand, he knew she needed his support and all that, the other hand… it sounded fucking crazy and paranoid. If anyone had any reason to be paranoid it was her but they were in North fucking Carolina, thousands of miles away from Las Vegas. “Darlin’, how the fuck would he know where to find you? Raleigh isn’t a small fuckin’ town and I don’t advertise where I’m staying. The cops said this guy was already a criminal and his crimes had been getting worse.”

 

“Jon, he KNOWS who you are!  Jon Moxley, the Purveyor of Violence, a professional wrestler for the company called AEW!” That was a fact he could NOT rebuke, but Maxlyn could tell he did not believe a word she said regarding Ricky behind last night’s incident. “You are WELL-KNOWN and you can’t deny it.  And he’s not stupid.  Wherever you go, I go, especially after that damn shootout.  Your shit is advertised all over social media, your schedule and everything because of your matches that are booked.  And Raleigh, North Carolina may be a fucking city, but that wouldn’t stop Ricky.  It’s not hard to find YOU and wherever you are, I am and Ricky knows that.” Maxlyn had worked for this man from age 20 all the way until she’d overdosed with alcohol and went to rehab.  That was a long time considering she was in her early 30’s now. “I don’t give a fuck what the cops say.  I don’t trust pigs at all and that’s what they are – fucking pigs that snort donuts and coffee all goddamn day and make the WRONG people’s lives miserable!!”

 

“I’m not doing this, Maxlyn,” he was going to get a shower and have coffee, not in that order. “I’m not arguing with you, darlin’, you’re acting irrational.” And cruel as shit given Evans had lost his fucking kid to that bastard. Jon understood shit took time, they had made that clear, Evans hadn’t wanted to do anything off the books unless he had too, just to ensure Ricky couldn’t escape the snare on a legal loophole or something. She was calling them pigs… she had been a whore. He was blinking and just shook his head, shoving that all out of the forefront of his mind and grunted, walking away from her to go brew a solo cup of coffee from the tiny maker.

 

If Maxlyn had ANY inclination what he’d just thought of her now, in this moment, she would’ve slapped the hell out of him.  Even though it was true, that still would’ve really hurt her…more than him blowing her off did.  That was exactly what Jon was doing.  He was blowing her off, calling her irrational, and here she thought he’d always be on her side.  Hadn’t she just said that to him recently? “Then don’t ever bring this up to me again, Good.  I mean it.  I don’t want to hear ONE word out of your mouth about what happened to me last night, in Vegas, about Ricky, none of it.  Since you think I’m so irrational about it and I’m not thinking clearly.” What a crock of shit this was! “Don’t worry, you won’t hear another word from me about any of it.  I’m putting my earbuds in and studying while you get ready for the day.” Sitting on the bed, she opened her laptop and got to work, blasting rock music in her ears.  She didn’t have anything more to say to him, regretting ever opening her mouth in the first place.

 

His thought process had been she had been a whore, she should not be calling cops pigs and getting pissy because they weren’t moving fast enough for HER. Throwing stones and all that. He was very glad that shit stayed in his head because of what she had just said. She was losing her mind because of paranoia and she was going to act crazy, she was already acting like someone he didn’t even know and he just kept his back to her, trying to sort out where this woman had come from. He took his coffee to the bathroom, snatching up his duffel bag along the way and was mindful to avoid any pieces of that cell phone she had smashed. He knew she was under a lot of stress with everything that did happen to her, he just hadn’t anticipated her turning into someone else entirely and losing her damn mind in the process.

 

In all the time they’d known each other, this their first official fight and if they couldn’t overcome it somehow, someway, there was no way they’d survive long term.

 

~!~

 

Going home didn’t change anything between them. 

 

If anything, the tension was thicker than ever between her and Jon, so she left him alone, stayed out of his way, and just continued studying for her GED.  They barely said more than three words to each other, not even during dinner she made.  Maxlyn’s face was healing well, it would take time because it was a deep tissue bruise.  The house was absolutely beautiful, his mothers had done a fantastic job, but it was also a bittersweet feeling since her and Jon were at odds with each other.  Instead of the attack bringing them closer together, it had driven them apart because of her paranoia and ‘pissy’ attitude.  Still, she didn’t sleep in a different room, sharing a bed with Jon, but he didn’t hold her and she kept her back to him while he did the same to her.  There were no shared kisses or hugs, no touching whatsoever.  Maxlyn consumed herself in her studying, staying outside mostly on the back patio, and cried whenever she knew Jon was nowhere around.  The last thing she wanted to do was let him see just how much pain she was in, including the nightmares that plagued her on a nightly basis since the attack.

 

Luckily, Maxlyn had managed to get her anxiety medication dosage increased, so that was helping, but it didn’t stop her from looking over her shoulder.  Paranoia was not the same as anxiety, after all.  Fourth of July came and went with them going to a barbeque at his mothers and Maxlyn was friendly enough, wearing makeup to cover her bruised face.  She didn’t want others to see just how grotesque she looked and it was the first time she’d ever worn any kind of makeup since meeting Jon.  It was foundation, light colors on the eyes and a gloss on the lips, nothing major.  Just enough to cover up what had happened in Raleigh, even though Dana and Ginny knew about it already.  She made a dish to pass and hung out in the kitchen mostly while Jon stayed away, greeting the other guests his mothers had invited.

 

The drive home that night was made in silence, both in their own thoughts and too stubborn to try to start mending things.  Jon pulled into the driveway and Maxlyn slid out, jumping at the sound of a firework going off behind her.  She always hated fireworks and this holiday, rushing up to the front door to step inside while Jon retrieved Blue from the back of the truck.  Kicking her sandals off, she headed upstairs to the bedroom to change and wash the makeup off her face, sighing when the fireworks could still be heard even in here.  It was a far distant sound, but still…she could hear it and it still made her jump as she turned the water on, hoping to drown the booms out completely.

 

Jon really had no idea what to say to her because she had acted so out of character from how he had known her that he was afraid to even be around her half the time, afraid he’d say something to set her off again. He hated tiptoeing around the woman he loved, he had known she had mental damage, he had suggested therapy awhile ago and she had been against it. He left her to the bathroom, stepping out on the front porch and wished desperately for a beer, or maybe he should take up smoking. Sighing, he dropped down onto the front steps and buried his face in his hands, knowing something had to change and quickly or else they weren’t going to last much longer.

 

If they didn’t last from their first fight, there was no hope for them in the first place.  It was obvious they saw the world differently and that would cause conflict with some subjects in life.  Did that mean they couldn’t make the relationship as a whole work then?  Maxlyn wasn’t thinking that way because everyone had hard times and rough patches to go through and it was those that worked through them, compromised, and swallowed their pride a little…those were the relationships that survived.  Just because Jon didn’t agree with her and she’d gotten upset by smashing her phone didn’t mean they couldn’t work things out. 

 

Patting her face dry with the towel, Maxlyn applied the salve and left the bathroom, shutting the light off.  They were heading back on the road tomorrow and she really did not want any more friction or tension between them…they had to settle it here tonight at home.  Peeling her clothes completely off, Maxlyn decided to take a quick shower, even though she did earlier before the barbeque, and prepped herself for what she hoped would be a night of passion with Jon.  Would he turn her down?  Would he push her away?  Maxlyn stepped out about twenty minutes later, brushed her hair and teeth, and shut the light off, spotting Jon standing in front of the bay window with his back to her.  Dropping the towel, Maxlyn padded over to him and slid her hands up his bare back, the first touch they’d shared in days.

 

“I love you, Jon,” Maxlyn murmured, wrapping her arms around his waist while pressing soft kisses against his back, caressing his hips and glided her nails gently across his abs. “I need you, honey, I miss you so much…” She moved to stand in front of him, completely naked with molten brown orbs full of need and love staring up at him, her hands on the waistband of his jean shorts he had on.

 

It wasn’t the disagreement that bothered him, it was her reaction to him disagreeing with her. He got it, he probably should have worded that shit better about not wanting to argue with her because she was acting irrational. She had literally been mugged the night before, of course she had been acting irrational. But she had lost her shit. Everyone was entitled too and it had taken him a few days to realize that, everyone had a shitty moment and exploded, given everything that had happened, he should have seen it coming, especially when he said paranoid at the wrong time. Wrong shit to say literally after it happened.  Well, his eyes were darkening as he surveyed her, she was hoping to reconcile with sex, which was probably for the best since their words didn’t make each other very happy lately. “I love you too, darlin’,” he rumbled, his hands moving out to skim down her ribs to her hips, pulling her into him.

 

That was the best way to makeup with each other, right?  Makeup sex?  This was a first for her, so Maxlyn wasn’t sure how to go about it and went with her instincts.  Unsnapping his jean shorts, her hand delved inside and felt his half-mast cock, feeling it harden the moment her fingers wrapped around it.  Jon groaned, lowering his mouth to hers and she instantly melted against him, continuing to stroke him.  Her other hand caressed his chest hair, relishing the feeling of it against her fingertips and kissed him harder, deeper, relishing the taste of him. I hate fighting with him.  I don’t like it and if I have to keep my mouth shut about my paranoia to keep him happy, so be it.

 

You could have sex and not mean a fucking thing by it, you just wanted laid. Jon knew that better than most, better than her. He was thinking along the same lines as Maxlyn, knowing she didn’t want to hear anything but words that validated her paranoia and he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t. So, he would listen to what she demanded and not mention anything regarding her past, what had happened to his house in Vegas, her attack, none of it. He wanted to support her but he had to do it in a manner that wasn’t fueling her paranoia. He could do it by showing her physically he still loved her. He looped his arm around her, lifting her off the ground with ease and felt her hand leaving his shorts. It was time to take his woman to bed.

 

Sex would always mean something between them because they loved each other.  The intensity between them was off the charts and it felt so good being reunited with him.  Jon took it slow at first, but due to how long it’d been since they last had sex, it quickly turned into a ground and pound session.  Neither were complaining and Maxlyn clung to him, panting and meeting him thrust for powerful thrust, her fingers grabbing what little hair he had.  Her moans turned to cries of pleasure as the sound of their flesh colliding resonated around the bedroom, the bed itself squeaking, the headboard bouncing off the wall.  Maxlyn lost count how many times she climaxed and knew Jon held out as long as he could, wanting to make the most of this.  They didn’t stay in one position either and it ended with her collapsing on the bed in a sweaty, heaving heap with Jon leaning back on his haunches, his body coated in sweat as well.  Both groaned the moment he slid out of her, his cock having emptied nearly a week’s worth of cum inside of her receptive body.  Eventually, they both got up to cleanse themselves before climbing into bed, this time her head resting on his hairy chest. “We both needed that.” She murmured, slowly looking up at him and brushed her lips softly against his. “I love you, Jon, and I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you lately.  I promise to do better and not neglect you or keep you at arm’s length anymore.  I hate fighting with you and I never want to do it again, honey.”

 

“Same, darlin,” he was just going to have to swallow some things down if they ever did talk about that shit again, knowing neither of them were going to change their stance on it. That was what happened with two strong-willed, stubborn people and it was okay to have differences of opinion but this was… different. “I’m sorry I was a jerk,” which he had been, bad timing for what he had said, even with his ass just waking up. “I love you and I don’t want to keep doing this, ignoring each other…” which was what they were doing basically, it had been a tension filled peace.

 

“Neither do I.  And maybe you were right.  Maybe it was just a coincidence with the attack.” Those words tasted very bitter as soon as they came out of her mouth, but Maxlyn was willing to make peace with Jon, even if she had to lie about how she truly felt. “I lost my head and I know it takes time with an investigation.” Again, in her mind, Ricky was getting away with murder and the police were dragging their feet, but it was obvious Jon liked the police, so she would keep how she truly felt about them to herself. “Regardless, it’s all in the past now anyway and I just want to move on with you.” Her test was next week for her GED and Jon had gone to Tony Khan, explaining how hectic his schedule was and the reasons behind needing her for his personal assistant.  Tony agreed with him, so the moment her GED kicked in, AEW would hire her on as a personal assistant for the company and all Jon would have to take care of was the costs for his hotels, transportation, and anything else he needed.  He wouldn’t have to pay her anymore, AEW would foot the bill for her services.  She hadn’t signed a contract yet, but Jon had talked to her about it and Maxlyn agreed to do it as soon as her GED was done. “The last thing I want to do is lose you, Jon.  All I want to do is be with you, be yours, share a home with you, build a future with you, and work as your personal assistant.  Maybe I am a little dependent on you, but I don’t care.  I’ll try not to lose my shit in the future, so…are we okay now?”

 

What did she mean she was dependent on him? His brow furrowed as he considered it, wondering if she realized just how independent she was, how much she had shown this past week that she didn’t actually NEED him. Love made people nuts, he was already there, and pressed his head to hers. “Yeah, dollface, we’re okay,” he murmured, brushing his lips against hers. He wasn’t sure why it didn’t fully feel okay, maybe because nothing had been resolved outside of them reconnecting? He was turning into a fucking chick and shoved it all out of mind. Every couple had a rough patch, they’d get through this, they had already started.

 

Chapter 50

 

There had to be an addiction to Starbucks.  Or maybe it was coffee, in general.  Jon went to workout and Maxlyn simply could not stay in the hotel locked up anymore.  She assured him she had her can of mace and switchblade on her if she was attacked again.  Jon still wasn’t comfortable with her going places by herself, but she convinced him everything would be fine.

 

“Now who’s being paranoid?” She had remarked earlier that morning, folding her arms in front of her chest.

 

Jon opened and closed his mouth, finally closing the distance between them to passionately kiss her. “If anything happens to you, I’m wrapping your ass in a bubble.”

 

That made her giggle against his lips, kissing him back a little harder and deeper, their connection sexually still on point.  It was everything else that was a mess since he thought she was a paranoid freak. “I’ll be fine, you worry too much, honey.  Now go get your sweaty workout on and maybe when you get back, I’ll give you a tongue bath.”

 

“Mmm promises, promises…”

 

Needless to say, they wound up having sex instead of him going for his workout until twenty minutes or so ago.  Bryan was going to make him pay for being late for their workout and that had made her laugh harder while he scrambled to fly out the door.  Maxlyn couldn’t help chuckling under her breath about it, her face healed up for the most part with just a hint of a bruise left behind from the attack.  Stepping up to the counter, she placed her order and then went to sit down to wait for it, scrolling through her phone.

 

John had opened and closed his mouth because he had to bite back a pretty snarky reply to Miss Never Talk to Me About It Again. Her paranoia was the belief that this all tied to Ricky Garcia in Las Vegas. Jon was paranoid about her being injured or mugged again, he didn’t believe someone who was being scrutinized was reaching across the country just to kill a former hooker. This wasn’t one of those damn made for television movies, shit didn’t happen in real life. He hadn’t been lying about wrapping her in a bubble though, regardless of paranoia and shit, she was a good target. Beautiful woman, obviously took care of herself, and she had to learn some self-defense. Naturally, Jon had to navigate a million questions from Bryan on their way to the workout, he was guessing Eddie had run his mouth or something.

 

Bryan didn’t mention anything about Maxlyn, only that he was annoyed that Jon was nearly an hour late for their workout.

 

“Maxlyn?”

 

Her head popped up from her phone to stare back at none other than MJF, who looked a little hesitant approaching her.  He had on a crisp suit with his patented scarf draped around his neck, a gentle smile on his face.  That chill was still there, rushing down her spine, but Maxlyn blatantly ignored it with a smile of her own, setting her phone down on the table. “Hey Maxwell, or do you prefer if I call you MJF still?”

 

“Either one works for me.  Mind if I take a seat?”

 

“Not at all.” It was pretty crowded and busy, so it was one of the only available seats unless MJF wanted to sit with strangers. “What’s your poison?”

 

“Coffee?” That was such an odd way of asking what drink he preferred at a Starbucks of all places, he had only ever heard it used for alcohol. He was learning, however, this woman was anything but normal, she was extremely odd. He had placed his order with the barista, now he was just waiting patiently. “It is very busy in here…” he was going to have to either start seeking out alternatives to Starbucks or use the drive throughs. His eyes raked over her face, frowning slightly. That bruise was mostly gone, mostly, she was hiding the remainder beneath make-up. “Everything healing up nicely?”

 

“Yeah, thanks to this incredible salve Jon has on hand.  It hasn’t hurt or anything, no discomfort unless it’s touched, really.” Starbucks offered more than just coffee, they had amazing strawberry lemonade, for example, but today she was going with the coffee. “Some people come here for their other beverages besides coffee, so that’s why I asked what your poison was.” She clarified, crossing one leg over the other, and decided silence between them would not be happening. “I really didn’t get a chance to properly thank you for saving me that night, Maxwell.  I know it was a ‘right place, right time’ thing for you and if you hadn’t been there…” Her eyes moved to stare out the window, a thoughtful frown on her face. “I wouldn’t be here today.” Her gaze then moved back at him. “Would you mind if I covered your coffee today?  It’s the least I can do to thank you for saving my life.” Even though he had already paid for it, Maxlyn had money on her and would gladly hand it over to him. “Please?”

 

Yep, she was definitely odd and he shook his head no with a somewhat amused yet kind smile. “No, it was something any decent person would have done, you don’t need to buy me coffee.” He had ordered his coffee and a bagel, figuring a quick caffeine and snack grab was in order before he got back to the day’s business. “Seriously, you don’t,” he said when she frowned, reaching over to place his hand on top of hers in what was meant to be a friendly, reassuring gesture. “I’m just glad I was there to stop him from going any further. Have you heard from the police about it at all?”

 

Why did his touch made her nauseous?  Once again, Maxlyn shoved it down and frowned back at him, not pulling her hand away.  Even though every fiber of her being WANTED to pull away from MJF and get away from him, she refused to do it, refused to listen to those instincts Jon told her about. “No.  Not a fucking word.” The bitterness was evident in her tone and she sighed heavily, a troubled expression crossing her face. “Truthfully, I don’t think I will either.”

 

“Why do you say that?” Maxwell raised a brow at the resigned look she shot him, trying to read what was behind those deep brown eyes of hers. “You don’t trust the police?”

 

“No.” There was no reason to lie to him or hide how she felt because, unlike Jon, Maxwell didn’t know her well enough to judge her or think she was being paranoid about this situation. “It doesn’t matter what I think anyway.  Sorry, forget I said anything.” Her order was called and she stood up to go retrieve it, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice and failed.

 

Usually, when someone didn’t trust the police, it was because the system had failed them at some point or another. Or the system had failed someone closer to the person. Maxwell wanted to ask, he was curious, and his opinion didn’t really matter one way or another. The way he figured it, if jackass Billy was in the hospital still, the ball might not get moving for awhile and he was fine with that, he was still waiting on potential assault charges or something. Just because that’s how messed up this world was. When she returned, he was still thoughtful, having noted the sadness in her voice and what she had said, the way she had said it. “What you think DOES matter, Maxlyn,” he informed her, wondering why on earth she would think otherwise. It made him wonder about her relationship with Mox.

 

“It does?” Then why wouldn’t Jon at least take into consideration the possibility that Ricky was after her, even from across the country?  Why couldn’t he consider that maybe, just maybe, Ricky had far more reach than anyone realized, including the pathetic excuse for the Las Vegas PD?  Maxwell nodded, holding his finger up in a one second gesture and went to retrieve his order when his number was called, rejoining her not even a minute later with his bagel. “Even if what I think is completely crazy and unbelievable to a lot of people?” She took a sip of her coffee, trying to get the chill to go away with something warm to drink.

 

“I never said anyone had to agree with it but that doesn’t make it any less valid,” he had no idea what was going on but obviously, something was and he was too polite to overly push his nose into her business. No, she was a skittish person, pushing her too hard and too fast was going to send her back to saying he freaked her out and to stay away from her. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion.” Just like everyone else was entitled to disagree with it, it was just how life worked. “I know we’re barely more than acquaintances but I’ve been told I’m a good listener, if you ever want to talk.”

 

“Yeah?” Maxlyn didn’t care of Maxwell believed her or not, or agreed with her or not, she just needed someone to LISTEN to her without judgment and ridicule.  Without calling her paranoid or anything.  Just to simply listen and let her vent, to hear her reasons behind why she thought what she did…Jon used to do that for her until the shootout and attack with the gunman happened.  Then it was as if he’d done a complete turn on her and she thought he would be someone to always listen and be on her side with any situation.  Apparently not because he thought of her as nothing more than a paranoid mess.  Would opening up to Maxwell really hurt anything?  This man saved her life and he looked genuinely interested in what she had to say.  She honestly didn’t think he wanted in her panties or anything of the sort, but that chill and feeling being around him would not disperse. “Do you have free time right now to talk?”

 

“Yeah, you don’t wanna do it here, I take it?”

 

“No, too many prying eyes and ears.” Standing from the table, Maxlyn grabbed her coffee and lead the way out of Starbucks with MJF, thankful it was a cloudy day instead of bright and sunny.  It was still hot though, there was nothing to be done about that since it was smack dab in the middle of summer. They walked for a little while, the silence deafening and finally, Maxlyn began to talk. “I don’t think the gunman attack was coincidental, Maxwell.  I think it was deliberate and an attempt on my life, just like what happened back in Vegas at Jon’s house.”

 

It was curious, he was curious, about whatever she had to say that couldn’t be said ina  Starbucks. This, the gunman being deliberate and the house thing, was not what he had been expecting and he was obviously missing a good chunk of the story. Maxwell was quiet as he contemplated that, sipping his coffee as he considered her. “Why do you think what happened at his house was an attempt on your life?” Obviously, there had to be more to this story about her anyway, because so far, everyone thought it was just a random shooting or Jon had been a target because his minor celebrity status. If SHE had been the target, what was she involved in?

 

They found a nearby bench to sit down at and it was in front of the ocean since they were in Florida currently. How much should I tell him? “I used to work for this guy named Ricardo in Vegas.” There was no way she’d divulge what exactly she did for a living, deciding to spin it in a way that wouldn’t paint her as a whore. “It was a night job and he was very possessive of me and the other workers.  I wound in the hospital a year and a half ago with alcohol poisoning.  I overdid it after a binge and nearly died as a result.  He was the one who found me, along with a coworker, and they took me to the ER.  They thought I died, I guess.  Anyway, I was sent to a rehabilitation center in Arizona and I stayed there for a while to clean up my act.” Mentioning anything about meeting Jon in rehab was not an option either. “When I got out, I met Jon a few weeks after and we started dating.  Before I knew it, I moved in with him when he asked me to.  I already knew I loved him and he also asked me to start traveling with him on the road with him for his job.”

 

“I had NO idea who he was or what he did for a living.  I didn’t even know what professional wrestling was until I met him.  Fast-forward two months after I moved in with him and we were walking on the Strip in Vegas, after dinner, and we ran into the same coworker that found me facedown in my apartment from the alcohol poisoning.  She couldn’t believe I was alive and I knew exactly what would happen.  She’d go to Ricardo and tell him everything, that I was alive and since he’s a possessive prick, he came after me.  That was what the shootout was about.  He sent goons with guns to Jon’s house, shot it up with me inside, and I managed to escape with just scrapes from the broken glass.” She showed him a particular lovely scar on the side of her wrist that would be there for the rest of her life as a reminder of what happened. “That was the same day Jon went to Josh Barnett’s event and he had left me home for the first time by myself…and he hasn’t let me stay home by myself since.  Fast-forward a few months after that and now there’s a gunman outside of a Chinese restaurant, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and you saved me from him.  My belief is Ricardo sent him after me and when I said this to Jon, he called me paranoid.  Now, here’s my question to you, Maxwell: Do you think that’s paranoia or do you think there’s even a remote POSSIBILITY I could be right?”

 

Maxwell was not an idiot. She had gone to rehab, Jon had gone to rehab. Most likely, that was where they had met but she didn’t want to admit it. Jon had stuck by his ‘café’ story, that nobody believed but nobody bothered him anymore either. He wasn’t going to push it, knowing instinctively she didn’t just confide into anyone and everyone she came across so the fact that it was him was shocking. “Both,” he answered honestly after thinking about it. “I’d be surprised if you WEREN’T paranoid after that house was shot up, I’d wonder about your mental state if you weren’t, that’s a pretty big deal. I think the odds of it being this guy from Vegas… honestly, a long shot but totally within the realm of possibility. We’ve all seen the news in the past few years, crazy shit happens.”

 

“Right?  I’m not saying for certain it was him, but there is a possibility that this wasn’t a mere coincidence either.” It felt so good for someone to finally understand where she was coming from.  Granted, the only person she really talked to about this was Jon, but that was irrelevant.  Jon should’ve been the ONLY person she should’ve needed to converse with about her feelings and instead of supporting her thought process, he had flat out called her paranoid.  The more Maxlyn thought about it, the more it really hurt and bothered her a lot more than she originally thought. “With today’s technology and especially social media, you can’t simply say there’s no way in hell that type of thing could happen.  Like you said, crazy shit happens ALL the time in this world.  And what pisses me off the most is the cops are worthless when it comes to their jobs.  Ricardo is running free right now in Vegas, doing whatever he wants, when he should be locked up and put behind bars.  He murdered two of my coworkers, Cynthia and Emma.” That made Maxwell’s eyes widen and she nodded, not caring if he knew about this anymore. “And that is why I truly think there is a possibility he’s sending people after me to finish the jobs his goons couldn’t get done in Vegas.  And maybe I am being paranoid, but I’d rather be paranoid than a blind bitch, you know?”

 

“They know for a fact it was him?” Social media and all that was indeed a thing and with the information she had given him, he could easily find out the bits of story she was leaving out on his own. He idly wondered if that thought had occurred to her. Social media was a two-way street, it could be used to coordinate crimes and it could be used to bring criminals to justice. “And they haven’t done anything? That’s fucking crazy.” He had finished his coffee and was just toying with the cup now, shaking his head. “Crazy,” he echoed, disbelief in his tone. “I don’t blame you for being paranoid, that’s a lot. What kind of business does he have?”

 

Chapter 51

 

Of course he would ask that and now Maxlyn would look shady as hell with her answer.  She couldn’t lie about it, especially if he decided to be nosy and snoop online about Ricardo.  Then again, she hadn’t given a last name, only his first, but the shootout to Jon’s house was everywhere.  Fans were in an uproar over it, the man definitely had a huge fanbase. “A strip club.” Maxlyn regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth, her eyes lowering to her own half-drank cup of coffee. “I’m a former stripper, Maxwell.  It’s a sob story that I don’t want to get into, but…he’s the owner and any dancers that worked for him he considered his property.” Her hands tightened on the cup, tears stinging her eyes at the memory of what Ricky did to her.  Those 24 hours of pure hell…it was something Maxlyn had to live with, a burden she had to carry for the rest of her life. “You probably think less of me now, don’t you?” Even though she no longer did it and had tried quitting her ’job’, only to be kidnapped and raped, which caused the domino effect of her life going forward.

 

“Why would I and why would it matter?” He was genuinely curious why she would think that. He was a man, he appreciated strippers both as sexually gratifying creatures and he definitely admired the strength it took to do some of the shit they did on poles. “What you do to earn your money is your business, not mine, though it makes a bit more sense, about why your former boss was possessive.” Because no boss should be possessive of employees like that, enough to shoot up houses and shit, to kill people, unless they were scumbags and in a business that made them a lot of money. Stripping, in Vegas, there was a lot of money there. “I’m guessing you and Mox don’t see eye to eye on this.”

 

“No, he thinks I’m being paranoid and it was all a big coincidence.  I’m sorry, but living the type of life I have, I don’t brush ANYTHING aside.  I don’t believe in coincidences either, especially when it involves my life being put in danger.” First the shootout, then this gunman attacking her…there was no way it could be a coincidence. “We had our first major fight over it and I told him we just need to stop talking about it since we don’t agree with each other’s viewpoints.” It had been a lot of sex since the night they ‘made up’ at home, but the tension still hung in the air between them.  It wasn’t stifling and Maxlyn was determined to make their relationship work, despite differences they had about life. “He’s the one person I thought would always have my back.  I would never tell him he was being paranoid when something traumatic happened to him.  And like I said, maybe this is my paranoia getting the better of me.  I don’t deny that.  But at least CONSIDER what I’m saying instead of instantly blowing me off and brushing it aside and act like something like that can NEVER happen.  That’s not right or fair to do to the person you supposedly love.”

 

There was definitely trouble in paradise and Maxwell just nodded his agreement with what she had said, it wasn’t right or fair to do that to the person you loved. Of course, he could see Moxley’s point of view as well, it was far-fetched and highly unlikely, especially since they now knew the punk who had assaulted her had already been a criminal in Raleigh with a history of escalation. But, given what had happened to her over the past few months, Maxwell could see why she would be paranoid and jump to those far-fetched conclusions, the mind was a terrifying place sometimes. “I’m sorry you’re going through all this, Maxlyn,” he said sincerely, knowing it couldn’t be easy. “I’m sure you feel pretty alone right now and that’s not right.”

 

It was like a bolt of lightning struck her, the velocity of his words cutting her deeply because he wasn’t wrong.  She did feel alone.  Even though she was on the road with Jon and sleeping in the same bed with him, even having sex with him, that was only on a physical level.  Her emotional and mental state was shattered and she couldn’t rely on Jon because he thought she was being paranoid.  All he had to do was consider the possibility this could all be Ricky trying to kill her instead of being mean and shutting her down, calling her paranoid. “I do, yeah.” Maxlyn hadn’t felt this alone since the rehabilitation center, before meeting Jon and falling in love with him, after he promised her the world.  Before she could stop them, tears began cascading down her cheeks and she didn’t look at Maxwell. “What would you do if you were me, Maxwell?  I don’t want to lose him.  I love Jon so much, but…this hurts me and I’ve never felt pain like this before.” Heartache from a relationship…relationships didn’t exist to her until Jon came into the picture and completely changed her life. “Talking to him won’t help or fix anything either.”

 

“I honestly don’t know, Maxlyn,” he admitted, able to see it from both sides. He could see why she would be paranoid and terrified, a HOUSE had been shot up while she was in it. Basically, a hit had been put out on her. He would be jumping at every little car backfiring if he were in her shoes. On the other, he could see why Moxley would want it to be paranoia and nothing else, just a coincidence, especially if he truly loved her. That would be terrifying, to constantly worry the love of your life was going to be snatched from you at any given second. Ignorance could be bliss. Finally, he began explaining how he could see both viewpoints, figuring an unbiased opinion could maybe help her. “Jon needs to see it from your perspective and I don’t wonder if he’s not trying to just stuff it all away because he’s afraid of losing you.”

 

That was something she hadn’t thought about and it made her frown, not believing how selfish she’d been not to take Jon’s thoughts and feelings into consideration. “You really think so?” Of course he did, Maxwell wouldn’t have said it otherwise.  What if Jon really was terrified of thinking, for a second, she was being targeted from across the country?  What if the truth was too much for him to handle? “I never thought of it that way.  Him stuffing it all down because of fear.” Maxlyn knew all about that and had done it more times than she cared to count or remember. “The shootout did scare him a lot.  It’s the reason why he won’t let me go home by myself to stay and he wants me on the road with him.  Truthfully, I don’t trust being home alone either, not even in Cincinnati.  I feel safer being with him and I know he’s probably beating himself up over the fact he left me alone the night of the gunman attack…” Sighing heavily, she dried the tears up and felt Maxwell’s hand on her shoulder, slowly looking up at him. “Living our lives in fear, constantly looking over our shoulders…I don’t want to live like that.  I just wish the damn cops would arrest Ricardo already and toss his ass behind bars.  I’d feel a lot more at ease if that at least happened.”

 

That part was definitely confusing and Maxwell frowned, standing up to stretch and then brush off his suit before adjusting his scarf, extending a hand to her when he was done. “So, if they got all this evidence that he’s the one who did it, this Ricardo guy, why don’t they just arrest him already?” He knew that sometimes, things took time, but TWO murders and they knew it was this guy but he was still walking free? That just didn’t add up. “I wonder if they’re dirty cops…” That was not unheard of at all, in fact, it was a regular on news everywhere these days it seemed.

 

 

“You know what’s fucked up?” Maxlyn had taken his hand without hesitation, letting him pull her up from the bench and they started walking again while she spoke.

 

“What could be more fucked up than the guy murdering two of his employees that he thinks is his property?”

 

“One of the Lieutenant’s that’s on the ‘case’,” She did the finger quotation marks, sounding disgusted. “Is the father of one of the girls that was murdered.”

 

That made Maxwell stop dead in his tracks, his eyes widening while staring down at Maxlyn with a dropped jaw. “What?!  Are you serious?” He was really trying to wrap his mind around that, blinking. “But…if his daughter was killed by this asshole…”

 

“Exactly.  Jon said shit takes time and they have to do it by the book, but like you said, they have ALL this evidence and shit.” It had been several months since that shootout happened, four months to be exact, and NOTHING was done.  No phone calls letting them know at the very least Ricky had been arrested. “They have MORE than enough to nail him, to send him to prison for life, and they’re not doing a goddamn thing.  This is why I can’t stop cops.  They only care about the almighty dollar and it would not surprise me one bit if they were all crooked and dirty.  And when I told Jon that, he got all defensive on me.  Apparently, he’s a cop lover.” She snorted, rolling her eyes. “I’ll never, ever trust cops as long as I live.” There was a damn good reason for that too.

 

What Maxlyn had been told but either forgot or chose to ignore was the fact that the department had been investigating Ricky for awhile as part of an ongoing sex trafficking case. Every little last thing had to be done by the letter or else there was a risk of the man going free on a technicality. Sex trafficking, dealing drugs, murdering prostitutes, this was too big to fuck up. Many cases took over a year to crack, and then there was just dealing with the day to day of being a cop and more cases being added, more crimes, forces got stretched thin.

 

“Wait, Moxley is a cop lover?” Maxwell had no real opinion one way or another because he rarely had to deal with them, except when he saved a beautiful woman from getting a face full of bullets. “That… seems surprising, actually.” The man’s nickname was the Purveyor of Violence!

 

It didn’t matter to Maxlyn though.  Ricky should’ve been caught a LONG time ago, before these murders even happened in the first place.  That was her opinion and she was entitled to it, just like Jon was entitled to his and Maxwell to his.  Everybody was entitled to their own opinions and her opinions of police, in general, was they were corrupt pigs, who snorted donuts and coffee and did not care about people at all.  That was from her horrible experience with police in the past and it made her a little biased, but that was normal given what she’d been through. “It wouldn’t surprise me one iota if they released that gunman, whatever his name was that tried KILLING me and you, on a technicality, Maxwell.”

 

“I hope not,” Maxwell shuddered at that, having already considered the possibility of being called in for assault or something. He knew that was a risk of defending someone because in theory, you were supposed to deescalate the situation enough to GET AWAY, once you passed that point, it became assault. It wasn’t HIS fault he had seen red when he realized what was going on. “They said he had started off with petty stuff and was ‘moving up’, if he tried it once and they let him walk, he’ll do it again.” And there might not be a good Samaritan the next time. “I’m a bit surprised to find you out today, to be honest.” Especially without Moxley.

 

“Well, as I explained it to Jon, I can’t live my life in fear and I can’t be holed up in the hotels all the time.  I might as well be at home if I’m going to do that.” Jon wasn’t with her often, even though they were traveling together.  He had a hectic, busy schedule and couldn’t always be with her, even at the arenas, which Maxlyn didn’t mind for the most part.  At least she was in the same state as him, the same town/city, so he could get to her quickly if needed.  It did help she could defend herself with the mace and switchblade, having learned a few techniques from Jon before they started arguing. “Thank you for listening to me today.  I know I unloaded a lot on you, but you really helped me out.  I owe you again, Maxwell.”

 

“No, you don’t, quit saying that,” but he was chuckling even as he shook his head. “Maybe next time, I’ll let you buy me that coffee.” Providing there even was a next time. “I agree though, you can’t live your life in fear and you shouldn’t have too.” He then considered her, his head tilting to the side thoughtfully. “I will say this and I hope you don’t get mad at me. You have every right to be paranoid Maxlyn, more than anyone I’ve ever met, but don’t let it rule your life, okay?” There was a difference between being PREPARED and PARANOIA, he hoped she took the prepared route, knowing it could be a coincidence but not accepting it as such and making sure she had a game plan, just in case. Paranoia itself, could destroy your life, ruin your relationships, as it seemed she was finding out. He had not missed the derisive snort from her when she had been talking about her boyfriend, there was trouble in paradise.

 

“I won’t.  I’ll just have to prepare myself the best I can, just like I did when that shootout happened.” Mentally, she had mapped out Jon’s entire house, having a lot of downtime during that period and that was the only reason she was alive right now.  Every room had an escape route planned and she would do the same thing with the house in Cincinnati.  Also, it was time to up her game as far as defense went…at the very least learning how to throw a punch or get out of a hostage predicament.  Trapped against a wall, in a room, or anything of that nature. “I wouldn’t mind grabbing coffee with you again and hanging out.  You’re a really nice guy and I don’t have a lot of friends in this company, so…I consider you a friend, especially after today.  And if you ever need to vent to me about anything, I’ll be happy to lend you an ear.”

 

“I will remember that, Maxlyn,” he was smiling down at her. It was great progress that they had gone from he weirded her out and she had wanted him to stay away and now she was calling him her friend. It was interesting how things worked out.  “I don’t want to step on Moxley’s toes though,” he knew some guys were cool with their woman having male friends and some guys weren’t. He had no idea which category Mox fell into and if it was the latter, he didn’t want to have to go into a real life war with the other man. “I’ve got to get going, I will see you later.” He grinned when she flashed him a smile, glad to see that sadness had vacated her eyes, at least temporarily.

 

“Take care, Maxwell, and thank you again.”

 

Chapter 52

 

Later that night, Jon arrived at the hotel to a great surprise.  It was lit up in candles with rose petals all over the floor leading to the bed and Maxlyn was on her knees, in a black negligee that didn’t leave much to the imagination.  She had done some shopping after her talk with Maxwell, taking his words to heart regarding Jon.  They had sex, but it hadn’t been anything like before and she missed that connection with him, wanting it back.  She walked up to him, seeing the surprise on his face and smiled, reaching up to caress his bearded face.  The way she kissed him was different than the past week and a half, it was sensual and slow, full of fire, passion, and above all else, love.  There was intense feeling within it and it made her slightly tremble, especially when she pulled back to stare into his deep smoldering cerulean orbs.  Taking his strong hands in hers, Maxlyn guided him towards the bed and gently pushed him down to where she could straddle his lap, kissing him again even deeper and a little harder, tasting him.

 

“I’ve been doing some thinking today while you were gone and I realized, even though we’ve been all right on the surface, this,” She gestured between them. “Hasn’t been the same.  You think I’m being paranoid and I…I didn’t take what you thought and felt into consideration.  I was only worried about how I felt and what I thought.  That wasn’t fair to you, Jon.  I wasn’t being fair to you and I’m so sorry for that.  You’re just being practical about this situation and…I flew off the handle and I’ll admit, I wasn’t thinking very clearly.  I love you and I definitely don’t want this to come between us, so I’m done being paranoid, honey.” She kissed him again, feeling his arms tighten around her and clung to him, needing him even closer if that was possible. “Instead of being paranoid, I’m going to be prepared instead, so…I wanna do what you offered.  I want you to teach me how to fight, to defend myself, just in case I need to do it in the future.  It’s not paranoia, but I do want to be prepared for whatever comes our way.  I know you can’t always be there to protect and defend me, as much as we both want you to be.  You were right.”

 

Jon had felt it that night that they had physically reconciled, like things still weren’t all right, they had only come together physically. Since that morning, things had been tense between them everywhere but the bedroom and he had been trying to sort out how he wanted to address it with her. He knew their relationship wouldn’t survive if something didn’t change, didn’t give. A sex only relationship would not work with her, not for long, because eventually she’d start to feel like she was being used for her body and that couldn’t be further from the truth. So… right now, he was a bit flabbergasted that she had come to him first given she had been the one to explode and lose her shit. He honestly always thought he’d be the one doing that. “I shouldn’t have dismissed you, darlin’,” he said it slowly, not wanting her to think he believed that Garcia was behind it because he still didn’t. BUT, it was also in the realm -far-fetched as it was- of possibility. “It’s a valid concern.”

 

“But I shouldn’t have flew off the handle the way I did and breaking my phone and snapping on you like that.  I’m scared, Jon.  I’m scared after what happened in Vegas and Raleigh, and I didn’t know how to tell you that.” Pressing her forehead to his, it felt good to not only open up to Jon like this, but to hear him at least admit he had dismissed her.  He’d made a mistake by doing that because it had pushed her away and she made a mistake by trying to bottle up how she truly felt about the situations. “And I know you’re scared as well about all of this.” Just as Maxwell said, Jon slowly nodded, holding her even closer and she gave him another sensual, deep kiss. “Keeping things from each other isn’t what we do, we’ve told each other everything, including how we feel, from day one.  I’ll never do that again.  I’ll never shut you out again, honey, I promise.”

 

Oh, they had told each other how they felt. He had felt like she was being paranoid and he had made that clear. She had felt like he was an asshole and she had made that clear. But they hadn’t resolved anything or gone further than that, which they should have, not down the anger route but clarified their positions and viewed the other’s view compassion and respect. “I won’t either, darlin’,” sex to resolve their fight had felt empty, she was actively seducing him with her candles and lingerie, but there was talk involved and he actually felt more loving towards her then he had in days. “I love you and I’m sorry for our fight,” that felt weird, Jon could not remember ever being in a relationship like this, ever. He loved this woman, there was no doubt about it.

 

“I’m sorry too, Jon.” Sex had been full of animosity and anger towards each other for their differences, for not being able to clarify what the other meant.  It wasn’t empty at all, it was just full of negativity and Maxlyn hated it.  She never wanted to feel that way again with Jon. “And thank you for listening to me and not blowing me off.  I know you didn’t mean to and you didn’t agree with my assumptions and I now understand why.  I just wanted you to hear me out without judgment.  I felt like…like that’s what you were doing, judging me just because I viewed things differently than you.  But you were right, I was being paranoid and I’m going to work on that.  Like I said before, all we can do is prepare for whatever is coming.  And there may not be anything, but at least we’ll be ready for it.  I’m not living my life in fear anymore because of that rat bastard.” Sliding her hands up his shirt, Maxlyn sighed at the feeling of that soft chest hair and could see the curiosity burning in his eyes. “And now that we’re finally back on the same page, I want to do something for you, relieve some of that tension in your body and make you complete mush.  But first you have to get naked and then lay on your stomach on the bed.” There would be no sex right away, she had a plan to pamper her man and she was going to do it.

 

She solved a lot of shit with physicality, it was almost like him except on the flip side. He used his fists to solve it with pain, she used sensuality. They were two sides of the same coin, together but usually but also showing different aspects. He supposed that was probably the most accurate way of thinking about their relationship. He knew they weren’t aways going to see eye to eye. He saw her viewpoint on this whole thing, he didn’t agree with it but he got it. He should have said THAT right out the gate, knowing she had been terrified and hurting, and he had insert his foot right into the shit and made things worse. "Why don’t you let me pamper you, darlin’?” Because his ass was in the wrong on this one.

 

“Jon…” He really did not like her pampering him.  This was not the first time he turned the tables on her and she couldn’t deny the man anything.  That was both a blessing and a curse at times for her.  Maxlyn opened her mouth to protest, but his finger pressed against her lips, shaking his head. “You really are stubborn.” She murmured in a pout and he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “All right, but I’m reciprocating when you’re done with me.” Something told her that wouldn’t happen as she slid off his lap long enough to grab the sensual massage oil she’d picked up today, along with the rose petals and candles. “I was going to give you a full body massage with this  It smells really good and I thought you’d like it.”

 

He had nothing against being pampered, he just preferred her going first because he’d want to return the favor. But this woman and her massages had a way of making him so relaxed, he was prone to falling asleep. “Fine,” she had a look on her face, like she was genuinely disappointed he wasn’t letting her pamper him. He took the bottle to sniff it, raising an eyebrow. “Where’d you get this at?” Apparently, she was leaving the hotel rooms again after what happened in Raleigh. Part of him was terrified at the thought and the other part of him knew she couldn’t live her life cooped up in fear.

 

“Remember I told you I was going out to Starbucks for some coffee after you left for your workout today.  Well, I spotted a little shop with some goodies on the way there and stopped in to see what they had.  That’s where the candles and rose petals, and this lovely massage oil came from.  I wanted to do something nice for you, to make up for being such a bitch.” There was no denying it, she was a complete bitch to him all because he didn’t see things from her point of view.  Jon was entitled to his opinion and they didn’t always have to agree on every single thing. Maxwell, you saved my relationship, thank you. “Do you like the scent or is it not your cup of tea, honey?”

 

There was some irony in the guy she thought creepy, who still gave her the creepy crawlies, being the one to save her relationship. But he had made some solid points, evidently. So, he had saved her from being booted out of an arena by an overzealous security guard. He had saved her from eating a bullet in that shitty parking lot by the Chinese place. He had now saved her relationship by framing things from both perspectives and being open minded. The world was a funny place.

 

“It’s different darlin’,” scented massage oil, kind of like that spa place they had gone too. “Wait, do we need towels and cucumbers?” He was teasing now, feeling better when he was rewarded with a smile from her, she apparently remembered that too.

 

 

“If you want cucumbers on your eyeballs and warm towels, that can be arranged.” Jon shook his head, standing to tower over her and removed his shirt completely, her eyes instantly drinking him in. “This oil warms as soon as it touches your skin from what I read on the bottle.  It’s supposed to be both relaxing and sensual at the same time.” Taking just a squirt in her fingertip, she slid it down directly in the middle of his stomach, stopping at the shorts he still had on. “It’s also edible.” He arched a brow, watching her unsnap his shorts and turned him, pushing them down his long legs until he stepped out of them to kick to the side. “Front or back first?”

 

“Back,” before the hard-on hit, there was no way he could do front first and then roll over, not without killing himself or breaking his dick. “You done ogling me, woman?” He asked, raising a brow as she openly took him in and playfully dropped his hands to cover his dick. “My eyes are up here.” It felt good to be teasing and playful with her again, it had been tense since their fight that morning. It felt like maybe things were going to get back on track and be right again. He watched, his eyes darkening, as his little minx bent forward and ran the tip of her tongue along the line of oil she had left down his stomach, hissing when he felt the oil heating up. Jesus, she was trying to kill him already. 

 

The hunger in her molten brown eyes was fierce, powerful, and the craving to be with him instead of pampering him was otherworldly. “I know where your beautiful blues are, but I’m a little preoccupied with the rest of your body at the moment, honey…” She purred, wrapping her hand around his cock and began to stroke him slowly, the oil coating her fingers and now him.  He groaned again and she pushed him down on the bed, the pad of her thumb brushing across his tip. “I love the effect I have on you, makes me feel good.  I’m sorry, but the body massage will have to wait until later.  This oil isn’t just for massages, it’s also to enhance lovemaking and all we’ve been doing lately is fucking hard.  Tonight will be different.” Maxlyn poured more oil into her hands, gliding her free one across his abs and down that rock hard stomach of his again while continuing to fondle him. “Not fair that you’re the only one naked, I’ll fix that right now.” Rising back to her feet, the negligee was all one piece, no panties beneath it, but Jon hadn’t known that until this very moment while watching her undress in front of him.  Taking some oil, she began touching herself, her smooth pussy lips glistening with it in the candlelight, and her hand went right back to stroking him again. “Oh god, it’s so warm…”

 

Jon actually felt like he had just been cheated out of something, his jaw open and on the ground as he watched her touching herself before resuming touching him. It was interesting though, how she took over in the bedroom, how she told him what they were going to do, even if she had changed her mind about what they were doing. It made him think she had some dominatrix issues that needed to be explored. That thought, on top of her hand back to caressing him, had him pulsing. He was sure the oil also had something to do with it, there was heat and some other sensation he couldn’t quite place going on right now.

 

He wasn’t cheated out of anything.  The sex came first, then that followed a shower and then the massage afterwards.  The oil felt amazing the moment he slid inside of her and Maxlyn made a mental note to get more of this stuff, in different scents.  It was great.  By the time she finished with Jon, he was a pile of mush in the bed and had actually fallen asleep after the sex and massage.  Good, that was what she wanted because he’d been tossing and turning since the gunman incident, not sleeping well.  Cleaning up the oil, Maxlyn slid into bed and felt his arm move to drape over her instinctively, but he didn’t wake up once. I definitely owe Maxwell a coffee or three for helping me. Looking at his sweet, handsome face, she leaned over to brush her lips against his. “I love you, Jon.” Feeling content for the first time in a couple of weeks, Maxlyn was soon asleep as well, the nightmares temporarily ceased.

 

Chapter 53

 

Ricardo Garcia was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, sex-trafficking, and illegal drug possession.

 

That news came just a day after taking her GED test online and Maxlyn was still waiting for the results, on pins and needles about them.  She thought she did well in a lot of subjects, but English wasn’t her strong suit.  She listened on speakerphone as Lieutenant Evans explained what would happen next.  He’d be fingerprinted, questioned extensively, and thrown in jail until his trial, which would be two months from the day.  She promised to be there, wanting to testify against him to make sure he was sent up the river for a long time.  Hanging up with the Lieutenant, Maxlyn was tempted to call Jon and tell him the outstanding news, but instead, she wanted to wait until he returned to the hotel since he was at the arena working.  In fact, he was on television at the moment, tagging with Bryan against MJF and Shawn Spears.  As if that news wasn’t enough to put a bright smile on her face, they were leaving for Florida for their beach getaway later that night as soon as Jon was finished with Dynamite.  For one glorious week, Jon hadn’t booked a single thing, wanting to celebrate with her and Tony Khan had no problem with it since he wouldn’t miss any shows.

 

Jon already knew because he was a part of the case, it had been his house and he had received the same call she did, just from a different detective. He had honestly been expecting shit to take longer since he knew things took time but he wasn’t bitching either, he knew this would help her opinion of police improve. They weren’t all pigs, just some. The RELIEF he felt, knowing this was finally behind them, that that motherfucker couldn’t hurt her anymore… it made him grin and feel even better about Florida, about what he was planning on doing. He had the ring, safely hidden from her, and had been waiting for the perfect time. Now, it was here.

 

The moment Jon came back to the room and she saw the sparkle in his beautiful electric blues, Maxlyn felt tears sting her eyes as she ran towards him, jumping into his arms.  It was over.  They could finally be happy and safe with Ricky put away and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind he’d get life in prison with no parole.  That was what Lieutenant Evans and the rest of the Las Vegas PD were aiming for.  With her testimony at his upcoming trial, they would have this in the bag.  Lieutenant Evans did ask her one last time if she remembered who the man was that had kidnapped and raped her for the 24 hours Ricky paid him to do and she swore on everything she stood for she didn’t.  The drugs were heavy in her system during those 24 hours and, more than likely, she’d never be able to recall who it was that hurt and violated her.  It didn’t matter to Maxlyn anymore because the real culprit, Ricardo Garcia, was off the streets and she could finally move on completely with Jon.

 

They had asked her that because they had poured through the man’s computers, his phones, his Cloud servers, the whole kit and kaboodle and were only able to nail a few of the man’s associates. Obviously, there were more but if they were smart, they’d back out of this business and stay underground with the rest of the vermin.

 

“I love you, darlin’,” he whispered, his face buried in her throat. He could feel her trembling, knowing it wasn’t from fear but pure happiness. It was over and she could finally, FINALLY start moving on with her life properly, without having to be paranoid and constantly looking over her shoulder. And hopefully, with a ring of intent on her finger soon.

 

Her trembling stemmed from too much emotion flowing through her at once, her legs locked around his waist and her arms on his neck. “They want me to testify against him in two months at his trial.” Pulling back, she stared into Jon’s eyes and rubbed her nose against his gently, seeing the concern on his face. “I told him I would do anything to help make sure that bastard is sent up the river for the rest of his life.  And if you can’t come with me because of your schedule, I can handle it on my own.  I also have some more great news.” His grin told her he already knew what she was about to say, but she would anyway. “I passed.  I’m officially a high school graduate.”

 

“I knew you would, Maxlyn,” she had been studying her ass off, even with everything else going on around her. This woman’s bravery and determination… he was a lucky son of a bitch and he knew it. Even with their ups and downs -thankfully the downs had really only been the once when they hadn’t been on the same page-, they were coming out of everything together. He was a bit nervous, he had talked to Chris about proposing, if he thought it was too soon... he had also sworn Chris to secrecy because of what had happened with Eddie. Chris liked Maxlyn and thought she was good for Jon, he also thought Eddie needed to shut the hell up and quit being an assclown. “You ready to go? We both deserve this vacation, don’t you think?”

 

“Born ready and yeah we do.” The bags were all packed and ready to go as Jon set her down, with another deep kiss full of so much promise and love.  They grabbed their bags and Jon grabbed her hand, leading her out of their room to check out of the hotel before heading to the airport.  A redeye straight flight to their destination, Anna Maria, Florida, one of the top beach house rental resorts in the state.  Or so Maxlyn thought, but Jon had other plans in mind for them and had secretly made the changes without her knowing.

 

Nobody saw the narrowed eyes watching them from his own room, which was conveniently on the same floor as Moxley and HIS little stripper whore.

 

“So, I have to confess something to you, darlin’.  We’re not going to Anna Maria.  We’re in Florida all the time and you wanted a beach getaway, so I found some place better to go.” Jon explained while they drive to the airport, grinning at the perplexed expression on her beautiful face. “Do you trust me?”

 

“Of course I do, so where are we going then?” Maxlyn asked, curiosity and excitement both burning in her eyes and could see the smirk curving Jon’s lips. “Jon…”

 

He chuckled, kissing the back of her hand. “It’s a surprise, darlin’.” And one of many for their getaway.  It would truly surpass the others they had taken and he could not wait to get started.

 

Lanai City, Hawaii was their real destination and where they were staying was called the Four Seasons Resort Lanai.

 

They would land in Honolulu and then catch another flight, a luxury flight at that courtesy of Lanai Air to the island of Lanai. Was it the beaches with privacy he had been contemplating? No, there would be others, this place was difficult to get into and he had had to pay out the ass, thanks peak season! He hadn’t had a pick of rooms but from web searching, they were all beautiful and he had a feeling he was paying out the house because he had gotten a really, really expensive one during said season, and it was probably the last, the place had told him they were approaching max capacity. He could believe it. However, there was swimming in the ocean as well as the pools, spa services, fine dining, the whole kit and kaboodle. He had ordered ahead for specific clothing for them both, along with the accessories that’d go with the outfits, the works. He was going to make this a vacation to remember.

 

If Maxlyn would’ve known what Jon had done and how much this vacation was costing them, she would’ve immediately given him at least half.  That was the original agreement between them was for her to pay half, but Jon had changed everything on her.  He simply told her not to worry about it, he had it covered and he wanted her to enjoy herself now that she was completely free and had gotten her GED.  One of her lifelong dreams that seemed so far away and impossible to obtain, she did it and he wanted to celebrate with her.  Now Jon couldn’t keep the surprise of where they were going due to the plane tickets having the destination on them and whatnot, so when Maxlyn say Honolulu, Hawaii, her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “Oh my god!  We’re going to HAWAII?!”

 

The original agreement no longer applied because he had purposefully changed everything without her input, this was all on him. The vacation, the amenities he had signed them up for -his and hers spa day, he would never live that shit down if it got out-, the clothing… all on him. “Yeah, we’re going to Hawaii, dollface,” he was amused and it showed because she had attracted attention with that exuberance, mostly good. Hawaii could be a magical place, if you could afford it, and that’s what he wanted, that magical, romantic feel. They were making some memories this week. “Come on, adventure awaits.” If she was excited now… he could only imagine when she seen the island resort.

 

The entire flight there, Maxlyn barely contained her excitement while Jon slept, his head resting on his shoulder.  She gently slid her fingers through it, doing her best not to wake him.  He had to be tired since he wrestled earlier that night and now they were on a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii.  She had no idea this would not be their first flight to get to where Jon’s surprise.  When they arrived in Honolulu, instead of leaving the airport, Jon guided her to another terminal, making her raise a slow brow.  Where were they going? “We have to take another flight to get there?” He merely grinned at her with a nod, having both tickets in his hand for the luxury flight to Lanai.  When they boarded the plane and she realized they were the only ones on it, Maxlyn’s jaw dropped almost to the floor. “This is crazy…”

 

The luxury charter flight was part of the resort’s package and luxury was definitely the word to use. It was small, obviously, but would have seated the eight maximum people comfortably. Just the two of them and it was like… he didn’t have words. Leather, executive seating with plenty of leg room, beautiful woodwork for other areas, it was gorgeous actually. He had requested, when informed that there would be a bottle of champagne and strawberries as a snack, that the champagne be switched for a sparkling juice. “There will be some kind of ground transport waiting for us,” he informed her once they were settled, their luggage being taken care of outside of the plane. “Don’t you dare Google it.” Lanai, if she looked that up, she’d ruin the surprise.

 

“I’m not.  As much as surprises make me nervous, I know you’ve got something huge up your sleeve and I don’t want to ruin it.” Slipping her phone in the back pocket of her shorts, Maxlyn touched his bearded face and brought his lips to hers, softly kissing him. “You really are amazing, you know that?  And a little sneaker too.” His arms went around her as they kissed a little more, temporarily getting lost in each other until they heard a throat clear behind them.  Red as a cherry, Maxlyn nodded when they were told it was time to take their seat and buckle up.  Jon was grinning like a Cheshire cat and wrapped his arm around her as soon as they were ready to go, her head leaning against him. “How long is the flight?”

 

“A few hours,” and the cockpit was right there so he couldn’t introduce her to the mile-high club, that was a downside to these smaller planes. “If you want to grab a nap, now’s the time to do it,” given they had left out after his work, in the evening, he imagined they’d both go back to bed for a few hours and wake up refreshed, ready to enjoy the vacation. He had taken the liberty of getting her a new swimsuit, a two piece, nothing she would feel uncomfortable in -he hoped, he HAD read reviews- but it had been the color that attracted him. With her hair dyed, her beautiful brown eyes…. Yeah, he could envision her in this on the sands of the beach, he was giving himself a hardon and internally groaned.

 

“I won’t say no to that.  You should try to nap a little more too, handsome.” Maxlyn snuggled against him with a soft sigh, her hand resting on his chest over his heart and shut her eyes, not remembering feeling this content in a long time.  If ever.  No, she’d never been this content with her life before.  It had always been full of darkness, pain, despair, and never-ending anguish.  Now that Ricardo Garcia was off the streets and would go to prison for everything he’d done, Maxlyn no longer had to look over her shoulder anymore.  She could simply move on, live her life with Jon, and be happy.  A soft smile curved her lips while she slept against him, the nightmares nowhere to be found and her dreams were full of bliss and tranquility.

 

Even on airplanes, the nap prior to this one had been awesome, and this was as well. When they landed, Jon felt pretty refreshed and he knew why. Solid sleep, without nightmares, without that anxiety and tension. She was free, which meant THEY were free. They’d never have to be at war with each other’s feelings about that damn situation because it was OVER. He peered out the window as they were landing, glancing over at her. She was awake and smiling, obviously ready for this stress free time alone. No work, no more stressing the GED, just… bliss.

 

He had no idea this would be the best week of his life followed by a shit storm afterwards.

 

A shitstorm that would put their relationship to the ultimate test.

 

Stepping off the plane in a place called Lanai, Hawaii, Maxlyn was greeted with a Lai being draped over her neck, along with Jon, the colors of it vibrant and beautiful.  They were welcomed to Lanai and there was a car waiting for them just outside of the airport.  This was a very small airport and it was specially built for the resort they would be staying at.  Maxlyn helped Jon grab their luggage before they were escorted to their car that would take them to the destination. “It’s so beautiful here.” She murmured in awe, trying to take everything in and Jon nodded in agreement, clasping his fingers with hers. 

 

All he could think about was his woman losing her mind at the sheer beauty this resort had.  Even HE had to admit, just by the pictures alone, this place was leaps and bounds better than Sedona.

 

He had thought Sedona had been swanky, he had no words for this. The pictures themselves had told him that this was way beyond that, seeing it in person… well, Sedona looked like a shitty neighbor in Vegas compared to this island paradise. It was beyond beautiful, even in the early morning, sunrise was peeking and he actually held his breath when a clear view of the ocean appeared, the sunrise coming right over it. “I’m never leaving,” he rumbled, pretty sure this wasn’t going to beat anything else view wise, even his Red Rocks, which were now forever tainted.

 

“Me either…” Maxlyn was entranced by the beauty of this place, the majesty of it, and could not tear her gaze away from the sunrise and ocean.  Where in the world did Jon find this paradise at?  It also made her wonder just how much he spent on a place this extravagant and Maxlyn immediately stopped her train of thought.  This was her man and he wanted to do something extra special for her because of Garcia finally being out of their lives and her becoming a high school graduate through a GED.  It may have not been a big deal to a lot of people, but to her, it meant everything.  It meant a true fresh start and she could finally start building her life with Jon, the way it was supposed to be the moment she agreed to leave the rehab center with him. “I-I don’t have words, Jon…”

 

He would never, ever tell her. He had nearly shit a brick when he had been quoted the daily rates, WITHOUT the extras. He had gone with the extras, some package that allowed them a 400 dollar credit a day to experience the different things going on. Horseback riding, sporty stuff, snorkeling, sailing at sunset, they could do it all. He was so fucking glad he was good about saving money. “That’s a good thing, darlin’,” he grinned down at her, enjoying both the smile on her face and the gentle breeze coming at them. “I hope.”

 

What Maxlyn wasn’t aware of was this particular resort was rated as one of the TOP in the country.  It had everything and there was a reason it was so pricey.  It could range anywhere from 20 to 30 grand for just a week stay, but Jon had gotten a hell of a deal for the five days, four nights they were staying here.  They wouldn’t have their own beach house, but it would still be right off the ocean and FEEL like a beach house.  The car pulled up to the entrance and their doors were opened, their luggage taken inside while they went to the front desk to check in.  Jon also had some things planned regarding the proposal that the staff was helping him with, really hoping everything went off without any problems.  For these prices, he was demanding perfection and wouldn’t accept anything less.

 

They’d have a porch that opened up to the beach, which would be fantastic for early mornings. She could have her coffee out there and watch the sunrise, or sunset depending on which side they were on, and listening to the sounds of the ocean. Granted, all his sex on the beach dreams had been dashed but he was willing to take the trade-off. This place was freaking paradise. Even with her right there, the check-in went smoothly and the way things were worded, as if it were an everyday thing, she had no idea about the ‘extra’s’ he had gotten or worked with them to arrange, especially concerning the proposal. Their luggage was taken to their rooms by a bellhop while they were escorted by a clerk, who began explaining the various activities and luxuries the resort offered. Yeah, this blew Sedona out of the water.

 

Without a doubt. 

 

Chapter 54

 

Maxlyn listened intently to everything the hostess told them, including the lavish dinners, which could either be eaten in the privacy of their suite or at one of the many five-star restaurants they had.  There was SO much to take in and a lot of activities to do.  Maxlyn didn’t even know where they’d start, but just by the way Jon was grinning, she had a feeling it would be today.  There would be no rest, not when they had this glorious resort to sink their teeth into.  Truthfully, her jetlag was nonexistent and whatever Jon had planned for them, she was ready for it.  They finally arrived at their suite an hour later, after being given the grand tour of the part of the resort they were staying in, which had a gym, swimming pool, hot tubs, the works. “All right, Master Planner, what’s first on today’s agenda?”

 

“Breakfast,” he laughed, because it was definitely that time. It was early enough that they shouldn’t be overly bothered, except maybe by elderly people. “I don’t know about you but after all that time on the plane, I’m not opposed to going down to that restaurant you said smelled delicious and having a bite.” Supposedly, it also had some very, very good coffee. They both needed that. There was an upscale coffee maker in their suite obviously, along with a cappuccino maker that he had no idea how to use nor was interested in. “And as for agenda… we have an open schedule, for the most part, anything you want to do, we can do it.” Even horseback riding, if that was her thing. He was curious about snorkeling.

 

“We’ll just take one thing at a time and I’m starving.” Breakfast sounded wonderful, her stomach growling in agreement, making her blush a little just as Jon’s did the same thing.  They laughed together and Maxlyn asked him to wait for a second while she changed into something more fitting to their location.  Jon was in a pair of tight jeans and a white Hanes t-shirt, his everyday wear.  She kissed him softly, promising not to take too long, and opened her suitcase to pull out a sundress that went to her ankles, spaghetti strapped, and had beautiful flowers all over it full of color.  It was part of the new wardrobe she’d bought for this getaway, thinking they’d be in Florida, but Hawaii was even better and this resort was absolutely breathtaking.  Slipping her sandals on, Maxlyn clipped her hair up to keep it off her neck and walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later. “All right, time to go stuff our faces full of delicious breakfast and then after that, we can decide what to do.  How are you feeling from your match?”

 

They technically both had new ‘wardrobes’ already hanging up in the spacious walk-in closet since he had ordered some stuff… but, he wasn’t opening that just yet. He figured he’d get it later or let her be surprised when she finally unpacked her luggage. The Florida attire was good here too, obviously, the same principal applied, beach and sunshine. “You look gorgeous,” he informed her, his blue eyes raking over her. That dress was modest but at the same time, it amplified her curves without giving anything away. He reached out to pluck a flower from the vase, carefully snapping the wet end away before tucking it behind her ear. “All right, time to eat, dollface,” she really did look like a doll this morning, a beautiful, exotic doll.

 

They had the option to sit inside or outside, both opting outside since the breeze was gentle and straight off the ocean.  It was perfect, on a terrace overlooking the water, and there was an umbrella that blocked out the sunlight.  They both ordered coffee and the smell alone when the pot was brought over made them both groan in delight.  Taking her huge mug, after loading it with creamers, Maxlyn sipped her coffee slowly while staring out at the water, not believing how crystal blue it was.  The sand looked soft to the touch as well and she could not wait to walk barefoot in it, something she’d wanted to do in Florida. “So I have to ask, what made you decide to change our getaway completely and do all of this, honey?  This is a little extravagant, even for you.” Sedona was NOTHING compared to this place. “And I’m not complaining, it’s absolutely gorgeous here, but I am curious why.”

 

Jon did not like the idea of lying to Maxlyn outright. Had he fibbed at all since they had gotten together? If he had, it was over petty shit like ‘no, my back doesn’t hurt’, stuff like that. “Well,” he sipped his coffee, eyes roaming the breakfast menu, trying to decide what sounded good. He wasn’t surprised at all by the incorporation of a lot of fish… it was Hawaii. “I heard about the place and thought we’d try it, I don’t know darlin’, it was on a whim.” That was MOSTLY true. This place also worked with him on the proposal and he wanted this to be a once in a lifetime, cherish forever moment for her, for them both.

 

“Well, whatever the reasoning behind doing it, thank you, Jon.  I know that doesn’t even begin covering my gratitude and love either, but it’s all I can do.” Reaching across the table, she took his hand and brought it to her lips to softly kiss the back of it. “For the first time in my life, I feel free and I can breathe without feeling like something bad is going to happen.” What possibly could in a spectacularly stunning place like this? “And this coffee is the bees knees.  I’m definitely digging it.” He nodded in agreement, both toasting each other and the waitress walked out to take their order.  This was a vacation, so Jon decided they’d be trying a little bit of everything on the breakfast portion of the menu, letting the waitress know as much. “There’s no way we’re going to eat all of that, honey.”

 

Jon was just glad she hadn’t pushed or pressed for more information because then he would have to either ask her to not ask -which would have triggered curiosity and suspicion and ruin the surprise- or he would have had to outright lie to her. “I am, I skipped an after-work meal,” and his stomach was currently churning his guts, like trying to digest itself it felt like. Those strawberries on the private plane had been good but more like a sampler than anything filling. “I don’t even know where to start,” it all looked and smelled delicious and it was arranged all fancy like, he raised an eyebrow. His food was now art, that was new.

 

There wasn’t one thing here that wasn’t delicious and, somehow, they managed to sample all of it with Jon eating the majority.  The man had definitely bulked up since leaving the rehab center and looked incredible.  Jon worked very hard on his body and Bryan was helping him with yoga and other various workouts as well.  Since they were a tag team together, it was best to work out together, strategize and know each other inside and out.  Bryan had always been one of Jon’s closest friends, and now it was almost as if they were in sync in the ring.  The technical prowess of Bryan was unlike any other and then Jon added the ground and pound, but could also wrestle like any other as well.  They were definitely a well-oiled machine and it was only a matter of time before they became tag team champions. “Oh my god, if I eat another bite, I’m gonna blow up, handsome…” Holy lord, Maxlyn could not remember the last time they had such exquisite food and leaned back in her chair, once again staring out at the ocean.

 

“You and me both, darlin’,” Jon wasn’t thinking of work right now, they had a week vacation and all he wanted to focus on was her, on them and their hopefully changing relationship. That wasn’t today though, he’d have to excuse himself or something later to check in and make sure everything was going to be ready by the time the day rolled around. He topped off both their coffee, leaving her to make hers how she preferred it while he did the same. “After this cup, want to go take a walk along the ocean?” Walk off some of this food and all that.

 

“Sounds like a plan.  We really need to walk some of this off.” She chuckled, not realizing she had read his mind and waited for him to pay the bill before standing from the table, stretching her arms in the air. “This ocean breeze feels and smells so nice.” Taking his offered hand, they headed away from the restaurant and directly down the stairs that lead to the white sandy beach. “Hang on.” There was no way she was doing this with her sandals on and laughed when Jon did the same thing, taking his own shoes and socks off. “Oh wow, it feels like we’re walking on a cloud.” With each holding their shoes, their hands rejoined as the walk began, both wanting to be as close to the water as possible, but not the wet sandy part.

 

Maybe her little ass felt like a cloud, he bet she could walk on top of snow if she wanted too. His large, pretty compact frame was sinking into the sand. Not that he would bitch, he enjoyed the feel of it and new as the day progressed and the heat rose, they’d be very eager to do this IN the ocean, just to keep the bottoms of their feet from burning.
“So, I know we have the whole day and there’s no rush,” none whatsoever, they could do whatever the Hell they wanted and this island had so much to do that they didn’t even need to leave it if they didn’t want too. “But did any of that stuff they were talking about sound like fun? I know we have brochures in the room to review too.”

 

“It all sounds like a lot of fun to do.  I’ve never been snorkeling or scuba diving before.  Horseback riding sounds great too and they have some kind of zipline thing we could do.” There was so much to choose from, it made Maxlyn’s head spin a little and she leaned her head on his arm, just enjoying this moment with him.  Simply walking on a beautiful beach like this and talking, spending time together, was more than enough for her. “What do you feel like doing, Jon?  Did anything specific jump out at you and make you feel like ‘oh my god, I HAVE to do this!’?”

 

“All of it,” he laughed, a bit on the adventurous side, which was why he had done the ‘all of it’ additional package, the one that gave them the daily credit to spend on whatever activity they wanted. “We don’t have to do it all in one go, we got time. You want to go horseback riding this afternoon? That is something I’ve never done… I wonder if my big ass would even be able to ride on a horse without hurting it…” He definitely wanted to do the snorkeling and scuba diving stuff. “We could do the sunset sail tonight as well.”

 

“I honestly can’t wait to get into this water.  How about we do horseback riding tomorrow and just enjoy the water today?  Snorkeling and scuba diving sound amazing.” The way Jon’s eyes lit up at her suggestion made her heart skip a beat. “After our food settles, of course.  I’d like to walk around a little more if you’re up to it.” He nodded, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they continued trekking along in the sand.  A sunset sail sounded so romantic and perfect…if this was a dream, Maxlyn never wanted to wake up from it.  Sometimes, it felt like that was what her life was – a dream and it was all thanks to Jon.  Even with the bad stuff like the shootout and the gunman…for the most part, she was happier than she’d ever been and had found the love of her life in a rehabilitation center, of all places.  Who would’ve thought?  After walking around a little longer, they headed back to the room to change into their bathing suits and to see what time the snorkeling and scuba diving was. “Shit!  I think I forgot to pack a damn swimming suit!  I was positive I put it in here…”

 

Jon was on the phone setting up their times for the scuba and snorkeling, which naturally segued into one another. Snorkeling was with just the mask and breathing tube thingy, scuba diving required the tank of oxygen and was meant for deeper diving. That one included an hour lesson on how to do everything correctly so you didn’t wind up with the bends, which was another word for decompression sickness and that happened by diving to deep to quickly. He heard her, raising an eyebrow. Considering she had packed and repacked, he figured she had a few swimsuits. Once off the phone, he walked over to the demolished luggage, no swimsuit. “Go check the closet, darlin’.”

 

“I must’ve accidentally left another bag behind in Cincinnati…” Jon gestured to the closet again and she went over to push open the door, her eyes widening at the bags staring back at her.  They were labeled with their names and she plucked the one with hers on it, confusion written all over her face.  When did Jon manage to buy anything without her knowledge?  She had no idea he had hired a personal shopper, on this island, to make sure they had absolutely everything they needed.  Opening the bag, Maxlyn felt her eyes widen at the bathing suit staring back at her and held it up, swallowing hard.  A bikini…it wasn’t a one-piece and should show off a lot more of her body than the black bathing suit she accidentally left behind. “Did you pick this out, Jon?”

 

“Yep,” and on the closet was a bunch of garment bags, stuff that had been taken out and pressed for them prior to their arrival. There was a shoe rack, complete with dress shoes for the each of them, spare sandals and water shoes. He stepped into the closet with her, whistling as he took it in. There was even some weird vanity type deal with the accessories and stuff he had ordered, all displayed for easy access. He rubbed the back of his neck when Maxlyn finally looked up at him out of wide brown eyes, she had surveyed everything and maybe it was a bit much. He hadn’t anticipated them doing all this! “Surprise?”

 

She started laughing, smacking his chest lightly and he caught her hand, bringing it up to brush his lips against the back of it. “Was there any point at all bringing any luggage?” Her voice was full of amusement and wonder, chuckling at his shoulder shrug. “All of this aside, it’s been a while since I’ve worn a bikini, Jon…” Maxlyn was very self-conscious of her body, not believing for a second she was beautiful, even though she had been Ricky’s top stripper and prostitute.  That was nothing to be proud of, however. “Everything you got me is a bikini…” He had picked out three different ones and the one in her hand currently was a red one.  It was for his viewing pleasure and she understood that, but at the same time, it didn’t make her any less nervous. “I take it you don’t like me a one-piece, eh?”

 

Chapter 55

 

“Darlin’, I’d love you in a burlap sack, but I’m a guy,” and as far as two-pieces went, this was pretty modest. She had picked up the red one, he had also gotten her one in a shade of warm caramel, loving that color on her. “And there was plenty of point in bringing your stuff, I didn’t replace everything.” He had gotten them a few fancy outfits, some swim attire, and jewelry and stuff. Because they hadn’t been planning on that kind of deal in Florida, here… definitely. “If you don’t like them, we can go down to the shops and find a one piece.”

 

“No – no!  I just…haven’t worn a bikini in a long time…” Ever since her stripper days, in fact. “I like it and the material feels nice.  I’m gonna try it on and if I don’t like it, then we can go pick something else out.” That warm caramel one would be worn on a day where they just relaxed and sunbathed, but the red stood out to her because of her hair.  Honestly, she loved the color red.  It was probably her favorite color.  Quickly changing into the bikini, Maxlyn finished and stepped out of the bathroom, seeing Jon was already in a pair of white swim trunks and felt her mouth water.  There was something about this man wearing white that sent a wave of warmth right through her.  Black was delicious, but white was even better. “Okay, I like this, ready to go, handsome?”

 

He had been hoping for the caramel but the red was a second close and his eyes swept over her approvingly, hungrily if he were being honest. He hadn’t been lying, the woman could wear a paper sack, a burlap one, whatever the hell she wanted and still look fabulous. He knew she was going to be ogled today, she was a beautiful woman with a banging body. He just hoped people remembered their manners because he wasn’t in the mood to skull crush someone but he would. “Yes, ma’am,” he chuckled, retrieving two massive beach towels and walked over to look down at her. “I will volunteer to rub lotion all over you,” he informed her with a grin.

 

“Mmm, same goes for me with you.” Her finger slid down his slightly hairy chest since Jon had trimmed it up a little for the summer.  He kept it a little bushier during the fall/winter months and more trimmed up for spring/summer.  It made sense considering where AEW wrestled at and whatnot.  Some of the arenas got STIFLING hot and he’d gotten tired of his hair sticking to his chest all the time, but hadn’t gotten rid of it all.  Maxlyn would never tell him how to keep himself groomed, though she did miss the bushiness of his chest hair and hoped it returned one day.  Still, some chest hair was better than none and she had stayed smooth below the belt, even learning how to wax herself at the hotels during downtime when she wasn’t studying for her GED. “You have no idea how sexy you look in white, honey.”

 

Jon was all about tanning oil for a few days, figuring he’d return to work with a proper tan and not something he let Chris spray on him. That shit was gross and prone to looking orange, no thanks. “No, I do,” unlike her, Jon was aware of his sex appeal, that was something they were opposites in. She did not think she was beautiful and she was prone to covering her luscious body. He, on the other hand, was aware he had rugged good looks that attracted women. Jon had learned early on how to utilize it too, for when he had been in need of free meals and shit. He grinned down at her, laughing when she just huffed and shook her head. “How could I not when you tell me all the time, dollface?”

 

“Yeah – yeah, we better go before the size of your ego blows up even more, stud muffin.” That was a new one she used on him and laughed at the look on his face, giggling uncontrollably.  Jon just shook his head, handing over her towel and they wrapped them around their waist before heading out.  The snorkeling and scuba diving was on the other end of the resort, so they had to take a golf cart over there that was already rented out in Jon’s name.  Hopping into it, Maxlyn enjoyed the breeze once again blowing through her hair and took in the exquisite view, not believing how gorgeous this place was.  That sunset sail Jon wanted to do later that night would be absolutely breathtaking and a moment to remember for a lifetime.  About twenty minutes later, they arrived and headed into the building to get suited up with the snorkeling gear.

 

Mostly, Jon was joking about his looks, mostly. He knew women found him attractive, some were even obsessed with him, and while he knew he was good enough looking, not to the levels of crazy it sometimes inspired. Like that crazy bitch who had carved his wrestling name into her body… that was just beyond… insane. Jon listened as the instructor explained how snorkeling worked, it was just swimming and remembering to keep the breathing tube above water for the most part. They got flippers, the goggles, and the tube thing that went into their mouths. He would have taken a picture if he didn’t want to flip flop his ass over to his cell phone when he took himself and then her in. He grinned, flashing her a thumbs up. They looked ridiculous but given what they had been told to expect underwater, in the bay they were about to venture into, totally worth it.

 

For a few hours, they snorkeled and saw the true beauty of the ocean, what lay beneath it, before switching over to scuba diving.  That was a little more complex and complicated since they had to take a one-hour class to understand the dangers and whatnot.  Maxlyn didn’t mind and was like a sponge, soaking everything in.  Before they went scuba diving, however, Jon called for a break to eat lunch.  So they snorkeled, ate, took that class, and then it was scuba diving.  Being able to go below the water as deep as she did was exhilarating and Maxlyn made sure not to leave Jon’s sight while they did their own exploration.  Just as mid-afternoon hit, they finally got out of the water, took their gear off, and headed back toward the resort for dinner, which they had to change for.  Tonight, Jon was taking her someplace a little fancier and it required a certain dress code, hence the reason he had bought them clothes in the first place. “That was so much fun!  I definitely want to do that again if there’s time before we have to leave.”

 

“There will be time, darlin’,” he laughed, glad she had enjoyed it. He had too. Given they were both city kids who had lived in slums, that was an experience. He had never thought he’d see something so beautiful in nature, outside of his now forsaken Red Rocks anyway. He had yet to get away from her in order to coordinate with the people he was working with but he had a few days, he wasn’t going to throw that at her right out the gate. Jon was pretty sure she’d say yes but in the event she didn’t, and his stomach clenched and knotted at that thought, he wasn’t spending the rest of the week feeling awkward and angry because of a failed proposal.

 

Now that Garcia was out of their lives, there was nothing stopping or holding her back from being with Jon completely.  No more anxiety, it was as if she never had it in the first place.  The nightmares were gone.  The paranoia was gone.  Hell, even if Jon asked her while Garcia was still out, with the paranoia and anxiety, she would accept.  Her love for him didn’t change just because of jackasses trying to ruin her life.  The dress she decided to wear for tonight was an apricot colored asymmetrical hem dress with a keyhole front and it tied in the back, leaving some of it bare.  It went to her knees and the material was chiffon, feeling wonderful against her skin.  Deciding to leave her hair down with some golden hoops in her ears, a gold necklace, and bracelet on both her wrist and ankle, Maxlyn slipped on some brown dress shoes that went with the dress nicely.  Supposedly, this place was semi-formal, so a tie was required to be worn, no jeans or anything of that matter.

 

Jon would have NEVER proposed during that shit, that dark time, because he did not want those memories tainted for her or him. They would have been, bittersweet because she would have still been looking over her shoulder and maybe even feeling more anxiety because she’d have more to lose. Or at least, that was his way of thinking. He could have been wrong. Or it could have been him with more to lose and more fear of losing it. He had gone with black slacks, the dress shoes, and he was actually debating on the tie. Semi-formal usually meant a tie could be optional, he was in a button-up that was the same color as her dress, wondering if he really wanted to bother with the damn tie. “What do you think, darlin’? To be strangled or not to be?” He had on a chain necklace, one of his fancier watches, a few rings and he had even broken out his ‘special’ cologne. If he was going to go fancy, he was going to do it right, though the tie thing… without a suit jacket… in his opinion, looked dumb.

 

Eyeing him, she wondered if they would get kicked out of the place if he didn’t have a tie or bowtie on. “Not to be strangled.  Don’t wear one.  It wouldn’t look right with that amazing white shirt.” Leaving just a few buttons undone at the top, showing a hint of chest, was enough to drive her absolutely crazy.  And she had to go through dinner and the sunset sail before being able to jump his bones. “For the record, you should be my dinner tonight instead, but I’ll be good until we’re back in this room.  And then you’re all mine, handsome.” Leaning up, she brushed her lips very lightly against his and stepped back, not wanting to muss him up or anything. “What do you think about my look?  Dressy enough?”

 

“You are beyond dressy, you are a vision,” he took her hand and gently twirled her, sort of wishing he wasn’t about to share her with dozens of other people but at the same time, he was also looking forward to showing off his beautiful, hopefully soon to be wife. So, bride in waiting? She just didn’t know it yet. “You’re gorgeous, Maxlyn,” he gently nuzzled along her cheek, inhaling her sweet scent. “Come on, dinner awaits.” He wasn’t worried about the tie thing, semi-formal meant just that, semi-formal. He was amused with himself, color coordinating with her. But he was also pulling out all the stops. “And then, if you can hold off on dessert, sunset sailing.”

 

“No worries, I can hold myself back until we’re back in our room later tonight.” They weren’t exactly matching since she was in light apricot and he was in white with black slacks.  If he was wearing tan pants instead of black, perhaps they would be color-coordinated then.  Following him out of the room, they headed out of the building and this time an actual car was waiting for them out front.  The door was opened as they both slid in the back and Jon gave the driver directions on where they were going.  Once they arrived, Jon gave his name and they were guided to a table that was once again outside, on a terrace overlooking the ocean again.  The sun was still shining brightly, but she could tell it was slowly beginning to descend and by the time they got on the water for the sailing, it would be spectacular. “I’m normally not a fan of eating outside, but here…I’d rather be outside than inside, you know?”

 

“Anything you want, darlin’,” he would have sat in the sand if that was what she wanted, he was head over heels, hopelessly in love with this woman and she probably didn’t realize just how much power she held over him. That was not necessarily a bad thing, love could make you do some crazy shit. He was pleased to see that he wasn’t the only man without a tie, that made things a lot easier. He knew there was one swanky place that was fully formal, the whole kit and kaboodle, they had a reservation there, she just didn’t know that yet. “It’s beautiful here, we could always relocate to Hawaii.” Granted, it was expensive as shit and coming back on their days off would be hell but… when she shook her head no, he imagined she had had the same thoughts. “Vacation home?”

 

Arching her brow, Maxlyn wondered if Jon was just messing with her, joking around, or if he was serious.  Oh boy, the look in those electric blues told her all she needed to know.  He was serious about it. “Really?” Living here was a definite no-go, but at the same time, they were both well-off financially and had great jobs.  Her contract would be signed as soon as they returned to the road with AEW, Tony Khan already had it ready and waiting for her.  He just needed to see she received her GED and the job was hers. “A vacation home sounds amazing here, but if you truly wanted to live here, we could do it.  I know it’d be a little extravagant, but so was Vegas and we managed just fine there.” Taxes weren’t sky high like they were in Hawaii, however. “Wherever you want to go, I’m with you.  You want to live in Hawaii?  Let’s do it.  You want a vacation home here and find somewhere else to relocate besides Cincinnati, I’m there.  And I’ll admit, waking up in paradise when we’re home sounds incredible.”

 

Hawaii was insanely expensive and Jon really had to think about it, not sure she would have agreed. He lay down the menu he had been browsing, just staring at her thoughtfully. “Let’s think on it… maybe a vacation home to start with?” Because with his career, they wouldn’t be here much but on those lovely times when he had more than a few days, he was down to come back. “Eventually, I gotta retire, I love wrestling but I don’t want to do it until I’m old and broken. I want to get out BEFORE I’m broken.” Like, say, the Undertaker, who was a moron and kept coming back when he should have just buried his damn career and called it a day.

 

She held up the glass of sparkling water that was poured for them and waited for him to do the same, clinking them gently together. “A vacation home sounds perfect.  And once you do retire, when that time comes, maybe we can just make that vacation home into our permanent home and stay here.” It was so nice being on the same page with each other again without all the animosity and friction.  They both sipped the sparkling water, which had a strawberry in it for added flavor and slid her hand along his, enjoying the physical contact and intimacy. 

 

Without realizing it, Maxlyn was planning a long-term future with Jon and she had no idea just how happy it made him, especially with the proposal he had in mind while they were here.

 

Chapter 56

 

“You know, we could always go back to Vegas, fix the house up there, if you want.  I know how much you love Vegas, Jon.  I wouldn’t mind going back there and I know how much you love the Red Rocks.  You don’t have to decide now, but if you wanted to do that, I just want you to know I’m game and it wouldn’t bother me a bit.” The past was the past and it would stay there now that Garcia was gone and nobody else was threatening the stability of their lives.

 

Jon shook his head, not looking up from the menu. This place did the whole kit and kaboodle, the appetizers, the multi-course, and he knew the portions would be miniscule because that was how fine dining went. It also ensured you ate just about everything during the multiple course event. “As much as I loved the Red Rocks darlin’, that’s just not going to work anymore. Too much bad has happened there and even with that scumbag gone, Vegas doesn’t have a lot of good memories for you.” His eyes finally raised to meet hers again. “I want to start over, something for BOTH of us, where we can make happy memories, together.”

 

“Okay, then a vacation home in this beautiful state is a great start.” Maybe they could find one before they left, though she doubted it.  They’d definitely have to come back at a later time to look at them and research would be required as well. “For now, we have a beautiful home in Cincinnati.” His mothers really do a fantastic job, Ginny was great at what she did and made it feel extremely comfortable and homey for both of them, mixing their styles together. “Just as long as we go nowhere near Chicago besides for work,” There was no way to avoid that city all together, even though she wished AEW would.  Chicago was too much of a money pit and also a cesspool, so it was always a great payday for the company. “I’m fine with anywhere else.” Jon nodded in agreement, not caring at all to live in Chicago, but it was one of his favorite cities to wrestle in.  That place held a special place in his heart because of all the memories he’d created throughout his career thus far.

 

There was no better place to wrestle in, that was how he felt about the Windy City. Of course, he knew she had some seriously fucked up memories of Chicago, which made it an automatic no-go zone for anything BUT work and he didn’t blame her. He was all for working there, everything else was ‘just passing through’, Chicago was a freaking cesspool and no place to have a family.

 

Whoa.

 

Mental brakes screeched and he took a sip of his sparkling water, flashing her a smile when she raised an eyebrow. “Sorry darlin’, was just thinking is all,” he had to get through this proposal first and THEN, eventually, down the road, they could discuss children. Maybe, given how she had been raised and abused, she didn’t want them.

 

Honestly, Maxlyn had always wanted a family.  She just didn’t think it would ever be possible given her situation and everything she’d gone through and put herself through.  It was her decision to go into stripping and prostitution, nobody else’s, and she owned those decisions.  They were some of the best and worst of her life because of the outcomes.  She was well-off financially because of her years in the business, but Garcia had developed a possession over her by being her pimp.  Now that it was all behind her and she could finally live a carefree, tranquil life with Jon, traveling the world by his side…if he asked her if she wanted children, Maxlyn would’ve answered with a simple ‘only yours’.  No other man compared to Jon and she didn’t want to have a family with anyone else or be with anyone else except him.  Jon was her world and she loved him so much, she’d do almost anything to keep him, which was why she didn’t go against decisions he made.  There was another reason why she wanted to be a mother – she wanted to prove to herself she was nothing like her own and she’d be the best mother in the world to her children.  However, if Jon didn’t want children, she was fine with that too. “Anything you wanna talk about, handsome?” Now she had been in deep thought and smiled sheepishly, playing with his fingers absentmindedly on the table while waiting for their first dish to arrive.

 

 

“Nothing in particular, I was just thinking about this place is all,” that was sort of true. He knew they weren’t going to be out all day every day here, they might decide to stay in their spacious, luxurious suite and just lounge around. “I know it’s expensive and all but depending on where we get a vacation home, Hawaii isn’t a bad place to… settle down in.” He almost said ‘raise a family’. They could do that in Cincy too, if that’s what they really wanted and seriously, WHY was he thinking about kids? “Maxlyn,” maybe he’d just test those waters. “You ever thought about having a few rugrats?” Thank Chris she hadn’t been drinking anything because her brown eyes widened and he would have been wearing her drink most likely.

 

Jon had children on the brain just like her?  What were the odds?  Maybe it was the atmosphere of this place.  First he mentioned a vacation home or possibly settling down here and now he was asking her about kids.  Granted, they’d never discussed the possibility and they’d been together for a while, nearly 7 months now.  Time wasn’t a factor for them and it never had been.  She smiled at him softly, the shock wearing off and her hand never left his, slowly nodding. “With you, of course.  I’d love to have a family with you, Jon.  Truthfully, I’ve always wanted to be a mother, believe it or not.  Just didn’t think it was possible or I’d find someone who wanted to have a child with me.” A blue or brown eyed baby boy or girl with his smile flashed through her mind and sent her heart racing suddenly. “Do you want kids though?”

 

“Someday, it’s a thought,” he admitted, not about to confess everything that had been on his mind. They were talking retirement houses here, a vacation home for sure, he was proposing during this trip… and if things took the course of natural progression, babies would eventually come. He just realized he wanted them to be on the same page about their life goals and all that BEFORE popping the question. He loved this woman, more than anything in this world which included wrestling, but he wanted to make sure they were going to want the same things before committing the rest of his life to her and vice versa. You could love someone with everything in you and still be miserable. “Kids require you to be selfless, my job… it’s not really for families.” Well, not ALL families.

 

“I’m aware of that, Jon.  I understand how much you’ve sacrificed for your job and I know how much you love it too.  I would never, ever ask you to stop doing what you love to do.” She smiled softly, wanting to ease his mind because his brows were furrowed, and reached up to caress his bearded face with her hand. “We can make anything work as long as we’re together.  If by chance you do get me pregnant, I wouldn’t stop traveling with you.  I’d keep going until I couldn’t any longer and then we’d figure out a way for me and the baby to travel with you comfortably.  They have those luxury buses we could look into that have bedrooms, it's basically a home on wheels.  There’s so many possibilities and I want you to know that if you don’t want kids, then I’m fine with it.  That’s not a deal breaker for me.  If it’s just you, me, and Blue and other animals for the rest of our lives, I’m happy with that.  Just as long as we’re together.” They were definitely on the same page when it came to the future and her gentle brown orbs conveyed everything she just said to him.

 

His inner feminist blinked at the use of ‘if you do get me pregnant’ and he could hear his mother informing him that it should be ‘if we get pregnant’. “Darlin’, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t want a kid on the road, not past two anyway.” He knew those first few years wouldn’t be remembered but afterwards… visiting, sure, but fulltime, hell no. That was not a life for a kid. “Or maybe I’d change my mind… travel is good for the soul.” He was torn and then began laughing, shaking his head at his own self. They were on the same page for the most part and he knew whatever the future held, they’d sort it out. “Oh, here's come… first course?” Complete with the shiny dome covering the trays.

 

“I’m assuming so?” Indeed it was and they both stared at each other with wide eyes as the trays were lifted off, revealing oysters with cheese and bacon for her and whatever Jon had ordered.  It looked like some kind of shrimp dish and it smelled delicious.  Their drinks had arrived as well, a fruity lemonade tea for her and Jon was trying a fruity drink himself, though it looked a tad more fancier than hers and frozen.  Whatever it was, he was enjoying it as they began eating the appetizers.  These were the best oysters she’d ever had in her life.  After that came the salad and soup that came with the dinner, along with a basket of homemade rolls. “We’re going to be full before our actual dinner gets here!”

 

“I don’t think so darlin’, these portions are miniscule,” he laughed, feeling like the appetizer was just a bit of a tease. He was starting to get it though, why fancy restaurants did that, the tiny portions. Because they brought you out a million freaking plates. “If you can’t finish it dollface, I just might.” Because this was not the kind of place you took home a ‘doggy bag’, it just didn’t happen. There was the option for twenty-four room service, which was great because they had a late night Neapolitan ice cream habit that they liked indulging. Next was the main course and he began chuckling when the waiter informed them that it would be followed by a cheese course and then dessert, pretty sure Maxlyn’s eyes were going to launch out of her head.

 

It was just a lot and she wasn’t used to it, but somehow, someway, even with the actual dinner, cheese, and dessert, Maxlyn managed to finish it all.  She felt like she would explode, but it was well worth it and nothing she couldn’t walk off.  Jon looked ready to pop as well, both of them full and satisfied. “How about a walk on the beach before we head off to catch that sunset sail, handsome?” They were right on the beach and it was a beautiful sunny evening.  They had about an hour to kill before the boat would take off and it was just down the road from the restaurant.  Jon nodded, taking her hand and they headed down the stairs into the sand again, squishing their toes into it while walking.  An hour later, right on the dot, they boarded the boat that would set sail and the sunset was just beginning, the ocean breeze flowing over both of them. “I love you.” Maxlyn murmured, leaning up to softly kiss him and moaned when the kiss grew deeper just a little, her body pressed to his with his hand on the small of her back to pull her closer. “I’ll never forget this as long as I live, Jon.” She had no idea just how right she was saying those words or what was coming before they left here, only speaking from her heart like she always did.

 

Jon was pretty sure he could eat like this every day, when he wasn’t in bulking or maintaining mode. He’d give up the smaller more frequent meals throughout the day for this multi-course dinner, hell yes. “I hope not,” he said quietly, wrapping his arm around her and tugged her completely into his body. When Maxlyn shifted so her back was to his chest, he dropped his arms to wrap around her waist, resting his chin on her head as they walked the sun slowly sinking into the ocean. The feel of the breeze and occasionally the light spray of water, the sound of waves gently lapping against the boat... this was all going to be forever etched in his memory and this was just day one. “I love you, darlin, and I’m glad we’re sharing this together.” Hopefully, they’d make nothing but good memories here.

 

“You know when you asked me to join you and leave the rehab center, I never imagined I’d be in a gorgeous place like this with you.  Meeting you has been the greatest thing that’s happened to me, Jon.” It wasn’t the same with him and she knew that, the man had experienced far more than she had and a lot of it was good.  Her world had been darkness for so long and he was her light that came in and took her out of that dark place.  It was almost as if she was the moon and he was the sun, they somehow gelled very well together.  Without one, the other could not survive. “I want a vacation home here.  Whatever it costs, we’ll figure it out, but when we want to take a vacation and get away from it all, I want to come back to Hawaii and go to all the different islands.  I’m sure there’s unique beauty on each of them, you know?”

 

“It is definitely in a class all it’s own and that’ll be something we can do when we’re on the road, look and research for our dream home, dream vacation home,” he kissed the side of her neck. “To be honest, dollface, when I asked you to come with me, leave the facility, I never even dreamed this is where we would be. I knew you were a beautiful woman but I didn’t let myself look at you that way, I needed a friend and I know you did.” She had helped him through the worst of it and he had been adamant on repaying her. “I wouldn’t change any of it for anything,” because his alcoholism had led her to her, as fucked up as it was.

 

 

“I’m still your friend, Jon, and you’re mine.” Maxlyn declared in a gentle, firm voice, caressing his forearms with her fingers and nails while he held her close, the sun setting on the water, making it glisten. “We were friends first and foremost before we fell in love with each other.  You’re my best friend and I’m a lucky woman to have both the man of my dreams, love of my life, and my best friend all rolled into one amazing package.” Her head leaned back against his chest and she sighed at the feeling of his lips continuing to gently assault her neck. “You’re my savior and I already know I wouldn’t have left that place without your guidance and reassurance.  You didn’t lie to me, you helped me and you’re the reason why I’m a high school graduate with a GED now.  You’re the reason why I can actually live my life without having to sacrifice or suffer anymore.  I want to grow old with you, Jon, I never want to leave your side…” I do want children with you.  I want a family with you, no matter what you do for a living. Those words would never leave her lips, not until she was sure Jon wanted to have a family with her.

 

“I know you’re still my friend, darlin’,” he had never thought that had changed since they had officially gotten together. There she went again, speaking her poetry from the heart, and he just listened to her, snuggling even more into her once she was finished. “I think eventually, you would have left,” he said it with confidence. She was a strong, fierce woman, she just didn’t realize it half the time. He did, he had seen sparks of it in the facility and it had drawn him to her. He saw it now as well, just beneath her calmness, and her kind veneer. She was calm and she was kind but he had seen her temper too. She was the perfect woman for him. “Are you okay with this? Me changing the vacation the way I did?”

 

“No, I hate it.” Maxlyn rolled her eyes, her voice full of sarcasm and giggled at his growl in her ear, shaking her head. “How could I not be?  This is leaps and bounds better than Florida.  I just figured Hawaii was a little too expensive and that’s why I suggested Florida.  It was the first state that came to mind that had beaches.” Turning to face him, now that the sunset was done, her brown eyes glittered up at him and Maxlyn brought his mouth to hers, pouring what she felt into the kiss. “Nobody has ever surprised me like this before,  Maybe surprises aren’t so bad after all.” He chuckled, kissing her this time and she returned it, the sensuality of it and the moment taking her breath away.  That kissing, on and off, continued until the boat ride came to an end, to the car that took them back to the resort.  They could not keep their hands off each other and by the time they arrived back at the room, both were more than ready for some much needed lovemaking.  Both had been sorely tempted to make love on the beach, but Jon was adamant about not having his backside exposed to the public and he wasn’t keep on his woman being exposed either.

 

She could have also suggested the Carolinas, which would have been beautiful. He loved South Carolina in particular, with its balmy weather, the constant warmth, light rain and gentle breezes. Also, just visiting, that place seemed to get hit all the damn time by storms. He practically carried her to their massive bed, deciding when they got a vacation home, he was going to try to find something that had a little bit of private beach, or semi-private, not open to the general public. It might cost more but it would be worth it. Here… doing that, was grounds for being arrested for public indecency and her ass was too sweet to go to jail.

 

Chapter 57

 

For the next few days, Jon and Maxlyn had the time of their lives on Lanai Resort, ziplining, swimming, horseback riding, more snorkeling and scuba diving, and they even took another sunset sail.  The spa was magnificent as well, they had dedicated half a day to being pampered to the fullest, far more than Sedona had done.  It was so nice being able to relax and enjoy each other without any dark clouds lingering over them.  Their relationship was back on course and the sex was incredible, more intense than it’d ever been.  Maxlyn wasn’t sure if it was because they were in Hawaii or the fact Garcia was finally off the streets and out of their lives.  However, they took each other to the limit every time they had sex and it was a lot, especially first thing in the morning.  Jon loved morning sex and she didn’t complain, not when he woke her up with his head between her thighs, the ocean breeze flowing over both of them from the open windows.  The best thing about this getaway was it wasn’t just all about sex, they actually went out and did things together, activities and whatnot.  Even all they did was sex it up with each other in their suite the entire five days, Maxlyn wouldn’t have complained either.  That wasn’t Jon’s style, though.

 

No, no it wasn’t. Sex was great and all but it wasn’t the main thing a relationship should be about, especially when they were in this heavenly, tropical paradise. Jon liked going out and doing the activities, trying new things, including foods. There was also a type of Hawaiian party, a luau or something, with what he called a barbecue and then dancing, all out on the beach. Naturally, there was alcohol flowing but it hadn’t been hard to find the alternatives, both he and Maxlyn abstaining and he didn’t know about her, but he hadn’t even felt the urge to drink, even when surrounded by it. A LOT had changed since they had found out about Garcia’s ass being caught. Tonight was the night he was proposing and he had sent her to the spa for the day while he was bouncing around working with the hotel people to ensure the set-up was perfect. He was also, admittedly, nervous as hell.

 

Something was up with Jon.  Maxlyn noticed how tense and nervous he was that morning during breakfast, even though he tried to hide it.  She wondered what had him so jostled and preoccupied because he’d spilled his coffee during breakfast.  Not a lot, just a small spill that was easily cleaned up by napkins.  After breakfast, she was sent to the spa as a surprise from Jon, receiving the ultimate package.  Hair, nails, massage, steam, the works.  She felt like a whole new woman and her hair was changed back to a deep rich caramel like it had been the day they met.  Only, it was shorter, trimmed nicely, and her nails were a French manicure, along with her toes from the pedicure. 

 

Her dress for the evening was a white lace midi skater dress that went just above the knee, sleeveless, and it contrasted beautifully with her tanned skin, hair and eyes.  It clung to every curve of her body, had a small dip in the front, but everything was still modest and sexy at the same time.  Her hair was pinned up on top of her head in a ton of curls and bobby pins, tendrils framing her face.  The makeup was mild, natural with clear gloss and thin black liner.  Nothing over the top, just enough to enhance her natural beauty.  Her heels were white, strapped up her legs, and she had on a diamond choker with a matching bracelet and silver diamond hoops in her ears.  The jewelry had been a gift from Jon she was surprised with at the spa.  Tonight, they were going to a very fancy restaurant that required formal dress and it was even more extravagant than the semi-formal place.  For some reason, Maxlyn had butterflies in her stomach while she walked back and forth slowly in the suite, waiting for Jon to return to pick her up.

 

Jon would not be picking her up, she was getting a special ride in a special car. What she got was a call from the front desk, informing her that her ‘car’ had arrived. Couldn’t really do a limo on the island but they had some very, very posh luxury vehicles that Jon had salivated over. Inside she would find that sparkling water she had loved, in a glass bottle, chilled, and a single red rose with a ribbon tied around it. He had gotten a private area in this very expensive, very formal restaurant, live music behind a screen… candles and flowers everywhere. She was going to be escorted in and either realize what was up and run or be confused as shit. He adjusted his tie in the mirror, studying himself thoughtfully and then grinned. One way or another, their life was about to take another turn tonight.

 

 

Where was Jon?  She had smiled at the single red rose and held it up to her nose, inhaling it gently.  Just to calm her nerves a little, she poured herself a glass of that sparkling water and sipped it while staring out the window, being very careful not to spill anything on her.  As far as she knew, they were just going to dinner at this expensive, fancy restaurant, but the entire time she was in the spa, Maxlyn felt the electricity in the air.  Something big was happening tonight and she had no idea just how right on the money her thought process and feeling was.  The car stopped suddenly in front of what she assumed was the restaurant and Maxlyn stepped out, taking the hand of the driver and then headed inside, leaving him behind.

 

Given the lengths he was going through and she definitely knew there was something major coming, a man did not do all this just for shits and giggles, most women would know what was coming. He wasn’t sure that Maxlyn would, she’d just know it was something big. The woman hadn’t been raised with any sense of normalcy as the rest of the States knew it, nor had she lived the first part of her adult life ‘normal’ either. He nodded when he was informed she had arrived, moving out to the private area, which was lit by candlelight and ‘mood’ lightening, standing with his hands tucked nervously behind his back as he waited. Here they went…

 

“Right through this door, Miss Lewis, and please enjoy yourself tonight.” The hostess stated, gesturing to the closed double doors and smiled at the confused expression on the woman’s face.  This would either be the best or worst night of her life, depending on how she felt about Mr. Good.

 

“Thanks…” Maxlyn chewed her bottom lip for a minute, almost afraid to open those doors and took a deep breath before turning the knob that attached both of them.  Her soft brown eyes widened, trying to take in everything surrounding her and didn’t even hear the doors close behind her, her mouth hanging open.  Candles and flowers permeated the air, the flowers a mixture of roses, lilies, and others.  It wasn’t overly colorful though, that wasn’t Jon’s style.  Finally, she walked in enough and spotted the table before her eyes finally landed on Jon, who was dressed to the nines in a crisp black tuxedo with a tie and vest.  Never in her life had she seen him look so handsome and dapper, her heart thundering in her ears and didn’t move when he came towards her, their eyes locking the moment he took her hands. “I was wondering where you were.  The driver wouldn’t tell me anything.  Is this the reason why you sent me to the spa for the day after breakfast?”

 

“It is,” Jon felt rather pleased with the way she had visually devoured him, knowing he didn’t dress up like this, the full nines, very often. He was visually devouring her too, feeling his mouth going dry as he took her in. She had had her hair restored to its natural color and he actually felt the urge to wipe his palms off on his slacks, just in case she could feel how clammy they were. “You’re beautiful, Maxlyn,” she was always beautiful, there was no doubt about that, but tonight… it was different.

 

“I got tired of the red, wanted to go back to the way I used to look when we first met.  I missed my natural hair color.” Now it was completely natural because they had dyed it back instead of her having faded platinum blonde throughout it.  It was fully caramel now and she decided there wouldn’t be any more dye jobs for a long time, not wanting to completely fry her hair.  The platinum blonde had been a lot of upkeep and she was thankful her hair was still as healthy as it was. “So are you, handsome.  I know you hate wearing something like this,” He nodded with great reluctance, making her giggle softly. “But I do appreciate the effort.  You look absolutely amazing tonight, Jon.” Leaning up, she softly brushed her lips against his, touching his face gently. “Thank you for the jewelry, I love it.”

 

“You are worth the effort,” he would dress like this every damn day, minus work related events, if that was what she wanted. Even if it was just for ogling him on their bus or in a house. This woman had him fairly wrapped and Jon knew she didn’t know it and if she did, she probably didn’t realize just how much power she held over his ass. “You make it look stunning darlin’, I’m glad you like it,” he hoped she also liked the last piece he had bought her, that she hadn’t seen yet. He pulled out her chair, gesturing. “Shall we?”

 

 

“Hang on.” Maxlyn kissed him again, a little deeper this time, and then took her seat with a bright smile.  Jon dropped a kiss on the side of her neck, pushing her chair in before taking his own across from her, their glasses already full of non-alcoholic sparkling cider.  It was the closest thing Jon could find that looked like wine and it was a blackberry flavor.  Delicious.  Whether Jon realized it or not, she was wrapped around his finger as well and would do anything for him, anything to make him happy. “I missed you today.  I know that probably sounds clingy as hell, but we haven’t really spent a lot of time apart lately.  It was weird being in that spa today for so long without you.  The wait was more than worth it though, this place is breathtaking.” Their meal for the night was already chosen, filet mignons and lobster tails with steamed vegetables and cut up garlic potatoes.  That was one of the many courses they would be having tonight, there were nine in total that would start out small, gradually get bigger and bigger, then there would be a palette cleanser and dessert at the end.  That was why there was a lot of silverware laid out on the table next to the plates at the moment.

 

If they had thought that first meal was extravagant, this was beyond any of that. They would start with the hors d’oeuvre, soup, an appetizer followed by a salad. Then would come the main course, the palate cleanser, dessert and that was followed with something called a petite four.  It would probably be the best meal they would have in awhile, possibly the richest as well, and he would also probably be happy to go back to some plain meals. But this occasion called for the best, the most indulgent, it was a once in a lifetime moment and he wanted every last bit to be perfect for her. “It’s good sometimes, to take a breather,” he laughed. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

“Very true, I’m surprised we haven’t gotten sick of each other already.  It does help we enjoy a lot of the same things and we have a great deal in common.” The first of the meal arrived just as Jon agreed with what she said, the hors d’oeuvres looking absolutely scrumptious.  It was a seafood platter with all different kinds, along with fruit mixed in.  Surprisingly, it was delicious and made the seafood that much sweeter.  There was only four pieces of the different kinds of seafood, so they each took two to make sure they sampled everything.  Then came the soup in fancy small bowls with crackers and bread.  Everything so far was incredible and they made small talk while eating, none of it done in complete silence. “You know, I think my new favorite moment of ours when eating has changed to this.  Cookies and milk at the center will always hold a special place for me, but this…this is definitely number one.” While their stomachs settled from the hors d’oeuvres and soup, Jon stood up from the table and extended his hand to her, her eyes looking up at him.  Soft music began to play throughout the room as Jon asked her to dance and she immediately took his hand, allowing him to lead her to the small terrace the room was linked to.  It was night now, the stars glittering in the sky above them, along with the moon, illuminating both of them in its glow.  The music was Hank Williams JR, one of Jon’s all-time favorite country artists.

 

ACDC would not be appropriate to dance too, not in this setting, and when the occasion called for it, Jon had damn fine manners and knew how to act. His mother had been poor, did some shady shit to feed him, and he also knew he seemed rough around the edges. She had still made him learn some ‘useless’ shit, or so he had thought at the time. It turned out, he would need it all on the night he proposed to the woman of his dreams. “You know what my favorite moment is, from us eating?” He smiled down at her, his eyes just a little bit naughty. “When I turned your body into a platter….” This was definitely right… behind the first time they shared Neapolitan together.

 

Her cheeks flamed at the memory of that memorable night, remembering how the cold ice cream felt against her heated skin and different parts of her body.  Jon had definitely gotten creative that night. “That is in my top five, but the cookies and milk at the center and the Neapolitan fight we had because you wouldn’t stop stealing all the chocolate for yourself rank up there too.” That was before they became a couple, though that night they almost kissed for the first time.  Maxlyn could still recall how fast her heart pounded when Jon leaned in and if his phone hadn’t rang, there wasn’t a doubt in her mind it would’ve happened that night.  He twirled her gently before pulling her back against him as they continued swaying together, both laughing at the memories. “I love those little moments we’ve shared.  Every good memory I have involves you and I never want that to change.”

 

“And hopefully, from here on out, it’s nothing but good moments and memories,” now that Garcia was out of her life, his by extension, she had no reason to be paranoid and anxious. She was free from everything that had haunted her and he wanted to wash away that life of hers, in a way, she was getting a do-over and he wanted to be there every step of the way. “They’ll be bringing out the next course soon, with breaks in between now,” he chuckled softly, bending down so he could brush his lips against hers. “I may have overdone it…”

 

“You think so?” She joked back against his lips, stroking his bearded face with her hand.  He had trimmed it a lot so it was more scruffy than bearded at the moment.  That was fine, she enjoyed the scruffy look on him too and the beard was growing back nicely. “Well, it’s not like we do this every day, so we should enjoy it to the fullest and for the record, I appreciate everything you’ve done tonight.  You’ve made me feel very special, Jon.” Kissing him again, he pulled her closer to him and they got lost in each other, her arms wrapped around his neck. “I love you.” Maxlyn smiled when he murmured it in return and both headed back inside, sitting down again just as the next course with salad and soup came out.  She opted for the salad, needing something light after the first course.

 

So far, so good, and it was after this luxurious meal -and their in between dancing sessions- that he planned on popping the question. Well, a little bit after the meal anyway, he didn’t need either of them vomiting because of nerves or something, that would be a surefire way of ruining this. The more they talked and ate, taking their dancing breaks though, Jon’s concerns started disappearing. He didn’t think she’d say no, this woman loved him, for him. Not for his money or debatable fame status or for these spur of the moment whirlwind vacations and extravagance. She loved him at his worst -and she had seen him in detox mode- and she loved him like this, he was never more sure of anything in his life tonight.

 

She’d say yes.

 

Chapter 58

 

Even if Jon hadn’t gone all out for this and simply asked her in their suite or at home in Cincinnati, wherever the question was popped, she’d accept.  Maxlyn didn’t think Jon wanted to marry her though and those doubts would never fully go away, not until it actually happened.  She could only dream of being his wife and spending the rest of her life with him.  The dinner and dancing was only the beginning, however.  The beach was where the proposal would go down and Jon had everything set up there as well.  So when Jon asked her to take a walk with him on the beach to calm their heavy stomachs, she agreed and held his hand while they made their way down the stairs from the terrace. “I’m going to blow up.  Little pieces of me are gonna be scattered to the winds in Lanai, handsome, and possibly on you.”

 

“That would be terrible, darlin’, did you see this suit? Don’t go ruining it now,” he teased, though he playfully brushed at his jacket, jokingly wiping off any imaginary debris. Further down, lit by torches, would be a spot for them, and he knew it would still be a few minutes’ walk, plenty of time to get their stomachs settled. “And you look gorgeous in that dress, don’t go exploding before I have a chance to take it off of you…” because while they had had dessert, as far as he was concerned, he had a second dessert coming before this night was over and done with.

 

“Don’t worry, I plan on taking all of this off you too before the night is done, piece by piece…” Maxlyn teased, stopping to take her heels off to carry them with her, wanting to feel the sand between her toes.  Jon didn’t join her since he had dress shoes on.  Was it difficult to walk in sand with those on?  She was tempted to ask him to join her, but decided against it, her other hand firmly clasped in his.  They walked for a little while, just trying to get their stomachs to rest and settle from that very extravagant meal.  They still had dessert to go, but Jon had asked for a small delay, not wanting them to completely explode.  Once they arrived back at the restaurant, the walk had done wonders and they were both ready for dessert.  Maxlyn grinned at the delicious art before her and dug her spoon in, frowning when she hit something hard.  Was the dessert something have a hard center or something?  She didn’t see Jon watching her intently as she dug some more until she pulled the spoon out, seeing something glinting between the dessert. “What in the world…?”

 

So, it was totally cliché and maybe not as romantic as he could be, Jon wasn’t sure how ‘far out’ he should go for this part. He watched, setting his own spoon down, as she finished unearthing the ring. She hadn’t batted an eyelash at the linen cloth and small bowl of water that had been strategically placed nearby, probably assuming it was for cleaning up after dessert or something. No, it was for this. He watched as she took the ring off the spoon and glanced at that cloth and the water. Her hands were shaking as she cleaned the ring and he was very, very grateful it hadn’t been a hot dessert, and then it was all clean and shiny and he was now on his knee beside her chair, having moved quietly. “Maxlyn, will you marry me?” He asked quietly, reaching out to place a hand on her thigh, his blue eyes fastened on her face.

 

Her eyes moved from the beautiful diamond ring to those electric blues and tears glistened in her own, her voice box not working.  He wanted to marry her.  He wanted her to be his wife and spend the rest of his life with her. “Yes.” There wasn’t a hint of doubt or uncertainty in her voice as she turned fully to face him, the ring still in her hand.  It was such a simple proposal, a simple question full of so much promise and love.  The way his eyes lit up at her simplistic answer made her smile as a single tear slid down her cheek, his thumb reaching up to lightly brush it away. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Jon.  Today, tomorrow, the next day, whenever you want.” He took the ring and slid it on her left ring finger before she cupped his scruffy face in her hands, passionately kissing him and felt him lift her, spinning around in a circle. “Did you think I wouldn’t want to marry you?”

 

“Admittedly,” his voice was gruff with emotion once he had set her back on her feet, feeling her face nuzzling into his chest for a moment before she turned those beautiful eyes back up to his face. “I was a little worried…” he was worried it might have been too much, too fast, especially since they were still coming down off of all that stress and bullshit from Garcia and what had happened in Las Vegas. Still holding her, he stepped back to put room between them, searching her face intently. “You’re sure? Whenever and wherever?” He wasn’t against planning a wedding. He also wasn’t against going to Mexico and doing it.

 

“Yes.  Wherever and whenever, Jon.  I don’t need a big, fancy wedding.  I don’t need anyone except you.  We can elope if you want or we can have a wedding.  I’m game for whatever you want to do.” She started chuckling, the thought in her mind preposterous, but her blurting antics were rearing again. “We could do it while we’re here, extend our stay a few extra days.  We’d need to get a marriage license, but it shouldn’t be too hard.” The way his eyes widened made her grin and she leaned up to brush her lips against his, pressing herself closer to him. “You’re already in a tux and I’m in this beautiful white dress.  We could just use these clothes and do it, honey.  Mrs. Maxlyn Good has a nice ring to it.”

 

Jon had actually looked into it, for getting married here in Hawaii but then realized his surprise would be spoiled. She would have known he was going to propose if he had set things up to be married here, simply because her presence was required to complete a marriage application and all that, only then was a marriage license issued. That had been the only hang-up because once issued, there was no wait period or anything. However… it occurred to him that it would have been arrogant as shit, assuming and then wanting it done immediately, she might have viewed that in a pretty bad light given her history with men. “We can’t until tomorrow, when the office opens… but if you want to get married here, we can.” Which was what he had been hoping, this woman really was perfect for him.

 

“If I could marry you tonight, I would.” Now she understood why he brought up the subject of children.  Jon was asking because of what he had planned and kissed him deeply, sliding her fingers over his short hair to lace her fingers around his neck. “I get it now.  Why you brought up kids, I get it.  And I do want kids with you.  I want a family with you.  I want it all with you.  But only when we’re ready for it to happen and I meant what I said about getting one of those luxury private buses too.  You say the road isn’t for families and I disagree, especially when your life and livelihood is on the road.  So is mine since I’m your PA and nobody else’s.  We’ll make it work, whatever comes our way, whatever happens.  Now, how do we go about getting married?  I don’t want to leave here without being your wife.” They would figure out finances, bank accounts, and everything else that came along with marriage at a later time.

 

Jon had already made her beneficiary of his accounts in the event something happened to him, they weren’t inconsiderable, so with her finances on top of his, if he died or something, she would be taken care for the rest of her life and hopefully wouldn’t worry herself into doing something stupid to survive. That was a harsh thought but he also knew Maxlyn was prone to anxiety and alive or dead, he wanted to take care of her. “We’ll celebrate our engagement tonight and tomorrow, we’ll get married. In a few months, we can do a reception or something at home, so my mom’s don’t murder me.”

 

She laughed softly, nodding in agreement and finally pulled her hand back to admire the ring, noticing for the first time it was a princess cut diamond with two small black diamonds on each side set on a white gold band.  It was simple and perfect, absolutely breathtaking. “This is so beautiful, Jon.” Maxlyn was never a materialistic person and touched his bearded face, the diamond glittering under the lights. “Just so you know, if you got the ring out of a cracker jack box, I would’ve still said yes.  I love you so much.” While they were gone, their suite was being decked out in the same flowers and candles that Jon had the restaurant do.  He meant what he said about celebrating their engagement and had stepped away to ‘use the bathroom’ to make the call to let the resort know it was fine to go ahead with the décor. “Thank you for agreeing to eloping with me.  I know your Moms are going to have a field day, but…I just feel more comfortable with something intimate and just us.”

 

A cracker jack box, they still did that stuff? Jon hadn’t had that sickly sweet treat since he was a kid, it had been in the weekly food boxes his mom had gotten from the local food pantry for poor people. “I do too, darlin’,” he agreed, nodding down at her. “But I know mom one and mom two are going to be a bit miffed that we eloped, even though they’ll understand too,” he could only imagine Ginny’s reaction, she had been talking about doing décor for a wedding for years… no thanks. Maybe the reception thing or whatever they did. He wouldn’t want that to be overly large either, knowing Maxlyn didn’t really have friends.

 

They could be miffed all they wanted, but ultimately, this was about Jon and Maxlyn and what they wanted.  She had nobody to come to the wedding on her behalf, it would be all be Jon’s family and friends, none of hers.  That wouldn’t be fair to the bride and Maxlyn would have major anxiety over planning an actual wedding too.  A reception was acceptable and his mothers could go haywire on it all they wanted, but the actual ceremony would be intimate between them. “Probably wishful thinking, but do you think we could do it on the beach out here?  It wouldn’t have to be anything big.  We’d just have to find a pastor and I’m sure there’s some kind of chapel around here.” He nodded and she smiled while he explained what he had originally planned on doing, which was indeed on the beach. “Really?!  We can really do it on the beach then?!”

 

“And if we can’t find a preacher, we can get a justice of the peace or something,” plenty of people were officiated these days. Hell, was it Chris who had officiated someone’s wedding just last year? Jon couldn’t remember, not that he was sure he wanted his buddy to do his wedding, that’d probably be asking for some jokes and shit. “We’ll also need witnesses.” He had totally forgotten about that, wondering how she’d feel if they just hired a few people to do it, they had met some nice staff over their stay here, or would that be weird?

 

~!~

 

Was this really happening?

 

Jon bought another week in the suite they were in, forking over the money and refused to let Maxlyn pay for anything.  This was HIS treat and his alone.  After a passionate filled two days in that beautiful suite with the flowers and now melted candles, Jon told her about Chris being an officiate and he had officiated several weddings in the past.  She blinked, not expecting to hear that and it was almost as if a light bulb clicked in her head. 

 

“Why not invite Chris and his family out here to share the day with us?  That’s more than enough witnesses, right?”

 

“Are you sure?  You don’t even know Jess and the kids…”

 

“But you do and I’m fine with people you know.  I’m sure Chris would be honored to do this for us, Jon.  He really thinks highly of you.  So call him and see if he can get the time off to come join us here for a few days while we finish planning everything.”

 

It sounded so simplistic, even though it was anything but and Jon, against his better judgment, had made the call to Chris.  The man had SQUEALED in his ear at the top of his lungs and then immediately apologized, immediately accepting to come fly out to Lanai to officiate their wedding on the beach.  Just like Jon wanted done, they had a gorgeous archway that was decked out in colorful flowers, including roses, and there was a small aisle leading up to the archway too, with the ocean in the background.  They had already applied for their marriage license and had gotten all the legalities out of the way by the time Chris and Jessica, along with their three children, arrived.  Jessica was extremely nice, thanking her and Jon several times for allowing them to come with for this momentous occasion. 

 

Her dress was another simple white, ankle length, with a lace overlay of roses and a halter design with thin straps tied around her neck.  Her back was halfway exposed and there was a small hoop dip, but still left plenty to the imagination.  It flowed with every step she took and she had on white sandals instead of heels, refusing to wear them in the sand.  Her hair was pinned up in a ton of spiral curls and Jessica had done her makeup, keeping it simple and elegant.  The diamond jewelry was back on, including her gorgeous engagement ring, and they had gone out to a local jewelry store to purchase wedding bands.  Hers was a diamonds all the way around that would go well with her engagement ring and Jon’s was a platinum band with a simple diamond in the middle of it.  Just to add a little more flare, Jessica placed some white roses in Maxlyn’s hair and had her look in the full-length mirror, seeing the tears glistening in the woman’s eyes.

 

“Do you like it?  I can always remove them…”

 

“No.” Maxlyn had never looked so beautiful in her life and it made her speechless, hence the tears in her eyes. “It looks amazing, Jessica, thank you.” Now, she just hoped Jon liked what he saw when she walked down the small aisle shortly.

 

If they stayed another week, Jon might wind up bankrupted. This place was worth the price but in order to secure another week for themselves AND Chris and his family, yeah… peak season and booking was a bitch. However, the resort had been gracious about it and managed to make things work, at a hefty price. He was never getting married again, this was it. She was stuck with his ass for life because she was going to be the rich one. That was his inner poor kid screaming HOLY SHIT. When he had made that joke out loud, Maxlyn had laughed and chided him, reminding HIM that he was financially secure, that THEY were financially secure. That had been different, he usually was the one doing that.

 

“You look dapper as shit, if I do say so, and I do,” Chris still couldn’t wrap his head around this, Moxley was marrying. Hell had frozen over, but he also approved. He liked Maxlyn and thought they were good for each other, regardless of Eddie’s suspicions.

 

She had offered to pay for the week in order to do this wedding the way they both wanted, but Jon declined and assured her it was taken care of.  She could tell the price of everything was sending him into a mild panic and once she reminded him they were well-off financially, especially both of them together, that was when he cooled his jets a little.  Even Maxlyn had balked at the pricing, but…it was worth it.  All of this was worth it to become Jon’s wife in an intimate setting.  This price was chump change compared to what an actual, big wedding would’ve cost and that probably settled Jon’s nerves a little as well.  They were getting away with this cheap compared to an actual wedding.  Chris’s twins agreed to be the flower girls and his son the ring bearer, all of them bringing their best looking formal wear.  Nothing had to match, she wasn’t anal like that and couldn’t believe how beautiful they all looked.

 

“I REALLY appreciate you coming and doing this for us, Jessica.  I know we don’t know each other very well and you could’ve easily said no, but you didn’t and that means the world to me and Jon.” Jessica would be standing up on her behalf while Ash would Jon, with Chris to officiate the ceremony. 

 

“Oh no problem, Jonny is family,” Jessica was the very definition of cheery, perky blonde but there was nothing dumb about her. “Which makes you family too.” Her teens had all been amused when asked about those roles but the girls had also instantly began discussing what dresses they had brought. Ash, who was 19 now, had been grinning as well. They were Chris’ kids through and through, used to random requests and oddness in their family, it was pretty much a trait. “Chris even promised to tone it down.” Which for Chris, was a big thing.

 

“I’m sure Jon appreciates that.  Your husband is very…eccentric and larger than life.” Jessica chuckled with a nod, agreeing wholeheartedly with a bright smile on her face.

 

“One of the many reasons why I love him.  You know, Jon can be eccentric himself at times too.”

 

“Yeah, one of the many reasons I love him and want to marry him.”

 

They both laughed softly, realizing Chris and Jon were a lot more alike than they thought or could see until now. “We’d better get going over there before he thinks I’m a runaway bride.”

 

“Hey, if you don’t wanna do this, all you gotta do is say the word and I’ll get you out of here.” Jessica offered, not surprised when Maxlyn shook her head instantly and they headed out, with the twins in tow, heading out to the waiting car that would take them to the spot on the beach.  Lifting the dress up, Maxlyn climbed in the back along with Jessica and the twins, complimenting how beautiful they looked.  They thanked her simultaneously before pulling their phones out, snapping pictures together before taking a few of Maxlyn and Jessica, then just Maxlyn.

 

Chapter 59

 

Jon, Chris and Ash were waiting at the private, sectioned off area of the beach. The staff had put together a beautiful little spot, even with a small table that held the sparkling juices and waters that Jon and Maxlyn preferred, appetizers, cold cut finger sandwiches, and a small wedding cake. A few strategically placed Bluetooth speakers provided gentle, instrumental music that was at the perfect volume, loud enough to be heard but not enough to diminish the sounds of the ocean. “You ready for this, bro?” Chris asked, having actually prepared a short wedding sermon just for these two instead of one of the premades he usually did for the random people who had a habit of asking him to do this, usually on one of his Jericho Cruises.

 

Jon nodded, his voice suddenly gone and it wasn’t from the music flowing through those Bluetooth speakers either.  It was the woman who was about to become his wife and the most important person in his life, his number one.  Wrestling had been number one in his life for so long, so many years, and Jon honestly never thought he’d settle down and find that one person that completed him.  Who would’ve thought going to that rehab center would’ve lead him to the love of his life, his soulmate?  It was the weirdest of places to meet someone like that, but it was also perfect for him and Maxlyn.  The perfect, albeit weird, meeting had brought them here to Lanai Resort in Hawaii, being married on the beach.

 

The twins went first, holding baskets of beautiful flower petals that matched the ones on the archway set on the beach, both beaming from ear to ear.  Then went Chris’s gorgeous wife, dressed in a deep red wine wraparound dress that was both modest and sexy at the same time.  Chris could not take his eyes off her and she blushed at how much heat and love were in his sparkling blues.  Finally, the bride started making her way down the aisle and Maxlyn felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest at the sight of Jon, their eyes locked with every step she took.  Within minutes, she would officially be Maxlyn Good and Maxlyn Lewis would be long gone.

 

Jon felt like he couldn’t breathe as Maxlyn drew near to him, his eyes for her and only her. He was sort of aware of Chris’ family moving into their respective positions once she stood with him.

Chris cleared his throat after giving the soon-to-be married couple a few minutes to stare at each other. He and Jess had been married for 22 years now, he still looked at her that way and he had a feeling Jon and Maxlyn would be the same. “Are you ready?” He asked in his normal speaking voice, which wasn’t as high or obnoxious as the one he had cultivated for the stage over the years.

 

Jon and Maxlyn both nodded, finally tearing their eyes from each other.

The ceremony was short, simple, and sweet, with Maxlyn and Jon each giving their vows to each other.  Just speaking from the heart, nothing was pre-written, rehearsed, or anything.  Ash was the perfect ring bearer, handing them over with a smile on his face that mirrored his father’s.  Tears of happiness were shed and when Chris pronounced them man and wife, Jon did not hesitate to take Maxlyn into his arms to passionately kiss her, sealing the deal.  They were officially married and Maxlyn beamed with pride, pressing her forehead to his after the kiss broke.  Chris let out a huge whistle and swept the bride up for a big hug, congratulating them both.  The kids did the same thing before it was time to move to the food, everyone starving, especially Maxlyn.  She hadn’t ate since that morning, it was early afternoon now with the sun glittering off the ocean.  Then it was onto the cake, with Maxlyn and Jon cutting a slice to feed to each other.  Maxlyn mentioned the only thing missing from the cake was Neapolitan ice cream, making Jon wiggle his brows at her and she giggled in response, nudging him playfully.

 

Afterwards, the newlywed couple took off to enjoy their wedding evening and night while Chris decided to do some activities with his family.  Jon had recommended snorkeling and scuba diving, which they’d done in the past in Florida, but Hawaii was a whole new ballgame.  Slowly, Maxlyn and Jon undressed each other out of their wedding attire, savoring each other, and he swept her up in his arms to carry her to the bed, gently guiding her down with a searing, slow, deep kiss that sent a wave of heat throughout her body.

 

“I love you, Mr. Good.” She breathed once the kiss broke, feeling him push inside of her with their fingers laced together, their eyes locked.

 

“I love you too, Mrs. Good.  Ready to make this really official?”

 

“Yes, make me yours, my husband.”

 

Those were the sweetest words Jon ever heard.  Slowly, they made love to each other, consummating their marriage, and clung to each other for dear life, both singing each other’s praises and relishing the moment for all it was worth. 

 

In all their wedding bliss, nobody realized just how catastrophic their lives were about to become in mere days heading back on the road to AEW.  Lanai was a fantasy island where all dreams came true for Jon and Maxlyn, but once they returned to reality…their lives would be changed forever and nothing would ever be the same again.

 

To be fair, this vacation wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for the Irvine’s. They cruised every year throughout the Bahamas and did a bunch of other things. With Chris’ touring schedule and wrestling schedule, he made sure his family got their time with him. He also made sure he was there for games and all that too. He had a feeling Jon and Maxlyn would wind up that way, prioritizing things as their children got older, hell… they hadn’t even been married that long and he was envisioning some curly haired, blue eyed angels for his buddy. After leaving the pair alone for a few days to enjoy their newly married bliss and bedroom, he sent Jon a text with those thoughts… and a devil’s emoticon.

 

Jon promptly choked on his orange juice because they had been having breakfast in bed and talking about their return to the real world. Which, he wasn’t looking forward to at all, and checked his damn phone. When she asked what, he passed it over.

 

“Oh my…” Maxlyn’s eyes widened, roses blooming in her cheeks and wondered if Jon would mind if she responded to him. “Can I?” Jon shrugged and an evil smirk curved her lips as her fingers flew over the buttons, showing him what she was planning on sending to Chris and he started laughing so hard, he doubled over on the bed holding his stomach.  Jon ordered her to send it through tears in his eyes and she was laughing as well, pressing the send button before tackling her husband to the bed, swallowing the rest of his laughter. “You’re a bad influence on me, you know that, my husband?” She would never, ever get tired of calling him that, rubbing her nose against his with sparkling brown orbs.

 

Terrible to let ur wifey fight ur battles baby. Chris sent back with an amused chuckle. Jon had a specific way of texting and that way was: shitty. He was shitty at it. Everyone else did shorthand, which was the point of texting, and slang. Jon was all about mashing his buttons and saying fuck it. It was all part of his charm.

 

Knock your wife up leave mine alone It was awesome, calling Maxlyn his wife and he laughed, discarding the cell in order to focus on his food again. “You’re a bad influence on yourself, darlin’, I’m just here to watch,” he teased, popping a piece of fruit in her mouth.

 

“You’re so full of it, but I enjoy the influence you have on me, so it works.” Maxlyn remarked, after swallowing that delicious pineapple he popped in her mouth and did the same to him, both naked as jaybirds.  They didn’t care, they had spent the last two days in bed naked and loving it every second of it, trying to relax as much as possible before returning to the real world. “Hey, what time did we have to be there tomorrow to look at the property we saw online?” There was a beautiful oceanfront vacation house about 20 miles away from the resort and it was surprisingly cheap for being Hawaii.  Foreclosures were a beautiful thing for those searching for homes.  In between the sexual bouts, they had researched around the area, both loving Lanai, and didn’t think they’d find any place else in Hawaii, on any of the islands, that came close to what Lanai Resort gave them. “You said 2, right?  Or was it 3?  I didn’t write it down, sorry.”

 

A foreclosure in Hawaii was about the median price in say, rural Ohio, for a normal property. Jon wasn’t sure if he would ever get over just how expensive the place was. He had been informed by Chris, when asking a question, that Alaska was WAY worse. Since Jon had an aversion to too much snow and cold, not to mention the seasons of just dark and then just light, no thanks. “At 2, darlin’,” he reached for one of the linen napkins off the tray to brush his fingertips off on, contemplating the rest of the meal before them and decided to top off their coffee. “We got to find out what brew they’re using…” no doubt in some fancy type of press and shit but he’d learn, this was delicious. “You excited?”

 

“Yeah, if we can nail this down before going back on the road, it’ll be one less thing for us to have on our plates.  And truthfully, I love this place, so if we can find a vacation home here and spend our vacations in paradise, I definitely wouldn’t complain.” Reaching out, she brushed a drop of food from the corner of his bearded mouth and claimed his in a soft kiss before taking the plates to put them on the tray.  Standing from the bed, she began rolling it near the door and Jon watched that naked backside of hers sway and then it was covered by her silk robe.  Pushing the tray out into the hallway, Maxlyn disrobed again and crawled back into bed, tempted to straddle him, but instead she sat on her knees in front of him. “There’s also something I want to talk to you about,” Now that they were actually talking instead of going crazy on each other. “And I want to do this before we go see that house because I refuse to let you pay for everything.  We’re married now, so my money is your money and I want us to combine it.  I want just one bank account between us, a joint account.  That way, it's both of us building our life together financially.  What do you think?”

 

With any other woman, he would have been concerned, especially they had been so obsessed with money and survival the way Maxlyn was and had been. Admittedly, she was learning to let go of those fears and insecurities but…. Any other woman, warning bells would have been blaring in a heartbeat. “Once we get the paperwork and stuff in the mail, we’ll go to the bank and get it done.” That’d be a few weeks, her new social security card and all that. Chris had reassured them he had handled filing the license, which was his job as the officiant and he trusted Chris. “That okay?”

 

“Yes, that’s perfect.  I know it probably sounds weird coming from me, but…I want this to be a completely new beginning for us.  Well, not a new beginning, but I don’t want us to have our own shit.  We’re married, we should share everything and I’d never hide anything from you.  And since I’m still having income coming in being your PA through AEW, after I sign my contract, I don’t feel right having my own bank account.  I really hope I’m making sense…” Maxlyn hadn’t exactly blurted all of that out, but she said it in a rush of words that was probably too fast for Jon to comprehend. “I want everything to be OURS, like you’ve been trying to tell me since I left the center with you.  I want to believe in that, Jon.” There was another thing Maxlyn had to work on as well and she knew it would be very difficult for her to do, but if this marriage was going to work, she needed to improve.  That was something she would not mention to Jon, not wanting to upset him.

 

Jon had indeed been saying ‘ours’. Our house, our decisions, etc. He had been trying to make her comfortable, reassure her she wasn’t going to wind up out on her ass because of her issues at the time and adjusting to the world outside of the rehab facility. So this, from her, was a pretty big deal and he had to wonder if it was just because they were married, frowning slightly. “Maxlyn, if… this is just because you think it’s how it should be and it’s not what you really want, we can wait.” Because this should be because she wanted it, not out of some misplaced sense of obligation because she was his wife or because that’s what tradition or society said they should do.

 

“No.” Maxlyn shook her head and moved to straddle him, resting her hands on his broad shoulders. “This is what I want, Jon.  I trust you with my life.  I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it and you know that.” Better than anybody. “This vacation home we buy, wherever it is, I want it to be ours.  It was bothering me that I didn’t help you pay for this vacation, but after you explained to me that this change was your idea, I couldn’t argue with you.  I want us to take care of each other in every way possible, not just you taking care of me.” Brushing her lips against his lightly, Maxlyn smiled and rubbed her cheek against his bearded one, sighing in contentment. “No waiting necessary, honey.”

 

“All right then, once we get everything back in the mail, we’ll get the accounts taken care of,” Jon didn’t mind doing the half-way thing, though once their accounts were merged, technically, it would always be that way and neither of them would ever have to say ‘hey, I can help’ again. His hands moved to her hips, kneading her soft skin with his fingertips and palms. “We should probably get a shower,” they were both still basking in morning wake-up sex as well as their breakfast, notably the juices from the fruits.

 

“Lead the way, my husband.” Squealing as Jon lifted her over his shoulder from the bed, Maxlyn was more than ready for another round with her gorgeous husband.

 

Chapter 60

 

Even though it was the first house they looked at for a potential vacation home, both Maxlyn and Jon instantly fell in love with it.  Right off the ocean with a patio, an inground swimming pool, hot tub, and there was still plenty of room for patio furniture, a grill, and anything else they wanted to do.  The house itself was three bedrooms, spacious with an open floor plan, with two bathrooms.  It was all on one floor, no basement or upstairs.  The people that lived there prior had taken exceptionally good care of the house and after talking it over with each other for a good hour, Jon and Maxlyn put an offer in on it.  The realtor was astounded by the asking price, which was a little higher than what they were asking for, just in case there were other contenders.  The day they were set to leave Lanai, the offer was accepted and Jon asked to have all the paperwork sent to him through the mail to Cincinnati.  On their next days off, which would be in a week, they’d look over everything, sign, and send it back.  It would be a while before they could get some actual time to go to Lanai again to get the house setup, but in the meantime, at least it was theirs and nobody else could claim it.

 

Walking hand in hand inside the arena, the newlywed couple were all smiles and were instantly congratulated by some of their coworkers.  With Jon’s permission, they had posted one simple picture of them together, sitting on the beach, with their hands showing the wedding bands, kissing.  This was AFTER they had called his mothers to break the news of their engagement and impromptu wedding on the beach.  Jessica had taken the picture and Jon posted it to his social media, letting the entire world know he was off the market.  Bryan hugged them both, welcoming Maxlyn to the family with open arms and Brie, his wife, was next, who was traveling with him at the moment along with their little girl and boy.  Maxlyn was a little overwhelmed, but took it all in stride, never once releasing Jon’s hand and squeezed it a few times to let him know she was all right.

 

Her cell phone suddenly went off, making her look down at the caller ID and saw it was one of her mothers-in-law calling, deciding to answer it. “Hello?”

 

“You passed your GED test, right?” It was Ginny and she didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. “Yes or no, honey, time is money.”

 

“Y-Yes ma’am, yes I did…” Maxlyn blinked, listening as Ginny started launching into an explanation on why she was asking.  Turns out, her personal assistant decided to quit on her a month ago and, even though her other half was doing her best at the job, she wasn’t qualified and Ginny knew about Maxlyn being Jon’s personal assistant while on the road. “Listen, you don’t have to decide now.  Think it over and let me know, discuss it with your hubby there, my boy, and then let me know what you decide.  Just so you know, all of this can be done remotely, so you don’t have to be home to do the job.  As long as you get the work done diligently, I don’t give a damn where you do the work from.  You understand, sweetheart?”

 

“Y-Yes, ma’am…”

 

“Good, tell that son of mine he has an ass kicking coming his way when you both get home and I love him.  Toodles!”

 

“That was Momma Ginny and she just offered me a job.” Maxlyn sounded a little far away, trying to wrap her brain around what just happened. “She also said you have an ass kicking coming your way when you get home and she loves you…” Jon’s mothers were happy they were married, but hurt and pissed they couldn’t be at the ceremony, and she understood that. “I’m sorry, Jon.  Maybe eloping wasn’t the best idea…”

“We knew they were going to be pissed off when we went into it,” he reminded her gently though truth be told, he wasn’t looking forward to having his ass beaten in and he knew they’d do it too. They’d take turns so they didn’t wear out their own arms. “I should’ve flown them in… I had Chris and his family come in but didn’t even think about bringing my parent’s in…” he had totally lost his shit on the wedding thing, really dropped that ball. Though, to be fair, he also knew Ginny would have tried taking over the decoration and all that shit, the planning, because she was just that kind of woman. “They’ll forgive me when I let them do whatever the Hell they want for a reception… I think.”

 

“You mean us.  I did this just as much as you did and I’m just as responsible.  They’re my mother-in-laws now.” That made her anxiety shoot up a few notches. “They can’t be too pissed at me since Ginny offered me a job though, right?” Jon shrugged, not sure if it was a good or bad thing. “I’m surprised she didn’t mention the reception we’re planning on having.  They’re probably gonna bombard us when we get home.” He nodded, agreeing with her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to kiss the top of her head.

 

Bryan had informed Jon, from Khan, that tonight they would be starting feuds with the Pinnacle.  Him with Shawn Spears and Jon would be feuding with MJF.  Tonight would be the beatdown of both Jon and Bryan to kick it off, after they won a tag match against the Pinnacle.  Wardlow was no longer part of the Pinnacle, so it was MJF and Shawn Spears going solo with it, still trying to keep the group alive, with MJF as the leader.

 

Given his moms already thought Maxlyn had some issues from her past, that they still didn’t know about, he already knew they weren’t pissed at her. They were pissed at him because he had been raised to know better. But, he wasn’t about to try reassuring her when he knew it wouldn’t do any good, she was going to have to learn to manage her anxiety as best as she was able too. Instead, he focused on the upcoming show, listening to the sounds of the arena as he began his warm-up’s, aware she was ogling him. “Woman, didn’t you get enough during the honeymoon?” He teased, knowing he was very guilty of that shit too. He had a new thing, watching her brushing her hair.

 

“I’ll never get enough of you, honey.  And you know how much I enjoy watching you do your warmups.  Now continue, I enjoy my man candy very much.” Jon shook his head, his husky chuckle sending a shot of straight warmth right to her nethers and chewed her thumbnail.  Maxlyn had noticed the hair fetish he had now that she’d dyed it back to its natural color – the soft caramel.  Every time she brushed it out after a tussle in bed, he would watch her do it with such intensity, the moment she was finished, they wound up at it again.  There was something extremely sexy about the way she brushed her hair that drove Jon crazy, so Maxlyn filed that information away to use when she was in the mood.  Good way to get her man in the mood as well.  A knock on the door jolted both out of their thoughts as Jon called ‘ come in!’, not stopping his warmup pushups.  It was none other than Maxwell Jacob Friedman that stepped inside a second later and Maxlyn smiled softly at him, remaining seated as Jon hopped up from the floor. “Hi Maxwell.”

 

Jon had liked the red on her but he loved her natural hair color. He could never imagine her as a platinum blonde, he thought that shade was unnatural and trampy, which he imagined was the point being a stripper and all that. The caramel color, drove him up a wall, especially with how healthy it looked. “Hey, MJF,” he grunted, not missing a beat. “What’s up?”

 

Nothing said intimidation while watching this man chat and perform his warming up routine, MJF wasn’t one to be intimidated though and nodded at Maxlyn with a smile. “Just came to talk shop and of course, offer my congratulations to the newlyweds.”

 

Maxlyn beamed brightly, glancing down at the beautiful diamond rings on her left ring finger and then back up at him. “Thank you so much.” She meant those words for more than his heartfelt words.  If it wasn’t for Maxwell, perhaps she wouldn’t be on cloud nine and Jon’s wife at the moment because of her stubbornness and ridiculous paranoia.  Jon didn’t know about her conversation with Maxwell and she preferred to keep it that way, her eyes conveying to him how thankful she was for what he said to her that day. 

 

MJF nodded back at her with a wink and then looked down at Jon, who also thanked him for the congratulations. “I had an idea I wanted to run by you about tonight.  I wanna use this, but didn’t want to do it without your permission first.” He opened his hand to showcase the diamond ring he’d busted a lot of opponents open with, including Jon, during the first time they feuded. “I think it went over well last time we collided and figured using it again would just add more fuel to the fire, so to speak.”

 

Jon began laughing as he pushed himself up off the floor and brushed his damp hands off on his pants as he studied that ring. “It’ll add even more now all things considered…” since they had posted that simple but very informative picture of themselves after their wedding. “Just not too badly, my wife,” damn it felt good saying that too and he caught Maxlyn’s pleased smile and slight flush at his words. “likes my pretty face the way it is.”

 

“I’ll try to keep the damage to a minimum, just for you, Maxlyn,” Maxwell laughed, shaking his head but then nodded, pocketing the ring again. “Hard to believe you settled down, Mox.”

 

“Apparently I was waiting on the right woman to come along.”

 

“Aren’t we all?”

 

“I trust he’ll take care of you out there, Jon.” Maxwell not only saved her life with that gunman, but he’d also saved her relationship with Jon.  This man was a complete saint and she definitely owed him several coffees in the future.  Even though that was a very heavy diamond ring that had been used as a lethal weapon in the past, her trust for Maxwell was absolute.  For once, that shiver down her spine, that chill, was gone.  Jon had been right.  She just didn’t know Maxwell well enough until now…now he was a friend of hers and Jon and he was more than worthy of their trust. “I’ll be watching, I’m actually looking forward to the story you two will tell.” Up until now, Maxlyn hadn’t really paid much attention to MJF and the Pinnacle, but now that they were going up against Bryan and her husband, her interest was officially peaked.

 

“Oh, don’t tell me that, Maxlyn, I might feel bad if I actually use the ring if I know you’re watching,” he laughed, flipping Moxley off when the other man snorted and said ‘yeah right’ in a sarcastic albeit playful tone of voice.

 

“Don’t you worry, darlin’,” Jon walked up to her after wiping the sweat off himself and grabbing a drink from his water bottle, bending down to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “You’ll still get to gaze in wonder at this ruggedly handsome mug of mine.”

 

Maxwell just shook his head.

 

“Even if your face gets a little messed up, I’ll still love you.  It’s not your looks I fell in love with, Mr. Good.”

 

Maxwell cleared his throat when Mox yanked her flush against his body to passionately kiss her, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’ll see you out there, Mox.” He sincerely hoped the man could focus on what was coming in the ring, looking down at the diamond ring that was now on his pinky finger.  Tonight would mark a whole new beginning and he was looking forward to it. Newlyweds. He thought with a small chuckle, heading to his locker room and was glad everything had worked out with Jon and Maxlyn’s relationship.  Obviously or they wouldn’t be married right now.

 

“You are terrible, chasing him out like that.” Maxlyn mumbled against his lips about a half an hour later, making Jon laugh and the pad of her thumb slid across his bottom lip, her own swollen. “Not that I’m complaining or anything.  I do enjoy the attention from you, but you should be warming up for your match tonight and whatever is going down afterwards.”

 

“Ah, well, kid shouldn’t get too used to our company,” Jon would be eternally grateful for what Maxwell had done, he had saved Maxlyn’s life, that was a debt he would never be able to repay no matter how hard he tried. However, he wasn’t about to force conversation or invite the guy to hang out in their dressing room. He’d figure something out, Jon was feeling a little selfish still with his brand new wife. “Not going to freak out when he clocks me with that thing, are you?”

 

She cupped his bearded face, shaking her head. “I trust you and I know you’ll be all right.  It’s just a little blood and a cut, right?” He nodded, not releasing her and brushed his lips against her forehead. “No reason for me to freak out.  I won’t like seeing my husband busted open, I admit, but I also know it’s part of your job.  Just promise me to be careful out there, okay?” This time she kissed him passionately, molding her body to his and moaned at the taste of him, both pouring every ounce of love and feeling into the kiss and making them both breathless.  Maxlyn felt her back collide against the wall, the kiss not breaking and Jon lifted her to where the skirt she had on bunched up around her hips, her legs locked around his waist.  Truth be told, she was very selfish when it came to her brand new husband as well, the feeling was more than mutual on that front.

 

Before there could be anything besides that skirt up, there was another knock on the door followed by it opening. Jon had her down on the ground before whoever it was stepped in. there was nothing to be done about swollen lips, flushed faces, or agitation because he was sporting wood. In the workplace was never a bright idea, especially with an unlocked door. “Ah fuck, man.”

 

“Oh, come on, baby, you knew better,” obviously, it was Chris, and he had brought their friends. Joshua, for example, who also came sporting a belated wedding gift. “You know you missed your officiant.”

 

“Best wedding officiant ever.” Maxlyn walked over to him, hugging Chris around the neck in a tight embrace and kissed his cheek for good measure. “Thank you again for what you did for us.  Jessica and the kids too.”

 

“Not a problem, Max.  Not like they didn’t enjoy themselves either.  That place was astounding and we’ll be going back for another vacation in the future.” Chris loved that resort and wanted to go for a good solid two weeks with his family, already planning it after his next Fozzy tour.

 

“I don’t blame you a bit.” Maxlyn turned her attention to Josh Barnett and greeted him with a hug as well. “It’s so nice to see you again, Josh.  Thank you again for helping us out the way you did.” Chris already knew all about it since he’d sat Jon down to get as many details about the shootout as possible.

 

“It’s good to see you too, Mrs. Moxley,” he grinned broadly down at her once she had stepped away from him, laughing when she raised a brow. “Might as well get used to it now, that’s what everyone’s gonna be calling you.”

 

“He’s not wrong,” Chris laughed, now showing Jon the pictures that had been taken at the wedding. “Jess ordered some wedding album type thing for you guys, it’s being delivered to your mom’s house in Ohio.” He had no idea the mom’s were pissy with Jon for not inviting them to his wedding.

 

Oh, they were really pissy, especially since they knew Jon had flown out a friend and his family but not Jon’s family. Maybe not pissy but definitely heartbroken.

 

There was no way for Maxlyn to know a mother’s pain missing their children’s wedding because she didn’t have loving parents.  No, her mother had whored her out in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. “Tell Jess thank you.  That was awfully kind of her to do that.” She didn’t miss the way Jon cringed at Chris’s information and really hoped his mothers forgave them for eloping.  If not, she’d just let him handle it and do whatever he wanted.  Perhaps living in Cincinnati wasn’t for the best after all.  Jon even said it was temporary and that was probably next on the agenda, finding a permanent home they both loved.  They had their dream vacation home, now they had to find a new home for the few days off a week they had from the road.

 

“This is for you guys.  Just a little something I scooped up.” Josh handed over the wedding gift with a smile to the bride and watched her open it.  They were long stemmed champagne glasses with their names engraved on it.  Maxlyn Good and Jonathan Good. “They’re so beautiful, Josh, thank you so much…” She truly meant it, handing them carefully to Jon, not wanting to break or damage them in any way.

 

Jon had absolutely zero intentions of picking out a new home for now, not with them doing the vacation home in Hawaii on top of Maxlyn herself had been against finding a different place when he had had a ‘perfectly good house’ already. Not to mention, it had been decorated and furnished, the whole kit and kaboodle. He wasn’t about to run away from his mom’s just because he had been a total and complete jackass about not flying them out for his wedding even though he had done it with another family. He was going to take the punishment and berating and suck it the fuck up. Jon studied the glasses, nodding his appreciation and then carefully put them back in the box Josh was holding open. “Thanks man, we appreciate it,” and they now had a favorite sparkling water/juice to drink in them.

 

Chris had already given them his gift by being the officiant at their wedding and Jessica had done that beautiful photo album.  Honestly, Maxlyn did not expect all of this outpouring of support and love from Jon’s friends and comrades.  It felt good to know they accepted her or at least put a hell of a show on.  A knock on the door made Jon shout ‘come in’ while laughing at something Chris said, both him and Josh currently rolling.  The laughter died down as none other than Eddie Kingston walked into the locker room, looking a little sheepish.  Maxlyn knew all about Eddie’s disapproval and distrust of her, so she didn’t greet him like the others and simply sat down in front of the monitor, admiring the wedding gift from Josh.

 

Chris sincerely hoped Eddie was here to simply congratulate Jon and not start any drama, really hoping these two could bury the hatchet.  It was obvious Jon loved Maxlyn or he wouldn’t have married her.  And after being at their wedding, the way they looked each other, the way they smiled and laughed together…Chris was convinced more than ever Maxlyn was trustworthy and he considered her a friend now.

 

“Congrats, homie.” Eddie knew when he was in the wrong and not very good at apologies, really hoping Jon didn’t make him work for it.  He was just trying to protect Jon, that was all. “I mean it, I’m happy for you, bro.”

 

Jon stared down Eddie for a moment before extending his hand. Considering what a nosy, assuming prick Eddie had been and how adamant he had been about it, Jon DID think about making his friend suffer and work for forgiveness. He was only human after all. However, he was happily married to the woman of his dreams and in a really damn good mood, so…. He was feeling forgiving. “Thanks, Eddie, that means a lot.” And if by chance Eddie went back to being an asshat, Jon would just old-school his ass in the ring.

 

“Wish I coulda been there, but I’m sure you’ll be having some kind of party to celebrate.  I’ll bring a gift then.” Jon waved him off dismissively, not worried about it and explained how they would be throwing a reception.  He’d make sure Eddie was on the list as long as his attitude didn’t change towards Maxlyn. “I already told you, homie, I’m good now.  I was an asshole and I promise I’m done with all the negativity.  I gotta bounce, but I wanna treat you guys, so how about dinner on me tonight after the show?  I can get to know your bride a little better too.”

 

Jon looked back at Maxlyn and she looked up from her phone, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t mind.  But you are getting that beatdown tonight from MJF, so maybe we should wait and see how you feel afterwards.”

 

“Wait, what?  Beatdown from MJF?” Eddie was confused, listening as Jon explained his newest angle in the company and groaned. “Really, man?  They’re gonna let that asshole beat you down with a diamond ring and bust you open?” He didn’t like that one bit since Jon’s character had been extremely protected since the moment he debuted 3 years ago in the company.  The company’s inception, actually. “You cool with this?”

 

Jon had been… well, they built him up as this almost unstoppable force and while that was fun and all, he did not want to go down the path led by John Cena and currently walked by Roman Reigns: the superman trope, even if he was a bit of the antihero. “It’s not like he’s legit beating my ass fair and square, I think it’ll be fine.” MJF would basically be using a weapon to beat him and Jon’s unstoppable force thing would be shaky but still there. “Besides, you know Khan isn’t going to push it if nobody is on board." That was one of the perks of working here, not being forced into bullshit.

 

“Right, right…well, if you’re not up to it tonight, maybe next time.  Just let me know.” Something told Eddie his friend would want to head back straight to the hotel after being beaten down by MJF.  However, if that little asshole decided to go too far, Eddie wouldn’t hesitate to rush down to the ring to beat the hell out of him.  If MJF knew what was good for him, he’d be professional about this and only do what was necessary without going overboard.  He was a rookie and sometimes rookies got overzealous with veterans like him and Jon.

 

Maxlyn watched Eddie and Jon talk for a few more minutes before the man left, her eyes averting back to the television until Jon was in front of her, squatting to lock eyes with her. “These really are beautiful glasses that Josh gave us.” She murmured, still holding them in her lap. “What’s on your mind, handsome?”

 

“I’m starting to think maybe we should have invited people outside of Chris,” Jon admitted, knowing that in the heat of the moment, they both had wanted it done ASAP but he had flown out one family, why hadn’t he given the same consideration to his own family, not to mention his friends? “I feel like an asshole, darlin’,” he didn’t fault her, her upbringing had been beyond fucked up and he knew his friends were what she could claim as her own for the most part. He had known better.

 

“Your mothers, you mean.” Maxlyn murmured quietly, not surprised at his nod and felt something twinge in her heart for him. “I-I didn’t even think of them being there, Jon.  I just wanted to marry you, I didn’t care who was there, even if we had to use the staff as witnesses.  I know the only reason you thought to invite Chris was because he was an ordained minister…” He was the first person that had popped into Jon’s head and they had gone along with it.  Would his mothers hate her for getting married the way they did?  Probably.  Maxlyn would have to deal with it because she wasn’t going anywhere or leaving Jon, not for anything or anyone. “I love you and you’re not an asshole.  Far from it.”

 

“No, I am an asshole, I knew better and I was in such a happy haze that I didn’t think about how it was going to effect other people, like my mom’s, and I should’ve.” Especially since he had brought the other family in. “But thanks for loving me,” he kissed the top of her head before pushing himself back upright. He knew he was an asshole, he could admit it, but he also knew his wife was blinded by love for him. “Whatever they throw at me, I still wouldn’t change a damn thing.” He informed her with a grin.

 

He was DEFINITELY an asshole.

 

Chapter 61

 

“Moxley, remember these words and hear them well: I’m better than you and you KNOW IT!!”

 

Maxlyn could only watch the monitor in horror as Jon was busted wide open with that huge square-shaped diamond ring repeatedly.  The first shot should’ve been enough, but Jon had gotten up to fight back and MJF started pounding him relentlessly in the forehead with that diamond ring.  It was gruesome, Jon’s face was nothing more than a crimson mask of blood.  He actually took some of Jon’s blood and smeared it across his chest, much like he’d done when he busted CM Punk open during their feud.  MJF had grabbed the microphone and those words…every part of Maxlyn’s body turned ice cold. 

 

Those were the same words her rapist had said to her during the 24 hours she’d been drugged, raped, and assaulted.  That chill down her spine was back, stronger than ever, and Maxlyn gripped her head, feeling a headache forming.  Was this her body’s way of trying to get her to remember that night, who assaulted her, or was it her paranoia again? No, Maxwell is a nice guy and he got a little carried away tonight… Right?  Jon had to be carried from the ring by several referees to the backstage area and straight to the trainer to assess the damage of his forehead.  By the time Maxlyn made her way down to the trainer’s, Chris, Josh, Bryan, and Eddie were all waiting outside and Chris immediately approached her.

 

“Baby Max, you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

 

“What?” Maxlyn was a million miles away, not realizing she’d been crying or the fact she was white as a sheet.

 

“Sit down.” Chris guided her over to a chair and she numbly obeyed, sitting down in the chair with a faraway look in her eyes. “Maxlyn?” He touched her shoulder and the way she reacted made his eyes widen because she was out of that chair instantly, trembling from head to toe.

 

Flashbacks were crashing over her like a tsunami wave from that horrible experience and, no matter how hard she tried, she could not get those words out of her head.  Words that had haunted her since it happened. I’m better than you and you know it. How long had MJF been using that phrase or was tonight the first time?  Maxlyn didn’t realize that was not only MJF’s signature phrase, but it was also printed on t-shirts licensed by the company. “I-I’m fine, I…” Suddenly, she dropped to her knees and gripped her head, the flashbacks hitting her extremely hard. 

 

~!~

 

“So good, so fucking tight, just like Garcia said you would be…”

 

Her vision was blurred, her head pounding from the drugs. “G-Garcia…” That was her boss this monster just referred to. “H-He told you to do this?”

 

“Uh huh, not that I’d turn down free pussy.” While he pounded into her from behind, they conversed and he could feel how relaxed her body was, thanks to the drugs he pumped into her system. “If you would’ve been a good little whore and didn’t try getting out of this, things could’ve been great between us.  And they will be now that I have you locked down.”

 

Locked down?  What did that mean? “I-I don’t…”

 

“Shut the fuck up, you don’t need to understand anything.  Just know you will ALWAYS belong to me, no matter where you go or what you do, Racel.  You’re MINE and I’m better than you and you know it!  Now cum for me or I’ll make the pain unbearable, whore!”

 

She managed to look behind her, through her drug-induced state, and caught a glimpse of who the monster was that Garcia ordered to kidnap and rape her…

 

It was none other than Maxwell Jacob Friedman.

 

~!~

 

Think of the devil and he shall appear, MJF had finally made his way back, a concerned look on his face as he approached the trainer’s room. “Jon okay?”

 

“Boy, you wailed on him, what the fuck do you think?” Eddie demanded, tempted to get all up in MJF’s face but Chris’ hand stayed him.

 

“Hey, Mox and I were out there, I asked him if he wanted me to stop and he said no.”

 

Chris wouldn’t be surprised at all by that, guys talked out there, usually with their heads down to make sure everything was okay. He frowned when Maxlyn began shaking to the point he had to hold her still. “Max, baby?”

 

“Trainer.” Josh said instantly, it almost looked like she was having a seizure.

 

No matter how hard she tried, she could not stop trembling and that chill was back full force down her spine, every part of her tensed at the sight of Maxwell.  It was him.  It was him all along.  Did he know all this time?  Did he remember her all this time?  Or maybe he kept his rapist tendencies strictly to prostitutes.  Maxwell was friends with Garcia…the gunman incident suddenly flooded her mind and Maxlyn’s paranoia had returned. “I-I’m fine…” No, she was far from it, but now wasn’t the time or place to confront Maxwell about this, not in front of all these men. “Migraines suck.” That was a flat lie, but the best she could come up with in the span of seconds. “I-I’ll take some meds when we get back to the hotel.”

 

“Are you sure?  You’re still really pale…”

 

“Yeah.” Hopefully, Jon wouldn’t take too long with the trainer and they could get the hell out of here. You can’t leave without your husband.  Just deal with it for now. What worried her was Jon believing her…would he?  Or would he chalk everything up to her being paranoid and her mind playing tricks on her?  That would break her heart and it might be a deal breaker for her if he didn’t believe her once she told him about the flashback she had about Maxwell Jacob Friedman.

 

To be fair, she was going to look massively crazy when she announced it. She was going to seem overly paranoid or even like she was clamoring for attention. It was a typical attention whore sign, having an ‘episode’ after the attention was drawn elsewhere and it was definitely elsewhere tonight. First, he had been concerned about his mom’s and stuff, now his forehead…. The timing was going to look terrible as shit.

 

“Oh, come ON!”

 

“Well hold still, Moxley!”

 

Jon let out a string of expletives from behind that door, his forehead had been turned into raw fucking hamburger and he was LIVID.

 

“If I were you, boy, I’d hightail it out of here before he walks out that door.” Eddie warned MJF, narrowing his eyes at the way the boy was staring at Maxlyn.  What the hell was that about?

 

“Maxlyn…”

 

She cringed, unable to suppress it and wrapped her arms around herself, not saying a single word.  Her mind was racing, hating the sounds of Jon’s pain through that door.  Maxwell did this on purpose.  He came to Jon’s dressing room and congratulated them on their marriage, all the while knowing exactly what kind of past he had with her.  What he did to her for those 24 hours…it made her nauseous and if she looked at him, Maxlyn would vomit everywhere.

 

Something was up with Maxlyn, but now wasn’t the time or place to demand answers.  Jessica had called and left him a voicemail, letting him know something had gone wrong with the filing of Jon and Maxlyn’s marriage certificate.  Jon and Maxlyn also had voicemails on their phones as well, letting them know the filing was unsuccessful and they had to call back in order to find out the reasoning behind it.

The trainer opened the door and looked out at the assembled people, not spotting the little moron who had brought the ring. “That thing needs to be banned,” he growled, eyes landing on the wife. “I got to finish cleaning that tenderized ground chuck he calls a forehead and he’s being a belligerent ass.”

 

Chris automatically knew what was going on, dude thought since this woman had managed to lock down the Mox, she’d be able to keep him calm for this. “Hope you’re not squeamish, baby,” he informed her, taking her in with sympathetic blue eyes. Whatever was going on with that ‘migraine’, it had hit her hard and deep. Migraine’s didn’t trigger fear and that’s what he had seen on her face.

 

“T-Tenderized ground chuck?” Maxlyn stammered out in an echo, staring at the trainer with wide eyes and clenched her fists at her sides, tears forming. THAT SON OF A BITCH MUTILATED MY HUSBAND!! “I’m not, I got this, Chris.” She headed toward the entrance to the trainer’s room and a hand came out to clamp down on her shoulder, making her react instinctively.  Hauling back, Maxlyn co-cocked Maxwell as hard as she could right in the nose, the crunch resonating around the hallway.  Good, she hoped she broke his nose as he wailed out in pain, clutching his nose gushing nose with his hand. “DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME, PRICK.” It was nothing more than an angry hiss before she stalked inside, not caring if her hand was sprained or broken at the moment.

 

“That was dumb,” the trainer deadpanned, wondering if she were serious because that could now be considered assault if that little moron decided to press charges. “You keep him settled and then I’ll look at your hand.”

 

Chris was already on the ‘don’t you dare press charges’ thing, aware something fucked up was going on here. He just stared down at MJF as that door closed behind Maxlyn, clearing his throat.

 

“Nice hook, darlin’, you got blood on your knuckles.”

 

“He can go ahead and press charges, I don’t give a fuck.” Maxlyn refused to be touched by that rapist ever again, looking down at her bloody hand, and looked back at her husband, silent tears sliding down her cheeks. “I heard you were being difficult in here, my husband.” Jesus, his forehead really did look like hamburger meat and she sincerely hoped none of this scarred too badly. I know he did this on purpose and I hope I broke his nose. “I’m here now, I’m not going anywhere, so the sooner you allow the trainer to do his job, the sooner we can get back to the hotel and I can play nurse for you.” Her complete concentration and focus was on Jon at the moment, pushing everything else in the back of her mind.

 

Jon may have been slightly concussed, those had been some hard ass throws and that little prick had not been fucking around. If he would’ve known what MJF had planned outside of A HIT, he would have legit beat his ass. “Not gonna lie, dollface,” he was definitely concussed and grinned at her as the trainer got back to work on his head, or as Jon was now referring to it as: Hamburger Helper. “That was hot as fuck, when’d you learn how to throw a punch?”

 

“Slight pinch…”

 

“That’s bigger than I’m used to, doc, be gentle.”

 

“You must’ve really been hit hard if you don’t remember the training we’ve been doing together.” Jon had been showing her how to defend herself and throw a punch, though they had taken a break from it in Lanai, wanting to completely enjoy themselves.  It was also a way to vent their frustrations out without screaming and yelling at each other during her paranoia incident.  Leaning down, she brushed her lips softly against his just as the needle went into his forehead, distracting and relaxing him at the same time.  Jon had a HIGH threshold for pain, so she wasn’t surprised when he simply kissed her back, but stayed still while the staples were put into his forehead. You have to believe me, Jon.  You have to believe what I tell you…when I decide to do it. They were going home for the next few days and luckily, their flight didn’t leave until the morning.

 

“Oh yeah, I trained her…” Jon grinned when the kiss broke, the needle bit over with and he just sat there much more patiently while he was tended too. “You never threw a punch like that at me, dollface.”

 

“Be grateful, that moron probably has a broken nose.” The trainer said dryly, having seen the blood spurt, though it wasn’t his problem. Not unless MJF came to see him. “She has a solid hook.”

 

“Yeah, she does,” there was blatant pride in Jon’s tone.

 

No matter how hard she tried, Maxlyn could not muster up a smile for Jon and felt a hint of satisfaction at the thought of breaking the rapist bastard’s nose.  She hoped it was enough force.  Hell, if she killed him, that would’ve been even better!  Maxlyn hated Maxwell Jacob Friedman with every fiber of her being, not believing how quickly her ‘friendship’ feelings for him had changed all because of a saying that triggered flashbacks, which in turn made her finally remember who had kidnapped and raped her in Vegas…all on Ricky’s orders.  Luckily, Jon only needed a few stitches and once his forehead was cleaned up, it didn’t look like raw hamburger meat anymore.  He’d probably have a very small scar or two, but nothing too noticeable, as long as he kept up with the Vitamin E oil once the wounds were healed.  The trainer also said he had a small concussion, claiming his head was hard as a rock and Maxlyn agreed with him.

 

Jon was completely oblivious to anything being wrong with his wife outside the obvious assumption that she was upset because what should have been a routine thing turned out to be a trip to the butcher’s. Also, concussed, and now numbed, which felt weird as shit. He had seen what was happening sort of and not being able to feel it was just insane. “So, Mrs. Moxley, I’m on downtime for a few days,” he informed her, his arm wrapped around her shoulder as they made their way back to the dressing room to get their stuff. “Darlin’, it’s not that bad, you even said it… hard as a rock.” He would have knocked his head with his knuckles but he was crazy, not stupid.

 

“I know.” That’s not why I’m upset, but telling him about it now isn’t an option. “I’m actually looking forward to going home and seeing Blue…” Grabbing their bags, Maxlyn lead Jon out of the dressing room to the entrance, keeping her arm hooked through his and closed her eyes the moment the warm air hit her in the face.  She was doing everything in her power not to cry, not to breakdown, and would not do it in front of Jon.  They managed to make it back to the hotel and Maxlyn laid Jon down, keeping him awake for two hours, and then finally watched him doze off.  The moment he was out cold, she slid from the bed and went to the balcony, closing the doors behind her before dropping to her knees, letting everything out she’d been holding in. “T-That son of a bitch…I-I trusted him…I-I thought he w-was my f-friend…” Maxlyn stammered out, gripping the railing to pull herself back up again and continued crying while looking out at the skyline, so much pain, anguish, and fear radiating from her. “W-What am I going to do?  If Jon doesn’t believe me, if he thinks this is more paranoia, I…I don’t know what I’ll do…”

 

There was a very good chance that Jon would think that, maybe, in his current state for sure. He knew the phrase, obviously everyone in AEW did, but he also knew it wasn’t that uncommon among cocksuckers who thought they were god. Any man who kidnapped and raped a woman was a narcissistic cock.

 

However, if Maxlyn gave it a few days to sort out how she was going to tell him, she’d also have more to back her word because she and Jon had a phone call to return. A problem with their marriage license. If she thought this was bad now, there was more grief waiting to be slapped onto her.

 

Chapter 62

 

The filing of their marriage license had failed.

 

Maxlyn could only sit there in pure shock, long after the phone call ended, the cell still in her hand.  All she could do was stare straight ahead, her mind racing along with her heart, not believing what she just found out.  How was this possible?  Jon was outside taking Blue to the bathroom while she’d been cleaning the kitchen when the call came through.  Staring down at the diamonds on her left ring finger…Maxlyn felt sick to her stomach because the marriage to Jon was void. 

 

She wasn’t married to him because she was already a married woman.  A married woman to none other than the cocksucker that raped and assaulted her.  Maxwell Jacob Friedman.  She didn’t remember anything regarding getting married to him, not believing whatever chapel they’d gotten married at, or wherever Maxwell had taken her, had consented to it with her drugged up!  They’d been home for a few days and Tony Khan gave Jon the week off to recover from the brutal beatdown MJF gave him, which was accepted and appreciated.

 

Slowly snapping out of her shocked state, Maxlyn stood up on shaky legs and set her cell phone on the counter, heading over to the sliding glass door leading to the backyard.  How was she supposed to drop all of this on him?  Maxlyn had tried finding the right moment to tell Jon about her flashback Maxwell triggered at Dynamite…and now this.  He had a right to know, however, and she would not keep this from him, no matter how much it hurt her.  Their perfect, beautiful elopement in Lanai was ruined, thanks to her and her horrible past that would not stop haunting them.  Walking out, she sat down next to Jon in the grass while Blue chased a butterfly, silent tears sliding down her cheeks. “So, I just got a call from city hall and our marriage license filing failed.  Turns out, I’m already married and I didn’t even fucking know it.” Her blurting antics had popped up once again!

 

Well, that explained why Chris had been blowing up his cell phone all morning, though Jon hadn’t been in the mood to answer it. Something had been hanging in the air since they had gotten back, something that filled him with dread and it stemmed from Maxlyn, there was something going on with her. It wasn’t this though. His blue eyes just remained fastened on her, not sure what was coursing through him right now as he stared at his… not wife. “You’re already married and you didn’t know it…” he echoed, not sure how that worked out since you had to sign paperwork and consent.

 

“I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you this, but part of me didn’t want to because of how you reacted last time.  The last thing I need to hear from you is that I’m paranoid again.” That had hurt her more than she thought it would. “I don’t blame you for thinking the way you did, but…I need you to listen and to hear me, Jon.  The night of your attack, Maxwell said something to you in the ring that…triggered memories of the night I was raped in Vegas.  When I was kidnapped.  I know who did it now.” Standing, Maxlyn slid her fingers through her hair, staring out at Blue and then finally looked back at Jon, wanting him to digest these words she was saying. “It was him, Jon.  Maxwell Jacob Friedman.  He’s the one who…did it.  And that phrase ‘I’m better than you and you know it’?  That is the first time I’ve heard him say it because I always muted his shit when he was on TV.” It didn’t interest her, so she didn’t bother paying attention to him or the Pinnacle. “He said that to me constantly while he raped and assaulted me.  And apparently while I was drugged out of my mind, he took me to some chapel in Vegas and married me.  I don’t know how he got away with doing it legally since I’d NEVER agree to something like that…I can only guess Ricky had something to do with it and paid off whoever married us.”

 

Now this was where things got dicey. “That gunman back in Raleigh…when Maxwell ‘saved’ me…it wasn’t my paranoia.  Ricky and Maxwell have been working together.  The flashbacks made me remember Maxwell telling me that Ricky paid him to kidnap and rape me, to teach me a lesson.  And now, I am more certain than ever that was a fucking setup, all to make me believe Maxwell was some good guy instead of a scumbag.  It also explains why I’ve been feeling the way I do around him, the chills down my spine…my body was responding to what he did to me, the trauma of it…”

 

Jon had literally dropped to the floor to sit, his legs not exactly working as his mind once again struggled to process everything she had just laid on him. Blue was in his lap and his hands were on auto-pilot, scratching and petting his dog as he just stared up at her. His not-wife was married to Maxwell… and Maxwell had probably set that entire thing up in Carolina to make himself look like a good guy. Honestly, Jon didn’t even feel surprised at this point, he wasn’t sure what he felt or what he should say. This was all a lot and he was fairly certain his mind was broken. “I’m going to kill him.” He said finally, his tone very even and calm, very certain.

 

“I-I broke down the night he attacked you…after you fell asleep.  And I’ve been crying when you’re not around because I didn’t want to tell you about this.  I was going to deal with it on my own, including the nightmares.” They had been hitting her like a semi-truck since that night, so Maxlyn had been living on a lot of caffeine. “I planned on keeping it to myself…until I received that phone call about our marriage license…” Now, she would have to get a divorce lawyer and it would be a long, drawn out process to get divorced from Maxwell.  He would no doubt fight it and she had no idea if Jon would stick beside her through all of it.  What man would?  This was such a mess and Maxlyn still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact she was married to Maxwell. “He’s the reason…he’s the reason why everything in my life has turned to shit.  The kidnapping and raping, and now apparently a secret marriage too lead to me trying to commit suicide by drinking myself to death, and I only survived because Ricky found me, along with Cynthia.  If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve died in my apartment of alcohol poisoning.  He refused to give me that reprieve because I was his property.  All this time…all this fucking time…he’s been pulling the strings and it amazes me how he DIDN’T know I was still alive.  Maybe he was lying about that fact too…”

 

“It doesn’t matter.” Because Jon hadn’t been kidding, he was going to kill that motherfucker. In fact, he was going to brutally murder his ass and the only thing he was debating on was if he wanted to make it look like an accident in the ring where he could get away with it or if he wanted to kidnap the bastard, drive out into the desert, and feed him to the snakes and other vile things that lurked. Rationally, he knew she could probably try for a dissolution of marriage, she had no memory of it, but he was also thinking… she’d be a widow real soon. “None of it matters because he’ll be out of your life real quick, darlin’,” he pushed himself up, his eyes nothing but blue deadly ice. MJF had fucked with Maxlyn for the last time, he was officially living on borrowed time.

 

“Jon…” Maxlyn’s heart began to hammer inside her chest, not remembering ever seeing a look this deadly on his handsome face.  He was dead serious.  He was vowing to kill someone because of her.  The last thing Maxlyn wanted was blood on his hands because of her past. “I-I know you’re angry right now and I don’t blame you, but…Ricky’s trial is coming up and…I’m planning on telling the Lieutenant about Maxwell being involved.  I know how it’ll probably make me look, but…” Jon shook his head vehemently and she swallowed hard when he closed the distance between them, his hands clamping down on her shoulders.  Instant tears slid down her cheeks and all she could do was reach out to touch his bearded face, knowing all of this was her fault. “I’m sorry…” It came out a soft whisper. “I’m s-so sorry…tell me what to do.  Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it, Jon…” Please don’t abandon me over this…

 

“I want you to NOT hate me when I make you a widow,” that motherfucker had gained her trust, her friendship… after all those times he had fucking creeped her out. And Jon had unknowingly HELPED them become friends by trying to get her think of logical, rational shit like just not knowing the guy, shit like that. When instead, he should have been telling her to fucking run as far away as possible. “I’m sorry darlin’, I’m sorry I called you paranoid and that I didn’t believe you…. I’m sorry for all of this,” but he was going to fix it, she could bet her sweet ass he’d handle it. He bet Chris knew of some GREAT swamps down in Florida they could feed the body to.

 

“I could never hate you.  I’m so in love with you, it terrifies me because I’m afraid one day you’ll wake up and realize I’m not worth all of this.” Her eyes lowered, only for his finger to hook beneath her chin, forcing her eyes to remain locked with his. “Why would I hate you for protecting me, Jon?  I know that’s why you want to kill him…to protect me.  But if I lose you, if you’re caught and go to prison, I won’t make it.  I won’t survive without my best friend and my husband.” As far as she was concerned, they were married, even if it wasn’t legally.  In her mind and heart, she was still Mrs. Jonathan David Good, not Maxlyn Lewis. “You’re the love of my life and none of this is your fault.  You had no idea what kind of person he was and neither did I.  You only went with logic and you’re only human.  I’m not mad at you for any of it either.  Just…just please tell me you still love me and you believe me.  That’s what I need to hear more than anything right now.”

 

“I wouldn’t be planning his death if I didn’t believe you, darlin’, and don’t you EVER doubt my love for you,” he loved her enough to commit a murder and he had absolutely no intentions of being caught. This had happened over a year ago, two years ago, a long fucking time ago and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that MJF had NOT forgotten, you did not forget a woman like Maxlyn. She was too goddamn beautiful to forget and given her former occupation, someone like Fried would have felt entitled to her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight enough against him he could have been crushing her but he was unable to stop himself. The rage wasn’t leaving him, it was only growing and he knew he needed to check it so he didn’t scare her.

 

Trembling against him, Maxlyn continued crying, soaking the front of the muscle shirt he had on and hugged him just as tight, his words piercing through her like a sharp blade. Never again.  I’ll never doubt his love for me again as long as I live. It did hurt to be hugged this tightly, but slowly, his arms loosened from around her and she didn’t pull away, needing to feel his warmth and comfort.  She had been distant since they got home, mostly because she wanted Jon to heal.  Maxlyn even offered to sleep in a different room and Jon had growled at her, ordering her to stay with him.  He wanted his wife with him in bed, not separated.  They stood out there for what seemed like hours and maybe it was because the sun had begun setting on the horizon in their backyard, over the buildings of Cincinnati.  Finally, she pulled back enough to look up at him, her eyes full of so many different emotions, it was hard to choose just one she was feeling right now. “I want to help you.  Whatever it takes, I want him gone, Jon.  And then we ARE getting married again, this time with your mothers there.  It may not be in Lanai, but…Cincinnati is also our home and I’m fine with marrying you here too.  But first, MJF has to be dealt with or else he’ll just continue making our lives miserable.  If his blood is on your hands, it’ll be on mine too and I owe the bastard several after what he’s done to me.”

 

If they were doing this all over again, they were going to do it right, and he’d think of something later to tell his mother’s. He realized he’d have to give Chris some sort of explanation, unless the other man thought he had messed up the filing or something, which would be convenient but unlikely. This was not Chris’ first rodeo. “We’ll handle it, darlin’,” he reassured her, his tone finally coming out even but there was a new hardness to it. They had finally reached a point where everything was literally perfect in their lives minus his family mistake and this had just come crashing down out of nowhere. Were they ever going to have peace and just be allowed to be happy together?

 

What would they tell everyone?  What if Maxwell came out and told the world he was married to her, not Jon?  That Jon Moxley had stolen his long-lost wife or something?  That thought alone made her nauseous and Maxlyn knew what she had to do.  Even if Jon was planning on murdering the prick, she had to get a divorce lawyer immediately and start the process.  Tomorrow.  She’d do that tomorrow.  They’d been through enough for one day and she felt drained in every way possible, hating what had happened to their happy lives in just a matter of days. “I know neither of us are hungry right now, but we have to try to eat something and the soup is almost done.” For some reason, Maxlyn was potato soup and decided to make it from scratch.  Even though her mother wasn’t very domesticated, she was in her spare time when she wasn’t stripping and whoring herself out.  She had to teach herself how to cook, the fundamentals of life in general. “Come back inside whenever you decide you want to eat and I’ll fix you a bowl.” Kissing his lips softly, she headed towards the sliding glass door, wiping fresh tears away from her eyes.

 

If Maxwell came out and announced she was his wife, there would be a lot of raised eyebrows and Jon would push the rape and abduction issue. If she wanted to go the legal route first and try for annulment, since she had no recollection of this marriage, he would get her the best goddamn lawyers in the world and THEN he’d kill the son of a bitch. Groaning, he dropped back into the grass once she was in the house and buried his face in his hands. Why can’t we ever catch a break? Worse… what OTHER demons from her past were out there waiting to pop in and fuck everything up?

 

Chapter 63

 

Later that night, Maxlyn just finished getting ready for bed when she felt a pair of strong, secure arms wrap around her waist from behind, their reflections staring back at them. “How’s your head?”

 

“Which one?”

 

She flushed, knowing they hadn’t had sex since Lanai, which was nearly a week, thanks to his concussion and wounds.  They were healing very well, thankfully, and she had been slathering on the Vitamin E since the stitches had already dissolved.  With everything that happened and what they found out, Maxlyn was shocked Jon wanted anything to do with her in a sexual nature or otherwise.  No!  She would not question or doubt his love for her!  Jon loved her and she could feel it in the way he held her and his lips caressing the side of her neck, nuzzling her lovingly. “Mmm, well your lower one didn’t get struck in the head with a huge diamond ring, but I can tell just from how hard you are against me, that particular head is requiring attention.” Turning, her molten brown eyes gazed into cerulean blue and her hand began stroking him through the basketball shorts he had on, feeling him harden more. “What kind of attention does it want from me, honey, hmm?”

 

Given they hadn’t had sex in what felt like an eternity due to his concussion… yeah. She wasn’t his wife and that bothered Jon a lot more than he was willing to admit outside of his head. He knew she didn’t remember much from her kidnapping outside of what she had already confessed to him but on in the blue hell did you not remember the wedding part? She would have had to be awake, somewhat coherent even, for the paperwork and everything else. She had had to of been on some gnarly drugs. “I think you can make an educated guess, darlin’,” he chuckled, knowing now was not the time to be pulling away from her.

 

I am better than you and you know it.

 

This time she was the one to pull away from him, those words piercing her mind and it felt like a bucket of ice water flowed over her. “Damn it…” Maxlyn didn’t want that bastard in her head and now that she knew who the words belonged to, his face was there too.  Mocking her. “He’s in my head, Jon.  I want to fuck you, I miss you so much, but he’s in my head and I can’t get him out…” The frustration was not missed in her tone of voice, his teeth clenching together.  No! “Fuck him.  I won’t let him win.  I’m not the same woman I used to be…” Taking her robe off, Maxlyn let it fall from her body and she was against Jon again, this time bringing his mouth down to hers to passionately kiss him, pouring everything she felt into it. “Make him go away, Jon.  Make love to me however you want and make him go away, please…”

 

Racel…

 

Jon planted her right on the bathroom counter, not bothering to move to their bedroom and dropped his shorts, their lips smashing together just as he slid home inside of her receptive body, both groaning at the contact.  Eventually, they’d make it to the bed, but for now, bathroom sex was better than nothing.  Anywhere was fine as long as Jon was balls deep inside of her, claiming her, and doing his best to shove the thought of Maxwell Jacob Friedman out of her mind.

 

You won’t escape me, Racel.  I’ve got you locked down and you will never escape…

 

The sex was more aggressive than Maxlyn and Jon ever experienced together, both going as hard as they could without hurting the other.  They were letting all of their pain, frustration, angst, every negative emotion each felt, out and it felt good to take it out on each other, in the healthiest of ways.  Jon pounded in and out of her, stealing her breath and all she could do was cling to whatever surface they were against.  The bathroom counter, the door, the wall, and finally the bed, with her bent over the bed spread eagle for him.

 

When it was over, Maxlyn was nothing more than a sweaty mess on the bed, with Jon holding her from behind and she leaned her head back against his equally perspired chest, both trying to catch their breath. “I love you, Jon…so much…”

 

“And here I thought we were making amends, my beautiful wife.”

 

Her blood ran cold as ice the moment those words filtered into her ear and when she slowly turned to look over her shoulder, it wasn’t Jon staring back at her…it was Maxwell. “No…NO!!”

 

~!~

 

“NO!!” Maxlyn bolted upright in bed, her words nothing more than a blood curdling scream and looked down at her shaking hands, the diamond rings still on her left ring finger, her body caked in sweat. “J-Jesus C-Christ…”

 

“Maxlyn,” Jon was up and grabbing her, probably not the best idea given she was having a nightmare because he just got her diamond ring laden hand right in his damn nose. “FUCK!” He cursed, letting go of her to cup his nose. “Max, darlin’, it’s just a nightmare, wake up…” maybe he had taught her a bit too well on how to throw a punch. He had been so pleased and proud, turned on even, when she had done that to MJF, not so much when it was him on the receiving end.

 

Scrambling from the bed, Maxlyn curled up in a ball against the wall away from him, wrapping her arms around her bent knees.  What if this was another nightmare, inside of a nightmare?  She didn’t know what to trust or what to believe anymore!  The only thing that jolted her out of her nightmare stupor was the feeling of a cold wet nose against her knee, her bloodshot, watery eyes shooting open to look back into the face of Blue. “Blue…” She whispered, reaching out to touch the top of his head and he moved closer, whimpering a little.  He knew she was in distress and wrapped her arms around his furry neck, breaking down all over again, her entire body trembling from head to toe, hiccoughing.

 

Jon knew better than to try touching her right now, not with the way she had bolted from him. Cursing under his breath, he went into the bathroom to study his nose. Not broken, thank Christ but he had to tip his head back to pinch it, waiting impatiently for the bleeding to stop. There was his answer to the unasked question: there would be no damn peace for them anytime soon. Even after this was resolved, she was going to have even more trauma, and that woman had enough to spare. When he finally walked back out, she seemed more calm but she was still pressed to the wall. He walked around to crouch by her but also left her some breathing room, his eyes scanning her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

 

“T-Thought I w-was having a d-dream about y-you…us…a-and a-after we had sex, it was that m-monster…n-not y-you…” Maxlyn stammered through her explanation, trying to breathe and hadn’t let go of Blue, who remained right by her side, keeping her calm.  What was it about animals that were calming agents? “Y-You won’t escape m-me, Racel.  I’ve g-got you l-locked down and you’ll n-never escape.  I’m b-better than you and you k-know it.  Those were things he kept saying to me that night.  The only thing I could remember at the time was the ‘I’m better than you and you know it.’.  Once he said that in the ring to you, while hammering you with that damn diamond ring, that’s when the flashbacks happened.  I-It felt like my head was splitting open and I lied to Chris and told him it was a migraine.  It was worse than that…it was like that entire night had been blocked out and those words were the key to unlocking them or something.” While she spoke, Maxlyn began to calm down and her stammering ceased, though the tears kept falling. “I-I don’t want anything to do with him.  H-He raped me for 24 hours straight, assaulted me, kept me heavily drugged up…that’s why I don’t remember the wedding happening.  I have no idea what he injected me with because I didn’t go to the hospital after I was dropped off at my apartment building.  All I wanted to do at that moment was die.  I nearly killed myself because of him…”

 

What Jon was trying to wrap his head around in all this jumbled clusterfuck of bad was: why the hell wouldn’t the man just keep her? Why go through the trouble of marrying her, risking being caught since she had obviously been drugged out of her mind, and then just… let her go? That literally made no sense whatsoever. However, crazy rarely did which was why it was called crazy. He reached slowly for her, giving her the option of sending him packing if she didn’t want to be touched and he wasn’t surprised when she just shook her head no. He didn’t take offense to it, just sat there on the floor with her while she pet Blue, who was obviously not moving from his spot now solidly in her lap.

 

“There’s so much I want to ask him, Jon.  So many questions…mainly the marrying me one.” Maxlyn shuddered at the thought of going near Maxwell, but knew if she wanted answers, she’d have to do it.  She was thinking along the same lines as Jon.  Why didn’t Maxwell keep her with him?  Why marry her, drop her off at her apartment building after 24 hours, and never contact her again?  Did he regret the marriage too?  No, this was a giant game to him and a way to keep her grounded…locked down, just as he said. “Thank you, boy.” She murmured, kissing the top of Blue’s head and moved to crawl into Jon’s lap, refusing to deny Jon’s love and comfort. “I’m sorry I punched you in the nose…I really thought you were still him…”

 

Given she had been dropped the hell off in a bad state, that didn’t exactly scream ‘grounded’ and ‘locked down’. It sounded like: fuck, please die or something, to Jon anyway but then again, he wasn’t batshit insane. Why spend years without bothering to look up the person you married? Unless Maxwell had forgotten all about it and assumed she did die or something. He rubbed his temples, his nose twinging in pain as if to remind him she had beaned his ass. “No worries, you didn’t break it, darlin’,” he sighed, knowing she wanted answers to her questions but that meant being close to the man. He wasn’t planning on MJF living that fucking long.

 

“Good, you’ve got enough injuries you’re healing from without your spazzy wife…I-I mean…well…” She wasn’t his wife and it killed her not being able to call herself that anymore. “Anyway, without me adding to it.” Clearing her throat, Maxlyn couldn’t meet his eyes while she twisted the diamond rings on her finger, knowing she had to remove the second band that signified their marriage.  It wasn’t legal, thanks to her secret unknown marriage to Maxwell.  God she hated that man and had never wished harm on anyone as much as him.  A pop to the nose by her fist wasn’t nearly enough, he deserved far worse for what he did to her.  It also killed her that she couldn’t call Jon ‘my husband’ anymore because he wasn’t.

 

If Maxlyn even tried removing those rings, the thin thread that was keeping him from totally losing his mind would probably snap right in half. Just because she was married to someone that was a psychotic rapist and hadn’t even known it did not lessen those rings nor make them illegal. It wasn’t illegal to wear rings on any fucking finger and he was perilously close to that edge, his blue eyes fastened on her fidgeting with those rings. “What are you thinking?” He asked finally, struggling to keep his voice calm again. She was going to be a widow, be divorced, be something soon enough. There were no assets, no kids, no reason why this couldn’t be handled ASAP one way or the other.

 

“I-I want to be your wife…and because of him, I’m not…” Every part of Jon’s body tensed at her words and all she could do was lower her head, wishing they were back in Lanai, far away from everyone and everything. “Your proposal and our wedding on the beach…it was so perfect.” Too perfect, of course something would come along and screw it up!  That was the mantra of Maxlyn’s life.  When she found the TINIEST bit of happiness, something or someone came along and took it away from her. “I must’ve been a really terrible person in my past life or maybe God is pissed at me for my past or something...” What had she done in a previous life or in this one that warranted all the hell that had rained down on her? “It’s because I took the bad path in life and continued doing what my mother forced on me in order to survive.  If I wouldn’t have become a stripper for Ricky, then I wouldn’t have whored myself out and none of this would be happening.  I was a naïve, stupid 18-year-old girl that didn’t think anything bad could happen to me as long as I made money, by any means necessary…and now it’s come back to bite me right on the ass.  This is my fault, all of it.” Maybe I would’ve been better off dead.

 

“No, it’s not your fault, you were doing what you were taught, what you knew,” Jon said finally, having to take the time to sort out what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it, not wanting to upset her even further. “It’s just how shit works… you get ahead, you have it good, and the universe fucking smacks you down,” and it was bullshit. “I need a goddamn drink…” he grunted, gently nudging her off his lap and got to his feet, extending his hands to help her up.

 

“No.” Maxlyn shook her head, grabbing his hands and squeezed them, her brown eyes pleading with him not to do it. “You worked so hard, Jon.  You’ve done so well after leaving the rehab center and alcohol won’t fix this.  The only thing that will fix this is a divorce from that sack of shit.” Because Maxwell had consummated the marriage, even if it was rape.  An annulment wasn’t possible, not after all this time.  It had been damn near two years since that happened to her. “Please, I know the situation we’re in is bad, but…I’m not giving up and neither are you.  I won’t let you.” Jon needed a distraction of some kind, anything to get his mind off the booze and, despite the nightmare she just had, Maxlyn knew this was the real deal in front of her. “I have a better idea than falling in a bottle.” Bringing his mouth down on hers, once again, she used physicality as a form of coping with pain, her hand already stroking him through the boxer/briefs he had on.  If she had to sex him up repeatedly to get his mind off the booze, so be it, Maxlyn would do it gladly.  Before Jon could start protesting, she dropped right to her knees in front of him and proceeded to start one of her mind-blowing blowjobs he loved receiving.

 

Sex, sex was her answer to a lot of problems and being a man, he was partially on board. Being a never-husband who had tried marrying an ex-prostitute who was apparently married to a would-be client… had him balking. “No.” He couldn’t even get hard, which had to be a first for him. Well, first for him while sober he should say, it had happened a few times that he could remember and probably a lot when he couldn’t remember, while getting wasted. “Sex isn’t the answer, darlin’, or meant as a distraction,” he got her right back up on her feet and just brushed his lips against hers. “I don’t think I’m going back to sleep, I’m gonna go down to the basement and work out a bit. You need anything?”

 

This was definitely a first for Maxlyn and she had no idea how to respond to it.  Instant rejection was the first feeling she had.  What was she thinking?  Of course Jon didn’t want to sleep with her or have anything to do with her sexually!  She was MARRIED to a rapist! You, I need you, Jon, but you don’t need me. “No.  I’m gonna go outside and sit on the back deck for a while.  Enjoy your workout.” At least he wouldn’t hit the bottle. “Come on, Blue, you wanna go outside with me?” The dog was instantly at her side as she headed out of the bedroom and downstairs, not bothering to wipe away the slow tears sliding down her cheeks.  Luckily, it was a beautiful warm summer night in Cincinnati, though the humidity hadn’t died down any.  Still, it was better and less stifling than being in that house, that room, with Jon.  She took the ball and threw it to Blue, playing fetch with him while Jon went to do his workout.

 

It literally had nothing to do her being married to a rapist or that he didn’t want her… well, maybe the married part. Sex just wasn’t the answer to everything and she had to learn that, she had no idea she was doing it still. Before, sex had been her means of survival and it had landed her raped, drugged and married. Now, she used it as a way of… he had no idea, pacifying him maybe. He needed her but not like that, not in this mind state, not after she had just literally cried about how being a whore had come back to bite her in the ass. He’d feel lower than dirt. All the rage and frustration, the feeling of being helpless because this was something he couldn’t protect her from, he was venting it all in a workout, needing that sweet exhaustion to lure his ass to sleep. Tomorrow… they’d start sorting shit out tomorrow and maybe he’d call up Chris about some everglades with alligators…

 

Chapter 64

 

Nothing was sorted out besides hiring a divorce lawyer and filing the necessary paperwork for the divorce to proceed.  Jon thought about calling Chris and immediately nixed it, wanting to handle this themselves.  Nobody could help them with this situation and if Chris came and asked about the marriage license, he’d simply tell the man to mind his own business.  Things were shaky with Maxlyn right now and she’d barely spoken three words to him, keeping to herself.  She did remove the diamond wedding band that signified they were married, keeping her engagement ring on, and Jon didn’t say a word about it, also removing his.  They weren’t married and that was a hard pill for both to swallow, especially after the incredible time they had in Lanai.  The house in Lanai was put on hold as well, there was too much going on to worry about a vacation home at the moment.

 

Before long, the week passed by with Maxlyn officially filing for divorce against Maxwell Jacob Friedman and, by the time they returned to the road, he would be served with the papers.  If he was smart, he’d simply sign on the dotted line and leave her alone, but something told Maxlyn he wouldn’t.  This would end up being a fight for her freedom away from him and she was more than ready to sink as much money into this as possible in order to be able to be with Jon completely.  That was if he even wanted to still be with her because from the way he was acting…she wasn’t sure about anything anymore regarding their relationship. 

 

Maybe finding out she was married had been the final straw that broke the camel’s back and he didn’t have the heart to tell her to get lost.  Maybe he didn’t love her anymore.  Maybe he was simply staying with her out of obligation…Maxlyn stared out the window with a deep sadness that radiated from every pore of her body.  They weren’t even holding hands while Jon had his headphones on, his head lulled back against the seat and eyes closed.  Or maybe he was irate that she refused to allow him to commit murder and make her a widow.  No matter what, she wouldn’t let Jon have blood on his hands because of her, they were doing this the legal way and she’d already gotten a hold of Lieutenant Evans to discuss the possibility of adding Maxwell to the trial since he was very much involved in this situation.

 

Jon loved her very, very much but when she had removed her wedding ring, something in him had broken. The night of her nightmare, he had seen her fidgeting with those rings and he had known then that if she removed a ring, that thin thread would snap. He hadn’t though those rings lessened or the intent gone, they signified the same thing they had on the day they married. He loved her and wanted to spend his life with her. Then she had removed the wedding band and he had no idea why. He was rational enough now, several days later, to get why he wasn’t allowed to kill the fucker… outside of a ring. In it, all bets were off if that prick refused to sign these fucking divorce papers.

 

They weren’t married.  That was why she removed it.  When or if the time came they were actually declared man and wife, she’d put the ring back on.  She wasn’t Jon’s wife, as much as she longed to be.  It felt…tainted wearing the ring, but that wouldn’t make any sense to him.  The engagement ring would never leave her finger, but until she was his wife, completely, it didn’t feel right wearing it.  Jon didn’t question her on it or even ask why she had removed it, just let her do whatever she wanted.  Luckily, they were back on the road before his mothers returned from their getaway, so any questions were dodged.

 

Maxwell had no intention of signing the divorce papers and had already tossed them away, instead contacting his own lawyer to battle the whore.  He meant what he said the night he had her…she was locked down to him and NOTHING and NOBODY, not even Jon Moxley, would keep him from his wife.  The ONLY reason Maxwell didn’t go after her before now was because he didn’t know she was alive.  He was told by Garcia she had died of alcohol poisoning, so all this time, Maxwell thought he was a damn widower.  And when he finally found her again, in the arms of another man, he had to bide his time and wait for the perfect moment to strike, deciding to get close to her in a friendly way before putting his plan into action.  Now that she was back on the road, it was only a matter of time until the opportunity struck where she’d be completely alone and he could finally have a private talk with his wife.

 

 If either Jon or Maxlyn realized how fucking batshit insane Maxwell was, Maxlyn might have agreed to let Jon murder the bastard. There was no logical, no rational reason for this man to want to be married to a whore he had wed on a fucking whim! A woman he had left for dead for all intents and purposes, and yet, he was and he had no intention of granting the divorce. Unfortunately for Maxwell, most states, including Vegas, shared the no-fault judgment and no contest, all it took was one party.

 

Maxwell was a prick who knew that though, and he now knew a LOT about Maxlyn’s background since he had did some digging. If she fought him, he was going to contest her mental state, and insist she restart the therapy she had failed.

 

Jon could not watch her twenty-four, seven either and Maxlyn contemplated staying home in Cincinnati while he went back on the road for work, but…she was his personal assistant.  She had a job to do and wouldn’t let a douchebag like Maxwell Jacob Friedman stop her from doing it and being with the man she loved.  They were in a rocky spot right now, but so far, their relationship had survived and she had to believe it could overcome this huge obstacle.  Maxlyn had no idea what her horrible husband was planning for her either.

 

“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” Maxlyn put her phone on speaker, wanting Jon to overhear this.

 

“Mr. Friedman has ordered you to be placed in a 72-hour hold for a psychiatric evaluation.  He claims you’re not in your right state of mind and you’re being manipulated and corrupted by the man you’re with now, Mr. Good.”

 

“WHAT?!  That’s absurd!!  I don’t need a psychiatric evaluation!!  He’s really going to fight this?”

 

“Unfortunately, Mrs. Friedman…”

 

“That’s MISS Lewis.” It hurt her to say that, but it was the truth.  She was not Mrs. Good, not yet anyway.

 

“Miss Lewis, he has a right to do this and if you fight it…” The lawyer sighed heavily, scrubbing a hand down his face. “It won’t look good for you in the grand scheme of things, especially given your…previous occupation.” A stripper.  The prostituting he did not know about.

Maxlyn couldn’t believe this was happening and could see the anger welling up in Jon’s eyes, tears building in her own. “Isn’t there a way to fight this, Mr. Benedict?”

 

“This hold? No, and I’m afraid he gave your information to the owner of the company, who then relinquished your location, the police are on their way to get you.” This was technically, a courtesy call and to be honest, he was a bit surprised he had found out about it BEFORE she did. He had friends in a few systems and he had put out an alert on her, Jon and this Maxwell jackass. “If you cooperate, you’ll be released in 72 hours and then, when there is no evidence against your mental state, we can request one on him given he has declined to grant a divorce even though you two have had no contact in years.”

 

Jon could only stare down at her, the anger being replaced by fear and concern. She was going to a fucking mental hospital on an emergency psychiatric hold because that son of a bitch had a God complex. “We could run, darlin’,” he whispered, dropping down to his knees before her, reaching out to take her free hand. He’d give it all up to spare her this bullshit and pain, knowing it would get worse before it got better.

 

Her heart was thundering in her ears as she looked into Jon’s eyes, those beautiful electric blues and couldn’t believe what was happening.  Would they make it?  Was running really the only option? “Your career…” He shook his head, planting his hands on her waist and she started crying, not knowing what to do.  The police were on their way to get her?  Maxwell could do this after YEARS of zero contact with her? “Would you really give everything you’ve worked so hard for up for me?” All she had to do was endure 72 hours, prove she was mental competent, and then could turn the tables on Maxwell.  Did she really want to do that, though? “Jon…” Lanai…she could run to Lanai while he stayed here and Jon could feign ignorance, claim she ran away, and he would see her whenever he could.  But how would she board a plane to Hawaii this soon?  Cupping his bearded face in her hands, Maxlyn passionately kissed him just as banging sounded at their hotel room door, knowing it was the police. “I love you, Jon.  Whatever happens, I love you.  And if this helps me get away from that son of a bitch and the divorce finalized faster, so be it.  I’ll do it.  Don’t fuck your career up for me, honey, please.”

 

“You are worth MORE than my career,” she needed to understand that, understand how fucking important she was to him. “I would walk away from it ALL if you asked me too, Maxlyn, don’t you understand that?” He cupped her face, hearing the shouting now to open up. “ONE SECOND!” He bellowed at the goddamn door, his voice actually cracking mid-shout. “You are the most important thing in my life and don’t you fucking forget it.” He kissed her, ignoring the shouts and banging, trying to pour everything he had just said into it, wanting her to believe what he was saying because he meant it.

 

When that door finally did open… It was the police.

 

And Maxwell.

 

Jon would have lunged right in front of those cops if not for her hands on his shoulders.

 

Maxwell had a lot of balls showing up here with these officers, especially in the state of mind Jon was in right now. “I won’t forget what you said to me and I will see you in three days.”

 

“So you think.” Maxwell couldn’t help saying that jab and the officer glared at him, folding his arms in front of his chest.

 

“Sir, we have to ask you to remain silent while we deal with your wife.”

 

“Yeah, his wife…a wife he hasn’t bothered with in over 2 years.”

 

“Because I had no idea where you were!” The officer could kiss his ass, Maxwell wouldn’t let this whore talk down to him. “You took off on me!  And now you want to divorce me!  You need professional help, beautiful…”

 

Maxlyn knew if she lost her temper, it wouldn’t bode well for her and took a deep breath, brushing her lips against Jon’s. “Calm down, please stay calm for me while I’m gone.  We’ll deal with this once I prove my mental state, okay?” Turning, she faced the officers and extended her wrists to them with a resigned look on her face, refusing to look at Maxwell.

 

“Now, there’s no need for handcuffs, honey,” Maxwell said with a bit of an amused smile, staring down at her intently. He was sort of hoping Moxley decided to lose his shit and attack, just so he could see the moron go to jail. Given the jackass had tried marrying HIS wife, HIS whore… the original game plan had been to deposit her ass and then ‘help’ her once she returned to work. He had had a deal with Garcia, he’d basically swoop in and be her rich, handsome savior. Kind of like a Pretty Woman sort of deal.

“No, Mrs. Friedman, as long as you come along nicely, you don’t need the handcuffs. Is there any personal effects you’d like to bring along? Clothes only. No jewelry, cells, ectara. Everything will be confiscated at the hospital and what’s allowed will be given to you once you are processed.”

 

This had to be a joke, a sick fucking joke and Jon felt a lot of negative emotions balling up in the pit of his stomach as her eyes met his. He could see the despair in them, mirroring his own and the helpless feeling that crashed over him was the worst thing in the world.

 

Being called that felt disgusting and vile, but Maxlyn maintained her composure and scrubbed a hand down her face, doing everything in her power not to start crying. “I didn’t really have time to pack anything…”

 

“Well, we’ll give you some time to do so.” The officer offered with a gentle smile, only doing his job.

 

Maxlyn nodded, turning to walk back into the room and then turned back to stare at Maxwell with a serene smile on her face. “You can go fuck yourself, Mr. Friedman.  Because once I’m out of that hospital, there won’t be anything stopping this divorce from going through, thanks to Nevada laws.” She had done her homework, watching his eyes narrow to slits.  She was going to destroy everything he held dear, including his wrestling career, if he didn’t leave her alone and let her be with Jon. “Thank you, sir,” That was directed at the officer. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Exactly five minutes later, she had her bag and they searched it, just to make sure it was only clothes before she was escorted out of the building.  Not before she mouthed to Jon ‘I love you’, really hoping he didn’t lose his mind over the next three days while she was locked up.

 

Jon was hoping that this would be the end of what that bastard could do to her. He had gone through some seriously jacked up lengths to mess with Maxlyn’s life, what else did he have left in his box of tricks?

 

Quite a bit actually, for example, he could easily pay off psych ward nurses. Easy peasy. Money talked and Maxwell had plenty from his prior illegal activities and from his career in wrestling. Garcia was on his way to prison and Maxwell had cut ties quite some time ago and made sure to get rid of any trace of his existence in Garcia’s business, at least on his end. He was hoping that moron had wiped EVERYTHING or else he was looking at life in prison. Or death, there were plenty of hitmen out there. “She’ll be fine, Moxley, she just… needs to have her priorities straightened out.”

 

Jon actually did lunge, Maxlyn wasn’t around to stop him since she had been escorted out.

 

Realizing he was about to become a smear on the ground, Maxwell took off before Moxley could reach him.

 

Letting out a roar, Jon whirled and slammed his fist into the hotel room door as hard as he could.

 

Chapter 65

 

Maxwell was not allowed anywhere near the third floor of the hospital due to covid regulations and whatnot, so paying off the psych ward nurses did not happen.  Maxlyn was miserable for three days, being grilled and tested every day, refusing to mention anything about her past.  She just did the tests and what she was supposed to do to get the hell out of here and prove her mental capabilities were on par.  Honestly, the psychiatrist wondered why her husband sent her here in the first place and she had no response, simply saying he couldn’t handle the fact she wanted to divorce him.  Maxwell had claimed abandonment and a bunch of other things in the divorce that were simply not true.  It was not a surprise when Maxlyn was deemed mentally fit and released from the 72 hour psychiatric hold, passing everything with flying colors.  There was Jon waiting for her the moment she walked out and she immediately ran to him, jumping into his arms.

 

Those were the worst 72 hours of Jon’s life and he had done a terrible fucking thing while she was in there. He had gotten drunk. What made it worse was it hadn’t even taken all that much. Equally worse, Chris had found him in the bar and just sat with him, both of them sharing a pack of cigarettes of a brand neither had smoked before. When they had parted ways, Chris had informed him there was no shame in falling off the wagon, he just had to get back up and try again.

 

Jon figured, while drunk, Chris was full of fucking shit.

 

Sober and hungover Jon had woken up, seen himself in the mirror and knew he couldn’t do that shit to himself ever again. He needed to be just as strong as his woman. “You okay, darlin’?” He murmured in her hair, his hold on her not lessening, he doubted it would for awhile, he just needed to feel her against him.

 

Maxlyn sniffled, her legs locked around his waist and she pulled her face away from his neck, tears sliding down her cheeks with a smile on her face. “I’m back with you, so of course I’m all right.” He was all she thought about for the past three days, hating sleeping alone, so she didn’t get very much of it.  When the psychiatrist asked her why she wasn’t sleeping well, she was honest and told the woman she missed her fiancé.  The woman understood, assuring her everything would be fine as long as she was honest and answered the questions she was asked to the best of her ability. “I missed you so much and being away from you for three days made me realize something – it doesn’t matter how fucked up our lives are right now.  As long as we have each other, we’ll get through anything.  It may not be legally, but as far as I’m concerned, I am your wife and you’re my husband, and fuck anyone who doesn’t like it or approve.” Doing what she longed to since being forced to do this 72 hold, Maxlyn softly kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and broke away when they both needed oxygen. “I love you, Jonathan Good, my husband.  Now get me the hell out of here, please.”

 

“Only if you put this back on,” he had her engagement ring AND her wedding ring around his neck on a chain since she hadn’t been allowed to take them with her and his own wedding band back on his finger. One thing about getting drunk and talking about some of the shit with Chris, what little they did talk, was that it had hit him that he did not give a flying rat’s ass about the legality of it. In his heart, he was married to this woman and soon enough, it would be legal. Carefully, he removed the rings from the necklace and when Maxlyn held her hand out, her proper hand, he slid them back where they belonged. “Let’s get out of here, darlin’,” and let her lawyer know she had been released. “How bad was it?” He was already guiding her away towards his rental, hating the fact that she had been made to come here.

 

“They didn’t push me the way the rehab center did.  I was put in a room with four padded walls and a bed, nothing else.  They questioned me every day, gave me various mental tests, and I passed with flying colors.  The psychiatrist even said she didn’t understand why I was sent here in the first place and I told her the truth.” Maxlyn didn’t mention anything about her past, keeping tight-lipped about it and they didn’t push her to talk, which she appreciated.  Jon snorted, shaking his head and she shrugged in response, smiling down at the diamond rings on her left ring finger.  They slid into the rental and she immediately scooted over to him, nuzzling his side. “Mr. Benedict said I could do the same thing to Maxwell that he did to me, send him for a 72 hour psychiatric evaluation, but I don’t think it’ll do any good.  He’s evil and manipulative, he’ll never reveal his true nature to them.  Think it’s worth it just to get back at him somehow?”

 

“Benedict called about that actually, he said to push the divorce issue first and if fuckface doesn’t sign it, then request the psychiatric hold. If you do it right out the gate, it might look like you’re retaliating. Going the other route first… makes him look crazy as shit for trying it in the first place and refusing an amicable divorce given he hasn’t ‘seen’ you in years.” Benedict had also informed him, and her before, that Nevada would let the divorce go through regardless, all it took was one party wanting the damn thing and that would be that. Nevada had some relaxed divorce laws given the Las Vegas and instant wedding thing it had going, weddings and divorces were probably counted towards the state’s revenue.

 

“Now that I’ve proven myself mentally stable, he can’t do anything about the divorce.  It will go through with flying colors, thanks to Nevada laws.” Maxwell couldn’t do what he wanted once he had her locked up due to the covid regulations.  In a way, Covid was a godsend because of the restrictions the hospitals had in place.  Jon couldn’t even come see her for those three days, nobody could.  No visitors at all. “I’m sorry about all of this, Jon.  And I know it’s not my fault either.  There’s only two people at fault and that’s Ricky and Maxwell.” That was something else she had thought long and hard about while locked up as well. “Thank you for staying by my side and not abandoning me.” They would be just fine as long as they stuck together and didn’t push each other away. “Did you go home to Cincy while I was locked up?” Maxlyn had no idea what he did while she was in the hospital, pressing a soft kiss to his neck.

 

“No, I stayed here,” in the same room he had put a massive dent in the door, he had had to pay for the damages but that hadn’t seemed important in the grand scheme of things. “It didn’t feel right, going to our home without you, dollface,” and he had known he wouldn’t be able to bare it, sleeping alone in their bed. He had slept on the hotel room floor, wishing for at least his dog to keep him company. The night he had gone on a bender, he had slept in the bathroom, by the toilet, because he had overdone it and hurled his guts out. He had no intention of falling back off that wagon, ever again.

 

He really did love her.  More than she ever thought humanly possible.  His words kept echoing and replaying in her mind throughout the past three days. You are worth more than my career.  You are the most important thing in my life and don’t you fucking forget it. Maxlyn smiled, knowing he meant every word and he hadn’t just said them out of panic.  No, Jon loved her and would give up his career for her in a heartbeat if it meant her happiness.  Considering how much Jon loved professional wrestling, calling it his first love in life, those words carried a lot of weight.  This beautiful, strong, handsome man she met in a rehabilitation center wanted to give her the world and protect her, at all costs, through any means necessary. “I couldn’t sleep without you either.  You’ve spoiled me, handsome, I hope you know that.”

 

“Good, it should be that way, I can’t be the only one suffering,” he teased, feeling as if things might be okay again, now that she was back where she belonged which was in his arms.

 

This was just a taste of what was coming. Nevada was a no-fault divorce state sure but Maxwell would be contesting the divorce, which meant it would drag on for at the very least three months. Probably longer due to the backlog of cases from all the Covid shut downs and restrictions that only just recently had been lifted.

 

And… there was the residency issue. Nevada law stated that one person must reside in Nevada for six weeks when filing for divorce. Mr. Benedict hadn’t had a moment to break that to them, what with Jon being belligerent and Maxlyn being locked up.

 

They were going to have to move back to Vegas for six weeks and then file. Again.

 

Wherever they had to live was fine with her, even if it was in Vegas.  Even though she had fallen in love with Jon in Arizona, where the rehabilitation center was located, in her heart, it was really Vegas.  The house was fixed up from the shootout and it looked brand new, not a hint something had happened there.  Just because they had to reside in Vegas did not mean they couldn’t travel and still do their job, so it really wouldn’t be that big of an issue.  And it definitely wouldn’t hinder their intimacy or their connection, only strengthen it, and perhaps they’d decide to stay in Vegas instead of Ohio when all was said and done.  The house in Cincinnati was nice and everything, but it did not compare to their home in Vegas.  However, neither knew anything about the stipulation, just enjoying being reunited after three days being apart.  It felt like an eternity for both and maybe it wasn’t healthy to be so reliant on each other, but given everything that was going on, it was warranted.

 

Arriving back at the hotel, Jon ordered Maxlyn to get naked while he did the same thing, having a surprise for her.  He pulled out a container of Neapolitan ice cream with two spoons and they fed each other, sharing kisses, and talked like they used to do before their lives were turned upside down.  Once they had their fill of it, Jon put it away in the cooler he’d bought, which was air-tight and would keep the ice cream frozen.  He pulled Maxlyn on top of him and their mouths met in a deep, slow kiss full of fire and love, along with a bunch of other different emotions.  Slowly, they made love, after Jon informed her they were going home for Ginny’s birthday tomorrow morning, already having the flights booked.  Maxlyn was no longer afraid to face his mothers, not even Ginny, and decided she would be taking the woman’s job offer, wanting extra income due to how expensive Mr. Benedict’s services were.

 

What they didn’t know was Jon’s mothers had an unexpected visitor the very same day Maxlyn was released from the hospital and they were informed of her infidelity towards their son…by none other than her current husband.

 

~!~

 

Maxwell was very good at charming his way into people’s lives, he had done it with Maxlyn quite well. He had even gotten her to ignore her survival instincts that had cautioned her away from him. Charming these two old lesbians hadn’t been all that hard either. He had come ‘looking’ for his wife, not surprised at all that Moxley hadn’t informed his… mother’s, dear Lord, what was going on. The man was intensely private and it was biting him in the ass. Maxwell was a bit surprised to learn they hadn’t even been invited to the wedding, though Chris and his family had. Shame, shame. He could easily tell which one was Jon’s birth mother, she had the same damn icy eyes. The other woman, the larger, louder of the two, made his ears bleed. “I honestly thought she was dead after I heard about the alcohol poisoning, the hospitals never contacted me and now I know why, because she had been sent to a rehabilitation facility.”

 

“My god…” Sharon shook her head sadly, wondering just what jezebel her son had shacked up with.  Did he even know all of this about Maxlyn?

 

Ginny was doing the same thing, on the same wavelength as her wife, while listening to Maxwell’s story, a deep frown marring her plump face. “I always felt like…somethin’ was off about her.  Jon didn’t tell us anythin’ about her either and kept her at arm’s length.” She’d never forget the night Maxlyn stormed out of here, all because they had been asking her a few questions.  Or rather grilling her, but to Ginny, it was asking. “I think it’s time we have a long chat with our son, sweetheart.”

 

“And what good do you think that will do?  You know how Jon is.  He probably does know all about Maxlyn’s past and, honestly, I can’t judge her after what I’ve done in my own.” Sharon folded her arms in front of her chest tightly, narrowing those icy eyes at Maxwell Jacob Friedman. “I’m deeply sorry this happened to you, dear boy.  If I were you, I’d simply divorce her, move on with your life, and find someone else that will treat you right and not run away from you.” Sharon knew all about that life, she had done the same thing to Jon’s father and a few others, simply because she did not trust men.  Her son was the only exception to that.

 

“So we’re supposed to say nothin’ and pretend everythin’ is fine?” Ginny knew all about Sharon’s background, but the look her wife shot her made the heavy set woman clamp her mouth shut.

 

“We’re definitely talking to them when they get back here.  I want to hear Maxlyn’s side of the story before I cast judgment on her.  I owe our son that much because he doesn’t trust people, especially women, easily.” Sharon stood up, taking the tray with the empty coffee cups to the kitchen and could not get rid of the chill that ran down her spine.  Where the hell did that come from?

 

It had come from Maxwell narrowing his eyes at that old lesbian bitch. She was obviously going to wait and hear them out, which meant that this shit would go up in smoke. There was just no fucking with a mother’s heart, which sucked. Ginny, on the other hand, was not Jon’s biological mother and if he knew anything about Moxley, he bet the other man had issues with this woman and her big, fat mouth.

 

That was true, actually. Jon did. Which was why he took Ginny in small doses and had warned Maxlyn about her and how it was just her way.

 

“I’m worried about Maxlyn, I know her mental state isn’t the best. She does the baseline needed to get out of therapy but she won’t do actual therapy itself, which she desperately needs.”

 

Even though Ginny was against Maxlyn at the moment, she also knew Sharon’s mindset when it came to women that were in the sex business.  There was far MORE to the story here than Maxwell was telling them.  She wasn’t stupid, not by a long shot, and would not go against her wife’s wishes either. “Like my wife said, Mr. Friedman, we’ll hear her side of the story and go from there.  And I agree with her, you should divorce her since she obviously wants nothing to do with you.” Ginny stood up, not at all afraid of men because she had stomped out quite a few of them in her lifetime and he would be no different. “I’m not sure what you thought you’d accomplish by coming here and exposing your wife, but at least we know the truth now.  Time for you to leave, boy.  We wish you the best of luck with the divorce.”

 

“I appreciate that, ma’am,” Maxwell had done exactly what he set out to do because he already knew they’d be informing Jon and Maxlyn about this, which was what he wanted. His visit would sow discord because now they’d know the truth about his little whore and would ask questions. Jon and Maxlyn knowing he had been here, well… Moxley wasn’t exactly stable and had temper issues. He had even fallen off the wagon, he idly wondered if his whore wife knew about that yet, smirking as he slid into his rental just as a truck with none other than said wife and her illegal husband pulled up along the curb behind him.

 

Great timing.

 

Chapter 66

 

“Who the shit is that…” Jon wasn’t looking forward to this meeting, at all, but here they were. He blinked when a head stuck out the window and began cursing a blue streak. That SON OF A BITCH!

 

Of course Maxlyn knew about Jon falling off the wagon and she didn’t mind it a bit.  In fact, she didn’t blame him.  They had talked through everything and were on the same page, despite whatever this asshole threw at them.  Jon did not lie to Maxlyn and she did not lie to him.  They were completely truthful with each other and that was one of the main reasons their relationship survived as long as it had with all of these obstacles and problems. “Oh my god…” Maxlyn’s eyes widened at the sight of Maxwell driving off with a big ‘fuck you’ grin on his face, her stomach twisting at the thought of Maxwell being inside of Sharon and Ginny’s house.  What the HELL was he doing here?!  She wasn’t looking forward to this visit either because of the elopement in Lanai and now…now Maxlyn did not want to step foot inside this house. “Jon…”

 

“Darlin’, if you want to head home, I can walk over after I’m done here.” Jon was remarkably calm right now given that that son of a bitch who had had Maxlyn involuntarily committed and she had literally JUST gotten out had been in his MOTHER’S FUCKING HOUSE. “You don’t need to sit through any bullshit.” His mom he was expecting to wait and hear him out just because that’s how she was, Ginny on the other hand would lump whatever Moron Jerk Fuckman had just told them in with the Lanai wedding that wasn’t even legal. He wasn’t surprised at all when Maxlyn just shook her head no and took her hand, bringing it up to his lips. “They start in without giving us a fair shake, we leave.” He could deal with the wedding one, he had earned that. But if whatever dickface had told them was about to be a launch pad for them to dive down throats, it was going to be a short visit and a lot of ‘kiss my ass’.

 

Leaning up, Maxlyn brushed her lips against his to let him know she would not run or hide from anything. “I’m with you.  I love you.  As long as you’re fine with me, I don’t care about anyone else, not even them.  No offense.” He nodded, understanding what she was saying and kissed her a little deeper, keeping a tight hold on her hand while they headed up to the house.  Maxlyn wasn’t stupid; she already knew what Maxwell was here for and what he had told Sharon and Ginny, so at least she wouldn’t be blindsided by it. He actually did me a favor by coming here, the dickhead. Jon knocked on the door and not even three seconds later, it was opened by Ginny, who didn’t look too pleased.  Whether it was with them or Maxwell, she had no idea and kept her mouth shut, letting Jon handle this.

 

Sharon had already warned Ginny, the moment she had seen that truck pull-up to not say a goddamn word. Was she happy her son had gone and eloped without bothering to even tell them? Nope, she had been royally pissed. Pissed had turned to seriously hurt when she learned he HAD flown another family out but not his mom. However, that Maxwell guy had sort of turned that all upside down. She was still upset, still hurt, but she’d get over it. Now, she was curious about how this non-marriage thing worked out. Why Maxlyn had hid her past when out of everyone, Sharon would be the most understanding about it given her own history, and she was also hurt that her son didn’t trust her enough to confide things in her, instead omitting truths or using little white lies. She knew, however, that screaming at him was going to drive him away and she just wasn’t having it.

 

“I’m sorry, ma,” Jon went with that first, bending down to hug her. He thought she might slap him upside the head, instead she hugged him back.

 

Maxlyn couldn’t meet her eyes and simply stood there, wondering if maybe going home was the right thing to do.  Maybe she should’ve let Jon handle this without her.  Sharon hugged her son tighter than normal, a few tears slipping from her eyes and let him go, clearing her throat somewhat roughly.  Hopefully, once Jon explained the reasoning behind the failed elopement and flying Chris out, along with his family, his mothers would understand a little more.  It wasn’t planned, none of it, it was spontaneous, exciting, exhilarating, and now ruined, thanks to Maxwell.  Sharon gestured them inside, heading straight to the kitchen and Maxlyn took a seat, remaining silent.  Unless Sharon flat out asked her about her past, she would not divulge it and didn’t reach for one of the pre-made sandwiches on the table.  Her appetite was gone.

 

Yeah, no, there was no explaining away the ‘spontaneous’ thing because the spontaneous part had flown out the window the minute he decided to fly Chris out. That same time could have been used to also fly his mom’s out. That had been a deliberate decision on his part and the only thing he could say was the truth: he hadn’t thought about it, about them. It made him a selfish jerk and he knew it but he wasn’t about to lie or give them bullshit excuses either. “So, where are you starting?”

 

“What do you already know?”

 

“She’s married. She was a sex worker. Her rehab, where you two met, the whole kit and kaboodle, or at least, what that Friedman guy wanted us to know.”

 

Just as she suspected, Maxwell had come here with one specific goal in mind: Turning Jon’s mothers against her.  Did he think Jon would turn against her along with them or something?  Maxwell obviously didn’t have a clue who Jon truly was because he wasn’t as close to his mothers as people assumed.  He was close enough, but still held them at arm’s length, which was why he hadn’t moved back to Cincinnati until recently.  It was forced too, it wasn’t his decision. “I will answer any questions you have, Sharon.” If she wanted to know her side of the story, Maxlyn would tell it, no matter how much it hurt her to do so.

 

“To be fair, I don’t give a rat’s ass about your backstory anymore,” Sharon informed her bluntly, well aware Jon loved this woman and that was basically all that mattered to her. “All I care about is whether or not my son is happy and he seems to be, I also care about him not inviting me to his goddamn wedding.”

 

“Fake wedding.” Ginny grunted, pouring everyone a cup of coffee.

 

“That.” Obviously, there was more to the story than Friedman had told them because she didn’t believe for a second that Maxlyn would go along with another marriage, knowing it wouldn’t be valid. “But, if you were trying to drink yourself to death, I wouldn’t imagine you’d remember much.”

 

“He drugged her, ma.” Jon shot Ginny a shut the fuck up look before she could even think to open her mouth.

 

“I knew I didn’t like that son of a bitch, he was too charming, you know? Trying to hard.”

“It’s all right, Jon.” Maxlyn placed a hand on top of his, squeezing his fingers gently and turned her attention back to his mothers. “I don’t know what Maxwell told you both, but I’m sure he left out several things with his side of the story.  Such as kidnapping and raping me for 24 hours.  That was after he married me while I was in such a drugged state, I still don’t remember it to this day.  I had NO idea I was already married to that dickhead until recently and I immediately filed for divorce, once I got over the initial shock that my marriage to your son was null and void.  There’s a lot of things about those 24 hours I don’t remember.  I didn’t even remember it was him or the fact my boss, at the time, sent him after me until the night he tried turning Jon’s head into hamburger meat.” She frowned at that memory, wanting to take that diamond ring and shove it right up Maxwell’s backside.

 

“My boss paid him off to kidnap me and teach me a lesson and he did it because I tried quitting my job with his club the same night Maxwell bought my services.  It was done out of retaliation and Maxwell took it several steps too far.  He dropped me off at my apartment after the 24 hours was over, threw a wad of cash at me, and drove off.  I was blindfolded, so I didn’t even see who had dropped me and the drugs were still heavily in my system.  I’m surprised I even made it up to my apartment.  Once the drugs started wearing off and the shock of what happened to me lifted, I…I wanted to die.  I just wanted the pain to end.  His voice was in my head and I couldn’t stop the flashbacks from happening…or what the drugs allowed me to remember.” It hadn’t been much.

 

“I drank myself nearly to death and if my scumbag boss hadn’t found me, along with another coworker, I wouldn’t be here today.  I’d been raped before, you see, when I was 14-years-old.  My mother sold me to various men and when I turned 18, I left and never went back, doing what I had to do to survive.  I’d been stripping since I was 16 because that was the fastest way for me to earn money, especially in the city I lived in.  I arrived in Vegas and immediately got to work to support myself at the club and…I became a prostitute willingly.  Maxwell was the only man that ever raped and assaulted me in all the years I’d worked at that club.  When I turned 30, I decided I didn’t want that life anymore and I’d made more than enough money to live comfortably on while trying to find a different job.  Instead, I nearly died of alcohol poisoning because of what that son of a bitch did to me and…wound up in the same rehab center your son came to for his drinking problem.” There, that was her side of the story and Maxlyn waited for the onslaught to happen, the judgment and ridicule, taking a sip of water.

 

“Well, there was a lot of that you could have left out and spared us the nightmares,” Ginny informed her, cursing when she realized she had been pouring creamer in her coffee for the entire damn story and now there was a lovely puddle all over her side of the table and on the floor. That was a HELL of a story and she would have been okay with the condensed version.

 

That wasn’t his woman, if she was going to tell you, she was telling you EVERYTHING, everyone got to share in the nightmares. Jon just held onto her hand, using his free to drink his black, unfucked cup of coffee.

 

Sharon agreed with Ginny, she did NOT need to know all of that and she had said she no longer gave a flying rat’s ass. However, it did fill in the gaps of what fuckface had left out and she had no idea what to say. Finally, she snapped out of her shock and tossed Ginny a towel before just shaking her head. “And he had you put in an involuntary psych hold? That’s just some scantlous shit.”

 

“Can’t you do that to him?”

 

Yeah, a former whore wasn’t about to judge a former whore.

 

“If he contests and fights the divorce, then I will.  I don’t want it looking like retaliation and my lawyer advised me to do it that way.  I’m going to do this legit, so he has no leg to stand on and as long as I follow this to the book, Nevada will grant me the divorce, with or without his say-so.” Maxlyn explained, sipping her water because coffee would make her too jittery right now.

 

“Smart.” Ginny nodded, finishing cleaning up her mess and thanked the gods above she had bought multiple bottles of coffee creamer.  They went through coffee a lot in this house.

 

“He thought by locking me up in a psych ward, I’d break down and they’d keep me longer than the 72 hours.  He didn’t bank on me passing all the tests with flying colors.  And I was told he came to the hospital while I was there and they sent his ass packing due to Covid regulations.  The psychiatrist there didn’t understand why I was there in the first place and when I told her why, she thought it was bullshit too.” Maxlyn was just happy to be out of there and back with Jon, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry for the long winded explanation, but…I didn’t want to be vague with you about it.  I’m sure he wasn’t vague while he was there and I wanted you to hopefully understand what REALLY happened.  Sorry for the nightmares, if you have any.”

 

“Oh yeah honey, there’s definitely going to be nightmares for Sharon,” Ginny knew that for a fact, she still sometimes had nightmares about her life when Jon was a boy, she knew this was going to hit her like a ton of bricks later.

 

“But now we know,” and then some and she just shook her head, glancing between the pair. “Is there a wait period or anything in Nevada?”

 

“She has to live there six weeks PRIOR to filing.” Which was a pain in the ass because Jon had a feeling that Maxwell was going to do his best to make her life a living hell. So, they’d ‘move’ back to Vegas and have that be their official address for now. He was not looking forward to being forced back to Nevada this way but he also knew there wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for Maxlyn. If she asked him to kill that motherfucker, he would’ve in a heart beat.

 

“He can try every dirty trick in the book, none of it will matter as long as I do exactly what my lawyer says.” Mr. Benedict assured her within a year’s time, if everything goes smoothly with the divorce, even if Maxwell did deny it, the state of Nevada would grant it.  It may be sooner than that, but Mr. Benedict was giving her the longest time possible it would take if she followed everything to the letter.  In the meantime, they could plan a wedding that would involve Sharon and Ginny this time instead of simply eloping.  It wouldn’t be a huge ceremony, but his mothers would be there at the very least. “We should get going soon to start packing up what we want to take to Vegas.”

 

Chapter 67

 

“What about your house?” Ginny demanded, raising a brow down at them. “The shootout, did you get your house fixed up and everything there and wasn’t it on the market?  Or are you getting a whole new different place?”

 

“It’s still on the market, there’s been some interest but I guess we could go back there,” which he wasn’t looking forward too if he were honest. “I’d just as soon buy a place sight unseen or find a rental. I think after all this bullshit, we’re done with Nevada.” Nothing good had come from that city for her at all, not a goddamn thing. Well, maybe Blue. She had had him back in that rehab center so he didn’t count. “We’ll figure it out, we got to go to the house here and we’ll take a day to decide it.” As long as their asses were there before the week was out, or at least had established residency.

 

“We can do whatever you want, Jon.  I already told you we don’t have to go back to the house, but it also won’t bother me if we do.” At least she knew that house like the back of her hand and it was mapped out in her brain, just in case they were attacked again.  However, Jon was worried about Maxwell popping up or one of Ricky’s goons with another shootout.  Getting a house away from the old one was probably in their best interest, when she considered those facts.  The last thing she wanted was Jon to be in any kind of danger because of Maxwell. “We also decided on something else too.” They met each other’s eyes and Jon nodded at her to continue, hoping this would make Sharon and Ginny happy. “Once the divorce is finalized, we want to be married right away, so we’re going to plan a small ceremony.  There won’t be invitations, but we want you both there this time.  We should’ve thought of you two back in Hawaii and for that, I’m really sorry about that.  It all happened so fast, but that’s still no excuse for our actions.”

 

“Goddamn right there wasn’t, you flew out an entire other family but not your own?” Sharon had sort of forgotten all about that, the elopement and crap, with the story Maxlyn had laid out on them. That horror story had definitely taken precedence over everything else, the wedding stuff included.

 

Jon groaned, realizing his mother had totally forgotten that until Maxlyn had mentioned it, busying himself with his coffee mug and stared down at the table.

 

Sharon just stared at him.

 

Eventually, he raised his gaze to meet that piercing stare. “I’m sorry mom, I was being selfish and not thinking about anyone but myself. Does it help we have a clean start after this shit is over?”

 

She rolled her eyes at him but smiled anyway.

 

Sharon really did love Jon so much.  Ginny did too, but Sharon was the one who gave birth to him and there was a connection that could not be touched between mother and son.  Granted, Jon and Sharon weren’t close for a long time and it was only once he signed with WWE, they became close again.  She was happy he was no longer doing those horrendous death matches and he’d made a lot of money while in that company, enough to buy this beautiful home her and Ginny shared.  Maxlyn thought it was very noble of Jon to buy his mother a house and she understood why he did it.  He wanted to help her because she had been the best mother she could be, given the place they had lived and the circumstances.  Just like Maxlyn, Sharon had whored herself out to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads…for survival for her and Jon.  The only difference was Sharon did not whore her son out the way Maxlyn’s mother did to her. “You’re so lucky to have two mothers that love and care about you, honey.”

 

“Well, I don’t know about the one…” It just wouldn’t be a visit, even if this were technically a dreadful one given what they had come to and then talked about, without him harassing Ginny. “She’s a fucking loudmouth.”

 

Any other time, Ginny would have slapped him upside his damn head for shooting off at the mouth at her, however… today, she just nodded her agreement. She was well aware she wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. “That I am.”

 

He had been waiting for that slap too.

 

“You’re still damn lucky to have me, boy.”

 

That was more like it and he stood up, taking a second to hug each of the older women, glancing back at Maxlyn who looked relieved things had NOT gone the way they had been expecting.

 

The relief on her face spoke volumes and Ginny suddenly walked over to pull her up, hugging her close. “Have you considered the job offer yet? I know you’ve had a lot going on lately…” That was an understatement, but she was sort of on a time crunch and needed an answer soon.

 

“Y-You still want me to work for you after what you’ve found out about me?”

 

“No, I don’t judge people, contrary to popular belief.” Ginny pulled back to stare down into the younger woman’s eyes, understanding in her own. “Jon loves you and if you need help getting away from that douchebag that was here earlier, you just say the word.  I have a friend who is a great lawyer and has gotten me out of several binds in the past.  They do a little bit of everything in the field.  Let me know if your lawyer isn’t up to snuff.”

 

Maxlyn appreciated that offer, sniffling a little with tears in her eyes. “I will, Ginny.  Thank you.  And as far as the job offer goes, I planned on letting you know during our first visit home, but you guys went on that getaway.  My answer is yes, I’d be glad to work for you remotely.”

 

“You really thought they were going to judge the sex work?” Jon knew she had self-esteem, confidence issues and all that but out of everyone in the world… it’d be his mom and her wife who would get that shit. His mom was very forthcoming about her past, she had said something about it being what had shaped them both, for good and for bad.

 

“Nobody is judging THAT in this house.” Sharon reassured the younger woman, her eventual daughter in law and then took Maxlyn’s hand, just so she could see the rings. “Oh wow, that is gorgeous. Are you guys leaving right away?”

 

“We’ll be heading out tomorrow morning ma, six weeks, we’re on a deadline.” He wanted her divorced ASAP, so HE could marry her. Again.

 

Maxlyn beamed brightly at the beautiful rings on her finger, proud to wear them and vowed to never take them off again, no matter what.  Maybe Jon did go overboard with the rings, but he wanted everyone to know she was off the market and she had no problem with it.  Whatever he wanted, she was wrapped around his finger and would do anything for him. There were no limits when it came to Jon…not unless he became abusive and mean, then that was a different story.  That would never happen, she’d seen his temper explode before and never once did he raise a violent hand to her. “I promise, the moment we find out exactly what date the divorce will be finalized and we can set an actual date for the wedding, you two will be the first to know.” Good thing she already had her dress, there was no way she would change her wedding dress because of Maxwell.

Jon could be mean, he could be violent, he could be a world class asshole, he was not a woman beater. He couldn’t claim he had never been emotionally or verbally abusive to a broad but in his defense, in his younger more wild days, he had been an asshole to some of the more crazier of his female fans. It was hard to be nice to broads who carved your name in their skin. But he had grown up, a lot, and he credit with his newfound patience and shit with meeting her. “We’ll keep you informed on what’s going on, and don’t let that scumbag through the door anymore.”

 

“Oh hell no, he’ll get a broomstick up his ass.” Ginny said flatly.

 

That made Maxlyn laugh and she flashed a thumbs up, thankful these women weren’t judging her for her past.  On the way out the door to head home to pack up, with Blue in tow, Ginny told Maxlyn she’d send all the information, including the contract, to her email to sign everything electronically.  On the way home, Maxlyn was trying to find the right words to ask Jon regarding where they would live in Vegas since he didn’t want to go back to the house.  He was adamant about it.  Did it really bother him that much to see the bullet holes in the walls and her blood?  She had no idea just how much that moment traumatized him and ruined Vegas for him forever.  Instead, she just pet Blue and stared out the window, putting her trust in Jon and knew he’d take care of the arrangements. “Would staying in a hotel in Vegas be the same as residing there?”

 

“I have no idea darlin’,” he knew she’d have to apply for a Nevada driver’s license again and he also knew she’d require a street address for all that shit. “I know it makes sense to say at the house,” it had been cleaned and redone, it looked like it had the day he bought it. Obviously, none of their personal effects were there, those were long gone as was all the furniture because of a lot of glass and bullet holes. “It’s available and means we could get this ball rolling ASAP.” Would he sleep well there? Not at all, that place was destroyed for him. “What do you think?”

 

Maxlyn sighed heavily, thinking along the same lines as him. “If we find a different place to live, that will take time.  Time we don’t have.” Well, they DID, but it was time she didn’t want to spend finding a temporary place to live when they already had a perfectly good residence in Vegas. “I know it’ll be dangerous for us to go back to the house…we may be targeted again.  I just don’t know what to do, Jon.  I don’t know what the right decision is.  I can’t believe I have to reside in…” A lightbulb suddenly went off in her head and Maxlyn held her finger up in a one minute gesture, dialing her lawyer. “Cutting to the chase, Mr. Benedict, regarding this residency requirement for my divorce, can we stay wherever we want and use Jon’s house for my address?”

 

“I wouldn’t see why not since it is his house and you live with him.”

 

She had the biggest smile on her face. “And it just has to be in the state of Nevada, not in Vegas, correct?”

 

Mr. Benedict smirked, already knowing where she was going with this. “Yes, Miss Lewis, you do not have to reside in the city or anywhere near it, just as long as you’re in the state for six weeks.”

 

“Thank you, that’s all I needed to know.  Have a nice day, Mr. Benedict.” Maxlyn hung up the phone and began searching for potential places away from Vegas they could stay at, holding it up a few minutes later. “What about a bed and breakfast type of place?  We could rent a room there for the six weeks, still travel for our job, and we don’t have to be anywhere near Vegas, handsome.”

 

“We can… might not have a lot of privacy,” Jon chuckled, knowing bed and breakfast places were basically charming, large old houses with thin walls. Meant for romance and a quaint experience, the whole kit and kaboodle. “I don’t want you thinking I’m thinking with my dick, darlin’, I’m not,” mostly, but he also knew how he and Maxlyn worked. He liked sex, she solved problems with it. Every man’s dream come true, most of the time. “What about a resort or cabins? Even a few days of downtime might be good for us, especially you, darlin’.” Given everything that had been tossed her way lately.

 

Taking that suggestion into consideration, Maxlyn started searching again while they headed inside the house with Blue, sitting down on the couch. “What about this?  It’s at a ski resort and it’s a cabin we can rent that looks like it’s in a wooded area…” Jon immediately took the phone to look over it, his eyes warming with each passing second and she could tell he liked it.  A lot.  Jon loved natural in general and this place had two patios with an outdoor hot tub with the woods surrounding them.  It looked very serene and tranquil, with just a touch of romance.  He continued reading on it, walking around the house and Maxlyn let Blue outside to use the bathroom, turning back to face him. “I know it may seem like a big place to rent out…” It had four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and could sleep 12 people easily, but the pictures were breathtaking. “What do you think?”

 

“Sounds like an idea, darlin’, see if we can’t set it up,” Jon had no idea if that was natural snow or the fake shit, or even imported -which turned out to be a thing, who knew. But it reminded him a bit of their time in Sedona along with a hefty splash of that winter getaway they ahd had. It hadn’t even been that long ago and yet it seemed like several lifetimes ago. “I don’t mind renting it out, we’ll even use it.” He chuckled, knowing that they didn’t have to STAY in Nevada, they just needed her to have a state issued ID and a residence, which… he had the second and getting the first wasn’t going to be all that hard. Thank Christ for those loopholes or else neither of them would have been very happy.

 

Being financially stable was also a huge plus. “I’ll make a call and see how soon we can rent it out for the six weeks.  I’m sure there’s a DMV somewhere in the area and I’ll get my license going, then file again through Mr. Benedict.” All the lawyer needed was a copy of that driver’s license with the residence and nothing would stop the divorce from going forward, no matter what Maxwell said.  The light was at the end of the tunnel, it would take a lot less time to get this done and before long, she would be Jon’s wife for real.  Jon left her to go make the phone call at the ski resort and, thankfully, they had an opening the following Thursday.  She gave them her card number, reserving the cabin for exactly six weeks, and then went to go tell Jon when they left Dynamite on Wednesday, they would be heading straight to Nevada and would have to bring whatever they wanted with them.  They could always fly back to Ohio if they needed something and Blue would be coming with them on the road for the show, so she’d have to stay at the hotel with him while Jon did Dynamite.

 

Six weeks before she could officially file, that was almost two months, and then who knew how long until the divorce was granted? There had to be a backlog or something, right? Maxwell was aware he was on borrowed time and no doubt, she had probably tried dragging his name in with that shit concerning Garcia. He had no idea what had changed but suddenly, he had a LOT of appearances and work, like… any other time, he would have been glad to finally be getting the recognition he knew he deserved, he was MJF after all, right now… it was a damn hindrance. He couldn’t be everywhere at once! He had a whore wife to tend too before these six weeks were up and she could try divorcing him again.

 

Chapter 68

 

The best part about all of this was Maxwell had NO idea where Jon and Maxlyn took off to.  They had talked about it, not wanting anyone to know where they were going, so they decided to fly into Vegas to make it SEEM like they lived there and then drive to the ski resort.  It was a bit of a pain in the ass, a few hours drive, but it was the best way to ensure they were not found.  Also, Maxwell WAS being investigated at the moment by the Las Vegas PD regarding the Garcia case and he was being called in for questioning.  Questioning he had ignored so far, so they would have to get a subpoena in order to force him to come in.  That was another thing Maxwell was dealing with while Maxlyn and Jon did their own planning.  It was one more month before the trial was to take place for Garcia and she planned on revealing everything, including Maxwell’s involvement.

 

When Jon walked into the arena without Maxlyn in tow, he was all business and Tony Khan had given him permission to do whatever he wanted in this feud, as long as he didn’t kill MJF.  Bryan and Regal walked up to him, both thankful he hadn’t needed more time off and didn’t ask about Maxlyn either.  However, Jon had another plan in mind…one Maxwell Jacob Friedman would curse him to hell and back for and pulled his partner and manager into their locker room labeled BLACKPOOL COMBAT CLUB to talk to them in private.  Bryan and Regal both stared at each other with wide eyes, both knowing this would definitely piss MJF off and that was exactly what Jon wanted.  He didn’t play fair, never had, and never would, especially when his loved ones were in danger by a damn coworker he was forced to work with.

 

“When do you want to do this?”

 

“He’s on his way, he’ll make his return tonight because no doubt the fucking Pinnacle will try to jump us after our match.”

 

Bryan nodded, cracking his knuckles and promised to be ready.

 

Maxlyn knew all about this plan and Jon had her full support, planning on watching this particular segments for several reasons.

 

So, Tony had said not to kill him and Jon had given his word. Jon had absolutely no problem in breaking his word if this little bitch tried dragging on the bullshit. ANYTHING could happen in the ring, it was just a fact of life in this business, even with all the new safety bullshit and choreographing. About the only way MJF was getting out of his weekly ass whoopings was if he fucking          quit and everyone knew the little bastard wouldn’t, he had ‘worked too hard’ for his spot. “I don’t trust the little bastard to keep our personal business off the screen.”

 

“I do have some brass knuckles on hand, lad,” William said after a moment, they were something he had used over his career quite a bit. “Hard to bloody talk when you’re spitting out your teeth."

 

“I love you, you dirty playing bastard.”

 

His Lordship was one of the ONLY people Jon confided in about what was going on.  William, Bryan, and Chris were it…along with his surprise guest and the newest member of the Blackpool Combat Club.  MJF would not know what hit him and would probably shit bricks once it happened.  Tony Khan had already gotten everything set up and ready, excited about this newest addition to the group.  At first, he wasn’t sure about it, but after talking to Jon and Bryan, along with William, he could not deny them anything.  Tonight, Jon would turn the tables on MJF with the help of someone who also had a score to settle with the douchebag.  This was going to be a great night and MJF would be the one left in the ring in a pool of his own blood this time.

William Regal had nearly tanked his own career via a hellacious drug addiction, cocaine to be exact. One of the good things Vince McMahon had done -and there were a few of those- was give the man a second chance. That had rejuvenated William’s career, giving him a new leash on life and the man had definitely run with it, getting himself clean and back into healthy. Jon had a lot of respect for Regal, especially now that he was an addict himself, one who had recently fallen off that wagon because he had had a serious moment of impotent rage, frustration and weakness.

 

The bonus guest, that was just icing on the shit filled cake Jon was about to force feed HIS wife’s rapist. As far as Jon was concerned, they weren’t married, she was a victim and she was getting out of the situation. No matter what a piece of paper said, she was still his wife, hence his wedding ring. “Almost time.”

 

“Typical.” Maxlyn muttered, watching as MJF and Shawn Spears of the Pinnacle run down to the ring just as soon as Jon and Bryan won the tag match, attacking them.  Normally, Maxlyn would be cringing at this, but since she knew what was coming, who Jon had recruited with William and Bryan’s blessing, the smile could not be wiped from her face.

 

Sure enough, the unforgettable, unmistakable music of Wardlow suddenly blared throughout the arena and the big man stepped out, with a steel chair in hand and a chain around his neck.  He was dressed for battle, his eyes set straight on MJF, his former boss, and Shawn Spears, who looked like he was ready to shit himself.  MJF started screaming at Shawn to grab his own chair as the big man stalked to the ring, giving Jon and Bryan ample time to recover from the beatdown they just received.  MJF had sent Wardlow home to sit and spin, not wanting him anywhere near AEW, and the big man had no choice except to do as he was told.  That was until Tony Khan reached out to him a week ago, offering him a full contract with AEW, and he had already signed on the dotted line, more than ready for his revenge after the humiliation MJF laid on him.

 

What a glorious revenge it was too. Jon just sat back and watched as the big man did all the work. He had talked about it with William since the man had literal decades of experience in this business and as well as Chris. They both agreed that Jon should play by the rules as much as possible to ensure MJF couldn’t pull any legal shit on HIM, try to get HIM put away. There was obviously a personal aspect to all of this and if that prick wanted to try saying that Moxley was bringing their personal life into the ring, he could probably wreck some havoc on Jon and Maxlyn. So, Jon had agreed -and he was so proud of himself for this- to play ‘nice’. For as long as he could anyway. Admittedly, this was hilarious and he was grinning like a madman as he watched the destruction.

 

Instead of Jon busting MJF open, it was Wardlow and the man was bleeding like a stuffed pig.  The suit he had on was completely ruined and Maxlyn was beaming at the television, cheering them on, clapping her hands.  Karma was a bitch and that asshole got everything that was coming to him and more.  Hopefully, he’d think twice before screwing with Jon Moxley and the Blackpool Combat Club again.  Granted, it was still two months before the next pay-per-view event, so Jon had to deal with the dick until he destroyed him at that event.  At first, Jon was going to let MJF win, but after all the bullshit he’d been pulling, including having her locked up for 72 hours in a hospital…that was not happening any longer.  Even Tony Khan agreed after the massacre beatdown MJF gave Jon that it wouldn’t be right if MJF won the upcoming battle between them…and Jon had another surprise for the bastard while he was bleeding on the mat currently.

 

Jon stood over him, towering, with the microphone in hand and bent down to where he was face to face with the bloody MJF, an evil smirk on his face. “NO HOLDS BARRED STREET FIGHT!  Bring your A game or I’ll smear you all over the arena.” Dropping the microphone right on top of the man’s bloody mouth, Jon acknowledged the crowd, shook Wardlow’s hand, and rose his arm pointing.  He was officially the newest member of the Blackpool Combat Club.

 

Not only that, but he was also Maxlyn’s brand new bodyguard as well whenever they were at the arenas going forward.

 

Wardlow was a giant six foot three, 260+ pound handsome beast and Jon instinctively trusted him, just because nobody liked getting screwed over and this young man had been royally fucked up. He hadn’t bothered telling the whole story, he wasn’t looking to have it everywhere in the workplace and then eventual world because that was how shit worked. But enough of a story to get Wardlow to agree on top of the obvious bonus of kicking the shit out of MJF at every opportunity.

 

“Hey darlin’,” Jon was in pretty high spirits when she let him into the hotel room, not taking any damn chances, they were doing the locked doors and everything else. Knowing MJF had ties to Garcia, even if the scumbag was in jail, could mean he had ties to others just as scummy. “You look happy.” If his woman got a lady boner from seeing that destruction… it’d probably give him one himself.

 

“Of course I am, how could I not be?” Maxlyn did have a lady boner after witnessing that destruction and she was more than ready to show her husband just how much she enjoyed it.  No Holds Barred Street Fight at the next pay-per-view event…that would be one for the ages and she could not wait for Jon to destroy Maxwell.  That was only if Maxwell somehow got out of the trouble Garcia’s trial was causing, along with her testimony on him.  Bringing his mouth down on hers, Maxlyn made sure he felt that kiss all the way to his toes and rubbed her nose against his, taking his bag off his shoulder to drop it to the floor. “It was so great seeing Wardlow destroy him and then you standing over him like you did…it turned me on, handsome, I’m not even gonna lie or deny it.”

 

“Mmm, good,” Jon rumbled against her lips, having skipped the shower at the arena and just come straight here with his sweaty ass. He had informed her his goal was to spend as little time at the arena as possible, refusing to leave her alone too much when there wasn’t anyone with her as a guard. He refused, basically, to let his wife be put in a stupid situation and he had made it clear to her and Khan that he had NO problem in walking away from AEW, his career, wrestling in general when it came to Maxlyn. She came first. Speaking of cumming… “Wanna get in the shower with me?”

 

Her eyes darkened to molten brown as she pulled the ties loose on the robe she had on, letting it slide from her body to the floor to pool at her feet, completely naked beneath. “That’s an offer I simply can’t refuse…” Maxlyn purred, gliding her nails gently down his still slightly sweaty chest and pressed herself against him, undoing the belt on his cargo pants he wrestled in. “One of these days, I’m going to give you a tongue bath from head to toe.” Not that she hadn’t already kissed and licked every square inch of his beautiful body before, but there was something about the way he smelled after a match.  It wasn’t gross, it sent something primal through her…just like when he did his pre-match warmups in front of her.  Gasping when he lifted her with ease, their mouths crashed together as he carried her to the bathroom and managed to turn the shower sprays on while they continued to kiss and taste each other. “God, I can never get enough of you, Jon…”

 

Jon knew he was a raunchy mofo after a match and a workout, there was not a single place sweat did not get. After a match, it wasn’t even just his sweat, it was also the other person’s along with spit and sometimes even blood. She wanted to tongue bathe him after a workout, he’d consider it. After a match, not a chance. “Good, it needs to stay that way, dollface,” he chuckled, planting her against the wall of the shower so she was eye level with him, his thigh between her thighs to help keep her up. “I feel the same way about you.” He hoped it never changed between them either, knowing after a few years, thing could go stale. Given the shit tossed their way from day one… he figured some normal boredom might not be a bad thing.

 

“It always will.  I’ll make sure of it.” Maxlyn would sex him up as many times as it took to keep the fires burning between them.  The great thing was, even after all the time they knew each other, nearly a year now, things hadn’t grown the least bit stale.  It felt as passionate and fiery every time they made love as it did the first time they had sex. “Mmm, I missed you tonight…” She enjoyed going to the arenas with him, but having Blue with them was causing a little problem.  However, they were not going without their baby for six weeks because of the douchebag, so Maxlyn agreed to stay at the hotels with him whenever they were on the road. 

 

Jon had some upcoming events where Maxlyn would be staying behind at the cabin with Blue while he took care of them.  He wasn’t comfortable leaving them alone, not after what happened last time, but Maxlyn assured him Maxwell would not find out where they were located.  They had lead the trail to his old house, nowhere near the ski resort and only a handful of people knew where it was.  It would only be for a day or two here and there, then after the six weeks was up, they could go back to normal with Blue staying with his mothers in Cincinnati.

 

Unbeknownst to Maxlyn, that was where Wardlow would come in.  It had four bedrooms and he would have one of them because Jon refused to leave her and Blue completely alone.  She would have protection while he was gone; it was one of the conditions and a deal he made with the big man in exchange for vengeance against his former boss and employer.  Wardlow could’ve easily turned him down, but after what everything he heard from Jon, he wanted to help them out and protect Maxlyn, refusing to let her land in the clutches of the dirtbag.

 

It was just a matter of letting Maxlyn know that, he knew damn well how uncomfortable she was with men. It took her quite a bit to warm up to them and after she had let her guard drop with Maxwell…. Yeah. Maybe inviting his mom -not Ginny-, to stay with them would ease Maxlyn a bit. Not to mention, maybe his woman and his mom having some bonding time wouldn’t be bad, especially since they had a ridiculous amount in common. He had once heard that a man married his mother. He didn’t necessarily believe that was true but he had come quite close all things considered, minus the turning lesbian part but Maxlyn was still young. Yeah… he’d broach the Sharon thing with her ASAP, since he had already done the Wardlow. He just hoped she didn’t rearrange his balls for making that decision without her.

 

Chapter 69

 

After their lovemaking in the shower, then carried on in the bed, Maxlyn was completely satisfied and sated with her head resting on her husband’s chest, stroking his toned stomach gently.  Jon gently broke the news to her about Wardlow, immediately apologizing for not asking her first and she looked up at him with a soft smile, pressing a finger to his lips. “You want to protect me and I already told you once, whoever you trust, I trust.  I’m fine with it, handsome.”

 

“Well…what if my Mom came out to stay with you?  Sharon, not Ginny?”

 

Maxlyn thought about it, wondering if having some one-on-one time with her mother-in-law was a good idea or not, deciding it couldn’t hurt. “Sure, I don’t mind that either.” Whatever Jon wanted to do, even if she didn’t agree with it deep down, Maxlyn wouldn’t go against him or fight the matter.  That was how she’d always been with him, very agreeable, and leaned up to brush her lips softly against his. “Did you think I’d be upset with you or something?”

 

“You have a habit of usually giving me my way,” and it had taken him a long ass time to see it, just like it had taken him a long ass time to realize she used sex as a way of dealing with a lot of issues. Like when all this shit went south and he had said he needed a drink, her response had been trying to give him a blow job. “I was concerned you’d be upset… and not tell me. Wardlow, not something I’m gonna debate on, he’s already hired. Sharon, that’s up to you entirely, darlin’, if you don’t want her there, that’s fine. I figured she might be a good buffer for your anxiety with strange men.”

 

“Well, I’m not upset and I agree with you.” Sitting up from him, Maxlyn clasped her hands in her lap while staring down at him. “Is there a problem with me agreeing with your way of thinking?  You don’t ALWAYS get your way, Jon.” Most of the time, yes, but that was just how Maxlyn operated.  She wanted to keep her man happy and arguing with him over anything she didn’t agree with was pointless.  Jon was going to do what he was going to do, regardless how she felt.  He didn’t bother consulting her about having a bodyguard and had just hired Wardlow, who was now part of the Blackpool Combat Club.  However, she understood and saw the bigger picture in what he was trying to do. “T-There are some things I disagree with you on…” Not a lot, but some!  Didn’t that count for anything? “Is it wrong to give you your way a lot?  Isn’t that what you want?”

 

“Darlin’, you’re not McDonalds and I’m not trying to have it all my way,” Jon said patiently, trying to explain it in a way she would understand. “You have a fucked up perspective when it comes to men and with relationships,” and as far as he knew, he was basically the only one she had ever been in a relationship with. “I know your experiences sucked and they were cold bastards who only cared about their needs and shit, that’s not how it’s supposed to work in healthy relationships.” Not that he had many of those under his belt either but definitely more than her. “It’s give AND take, not just you giving and me taking. We’re equals.”

 

What the hell?  What was she supposed to say to all of that?  So what if she agreed with him a lot of the time and gave him his way?  Any other man would’ve been thrilled, but not Jon.  He was an entirely different breed of man. “But what if I AGREE with your way?  Does that still make my perception fucked up?  When it comes to my safety and security, I’m not going to fight you on it.  When it comes to important decisions, I’m not going to go against you, even if I don’t agree with it.  That’s just…that’s who I am.  And it’s not me being obedient or anything like that, I just…I trust your judgment, Jon.  I trust you.  That’s why I don’t go against what you want to do.  It’s not giving you your way because a lot of the times, I AGREE with you.  The Wardlow thing – all right fine, you should’ve talked to me about that first, but I understand WHY you did it, so there’s no point in fighting you on it.  What’s done is done.  It’s going to happen whether I want it to or not.  Your mother…I’d love to spend some time with her, get to know her, and hear her ideas about our upcoming wedding.  I want her involved after what we pulled in Lanai, so…I don’t mind her coming to stay at the cabin.” Reaching out, she touched the side of his bearded face with a gentle sigh. “I just want to make you happy.  You’re the most important person in my life and nothing and nobody else matters except you and Blue, of course.”

 

The fact of the matter was, that ‘she gives, I take’ mindset was something most men grew out of, especially once they got out of their twenties and matured. No real man wanted a goddamn Stepford wife, a beautiful Barbie doll who catered to his every whim. “Darlin’, I get you wanna make me happy,” and he was glad they apparently agreed on so much but he knew not everything. “But I want you to be happy too.” And not a housewife from the 50s whole made her man and his happiness her core component and reason for living. Sharon would fucking kill him. Oh. Lightbulb. She had already noticed all this. Jon bet his mother sometimes slapped her own damn self for having a fool of a son. “If you don’t like something, go against it.” Being given his way too much would eventually lead to boredom issues, even he knew that. And maybe resentment from her.

 

“But you do…you do make me happy.  I’ve never been more happy in my life, even with all the bullshit Maxwell has thrown at us lately.” They were making lemonade out of lemons and now with Wardlow on their side, the dickhead didn’t have a prayer.  Maxlyn could see how serious he was with this conversation and sighed softly, leaning forward to brush her lips against his. “All right, if it really bothers you that much, I’ll…I’ll go against you if I truly feel it’s not the right thing to do.” It would go against her nature, but Maxlyn also didn’t want to lose Jon, so she would have to change her way of thinking. “I get it, you want a woman that has a mind of her own instead of simply going along with whatever her man wants,” While she spoke, her leg swung over to settle on top of him and Maxlyn began dropping kisses on his chest, rubbing her face in his chest hair. “But I hope you understand that a lot of decisions you make, I DO agree with.  The only thing I will admit to disagreeing with you on is Vegas being ruined for us.  I don’t think it is and once the trial and all this shit with the divorce is behind us, and we’re legally married, we can fall in love with Vegas all over again.  I still want to go to the Red Rocks with you, my husband.”

 

“New house though,” Jon murmured, his hands roaming her bountiful curves as she loved on his chest. The woman had a thing for his chest hair and he had a thing for her, it worked. “That house is gonna be ruined for me forever, darlin’,” but it was okay because they could find some land they liked and design something together from the ground up. He began laughing, cupping her face when she raised her head, leaning in to rub his nose against hers. “I was just thinking we could find a bit of land and build something together, design a dream home… and then, we’re getting a place in Lanai… we’re going to have a lot of dream homes, darlin’.” And he was HAPPY about it.

 

She grinned at him, enjoying being sprawled on him like this and nodded, sensually kissing him, taking her time with it.  Even though they traveled together, moments like this didn’t happen often where they lay in bed naked and talked.  Jon was usually too tired after sex and she let him fall asleep, wanting him to get as much rest as possible. “Lanai is your vacation home.  That’s where we go to escape into paradise together when we wanna get away from it all,” Maxlyn pointed out, nipping his bottom lip teasingly and enjoyed the soft growl. “As much as I like the house in Cincinnati, I miss Vegas.  I know you probably think that’s crazy because of what happened to me, but…it was home to me for so long that I can’t help loving it.  So building a dream home with you, designing it the way we want, sounds amazing and I’m all for it.  And that’s MY answer, I’m not just agreeing with you.  It really is a fantastic idea.  Let’s get this divorce finished, married, and then we can build our dream home.  Because I want to be your wife legally before we start that process.” Just in case things went south between them during the divorce proceedings.

 

If Jon knew what she was thinking, about things going south between them, he would have probably… done something, not smacked some sense into her because he wasn’t a woman beater, but he would have gone out of his way to reinforce that she was stuck with his ass. She had been since the day he had obnoxiously dropped down at that table in the cafeteria of the rehab and begun playing 21 questions with her. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re still my wife and this shit is just a speedbump,” he definitely did not consider her MJF’s wife, that was for damn sure. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around that situation from MJF’s perspective, other than the man had serious God issues and was a class A narcissist.

 

“I know and you’re still my husband, my one and only.” Maxlyn started assaulting his neck and that was Jon’s undoing, immediately flipping them to where he hovered over, his mouth capturing hers this time.

 

The talking was done as the lovemaking started all over again, both getting lost in each other and reaching heights only they could.

 

~!~

 

Maxwell was irate.  First, Moxley played a dirty trick by recruiting Wardlow into the Blackpool Combat Club and now…now he couldn’t find out where his wife had disappeared to!  He was sure she’d go back to the house in Vegas, but she hadn’t and he knew she had to be in the state of Nevada somewhere.  That meant they were probably nowhere NEAR the City of Sin and were staying somewhere else.  He’d done some research and Jon hadn’t bought any other property or house in the state of Nevada, but his wife was using the old address as her residence.  They were more than likely staying in a hotel somewhere, shacked up, and that pissed Maxwell off at the thought.  He gritted his teeth, tossing the paperwork aside and laid back on the bed, staring up at the wall.  There had to be a way to get his hands on her before the trial.  Time was running out and if he couldn’t keep her mouth shut about his involvement with Garcia, he’d be sent up the river, more than likely.  Then again, it would be circumstantial, his word against hers, and with no solid evidence…there was no way to convict him.  She could say whatever she wanted on the stand, Maxwell would lie out of his ass to keep himself out of prison and his lawyer was already working on it.  His wife couldn’t run from him forever or hide, Maxwell would get his hands on her one way or another because this divorce would never happen.  Maxlyn belonged to him and it would stay that way until she met her death.

 

Since Maxwell wasn’t actually involved in the trial, he was acting preemptively. His lawyer was well paid and had been working on ‘what if’s’, naturally he hadn’t said what he knew or HOW he was involved with Garcia but the fact of the matter was, to a lot of people, Garcia had been a legitimate business man. That would be Maxwell’s thing if that bitch dragged his ass into this or if his name came up in all this shit. He had had a ‘friend’ roll out by Good’s old house and nothing, it was standing empty. He was tempted to have it shot up out of spite. He now had less than six weeks before she could file again and if she didn’t come out of hiding… she would. If her precious Moxley was at risk, she’d show back up on the radar.

 

 

The problem was Maxwell had alienated himself backstage from everyone, so the only ‘friend’ he had in his corner was Shawn Spears.  Moxley had built a tremendous reputation backstage, even with how quiet he was and it did help he had a friendship with Chris Jericho, Eddie Kingston, amongst others.  They were a two man team against a powerhouse like the Blackpool Combat Club.  There wasn’t much they could do as far as in ring besides sneak attacks from behind.  Even then, they had to careful with it because adding Wardlow to the group had made things a lot more complicated.  He was a powerhouse and Shawn did not fancy having his wrestling career ended because of MJF’s ego.  Still, he had a score to settle with Bryan Danielson and they would do that at the next pay-per-view event. 

 

Maxlyn wasn’t hiding either and still traveled with Jon on the road for AEW events, but Jon did not want her going to the arenas with him and they were staying in motel rooms that were in the next town over from the city Dynamite was in.  He wasn’t taking any chances and Maxlyn did argue against him at first, but once Jon explained why he didn’t want her at the arenas, she realized it really was in her best interest to stay away until after the divorce was finalized.  It sucked not being able to go with him to the arenas, but soon, it was two weeks until she could file again…two weeks until all of this would start coming to an end.  The trial was one month away and things were progressing smoothly with Garcia confessing everything he’d done, including dropping Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s name.  If he was going down, everybody he was associated with would go down with him.

 

The problem with that, with this shit Garcia was spewing and dragging him into it, was it made it so Maxwell really felt like he had nothing left to lose. Or at least, he was getting to that point. It was a little freeing, knowing you had nothing left to worry about because it was turning into an all or nothing game. He also began realizing that Maxlyn was traveling with that moron, she was just not staying anywhere near the arenas. He needed to take some time ‘off’ work but still follow the circuit just so he could find his wife. Obviously, she needed a reminder that he could either be very nice and friendly or he could make her life a living hell on earth.

 

There was no way in hell Tony Khan would allow Maxwell to take off work, not with the pay-per-view looming and his feud with Jon Moxley was red hot.  The man was out of his mind and if he wanted to remain in AEW, he would come to work every week and do his job.  He didn’t care about personal agendas outside of the company, that was their business, he just wanted HIS to succeed and if Maxwell screwed this match up in any way, there would be hell to pay.

 

Maxwell finally got his opportunity at Maxlyn and it was at Starbucks, of all places.  Wardlow was working out with Jon and Bryan and she hadn’t told Jon she was going out to grab some coffee at the local Starbucks.  They were in the small town next to the city where Dynamite was emanating from that night, about an hour away, and Blue was back at the motel room.  She had her strawberry lemonade with three pumps of raspberry and a banana nut muffin in hand, heading to the car.  The moment she slid behind the wheel, a familiar chill rushed down her spine and she barely had time to set her drink and food down before something was pressed against her throat from behind.  That chill alone told her exactly who was in the car with her and Maxlyn didn’t dare scream or make a sound, knowing Maxwell would slit her throat if she tried to call for help. “Hello Maxwell, it’s been a while.  You might as well kill me because anything you demand is not going to happen.  I’m not dropping the divorce, I’m not your toy any more, and I will be testifying in court what you did to me at Garcia’s trial.  So do what you gotta do, you pathetic piece of shit.”

 

There was some irony in the fact that it was a coffee shop of all places where he managed to get to her. Wasn’t it a coffee shop before where they had hung out once? He had even given her some relationship advice, he imagined now that must grind her ass. Her HUSBAND giving her relationship advice for the affair she was having, there was definitely amusement in that for him. “Really? So, you’ll just die and then what happens to Jonny boy?” He asked curiously, wondering if she really was that selfish a person to leave behind the ‘man she loved’ with that kind of heartache. “You should rethink that, wife, because since you two have been so damn elusive lately, I’ve had to outsource some of the things I… needed done.” He had been a hired thug, it wasn’t hard to do the hiring for his own thugs. She should know, he had paid off that Billy or Willy, whatever his name was, to mug her ass with a gun.

 

“I’d rather die than follow your orders and I know Jon would feel the same way.  So, you do what you gotta do, but just remember, you’re only human.  You’re not the devil like you claim to be and my real husband will murder you in cold blood if you kill me or lay a finger on me.” So far, the only thing happening was a knife pressed to her neck, none of his body touching her yet, not even his hands.  Jon would be just fine without her, even with the constant heartache and pain. I love you, Jon, please never forget that. There was no way Maxwell would let her go and if she didn’t do what he wanted, he would kill her.  There was no gray area with this situation. “Your move, Friedman.  You either kill me or you let me go, pick one.”

 

“No, I think we’ll be leaving now.” A second later, her head bounced off the steering wheel and she was out cold. Moving as quickly as he could, Maxwell shifted her body out of the driver’s seat, glancing at her. That strawberry lemonade was all over her and now he was sitting in some of it. Small price to pay, he supposed, though having his suit cleaned was going to suck, he really did like this one. “There’s always a third option, wife,” he was already pulling out of the parking space, shaking his head and then dropped his sunglasses over his eyes. People would be surprised at how much bad shit happened in the broad light of day.

 

Chapter 70

 

Maxwell had kidnapped and was raping her again.

 

Her head was killing her so much, it hurt to open her eyes, so she didn’t.  Instead, Maxlyn just lay where she was and it took another second to realize what was going on, even behind the haziness.  She felt something moving in and out of her body, suddenly remembering who she was with.  It didn’t take long to figure out she was bound down again either.  Kidnapped and raped again, just like back in Vegas for those 24 hours that had changed her life and sent her on a path right to Jon.  It was happening all over again.  Maxlyn had a feeling she was drugged again, just so her body would cooperate with Maxwell, tears stinging her eyes behind the closed lids. I’m sorry, Jon, I’m so sorry… That was her thought as her body betrayed her, climaxing for Maxwell and his roar echoed around the room, wherever they were.  This bastard could have her body all he wanted, but her heart, mind, and soul belonged to Jonathan Good and nothing would ever change that.

 

It was not rape, they were married and reconnecting, reestablishing their bond. She might not remember their brief time together when they had gotten married and all that, but if she could, she’d remember just how… well they gelled together. He now even had video proof, minus his face and any possible identifying marks, it definitely showed HER face however, the tear but also the pleasure that ripped through her. Maybe SHE didn’t want him but her body sure did, all thanks to that wonderful little drug. “I told you before,” he rumbled when he was able to breathe again, shutting off the camera that had taken a silent video. “You’re MINE, wife.”

 

NEVER! Maxlyn didn’t say a single word to him, knowing it was pointless.  There was no reconnection, Maxwell had raped her, violated her, and god knows what else while she was out cold.  How could a man want to rape a woman while she was unconscious?  Maybe Maxwell enjoyed screwing a limp fish, so that was exactly what he’d get from her.  No response.  No passion.  Not a single word.  Just like she’d done back when she was a kid and her mother had whored her out to her suitors for money.  She would revert back to that, find her happy place, and one day, she’d find a way to escape Maxwell.  Biding her time and being patient was what she needed to do, no matter how long it took.  When Jon saw the video, if he truly believed she enjoyed anything that was happening to her, being with this rapist scumbag, then he really didn’t love her in the first place or know her at all.

 

Jon would never believe she enjoyed anything with Maxwell because he knew for a fact the other man had drugged her once and he would do it again. Drugs had the ability to alter your mind and your body, eliciting emotions and reactions that were not natural to the person. Jon would also be the first in line to murder the bastard, like he had said he wanted to from the get-go, there were lines and Maxwell had crossed each and every one of them.

 

Naturally, Jon had already filed a report with the police, but he had been told they couldn’t consider it a missing person until so many hours had gone by, especially since her car was gone and she also had had her purse. Usually, he was told, this was a woman just running off and he now knew why Maxlyn had called the police fucking worthless pigs.

 

Once 48 hours passed by, they finally filed a missing person’s report.

 

When Maxlyn flat out refused to say a word to Maxwell and remained lifeless, no fight inside of her whatsoever, he started resorting to abuse.  She currently had a black-eye and a split lip while once again being raped and drugged.  Even when Maxwell struck her, she didn’t say a word and took the abuse, not crying out, not making a single sound.  It frustrated him to no end and she could tell he didn’t like it.  He WANTED a reaction out of her.  He WANTED her to beg and scream at him…it wouldn’t happen.  This sick fuck had no idea who he was dealing with and everything she had been through in her miserable life.  He had no idea what kind of background she had before that night in Vegas when he kidnapped, drugged, married, and raped her all against her will.  Even anal sex didn’t elicit one word or reaction out of her, not a single sound, no matter how much it hurt.  She would not give him the satisfaction or what he wanted, ever.

 

How did Moxley manage with this woman? There was no way the man was satisfied with this dead, cold, limp fish! It had been amusing for a little bit but this woman was entirely too docile, to willing to take the abuse, and that eventually got boring. “I can see why Moxley has been fucking groupies since you stopped going to arenas with him.” He informed her with a scowl, having just given her another round of abuse and was staring at her. She needed a shower, he had learned she wouldn’t bathe herself, she had totally shut down. It was disappointing. “You’re so boring and docile. A man doesn’t like a woman who constantly gives him his way.” She was beautiful, even with the bruises he had left on her, so she was going to be a great trophy wife. He just had to figure out how to program her to not be such a… giant, posable doll basically.

 

Which was also essentially what Jon had told her just prior to this happening, not that Maxwell knew it.

 

Maxlyn would not believe a word this monster said to her.  She didn’t acknowledge or shrug her shoulders, no response whatsoever.  Shutting down was the only way to cope with everything that was happening to her.  Being raped on a nightly basis, struck for no reason at all, mostly for not doing what he wanted her to do.  Not even properly bathing herself was part of her plan.  Either Maxwell would get tired of her and let her go or he’d kill her.  Either way, she’d find a way back to Jon or in a hole six feet deep.  Maxwell could say whatever he wanted to her, she kept her head down and did not look at him, not even when he gripped her chin to yell at her to do so.  Her eyes remained closed and he struck her down again, not a sound coming from her.  He could beat on her all he wanted, she would not give in and simply sat back up as if he hadn’t just backhanded her.  Hopefully, her cheekbone wasn’t cracked from that blow. I love you, Jon, I always will and I’ll get out of here one way or another.

 

With a psycho, which Maxwell definitely was, things usually didn’t end well. He was also a narcissist to the highest degree and not being able to elicit a reaction from her in any fashion, not even a miniscule gasp, was grating on his ego. She should have at least cried ONCE since the first time. That was the only reaction he had gotten out of her, that one little tear drop from the first time she had woken up to his tender loving making. In his head, all of this was nothing but him trying to teach her how to be a proper, loving wife, he was doing this FOR them and she wasn’t even trying! She didn’t even care about what he was doing for them. Sighing, he went to answer his cell when it went off, careful not to visibly react to the news he was given about Moxley being able to file that missing person’s report though inwardly he was fuming.

 

He wasn’t the only one. Moxley had begun tearing apart any location Maxwell was associated with, trying to find his wife and losing his mind in the process.

 

It was only a matter of time.  The slightest spark of life lit her eyes that were downcast as Maxwell screamed in his phone about the missing person’s report.  Not to mention, the Las Vegas PD were searching for him too, wanting him questioned about his involvement in Garcia’s case.  Maxwell had eluded them for now, but everything was closing in and he didn’t even realize just how up shit’s creek without a paddle he was.  Jon was searching for her, she knew it in her heart and no matter what Maxwell said to her, her love for him stayed strong…along with her trust.  Both were unbreakable.  If she couldn’t escape this psycho rapist, then she’d end up being rescued unless Maxwell decided he was done with this game and offed her.  That was a possibility and Maxlyn had already conceded to dying if it came to that.  The trial was a mere one week away, she’d been gone four days now, and Maxwell was on the verge of losing his job with AEW, his wrestling career up in smoke, if he didn’t start responding to his boss’s calls and text messages. 

 

Bottomline was Maxwell could not hide forever.

 

That was an option, killing her. If she was dead, she couldn’t turn his ass in and Maxwell was beginning to hit the point of nothing left to lose besides his reputation and career. Well, maybe his reputation and freedom, his career was already tanking and Maxwell would not do well in prison. He didn’t look good in orange, for one, and two, he was way too pretty. “Well, wifey, we have a bit of a problem.” He informed her, busy trying to spoon feed her since she wouldn’t feed herself. She wouldn’t do ANYTHING herself, the woman had NO shame. It was like taking care of an old person and he scowled at the thought. “I may have to actually kill you. Not that you’ll care, you’re not really good for anything anyway. You have the pretty face but… that’s about all you have going for you.”

 

“Even if you do kill me, you’ll still end up in prison for murder.  Everyone knows you’re the one who kidnapped me.  And it doesn’t matter if I testify or not, the Las Vegas PD won’t rest until they get their hands on you.” It was the first time she had spoken to him since she woke up being raped and tied down to a bed, her brown eyes full of fire and life. “Jon is looking for me too.  It’s only a matter of time until he gets his hands on you.  I should’ve let him kill you outright as soon as I remembered it was you that kidnapped and raped me in Vegas.  I stopped him and that was a mistake…one that I will gladly pay for with my life.  I’ll never be yours, Maxwell.  I’ll never want you.  I’ll never love you.  I’ll never give you what you want and I’m NOT your wife.  I never was and I never will be.  So you do what you gotta do.  Keep assaulting and raping me, it doesn’t matter because, even if I’m dead, you’ll still wind up getting what’s coming to you.  Karma’s a bitch and you’re about to be hers.” Maxlyn started laughing as the color drained out of Maxwell’s face, everything she just said hitting home for him and it amused her to no end.

 

She was right and he hated her for it, knowing his obsession with this whore had destroyed his life and all he had gotten out of it was to fuck a dead, frigid old bitch. She was PERFECT for Moxley because she was useless, worthless, just like that overrated jackass who had probably sucked a lot of dick to salvage his career in AEW. “Well, I guess we’re going to have to decide how we’re going to die together, because if you think you’re leaving this world as HIS wife, you’re wrong.” She’d die as Mrs. Friedman, his final fuck you. He was thinking pills or something, he wasn’t going to die ugly. Or… or… maybe they didn’t have to die at all, his own eyes reignited as he stared down at her, beginning to smirk. “You know, there are a LOT of places in this world where drugs are legal,” mind and personality altering ones at that. “Where we won’t need to worry about being extradited either.”

 

“Do whatever you gotta do.  I doubt you’ll get me on a plane or even a boat without being caught by the police.” Again, she was right and she kept that hope burning alive in her heart…hope that Jon would find out. Find me, Jon, please find me! “Just remember, you had to use resources and drugs to morph me into the perfect wife and who knows?  Maybe they won’t even work or be enough for a scumbag like you.” The moment they left this grungy, disgusting motel room he holed them up in and raped her for the past four days, somebody would spot them.  NOTHING was kept secret and they’d be spotted and put on social media, TMZ, the works.  Of course, Maxlyn kept her mouth shut about that since Maxwell wasn’t thinking clearly.  He was grasping at straws at the moment, trying to think of a way to make this work in his favor.  In reality, he was royally and ultimately screwed.

 

She was wrong and had no idea how life worked outside of her little bubble, did she? He had kidnapped her ass, AFTER knocking her the fuck out, in broad daylight. Right now, he was a person of interest, and he knew getting across the border into Mexico wouldn’t be hard, it was usually coming IN from Mexico that was the problem. So many resources and forces were stretched thin, nothing had totally bounced back yet from the pandemic that had shut the country down several years ago, not that she would realize that. She had been hiding from him in a damn rehab facility. “We’re taking a vacation, wifey,” he informed her finally, the confidence and arrogance back on his face. “Get ready for a long nap.”

 

No matter what he did to her, whatever drugs he gave her, the truth would come out.  Maxwell would end up on the FBI’s radar, not just the Las Vegas PD, and he would be wanted for kidnapping, rape, and assault. Find me, Jon, find me… That was the last thought that entered her mind as the needle was jabbed right into the side of her neck and Maxlyn didn’t flinch, feeling the serum slip into her body.  Within a minute, she was slumped over on the floor again, battered and malnourished due to refusing to eat.  Maxwell’s phone was blowing up with various calls from people, including his own partner, Shawn Spears, who was begging him to see reason and to let Maxlyn go.  He was throwing everything away because of a woman, a former whore, who didn’t feel anything besides hatred towards him.

 

“Look Max, don’t do something you’ll regret, man.  Tony Khan is about to fire you if you don’t get your ass back here to have this match with Moxley!  The Pinnacle is counting on you!  I trusted you, now stop this shit and CALL ME!!” To say Shawn was pissed would’ve been an understatement.

 

Maxwell listened to that message and rolled his eyes, wondering if they really thought he was that stupid. The second he walked into an arena if the police weren’t waiting for his ass, it would be Moxley. So, he was facing being fired, which seemed really… unimportant given everything else that was about to come down on his ass. However, he did call Shawn back, mostly to let the guy know that he was on his own at this point. Unless he managed to get everyone and everything off Maxwell’s ass, there was no chance in hell he was stepping foot in a building.

 

Tony Khan was relayed that message and fired Maxwell Jacob Friedman effectively immediately, posting it all over social media and news outlets.  He was finished.  No other wrestling company would ever hire him again.  His wrestling career was over, he had destroyed it all for a woman.  Shawn was sad to see it happen, but there was nothing he could do and he had even gone to Moxley, offering his help and assistance to help find Maxlyn.  Maxwell had officially lost his mind and Garcia had already turned him into the Las Vegas PD, taking a plea offer from them.  All of his accomplices in exchange for a lighter sentence in prison sounded excellent to him and Maxwell was on that list.

 

When Maxwell was finally tracked down to a motel, there was nobody there. Nothing but the destroyed room itself, the smell of sex and who knew what else in the air. Jon had been brought along, being told to wait outside the building, in the hopes that the presumedly panicked and scared wife would calm down upon seeing the man she was actually with. When Tony Khan had called to inform the officials that Maxwell Friedman had basically quit work, that just cemented that he was behind all of this. He had gone from person of interest in the case to alleged kidnapper, quite a jump.

 

Jon nearly burst into tears and a fit of despair when the detectives came out, fisting his hands and bringing them down on top of his rental. So close, he had had HOPE and she was gone. Darlin’, please wait, we’re trying.

 

Chapter 71

 

Screaming. 

 

Maxwell was screaming at someone over the cell phone while he drove and she was in the backseat, her hands and feet tied together with duct tape over her mouth.  He was panicking because now the FBI was involved in this, not just the Las Vegas PD.  There was a nationwide search now for Maxlyn Lewis and they had been photographed via cell phone and plastered on social media in a McDonald’s parking lot, of all places.  Maxwell was on his way to Mexico, but he was having a hard time trying to navigate how best to get there.  The main highways were a no-go because of the search.  Her brain was foggy, but Maxlyn had to wake it up quickly and try to get out of this somehow, someway.  Maxwell was completely beside himself and she could hear the anguish in the man’s voice while she began twisting her wrists a little in the ropes they were bound in.

 

The FBI was able to get involved due to the fact that several of Garcia’s henchmen and ‘associates’ worked across state lines. They sold drugs for him across state lines as well as trafficked sex workers. Those things were all under the FBI’s jurisdiction and now a witness in this trial had been kidnapped, yeah, they were about to reign down Hell on Maxwell Friedman.

Maxwell was currently nearly crying and begging with his lawyer, trying to get this all sorted out. She was his wife! How was any of this a crime?! She wanted him, she was just brainwashed from her time in rehab and then that bastard Jon Good obviously convincing her that her prior life had been a total bust. He was so erratic that it was beginning to show in his driving, along with being tired, he couldn’t stop anymore than necessary or else they’d be caught before he crossed that damn border.

 

“Mr. Friedman, the best thing you can do is turn yourself in and prove your innocence.  There is nothing more I can do for you until you do that, I’m sorry…” His phone call with Maxwell was currently being traced by the FBI, who had infiltrated his establishment and he was working with them, knowing his client was in dire straits.

 

It took time and effort, but the duct tape was off her mouth, hanging from her cheek and she could breathe again.  However, the rope on her wrists and ankles would be a lot easier said than done to get off.  Maxwell knew how to hogtie, apparently, the rapist kidnapping scumbag!  Maxlyn could feel the car swerving slightly and knew Maxwell wasn’t in his right frame of mind, swallowing past the lump that formed in her throat.  She didn’t want to die, but if he kept driving the way he was, they would end up crashing into a ditch or guardrail.  How fast was he going?  He had to be speeding like a maniac, her eyes looking up at the flashing red and blue lights behind them.  The police! Please, please let this be the end of it!!  Jon, I’m coming home, wait for me, honey!

 

“Yeah, that makes absolutely zero sense, turning myself in and proving my innocence…” Maxwell snorted, oblivious to what was going on behind him, that his wife had gotten free. “My wife has been BRAINWASHED, do you understand me? When she went to that mental facility, she was brainwashed into thinking she’s actually worth more than she is. She’s nothing but a fucking whore I plucked off the streets and made into a respectable woman. I’m going to get her fixed back to who she was and then everything will be fine, you’ll see. She’ll be willing to speak to you then.”

 

Maxwell Friedman had lost his ever loving goddamn mind and his lawyer was going to HELP send him away for life.

 

“The fucking cops are behind me!” It was probably a good thing this call was being made via the Bluetooth function or else they’d definitely be dead by now. As it was, he pushed the car up to the max speed, cursing when it began thundering, rain immediately following.

 

Maxlyn knew this was probably not the smartest thing to do, but he wasn’t stopping for the police and she was in panic mode now.  What the hell was he planning on doing with her?  Something about altering her mindset with a drug…she remembered that from the motel and didn’t think he was serious…until now.  Now, she had to get the hell out of here and took some of the rope, saying a silent prayer she didn’t wind up dead, and could feel the drug he’d given her, the sedative, starting to wear off. God please be with me. She silently prayed and then wrapped the rope around Maxwell’s throat from behind, using all of her strength to strangle him while he struggled to breathe, letting go of the wheel.  The car began swerving back and forth and she did not let go, tears streaming down her cheeks even when the car slammed into the guardrail, the rain pounding harder and faster from the sky.

 

They were on a bridge when she did that and the force they hit the guardrail, followed by the cop car clipping them from behind… that car went OVER the bridge, with Maxlyn choking Maxwell still. The choking stopped when the car hit the ground below, with Maxlyn flying out the back window and Max trapped in the car.

 

When Maxlyn came too, it was to pain and trying to move. Above her, leaning over the guardrail were several people, one of them screaming down at her to not move, to stay still. Sirens were heard all around and EMTs along with the police and FBI were coming down.

 

“Darlin’, don’t move!”

 

She blacked out again.

 

Jon didn’t give a flying fuck if Friedman was alive or dead, injured or not, all he cared about was watching them getting his wife stabilized enough to be moved onto the stretcher. He heard something about a broken collarbone and definite concussion, inhaling deeply even as he gripped the guardrail more tightly.

 

~!~

 

Somehow, someway, Maxlyn survived that night and only wound up with a few broken bones.  Her collarbone, elbow, wrist…basically, her entire arm was jacked up.  She also had a severe concussion, a laceration on her head from the glass, but it was a superficial wound, thankfully.  A CT scan confirmed there was some swelling, but luckily, no severe damage had been done to her brain.  There were contusions all over her body from flying out the back window, thanks to the glass, but they were minor cuts and would all heal without scarring.  Her face was black and blue from all the abuse at Maxwell’s hands, so it was swollen and puffy.  Bruises were on top of bruises, he never let one heal all the way before striking her again.  It may have only been six days she’d been gone, but it was the longest six days of her life and a lot had happened…Maxwell had definitely done a lot of damage in that short period of time.  Due to the trauma her body sustained, she remained in a coma due to the swelling in her brain from when her head struck the ground.

 

It took two weeks before she finally woke up.

 

For those two weeks, Jon was in the hospital, sparing no expense. He had had her moved to a private room, one with an attached bathroom for him and a small bedroom. He occasionally used it, usually when he was very, very tired and unable to sleep in the chair any longer, even if it was a comfortable chair. He ate in the cafeteria and knew every nurse and all Maxlyn’s doctors by name. He knew the cleaning people. He had basically moved in. Maxlyn had had a steady stream of visitors as well, not that she knew it. Chris and Jessica had come more than once, as had his mother’s. Even Sue, their favorite nurse from the rehab facility, had visited once and then checked in every few days.

 

Maxwell had survived the crash, with a deformed face -which was some kind of ironic justice given the vanity of the man- and that was about it. He was now in jail, awaiting his own personal trial for the kidnapping, assault and everything else involving Maxlyn.

 

So, when she started coming too, Jon was right there, scrolling aimlessly on his cell phone. He heard a change in the monitors and looked up at them, having been taught what each thing meant and how to read the results. He lunged for the call button.

 

Not dead, she was very much alive due to the pain pulsating throughout her body as her eyes slowly managed to open, the bruising on her face nearly gone.  Her cheekbone had been cracked, but didn’t need surgery and that was mending as well. “I-I’m alive…” Maxlyn heard beeping around her and her eyes looked down at the IV in her hands, one in each, then moved to the machines surrounding her and finally landed on the man she had longed for those six days she’d been kidnapped. “J-Jon?” Her voice was incredibly weak and he nodded down at her just as a nurse came into the room, brown eyes moving from him to the woman. “W-What happened to me?”

 

She was lucky that the airway tube had been removed awhile, along with whatever they had shoved down her throat and then taped to her mouth or else she might have woken up panicking her ass off. “You were in a car accident, darlin’,” he said, having taken hold of her hand and squeezed gently before he was shooed aside by the nurses. She had been lucky to be out because she had had to have a rape check done -she had been raped-, and then they had given her medication to ensure she didn’t wind up pregnant, on top of the various other issues with her body, such as setting broken bones. Jon stood against the wall, easily seeing her over heads and never took his blue eyes off of her. He would let people know she had woken up, eventually, right now it wasn’t a priority. All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and hold her tight and he couldn’t even do that because of her one arm.

 

“You’re lucky to be alive, Miss Lewis.”

 

“Good…my name is Mrs. Good…” Maxlyn corrected in a hoarse voice, her eyes moving back to the man sitting just inches from her in a chair and smiled, despite how much pain she was in.

 

The nurse nodded with a smile of her own, checking Maxlyn’s vitals and repositioned the shoulder sling that kept her broken collarbone in check. “Well Mrs. Good, everything looks good and your vitals are normal.  Your blood pressure is a little high, but I’m sure that’s due to the pain you’re in and I’ll give you some more medication for that.  The doctor will be in shortly to see you.  Do you need anything in the meantime?”

 

“Water please.”

 

“Coming right up.” The nurse walked out the door to go retrieve the water for her patient.

 

Maxlyn settled back in the bed slowly, feeling Jon take her hand again and looked up at him, the smile back on her face. “Hey there, handsome.” He raised her good hand up to kiss it, tears in his electric blues and her own filled with them as well, so much relief flooding through both their bodies at the moment. “You found me, you were there at the scene…I heard your voice before I passed out.”

 

“I was with Lt. Evans, you remember him?” She had NOT been happy with the guy because she had thought everything was going so slowly. He had been okay with the timeframe because he had known Evans wanted Garcia and everything associated with Garcia off the streets, that was going to happen now and Evans had assisted in the case involving her kidnapping as it was connected to the Garcia case. “We seen the car flipping over the bridge from the back, I was up there, on the bridge and you woke up. You were trying to sit up.” And he had shouted that she needed to lie back down, remembering that fear in him, he doubted he’d ever forget it.

 

“Maxwell…wouldn’t stop the car.  I was bound in the back in ropes and…I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to get free of them on my wrists.  I took the rope and started strangling him from behind.  I was panicked because he was taking me to Mexico for some mind-altering drug thing.  He told me there were drugs out there that altered your mind and changed a person’s personality or something…” Jon looked horrified at that and tears began sliding down her cheeks as Maxlyn remembered the fear, the panic, of never seeing Jon again and being drugged up for the rest of her life.  Being forced to stay with Maxwell for the rest of her days. “He was screaming on the phone to someone, I think it was his lawyer, and kept saying I was brainwashed by you and the rehab center against him.  He was driving like a lunatic and…I know it wasn’t smart to do what I did, but…I-I had to stop him.  I had to stop him, Jon…” Her heart monitor started going haywire from how fast her heart was pounding and Maxlyn cried harder, thankful to be alive. “I-I thought if I could get him to stop the car for the police officer behind us, it would all be over…”

 

So, Maxlyn had been the one to cause the accident, not Maxwell. That was… interesting but unimportant in the grand scheme of things because she had clearly not been in her right frame of mind. “They found several types of drugs in your system, darlin’, whatever he had been drugging you with, they are not legal in this country on any level.” Not even a medical one, which meant the man had been getting drugs from someone, Maxwell was in just as much trouble as Garcia at this point and Jon couldn’t find it in him to celebrate the news. All he cared about was the woman laying in this hospital bed. “You have, had, a broken collarbone, wrist and elbow, it’s all been healing really nicely since you’ve been out for two weeks.” Which was probably another blessing, that pain would have sucked.

 

Two weeks she’d been in a coma? “Jesus…” She whispered out, laying back on the bed and tried to relax because tensing was not conducive to her healing. “H-He did the same thing to me all over again that happened in Vegas.  He kidnapped me outside of a Starbucks, in the rental car, while you were working out with Bryan and Wardlow.  He somehow found out location and I was stupid, again, all because I wanted some damn Starbucks.  I was pretty out of it, but he made sure I didn’t completely pass out, wanting me to remember everything this time around.  The drugs forced my body into submission to him and I…I didn’t fight him off.  I couldn’t…I didn’t say a single word to him through all of it.  I endured it, shut down, and he got pissed I wasn’t reacting the way he wanted, so he started backhanding and assaulting me.” She’d had bruises on her stomach from where he’d kicked her a few times, not hard enough to break ribs thankfully. “He tried telling me, convincing me, you were screwing around on me, fucking groupies and I didn’t believe a word of it.  I knew you were looking for me and it was only a matter of time until you found me. “I love you so much, Jon Good, more than anything or anyone and I’m so sorry this happened.  I’m sorry I was stupid again…”

 

A coma stemmed from a brain injury as a general rule, something about cutting off the arousal section of the brain, which also included the sleep or something, it had all been very confusing to Jon. To him, it seemed like her body had just shut down to go into repair mode, but he wasn’t a doctor. Either which way, she was awake and that’s all he cared about. “It’s not your fault,” he informed her softly, moving so he was sitting on the side of the bed, her good side. He had seen the bruises, some were still there in the yellowish phase, they had been so deep there had been a lot of concern for internal bleeding. “Nobody thought he was going to kidnap you in broad daylight,” especially since up until that point, Friedman had been at work on time as scheduled. Apparently, he had said fuck it to everything. “You’re going to be asked to tell this all over again, darlin’, the police and FBI are going to want words with you in a few days.”

 

Frowning, Maxlyn went over his words again and something occurred to her, fresh tears filling her eyes. “He’s alive, isn’t he?” How the fuck did that scumbag survive?!  Jon nodded solemnly and she leaned her head back against the pillow, shutting her eyes.  What if he came after her again?  What if he somehow slithered his way out of prison?  There had to be a trial, just like Garcia, which she had missed, thanks to Maxwell’s psychotic nature.  What if he kept fighting the divorce? “Damn it…” It was never going to end.  Maxlyn would never be free of Maxwell Jacob Friedman.  She’d rather be dead than deal with all the legalities this involved and could feel the hope in her heart diminish, wishing the man had died. I want him dead, I want him gone and out of my life forever!

 

Airbags, seatbelts and sheer fucking luck were how a scumbag like MJF survived that shit. If she hadn’t been unbuckled, she would have been in the car too and probably a lot worse given the state of the back end. He had seen it, seen the aftermath of the accident. “Good news for you though, darlin’, the judge waived the normal requirements for the divorce, it’s in the works now.” It sounded lame, even to his own ears, but given everything that MJF had done to this woman, and there was PLENTY the doctors had documented, her marriage had been considered an immediate danger to her health and wellbeing. He stood up when the doctor entered the room, figuring he’d take the second to let his mom’s know she was awake.

 

Chapter 72

 

“Oh thank the lord Jesus!” Ginny cried out as soon as Jon told them what was going on, wrapping an arm around Sharon, who was openly crying and also praising Jesus.  They were religious lesbians and even went to church on a weekly basis except when they went out of town. “Jon, I’m so glad she’s awake!  God is great!” He agreed and she passed the phone over to Sharon, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

 

“You tell her we’ll be there to see her in a few days.  We’re not gonna bombard her right away and…you tell her we love her and we’re so glad she’s okay.”

 

While the doctor examined her, Maxlyn was in somewhat shock and replayed Jon’s words in her head, the hope that had died igniting once again.  They were pushing her divorce through despite Maxwell being alive?  Did she hear him right?  The doctor told her everything was healing very nicely and if she was strong enough, she could leave in the next few days.  He wanted her nourished enough first though, which meant she’d have to start eating.  When Jon came back in, the hope was back in her eyes instead of despair and grabbed his hand with her good one, lacing their fingers together. “Did the judge say how long it would take for the divorce to go through?” The best part about all of this was Maxwell’s lawyer had teamed up with hers and they had worked around the clock to get this done as quickly as possible. “D-Do they need anything from me to finalize it?”

 

“I have no idea, you can probably send a lawyer given your condition,” she had been eating out of feeding tubes and an IV bag, which was great for the bare minimum but she needed some damn food food in her. He already knew it’d be soft shit and then up to solid, more nourishing grub. “That would all be info Mr. Benedict has, I haven’t spoken to him in a few days, darlin’, he just said he was handling things. Probably going to need your signature.” He eyed her hands doubtfully, remembering seeing the rope burn on them and now he knew why, she had held onto that rope and tried choking out Friedman until the very end.

 

Her hands were healed from the rope burns, so signing any document wouldn’t be an issue for her. “I don’t have my phone, can I use yours to call him?” Jon was hesitant and it showed in his eyes, her hand squeezing his reassuringly. “The sooner I sign the dotted line, the sooner I’m free and we can get married like we planned.  Please, Jon?” Reluctantly, he handed over the phone to her, after dialing Mr. Benedict’s number, and she held it up waiting for him to answer.  He was pleasantly surprised to hear from her and explained how everything would go down.  Maxwell could not fight this, they didn’t need his signature, but just as Jon suspected, hers was required. 

 

“I’ll overnight it to the hospital and you sign it and send it back, free of charge.  We’ll file it immediately and it should only take a short period of time for it to be finalized.”

 

“Thank you, Mr. Benedict.” The documents would be there tomorrow and luckily, the arm in the sling was her left, not right, so she’d be able to sign everything without a problem. “We’ll talk soon.” No matter how much it cost, Maxlyn was willing to pay any amount of money to get rid of Maxwell Jacob Friedman for good.  She hung up with him a few minutes later, handing the phone back to Jon and let out a loud yawn, feeling exhausted from waking up. “Papers will be here tomorrow to sign and he said within a month or two, I’ll be divorced and free.” Another yawn and she snuggled back into the pillow, once again holding Jon’s hand. “H-Have you been here this whole time?” If he was, what about his job with AEW and the other wrestling promotions?

 

As great as the people around him had been and how understanding, Jon had had to drop a title and a paycheck, which he was fine with. Those doors were still open for him if he wanted to come back but he had made it clear the day she had gone missing, wrestling was not a priority. “Darlin’, I told you before, I’d walk away from it all for you.” And he had, refusing to stop hunting for her and then refusing to leave her side here at the hospital. “We’re in a suite, I basically moved in.” His stuff was all over the small room through the door off just behind him.

 

“Jon…” Maxlyn knew apologizing wouldn’t change anything and it wasn’t her fault this happened.  The ONLY person responsible for this was Maxwell Jacob Friedman.  It wasn’t her fault for the accident either.  There was no other way to stop Maxwell from doing what he wanted and it was her only means of escape.  His words alone made warmth spread throughout her body and all she wanted to do was feel his arms around her. “Will you hold me?” The bed was big enough as she scooted over carefully, mindful of her slinged arm, and Jon crawled in next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist to spoon up against her. “I love you so much.” It was then she noticed her rings were gone, both the engagement and wedding bands.  Maxwell had taken them from her and she didn’t bother asking him where they were at because he wouldn’t tell her anyway. “Thank you…for not giving up on me and finding me…”

 

Those rings were in an evidence locker along with her other shit, like her purse and all that. It would all be returned to her in time, right now since she was in the hospital, it hadn’t been a priority. Now that Maxlyn was awake, in a few days she’d be getting visits from officers who would ask her the same questions over and over, this wasn’t over yet. Jon was still wearing his own ring and it flashed in the lighting as he shifted, feeling her head resting against his shoulder. For the first time since this all started, the kidnapping and all that, up until today when she had woken up, Jon could feel his body finally, truly relaxing. “I love you, dollface, and I am never, ever giving up on you, on us.”

 

“Ditto.”

 

~!~

 

Five days later, Maxlyn was strong enough to leave the hospital and she’d been questioned several times regarding what happened with Maxwell.  Her story never changed in all the times she had to tell it and the detectives and FBI were finally satisfied after the fifth time.  They had to make sure she wasn’t bluffing or any of her story changed.  It was somewhat intimidating, but Jon stood by her the entire time and Maxlyn got through it, one question at a time.  The release papers were signed and Jon wheeled her out of the hospital to the nearby waiting car, which would take them straight to the airport.  They were going home to Cincinnati, where his mothers and Blue were waiting for them.  Jon refused to go back on the road to work until she came with him, not wanting to be anywhere she wasn’t.  He was a little paranoid after everything that happened and Maxlyn fell more in love with him, if that was possible, because he was putting her first above everything else, including wrestling.  Another week or two and she would be able to remove the sling, but only a doctor would give her permission to do it, so she had to go to a few follow-up appointments in Cincinnati.

 

Jon didn’t care if he ever wrestled again. As far as he was concerned, that was something that wasn’t important in his life. He had learned, the very hard way, just how much this woman meant to him and how much she had changed his life since entering it and he refused to put anything above her.

 

Except maybe Blue.

 

But Maxlyn accepted that one minor flaw of his and loved him anyway. Obviously, the hospital discharge coordinator set up a few at-home visits for her in Cincy, just to make sure she was able to get around okay and both Maxlyn and Jon knew what to do. Then there was the referrals for a psychiatrist, something the hospital and the police and FBI all did as a courtesy given everything she had gone through at the hands of her soon-to-be ex psychopathic husband. That one was all on Maxlyn, Jon had learned she didn’t necessarily handle trauma and stuff the way other people did, she knew he’d support whatever she wanted.

 

Also, he was busy planning their second wedding.

 

There was no reason to go to therapy and talk to some stranger, who didn’t know her from a hole in the ground, about what happened to her.  No, she had turned to someone else…someone who understood her background and what she’d been through.  Sharon.  Her soon-to-be actual mother-in-law.  Sharon had come over and Maxlyn asked to talk to her alone, which Jon obliged.  While he was outside playing with Blue and answering his cell phone from countless people calling, Sharon had made them some tea and Maxlyn spilled her heart out to the woman.  Nothing was left out.  Every single thing Maxwell did to her, that she could remember given the drugs, was said.  She cried her heart out and Sharon held her close, whispering comforting words to her, treating her like a mother would a daughter.  A real mother.  When it was over, she felt much better and thanked Sharon for listening to her and lending her an ear.  Maxlyn never had a caring, loving mother in her life, so Sharon was the closest thing to that and she told the woman as much, even calling her ‘Mom’.  Sharon assured her if she ever needed to talk and vent again about this not to hesitate to call her.  They’d do this as many times as it took to get her through this horrible ordeal.

 

“So, Momma Sharon is kind of amazing.” Maxlyn commented, walking outside and sat on the stoop beside Jon, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Thank you for letting us talk alone.  I know I should be able to open up to you about everything that happened, but…for some reason, it’s easier to do it with her.  You’re okay with that, right?”

 

“Darlin’, why wouldn’t I be?” He asked with an easy grin, a bit amused with her because even with all the bad that had happened to her, she was still very much his Maxlyn. “I already figured you might not want to talk about it with me anytime soon, if ever,” that would be a hard thing for both of them, her telling him and him hearing it. He felt like HE needed therapy or something, knowing he couldn’t even begin to imagine what she had gone through but he knew damn well what the helplessness and desperation had done to him. “If you ever need to talk to someone, who isn’t me, just do it. I want what’s best for you, Maxlyn,” and that was whatever she needed to do to heal or in this case, whoever she needed to talk too. “You feel better now that you talked to her? And Momma…?”

 

She grinned, wondering if he’d catch that and moved to straddle his lap on the stoop, being careful with her arm. “I can’t wait to get this damn thing off next week.” Maxlyn muttered before softly, slowly kissing him, shivering at the feeling of his strong hands caressing her back. “She’s about the closest thing I’ll have to a mother, so yeah, she’s Momma Sharon and she said it was fine to call her that.” They would be married soon, legally, and the proof was the beautiful diamonds glittering in the fading sunlight.  Maxlyn had cried when she got them back from the police and Jon slipped them on her finger again, where they belonged. “I love it when you touch me.  The moment this thing is off my arm, we’re taking a day off from everything, shutting our phones off, and spending it in bed naked.  I miss being with you and making love to you, my husband.  What do you think about that?”

 

“I think I should probably stop buying lotion if I got that to look forward too, save some for you,” that was a joke, Jon had basically lost his sex drive when she had been kidnapped and he had actually considered the possibility that after everything Maxwell had done to her, Maxlyn would not be interested in anything sexual. But this was Maxlyn and she was not a normal person by any stretch of imagination, which was one of the many things he loved about her now that he was used to it. “You know, even after it comes off, you’ll still have to be careful until physical therapy gets you back to strength.” Not that he couldn’t be gentle with her, he was planning on making love to her, not a ground and pound.

 

There was no way in hell Maxlyn would cut Jon off sexually, not now – not ever.  Sure, she had been raped, drugged, and assaulted again and it probably should’ve traumatized her a lot more than she already was.  However, she trusted Jon with everything inside of her, every fiber of her being, and he wasn’t Maxwell.  He was the love of her life, the man of her dreams, the one who saved her from a life of solitude, and her husband.  Pushing him away sexually…it wasn’t an option, no matter what happened to her.  Maxlyn had to get back on the horse and, for the most part, she loved sex and she loved it even more with Jon…and only Jon.  Maxlyn was a very sexual woman and she wasn’t ashamed of it at all. “I trust you, Jon.  And between you and me, I think you can get me back into shape a lot better than physical therapy.” Her brown eyes twinkled mischievously as her mouth captured his, the kiss a little deeper and harder than before. “There is one thing I could do even with this sling on, you know.  It doesn’t require my hands much, just my mouth and I still have my other hand to work with.  How about it, handsome?”

 

If Jon ever lost his mind and did one of those reality TV shows where he let the world come in and see his life, his loved one’s lives, that sort of shit, Maxlyn would probably be considered royally fucked up in the head. The way she viewed sex, was definitely out of the hazy boundaries of ‘normal’, especially given her past and everything that had happened to her. Jon had had issues with it, at first, and now… it was just one of those quirks he happened to love about her and now that he knew what she was doing and shit, he now knew when to change that direction around. “Yeah, I can’t rehab your arm, darlin’,” he laughed, knowing damn well he’d wind up accidentally damaging it even more. “And you know what… maybe you need to relax and let your husband,” or soon-to-be anyway, “take care of you.” She could definitely lay somewhat still while he finally got his favorite dessert again.

 

Maybe Maxlyn was screwed up and used sex to deal with a lot of her trauma, but was that necessarily a bad thing?  Sex was the only world she knew, as messed up as it sounded.  She knew the man she was with would never hurt her and she loved and trusted him completely.  Why wouldn’t she want her man to make love to her, to taste her, to make her feel good?  It was better than her curling up in a tight ball and refusing to allow him to touch her all because a scumbag had been obsessed with her.  Maybe her logic didn’t make sense to most, but since Jon wasn’t questioning it, she was going along for the ride. “Too bad we can’t pleasure each other at the same time…” If Jon wanted her, Maxlyn would not deny him and longed to feel his tongue and mouth on any part of her body, especially her nethers. “I’m not gonna turn that offer down, though.  Out here or inside, my husband?”

 

“Uh, I’m not risking anyone seeing your naked ass but me,” and he would have her totally naked, she was definitely healed up from the bruises and everything else that bound for prison for life bastard had done to her. “Like… what if the mom’s come back?” Momma Sharon, that was going to take some getting used too. He wasn’t going to think about anyone but the woman he was scooping up into his arms and carting inside. Jon made a pit stop in the kitchen, holding her expertly with one arm and a little bracing with his knee as he grabbed the Neapolitan ice cream, wiggling his eyebrows at her before placing it on her abdomen. “Now, we’re going to the bed.”

 

Chapter 73

 

“Thank god…” Maxlyn breathed a huge sigh of relief as the sling was taken off her, gently rolling her shoulder with the doctor to test it.

 

The doctor chuckled softly. “Feels good to finally have it off, eh?  You healed beautifully and with a little physical therapy, probably just a month’s worth, your arm will be back to full strength and back to normal.”

 

“Really?  Just a month?”

 

“We’ll take it week by week, but I don’t see it taking any longer than that.”

 

Maxlyn smiled widely at the doctor and looked up at Jon, accepting a soft kiss from him. “Doctor, we have another question for you…”

 

“Sexual activity may resume, but be careful of your arm until your physical therapy is completed.  Nothing too strenuous and no heavy lifting.” The doctor had read their minds, chuckling at the way the woman’s cheeks flared up. “Any other questions?”

 

“Nope, that pretty much covers it.” She looked up at Jon again, so much love and longing in her eyes, but they had other errands to run first after this.  The wedding was only a few months away, so they had to lock down a few things now that she was feeling much better. “Actually no, there is one more question I have.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“Am I able to travel?”

 

“Of course, that’s not a problem.”

 

Good, they could get back on the road, so Jon could go back to kicking ass and taking names in the ring.

 

Maxlyn was more worried about his career than he was. Jon was perfectly content to just stay at home with her. It felt like they were back in the honeymoon phase -not that they had ever come out of it- and after her kidnapping and hospital visit, he was a little up her ass. He knew it. He knew eventually he’d back off but for now, not so much. He had confessed how terrified he had been during that time, depressed and helpless feeling, knowing she was being abused and there was nothing he could do about it. The look she gave him once they had left the office let him know she was about to bring up the wrestling thing again and he just grinned at her. The doors were open for him and he knew it, Chris kept in regular contact, as did Jessica, but… he wasn’t sure if she’d actually want to go back with him, a lot of bad had happened to her.

 

Maxlyn understood where Jon was coming from and could not imagine how scared he’d been when she was kidnapped.  She didn’t mind all the attention he gave her either, sexually or otherwise either.  However, it bothered her that Jon hadn’t mentioned work once.  She knew how much he loved wrestling.  Before he met her, wrestling was his entire world, his first love in life, his everything and now…now he acted like it didn’t matter.  Maxlyn wasn’t fine with that, understanding now, more than ever, she came first in his life, but she couldn’t be the ONLY thing that mattered to him either.  This man was passionate and amazing at what he did in the ring, and the fans missed him a lot.  Every time Bryan Danielson went to the ring with William Regal and Wardlow, the fans chanted ‘We Want Moxley!’ at the top of their lungs.  If it wasn’t for Maxlyn’s love of wrestling, thanks to Jon, they wouldn’t have watched any Dynamite, but she refused to let that happen. 

 

They walked out of the doctor’s office and Maxlyn decided she’d have to take the initiative; she’d have to make the first move.  Jon wanted her to make decisions for herself, not just for him, and this honestly wasn’t just about him…it was her as well.  Her job with Ginny was great and all, but she missed booking events for Jon and traveling with him, being backstage cheering her man on.  She wanted that back, she wanted to get back to their lives because staying home and hiding out wasn’t the answer.

 

“When we get home, my husband, you’re calling Tony Khan.” It was an order, not a request. “You’re going to tell him you’re ready to come back on the road with your beautiful wife,” Maxlyn smiled, holding his hand and laced their fingers together. “And you’re ready to get back to doing what you do best in that ring.  Nobody does it better than Jon Moxley and yes, I’m biased.  I miss being on the road with you, handsome.  I miss the backstage atmosphere and booking events for you, being your PA.  I want us to get back to normal, or as normal as our lives were prior to all this bullshit with Friedman.  And I know you miss wrestling; I can see it in your eyes every time you watch Dynamite with me.  I know I’m number one to you, okay?  You’ve drilled that in my head repeatedly and you’ve proven it with your actions and everything you’ve done.  I love you and I want you to be happy, I want us to be happy, so we’re going back on the road, where we belong.  And I’m not taking no for an answer.” She had thought long and hard about this for the past couple of weeks, wanting to wait until she was healed up before mentioning it to Jon. 

 

Today was that day.

 

“Mmm, you’re not, are you?” He drawled with a soft chuckle, not able to deny that he had missed wrestling. He had. But at the same time, after everything with Friedman, with what had happened to her, he had learned that it wasn’t the most important thing in his life. He COULD live without it. He might miss it sure, but he could survive without getting back into a ring, as long as it meant he could have his wife. “Okay, fine, darlin’, you win. I’ll give Tony a call when we get home.” He already knew he was welcome back but he wasn’t just going to show up at an arena. Well, maybe after clearing it with Tony he would, just to give the fans a treat.

 

She grinned, waiting for him to stop at a redlight and scooted over to capture his mouth with hers, using both hands this time instead of just one. “That feels really good to be able to do again.” The little things mattered most in life and being able to use both hands to touch her husband’s face meant everything to her. “I know I just dropped this on you, so I’m willing to compromise.  Our wedding is in two months.  That’ll give me plenty of time to finish physical therapy and you can come up with a stunning comeback with Tony and the others.  We’ll get married, go to Lanai for our honeymoon, and then go back on the road.” They would be officially married when they returned to the road.  Jon had been working out, but not religiously and not the way he should’ve been, so it would give him time to get back into full shape for the ring as well. “So, tell Tony three months.  They have a pay-per-view event every three months, so tell him at the following pay-per-view, you’ll make your return.” That would give them four months from now to get everything done.

 

“Get back in your seat woman, before you either get us pulled over or distract my ass,” a second accident was not in the works, but he was grinning and glad he had worn jeans because her passionate kiss had done some terrible things to his body. Like given him a raging hard-on. He remembered what the doctor had said, no serious physical shit or heavy lifting with that arm until after the month of rehab and they’d go from there. He was still planning on making love to his woman until she saw stars, knowing that oral sex and stuff was great and all but it wasn’t the same as the full physical connection.

 

The errands seemed to drag on and on, which included grocery shopping and Maxlyn knew why she felt the way she did.  It had been nearly two months since the last time she made proper love to her husband and nothing was holding her back now that the sling was gone.  She was antsy, trying to get things done as quickly as they could and the long line didn’t help matters any.  They saved the grocery shopping for last, taking care of everything else beforehand.  Pulling into the driveway, Maxlyn started to help carry the groceries in, but Jon stopped her by pulling her against him gently, passionately kissing her.  Jesus, he was just as hungry as she was and it wasn’t for food either, those cerulean eyes smoldering down at her.

 

“Go upstairs and look in the bathroom.  I’ll be along shorty after I take care of the groceries and Blue.”

 

“But…”

 

“Do it, my wife.”

 

Sighing softly, she kissed him again and nodded, obeying her husband’s command without another word.  The moment she was upstairs and looked in the bathroom, tears burned her eyes at the sight.  It was decked out in rose petals and candles that had to be lit.  There was a lighter on the sink for her to do it since Jon had no idea what time they’d get done with their errands and grocery shopping.  There was also a note on the sink and she picked it up, laughing at what it said.

 

Take a bubble bath and relax.  I love you.

 

Jon had purchased some soothing, sensual oils to put in the bathtub, along with lavender scented bubble bath.  Maxlyn got to work fixing her bubble bath and undressed while the water ran, tossing them in the nearby hamper.  She had to admit, the moment the water enveloped her with the bubbles and hot liquid, it felt amazing.  It was the first time she was able to take a bath by herself since the accident because of her broken collarbone, elbow, and wrist.

 

All that stuff, the oils and candles, bubble bath and rose petals, that was shit he had picked up on from their time at that very luxurious resort in Sedona, right after their house had been shot up. He had learned how to take romancing a woman to a whole new level thanks to the stuff they did, stuff he had never overly cared about before Maxlyn had come whirling into his life. He gave her some time to relax, and build that anticipation because he knew his woman was a very sexual, sensual creature and anticipation was a thing. He was a wicked man and he knew it, humming as he let Blue out into the backyard for a potty break.

 

Whipping out a cigarette, Jon lit the tip and closed his eyes to soak in the nicotine, letting it course throughout his body.  Some vices he would never give up and this was one of them.  Smoking and him went hand in hand and at least he wasn’t getting shitfaced on a daily basis like he had before.  Rehabilitation had changed his life in so many, amazing ways.  He still found it hard to believe that he had found the love of his life, his better half, his wife, there, of all places.  They had overcome so many challenges and came out on the other side, somehow, someway.  That normally didn’t happen for Jon.  Usually, lady luck was not on his shoulder, but the day he met Maxlyn in that rehabilitation center, his whole world had changed.  For the better.  It didn’t matter what her past held; his wasn’t wine and roses either and the most important thing was, at the end of the day, he loved her with every fiber of his being.

 

Maxwell Jacob Friedman was behind them in the rearview mirror now, never able to bother or touch or hurt her again…and that was all that mattered to Jon.  Nobody would ever harm his wife or else he would kill to protect her.  That was the way things were and always would be.  Looking down at his tattooed finger, a smile stretched across his lips as Blue came up to him, forcing him to bend down to scratch him behind his ears.  It was time to go back inside, up the stairs, where he knew his gorgeous wife was waiting for him to properly make love to her for the first time in two months.  The exigency he felt from the moment he took her from the rehabilitation center to give her a new life…to when Friedman kidnapped her…it was a constant feeling of exigency in his very soul to protect her at all costs.  An urgency, a need and demand to be with her in every conceivable way possible.  Pulling his shirt over his head, after putting his cigarette out in the nearby can, Jon headed back inside with a purpose in his eyes.

 

By the end of this night, Maxlyn would have no doubt in her mind and heart how much he loved, wanted, and needed her…that she was his number one.  Not wrestling.  Not even Blue.  She was the one for him.  With every step he ascended, after making sure the house was completely locked up, Jon finally stood outside of their bedroom door and suddenly felt nerves pulsate through him.  Why?  Why was he feeling nervous all of a sudden?  They’d made love so many times before…and Jon knew why.  Because of everything that bastard Friedman put her through, all the obstacles they had overcome together, and it didn’t matter what the circumstances were, Maxlyn belonged to him and was HIS wife.  Slowly, he pushed open the door and there she stood staring out the window in one of the sexy negligees he loved seeing her in.  Red was his new favorite color, his lady in red, and she didn’t turn around to face him, her eyes fixated on the storm ready to start rage outside as rain began pouring.  Walking up behind her, Jon slid his fingers up the length of her bare arms and back down again before wrapping his muscular arms around her waist to pull her back against him.

 

Maxlyn smiled, immediately melting against him and sighed out softly at the first touch of his lips against the pulse point of her neck. “Mmm, that was a nice surprise you had for me with the bath and candles.  Thank you, handsome.”

 

“Anytime, no need to thank me when I’m just taking care of my wife.” Jon rumbled in a low, raspy voice, nuzzling her affectionately while caressing her sides with his hands after holding her for a moment. “Mmm, you smell incredible…”

 

“Jon…” Maxlyn shivered against him as he continued devouring her neck softly with his lips and tongue, her breathing turning slightly labored. “Fuck, I missed this, baby…”

 

He chuckled softly at the almost desperation in her voice, and turned her to face him, holding her face gently in his hands.  His mouth captured hers and Jon immediately lifted her in his arms to carry her to the bed, gently guiding her down on it without breaking the kiss.  Once they were both sated, Maxlyn stared up at the ceiling with the biggest smile on her face and realized something she would’ve known all along. 

 

Jonathan Good had not only saved her life and brought her back to life, but he was her salvation.

 

And what Maxlyn didn’t know was she was also Jon’s salvation as well.

 

The End.