"what's with you? Youre acting weird." Paul said as he sat next to her on the couch.
She took his hands playing with his fingers. Tears Burned the back of her eyes she had to do this.
"we need to take a break for awhile." she said carefully.
"what? I don't understand what happened to fighting for one another?"
"I am fighting for you, this is for you."
"I made my decision steph." he shook his head. " I choose you."
"you'll hate me, you resent me. It won't work. And right now you hate me for leaving you so it's lose lose for me."
He shook his head tears burned his eyes. "I could never hate you."
"you'll stop loving me cause you will feel like I don't love you like I can live without." she sucked back tears looking at him. "but Paul I'll only be existing without you. One day when you retire we can be together."
"Stephanie I want kids and a family with you there's a time limit on that."
She shrugged. "this is the only way. I'm sorry."
Paul got up ripping his hand out of hers. He tried not to yell but he couldn't hold it in.
"you're supposed to be a fuckin McMahon there's no fight it in you! What's the matter with you?!" he got in her face now as she sobbed. "what are you doing? C'mon steph!"
She cried harder why was he yelling? Why couldn't he understand? He'd hate her.
Suddenly she felt his lips press firmly against hers. She moaned as she parted her lips. He let his own tears mix with hers as his tongue slid past her lips. He groaned as he laid on top of her his groin brushing her abdomen. He ran his hand up her shirt grabbing at her. He moved his knee between her legs pushing it hard against her. She broke the kiss pulling her moth from his. She pushed on his chest moving her head to the side.
"Paul stop, stop..." she groaned out.
He ignored her biting her neck his hand was roughly holding her breast as he moved his knee harder against her.
"you need to hate me?" he grumbled in her ear harshly.
"you're hurting me." she said with a small sob. "please stop..." she squirmed under him and suddenly he pulled away. He got to his feet pacing her living room.
"what the fuck am I doing?" he asked himself as his own tears fell. He squeezed his eyes shut pressing his fingers over them.
Stephanie sat up on the couch and reached out taking his hand. He pulled it away and she stood up pulling her shirt off. She reached behind her back Unclasping her bra letting it drop to the floor as she took his hand and placed it over her breast. She shivered feeling his hand on hers. He looked away obviously upset with himself. She closed her eyes taking his other hand she brought his finger to her mouth swirling it around with her tongue. She let it slide out as she let it fall to his side.
"please Paul." she begged, moving his hand over her breast again.
"I can't." he said somberly.
She moved forward running her tongue over his throat. She pulled him against her as she reached down pulling his shirt over his head. He stood still. God what the hell was happening to him? Stephanie ran her hand over his cheek as she leaned forward placing kisses all over his face. He couldn't deny her. He just couldn't say no. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her against him.
"I'm sorry...I..."
"shhhh, just be with me right now in this one moment. No one exists but you and me. There's no WWE, no title, no Vince McMahon. Just you and I." she whispered against his lips.
Paul closed his eyes listening to her and she kissed his eye lids.
"it'll always be me and you baby even when we are apart."
He leaned in close to her kissing her gently.
"I want to take this really slow." he mumbled against her lips.
Stephanie reached her hand out tucking a strand of hair behind his ear that had fallen loose. Crushed her bare chest against his laying her head under his chin. He took her hand bringing her upstairs to her bedroom. He lead her to the bed as she laid in it. He laid on his side next to her facing her as he pulled her into his arms. He looked around, he'd miss it here he loved being in her apartment it was like their own little hole in the world. It was in NYC so neither of their families were around , just Shane but he wasn't one to pop in.
As he pulled away he held her loosely in his arms. He ran his hand up to her shoulder and back down to her fingers grasping them he brought her hand to his lips kissing each finger.
"you're mine baby." he whispered.
She nodded emphatically.
"I always will be."
He nodded wanting to believe her.
"is love supposed to be this hard."he asked as he stared into her eyes.
"yes I think so." she replied kissing his chin. "if not who's to say we couldn't just fall in love with anyone?"
He nodded again. "I've never been in love before, not until you."
She smiled widely, this was most definitely a bittersweet moment.
"when did you know?" she wondered.
He swallowed hard. He knew when he first knew but he wondered if his answer would surprise her.
He smirked and shook his head.
"Tell me ya big dope." she said tapping his nose.
"do you remember when I almost had my larynx crushed?"
She nodded making a sad face as she did.
"remember what you brought me for lunch the next day?"
She twitched her lips around as she rolled her eyes up thinking.
"soup! And grilled cheese."
He nodded.
"that's when you fell in love with me?" she asked with a smirk.
"you cut the crusts off, that's when I fell in love with you." he said with a wink as he tickled her.
She frowned slightly. She would miss him. It was so easy to be with him. Easy and hard because of everyone around them.
"when did you fall in love with me?" he wondered.
He watched as tears poured down her cheeks. She sniffled as she brought her arm up blocking her eyes with her forearm. She sobbed heavily and he frowned as he pulled her to him.
"shhhh, it's ok."
He leaned in kissing her tears as they rolled down her cheeks. Suddenly she wrapped her arms around his neck rolling him on top of her. She pulled his face towards hers as she began kissing him. She was rough almost animalistic as she moaned deeply with each movement of her lips against his. She snaked her tongue into his mouth and he groaned running his hand up her side placing his hand over her breast. He rolled her nipple In-between his fingertips and she broke the kiss hissing in pleasure. She grabbed his hair pushing his head down. He moaned heavily she was turning him on like never before. He took her nipple in his mouth as he now manipulated the other one. She ran her fingers through his hair as she bent her head down kissing the top of his head. She began grinding her hips against him.
"slow down baby..." he moaned out as she ground hard into him.
She shook her head grabbing his hand as she ran it over her abdomen pushing it further down. He felt like he was on fire. His skin was hot as he moved down her body she pulled him back up capturing his lips as began moaning into his mouth again. Paul felt like he was gonna explode He reached down pulling her pants and panties down as he moved his lips to her neck kissing and sucking on it. She grabbed his hand again pushing it to her most sensitive spot.
"touch me, Paul... Please." she moaned out throwing her head against the pillow.
He shut his eyes burying his head in her hair as he slipped two fingers inside her pumping them slowly.
"relax baby slow down... I'm right here..." he whispered.
She nodded as she slowed down her movements letting him control the pace. She moaned as he brought his lips to the corner of her mouth kissing it gently. He brought his lips to her kissing her slowly and gently committing her to memory her smell her taste her voice all of it.
He felt her run her hand through his hair holding him close to her. He began picking up the pace. She followed his lead pushing her hips down onto his hand.
"I love you so much..." he whispered into her ear. "let go baby, come for me."
She moaned heavily as she wrapped her arms around his neck holding him to her. She came hard screaming into his shoulder. He moaned against her mouth as she reached down unbuckling his belt and pushing his jeans and boxers down he kicked them off as she rolled him on top of her. He entwined their fingers as he leaned down onto her. He bit his lip could this be the last time? No it couldn't be.
"just be with me in this moment Paul." she said gently. "I love you." he watched as a tear rolled down her cheek. She tucked a piece of loose hair behind his ear.
He smiled as he began kissing a trail down her stomach she had one hand in his hair and another above her head holding the headboard. As his tongue swirled around her middle she swore she almost ripped her headboard off she gripped his hair tightly as her other hand slammed against the mattress pulling at the sheet twisting it in her hand. She began squirming. And he reached a hand up holding her down by her abdomen.
"oh my god baby... Please..."
He slid his tongue inside her as he ran his thumb over her most sensitive spot. She squeeze her eyes shut tears rolling down her cheeks. No one had ever made her feel this way.
"I love you I love you... I love you." she muttered her head rolling back and forth on the pillow. She moaned loudly as she came again.
Paul hoisted himself up as he looked down into her eyes. He leaned on his elbows scooping her up close to him. He ran his hands over her cheeks wiping her tears and pushing her hair aside. She was breathing heavily looking up at him. He leaned down kissing her gently, He groaned as he slid into her gently. She moaned in his ear. He pulled back again this time slamming into her as hard as he could. He continued to slam into her.
"oh my god yes..." she screamed as she panted heavily in his ear.
He shook on top of her as he pushed slower and deeper. He took her more gently now wanting her to feel every part of him. She ran her hands down his back to his ass pushing him deeper. He groaned loudly in her ear as he continued moving in and out of her.
"mmmmm, come baby..." she moaned.
He groaned hearing her voice. He pushed a few extra times and felt her tighten around him squeezing him. He let go deep inside her.
"fuck... Steph... "
She smiled as he began leaving butterfly kisses all over her face and cheeks. She let out small breaths as she ran her hands over his back and head running her legs over his calves. He rolled over as she rolled with him cuddling up to him.
"I love you..." she moaned.
"I don't think I can go steph..."
"I don't think I can let you..."
"I love you..."
Paul waited for her to respond when he felt her even breathing. He could never resent her. He could never hate her. How could he when he was so in love with her? He'd have to convince her that she was more important to him than wrestling but it would be hard... He couldn't think of that right now. He watched the moonlight cascade over her. She was so beautiful and all he wanted.
Stephanie ran her hand through her tangled hair as she saw the sunrise cascading in through her balcony. She yawned as she say up. Paul was nowhere to be found but she saw his clothes on the floor so she knew he was still here. She reached down grabbing his shirt as she pulled it over her head she pulled on his boxers too. She walked to the sliding doors as she stepped outside. He was sitting on the swing with just his jeans on. His bare feet were planted on the cement as he swayed himself back and forth. He was staring at the ground and she wondered how long he'd been out here.
She approached him silently as she sat next to him on the bench. A few tears rolled down her cheeks as reality began to set in. He looked over at her as he placed his hand on her knee.
"why are you crying? Do I need a shower that badly?" he asked lifting his arm and smelling his arm pit.
She laughed punching his shoulder.
"no dumb dumb." she said with a sniffle. "I was wondering to myself if I was ever going to wake up like this, with you... Anymore."
He nodded, a small frown adorned his adorable face and she had to reach out and touch him. She ran her hand over his cheek.
"you're sitting here on the balcony of my bedroom and you look cute as hell... Why did you stay?"
"I'm not going to just leave you in the middle of the night after what we both just experienced together. " Paul got up kneeling before her. He grasped her hands in his holding them as he looked into her eyes.
"steph, please don't do this. I love you, I'll show Vince... He won't fire me."
Stephanie close her eyes, why couldn't he understand? Why was he making her go through this again?
"he will hold you back, he's done it before ive seen it." she reasoned.
"yea I know he did it to me remember? Madison square garden? But he couldn't anymore I was too good for him to hold me back, just like I am now."
Stephanie reached forward tucking a piece of hair behind his ear.
"I'm doing this for you." she said exasperated.
He got up on his feet and went inside.
She for up following him. She grabbed his arm swinging him around. He looked her dead in the eye. He saw her tears and sighed as he looked away.
"I'm doing it for you." she pleaded.
"yeah well don't do me any favors." he said pissed off.
She sat on her bed as he stalked his way to the other side of the room. He grabbed his bag and walked to the bathroom. He threw his jeans into the corner of the room. He stared at himself in the mirror. How was he going to be without her? He was miserable without her. He banged his fists on the counter top and let out a scream.
Stephanie walked in the bathroom and walked behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist pulling him against her.
"we will find a way to be together Paul. Cause you were meant for me, I never truly believed the fairytale until you."
Paul reached his hand down running his fingers over hers. He closed his eyes wanting to believe her. He was t so sure though. She was a catch to say the least and any guy within 10 feet of her would want to be with her. He just had to have faith that she'd wait it out until they could come up with a way to make Vince see what everyone else saw and just didn't wanna see, they were in love.
Two days just two days since he went back to new Hampshire. He left that morning. Prolonging it would have been to hard. So he took the hint and left. She grabbed his t shirt and walked to the balcony outside her bedroom. The last place they spoke. She curled up on the side of the swing he was on holding his unwashed t shirt in her hands bringing it to her face she inhaled it's scent. His scent. She hadn't left her bed for almost the whole two days. She hadn't heard from him either. She wondered what he was doing. She didn't deserve to know she left him after all he begged her to change her mind. She put her head down letting her tears spill onto his shirt.
Paul threw a handful of tissues away in the adjoining bathroom as he picked up his phone he needed to tell Vince he was sick. He would probably make him wrestle but he'd rather not have a ton of backstage scenes where he was nasally and blowing snot all over Stephanie. His face dropped as he thought of her. He had been trying not to but since he got this stupid flu and stomach bug sitting around thinking about her was about all he could do. He wondered if she really loved him. He felt like she did but he wondered how hard it was to let him go. He walked to his living room flipping the tv on as he got comfortable in his arm chair. He wasn't looking forward to wrestling tomorrow night but he knew he'd have to.
"dad, what's up?" Stephanie asked rolling her eyes as she looked up at the monitor checking her flight then her watch.
"I need you here tomorrow at 10 am to tape scenes for the show. Paul is sick with the flu he's flying out here tonight to prepare for the morning, are you still coming tonight?"
Stephanie's heart fluttered. He was going to be there tonight. He was sick though. She frowned.
"dad, he can't wrestle if he's sick." she said walking towards her gate.
"he will pull through I put him in a tag match with Steve."
Stephanie sighed. He was impossible.
"so you flying out now I hear a lot of noise."
"yes dad I'm flying out now, see you tomorrow morning."
Paul leaned his head against the desk at the hotel lobby. They fucked up and didn't book him a room till tomorrow night. He looked at his watch it was nearing 9 o'clock all he wanted was to sleep. He was sweating his ass off. He coughed as he sighed rubbing his temples.
"Hey stranger." Trish said poking him.
He looked up smiling at her. "hey, you're here early." he commented sniffling.
"you sound like shit." she said grabbing her suitcase."go get some sleep."
"I'd love to if they had booked me a room like they were supposed to."
"shit, you can share mine."
Paul shook his head. "all I need is Vince to find that out, but thanks trish."
She continued talking but Paul wasn't listening as he saw Stephanie walk in the hotel. She wasn't wearing much make up she had on tight dark blue jeans and a gray wool sweater. He looked back at trish and excused himself she smiled as she shook her head and walked away, he had it bad.
"here you go miss, room 536"
"thank you." Stephanie replied as she turned.
It was then their eyes locked. She smiled at him as he looked at her. He sniffled wiping his nose with a tissue that was bawled up in his hand. She frowned slightly as she crossed her arms approaching him.
"my dad said you were sick, are you ok?" she asked.
God she wanted to touch him. Wanted to hold him. His nose was red and his eyes were pretty blood shot. Maybe she wasn't the only one that went without sleep these past few nights.
"I'll be fine. " he commented taking her in. Her scent broke through the stuffiness of his nose and he felt his heart beat a bit faster as she reached out placing the back of her hand on his forehead.
"your hot and clammy, you need some sleep." she said tucking a piece of loose hair behind his ear.
He shivered at her touch.
"they didn't book me a room." he said not taking his eye off her.
She blushed a bit as she watched him take her in. She took a deep breath mildly nervous to ask.
"would you like to stay in mine?" she asked nervously as she stated at her shoes.
Paul reached out taking her hand he ran his thumb over her hand. She smiled looking up at him.
"are you sure? I might not know what to do with myself."he said wiggling his eye brows.
She shivered remembering the last time they were together. It had been so powerful and amazing. He was amazing. She smiled taking him in. He was wearing a dark blue sweater and light blue jeans. He was adorable and all hers... Well almost.
"I love when you blush it's so adorable." he said.
"lets go." she said with a smirk.
Paul rolled over in the bed looking at the clock it was only 12:30. Hed fallen asleep to Stephanie running her fingers through his hair. He sat up and smirked as he saw her sitting at the small desk on her laptop she was wearing an old Boston university sweatshirt and shorts. Her hair was in a messy bun and her glasses were on. She was scrolling through something on the screen biting on her pinky nail. He watched her smile at something. He got up quietly as he walked up to her. He leaned down once he reached her and he kissed her neck. She smiled to herself as she reached her hand up behind his head.
"hey, go back to bed." she said softly as she turned to face him.
"come to bed with me." he said gently. "oh my god... You are so sexy." he whispered in her ear playfully.
"Ew Paul I look like shit right now." she said as se swatted his hands away from her shoulders. He kneeled down in front of her as he leaned forward. She went to take off her glasses and he stopped her hand.
"you're perfect." he said with a smile.
Her heart raced in her chest as he got closer. He leaned in locking his lips and tilting his head. She took a deep breath as the butterflies surged through her chest. He gently kissed her massaging her lips trying to get her to open her mouth to allow him to deepen it.
"Paul I'm sorry I can't be doing this." she said as she cleared her throat looking away from him. She couldn't face the disappointment she knew would be on his beautiful features.
"I wish everything didn't remind me of you." he said quietly. "The universe is making this letting go thing harder than it has to be."
Stephanies eyes widened in surprise. Paul definelty had never been one with words but what he just said melted her. He was amazing.
"Paul..." her throat defied her almost closing. What could she say to that. He trailed his hand down her cheek holding her chin.
"Steph, I turned out liking you a lot more than I ever thought I would. I ended up loving you. I'm very indecisive and always have hard time picking my favourite things. But I know for sure, that you're my favorite."
Stephanie had no words to explain what he just said really meant to her. She but it her lip biting her tears back her eyes were filled with them. She took his face in her hands pulling him into her she lightly kissed him. He placed a hand behind her head deepening the kiss. She felt his lips leave her as he left one small kiss on her lips.
"I know you need time to deal with all this and I just need you to know that I truly love you and I'm putting myself on the line for you."
"thank you." she whispered as he smiled sadly and went back to bed. She sat at the laptop for a couple minutes trying to process all he had just said to her. She finally closed it as she went over to the bed. He was breathing unevenly his chest wheezing. She frowned slightly running her hand through his hair. She pulled the blanket down climbing under the blankets and laid on her back. She felt him shift into her. He laid his head on her chest wrapping and arm around her waist. She smiled running her hand through his hair as he coughed heavily. She rubbed his back as his breathing subsided.
It'd been two weeks since Paul had last stayed with steph. It was the night he was sick and she had laid with him all night.
"could he be any closer to your face? God I thought he was gonna fucking kiss you." Paul said rolling his eyes in disgust.
"Trish was pretty close to you too there... Think I didn't notice."
"I don't know what you notice steph. I haven't been near you in 2 weeks besides work."
"Paul no one is kissing me except this really hot guy with an adorable face but that was 2 weeks ago..."
Paul smiled as she winked at him. " and I notice you... All the time."
She said as she looked down at her clip board. He sighed as he pulled himself up onto a foot locker to sit. He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched her erase and te write something. He stole her pencil as he placed it behind his ear.
She rolled her eyes as she tried to grab it he grabbed her hand holding it as he brought it down to his thigh.
"we are going to have dinner tonight after the show..."
"oh really ?" she said playing along with him. "where ?"
"room 214 alright I've heard room 602 has a way better view."
She laughed as she grabbed her pencil from behind his ear she reached her hand behind his head pulling his ear close to her lips.
"come up when you get back."
She whispered.
"mmmm ok I'll bring desert." he said wiggling his eyes brows as she blushed.
Paul winced as he rubbed his shoulder rotating it in a circle, well as best he could, while he rode up to Stephanie's room. Rikishi... What a chunk. He landed right on his damn shoulder from the second rope. He held his fist out as he knocked on the door.
"who is it?" he heard her call out.
He smirked, getting butterflies simply from the sound of her voice.
"desert." he stated simply.
He heard her fumbling around as he waited. Finally he heard what sounded like shoes banging against the wall. Finally she appeared at the door. He smiled as he took her in she was wearing jeans and a black t shirt .
"cleaning up? How'd you mess up the room already?" he asked as he walked in.
Stephanie suddenly felt a little under dressed. He looked breath taking in blue jeans and his boots with a white button up shirt that he left untucked.
"helllooooo?" he said waving his hand In front of her.
She smiled blushing.
"I didn't destroy it just left some things hanging around."
She stared at him as she breathed him in he was like a dream come true right here in front of her. She was so afraid to fall in love with him all over again. But If she were honest with herself shed never fallen out of love with him.
"you smell and look... Amazing." she said softly suddenly feeling unsure of herself as she tucked some hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry Paul, god you turn me into an even bigger dork than I already am."
Paul smiled at her. She was blushing, it was adorable.
"Stephanie." he whispered as he got closer to her holding her chin up to look at him. "no one has ever looked at me the way you do."
She swallowed hard getting lost in him.
"nobody else should." she said without thinking she closed her eyes feeling embarrassed.
Paul leaned in close to her and reached up holding the side of her face with his hand. She leaned her cheek against his palm and slowly opened her eyes swallowing hard as her heart pounded. He ran his thumb over her lip. He bit his lip before speaking.
"the fairytale isn't me, it's you." he said as he leaned in giving her a soft kiss. "if you could see what I see and feel what I feel, you'd see how worth it you really are."
Stephanie took his other hand holding it against her chest. He felt her heart pounding.
"tell me I don't feel what you're feeling Paul." she held his fingers in hers lightly.
He leaned in again kissing her softly, he didn't want her to think he came here for sex. He really wanted to spend time with her. He really wanted to make love to her. To take her higher than ever and watch her expression as she let go. He wanted to hold her as she trembled in hhis arms like she always did.
"well here we are, what would you like to do?"
Stephanie smiled, happy that he broke the heated moment. She held his hand loosely in her as she contemplated his question.
"ah-ha!" she shouted as she ran to her suitcase he watched her bound back and smiled as she handed him the small pink bottle.
"paint my toes, pretty please!?" she begged with a small pout.
"oh no, now I'm the gay best friend?"
Stephanie smirked as she leaned in capturing his lips in a deep kiss she moaned deeply into his mouth as she ground her hips against his. He groaned wrapping his arms around her waist as he sat on the arm of the couch pulling her onto his lap. She straddled him rubbing herself against his crotch. She broke the kiss kissing him from his lips to his ear.
"you are not gay baby, far from it from where I am sitting."
Paul snickered as she hopped off his lap.
"so paul when do you want the title shot?"
"I don't."
"c'mon Paul she left you so you could have the title don't disrespect her by throwing it away." vince leaned sown getting in his Face. "Don't you see you son of a bitch? everything you want you need you love belongs to me."
"she doesn't belong to you."
"she might as well my wish is her command."
Paul shook his head. This guy was something else, well this was one game he wasn't going to let Vince win. He reached in his suitcase and took the title out. He sighed heavily as he looked at it and trusted it out into Vince's chest.
Vince got wide eyed as he looked from the title to Paul's face. Was he this serious about his daughter?
"take it, I'll lose It to who ever you want me to on Monday night." he said calmly as he grabbed his suitcase.
Vince swallowed hard. He was not a man to ever be found at a loss for words but even this was beyond him.
He watched as Paul left the office. He sat down with a thud as he laid the belt on the desk. He smiled widely. He would wait it out a week and see if Paul would really follow through. He picked up his phone and punched in a familiar number.
"hello?"
"I've got some good news for you boy..."