Roman's POV

"FUCK!" I slam the door behind me. What the hell just happened?

I lean against the door, my chest heaving. Holding my hands up in front of me, I watch them tremble. Closing my eyes, all I can see is her tear-streaked face. How did I get this so fucking wrong?

All I wanted was to keep her from seeing me utterly destroyed. Was that too much to ask? I thought of all people, she'd be the one to understand. The last 11 months have been an eye-opener for her and I know there have been times where she's kept her mouth shut after a particularly bad fight. I've noticed the flinches out of the corner of my eye as she notices the bruises on my body. I thought I was doing her a favour.

Who wants to see the person they love and care about being flung around like a rag doll for the purpose of entertainment? It might be my choice, but I don't want to inflict it on her.

There's a knock at the door and I take a shaky breath before I heave myself away and open it.

"Hey man," Seth greets me. "I just wanted to come by and say thanks again..." He frowns. "You okay?"

"Yes." I say, my voice tight. "Look, it's cool man. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," Seth eyes me suspiciously. "Where's Lex? Thought she'd be here."

"She was."

"Was?"

"I asked her not to watch the match."

Seth's eyes widen.

"Don't you fucking start," I mutter, turning away and heading for my bag. Behind me, I hear Seth close the door.

"Take it that didn't go down as expected?"

"I thought I was being considerate."

"More like you wanted to salvage some pride."

I freeze, my hands curled around my vest that I'm half-way through digging from my bag.

"You asked her to come all the way out here," Seth continues "And then at the last minute, you tell her that you don't want her here. What did you expect to happen?"

I turn to face him. "I didn't want-"

"If this," he gestures between us. "If this, wasn't about to happen, would you have said anything?"

"Maybe."

"Bullshit. If we hadn't just had that meeting, she'd be sat here with you. She'd be out there cheering you on, no matter how much Lesnar got over on you and at the end, she'd be here waiting for you."

I shake my head. "I still-"

Seth laughs. "You keep telling yourself that. Look man, tonight is big for all of us. You sure you don't want Lex to be a part of that?"

"She thinks I've told her to go because she's a distraction."

Seth raises an eyebrow. "Did you correct her?"

"I tried."

"Not hard enough."

I chew my lip. "She said she was done giving a crap about me."

"You told her to leave. What did you want her to say?" Seth shakes his head in disbelief. "You're a dick, Ro."

"Fuck you."

He stands. "Whatever, man. Look, just call her. Tell her to come back. You can't go out there with all of this hanging over you – that's a fucking distraction."

I grunt in response and he finally takes the hint.

He pats me on the back. Tells me that he'll see me in the final meeting before the match.

"Call her," he insists as he walks out the room, leaving me with my thoughts.

I lay out my gear on the table and step back to look at it. Taking a deep breath, I reach into my pocket for my phone. I toy with it for a second and then switch it off.

No distraction. Focus.

I toss the phone back into my bag and lean forward, tracing the logo on my ring vest. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to think of anything else but Alexia's face, her disappointment, her anger, her frustration. But she won't budge. I slam my fist down on the table with a shout.

Focus.

I keep my hands on the table, not trusting myself to not turn around and pick up the phone and call her and beg her to come back.

I can't do this with her here. But I can't do this without her. Her final words to me echo around my head and I pray to God, to anyone who'll listen, that what she said isn't true. I've stumbled so many times over the last few months and she's been there to pick me back up. I need her to be there for me tonight, I need to feel her arms around me, her mouth at my ear, telling me how much she loves me, no matter what.

I let out a raspy breath. I wonder where she is, what she's doing. Footsteps drum past the door and I hold my breath each time, waiting for her tentative knock. But it never comes. Because she's not here. Because I sent her away.

My ears are ringing when I make it backstage, the adrenalin the only thing keeping me from collapsing on the spot. The dull ache in my back switches up a notch as I limp away from the noise, the cheers and the boos. I wince as I turn a corner, my ribs on my right side twinging sharply.

I speed up as I approach my locker-room, desperate to get inside and to take a moment to myself. I push the door open and fling my vest towards the table. It misses by a long way and slumps to the floor. I follow suite, only this time on the bench.

Leaning back, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Relief floods over me as I realise that three months of hard work has come to an end. I reach out to the side and grasp at thin air. I feel a stabbing pain in my gut, but I know it's not from anything that's happened in the last thirty minutes.

Alexia.

I open my eyes and stare around the empty room. If she was here right now, I'd have her scooped against me, my mouth on her's. If she was here right now, she'd be telling me to pick myself up, get showered, dressed and out the door. She'd be dragging me to the car, kissing my knuckles during the ride back to the hotel. But I guess tonight I'll be hitching a ride with someone else.

Heaving myself up, I grab the vest from the floor and start to strip out of my boots and pants. I shower, taking my time, letting the water beat down on my sore body. Afterwards, I stand looking in the mirror, assessing the potential for bruising. I turn to look at my back and notice pale yellow patches between my shoulder blades. I reach to touch them, grimacing as they tingle under my fingers.

I scowl at myself and push my hair back. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I head back into the locker room and pull out clean clothes from my bag. Only then do I remember my phone and switch it on. It buzzes several times and I scroll through the messages from friends and families. My thumb freezes over the final one.

Sexy Lexi
1 image.

I pause for a second, preparing myself for the worst and then I brush my thumb over the message to open.

My mouth goes dry.

Lex stares up at me, her expression full of fuck you. I notice that her image slightly off centre. And then I realise why. I'm there, in the background, on the ropes. The shot is taken during my entrance. How the fuck...

There's no message, just the photo.

Why didn't I see her? She was front row after all. I would have seen her. How did I miss her?

My phone buzzes again in my hand. I stare at the message dumbly.

Surprise.

The three dots appear as I read the one-word text over and over again. And then:

I'm sorry.

I frantically tap out my own apology, followed by:

Where are you?

The door creaks behind me and I whip round. She stands there, tugging an over-sized hoodie around her body, which also covers her head as well. Her dark hair protrudes and as she meets my gaze, I see her eyes are blood-shot. I walk towards her and pull her into my arms.

"I'm so sorry," she mumbles into my chest. I brush the hood back from her head and run my fingers through her hair and tug it gently, forcing her to look up at me.

I shake my head and fresh tears run down her cheeks. "Don't be. I was a dick. I should never have asked you to leave. I'm sorry."

"But, I said-"

"Doesn't matter."

"I didn't mean it."

"I know," I murmur, leaning down to press my lips against hers. She softens in my arms and I sigh with relief. "Why'd you stay in the end?"

She pulls back and raises an eyebrow. "You think you can get rid of me that easily?"

I chuckle. "No." I pause and run my fingers over her cheeks, wiping away the dampness. "Thought I'd come pretty close though."

"You did."

I press my forehead against hers, cupping her face. "I won't ever again. I promise."

"That's a mighty big promise," she whispers against my lips.

"I mean it."

She nods slowly, her arms wrapping around my shoulders, my wet hair dampening the sleeves of her hoodie. "I want to share everything with you, Ro. Everything. Whether it's good or bad. Whether you're winning or losing, I don't care. I just want to be with you and support you."

"I know. I missed you tonight."

"I missed you too," she sighs.

I press my lips against hers one last time, before I pull away to get dressed. I feel her eyes watching my every move and when I drop the towel, I grin as I hear her exhale slowly. I cast a look over my shoulder and catch her eye.

She bites her bottom lip, tugging on the sleeves of the hoodie. Only then do I notice it's got my logo on the front. I smile and she frowns. "What?"

"Nothing." I turn back to pull on my sweatpants and grin to myself.

I lean forward, pressing my body against Lex as I reach for my toothbrush. She giggles, squashed between me and the vanity unit. I straighten as I start to brush, but I keep her pinned there, holding her gaze in the mirror, telling her once again how sorry I am.

I can't thank my lucky stars enough that she's still here. Even in the car back to the hotel, I kept casting looks her way as if she was going to disappear into thin air, a figment of my imagination all along. But she stayed, catching my eye and offering me small smiles. I reached across and fingered the cuff of her hoodie, until she shifted in her seat and moved closer to wrap her arm around mine as I drove.

She leans forward, her ass pressing into my crotch and I splutter a groan.

"Easy, big guy."

I scowl as I manoeuvre around her to spit into the sink. "Tease," I mutter.

"Likewise."

I grin, thankful that we're back to this. The easy back and forth.

But I realise that I've been a dick to her about this on more than one occasion. One too many texts that ended in a snappy comment from either one of us, the other having pushed too far. The phone calls that ended in hang ups when I was in too dark a mood to entertain being civil, even to her. The time spent together that would result in petty arguments over nothing.

I've been too caught up in everything else to see that perhaps tonight was just the end result of the last few months. That my asking her to leave was the cherry on the cake to all the other shit that had been happening on and off between us. That she had every right to be pissed at me for not immediately jumping to correct her when she called herself a distraction.

I stick my brush under the running water and finally step aside to let her move so I can rinse my mouth. Now it's my turn to be pushed against the sink as she wraps her arms around my waist and presses herself against my back. I shut off the water and straighten up, shifting my arm to tug to my side instead. I gaze at her in the mirror, her eyes still slightly red, but her olive skin is light and fresh, free of the streaked make up that was my doing.

"Bed?" I ask.

She nods and I tug her back into the bedroom. She goes to move away from me, but I stop her, pulling her back to me as I push my hands under her shirt.

"Let me."

I pull the shirt up and over her head, tossing it to one side as I smooth her hair. She lets her arms fall back slowly, but I catch them bringing her wrists to my mouth, kissing away my irresponsible aggression from earlier. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

"S'okay," she murmurs. But I know it's not. I press my mouth back to her wrist again, this time parting my lips and running my tongue over the red mark left from my fingers.

"It's never okay."

She uses her free hand to tilt my chin so I meet her eyes. "You don't have to keep apologising."

"I do."

She shakes her head slowly. "No, you don't. We forgave each other. Now's the time you stop apologising and we show each other how much we care."

"I can do that."

"Then do it."

I press my mouth against her wrist one last time and she smiles lazily, before she cups my face and pulls me to her. Her mouth is as hot as ever, the mint adding an extra kick as her tongue slides against mine. She reaches behind her and I hear the snap of her bra as she undoes the clasp. I help her slide the straps from her shoulders and then cup a breast in each hand, using my thumbs to brush over her already hardened nipples. She gasps into my mouth and I feel her hands slide up under my shirt, her fingers digging into my abs. I pull back for a second to lose my shirt and then I'm back, my mouth crashing against hers as I nudge her towards the bed. She sits on the edge, pulling me between her legs.

Her mouth breaks away from mine, trailing down to my chest, her tongue flicking over my right nipple as her nails scrape over my shoulders and down my arms. Her fingers entwine with my mine briefly as her tongue heads south and she starts to press open-mouthed kisses to my stomach. My dick is hard, my sweatpants doing nothing to hide my need for her, but she takes her time. Fingers run around the waistband and she edges them down slowly, kissing the exposed skin.

I groan in desperation as she finally releases my dick and curls her hand around the length. Looking down, I meet her eyes and reach to brush her hair away from her face, my fingers lingering at the back of her neck as she presses her lips against the tip of my dick.

I let out a guttural moan as I feel myself disappear into her mouth. Her tongue tickles the underside and I squirm. She pulls back and giggles up at me. I hold her gaze and my stomach tenses as she doesn't break the look as she takes me back into her warm mouth. I could fucking cum just watching her, the sight of my dick between her lips, my hand at the back of her neck, encouraging her, praying for her to take me in further. Her other hand rests of my thigh, but I know it's only a matter of time before she scrapes her nails over my balls and makes me curse loudly.

Not that I'm already at that stage...

"Shit..." I grunt out, as she lets go of my base and takes me fully into her mouth. "Holy shit, Lex. How'd you do that, baby? You're so fucking good at it."

Her eyes shine in appreciation and she hums her response. My hand tightens it's grip as she bobs her head back and forth. One of her hands sneaks up to press against my stomach and I tense and then curse as she fucking winks at me, her hand sliding over my hip to my ass. She clutches it firmly in her grasp, pushing me into her mouth.

I don't need to be told twice and I start to rock my hips forward, matching the pace she's already set for herself. Her hands rest on my thighs, but offer no resistance as I fuck her mouth, heat pooling low in my stomach, gathering strength as I near my release. She moans around me and my knees start to buckle as I scoop her hair up into my fist and use it as leverage to get myself off. Her eyes still focus on mine, but they're hazy and I know that when I finally strip her of her pants and underwear, she's going to be fucking dripping for me.

A finger brushes over my balls and I hiss loudly.

"Lex, Christ. I'm gonna fucking cum, baby," I warn her as I piston forward once, twice and grunt out her name as I unload in her throat. I feel her swallow around me, easing me out of her mouth, licking me clean.

I step back with my shaky legs, ridding myself of my sweatpants entirely. I watch as she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You okay?" I ask as I run my fingers down the side of her face, bending low to kiss her softly.

"Of course," she smiles up at me and I swear to God, I'm the luckiest fucker in the world.

I push her back gently and crawl over her, brushing my lips over hers again before I sink to nip and suck at her neck. My hands brush over her sides, her breasts crushed against my chest. I shift slightly to let my hand between us and pluck open the button of her jeans and slide the zipper down. She wiggles against me, her hands crashing against mine as we both slide her jeans down her legs. I growl in frustration, pulling away from her neck and easing back. I grab her legs and pull them over my thighs as I roll the offending material away from one leg and then the other.

I watch her chest rise and fall as I caress her skin from ankle to knee to upper thigh. Her hips buck impatiently and I chuckle at her pent up frustration. Hooking my fingers in the waistband of her panties I slowly tug them away to reveal her sex to me. My mouth starts to water as I watch the material peel away from her wet lips and I speed up to toss her panties away so I can touch, taste, smell her.

Lex's hand works it way through my hair, unknotting it as I kiss her from her knee up her inner thigh. I groan as her scent hits me and slowly push her legs further apart.

"Ro, please..." she whimpers above me.

"Please what?" I murmur, my mouth barely an inch from her wet slit.

"Lick me."

"Lick what, Lexi?"

She groans and I glance up to see her shaking her head.

"If you don't tell me, Lexi, how do I know what you want?" I whisper and her eyes flash open. I fight to keep my face straight. I know she hates the word I'd rather use. But when she says the other, it's like fucking gasoline to my desire for her.

"My... cu..." she starts to mumble, but my lips are already wrapped around her clit and the rest of the word is lost in a mixture of whimpers and groans.

I ease her legs up onto my shoulders, my hands gripping her hips and holding her down as I let go of her clit and trace my tongue along her opening. I push it in further, feeling her open to me as I let her taste run over my tastebuds. I groan and she hisses at the vibration it causes. Her heels dig into my back and I flinch ever so slightly.

"Shit, sorry," she murmurs, sliding her feet away to plant them on the bed. Her fingers scratch my scalp in apology and I look up at her. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

I shake my head and let go of her hips to pull her legs firmly back to how I want them. I nuzzle her thigh as her toes softly press against back. "Do your worst, baby girl."

She chuckles and then her back arches, my lips back around her clit. I let her buck her hips this time, loving every fucking second she grinds herself against my face. One hand sneaks back up her body, my thumb and forefinger tweaking her nipple until it's hard and I can pinch it and make her swear loudly, make her juices run down my chin.

Her thighs squeeze around my head as she rockets towards her release. I lift her up to my mouth, my hands on her ass, pulling her cheeks apart as I suck hard on her clit. My thumb edges towards the tight hole, pressing gently as her body tenses and I feel her rising up off the bed. Her words are lost in the scream that echoes around the room.

She collapses back on the bed and I take advantage of her limp body by crawling over her, letting her legs slip from my shoulders into the crook of my arms. Her body bends obediently as I rub my dick over her wet folds.

"Ro..."

I lean down and kiss her softly, first on her mouth, then her cheek, followed by her forehead. "I got you."

I slide into her slowly, watching how her body arches up to me. I lower my head, my mouth on her breast as I sink in to the hilt. Her hands slide to clutch the back of my head, anchoring me to her as I start to thrust in and out of her.

"Yes... There... Fuck, Ro."

Her words spur me on and I pull away from her breast. I slide back as far as I dare and then slam back into her. Her body writhes under me and my ego swells as she urges me on.

"Harder..."

I can feel a trickle of sweat running down my face as I steel my thighs and fuck her as hard as I can. Her hands drop from my head and rest next to mine on the bed, her fingers dancing over the throbbing veins in my forearms, wrists, hands. I take my chance and slide my hands over hers, pushing them above her head. Her legs move to my shoulders as I lean forward, bending her in half as I pound into her.

She kisses me roughly, biting my bottom lip. Her eyes are unfocused, but she's all to clear in her demands.

"Fuck... Harder, Ro. Make me cum..."

Her teeth nip at my lip again and then at my earlobe as my head falls next to hers.

"Give it to me, big guy," she murmurs. "Make me yours."

I growl against her neck. Guiding her hands to the bed frame, I wrap her hands around the thick slats. "Don't let go."

I ease back, my thrusts slowing for a second as I re-position her legs to resting over my thighs. Her body stretches out before me and I can't resist reaching forward and pinching both her nipples. She curses under her breath as I drop my hands back to her hips and roughly pull her onto my dick. Her arms tense as she desperately grips the bed frame, her face contorted into a look of pleasure as I slam into her tightness over and over again.

Her mouth drops open as I rub my thumb over her clit and a half-strangled cry leaves the back of her throat as I feel her walls tighten in an almost death-grip around my dick. Her body rises from the bed as she plunges herself down on me and I'm there with her, my arms wrapping around her and pulling her to me as I thrust up into her one last time.

"FUCK!"

Her head lolls against my shoulder as we both breath heavily. I stroke her back, unsticking thick strands of hair from her skin and tugging it up into a messy pony tail. I pull it gently, easing her head away from my shoulder so I can see her face.

She gives me a lazy smile, her mouth finding mine for a brief second. She lets out a happy sigh as I pull out of her, but I don't let her out of my arms. I shift her down onto the bed, hovering over for a second and then dropping to the side and pulling her flush against me.

We lie in silence for a second until she breaks it.

"Fuck, Ro. If that's what happens when you don't win, then I'm in for one helluva show when you do."

I growl into her neck as she twists in my arms to face me. Her fingers caress my cheekbones and I let my eyes flutter close. I can feel her squirming against me.

"Cold?"

She nods and I know she's seconds away from crawling from my grasp and reaching for my shirt. I hold her firm, sliding my hands down over her back, rubbing slow circles to warm her up.

I chew my lip and then dare myself to say what I'm thinking. "Y'know, if you want to completely covered in me, you only gotta ask."

She frowns and then her eyes darken. I roll her onto her back, her low giggles slowly turning into loud moans as I promise with my body, mind and soul to never let her go.

Fin x