Content & Trigger Warnings: some light making out, and some cursing
Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with WWE. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination.
Pairing: AJ Styles X Reader

Summary: Y/N has enough on her plate what with her feelings for AJ Styles—especially now that she's on SmackDown's creative team. But soon, she has one more helping of trouble, when her verbally abusive step-brother, Josh's, behavior begins to escalate. Feeling like a hypocrite for having given her best friend advice on leaving her abusive boyfriend yet not know how to handle her step-sibling, she keeps quiet and suffers in silence.

Until AJ Styles sees the bruises marring her skin.

He becomes a force to be reckoned with, charging to Y/N's rescue. He vows to keep her safe, under his watch. And while he expects nothing in return, he gets a reward nonetheless—Y/N's heart.

But neither of them realize what Josh is really after. What measures he'll take to obtain it.

Nor the measures he's already taken to get it...

Note: This was my work for the Spring Writing Challenge that was hosted over at Tumblr a few months ago, and it was written using a sentence prompt: "What's your favorite thing to do in the rain?" It's a drabble, but I think it will be part of an upcoming AJ fic I'll be writing called, "Mended Hearts" (Sequel to "Pinned Hearts"). And of course, since I've not started writing said fic yet, I have no idea where the story will go, so this drabble may get altered, I don't know. :-) Hope it is enjoyed!

Oh! I almost forgot. I will be writing this drabble in second person POV. But the actual fic, when I get to it, will most likely be in third person, and it won't be "Y/N" it will be the original character of Skye Blake. Hopefully I have not confused anyone!

"Mended Hearts" (An Excerpt)

You leaned back against the wooden ranch rail fence, gazing out at the horses and cattle grazing along the hills of AJ's ranch. If only my life could be as simple as theirs, you thought, stretching your arms up and then lacing your fingers atop your head. But, no. I have to have a psycho step-brother who, for whatever reason, is trying to kill me. I had to go and fall in love with a married man. And granted while I didn't act on my feelings, I still managed to destroy his marriage.

"How did my life become so cursed," you thought out loud. "Am I just destined to never be happy?"

A tear slipped down your cheek, unnoticed, as one of AJ's horses ambled over to you and nuzzled your hands. You smiled, unlacing your fingers and reaching up to stroke her muzzle. "Hi there... Penny? Is that your name?" She nickered lowly and tossed her head. A chuckle passed your lips, despite your current sadness. "I'll take that as a 'yes', then? You're a beautiful girl, aren't you," you cooed.

The evening sunset disappeared quickly and rain clouds moved in, taking its place.

"It's going to rain," you told Penny. "You better get in the barn." And just as you predicted, the slow sprinkle of raindrops began to pepper your skin bit by bit. Dreamily, you tilted your head back and inhaled the clean smell of rain in the air. Penny remained at the fence, unconcerned with the light sprinkles slowly dampening her main. Thunder rolled in the distance, and the sprinkling transcended into a light drizzle of rain. Penny moved away then, and grazed a little more before finally making her way to the barn.

The sound of hooves thudding rhythmically against the earth invaded your quiet time, and you glanced up to see AJ riding in on his black horse, Bullet. Your heart skipped a couple beats as you watched him jump down and lead the horse through the gate and into the barn. His jeans hugged him in all the right places, and his sleeveless t-shirt showcased his tanned, muscled biceps perfectly.

You sighed in frustration. Why did he have to be so perfect—affect you in such a way?

It was quite a while before AJ came out of the barn. You assumed he'd been brushing and wiping Bullet down. He made his way over to you, and leaned up against the fence, mirroring your own stance. He did nothing else, just stood with you.

"We should probably get inside," he said after a minute of silence. "The rain is coming down harder. We'll get soaked."

That's the way it'd been since you came to stay with him. Everything between the two of you was strained—tense.

"I know," you said softly, glancing over at him. You couldn't help but smile slightly. "I'd like to stay out here for a while. I can't remember the last time I just... let go—said to heck with it, and got soaked in a thunderstorm."

You watched as a wistful look crossed AJ's face, and he moved a little closer to you. "I wish you would. Let go," he drawled softly. "It's all I've wanted for a long time."

Somehow dreading his answer, you tilted your head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"You're always so tense and uptight," he answered immediately.

"No, I'm not," you protested weakly, looking away from him. "I'm just...focused."

"On?"

"M-my career. Josh..."

Your heart rate sped up at the mention of your step-brother. You cursed yourself for ruining what was a peaceful moment.

"The night we went together over to Cassidy's house and found that piece of shit beating—killing her... And we got her to the hospital... When I kissed you... I got a little glimpse of the passion you're capable of, sugar. And-"

"AJ, stop, please."

Your breathing quickened, and you took a step back away from him to gain some distance, but he only erased your progress by taking two steps closer to you.

"I want more of it."

His words were husky, and his southern accent grew coarser.

"You gave me a taste, Y/N. And I've been addicted to you, ever since. I feel like I'm dying."

Your eyes burned, and only seconds later, tears spilled down your cheeks. You were hurting him. But he was hurting you, too. Because you knew it wouldn't work. Not ever.

"I c-can't. I can't, AJ. It wouldn't be right."

As if to match your mood, Mother Nature chose that time to shower you both with a downpour. In the next moment, your hair and sundress was plastered against you.

"Why not? Why wouldn't it be right?"

"Because..." You fought for the right words. "Because, I don't..." The next thing you new, a sob exploded from you. "I'm not worthy of you!" You wiped frantically at the tears that wouldn't stop. "You don't deserve someone like me. You deserve more—better. Someone who didn't ruin your marriage. Someone who's actually a good role-model for your daughter." You were sure you were shouting over the loud force of the rain, but you had to be certain he heard you. He had to be told he could do better. He had the right to know.

He said nothing for a long moment. He just stared into your eyes, his sapphire gaze held a mixture of pain and confusion.

"You really think..." He trailed off, and tossed out a baffled chuckle as he suddenly became very interested in his acreage. "Wow." Finally, he looked at you again.

His eyes were the warmest you'd ever seen them. They held tenderness, and... love?

"What's your favorite thing to do in the rain?"

His question startled you. It was so out of the blue and random.

"What?"

"You said you couldn't remember the last time you got soaked out in the rain. What did you do out in the rain? Dance? Sing? Jog?"

You shook your head, still a little confused to his drastic change of subject. "I-I didn't really do anything. I just enjoyed being out in it. I enjoyed the sound, the feel, the smell." You swallowed hard. He wasn't saying anything else and it made you even more nervous. "What's yours?"

"My favorite thing to do in the rain," he clarified.

You nodded.

"I haven't ever really thought about it. But, I know what I'd like to try."

"What's that?"

AJ moved in front of you swiftly, and tugged you up against him. You gasped at the wall of muscle pressed against you. Warm, and hard and strong. Instinctively, you placed your hands on his broad shoulders as his finger shifted to your chin and tilted your face up to his. "Kissing you." Your breath hitched as his gaze scanned your face and landed on your lips. "Ya got one chance to tell me no, darlin'." His thumb trailed lightly over your bottom lip. "What's it gonna be?"

You were too enthralled by the sensation of his warm hands on your back and face mixing with the feel of the chilly rain pelting your skin to give a direct answer. You'd just taken a breath to reply, when he beat you to the punch.

"Time's up, sugar."

His mouth claimed yours in a gentle, soft kiss. You stiffened by reflex—out of habit.

"Don't," AJ uttered against your mouth. "Don't do that, baby. Let go for me. Please. Try to feel something." He backed you up against the fence and trailed his lips down your chin to your neck. "Just throw away all the bullshit goin' through your head. Focus on me." He nipped your collar bone and then lapped at the water that had collected at the hollow of your throat. Your hands shifted up to the back of his neck, scraping his skin lightly. He groaned into your hair. "That's it, sweetheart. Give me more." His mouth returned to yours, the kiss scorching you. Rain water mingled with the taste of his lips and you whimpered softly. His hand shifted to your neck and squeezed lightly—affectionately. The pad of his thumb stroked over your Adam's apple.

"This can't happen..." You whispered between his fervent kisses.

"Why," he asked, absentmindedly as he nibbled at your lower lip.

"It won't work..."

"And why's that?"

"B-because I-"

"Don't say you ruined my marriage," AJ said, finally pulling away from you, though only slightly. His hand remained around your throat, but oddly enough it didn't frighten you. It was strangely comforting. His eyes held no malice, only affection.

"But-"

"You didn't, Y/N. Haley and I were having problems even before you and I met. We were headed for divorce even then." His eyes scanned over your face again, as if he were memorizing every detail. "Don't ever say you ruined my marriage. Or that I deserve better than you. Especially don't say you aren't worthy of me. It's me that isn't worthy of you, darlin'." His lips quirked upward a bit. "I just hope you don't ever realize that." He sighed when you remained silent, and looked down dejectedly. "I love you, Y/N." He lifted his gaze to yours once more. "I always have."

Your chest began to burn. You were holding your breath. Exhaling sharply, you took in AJ's words. Soaked to the skin in the rain, you looked into the eyes of the man you loved, and thought, "To heck with it".

"I love you, too."

You wouldn't recall the flurry of movement that occurred after your passionate words, but somehow, you wound up wrapped around AJ completely, your ankles hooked together behind his back.

"Say it again."

Hesitant at first, you looked down into his handsome face and then smiled softly at him as you your fingers through his soaked hair. "I love you, AJ."

He tugged your face down to his and kissed you again, slipping his tongue past your lips. Your soft moan spurred him on and then he was carrying you, his mouth still melded to yours

"Mmm, where're we going," you asked, momentarily breaking the kiss.

"Well, there's something else I'd like to try out during this rain."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"I've always wanted to make love to you in a barn, during a thunderstorm."

You glanced around and saw you were indeed inside the barn.

"Barn sex," you giggled. "A real romp in the hay?"

"Probably a few romps."

You laughed again as AJ laid you down in a stable full of fluffed up hay, and watched him as he began stripping of his clothes. Then he was joining you on the stable floor, undressing you and kissing you as if there were to be no tomorrow.