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It's all about The GAME and how you play it!

I guess I'm supposed to say that I do NOT own Triple H's character, so I don't own any wrestling character.

Rated M, for language and sexual content.

- SLASH -

Chapter 26

Monday morning came and I was sitting in my office, looking outside at the lake, thinking about Paul. His confession about falling for me caught me completely off guard. What was I supposed to do now? The deeper we got in this crazy affair, the more dangerous it became.

When I heard the knock on the door I turned to find David standing there, holding a document in his hand.

"I just came by to tell you that I read that report you left on my desk yesterday. It's remarkable, good work, Joe."

"Thank you, sir."

"This deal is very important to us and despite the setback from 2 weeks ago, I'm proud of you and I'm happy with the work you're doing on it. Keep up the good work, Joe."

"Thank you, sir."

"Yes." He smiled. "Not much of a talker."

I smiled when he closed the door behind him. I could count the number of visits David made to my office on one hand. Does this mean I'm not on suicide watch anymore? The man himself, the big dog, came to my office to compliment me on my work? Emily stormed in before I even had time to feel good about his visit.

"What was that all about?" She whispered.

"What? Mrs. Ashburn doesn't know what her husband is up to?"

"Don't be a smart ass, golden boy." Emily closed the door, still whispering. "What did he want? Are you in trouble?"

"I'm fine." I grinned. "He just came to tell me he liked my report on the WWE deal."

"Oh." She looked confused. "Wait, he came to your office for that?"

"I guess he did." I said proudly. "Wait, why are we whispering?"

"Something's up with him!" She smacked the desk. "Do you think he's cheating on me?"

"Gee, thanks a lot for the vote of confidence, boss."

"I'm sorry. It's just not like him."

"Relax, no one is cheating. I guess maybe it was his way of saying that I'm okay and that I didn't lose his trust after what happened."

"It makes sense." She smiled to herself. "You are so smart, darling. So, tell me, how was the weekend with your hero?"

"It was alright, I guess. We had fun."

"Yeah, good. I'm glad to hear it. We had fun with your little baby Hunter. The kids played soccer with him all day long."

"I'm glad you enjoyed him."

"Well, I'll leave you now. I'll see you later for a little treat?"

"Sure, I'll call you before I leave."

In the next few days I tried to avoid talking to Paul as much as I could, but he was as pushy as always. I didn't want to make him feel I was avoiding him, so I pretended to be busy during the day and talked to him only at night.

On Thursday evening, a friend of mine and I went to the gym and had a pretty descent workout. I needed that. Even though my body couldn't endure a serious workout, I needed to blow off some steam and he helped motivate me. Chris was one of the only guys around me who knew my life story. He was about my age and was there when I won the US Open.

When we met I didn't want him around, but he harassed me like a good loyal fan. Living in the same building as me, he kept working out the same days I did. We became friends, but he knew his place and didn't ask too many questions. I was his best man at his wedding and we even played tennis a couple of times. He always joked about how I was going to be his son's tennis coach when he grew up.

After the workout we came back to my apartment, because his wife was hosting her book club. Yes, women still did that and yes, we guys never understood it.

He went to take a shower while I was just sitting on the couch waiting for him to finish when the doorbell rang.

I went to see who it was and just when I found Paul standing in the doorway, Chris came out wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. "That was priceless, man. Remind me again why I don't shower here every day?"

I looked at Chris and then back at Paul. "Hi, what are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighborhood." He said walking into the apartment.

"Hey, Triple H, hi." Chris shook his hand. "It's a pleasure, sir."

"Nice to meet you umm…"

"Chris." He smiled.

"Chris. Hi." He said as he turned to look at my shocked face.

"Well, I better get dressed and go see if my wife is done with her stupid book club."

The bottle of water in my hand slipped and hit the floor as I saw anger building on his face. "Shit." I muttered and went to the kitchen to bring some paper towels.

After drying the floor I went back to the kitchen and Paul followed me. "So, what's going on?"

"Just give me a sec." I said as I dried my hands. "I'll be right with you."

"I think it's best if I leave. Maybe I should've called, you seem to be busy."

"I'm not busy." I said and Chris walked in.

"Yo, Ace, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, man." I waved.

"See ya, Mr. H." He shook his hand again.

When the door was closed Paul went to the living room and grabbed his bag. "I think it's best if I leave now."

"This is not what it looks like."

"Really? You're not half naked and you didn't have a naked man coming out of your shower, just now?"

"I did, but it's not what you think."

"I thought you said you weren't gay."

"Paul, come on." I tried to get closer to him, but he took a step back.

"Maybe you just like fooling around with married men."

"It's not like that."

"Then how is it?" His eyes felt like knives stabbing me in the heart.

"We had a work out." I explained defensively. "We came here because his wife has this thing tonight, so he just took a shower here."

"Is that the best you can come up with?" He dismissed me. "You expect me to believe you were working out? Because I could've sworn I heard you say that your body isn't strong enough for training."

"I do what I can." I answered defensively. "I mostly just go on the treadmill and just work on my upper body."

"And yet it doesn't show on your body."

"It doesn't show because I don't work out regularly. Sometimes I can't even get out of bed in the morning. On my good days, I just run a couple of miles."

"Let's pretend for a minute that I believe you, why would you come back here and not shower at the gym?"

"Why would I shower at the gym when my apartment is just an elevator ride away?"

I got him with that one. I bet he didn't see that coming. "It doesn't change the fact that there was a naked man in your apartment and you're half naked yourself."

"Look, I don't have to stand here and listen to you calling me a liar."

"But you are a liar and a damn good one if I might add."

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"You lied to Steph the other day about your flight. You lie every time you're around my family."

"I lied to Steph because I wanted more time with you and I'm acting like there's nothing wrong around your family because I'm trying to protect you!"

"Don't raise your voice at me."

"Don't call me a liar!"

"I'm out of here." He opened the door. "Nice knowing you, kid."

"Too bad I can't say the same about you." I walked away from him and went outside to the porch.

I heard the door slam and just leaned on the edge of the porch. I grabbed my head in disbelief and tried to breathe. I just couldn't. I was angry, so damn angry that I kicked the wall as hard as I could. The sharp pain that came next reminded me that I wasn't wearing any shoes. I screamed in agony and when I looked down I saw blood coming out of my toes. "Urrr! God damn it."

I walked inside to wash my foot and get some ice on it and I saw Paul standing in the middle of the living room looking at me. "I thought you left."

"You're bleeding." He tried to grab my hand.

"Why do you care? Get away from me! I don't need your help, I can walk on my own."

"Alright tough guy, I'll just wait here."

"Do whatever you want. See if I care."

I limped to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. As I turned the water on and washed my foot I noticed that my toes were starting to change colors. The blood just kept coming out, but I knew I didn't break anything, because I could walk on it and I could move it, even though it hurt like hell. I hated blood, I just sat there with my foot under the cold water and waited for it to stop.

"Joe." I heard him. "Are you alright in there? Can I come in?"

"I'm fine."

He opened the door to find me curled up in pain, watching the water run on my foot.

"Yeah, I can see that." He came closer. "Let me see."

"Stay away! I don't need your help."

"Well, I didn't say you needed my help, tough guy. I just feel bad since it's kind of my fault you're in pain right now."

"How is it your fault that I'm stupid and I forgot I didn't have shoes on?"

He looked at me and even though I was frustrated and in pain, he suddenly burst into laughter. I looked at him and as much as I was angry, I couldn't help but laugh, his laughter was infectious.

"God damn it, kid, how can you make me laugh so hard after making me so angry?" He approached me and closed the water stream. "First of all, the blood would keep coming out, if you don't put pressure on it." He said as he grabbed a towel and bended to look at my foot.

"What are you doing?" I panicked when he almost touched my toes.

"Can you move your toe or is it broken?"

"I can move it."

"Okay, I think it's going to hurt a little, but please keep in mind that you're a man so don't scream in my ear like a girl." And then he covered my foot with the towel and pressed on my fingers.

It was horrible. The pain was so great that I wanted to scream, but I couldn't make him think I was a girl. I grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it as hard as I could.

"You're doing great, keeping me from going deaf, thank you." He smiled. "Just a few more seconds."

"Fuck you."

He kept pressing it, but eventually released and looked at my fingers. "See, all better. Let's wash your foot and get some antibiotic on it. Do you have any?"

"Yeah, in the cabinet."

"Let me see."

After drying my foot and putting the antibiotic cream on it, he helped me up and I pushed him aside. "I can walk on my own."

"You little ingrate, I'm the one who's supposed to be angry at you."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, you're sleeping with other men." He followed me. "That's almost like cheating."

"I swear to God, you're so lucky you said the word almost, otherwise I would call the psyche ward on you." I sat on the couch. "I'm not sleeping with anyone else and don't even get me started on that cheating crap."

He sat next to me. "Tell me this, we are sleeping together, right?"

"Not anymore, we don't." I mumbled.

"I thought we were only doing it with each other, therefore, if you're sleeping with other men, it's cheating. I thought we were together."

"I'm confused, are you still married? Did you sleep with your wife lately?"

"Of course I did."

"And that's okay? You being married and having an active sex life is okay, but for me to also have a sex life is wrong? It's cheating?"

"I never said you couldn't sleep with women."

"Fuck you! I don't need your permission to sleep with other people. You completely lost your mind. What the hell do you want from me? What are you even doing here?"

"I felt like you were avoiding me all week, now I know why, you're seeing someone else."

"For the last time you crazy, crazy man. I am not sleeping with Chris!" I yelled and got up.

"Where are you going?"

"I need a drink. I'm in pain."

He didn't stop me which was weird. I wish he had stopped me, though. It could've given me an excuse to lash out at him some more. He just sat there and watched me limp to the porch. "Go ahead, kill yourself." He called from inside as I lit up a cigarette and poured some whisky.

"It's better than talking to you." I yelled back.

"Boy, you can be such a baby sometimes." He came outside and sat across from me. "So how long have you been involved with this Chris guy?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? I didn't sleep with him!"

"Why should I believe you?" He said after a long silence. "When I think about it, I don't really know you all that well."

"All of a sudden you don't know me that well?" I mumbled as I buried the cigarette in the ashtray and almost broke it in frustration.

"For all I know you just pretend to be so shy and naïve." He ignored me. "Maybe you are playing some sick game with me, maybe you just wanted to see if you can get in my pants and sell my naked pictures to TMZ."

The second he finished his stupid monologue, I looked at him and everything that ever happened to me started flashing before my eyes. The man sitting across from me that meant the world to me and brought me back to life just stabbed a knife in my heart. All I ever wanted was to be close to him and now, looking at his distant expression, it seemed like everything we shared together never even happen.

"TMZ? TMZ, Paul? You think I let you fuck me for TMZ?"

As the words 'fuck me' left my mouth, I felt a big lump down my throat and I got up and went back inside.

"That's exactly what I think!" He followed me inside. "Why the hell should I think differently?"

"Because I love you, you crazy asshole!" What? Wait, stop, go back! What did I just say? Oh no, no, no, no, no! I did not just say that!

"You what?"

I didn't hear his footsteps following me. I turned to look at him and he was standing in the middle of the room staring at me in disbelief.

"I think it's time for you to leave."

As he made his way slowly to where I was standing, he tried to put his hand on my cheek, but I pushed it away. "Look at me and tell me you didn't sleep with him."

"Fuck you. I don't have to do shit."

"Why is that?"

"Because we're done." I said and walked to the door.

"Just stand still, will you?" He followed me.

"I don't want to stand still. I want you out of here."

"I'm not going anywhere, kid."

The whole time, my eyes were looking everywhere else in the room as I tried not to make him see the tears in my eyes. If he would know I was about to cry, I wouldn't stand a chance against him. I was standing in front of a man I let into my life and into my heart that accused me of trying to ruin his life.

When he pinned me against the door and his hands started stroking my arms, the anger was starting to fade away. "Is that what you really think? You think I want to ruin your life?"

"I don't know what to think, Joe."

"Don't you know that you mean everything to me?"

When his fingers trailed my jaw line and ended up under my chin, my heart missed a beat as he lifted my head and our eyes met. "Say it again."

"You mean everything to me." I whispered as I tried to stop the tears.

"Say it again." He nearly chocked.

"You mean everything to me, Paul."

Looking deeply into my eyes as I said those words, he tried to read me. I always knew he saw more than I liked when he looked into my eyes.

"I love you, kid." He finally said after taking a deep breath. "And it scares the shit out of me."

"I would die if anything bad happen to you or your family because of me." I whispered as I put my hand on his chest.

"I know, kid. I'm sorry for the stupid things I said. I just lost it when I thought someone else put his hands on you."

"You're the only one, Paul."

"Say it again." He said as he leaned in and kissed my neck softly.

"You're the only one." I repeated as I closed my eyes.

"Again."

I repeated it over and over again to his pleas and he started kissing every piece of skin he exposed as he undressed me. "Let's go to the bedroom." He whispered in my ear as his teeth played with my earlobe.

"My damn foot is killing me." I mumbled as he pressed his body against mine.

"You want me to carry you, you big baby?"

"What am I, a girl?"

The wicked grin he was famous for appeared on his lips as he grabbed me like I was a gym bag and carried me on his shoulder to the bed room. I laughed all the way until he threw me on the bed and smiled. As he climbed on top of me, we started kissing and I grew impatient as I felt his clothes on my skin.

"You need to get rid of this. I need to feel you." I tried to take his shirt off, but he didn't help me. In the heat of the moment I grabbed the fabric and ripped it to expose his chest.

He realized what I had just done and smiled proudly. "Defiantly not a girl." He commented and resumed kissing my swollen lips.

We started rolling on the bed because I needed to be on top, but he kept fighting me for control. When we ended up on the floor suddenly and I was on top he smiled and tried to rise, but I pushed him back down.

"I don't think I've seen this side in you." He grinned.

"Shut up if you know what's good for you!" I said as I started torturing him with my tongue and worked my way to his hard nipples.

"If you stop now, I'm going to kill you!" He threatened in his husky voice.

I did exactly that and he let out a disappointing groan. I moved down and he pulled on my hair. I pushed his hand away and kept moving to his pants. Pressing my chest against his hard erection, he moaned loudly and tried to rise again. I pushed him back down. "Stay there! Be a good boy or we're done!"

We made love that night. It wasn't just sex like we had before. It was two people who needed to show how much they really cared for each other. At the end as he held me close from behind and kissed my neck softly, he whispered that he loved me.

I never thought I'd hear those words again, but somehow this amazing man brought down my walls and made me feel again. As I closed my eyes and held his hand, I knew that he was all I ever needed in my life.

Criticism is part of the creative journey, and I appreciate it.

Thank you for reading.

:)