For the first time in months, I got the urge to write so I went with it in case it disappeared again lol. This chapter isn't the best - sort of filler really but I needed it before I can move on to the next one where things really pick up. If you still remember me and are reading this, enjoy. Oh and I hope it makes sense too because my fingers have gotten a little rusty lol :)

Chapter 5

The first rays of the sun had begun to poke through the thin curtain. Paul rubbed his weary eyes never more grateful to see morning. The night had seemed long and endless as he watched over Stephanie. Thank God she was sleeping now and had been for the last couple of hours at least. The expression on her beautiful face even seemed peaceful and Paul was glad she had found some relief from her torment at last. She had been so distressed and upset from the moment she had received those damn flowers so much so she had spent the better part of the evening breaking down in his arms and every tear she had shed had been like a dagger to his chest. Stephanie was usually so strong and in control. Seeing her weak and vulnerable like this had killed him on the inside. It also gave him the uncontrollable urge to protect her, to wrap his arms around her tightly and keep her safe. Stephanie meant so much to him. She was everything to him.

Sighing heavily, Paul shifted his body in the seat feeling his muscles protest at the fact that his extremely large body was stuffed inside the body of an extremely small chair.

The worn wingback wasn't the most comfortable piece of furniture he'd ever spent the night in or the largest either but staying in bed hadn't been an option for him. Not when he had been so restless and in danger of wakening Stephanie. God knows it had taken her forever to finally find some peace and he wasn't going to spoil that for her even if all he wanted was to hold her close to him and never let go. Because at least in his arms Paul knew she was safe. She wasn't an open target for the sick fucking freak that was doing this to her. God knows it was more than he could bear to witness the twisted little games he was playing with her. There were the flowers that were constantly being sent to her. The emails with the stupid fucking Disney lyrics! All of it was just one huge mind fuck. A mind fuck that was upsetting Stephanie to the point she had been practically hysterical last night.

Paul let out a slow breath as he ran his big hand through his hair and tried his best to keep his emotions in check. It was more than he could bear to think of Stephanie being in any sort of trouble. The very idea that someone could hurt her in some way was killing him. Not to mention he wanted to find the fucking creep that was doing this to her and punch his fucking lights out. He was scaring her to death. Stephanie was totally freaked out by the fact she was being stalked….…stalked.

As his mind repeated that word, Paul felt a cold chill travel down his spine. His shoulders tensed as he clenched his fingers together and his forearms rested on his thighs as he hunched over in the chair. His breath was shaky as he exhaled and he realised Stephanie wasn't the only one freaked out by all of this. He was too because the truth was this shit was getting serious. That was all too apparent especially after last night. After all, someone knew she would be here. Someone who seemed to know Stephanie's every move; someone who had developed a sick obsession for his girlfriend. And that's what this was becoming- an obsession. An obsession that had to end before it got out of hand. After all, he'd seen the movies. He knew how this shit went down. The flowers would soon turn into something else just to get her attention. Something that could maybe threaten Stephanie's personal safety and wellbeing. After all he knew where she worked. He even had her email address. How long would it be before he got her cell number? Even worse, her home address? Well, he wasn't going to let that happen. Surely there had to be some way of tracking the bastard down before it got that far. Maybe he should talk Stephanie into calling the cops. At least then he could feel like he was doing something instead of sitting here feeling pretty fucking helpless. After all it was his place to care of Stephanie. He loved her. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He would go to the ends of the earth and back again just to keep her safe.

"Paul?"

Her soft voice got his attention and Paul lifted his head, looking over at the bed, his troubled expression turning into a gentle smile as he watched Stephanie wake from her slumber. She really was the most beautiful thing in his orbit and Paul's eyes shone with his delight as he took in that beauty.

"Hey. You're awake." he smiled gently as he stood up from the chair and bit back his grimace as he felt his back scream in agonising protest. Not only had this fucking chair done him no favours, it hadn't helped either that he had been viciously body slammed in his match yesterday and not once but twice. He really was a glutton for punishment sometimes. Either that or like Stephanie kept telling him, he really was completely nuts. He was starting to think that was the case.

"What time is it?" asked Stephanie lifting her hand to rub at her eye.

"Early." Paul replied as he wandered over to the bed.

"Hmmm." Her slender hand reached for his and she tugged on it insistently. "So why don't you get your ass back in here then and I can snuggle into you for a while."

"A snuggle, huh?"

Her soft smile lingered as Paul got into the bed beside her, the mattress dipping underneath his weight as he settled into the pillows and pulled the covers around them. Stephanie could feel his delicious warmth and still detect the faint scent of his cologne and she breathed him in hungrily as she moved towards Paul.

"Well maybe a snuggle and a little more besides." she smirked slyly before her soft warm lips found his and Paul let out a soft moan of appreciation as she broke away, smiling at him.

"Now you're talking McMahon. Come here." he smiled as he lifted his arm allowing Stephanie's head to fall into his chest. Her chestnut strands lightly tickled his nose as she nestled into him, the palm of her hand resting on his bicep as it lightly rubbed his skin.

"God, you feel good." Paul said as the gentle heat of her body began to wrap itself around him. He sighed in blissful contentment feeling his weary muscles relax. It felt so good to be holding her like this. God knows he didn't do it enough what with their schedules keeping them apart more often than not. And it seemed like every time he lay down in bed without her lately, his arms always felt empty like they were missing something. And they were. They were missing Stephanie. The truth was he just didn't feel complete without her. How could he be when Stephanie was his heart? He needed her like the very air he breathed. He needed her period. That's why he couldn't risk anything happening to her.

Briefly lost in his thoughts, Paul didn't notice Stephanie lift her head from his chest to watch him. Her lips downturned into a troubled frown as her hand lifted to touch his face and her thumb traced his cheek tenderly as her concerned blue eyes observed him.

"You look tired. You haven't slept have you?" she asked him.

Paul didn't reply. Instead he leaned into her palm, his lips brushing over the heel of her hand as he kissed it affectionately.

"You do know your silence speak volumes."

Paul rolled his eyes playfully knowing that of course he wasn't getting off the hook that easily. His girlfriend was not only observant, she was bloody determined too.

"Okay. I haven't slept." he admitted.

As Stephanie's forehead creased with her concern, Paul saw the flash of guilt in her eyes and immediately knew what she was thinking. Stephanie was blaming herself when she had no reason to do so. None of this was her fault. Smiling at her gently, Paul's eyes drifted over her as his voice softened suggesting out loud what had been in his head half the night. "So I was thinking. Maybe we could go away for a couple of days."

Stephanie's brow arched in surprise. A nice surprise nonetheless. "Yeah? Where?" she asked.

"I don't know. Anywhere really." Paul told her sighing softly as his lips brushed over her forehead. "Just as long as it's you and me."

"That sounds nice."

Stephanie shifted from his embrace to sit up and look at Paul. The blankets pooled around her waist as she absently pulled up the thin strap of her nightdress that had slipped from her shoulder. His brown eyes were watching her expectantly and as she looked into them, briefly losing herself for a moment, she felt an overwhelming rush of love for him because she did love Paul. God did she love this man more than she ever thought possible. He was so patient and understanding with her. He was her strength and that was never more apparent than it was last night when she had broken down hysterically in front of him. Paul had spent hours just rocking her in his arms, soothing her with his words and whispered reassurances. He had made her feel safe and protected at a time when, as a woman, she had never felt more weak and vulnerable. But knowing Paul was by her side looking out for her, she knew there was nothing she couldn't overcome including some weirdo out there trying to get her attention. Some sick freak who thought it was funny to scare her by sending flowers to a hotel. Well it wasn't going to work. She wasn't going to live in fear or be intimidated by anyone. She refused to be. She was going to keep living her life as normal and that included surprise visits to her boyfriend at his hotel. A boyfriend who, despite his workaholic tendencies, wanted to whisk her away on some romantic getaway somewhere.

Feeling her stomach churn in excited anticipation, Stephanie realised this was exactly what the doctor ordered. Time alone with Paul was exactly what she needed. He was, after all, the perfect distraction.

"In fact it sounds fantastic." she smiled back at him. "When were you thinking?"

"How about tomorrow?" Paul suggested.

Stephanie's blue eyes widened with her surprise. In fact she was momentarily speechless as she tried to process the fact that not only was Paul willing to take time off to be with her, he was willing to do it in a heartbeat too. "Tomorrow? Isn't that a little soon?" she asked him.

Paul clicked his tongue at her chastising her playfully before his face lit up with that slow sexy grin; the same grin that sent a rush of warm desire through Stephanie. "You know I keep telling you you've really got to work on your spontaneity McMahon."

"But tomorrow?" she asked as her hand lifted to push through his hair, her fingers threading through the blonde strands as she fondly tucked them behind Paul's left ear. "What's the rush? What about your schedule?"

"My last show is tonight. I'm free till Sunday." he told her.

Stephanie sighed as her hands rested on his massive shoulders and she pressed her lips together apologetically. "Yeah well unfortunately I'm not especially after my little road trip yesterday. There's no way Dad will give me any more time off."

"Pretend you've fallen sick."

Her blue eyes lit up as her warm laughter filled the room and her fingers lightly traced the large bicep that bulged from the short sleeve of Paul's white t-shirt. "Paul Levesque. Are you trying to lead a girl astray?" she grinned.

The mattress creaked underneath her as Stephanie turned her body, straddling Paul's lap in one swift movement. Her silk nightdress bunched around the tops of her thighs as his big hands slid around her hips, gently pulling her into him. His fingers lightly grazed her spine tracing small circles there and she lightly shivered under his touch.

"Why? You tempted?" he asked, grinning.

"Oh I'm always tempted where you're concerned." Stephanie replied as she raised her brow and licked her lips suggestively.

Paul shook his head at her flirtatious tone, his fingers lightly kneading her flesh through the silk material.

"You know its talk like that and a body like this one that will get you in all kinds of trouble."

He pressed her chest into his as Paul ducked his head nuzzling into her neck. His tongue flicked out to taste the column of her throat eliciting a soft moan from Stephanie.

"You promise?" she asked thickly as her eyes blinked heavily.

His hot breath whispered into her ear making her entire body tingle with desire.

"Oh I can pretty much guarantee it baby."

Stephanie's satisfied sigh was swallowed by Paul's kiss as his tongue slowly slid over hers. She eagerly tasted him, hungry for his embrace. Because it didn't matter how many times Paul kissed her. Her need to kiss him back was always there just as strong as it was the first time. Like that very first kiss they shared. The same kiss that changed everything for her. The kiss that made her realise her feelings for Paul were very real. So real she couldn't ignore them or deny them any longer.

God, how had she ever managed without him? How did she ever survive those months they were apart? She could barely survive the days without him now hence the reason she was in this hotel room in the first place. Quite frankly her need for him had become desperate. This overwhelming desperation to be with Paul and the desperation to feel him inside her, making love to her. A desperation that honestly never went away because the passion she felt for Paul was unrelentless to her to the point it burned in her gut, always there, like air or white noise. Sometimes she could ignore it. Other times she didn't even try and why would she when he made her feel this way. She felt so happy. She felt alive which is why spending time together, just the two of them, sounded heavenly.

Moaning softly into his mouth, Stephanie tilted her head and pulled on Paul's bottom lip before she broke the kiss, desperate to seal their plans.

"This little trip of ours. Think you would settle for a few days next week?" she asked as her fingers absently brushed through his hair. "The pay per view Sunday will be over by then. We could leave after Smackdown on the Tuesday."

Stephanie paused for a few seconds as her hands cupped his face and her mouth sought out Paul's letting her natural urge to kiss him take over.

"It would also mean my father not firing my ass when I finally make it back to the office this afternoon." she added batting her eyelashes at him dramatically, pleading with him to say yes.

Paul's deep chuckle of amusement filled the room as he nodded his head. "Whatever you want Princess."

As her beautiful smile beamed back at him, Paul realised how relieved and happy he was to see Stephanie like this. It was a far cry from the woman he had comforted last night. In fact last night all felt like some horrible dream to him. A dream he couldn't quite shake no matter how badly he wanted to because each time he looked into Stephanie's heavy bloodshot eyes, he could still hear her heart wrenching sobs echo in his head. Sobs that ripped at his chest fuelling his need to protect her. And he would protect her. He would do everything in his power to keep her safe. That much he could promise her at least.

Paul's face was gentle as he lifted his hand to Stephanie's head, letting his fingers tenderly brush through her hair.

"I want you to know something." he said softly. "I want you to know I'll always be here for you. In fact I plan on making it my job to look after you."

His brown eyes were serious as they stared intently at Stephanie. Paul brought his hands to her cheeks, tenderly cupping her face as his thumb lightly traced her jaw.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Steph. I promise." he whispered, repeating words he had spoken to her only a few hours ago.

Her eyes burned with her hot tears and Stephanie blinked them back as her lips curved up into a grateful smile, showing Paul she understood. She got it. She did. She just didn't want to talk about it right now and she was determined not to cry. God knows if she started, she wasn't sure she would stop and her meltdown last night had already ruined their evening together. She'd be damned if it ruined their morning too. Because this creep, whoever he was, wasn't going to get to her. She wasn't going to let him. She was a McMahon after all. She wasn't brought up to be intimidated by anyone or anything and that included stupid assholes who thought it was funny to send her flowers and scare the shit out of her. Well she wasn't scared. Not any more. She refused to be.

Pulling on that brave determination, Stephanie widened her smile. "Well you are the sexiest bodyguard a girl could ask for." she teased and as she watched her boyfriend, she silently pleaded with him to go along with her, to understand that she had to do this. She had to put last night out of her mind at least for now.

She needn't have worried. Paul's slow smirk was the reply she wanted as his brown eyes sparkled back at her mischievously

"Yeah? Well speaking of your body…"

He paused as his mouth made a slow torturous path of kisses along the column of her throat from the bottom to the top. Stephanie swallowed thickly when he lightly growled in her ear.

"Fancy getting naked McMahon?"

She felt the jolt of desire in the pit of her stomach as his lips nipped at her lobe. "I thought you'd never ask."

Her delighted squeal filled the room as Paul moved forward pushing her back into the mattress. His body pinned her there as his knee nudged her own thighs apart and as he kissed her once more, Stephanie lost herself in him. She forgot about the flowers. She forgot about everything else but them because nothing else mattered. Paul had promised to look after her and she believed him. She trusted him. He kept her strong. Everything was going to be okay.