It was Thursday Smackdown. They had not spoken really except when they had to. Stephanie was still worried. Hunter was still skeptical. He had to keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't do anything stupid. Not so much for his sake... But for hers. He knew this meant gaining her trust back. And he knew that meant answering some questions.

He didn't want to answer her questions. What would she think if she knew Hunter had been in love with her longer than she could even imagine... What if she asked when it all began. He wasn't ready to be that vulnerable yet. But he had to get her trust back... Even if it meant lying.

He squeezed the bouquet of roses he was holding before sliding the hotel key into the slot. He took a big inhale as he saw the lift turn green on the key slot.

Steph jumped at the sound of her hotel door click and watch the door handle turn up. She was so relieved to see it was actually Hunter until she remembered she never gave him a key to her room.

"What the hell?" She yelled at him.

"Steph... I need you to shut up and listen to me."

"Is this your start to an apology because so far... Not going well." She said as she motioned towards the roses he was holding.

"This isn't an apology. It's something I know you want more..." He paused to admire the raise of her eyebrow. "It's an explanation."

Stephanie motioned towards the couch to indicate she wanted them to sit down. They both made their way and sat down. Hunter scooted closer to her, put his hand on her knees, looked her in the eye, and cleared his throat.

"Steph I love you. I have loved you a long time. I've never told you this, because it's so much more complicated that just when and how... But I started having these feelings.. For you.. Back when you started coming around because of the Undertaker stalking you. I remember admiring you when you would come around the corporate ministry. I remember watching you and Test flirting. And I remember it started really getting to me."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She quickly remembered that time Shane approached her and asked if there was anything he should know about her and Test. He mentioned that HHH warned him they were getting a bit cozy.

Hunter continued. "I was going to save you that night, Steph. Not Stone Cold. Me. Then I could tell you how I really felt. But he beat me to it. He ruined everything and I hated him for it"

Steph was dumbfounded. Here she had not even noticed Hunter until he started targeting her family. And he had been pining away for her for a whole year prior.

He looked embarrassed. HHH was never embarrassed. He had his hand down. She reached out and rubbed his cheek.

"I had no idea." She whispered as he starting to pick up his head and look at her. "But Hunter was running him over necessary? All he did was save me."

"I didn't run him over just because he saved you. I didn't even run him over. I had Rikishi do it. But there is so much more to this plan. I just wanted you to know that when I had planned to kidnap you... It was for your own good. I wanted you away from Vince.. From Test... Shane. I just wanted time with you to prove to you that I was the best thing for you. I swear I would have never hurt you." He said as he pinched her chin in between his fingers lovingly.

But that last sentence didn't sit right with Steph. He said it almost like he had to convince himself.

"Baby... Let's stop fighting. I promise to keep you filled in from here on out. Just know I had a very good reason for all of this. This was a plan that would have work out... But Austin was in the way." Hunter continued.

"But what reason, Hunt..." She was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

Hunter huffed and got up from the couch. Violently swinging open the door, frustrated that anyone had the audacity to interrupt him.

"What?" He barked at the scrawny kid standing behind the door.

"Mr. Helmsley... I was told to come tell you that you may want to cut your TV on." The boy nervously stuttered out before scurrying off.

Hunter looked back at Steph confusingly. She returned the same confused look. She got up and walked to the TV... Clicking it on.

"And HHH you are a pathetic excuse for a human being..." Kurt Angle's voice boomed through the TV.

"Oh no." Steph thought. "This was the last thing their marriage needed. Before she could attempt to calm Hunter down, he was red faced and cussing as he stormed out the door. Headed in Angles direction no doubt.

She watched the TV as the refs tried to pull the two men apart.

"Poor Hunter." she thought. He had seemed so sincere just moments ago...pouring his heart out to her. She decided right then that she was willing to work on this. She loved him and she wanted their marriage to work. For better for worse, right? But even though she worked on her marriage, doesn't mean she couldn't try and find out more about this "plan". One thing was for sure... Hunter was a dangerous man to people he didn't trust. So she had to show him...she was trusted with his secret. Not just from telling anyone, but from judging him.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the slamming opening of the lockerroom door. There he stood. Sweaty, out of breath, and his cheekbone was already starting to swell from the fight. She slowly walked over to him and stroked his cheek. He stared at her. He didn't know what he would do if he ever lost her. He hadn't felt any real emotions and compassion towards another human being until he got her in his life. And now it felt like something he was so sure of was trying to be taking away from him. Kurt flirting, Vince bitching about him, Austin returning...It felt like the whole world was against the idea of him and Steph.

With that thought, he grabbed the back of her head..with a handful of hair in his hand. He leaned her head back. His lips crashed onto hers. She returned the kiss and ran both her hands through his blonde hair.

Before she could think about everything that had happened that week...that day...she instinctively reached for his jean zipper. Moans let out from both of them as the passion grew faster and faster. She began reaching her hand through the opening she had managed pulling his zipper down. Then she felt his lips leave hers and his grip on her hair got stronger. Almost to the point of hurting.

"Tell me you're mine." He said lowly.

"I'm yours." She whispered.

With that, he put his hands underneath her arms pits and lifted her off the ground. She followed his lead and wrapped her legs around his waist. He spun her around until her back clashed against the nearest wall. As if gravity knew was about to happen, his pants fell down.

Hunter wasted no time. He reached his one free hand down and up under her skirt. Pushing her panties to the side, she moaned at just the slight touch of his hand down there.

Teasing her...he moved his hand around and gripped under her ass to steady her. With that, he entered her.

"Yes." Steph breathed out.

Hunter burried his face into her neck. Her hair fell around his face as he pumped harder and harder into her.

"Hunter. Yes. I'm about to..." and with that Stephanie moaned so loudly, he had to use one hand to cover her mouth.

Immediately after, he released.

They stayed there for a bit just holding each other.

He looked up at her...

"No one can have you but me." he said. He then pulled out of her and turned and walked into the bathroom, leaving Stephanie rather stunned by all that had transpired.

She knew then that she had to find out if Hunter's love for her was as dangerous as the man he was capable of being.