He chuckled as she followed him into the elevator. "Oh don't give me that look, this wasn't an complicated scheme I hatched up."

"I'm not so sure I believe that,"she teased, rolling her eyes. "An elaborate ruse to get me to see for myself that there are no women in your hotel room."

"There aren't and you know it. You've been asking Roman about them," he let out a laugh as the elevator dinged, "this is us."

"You didn't tell him about the other night?" she asked as he opened the door for her. She placed her bag down on one of the queen-sized beds in white sheets, and then collapsed down.

"The one where you snuck your way into my bed? Nah, haven't mentioned it. Why, have you been bragging?" he laughed as he laid out his suit case on the other.

Sasha rolled her eyes again.

"I'm gonna grab a shower, didn't get one at the show. Do you wanna like, change or brush your teeth first?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah thanks."

It surprised her to remember that she couldn't just waltz in while in was in the shower. Well, she supposed she could, but wasn't really trying to go down that path tonight. At least he was being respectful. She was glad that she packed real pajamas, a pair of soft shorts and a tank top. It wouldn't be a lot, but it was better than nothing.

"All yours," she called as she left the bathroom.

He was lying on his bed, shirtless and in sweats, writing in that softcover journal he'd lent to her a while ago. Or maybe it was a new one? Either way he slipped it back into his backpack and said goodnight as he shut the door behind him. She collapsed on the bed, exhausted but not able to totally release into that deep sleep she needed so badly. Her mind was racing with a million things, appearances, promo deals, her storyline with Emma, where she was going after Mania, Seth. A storm had broken outside the window, it was rough this time of year. Thunder and lighting, plus the wind whistling against it, they definitely weren't helping.

When she turned over in the bed again, some time must've passed. The water wasn't running any more, and Seth was in the bed across from her. Which was weird since normally he was in the bed next to her. His bare arms were grasping at his pillow, his face buried deep into it, and the covers high on his chest. It made her laugh a little, remembering how much he used to try to hide his fear of thunderstorms, to no avail. Where he grew up they were common, and brutal. A severe one rolled through nearly every year when he was a kid, sometimes twice if they were unlucky. It was totally reasonable, but something about the big tough guy curling up in a ball was endearing to her. Maybe it reminded her that he wasn't as iron clad as he pretended to be.

She bit her lip, and before she knew it, was tossing the sheets off of herself and sneaking the few feet over to his bed.

"Move over," she whispered.

"Hmm huh?" he jumped, half asleep and buried into the pillow, "Oh," he moved over to give her room, a confused look on his face.

She slipped under the covers and scooted near him, not quite pressed up against him, but well within arms reach. Slowly and carefully, he wrapped his arms around her, as though he was waiting for her to protest.

"You're alright," she adjusted herself, and he could feel the heat pouring out from her.

"Felling affectionate all of a sudden?"

Sasha looked back at him. "Can't just sit there are watch you be miserable. This makes you feel better," a smug smile came over her face, "like a teddy bear."

"Pshh pshh I don't need a teddy be-" he paused when outside the window a huge clap of thunder rumbled, "fuck!"

He pulled her towards him tightly, burying his face in her hair.

"Thank you," he murmured, relaxing with her in his arms. "Pretty good as far as teddy bears go."

"Yeah well,just don't get handsy."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Banks," he said, resisting the urge to nuzzle up against her neck and hear her moan.

"Mhmm,"

"Hey," he said softly, "why do you keep doing these things for me? Showing up at my door with pizza, crawling in here with me because you think I'm scared, which I'm not, but if I was…why're you being so kind?"

"Well maybe I'm just a nice person."

"Or maybe this is your way of showing you care."

She glanced over her shoulder at him, "of course I care, Seth," she turned over, their faces close now and legs side by side. "That has never been the issue here."

"I know, it's trust. I know."

"Goodnight, Seth."

"Yeah," he sighed, "goodnight."

He closed his eyes, and a few minutes later, opened them again. She was still looking at him, and it made him chuckle.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Alright," he shifted, making their faces dangerously close, and he could see that glimmer in her eye again. "If you say so."

Quietly, just audible, she whispered, "I've missed this."

"Oh baby, I missed this too."

She looked down, her eyes trailed over his torso. He lifted her head by her chin and looked in her eyes.

"I am never gonna stop caring about you. That's a promise."

And like that, her lips were on his. He gasped at first, but leaned into it, kissing her deeply, and pulling her tighter. When she pulled her lips away, he laced his fingers in he hair, and grazed her skin.

"Don't stop, please," he groaned, pushing his lips back to her.

She wrapped her legs around him, her hands running over his hair as she returned is feverish kisses. Instinctively, he tipped his hips away, but she pressed herself against him. That was fine by him, desperate to keep kissing her, over and over.

"Air, air," she gasped, laughing.

"Air is overrated," he trailed kisses up and down her neck, feeling her hands tangle in his hair. A moan escaped her lips and it made him start rolling his hips against her. It was driving him crazy, the sound of that little moan.

"Seth…"

"Oh god, Sash," he kissed her again and she deepened it, pushing him down to his back. He grabbed her waist and rolled her with him, the two of them nearly falling off the bed. "Whoa, alright, not enough room for that move."

"Serves you right," she started to lean in again, but he stopped her.

"Are we gonna just make out like teenagers," he smiled smugly, dropping his voice low and thick, "or do you want my di-"

"You're so crude," she interrupted, rolling her eyes.

"You love the dirty talk, " he teased, "oh just admit it, it drives you crazy, you can't get enough. You love-"

"I love you," she blurted out, not meeting his gaze.

"What did you just say?"

"I love…love you."

He was stunned, and tried to joke his way out of his heart exploding, "man, you'll say anything to get in my pants won't you?"

"Is it working?" she retorted and he grinned. Maybe she was joking, maybe she'd finally found the courage to say it out loud. Either way, his brain couldn't handle all of it right now, so he pushed it away.

"One condition. This time, I have got to be inside of you."

She pulled him down, "deal."

He pulled down her panties and shorts in one rough tug. She moaned as his hands wandered over her body, lifting the tank top over her head. Her eyes fluttered open as he paused.

"What?"

"You kept your bra on last time," he said, his eyes grazing her chest, "god, you're beautiful."

Kissing her again, his hands found their way up, rolling her nipples between his fingers and thumbs. She moaned and grasped the waistband of his sweatpants. It was his turn to let out one as she pulled them down and stroked him, teasingly slow.

"Is that what you want?" he murmured in her ear.

"Oh shut up,"

"I can take it from here, baby," he took her hand by the wrist and held them both above her head firmly.

She yelped as he filled her up, gently as he could.

"You alright?" he let one of his hands go to move a piece of hair from her face.

"Kiss me," was all she said in response.

"Yes ma'am," he grinned, kissing her hard as he started thrusting into her.

"Oh, Seth," she whispered, grasping at his hair.

"C'mon baby, what do you want?"

She gasped for air, moaning, and shifting her legs in motion with him.

"C'mon," he purred in her ear, desperate to hear her say she wanted it, and how.

In between gasps she managed, "Give it to me."

"Ha ha ha, with pleasure."

He picked up his speed, thrusting hard and deep as she withered underneath him. Kissing her neck, she moaned and tipped her head backwards. Before long, she was meeting his pace and practically shouting his name. Not that he was in much better shape, buried in her hair, groaning and nipping at her ear. It was good, bed rocking good, he knew this might be his one chance, and he was going to make it count. It was hard to get her to let him in these days, and maybe it was pathetic that this was his method of choice to get her to drop her guard, but it was all he had. Plus, he'd missed it. He missed it badly.

"Oh baby, oh Sasha, baby,"

"Ahh…"

She was losing it, he could feel the way she was tightening around him. Her nails were digging into the flesh on his back, but he didn't mind it.

"C'mon," he purred again holding her tightly to his body, and it pushed her over the edge.

Her heart was beating fast against his chest. Tipping her head back she let out a loud, high pitched moan. He let go of her hands so his could stroke her face, kissing her lightly.

"Do you wanna keep going?" he whispered, trailing kisses on her cheek.

"Yeah…" she gasped for air, "let me up,"

"As you wish," he smirked and rolled onto his back, letting her climb on top and pushing down onto him.

She murmured in pleasure, tipping her head back as she rode up and down. He ran his hands up her body, loving the feeling of her skin. Looking up at her flipped her hair back, he grinned and bit his lip.

"Hey," he chuckled, "What are the chances I get you to moan Heav-"

"Don't even."

"What's it gonna take?" he bucked his hips, pushing deeper into her

She ran her fingers through her hair, gasping and sighed when their eyes met. He gave her a flirtatious wink and she sighed.

"At least one more."

"At LEAST? Damn I better get to work then,"

He pulled her closer, and she gasp and laughed as he ramped it up until she was once again hopelessly surrendered to him. They both knew full well that she could snap her fingers and he would do whatever she wanted, simply because she wanted it, but it was fun for both of them to pretend. She started moaning his name again and it was getting to him fast. Feeling her hair all over his face, how tight she felt around him, her perkiness under his fingertips, it was almost too much. He held her even tighter, the sweat building up from the friction. It felt like her heart was beating in synch with his, and he loved it. He loved it almost as much as he loved the sight of her, groaning and grinding.

"Ah…Seth," she moaned right into his ear, tangling her hands in his hair.

"Sasha, baby,"

He felt himself shaking under her, coming undone. He didn't even think about the next words before they poured out of his mouth, pathetic as they sounded.

"Come back to me baby," he heard himself whine, "please."

"Ah-ohh-" she nearly screamed, reaching her peak too. She collapsed down to him, and then rolled off, breathing heavily.

"Come back to me," he repeated, it was the only thing he was able to manage.

She turned her head and met his eye solemnly. Her eyes were welling with tears.

"Seth I…"

"You said you love me. Did you mean it?"

"Yeah I meant it. I meant it, but I didn't mean to say it. I don't know what came over me."

He chuckled, "time and proximity."

"For me to fall for you? Seems so."

"You make it sound like a death sentence."

"Yeah well maybe it is," she snapped. "That's what everyone tells me, you know? He betrayed you once, he'll do it twice. He did it to another, he'll do it to you."

"Okay," he said quietly, "I get that. But people change, they grow. They can quit messing around and stop screwing up the things that make them happy."

"Can you?"

"Yes," he turned on his side, full of energy. "Yes, I can, and I will."

"Is this really what you want, honestly?"

"Of course it is!"

"You really want to give up those ways for this?"

"Sash, you think I enjoy being a shithead? Do you really think that I don't see when I've squandered something good or that I don't hate myself, absolutely hate myself for it."

She was silent for a minute, looking out the window where the storm had dissipated to a calm, soft rain.

"I don't want you to hate yourself."

"I know," he sighed, "you're always looking out for me."

"Let me sleep on it."

"Wait, really?"

"Maybe. I can't think straight right now after…that," she blushed and it made him chuckle.

"Me neither."

He adjusted the sheet that they messed up throughout the night, and fluffed his pillow. Her eyes were locked on him.

"I love you, Sasha, just remember that."

His alarm blared in the morning and he groaned as he fumbled in the dark. They'd been up late, and the sun hadn't even risen yet. He turned the alarm off, his eyes tightly shut and rolled over, hoping to burrow into her for a few extra minutes. There was nothing there. He reached around her side of the bed and his heart dropped realizing she wasn't lying next to him any more. Had she snuck out early this morning? He shoved his face into the pillow, and let out a muffled yell into it.

There was the sound of a door opening, and a voice made him jump.

"What are you doing?"

His head snapped up, she was standing in the doorway of the bathroom. A towel was wrapped around her body and she was squeezing her hair with another. She was giving him a slightly amused smile.

"Hey! Uh, nothing, nothing. You're up early?" he clicked on the lamp on the bedside table.

"Yeah, it's my recovery day so I figured I could use the early shower," She hung up her hair towel and walked over to the other bed, lifting her suitcase up onto it. Looking over her shoulder at him she chuckled, "you're a dork, Rollins."

He smiled and leaned his head back onto his pillow watching her. She riffled through her suitcase, pulling out clothes for the day. Dropping the towel, she tossed it on the bed and the sight of her made him throb and let out a sleepy murmur. It must have been loud enough for her to hear because she laughed, looking over at him and rolling her eyes.

"You slept with me literally last night." She stepped into her panties and jeans.

"And it was fantastic," he smirked, trying to regain some of his cool. "Never get tired of that view."

She rolled her eyes again, clasping her bra behind her back. She slipped into a flannel and sat down on his bed, buttoning it up.

"Tease," he said, biting his lip.

"I'm gonna ignore that one," though her hands were moving slowly on them. "Last night…"

"Any regrets?" he asked nervously.

"No, never," her hands paused on the button just above the top of her cleavage. She sighed and buttoned it. "I know that I'm the one who keeps initiating this stuff,"

"No complaints over here."

"But, um,"

"But?" his heart was dropping into his stomach.

"I don't wanna be hook up buddies with you. It's not good for either of us."

"Yeah, I can't argue with that." He reached up and rubbed her cheek lightly.

"So I think we outghta call it. One way or another."

"That's up to you baby, you know where I stand."

"I love you Seth. I can't…I can't just walk away." She shook her head and looked down.

"Then don't."

She met his gaze and he smiled reassuringly. "This is your last chance. I won't come back next time if you break my trust."

"I won't," his heart was beating out of his chest. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? "I promise. Please believe me."

"I do. I believe you," she smiled and leaned in, he took her face in his hands and pushed into the kiss, slow and loving.