What God Has Joined Together

Mark and I had married a couple of years before he joined the WWF. I'd been in America on holiday, just spending a couple of weeks trying to find out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. Two weeks later I was married. He was wrestling then, but the organization he was with tended to stay in the same area, so we spent a lot of time together. He was under appreciated however, so when he got an opportunity to join the WWF he jumped at the chance. Unfortunately that organization travelled all other the world for events and we didn't get to see each other very often.

He came home as often as he could and I travelled out to meet him as often as I could. But the more popular his character became the less time he had to himself. Everywhere he went fans would harass him for photographs and autographs, demanding more and more of him. The character he was playing however was not allowed anything as normal as a wife, so I had to pretend that I wasn't with him.

Years passed and eventually I felt like a spectator in my own marriage. For over three hundred days a year, including special holidays, he was on the road. Occasionally a stranger would spend a few days with me. He would make love to me, watch TV, work on his bikes and then he would go back on the road. When that stranger is your own husband, it begins to hurt.

Although I loved him more than life itself, I had to get out. I knew that he wouldn't let me go willingly, I'd tried to talk to him about it before, but he wouldn't admit that we even had a problem. So one night when I knew that he was on the other side of the country, I gathered my things together and left.

Mark arrived home; he'd managed to arrange a few weeks off and intended to spend them with his wife. He was exhausted from the gruelling schedule that he had been keeping lately and wanted nothing more than to have a shower and then cuddle up to his wife and forget all about work. He pulled the rental car up outside the house with a sigh. Climbing out of the car he stretched, loosening his cramped muscles. He limped round to the trunk and took his bag out. `Boy I really need this time off'. It was getting harder and harder to hide the pain he was going through.

He walked towards the house, noticing with surprise that it was in darkness. He looked at his watch checking the time `She's normally home by now'. He hurried to the front door with a strange sense of dread. There could be any number of `normal' reasons why April wasn't home, out with friends, at a movie, anything. But still he couldn't shake the feeling of dread. He slid the key into the lock and opened the door.

"April?" he called. No reply. He moved deeper into the house, calling her name, growing more frantic at the lack of reply. Everywhere was tidy, not even a magazine out of position. He moved an ornament, noticing the mark where the dust had settled around it. He went through the rooms again, everywhere was the same, tidy but slightly dusty. In the bedroom he checked the closets, one of the suitcases was gone and so were most of his wife's clothes. "No" he sat on the edge of the bed his eyes darting around looking for clues. Then he spotted a piece of paper on his bedside table. Reaching over he picked it up. A ring fell from the folded paper, he picked it up. It was April's wedding ring.

He called the local taxi firms, hotels, motels and airports, but even if they had seen or heard of his wife, they wouldn't tell him. He tried his family and mutual friend, out of desperation he even tried April's mother, but she was out of town. He called Vince McMahon for his advice.

It proved more difficult than they thought. Just when they thought they had got a lead on where she had gone, the trail went cold. Months passed with no sign of her. Every couple of weeks divorce papers would be delivered to Mark, and every time he got them he did the same thing, ripped them into tiny pieces and posted them back to the solicitors.

Vince was worried about him, he was becoming so withdrawn and quiet it was scary. Someone in the locker room had suggested to Mark that he sign the papers, big mistake. Vince had heard the sound of furniture being overturned and rushed to the locker room to see who was throwing a tantrum. He'd never seen a room empty so quickly, wrestlers were scrambling over each other to get out of the room. They tried to stop him going in, but he went anyway. Lockers had been overturned and Mark had got the offending wrestler pinned up against one of the few remaining upright lockers a look of utter fury upon his face.

After that incident Mark threw himself into his work. He no longer cared what direction his character went he just wanted the physical exhaustion that followed the matches. Anything, just as long as he could forget for a few hours.

"Where are they?" Vince consulted a list "It's just a couple of dates in England, we shouldn't be away for more than a week." Vince noticed the faraway look in Mark's eyes. "Mark are you listening to me?"

Barbara was walking through the hallway when the front doorbell rang. She heard footsteps running down a hallway "Don't worry Lucy, I'll get the door." Through the glass panelling she could make out a huge figure standing the other side. She sighed realising who it must be. She opened the door slowly, trying to compose herself for the confrontation ahead.

Mark turned around to face his mother-in-law as the door opened. They stared at each other in silence, she gestured for Mark to come in. She had been quite prepared to slam the door in Mark's face, until she saw how he looked. She showed him into the sitting room and called for Lucy to bring some drinks.

"Let me show you a few things, maybe you'll understand her a bit better." She walked over to a unit and took out some scrapbooks, sitting down beside Mark she passed him one. He opened it up expecting to see childhood photos, there were photos but they were landscapes, they were also very good.

"Oh she did more than that." She turned a few pages over, revealing some sketches. "She also liked to draw. When she was a child, she never went anywhere without a piece of paper and a pencil. The teachers used to despair. She used to spend nearly every lesson drawing instead of paying attention. She was paying attention though, she just drew to help herself think. When it came time for exams they had to give her a separate piece of paper, just to stop her ruining the exam paper." Mark was turning pages as she talked, marvelling at the detail in the drawings.

"We asked, but she wouldn't talk about it. That was the year she took her first holiday alone. The year she met you." She stood up "I've just got to go talk to Lucy. Why don't you look at some of the paintings, I'm sure you'll find some of them interesting."

Mark glanced around the room at the paintings on the wall. One caught his eye, standing up he went for a closer look. It was a scene of a small boat pulled up on a beach, waves gently lapping at the bottom of the boat as the sun sank behind some cliffs in the distance. The picture was so lifelike he felt like he could reach out a hand and touch the water. He looked for the artist's signature, shocked when he found it. ACE. 1999, IOW. April Charlotte Evans, she was using her maiden name.

It was yet another gloriously sunny day on the Isle of Wight but it could have been pouring with rain for all I cared. I parked my motorbike up in its usual place behind my shop and made my way in through the back entrance.

"It's a customer who came in earlier." A glazed look came over Becky's eyes as she remembered the man "Tall, blond, handsome and the most wonderful American accent." she ticked his attributes off on her fingers.

The piece in question was a pencil drawing of Mark's eyes. I'd hoped to exorcise a few demons by drawing them. Instead they just kept reminding me how much I still loved him. I'd tried to destroy the drawing, but I couldn't do it. I'd locked it away, but Becky had found it one day while I was out. By the time I got back it had been framed and placed on display. I'd had numerous enquiries from people wanting to buy it, or just asking whose eyes they were.

I went into the back as the door opened. I could hear Becky talking to the man as I gathered up my jacket and helmet and left the same way I had entered. I placed the drawing in a pocket inside my jacket and left with a roar. As I left the small town I passed a white van. I noticed it only for the fact that it had smoked windows which made it impossible to see inside.

Mark was sitting in the back of the van, watching as April rode down the street, in the opposite direction from which she lived. He turned back looking at a bank of monitors that covered one side of the van. Vince had come through for him again. Over the past week people, hired by Vince, had been going into her shop planting listening devices and cameras, they had also found out where his wife was staying. He'd been watching April for a few days now. Watching as she went about her business. He looked at the monitors, showing interior pictures of the inside of the shop. He could remember the look on her face as she had looked at the drawing.

I walked along the beach snapping photos of the surrounding landscape. I loved this part of the island, so unspoiled by progress. An old fort had been converted into a museum, café and gift shop. There was woodland with a viewpoint looking back on the mainland. In front of the fort was a beach, no beach huts on this part of the island as the land was too unstable and the huge waves that passing ships created made bathing dangerous. After I had taken a few photos I sat down and sketched for a while, jotting down some notes in a book I kept handy. After a quick drink at the café I stashed my gear back in the park rangers office and headed back home. Passing a white van on my way out of the car park.

Reaching my house I stashed my bike in the garage, and went to the front door, patting my pockets desperately for my keys "Now where did I put them?" Eventually I gave up and got the spare key from its hiding place, putting it back as soon as the door was opened.

Before bed I went for a run hoping the exercise would help me get to sleep. It hadn't worked the other times I had tried, but you never know, this could be the time when it did. Getting home I showered and fell into bed.

Mark waited across the street for a couple of hours waiting for the bedroom light to go out. When he was satisfied the enough time had passed he made his way to the front door and opened it using the spare key. He closed the door quietly behind him and stood still to allow his eyes time to adjust to the dark and to make sure he hadn't been heard. When there were no cries of alarm he made his way upstairs.

My dream grew more frustrating as Mark moved away once more. When he started to come back I opened my eyes and grabbed hold of him pulling him towards me, kissing him and locking my legs around him. Before long he was kissing me back our tongues duelling aggressively for control. His mouth left mine and travelled down my body, making me moan in delight. Then he was gone. I reached out for him in panic "Please Mark, don't leave me."

Mark stood at the end of the bed "Look at me." Sleep hazed green eyes met his then travelling hungrily over his body as he removed his clothes. She held her arms out to him. With a groan he crawled onto the bed removing her nightgown as he went. Kissing her as he settled himself between her thighs. He tried to take it slow but after so many months away from her he knew he wouldn't be able to last for long, and she wasn't making it any easier for him. When she dug her nails into his back he lost control and he fell over the edge, feeling her tumble at the same time.

He lay there for a while, his weight pressing her into the mattress as her hands ran up and down his back as aftershocks rippled through her body. Gathering his strength together he rolled onto his back, drawing her close against his side.

He was feeling like a first class heel. He'd only meant to check that she was sleeping then he had intended to wait downstairs until morning. But as soon as she had started kissing him he had been lost to all reason. Come morning he knew there would be hell to pay, but for now his wife was back in his arms where she belonged and he intended to keep it that way for as long as possible.

I awoke very groggy the next morning, I'd never been a morning person and the lack of sleep wasn't helping any. I stood up, gingerly stretching to rid myself of the aches and pains. `Mmm, smells like Mark's made my usual wake up call' I thought as I sniffed the air appreciatively, as the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted in from the kitchen. `Time for a shower' I walked towards the bathroom, not even realising that I was naked. I took the mug of coffee from Mark's hand as I passed him.

Mark shook his head, a smile on his face, as he watched her enter the bathroom. He knew she was bad in the mornings, but even so he had been expecting a different response from her. He walked downstairs and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, keeping an ear open for when April realised what she had seen. He heard the shower running, then a couple of minutes later he heard a mug breaking.

I was just finishing my mug of coffee, letting the caffeine wake me up, wondering what Mark was making for breakfast. "Mark?" the mug slipped from my hand, shattering on the floor of the shower. I rushed out of the bathroom heading for the stairs. After going down a couple of steps I turned around and rushed back the other way "Clothes!" Towelling myself dry I slipped into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, if I was going to face Mark I needed to be wearing more than nothing. I paced around the bedroom for a few minutes, more nervous than a turkey at Christmas. Taking a deep breath I opened the door and made my way downstairs.

I entered the kitchen, there was no sign of Mark, just a plate of pancakes sitting on the table. I turned around and found my nose buried against the fabric of his shirt. "You big oaf!" I pushed against his chest.

I finished the pancakes, not difficult as he had always been a better cook than I. He took hold of my hand and steered me into the living room. He paced up and down in front of me, giving the occasional glare as he passed. I was beginning to feel like a naughty child about to be told off by a parent. Suddenly he stopped, standing directly in front of me. I refused to meet his gaze and just stared at his feet.

"Then why? Please, just tell me why" he groaned. I looked at him, he was thinner than I remembered, his cheekbones standing out in a face that was paler than normal, and his eyes had a haunted look about them.

"Do you realise that out of those ten years we've probably spent less than three of them together." I stood up and started pacing around the room "I knew what I was getting into when we first got married, I thought I could handle it, but I can't. I'm just so lonely when you're not there. Even when you are around we can't go out together because of the fans. Hell you won't even admit that you're married. I decided to leave, see if there was anything else in the world that would make me happy. I didn't tell you where I was going in case you did something stupid, like leave the job you love."

"So you decided I would rather live without the woman I love?!" I jumped at the anger in his voice, knowing he was justified. "Sit down!" I sat, huddling in the corner of the sofa, trying to make myself as small as possible. Watching him as he took his turn at pacing the room. "I can't decide whether to kiss you or smack you over the head." I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but after years of my parents shouting at each other I hated confrontations. He ran his hands through his hair taking a deep calming breath. "First off, never make decisions like that for me again. If I decide to quit wrestling to be with my wife, that is my decision to make." He sat beside me, turning me around to face him "I didn't let the fans know about us because I wanted you all to myself. I should have asked you what you thought." He shook his head ruefully. "Guess you're not the only one guilty of making decisions without asking." He lifted my chin until I was looking him in the eyes "Tell me the truth. Are you happier now we're apart?"

I stood up and walked over to the window. Mark came up behind me placing his hands upon my shoulders, turning me around to face him. I threw my hands around his waist and buried my face into his chest. "No I'm not, but I can't take it anymore."

He wrapped his arms around his wife holding her closer, feeling her shoulders shake with silent tears. He moved back to the sofa, never releasing his hold, and sat down drawing April onto his lap and let her cry.

Eventually I stopped crying. I tried to move away from him, but he was having none of it. I relaxed back against him, putting my head back on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He stroked his hand over my hair and down my back in a soothing motion.

"Well you don't like been at home without me, right?" I nodded "And I hate being on the road without you. So come on the road with me." He put a finger on my lips to stop me talking "Just give it six months."

She attempted to leap off his knee so he tightened his grip. She was fighting so hard he ended up having to pin her under him on the floor. He tried to stop her swearing at him by covering her mouth with his hand. Drawing his hand back in surprise when she bit him.

Grabbing the belts from his and her jeans he quickly tied her legs together and her hands behind her back. He left the room returning with a tall glass of water and a jug full of ice-cold water straight from the fridge. She was still swearing at him, she didn't swear often but when she let loose she could make a sailor blush. He stood over her watching as she thrashed around on the floor. Taking one last sip from the glass he dumped the rest over her face. She gasped in shock as the icy water hit her full in the face. Before long though she started swearing at him again. He held the jug out over her body and waited for her to spot the new threat.

Another trickle of water, this time over a breast revealed that I wasn't wearing anything under the T-shirt. Water connected directly with a nipple making it swell and harden with the cold. He carried on over my body, ignoring all my protests as he dribbled ice-cold water over my heated flesh. Paying particular attention to my sensitive breasts.

I looked up at him. His eyes were running over my body, watching its reaction to the water and trying to decide which part of me to torment next. My body was heating up under his gaze. The swell of his jeans signalling just how turned on he was.

Placing the nearly empty jug of water on the ground he knelt beside her. His eyes running over her body watching as her nipples swelled and hardened under his gaze. Leaning forward he took a wet fabric covered tip deep into his mouth. She groaned and pushed her body up towards him. He smiled, she had always been very responsive to his love making. Now he was going to take full advantage of all his knowledge of her body. He moved onto the other breast repeating the sweet torture. He had to pin her shoulders to the floor as she was moving around so much in delight. Knowing that she was past the point of wanting to fight him he untied her hands and stripped off her T-shirt then settled back to where he had left off.

He was driving me out of my mind, and he knew it. This part of our marriage had never been a problem for us. When I'd left him I'd resigned myself to living a celibate life, knowing in my heart and soul that no man would ever be able to make me feel the way Mark did just by been in the same room as me. As he took my now bare nipple deep into his mouth my last coherent thought was `How did I ever think I could live without him?'

Her hands were running over his head, tugging on his hair trying to make him stop. He did for a second and smiled as her hands pushed him back down to her breast again. Wandering on, her hands moved over his shoulders and onto his back where they grabbed his top and pulled it out of his trousers. Standing up he untied her legs and removed her jeans. Then he stripped off his own clothes. He went slowly, knowing how much she loved to watch him.

I ran hungry eyes over every inch of him as he stripped. His body never failed to impress me. My mouth never knew whether to go dry or drool like a fool at the sight of him. Finishing his little striptease he stood in front of me legs braced apart with his hands planted on his hips. I ran my eyes up and down his body taking in every detail.

Sinfully long legs, `God how I love those legs' lean hips, trim waist, broad chest and shoulders. Long thick dark hair, framing his strong handsome face, falling in waves over his shoulders. His wicked green eyes were twinkling knowingly at me, his full sensual lips curved into a half smile. My eyes dropped lower again, lovingly caressing his manhood with my eyes.

I gave a chocking laugh and launched myself at him, pushing him until he landed on the sofa. Sitting astride him I planted kisses all over his face then took his lips in a deep kiss, thrusting my tongue deep into his mouth. Breaking the kiss I worked along his jaw and neck then moved down his chest, teasing him as he had me. I worked my way down until I was kneeling on the floor. With an appreciative lick of my lips and a groan I took his manhood into my mouth. I caressed him with lips, hands and tongue. His hands were gripping the back of my head his head thrashing from side to side as he moaned and groaned in delight. Unable to take anymore, he pulled me away with a groan and started kissing me.

He lay her back down on the floor without breaking the kiss. He settled between her thighs, drawing one of her leg up he ran his hand from shoulder to ankle and back. He slithered down her body, nipping and sucking as he went. Reaching his destination he drove his tongue deep. Teasing her with just the tip, stroking and plunging with his fingers and sucking deeply with his mouth. Never easing up until she was screaming and tugging on his hair so hard that he thought he might end up bald. Moving back up he kissed her as he entered her body, the thrust of his tongue matching the thrust of his hips.

He turned onto his back, taking her with him and let her take over while he stroked her breasts and hips as she glided up and down his manhood. Deciding that she was too good at it he flipped her onto her back again, slowing the pace down to a gentle glide.

Feeling her internal muscles gripping his length he knew that she couldn't last much longer. Increasing the pace he whispered in her ear "Come for me baby." She exploded around him, her hips jerking up forcefully. He stayed still inside her, waiting out the storm as he watched her fall apart.

I floated back to earth, tremors running through my body. Mark brushed hair from my forehead and I opened my eyes to look at him. He flexed his hips, my eyes widened as he made me aware that he was still rock hard inside me. Passion, heat and love welled up inside me and I groaned as he started moving again. He went slower this time. Refusing my whispered encouragements and pleas for him to go faster. He kept varying his strokes; short, sharp, long, slow, deep. Taking me repeatedly to the edge then backing off and starting again and again.

He was taking me back up once more. Looking at his face I could see that he was fighting for control but I could also tell that he had no intention of ending it. My arms flayed out as he took me to the next level, my fingertips brushed the forgotten jug of water. I tightened my internal muscles milking his length. His eyes closed as he fought for control, I brought the jug closer. He took me to the edge again and once again he stopped.

"Hello?" Mark was stroking a hand up and down my spine distracting me. "It's for you." I passed him the phone and flopped back on the bed while he spoke on the phone. As he reached over me to put the phone back I ran my hand over the warm expanse of his chest.

"I didn't like what I was drawing anymore. I went from landscapes and portraits to the sort of things that make some of your tattoos look tame. I tried drawing other things but I just couldn't see the beauty in anything. So I stopped.

"I haven't decided if I am yet." His face fell. "Don't tell me you've finished persuading me already? And this morning doesn't count. You were just trying to make me forget that you took advantage of me last night." He had the grace to look slightly embarrassed, then a wicked grin spread over his face.

I remembered the white van that I had seen around he must have been following me. I decided that there was no point arguing about what he'd done to find me. I sighed and took his hand pulling him to he feet and out to the garage.

I opened the door revealing my small collection of motorbikes. "Take your pick." He wondered around checking them out. There were five in all a Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and one other and I already knew which one he would choose. He made his way to the back of the garage where the big black Harley was parked. He ran his hand over it and knelt down to check out the engine.

The journey to my shop was the best I had ever taken. Snuggled up close to Mark's back with my arms wrapped around his waist as he handled the big bike with ease on the twisting country roads. I was rather disappointed when we pulled up at the back of the shop.

As I had promised I locked up early and I took him around the island showing him all the little places of interest. We ended the day walking along a beach. We sat in the sand together; Mark sat behind me his arms draped over my shoulders as we watched the waves breaking on the shore as the sun set in a blaze of colour.

"To Birmingham?" I swatted at his hands as he traced patterns over my body. "Stop it you're distracting me." Totally ignoring me he carried on with his figure-of-eight around my breast and stomach, each swipe of his hands moving him closer to my nipple and womanhood. Groaning I grabbed hold of his hand as it passed over my breast. Which just made him bring his mouth into play.

A loud banging on the front door had me leaping from the bed. Wrapping myself in my dressing gown I looked out of the window. "At last." I opened the window. "Go on round to the garage. I'll be down in a few minutes!"

Wednesday morning arrived and I awoke to an empty bed. Sadness washed over me in huge waves when I realised that he had gone. Tears rolled down my face as loneliness then threatened to overwhelm me. I knew he'd be back but strangely that didn't help. Wrapping myself in a big, warm dressing gown I trudged downstairs to the kitchen. My plans for the day involved grabbing a bite to eat and then heading back to bed to hug the pillow he had used.

Entering the kitchen I spotted an envelope propped up against a vase containing a single red rose. I lifted up the rose and breathed in its beautiful aroma. Picking up the envelope I wasn't surprised to see my name written on it in Mark's familiar masculine scrawl. Sitting down at the table I opened it up and pulled out the folded paper. A ring dropped to the table, I recognised it instantly; it was my wedding ring. I held it in my hand as I read his note.

Mark settled down in the helicopter and half-heartedly watched the landscape pass by far below while he thought about April. He knew she wanted him and he was pretty sure that she would return home with him but what if she didn't? What if she said she wanted a divorce? `Wonder how long I'd be in jail for kidnapping my own wife?'

Every morning and evening a single red rose was delivered to me. They arrived at the same time everyday and no matter where I was on the island they found me. It was obvious that I was still been followed.

Leaving the house by the back door I climbed onto my bike and rode off. As expected the white, blacked out van started to follow me. Putting on a burst of speed I made it over the swing bridge just before the barriers came down. Looking over my shoulder I saw them draw to a stop, forced to wait while the sailing boats exited the harbour. I pulled up at the fort and sat down with an ice-cream. The white van pulled up a couple of hours later, `Took them long enough'. I walked over to it and tapped on the window. It rolled down to reveal two men, one of which was the blond haired American that Becky liked.

"If you two are going to keep following me you can make yourself useful." I made them follow me around the island as I gathered all my drawing supplies together and stored them in their van. I ran them ragged, taking the longest possible routes around. Spotting a couple I knew struggling to get a piano into their house I offered up the services of the men.

It was well after midnight before he made it back to my house. I greeted him at the front door wearing my chunky dressing gown. "I wasn't in the mood to wear the negligee." He closed the door and locked it.

Scooping me up into his arms he carried me up the stairs and into the bedroom. Placing me down on the bed he quickly shucked off his clothes. His body radiated with urgency, muscles corded with desire. He crawled onto the bed and stalked his way up my body. He pinned my hands to the bed when I attempted to touch him.

With a groan he sank deep into my body. He tried to hold back but my desire for him was as great as his for me. With words and actions I encouraged him to go faster and harder, knowing that there would be plenty of time for us to take it slowly later. His deep thrusts moved me further up the bed. Gripping my hips he pulled me close as he thrust even harder into me. All I was capable of was making incoherent noises while holding onto him. As he came deep inside me it triggered off my own climax, sharper and more intense than any I'd felt before.

We lay in a tangle of exhausted limbs. He brushed my hair from my forehead as he looked down at me. I smiled up at him and cupped his face in my hands. I could see his concern in his beautiful green eyes.

I awoke to find him smiling down at me with a familiar twinkle in his eyes. The one that signalled all kind of wonderful things. Reaching over he plucked a rose from the vase by the bed. He traced the rose over my body the velvet softness of the petals creating havoc with my senses. His eyes followed its path down my body.

Starting at the top he traced it over her forehead and down over the sweep of her cheekbones. Down her nose and over the lips, pausing to kiss her lips himself before moving on. The rose painted the way between the swell of her breasts. In ever decreasing circles he moved up the slope of her breast. Her body tensed and arched up in anticipation. He stopped. Then brushed directly over the tip of one breast with the rose as his lips closed over the other.

His lips followed the path of the rose as he moved it slowly down my body. Down the outside of my leg and then back up the inside. My legs parted for him as he moved back up. My breathing slowed, then stopped as he got closer. The rose brushed over my lips then connected directly with my throbbing centre. His mouth closed over me and my body arched off the bed in delight. Kneeling between my thighs he pulled the rose apart and scattered the petals over my body. As each one landed it felt like a soft kisses to my heightened senses. He entered my body and we moved together. The scent of the crushed rose rising between us.

It seemed that as soon as the plane touched down in America we were rushing off to the site of that nights show. I drove while Mark caught up with his sleep. Usually he travelled with Bill but he was taking some time off to be with his family. After checking in at the arena I left him for a couple of hours to go sightseeing.

Arriving back at the arena I spotted Mark talking to Vince, he looked so cute. I just had to get a picture. I raised my camera. Just as I was pressing the shutter a figure walked in front of the lens. Suddenly my camera was grabbed out of my hands "What the…?" I was nearly lifted off my feet as The Rock grabbed me by the shoulder.

"Actually `Great One'. I believe you know my husband. In fact he's on his way over right now if you want to talk to him." I pointed and Rock followed my gesture. The look on his face when he saw who my husband was, was absolutely priceless.

I watched them go, a grin plastered on my face. Inspiration suddenly struck and I picked up my sketchpad. The sketch I did only took a few minutes, but it was long enough for Rock and Mark to run past again.

I had drawn a cartoon of Roadrunner being chased by Wile E. Coyote, but the Roadrunner had The Rock's face and the Coyote had Mark's. Roadrunner was razzing Coyote not looking what he was heading straight for. A Wall.

Glenn spun around, grabbing his wife up in his arms. "Never my love. But I would like to know who I can and can't run into by accident." He kissed Maurisa on the lips before placing her back on the ground.

I laughed at the expression on his face. Mick had been a friend of Mark's for many years now and was one of the few wrestlers that Mark had invited to stay at our house. It was good to see him as, like Mark, he'd been on a very tight schedule lately.

We chatted together for a while. Maurisa and I talked while Mark and Glenn discussed moves for their match later. I noticed that Mark and Glenn would occasionally slip in and out of character. Mark would suddenly get his dark and dangerous Undertaker expression and the chatty Glenn would fall silent and use his body language to express his feelings. Then just like that they would be back to their usual selves.

"Do you think?" I glanced at Maurisa then carried on watching Mark and Glenn, or should that be Undertaker and Kane? Mark was making forceful gestures with his hands as he talked to Glenn, thumping a fist into his hand. Glenn stood silently watching Mark with his head tilted to one side. Having no glove on he was tugging on the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

She laughed. "It takes a while, but yes. You'll find that they're all like this. The closer it gets to show time they all fall into character. You just have to know which ones to avoid when it starts to happen."

She gave me a quick list of the wrestlers to avoid, Austin, Rock, Triple H and Chyna and to some degree even Mark and Glenn. The general rule seemed to be `make sure they recognise you before you talk to them'. Mark and Glenn walked back over. As they got nearer I could see Kane and Undertaker vanishing.

"Mmmm. Not quite." Grabbing his shirt I pulled him down to my level and kissed him. Running my tongue around his mouth as my hands travelled over his back. Once I figured he was sufficiently hot and bothered I opened his shirt and pressed a kiss to the centre of his chest then turned and walked away with Maurisa, leaving him standing there with Glenn.

Maurisa showed me around and introduced me to everyone. After a while I decided that it must be a confusing place to work, especially when it came to their names. Everyone called Mark Undertaker or `Taker, Glenn was Kane unless he was out of costume. Some of them preferred to be called by their real names and others would only respond to their ring names once they stepped through the arena doors. Keeping it all straight in my head was going to take some time.

I watched as Mark and Paul Wight filmed a segment with Michael Cole for that nights show. They were having a few problems getting it finished as every time Michael said "I know, be gone, stay gone." Paul kept cracking up at the expression on Michael's face. I slapped a hand over my mouth to prevent my own laughter escaping at the look on Michael's face. Whipped puppy just didn't go far enough to describe it. Eventually they managed to get a shot completed and Mark strolled back over with a sigh.

I pulled him over to a monitor where they were reviewing the interview. I watched the expression on Mark's face as he watched. A smile tugged at his lips as he got a good look at Michael. At his deep laugh everyone stopped and looked at him. For the first time in months, probably years, Mark sounded happy.

`Undertaker' and `Big Show' came out for their match, they were taking on `Kane' and `X-Pac' in a tag match. Undertaker was standing in the corner watching as Big Show laid into X-Pac. His corner was on the same side as the commentator's tables. I'd already been introduced to Jim Ross but Jerry Lawler had been stuck in traffic so I'd missed him. I walked around the ring snapping pictures as I went. The other photographers were pretty much limited as to where they could go but as the `official' I could move around freely.

Shaking his head at the leering grin on Jerry's face, Jim looked at who he was pointing at. April. She was taking a picture of Mark as he stood on the ring apron. Looking down at the monitor he saw that the cameras were trained on her as well to give everyone a look at what Jerry was taking about.

Undertaker and Big Show lost the match. As Undertaker was beating X-Pac up outside the ring Kane chokeslammed Big Show and got the pin before Undertaker could get back into the ring. Undertaker berated Big Show for the loss and then stormed off backstage. Taking pictures of the angry Undertaker I had to hide a smile as personally I thought he looked cute. I found it hard to take his character seriously when I knew how warm and loving Mark really was.

"Because you're a woman." At the look on her face Vince realised that he'd made a mistake in saying that. Her eyes narrowed in anger. He swallowed hard wondering how he was going to get out of it. He looked to Mark for help, but he just folded his arms and smiled a `get out of that' smile. "Okay we'll try the driver story… You know, we could make more of this."

Acting as his chauffer diverted some of the attention away from us but Mark didn't like it. He wanted to shout it out to the world `April is my wife.' But both April and Vince wouldn't let him. In a brief moment he wondered if all she wanted him for was the sex.

"I was an idiot. I should've tied you down and made you listen to me instead of running away." I lay on his chest looking up at him. There was still a touch of unhappiness in his eyes. "I love making love with you but I also love it when we just spend time together. Even talking to you on the phone makes me happier that I can possibly describe." I sat up. "Do you want to try something new?"

"No." I shook my head at him, glad to see his good humour coming back. "How about we go out like a normal happily married couple for the day? Go sightseeing, have a meal in a fancy restaurant, evening trip along the river and then back here to see if we can't find a new position."

"Oh no you don't." Grabbing her he pulled her back onto the bed and lay across her. Knowing just what to do he tickled her until she was exhausted from laughing. "Now to claim my sacrifice." Suddenly she went still under him. "What did I say?"

After getting dressed we went on a sightseeing tour of the city. Just a normal couple, that is as normal as you can get when one of you is nearly seven foot tall and is on TV more than most rock stars. I looked up at him as we walked along hand in hand. He was wearing black as usual, jeans, sweatshirt and a baseball cap. People must have recognised him but they were good enough to leave us alone, probably not believing that Undertaker would be walking the same streets as them.

"I can't help it, you just look so handsome." He was wearing a black suit and a black silk shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing a small hint of his chest. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I was so distracted with the thought of crawling onto his lap and opening his shirt that I could have been eating sawdust for all I knew.

After seeing my photographs of the matches Vince and Tom begged me to continue taking pictures for them. I agreed to be a part-time event photographer, which meant I could spend plenty of time with Mark, especially if I was taking photos during his matches. I also ended up agreeing to take photos for an article in the RAW magazine a `life on the road' kind of deal.

Vince unfolded a newspaper and handed it to Mark, who passed it onto me. There in full colour was a picture of Mark and I kissing before going back into our hotel. They'd also managed to get a picture of the register, which showed that we were sharing the same room. As I was still using my maiden name the only thing they were missing was the fact that we were married. I only had one complaint.

"What?" Looking up from the newspaper I looked at Mark. "No nothing like that. It's just that with the amount of time we were kissing, you'd think that they could of got a picture that wasn't blurred." Giving the paper back to Vince I walked off muttering. "I feel like calling them and giving them a piece of my mind… Very shoddy work."

That night I was sitting down with my sketchbook in hand. The subject of my drawings was sitting across from me flicking half-heartedly through a book. I could easily draw him from memory but I just loved watching him.

Mark lowered his book as he felt April's gaze on him again. It was one he'd been looking forward to reading but he was more interested in what April was drawing. He stood up and walked towards her. The sketchbook closed with a snap before he could see anything. "Can I see?"

I looked down at my closed pad then reaching a decision I passed it to him. He sat down beside me and started flicking through it. There was page upon page of sketches of him and the other wrestlers in the ring. Most of them were of him, in the ring, wearing his street clothes, close-ups of his face and eyes.

Then he came upon what I'd been working on. Pictures of us in bed together. He stared at them for the longest time, not one word leaving his lips. Her drawings were usually so detailed that they looked more like photographs, these had a dream like quality about them, erotic without been pornographic. The expressions on the faces were of two people in love.

I placed my hand in his and let him pull me up into his arms. We didn't dance very often. Neither of us had been taught how to tango or waltz and he felt to big and awkward to try. We swayed together to the music barely even leaving the spot but what did it matter, we were in each other's arms.

Mark sat back in the plush leather of the limousine and pressed a button on his cell phone. Listening as a number dialled through and the connection was made. The phone on the other end rang six times before it was picked up.

"That's why you're missing me then. You can't have your music on." He chuckled softly. "Tell me about the show." I sat back on my bed as he told me what had happened at the show that night. I chuckled slightly as he told me of the latest round of `ribs' happening between the other wrestlers.

"Okay slide under the covers and lie on your side." He heard the sound of fabric moving as she did as he instructed. "Right then. I'm going to slide in behind you now." He lowered his voice and closed his eyes so that he could picture what he was doing. "Can you feel me against your back?"

"Night love." After a while he heard her breathing change as she settled into a deep sleep. He kept the line connected. His phone was fully charged up and when he got to the hotel room he could plug the charger in and still keep the line open. He wanted to be there if she needed him. He opened his eyes and found everyone staring at him intently. Seeing that they were about to talk he shushed them and pointed at his phone. "She's sleeping."

He kept the phone close through the night. Listening to the sound of her breathing while she slept. A couple of times during the night he heard her breathing change as her chest tightened up. He talked soft and low to her when he heard her getting restless. She soon settled back with a sigh at the sound of his voice, the approaching coughing fit diverted. He smiled when she whispered his name in her sleep.

Everything went quiet. Then he heard the rush of water as she turned the shower on. He lay back on his bed and let his imagination run riot as he listened in. The shower stopped and he heard the click of the shower door opening and closing. He could see her walking across the bathroom.

I Joined Mark back on the road two weeks later. My time away from him had been utterly miserable. He'd phoned me every day, usually more than once, but I'd missed him. There was no way that I could go back to the life we'd once had together. I wouldn't be able to survive without him.

I knocked on the hotel room door. I entered at his softly spoken "Enter." He wasn't in the living room so I went into the bedroom. The room was lit solely with candles. They surrounded the bed with their softly flickering light but left the rest of the room bathed in shadows. Mark stepped forward into the circle of light. He was dressed as Undertaker but it was one of his older outfits. Shirt and hat rather than muscle top.

He held his hand out and I took it letting him draw me closer. He made me strip off my clothes while he stood there and watched. At his signal I removed his clothes for him. I started with his hat, with it gone I could see his eyes clearly. With our eyes locked I unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. He only let me touch him for a few seconds before he made me move on.

Kneeling at his feet I removed his boots and went to work on his tights. I wanted desperately to touch him but he wouldn't allow it. Pulling me back to my feet he kissed me slowly just once before drawing back so that he could watch his hands move over my body. Needing more of his touch I tried to step closer but once again he stopped me. I groaned in frustration.

He moved over my body speaking barely audible words as he pressed soft kisses to every one of my pulse points. He manoeuvred my body until it was positioned to his liking. He entered slowly his eyes rolling back in his head. He refused to let any part of our bodies touch other that where we were joined together, moving slowly and carefully, making sure that every thrust was angled to give the maximum pleasure.

He was driving me out of my mind and I loved it. Dreaming of making love to him was nothing compared to the reality. In my dreams he was all Undertaker. In reality Mark was there as well, all I had to do was look into his eyes to see that.

His breathing became raspy as he fought for control. Sweat glistened over both our bodies. Neither of us wanted this slow torture to ever end but we were both desperate for it to go to the next level. Running my hands over his chest I could feel a growl rumbling through his body. Cupping the back of his head I pulled him closer and nibbled on his lips.

Mark looked around in disbelief at how many people were crowded into his room. A small poker game had quickly developed into a tournament that involved what appeared to be everyone on the roster. At the moment there was a break in the game as everyone argued over what kind of food to order out for.

I caught Mark's eye and signalled towards the balcony. His answer came in the form of a barely noticeable nod of his head. He passed the pad of paper and pen over to Steve Austin and told him to find out what everyone wanted.

Mark shook his head as he made his way across the room and out onto the balcony. She was leaning over the balcony looking at the traffic far below. He pulled her back and wrapped his arms around her body. "This is all your fault you know."

Mark sat down and I crawled astride his lap. Settling myself directly over his manhood. I groaned as I felt it swell and pulse under me. Cupping his face I kissed him gently, pulling back when he tried to deepen the kiss. At his growl I kissed him lightly again as my fingers traced over his ears and jaw. He could quite easily have forced the kiss to go further but he just sat there with his hands resting lightly on my hips, letting me have control.

At the taste of him I went wild. Slanting my mouth over his I thrust my tongue into his mouth, moaning as he started sucking on it. Hands moving down his chest I quickly undid his shirt and moved onto his jeans. I pressed kisses over his chest, teasing his nipples to hardness as I slid down his body.

A sudden thought popped into my head and I just had to get it down. I looked around in frustration but could find nothing to draw on. Suddenly my sketchpad appeared in front of me. I smiled at Mark in thanks and started drawing. A couple of minutes later I'd finished and was once again engrossed in the poker game.

In the foreground was a wrestling ring, the banner on the side declared that it was the `First Annual WWF Poker Tournament'. Inside the ring were Vince and April having a game of poker, strip poker. Vince was obviously loosing and was down to his boxers. Undertaker was standing behind April a headstone at his side with `RIP Vince' carved into it. Shane was standing behind Vince with a T-shirt on which had `NEW OWNER' written on it.

The Spanish announcer's table was been destroyed by Mankind while the audience was made up of all the wrestlers. Everyone was there either holding up signs or doing their trademark moves. Austin was flipping everyone off. Rock's eyebrow was raised so high it was off his head. Gangrel was hanging upside down from the ceiling and Kane was engaged in a passionate clinch with Maurisa, Tori unconscious at their feet.

The hand was dealt. I watched Vince's reaction to the cards he had. I could tell that he hadn't got a good hand. Mine on the other hand was a very good hand. Vince tried to bluff his way out of it but it wasn't long before everyone had a holiday to look forward to.

"Time off at last. Now all we've got to do is shop for presents, buy a tree, decorate and cook Christmas dinner." He smiled as April lay down on the sofa with a groan and covered her face with a cushion. "It's not as bad as it sounds. We'll do everything together… except for the dinner. I'll cook and you can wash." He ducked as a cushion flew towards his head.

"I still don't know how you managed to burn the carrots." As he walked away another cushion flew, this one hitting him square in the back. Turning he fixed an Undertaker glare on his face and headed towards her.

With a huge smile on my face I leapt from the sofa and ran behind it. Watching him move I kept the sofa between us as he stalked me. With a sudden move he faked me out, grabbed me around the waist and threw me gently down onto the sofa. I sighed as his body followed mine and his weight pressed me into the soft cushions.

Propping himself on his elbows he looked down at her, easily recognising the desire and love in her eyes. He shifted his hips and pressed himself firmly between her thighs feeling the answering thrust of hers as she arched her back with a groan.

He looked at her and smiled at the sight. Hair tussled and eyes sleepy. Her lips were swollen from his kisses and there were numerous love bites on her breasts and thighs. He frowned as he also caught sight of some bruises on her thighs.

I looked down at the marks as he ran his hand over them. "Not really. Anyway I bet I left a few marks on you somewhere." I smiled wickedly as I clearly remembered sinking my teeth into his backside at one stage.

Staggering out of bed I took my coffee into the bathroom with me for a revitalising shower. Moving into the kitchen I found he'd already prepared breakfast and left me clear instructions on how to heat it up without burning the house down.

I blindfolded him with one of his bandannas and led him outside. He kept tilting his head from side to side, trying to get a fix on where I was leading him. At the sound of the garage opening he knew where he was but not why. I removed the blindfold.

He blinked his eyes to adjust to the light and looked around at his bikes. He was about to ask April what was going on when his eyes fell upon the bike that she was standing next to. The last time he'd see it was when it was been packed into a crate.

"I brought it for you." He knelt down and started inspecting it. I shook my head and smiled at the expression on his face. I'd lost him. "I'll leave you two alone for a while shall I? Just don't forget to cook dinner or I'll be forced to do it."

Hearing an all too familiar commotion in the corridor we both rushed to the door. As it opened a small streak of blond fur dashed between Mark's legs and hid under the nearest table clutching his latest prize firmly between his needle sharp puppy teeth.

Zak, seeing his master looking at him, wagged his little tail in joy, a stack of papers on the floor between his legs. He reached out a hand for the papers and Zak instantly went into `play mode', front end down, rear up. A wiggle of Mark's fingers had Zak snatching up the papers and shaking them like a rag.

A loud banging on the door had me diving under the table to reach the papers that Zak was now tearing to shreds. I managed to grab a hold of Zak and pull him out, papers and all. Mark tore the papers from the little jaws and hid them behind his back as Vince barged into the room.

"He's ruined it!" He wagged a finger at Zak and nearly lost it to a quick snap of teeth. "Have you any idea what this is?" He waved the papers around, little scraps escaped and floated to the ground. "This was the draft copy of the storylines for the next six months!"

"He'll be good, he just needs a little training. Please Vince." Zak and I both turned the cute `puppy eyes' look on him. "Come on Vince, give him a chance." I watched Vince melt as Zak held a paw out to him.

"Well in that case," I wrapped my legs around his waist, "maybe I don't want to apologise." Our lips were just brushing each other's when Mark suddenly dropped me back to the ground with a cry. Bending down and detached Zak's teeth from his ankle.

"Give him here." Placing Zak on a blanket in a corner I gave him his favourite toy; a blue teddy bear. Once he caught sight of it he settled down and used it as a cushion, falling asleep in no time. "Right then where were we?"

Eventually Mark got around to getting dressed in his ring clothes. I loved to watch him, seeing his transformation from Mark into Undertaker as he went through his little rituals. I wondered if he knew that he did everything in a set way. I smiled as he checked his boots once again and started pacing the room once again.

He frowned at the knocking on the door, his pacing disturbed. I opened the door and watched in amazement as Vince strode in, followed by some of the ring crew. Mark and I stood back and watched as they quickly set something up in the corner. Just as soon as they'd arrived, the ring crew left.

"Now, Steph's volunteered to stay with Zak tonight. Just to make sure he doesn't get stressed out without you. Don't worry about taking it with you, the ring crew will take it down and take it to the next show." He waved a finger at us, "Just don't tell anyone I did this. I've got a reputation as a ruthless businessman to uphold."

Mark was feeling frustrated. Six months had passed since he had persuaded April to join him on the road. Six months and she was still wearing her wedding ring on a necklace. He was torn. He was desperate to find out if she would stay with him but he didn't want to remind her in case she told him that she still wanted a divorce. He felt that their relationship had never been better and she seemed happy but he was still worried.

"I can't talk now. I've got to settle Zak down and get to ringside before the show starts." It was generally acceptable to rush in late for a TV show, frowned upon but acceptable. To be late for a live PPV like the Royal Rumble was a no, no.

Not even when the reason you were late was due to Vince making you sign a contract to be a full time WWF ringside photographer. He'd finally got me to agree by adding a stipulation that I only had to be there is Mark was at the event.

"Oh… She still not said if she's staying?" Glenn was shocked. It was more than obvious to everyone that Mark and April loved each other. He'd have to have a word with Maurisa and see if she'd give April a friendly reminder before he was forced to lock them in a room together.

Glenn guided his friend into his dressing room and made him sit down. Taking Zak from his arms he placed the puppy in his pen and gave him a toy to chew on. "Has she said anything that makes you think that she doesn't want to stay?"

"I'm sure that everything will be fine." Glenn looked at Mark feeling concern for his friend. "I hate to say this but you need to snap out of this mood. If you got out there in this frame of mind you could get hurt." The wrestling ring was definitely not the place to be if you were distracted.

I expected him to be just backstage waiting for his cue but there was no sign of him. His dressing room was empty so I ran back to the area just behind the curtains. I was too late. Mark was already heading down to the ring for his match against Big Show. My attempt to follow him was blocked by security.

I watched the match on the monitors. Right from the start it was obvious that Mark wasn't concentrating. Shots that he could have, and should have, avoided he walked straight into without lifting a finger to defend himself. Paul looked concerned but been in character there was nothing he could do about it except continue with the match.

"He's going to get hurt!" Glenn came to stand beside me still wearing his ring clothes. He gestured discretely. A cameraman was watching what was happening and the red light was on. It was highly likely that everyone could see what was happening, which meant that he would have to stay in character.

"Undertaker." When he refused to look at me I touched his face and whispered to him. "Please look at me Mark." Pain filled green eyes met mine. "Will you please concentrate on the match?" He turned away again. "Please, I don't want to see you get hurt."

From then on the match went as planned and Mark won the WWF Championship belt from Paul. The crowd went wild as he raised the belt high. Then in a move reminiscent of the old Undertaker he dropped to one knee and saluted the crowd. Climbing from the ring he walked over to me and took my hand in his.

Seeing his body tense I touched his arm and he stilled instantly. I gave his hand a squeeze and with one last glare at Jerry he led me backstage to his dressing room. He locked the door behind us to prevent any interruptions then looking at me he took the key from the lock and stuck in the waistband of his trunks.

I played with Zak while waiting for him to finish, suffering nipped fingers when I was listening to him shower instead of paying attention to Zak. As the shower stopped I gathered up Zak and placed the playful bundle back in the playpen. Passing him his teddy had him lying down instantly. Sucking on the toy like a pacifier he fell asleep.

Feeling slightly puzzled and worried he pulled on his clothes. She normally loved to watch him yet she hadn't looked in his direction once. He stepped towards her but with a wave of her hand she stilled his motion.

"I don't want that either. I was as lonely as you were and I wish I could have brought you on the road with me sooner but until recently this was no place for a woman and I thought you were happy at home." He looked at the divorce papers, wanting desperately to tare them up. "You can't want this?" He pointed to the papers.

"For you I'd give up my job and my life but I will never give up on us." He pushed her back against the wall and ravished her mouth as his hands moved desperately over her body, feeling her respond immediately to his touch. `This can't be what she wants' he suddenly remembered her words `IF that WAS what I wanted' and he also remembered the way she's said them. She didn't want the paper signing any more than he did.

Pulling back from the kiss he checked her eyes for confirmation. Now that she was off guard he could clearly see the love there. She was punishing him for something. He pushed away from her with a sigh. "It's obviously what you want, so I'll do it." Picking up a pen he walked to table, wondering just how far she's take it.

"I knew you wouldn't let me." He pushed her back against the wall again, calming her anger and building her desire with gentle kisses. "You said `IF that WAS what I wanted' then I remembered how many times, and all the different ways, you've already said that you love me. Though I must admit that you had me worried for a minute."

"I know that feeling only too well." With his eyes fixed on my every movement I removed my wedding ring from my necklace and placed it in his hand. To my surprise he tucked the gold band into his trouser pocket.

"That's what's had me distracted lately. I'll swear, Vince is like a pit bull when he's got something on his mind. Everywhere I've turned he's been there with a new contract to shove under my nose. Not even the ladies toilets were safe, he just sent Linda in after me."

Reaching our home he settled Zak down for the night and led me into the bedroom. Removing my wedding ring from his pocket he took my left hand and I watched as he slid the ring back onto my finger. It felt like our wedding day all over again.

I peeked back at the bed. The sun crept its way across the bed and lit up Mark's body. He was lying on his back, his body barely covered by the sheet we'd pulled over us not all that long ago. Grabbing a sketchbook I quickly drew what I was seeing.

Putting the book down I looked down at my wedding ring, watching as the early morning light reflected off the gold band. It was nothing more than a simple gold ring and whether I was wearing it or not I couldn't love him any more than I already did. Yet it, and all that it symbolised, made all the difference. It was back where it belonged and so was I.