Part two of today's double bill. I may be a little out of my depth with this one. Thank you as ever for reading and reviewing, please continue to do so :)

Wade paced pensively back and forth, feeling majorly constricted by the four walls of the hotel room, occasionally smacking the palm of his hand into random surfaces in vain frustration. The phone call he received twenty minutes ago had transformed his mood from quiet excitement and eagerness to rage, concern and ceaseless impatience. All the wicked and wonderful things he was imagining doing upon AJ's return had left his mind as soon as he heard her voice on the other end of the line; distraught, despondent and desperate. Now he just wanted to hold her.

At first he could only blame himself, question the wisdom of letting her into his life in the first place. What had he inflicted upon her by dragging her into this whole Alicia fiasco? He'd saddled her with a mountain of guilty and treacherous feelings over a crime she was not at all a partner in. But without him she would be miserable too, and him without her. They needed each other. Then his anger turned on them, AJ's supposed friends whose scorn and inability to understand the delicate predicament she was in had ruined her birthday and was sure to place her a comfortable second behind him in the list of locker room pariahs. He wanted to find out exactly who said and did what to her and then throttle every last one of them.

Then he remembered the last time he let his anger over her mistreatment get the better of him, the only other time he'd heard her sound anywhere near this upset. Not long after he'd opened up to her about Alicia, she'd given him the full story about her and the man then known as Trent Barreta, of his repeated infidelity, his betrayal of the love and trust she evidently had in him. To a certain extent he could see the hypocrisy of he, Wade Barrett, descending into livid moral outrage upon hearing of a man deceiving someone who adored him, but he would have never dreamed of being unfaithful to Alicia, there was absolutely no way he could claim that as a white lie. At that moment he'd wanted to hunt down Trent, wherever he was now, and inflict some kind of physical retribution for the mental anguish he'd caused AJ, at the very least leave him an abusive voicemail. It was just how he'd always done things. Up until that point he had not been forced to stop and consider how at odds his black-eye-for-an-eye philosophy was with who he was trying to be now, and more importantly how at odds it was with AJ.

Seeing him fly off the handle, body pulsating with frustration, voice booming out foul-mouthed threats to this man he had barely even spoken to, only served to make her more upset. The look in her eyes was burned into his brain just as deeply as the look in Alicia's the day he finally came clean with her. AJ had looked frightened of him. Usually the knowledge that someone feared him gave him a primal rush, but it was the feeling he least wanted to inspire in the woman he loved, and he knew then that no matter how furious it made him to see her good nature abused, he needed to reign in his rage at all costs. He wouldn't be able to live with the prospect of her hiding her troubles from him for fear of sparking his ire, or of her feeling unable to look to him for comfort in such a situation.

Suddenly the sound of whispered voices the other side of the room door made finally come to a halt.

"You're sure you'll be OK, dear? Text me in an hour to let me know everything's fine else I won't sleep."

Kaitlyn. God bless that girl, Wade thought. At least there was one other person in the company whose unconditional support AJ could rely on.

"Goodnight, then. They'll pull their heads out of their asses eventually, don't you worry. They're good people really, and they'll soon realise that you and Wade are as well."

"I hope you're right. Thanks so much, Kaity. I don't know what I'd..."

"Hey, I won't hear any of that. It's what I'm here for. Now go cuddle up to that big, bad, British boyfriend of yours and remember you've still got plenty to be happy for."

Wade couldn't have said it better himself. The door slowly creaked open, he stood at the end of the hallway to make sure he was the first thing AJ saw. As soon as he saw the state she was in his chest began to ache profusely. All the care and effort that she'd put into her appearance laid to waste by a combination of crying and Rosa's handiwork. Her expression seemed calm in the wake of Kaitlyn's reassurance as she crossed the threshold, but as soon as she looked at him her lip began to tremble and her shoulders soon followed. When her eyes met his it all but broke his heart. The questions they seemed to be silently asking him. 'Why is this happening to me? Why can't things be easy?' This was the last thing she deserved.

It was like that day in the locker room in Cleveland all over again, he pulled her toward his middle with his arms behind her back, her head found its favoured spot under the right hand side of his collarbone where she buried her face, she grabbed fistsfuls of his shirt to steady herself as she let loose a first, agonised sob. Then another, then another. Each one caused the aching in Wade's chest to intensify. It was his least favourite noise in the world and he'd give anything to make it stop. He felt so inadequate being able to offer nothing more effective then the tried and tested routine of rocking her slowly back and forth, maintaining a tight, protective grip around her and making gentle hushing noises.

To his relief, after a minute or two it seemed to have an effect, her laden cries faded to light whimpers and her heart rate and breathing returned to normal. He lifted her in a seated position and sat down on the sofa with her in his lap. She nuzzled into his neck with an arm draped around over each shoulder. He supported her back with his left hand and began stroking her hair with his right as he spoke to her for the first time.

"You haven't let me down," he said gently, addressing her concern from the phone call. It was so like her to find a way to blame herself.

"This was going to happen eventually, we should have been straight up from the start, but that's not your fault. I thought I'd never forgive myself for what I did to Alicia, I thought I'd never be able to get it right. But you taught me how. You. So please, don't go doubting you're doing the right thing now, it's because of you that we've got each other. It's how it's supposed to be, poppet."

"We'll get through this together. I'm not going anywhere if you're not, and if they keep trying to hurt you, they'll have me to answer to. And Kaitlyn. Most people would give their right arm and left leg to have a friend like her. And if they've anything about them, they'll see in time how bloody childish and hiveminded they really are. And if they don't, fuck 'em!"

She removed herself from his neck and chuckled at his bluntness. He beamed encouragingly at her and was delighted when her expression lifted to match his. Never had he been happier to see that smile than right now.

"Fuck 'em!" she repeated with conviction.

He leant in to kiss her but she shifted her head backwards and rubbed at her cheek, then frustratedly examined her mascara-stained fingers.

"I must look a state," she sighed.

"I wouldn't say so," he replied with a shake of the head.

"Apparently 'ruined glamour' is quite a popular look these days. Stay there, I'll help you get cleaned up."

"It's alright, I can..." she began to protest, but he'd already effortlessly lifted her from his knee and marched into the bathroom. He emerged with her packet of make-up wipes, eyeing them like they were some form of alien technology, which caused her to emit another chuckle.

"It's these things, right? I just rub these over your face?"

"You must have worn make-up before, you're a movie star."

"Yeah, but I didn't pay any attention to how they got it off. It itched like hell, that's all I remember. How do you put up with that every day?"

"Just one of many burdens placed upon us by the patriarchy," she teased.

"Well then allow me to relieve you of your burden."

Wade knelt in front of her and began dabbing wildly at her face, causing her to twitch and giggle as he tickled her cheeks.

"Hold still!"

"I'm trying!"

Eventually he was satisfied with his efforts and leant back to get a good look at her.

"You know what? Perhaps we shouldn't be too harsh on Rosa," he smirked.

"If I looked like her and I saw a girl like you, I'd want to scratch your eyes out as well."

She fluttered her lashes at him appreciatively, wrinkled her nose and scrunched her shoulders together.

"God, you're so beautiful," he breathed almost instinctively.

"You're not so bad yourself," AJ smiled, clasping her hands either side of her face. It was as if all the anguish of the past hour and a half had never happened, there was just the two of them and he was driving her to distraction as always. If things had gone to plan she knew what she and Wade would be doing right now, and good lord did she still want to.

She remembered how adorably taken aback he'd been by her directness this morning, the disbelieving pleasure with which he'd greeted her seduction. She thought about how the sight of her in her dress earlier in the evening had left him drooling. Imbued with the confidence of her power over him, she got to her feet, slid the zip undone on the back of the garment and let it fall from her shoulders. Still on his knees before her, he looked fit to burst. His eyes widened with savour, he breathed heavily through his gaping mouth, his lips twitched as he tried to find the words, but he couldn't. She'd never felt more attractive in her life.

"Aren't you going to get up?" she drawled almost tauntingly.

He nodded like a chastised child and joined her on his feet. Even towering over her as he now did, he seemed to be in her shadow as she advanced on him, backing him against the dresser.

"You do still want to do this, don't you?"

Wade nodded enthusiastically. He couldn't believe the same woman who was so precious and vulnerable in his arms mere minutes earlier had metamorphosed into this vivacious predator, baring down on him in nothing but lacy black lingerie and a look on her face that could only mean one thing. He realised now, she could be whatever she wanted to be. Before he could make a move she was away, working open the buttons of his shirt and kissing each section of his torso as it became exposed. He threw the shirt to the ground and kicked off his shoes. It was time to strike back, he hoisted her up in what was almost a bearhug and laid her down on the bed. He hurled the sheets aside beneath her just before her back hit the mattress and elevated himself directly above her, leaning his head down to hers.

"I've dreamt about this... every day... for the last month," he crooned in between sensual kisses of her neck and jawline. His voice had reached the low, husky pitch that always left her reeling internally. She felt the sturdy grip of his hands, enormous, covering so much of her body at a time, a touch that somehow managed to be simultaneously robust and delicate. She felt them work their way across her stomach, running parallel behind the curve of her back and meeting at her spine to release the clasp of her bra. She sat upright and let it fall down her arms, as he did the same to remove his socks.

Now their roles were reversed, Wade on his back and AJ poised over him. She tenderly kissed his lips before reclining back on her knees to trace her hands over every sculpted inch of his chest with her face following their course down to his waistline. He could feel the increase in her temperature as she kissed her way along his stomach while her arms proceeded to work his belt loose then guide his jeans and boxers over his hips. Once she had eased them down to his knees she started forward with imperceptible motion and the grip of her right hand found its target between his thighs. His arousal had been evident from the moment her dress hit the floor and was only growing by the minute. As her eyes met his crotch she grinned with relish and pride.

She knelt back upright to give him room to ease his trousers from around his feet and toss them aside. He knelt opposite her in the middle of the bed, meeting her with a gentle, passionate kiss as he clutched her at the hips, as she meanwhile ran her hands up his tattooed biceps, caressing her way up to his neck.

He leant slowly towards her, wordlessly easing her onto her back once again as her legs spread either side of his. Now he was finally able to cup his hands around her exposed breasts; firm, perky and perfect. He spent the next few minutes glancing his thumbs across the peak of her nipples, giving her a tantalisingly brief rush of ecstasy each time, which she met with a sharp cry and a tremor. He took one between his thumb and forefinger, moving in a slow, deliberate rolling motion, while the other he took into his mouth, his tongue swirling indulgently around the hardened bud and against the tender flesh beneath it. As he clamped down and began to suck she started to lose it, her whole body twitching and squirming and grabbing at his shoulders, releasing unintelligible bursts of noise from her shaking lips that told him she was loving every moment of what he was doing to her, the feel of his shaft rubbing perilously close to the top of the inside of her thighs adding the fires of anticipation to her pleasure.

Moving his lips further down her stomach, he kissed across it as his hands kept pace along her sides. He could feel the furious hammering of her heart, see her ribs expanding and contracting with each heavy, tremulous breath. As his destination became increasingly clear, their ferocity only greatened. He stopped his hands at the point where her hips curved outwards, turning them downwards to hook his thumbs inside the laced fabric of her underwear, removing it in one fell swoop as she arched her abdomen and legs upward in assistance. This was it now, every inch of her tight, toned little body was revealed to him. He was having more trouble than ever pacing himself, but knowing he was bringing her so much satisfaction taking his time kept him restrained.

AJ had never experienced anything like this before. She didn't know whether he was physically more proficient than any man she'd ever been with, but something about his touch communicated experience and affection, it felt like he'd done this countless times before but that this time was more special and important, she was more special and important, than any other. He only had one route left to go now and she was silently begging for it, she was absolutely soaking with pleasure from his first assault.

She saw his hand move downwards, his long, wide fingers moving up and down the delicate, sensitive flesh, changing their pace and rhythm repeatedly so each time she became used to the sensation it altered and brought on yet another wave of elation. She looked up at that gorgeous face, recognising in it the adoring look he so often gave her, but this time mixed in with a fiery glow of passion in those magnificent green eyes. She knew she'd replay this image over and over again.

Then his face was gone, submerged from view between her thighs, she clung onto the bed sheet for dear life as his fingers stretched her and his tongue made its entrance, he quickly found the spot and began licking up, down and across, then moving in further, sucking and releasing as her juices flowed and flowed. She implored him to keep going in between wailed expletives. She was in paradise, and it was far from over yet.

Wade retreated from between her legs, removing her hands from her backside where he'd been gripping for leverage. All his fear and insecurity of getting it wrong, of disappointing her had long gone. She'd given herself to him completely and utterly, in body now as she already had in mind. There was something so natural and right about it. This was the real thing, the thing he'd heard about but doubted the existence of. This was making love.

"Are you OK, April? Everything's fine so far?" he asked, running his fingers along her smooth cheek and up through her hair as he looked down on her.

"Wade, I'm about as 'OK' as it's possible to be," she panted, arousal and anticipation in her every syllable. He leant in closer to her, staring straight into those stunning brown eyes.

"I love you so much, sweetheart. That's what this is all ab..." his declaration was silenced by a single slender finger that she held to his mouth.

"I love you too. But don't say it, show me."

At her word, he rolled onto his back, lifting her atop him. Bringing her down onto his shaft, guiding it slowly and carefully inside of her. She closed her eyes and gave a long, low gasp. She pressed her arms down onto his shoulders and together they established a thrusting rhythm. Wade reached up and began to indulgently manipulate her breasts, which were bouncing with abandon as she rode him. He felt he could witness this sight and feel this sensation forever. As her cries became more frequent and higher-pitched, he knew she was approaching her climax. He slowly sat up, bringing her onto her back with her legs in the air and pushing him in almost as deep as he could go, making her cry 'YES!' with such abrupt force and volume he nearly pulled out in shock.

She was teetering on the brink, the vertigo of bliss searing round her brain, firing to the tip of every nerve and pore in her body. That sweet, glorious burning sensation. She felt his hands scoop under her bottom again, elevating it from the mattress and allowing him to push in yet further. There was an animalistic primacy to his momentum now, yet he somehow seemed to know how to apply as much force as possible without causing her any pain. She had no time to ponder how he was managing this before it hit her, repeated shots of invigorating, adrenaline-fueled ecstasy. She lowered her legs and gripped his neck tightly, pulling herself against him as she shuddered and hyperventilated. With one last almighty thrust, Wade returned the tightness of her clutch around the back of her ribs and gave a low, almost triumphant moan as he released into her. Their tension eased and they became limp in each other's arms, panting, sweating, basking in the glory of this wonderful moment.

He let her head settle side-on against his, kissing it fondly, listening to her deepening breaths, which still carried the aftershocks of her orgasm. This had been worth the wait and then some, he thought with a wide smile of fulfilment. He could think of no better way of showing he loved her than this.

As she slowly returned to Earth, AJ took stock of her day. She'd been made to feel like the lowest of the low, verbally and in one case physically assaulted at her own birthday party by people she considered friends, but thanks to Wade she'd still had the best birthday of her adult life. If that wasn't love then she didn't know what was.