Chapter 14

Roman slid the keycard in the slot and pushed open the door. Dean and Seth followed close behind. "I get first dibs on the shower," Dean mumbled.

"Whatever," Seth replied, his voice laced with exhaustion. "All I want right now is my bed. How about you, Roman?"

"That's a loaded question," Dean shot back. "He's got a hot shower and beautiful woman waiting to give him a backrub."

Roman eyed his buddy. "You have a problem with that?"

"Other than the backrub part, no not really," Dean grinned. "Maybe she'll take pity on us and you'll allow her to tend to our sore muscles too."

"Keep up the wiseass remarks and I'll make sure to let you suffer." Roman warned. "I'll see you both in the morning." Before they could reply he opened the bedroom door and dragged himself inside.

His body ached in placed he didn't know could hurt and all he wanted was a shower. This being rushed from the arena as soon as their match ended nonsense was growing old. Without adequate access to the trainers, masseuses, the therapy tubs, or even managing to grab a shower right away, his body was starting to feel the effects. There was only so many times he could get jumped by the other superstars inside the ring and out before he'd or one of the others end up hurt.

After a week, most of the roster's interest in the kidnapping story had already waned, but there were a few, mostly Lexi's close friends, that was out for The Shield's blood. This keeping secrets nonsense might be making good television, but at whose expense?

Lexi looked up from the book she was reading and her eyes widened in shock. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary," he grumbled. "I'm getting a shower." He dragged his battered body into the bathroom, set the taps and stripped out of his ring gear. As he turned to step into the shower, he caught sight of the large bruise forming on his shoulder. Did that come from inside the ring or the fight that ensued after the match?

With a heavy sigh, he stepped into the shower, turned his back to the spray and stood still, letting the hot water pelt his sore muscles. As heat infused his body, so did the guilt for snapping at her. It wasn't Lexi's fault they were all in this situation. If anything, it was his for offering up the cockamamie plan to start.

Desperate to keep her with him and to make her happy, he'd spoken without realizing the impact this plan would have, not only on him, but on Dean and Seth too. He closed his eyes and tried to relax. Being new to the company it wasn't his place to complain, but he certainly hoped Hunter and the creative team knew what they were doing.

The sound of the bathroom door clicking closed had Roman opening his eyes. "Who's there? Lexi? Is that you?"

A moment later the curtain moved and Lexi stepped into the shower. In the space of a heartbeat he lost the power of speech as he stared at her gorgeous body. Knowing his willpower was already stretched thin when it came to her, he'd always made sure she was dressed when he was around. Even when they climbed into bed together, she wore a nightgown or some sort of pajamas. Seeing her now, naked and beautiful, he struggled to maintain control. It was a battle he was slowly losing.

"Lexi, what are you doing?"

"You seemed out of sorts when you came in. I thought maybe you could use some company." She nibbled on her bottom lip and Roman damn near groaned at the sight. Did she have any idea how sexy she looked when she did that?

"This isn't a good idea," he warned as his control began to slip.

She flicked her gaze up at him, her eyes, green as grass on a warm summer's day, revealed hope and desire. "Why not?"

"You're injured," he replied even as he reached for her. The need to touch her, to feel her warm wet skin pressed against his overwhelmed him.

She placed her hands against his chest. "It's been a week and I'm getting better every day."

Her subtle invitation wasn't lost on him and despite every effort his mind made to keep control, his body wasn't listening. He wrapped his arms around her and slid his hands down her silky back, until he palmed her tight little ass, pulling her against him.

A gasp tumbled from her lips and her eyes widened when the evidence of his desire pressed against her belly. "I take it you're happy to see me?" she finally quipped.

"Giddy," Roman managed to reply then captured her lips in a kiss more scalding than the shower spray cascading over them. He kept one hand on her bottom, holding her in place and brought the other one up her side until he reached her breast.

With their bodies slick from the shower he easily slipped his hand between them, and caught her nipple between his finger and thumb. She moaned in response. It was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard and one he swore just might kill him. "God, Roman," she gasped between kisses. "Please don't stop this time. I want you. I need you."

Her pleas poured through him like fiery shots of alcohol and carried with them the same damn effect. In a moment of weakness his control snapped and the animal inside, the one he called upon when he wrestled, sprang forth. Lust heated his blood as only one thought filled his brain. Take her now!

He broke their kiss, then spun her so she faced the tile wall. "Put your foot up on the tub," he whispered; his words not a request but an order. The submissive in her complied immediately, lifting her foot and opening herself to him.

He slipped a hand between her legs, and let loose a growl when his fingers came back wet with her passion. She wanted him and that realization only served to fuel his appetite. The need to be inside her, to Hunter her as his, swamped him. He positioned himself behind her and barely remembered to take it slow as he thrust.

A cry tumbled from her lips as her hands scrambled for purchase as he filled her. The sound tore through his passionate haze and he slowed, giving her time to adjust. "Sorry," he managed to whisper.

She turned her head to the side and rested the uninjured part of her forehead against the tile. "Don't be," she panted. "You feel amazing."

Her praise spurred him to demand more. "If you that that feels amazing just wait." He wrapped an arm around her waist to secure her and placed his other hand on the tile wall for support. Then he began to thrust in earnest.

The wet friction sent zings of pleasure tearing through his body. More! He wanted more. He wanted everything she had to give him and then some. He didn't just want her body, but also her mind, heart and her very soul.

Her moans of pleasure mixed with the running water and the slapping of flesh to create a cacophony of sounds. He panted and gasped for breath as he fought to keep his climax at bay. It was a battle he couldn't win. The low burn in his belly grew until he thought he might simply combust from the heat, but it was her cry of pleasure and the feel of her body pulsing around him that sent Roman tumbling over the edge of release.

He growled low and long and shoved deep inside her then held there as he spilled himself into her, Huntering her as his. For several minutes he didn't move. When he did it was to rest his forehead against her shoulder as shame clawed at his conscience. What have I done?

This wasn't how he wanted their first time to be and she certainly deserved to be treated better than some sex toy. "God, Lexi, I'm so sorry."

"For what," she managed to ask through ragged breaths, her head still pressed against the tile wall.

"For not being able to control myself. You deserve to be made love to in a bed, not taken hard standing up in some shower. I'm sorry if I hurt you"

"You didn't hurt me, Roman. Just the opposite actually."

Knowing he hadn't actually harmed her did little to sate his guilt. "Still, our first time together should have been memorable. Instead, I cheapened it by not being able to control my urges."

She lifted her head off the wall and turned to face him. Then she reached up and cradled his face in her palms. "I liked that you couldn't control yourself. In a way it made this more special."

His brow knit in confusion. "How do you figure that?"

"You losing control and taking me hard showed me how much I affect you. I've never had someone want me that badly." She grinned. "It was exhilarating and a huge boost to my ego."

His guilt slowly began to fade with her admission. He took her hand in his, turned it over and pressed a soft kiss to her palm. "How about we get dried off and I show you just how exhilarating I can really be?"

A wry smile tipped her lips. "Sounds intriguing."

"Oh it is," he promised then leaned in close and whispered. "We're going to find out just how quiet you can be and for how long, because this time, when get you into bed...I plan to take my time and enjoy you thoroughly."