INTERLUDE: What Happens In Vegas [FAW]

Las Vegas, Nevada || June 24, 2017

Jana opens her eyes to see Lex next to her, her hand on his shoulder. A smile slowly forms as her hand runs down along his bicep, tracing the dragon tattoo. "Wonderful...." she softly whispers, barely audible.

"There was a song about angels in the mornin'..." he replies, his voice rough with sleep as he shifts to face her.

Her eyes lock on his and she runs her hand over his cheek. "Well... it is morning." Her body snuggles up a little closer to his under the covers.

"Can we cancel that?" His tone holds a hint of a teasing smile, "definitely don't wanna get up."

She nods slowly then leans up and kisses his cheek again. "I don't wanna get up right now either." A soft sigh is heard coming from her as she lays her head on his shoulder. "Don't wanna...."

A content sigh comes from him as he closes his eyes, relishing the closeness. "Shut out the world for a bit an' just be us. How's that sound?"

Her hand slides down his cheek and cups the side of his neck. A low soft purring sound comes from her as they cuddle together, not wanting to break from the other. "This is... addictive... in a good way..."

Addictive? Is that really the word for it?

His hand strokes her hair against her back, slowly as though he's trying to memorize the sensation. "Can't even... I...." he bites his lip, eyes opening to meet hers and there are a thousand things he wants to say but none of them find their way past his lips. Instead he sighs and simply says, "feels right, y'know?"

"Better than right...." She closes the gap between their eyes and leans in close, feeling his breath against her lips. "No pressure...." Her eyes close as her lips softly brush his, the two both sigh as their lips touch, press together then slowly break apart and she opens her eyes, biting her bottom lip, the soft purr still audible.

Her eyes search his, looking for his reaction – there's surprise there, a smile making the corners of his lips twitch. "Felt like a bit of pressure to me." He murmurs, his hand moving up to cup the back of her head as he returns the kiss, breaking off before it becomes too intense. The last thing he wants to do right now is come off too needy and spook her.

A soft moan escapes her lips as the kiss breaks. Her eyes open and she fights embarrassment. "That was... I mean... you heard." She buries her face against his shoulder then pulls her head back up, her face blushing deeply. "Wow... that was good."

His gaze slips away from hers, confusion in his tone at her embarrassment and his first instinct is to apologize for something he doesn't even understand. "Damn...what's wrong?"

She giggles and cups his face. "Nothing's wrong at all. I just... um... didn't mean for that moan to slip out there." She softly kisses his lips again and smiles as it breaks again. "Definitely good."

Lex flashes that crooked smirk before chuckling. "So I shouldn't say I liked it then, huh?"

"Yes. Yes, you should." She runs her finger along his jawline, her eyes tracking the movement. "If I get too forward to aggressive, just... say so, okay?" She looks up as she says the last couple words, watching his eyes look upon her.

"Will. But... you won't." The words come out softly, his eyes holding a little sadness. "Do what feels right, Jana, okay?"

She looks into his eyes, seeing the sadness. "Of course I will. Lex? Um, baby? You okay?" Jana tries to see what's going on in his mind, all of the happy thoughts in her now centering concern upon the man she's slowly falling for. Her fingertips run along his temple and down across his bearded cheek.

The shadow lifts as he blinks, letting out a soft sigh. "Sorry. Sometimes the edges aren't as smooth as I want," he chuckles at her blank look, "just some garbage in my head. It's alright. Honest." As if her words just registered, he stares at her, "did...did you just call me 'baby'?"

She nods slowly, "I... I… I did... is that okay?" She looks troubled, maybe taking a step too far and trying to save face a little. "I was just..." she swallows softly. "I'm sorry if I said something to upset you..."

"No. No." He shakes his head, "you didn't. I mean...hey...it's..." he breaks off, sheepish. "Shit. I'm okay. Just been a while since I could feel things – could let myself feel them, y'know? That's all. You didn't…"

She nods, understanding a little more. Such a complex man to understand, she thinks as her hand slides down his arm and takes his, placing it on his cheek then kissing it softly and placing it back on her cheek with a smile on her face. "You can feel how you want to feel with me, baby. I'm not fragile, I'm just a little new." She leans her cheek against his hand.

"Don't wanna break you," he says softly, a catch in his voice as he moves his hand slightly. "Don't wanna ruin this...."

She leans in and nuzzles against his cheek, feeling his scruff against her skin. "You're not gonna break me, baby. And," she slides her hand to find his, interlacing their fingers. ".... no way we're gonna ruin this." She turns and presses her lips against his, kissing him softly, a happy purr coming from her as their lips lock during this precious moment. The kiss slowly breaks and she slides her foot over his leg, hooking the heel against his knee, due to the size difference

"Definitely," he punctuates that with a return kiss, pulling her closer, "not leaving this bed."

She giggles softly, letting him pull her closer to his body. "we haven't left the bed all day, and it's too hot out there to do anything. So I think this," she puts her hand on his chin, "is the best view of Las Vegas I could have.... or want right now."

"You're a bad influence," he murmurs, finding it easy to get lost in her eyes, "should be training...for that match against..." he trails off, forgetting the names of the two people he's facing.

"I didn't mean to distract you today. Tomorrow, you WILL go train for your match against Rafael Cruz & Tinsley Reed," she stares into his eyes, mesmerized by the deep color, even in the soft lighting of the room. "And yes, I know who my baby is wrestling." She slides her hand up his cheek and over his ear, running the fingertips through his hair, "...'cause I want to see him win."

"I was joking." He protests, unable to keep from smiling at her soft touch. "Gonna do my best to win. For my girl."

She smiles. "My girl.... I like the sound of that," her touch runs through his hair and down his neck, watching the way he holds his breath, trying not to let on how much he loves it. "So ... am I anything like you expected me to be? "

Lex's voice comes out softer, a touch of awe to it. "No. You're... nothing like what I expected." He's drawing random patterns on her back, looping figure eights mostly, the touch feather-light. "In a good way, I mean." When he started talking to her on Twitter, it had only been because she seemed so lost, so lonely and he'd seen that she was from Norfolk – things happened for a reason. He tries to clarify the statement, knowing she expects something, "Jana, you're... so much more."

"I had no idea what to expect from you... but I came in with an open mind and an open heart and you are... mmmmm filling both with each minute we spend together." Her fingertips slowly tap a subtle pattern on his neck. She leans her head forward slightly, inhaling his scent and giving a soft purr. ".......mmmmm."

"I know the feeling. And it's really really nice." He smiles lazily, "so now you gotta tell me all the first date things. Like favorite color and lucky numbers and whatever else the kids're into these days." He kisses her forehead before pulling back a little to look at her. "Wanna know everything."

She leans up and kisses his forehead. "Green." She leans down and kisses his nose. "14." She kisses his cheek. "I can't cook." She kisses his chin. "I don't own a car." She kisses the side of his neck. "I can't dance." She kisses his shoulder. "And I have no real clue on what I'm doing when it comes to us, but I am enjoying every second I spend with you." She leans up and kisses his lips. "Now... tell me about you." Her teeth nibble on her bottom lip.

He grins, nodding. "Red." Following her pattern, he kisses her cheek, getting closer to her ear, "eighty-three." He kisses her earlobe, "90% of my brain is song lyrics." He nuzzles against her neck. "Can't dance either. No real rhythm but I play piano and guitar. By ear and I can read music…"

Her eyes close and a smile stays on her face as he kisses her with each answer. "90% hmm? 9% wrestling and 1% me? I can handle 1%." She looks into his eyes. "You are ....such a sweetheart and I am definitely enjoying my trip."

"I'm an athlete," he says with a grin, "so it's always 110%. 10% wrestling." He meets her gaze, "10% you. But if I'm not careful I'm gonna forget all the words to my favorite songs." He's joking but the way he says it holds a sort of honesty that's boyishly adorable. "Glad you came? I know I am."

"I am so happy I came." She leans in and kisses his lips, letting the kiss linger, then deepen slightly, her hand around his back, the other against his shoulder. She rolls over on top of him and deepens the kiss, then slowly breaks it, letting another not-so-subtle moan escape from her. "MMMM... damn."

"Careful." He can't help the smile on his face, his hands sliding down her back. "Gonna have me hooked..." He winks, chuckling softly. "Then what are we gonna do about that?"

She leans forward and whispers into his ear. "I already am, baby." She lays her head down against his shoulder, closing her eyes, feeling safe and protected by him.

He lays there, listening to her breathing, staring up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes that take all his effort not to blink away. He tells himself they're from the jetlag, from the lack of sleep over the last few weeks but he knows better. He's terrified. He's overwhelmed. For the first time in months, he actually feels visible – important.

Too much. Too soon. Tread carefully.