The next night: Monday, March 18th, 2002
Stephanie leaned back from the mirror, finally satisfied with the way her makeup looked. She took a glance at the neckbrace and smirked, knowing she was gonna play a guilt card with Triple H when she wore that for the show that night. She knew he'd probably laugh, but she was always paying attention to small details – she couldn't help it.
She looked at the time and cursed underneath her breath as she began throwing her essentials into her purse. She had to leave her hotel room soon or she'd get to the Raw late. She hated being late and dealing with the idiotic fans, so she quickened her pace.
She was almost out the door when her cell phone vibrated on her night table. Shocked that she had almost left without it, she ran over and immediately flipped it open.
"Stephanie McMahon?"
"Hey, it's me."
Her heart skipped a beat, as she remembered the night before. She took a deep, almost dramatic breath, not even sure what to say to him. She didn't know if she should apologize for his match, or if she should just hang up for his harsh words afterwards, or if she should demand to know what possessed him to do what he did after their little argument…
Not that she didn't like it – but still, she wanted to know…
"Stephanie?"
"I'm here. What is it, Chris?"
"I'm downstairs. Come down, I'm waiting for you."
"See you in a few."
Chris felt like such an idiot as he waited for her. He didn't even know why he was doing this, feeling extremely out of place as he stood in the hotel lobby, receiving strange looks from the other wrestlers who were on their way out to the arena. Ignoring them all, he maintained his ground and continued to wait.
He knew what they were all thinking. He had heard the ridiculous rumors that ran rampant among the boys about him and Stephanie. Hell, he had even laughed at the rumors spreading wild backstage that they had become "fuck buddies." The very idea was stupid, preposterous… juvenile almost.
Until last night that is.
Popping his gum, he glanced down at the bouquet of roses in his hands. What the hell was the point, he wondered to himself. Was he trying to apologize to her about the night before? He scowled to himself as he glared at the bouquet he carried, as if the flowers would provide the answers.
No, he reminded himself. There's nothing to apologize for.
Triple H was walking down to the lobby just then, his limo ready and waiting for him outside. He was smirking as he practically strutted over to the main desk to sign himself out of the hotel, since he was going to have some "fun" on the town that night to further celebrate his newfound championship status.
He was back in his rightful place in the business, and he couldn't have been more satisfied. All his hard work had finally paid off.
He looked around with a wide grin on his face, scanning the area as the clerk brought up his information on the computer. His grin grew when he caught sight of a certain Canadian standing off to the side, who hadn't noticed him yet. He quickly dealt with the clerk before heading off towards the former champion's direction.
He snickered at the sight of him. The man really did look a bit lost without the gold around his shoulders. Hunter could tell that he was zoned out by the dazed expression on the younger man's face. He looked down in amusement to what the Canadian held in his hands.
"Aw, for me, Jericho? You shouldn't have."
That snapped Chris out of the incredible daydream he was having. He shook his head, ridding himself of the x-rated images he was having of Stephanie and all of the things he wanted to do to her. Finally focused, he glared at Hunter, who laughed.
"In all seriousness, you and Stephanie?" Hunter asked, motioning towards the bouquet Chris held in his hands. "Who would've thought?"
"Don't you have more important things to do?" Chris mumbled, staring at the gold that Hunter was carrying.
Triple H didn't miss a beat. "Oh, I do have more important things to do, but hey, I just want to wish you the best of luck with Steph, man. Since you're not getting these bad boys back anytime soon…" He raised one of the belts as he admired it. "Stephanie might just be the next best thing for you."
"Enjoy the belts while you got 'em, Trips, cause I will get them back."
"You really do have a better chance with my slut of an ex-wife. Hope you enjoy her, man. She's pretty good," he snickered, "if you know what I mean."
Chris snickered as well as Hunter walked off with that smug expression on his face. He knew he would have another chance to reclaim his gold; for the moment, he would have to just be patient. He silently congratulated himself for not flying off the handle with Hunter, thankful that he had maintained his cool.
Just as he was trying to remember what he had been daydreaming about, he saw her. She stepped out through the elevator doors, and he couldn't help but stare.
Lord help him, she looked amazing. His heartbeat quickened a bit as he remembered the night before. Staring at her, he envisioned himself throwing out the bouquet as he took her right there in the hotel lobby. Hell, maybe he could throw her on the counter table and they could just go at it right there… or in the elevator, he'd take her there, and they could just do it all night until she was hoarse from screaming his name…
Stephanie quickly scanned the hotel lobby, her eyes finally settling on Chris. He was leaning against the wall, a bouquet of roses in his hands.
Something fluttered inside of her when she saw the way he was looking at her. He had the eyes of a predator, and it intrigued her. She took a deep breath and walked confidently over to him.
They stared at each other for a tense moment, before he awkwardly handed her the bouquet.
"Here… I got these for you." He stated calmly. She looked legitimately surprised, and reached out almost apprehensively to take the bouquet from him. He watched as she admired the roses, while he admired her body…
"What are these for?" She asked, her voice just as calm as his as she ran her fingertips gently over the roses before bringing them up to smell them. It was as if she knew he didn't have the answers, and she was torturing him by making him admit it.
He felt his face burn as embarrassment started to creep up through him.
"I don't know," he muttered, shrugging as he ran a hand quickly through his hair, "I guess… I just thought, well…you know, last night…"
"Last night…" Her voice trailed off, as she looked back up at him, leaving it to him to finish the statement.
"Was…" He paused, struggling to find the word. "… good."
"It was… good?" She stared at him incredulously. She knew he could have done a hell of a lot better in describing the night before. It was more than good to her, so much more that she had dreamt about it, and if he would've just asked, she would've told him just how "good"it had been…
"Really good…" He said huskily, taking a small step closer to her.
"How good?" She asked in a flirting tone, not even believing her own ears as she watched him advance a little more.
The chemistry between the two was off the charts as he reached out and touched one of the roses in the bouquet he had just given her. He let his fingers trail lightly over them just like she had, while she watched him intently.
Oh God, he was indescribably handsome. Why the hell hadn't she noticed this before? She had been so consumed by greed, greed for more power, that she had overlooked just how good-looking the man before her was.
Her gaze lowered to his hand that was softly almost caressing one of the petals in the bouquet. She immediately imagined that hand on her again, feeling, stroking, lighting her world on fire, just like he had done last night…
She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and looked away from his hand. She could not believe that she wanted him so badly. She wasn't dense – she knew the rumors about the two, but she just couldn't believe that they were starting to come true before her very eyes…
"Almost too good..." He finally answered, looking up and making eye contact with her. She smirked at his response, and he had to restrain himself from hauling her off somewhere secluded and taking her however, wherever, whenever he wanted…
He pulled his hand away and put both hands in his pockets, willing himself to regain his control. Since when had Stephanie gotten to him like this? Before last night he had never even seen her that way… she wasn't his type, he reminded himself.
Or so he tried to convince himself. His intense staring of her was proving otherwise. She cleared her throat, trying to ease the awkwardness his staring was causing, before looking down at the bouquet he had gotten her.
"Well… thanks for the flowers, Chris. They're beautiful." He just nodded, shrugging to show it wasn't a big deal.
"Glad you like them."
"I do."
There was an awkward silence as they once again just stared at each other.
"Do you want a ride to the arena?" He asked nonchalantly, half of him wishing she'd decline so he wouldn't lose his mind with her so close to him. He mentally berated himself for even asking her such a stupid question. He needed time to calm whatever the hell this was that he felt for her…
"Got a limo?" She asked, a grin tugging on her lips. He blinked, and then frowned and shook his head. He had relinquished everything that came along with being the champion. She thought about this for a moment, before finally agreeing.
"Sure, why not?"
They barely had time to close the doors all the way to Chris's rental several moments later before they were on each other. He grabbed her and urgently pulled her on top of him as he kissed her, entangling his hands in her hair. She repositioned herself on him, so that she was straddling him, making him groan against her mouth. She let the kiss go on for a few more minutes, before pulling away and giving him an evil smirk.
"I thought you said you never wanted to see my face again," she said as she slipped her hands up underneath his t-shirt.
"God, Stephanie," He put his hands on her hips as she ran her hands teasingly up his chest. She could feel his response, she knew that he wanted her, and she loved it…
Now she really had him at her mercy… it was time to get some payback for the night before for the Billion Dollar Princess.
Thankful that it was dark out, she reached over the side to the lever that readjusted the seat, and lowered it all the way. He looked up at her in surprise as she shifted herself around in his lap. He bit his lip hard and realized she was torturing him on purpose.
He knew he shouldn't have asked if she needed a ride.
"That was really hurtful when you said that Chris, you really hurt my feelings." Stephanie droned, aware that the man underneath her was about to go crazy from not having her.
To drive home her point, she slowly started rocking against him. His response was electrifying.
"Jesus Christ, Stephanie…" His eyes rolled back and she snickered, purposely keeping the pace slow and making sure he couldn't get his hands in to undress them. She could feel him squirming underneath her, turning her on in the process.
"I think you should apologize." She stated, continuing to tease the now-hot skin of his chest.
"Oh you bitch," He snarled, though he made no effort to get her to stop, his eyes still closed, "I hate you…"
"If this is hate, then who the fuck needs love?" She snickered again. "You still haven't apologized for what you said."
"Neither have you…" He mumbled, about to lose his mind with her on top of him the way she was. The fact that they could be caught at almost any moment was an even bigger turn-on.
"And what have I done? Poor little old me? I am completely innocent..."
"Let's call a truce…"
"A truce," She said, accepting his offer. Truth be told, the way he was responding to her was driving her crazy. She brought her hands up to run through his hair as she continued to rock, agonizingly slowly for him.
"A truce it is…" He grabbed her hands and pulled her flush against him, capturing her in another kiss.
So much for making it on time to the arena.
