He was not afraid of her.

Apprehensive, maybe. Intrigued, maybe. But afraid? Absolutely not. He couldn't quite place a label on the fluttering sensation in his stomach but he would not label it fear of this girl.

Stephanie McMahon was just that-a McMahon but she was also a 23 year old girl and logically Triple H shouldn't be afraid of 23 year old girls. There's just something about the way she has completely flipped from the modest little lady he was accustomed to seeing with daddy dearest into the confident woman before him. She has proposed an idea to overthrow her father and take control of the company-with himself at her side.

They do not talk regularly. They barely see one another. He has beaten up her boyfriend on multiple occasions. For all intents and purposes one would assume they were enemies if only by association. Hunter hates her father and the feeling is mutual. It makes him the perfect person for this to work, she explains, before writing something down on a piece of paper and handing it to her prospective business partner, leaving the locker room as quickly as she entered. Hunter memorizes the contents of her note: phone number, time, date, and place to meet. He has 3 days to give her an answer.

Stephanie has laid out a brilliant plan. They talked over some of the details but for the most part Hunter was impressed. She is intelligent beyond her years and more cunning than he would have ever expected, and he finds himself admiring such ruthlessness. Decieving her family, betraying their trust, and sleeping with the enemy is quite ruthless indeed. Though they have not actually slept together yet, he knows it's what she desires. Part of the plan is a marriage and while she doesn't explicitly state it he assumes this would include being intimate, and in turn, faithful to each other. Hunter sees no problem with that, it will save them both the trouble of having to court strangers when in need of a quick release. As Stephanie bends over to get them both a bottle of water out of the mini fridge he scans her long supple legs and perfectly rounded backside. A low growl rumbles through his chest at the thought of them sexually. Nothing about what they do will be quick, he wants to give it to her agonizingly slow until she's begging him for more. She does nothing to curb his desire, she touches him at every opportunity that presents itself and Hunter is acutely aware of her eyes roaming his form when she thinks he isn't looking. When she sits next to him on the couch it is much closer than simple business partners should be and he blatantly runs his knuckles against her thigh.

"All of this sounds perfect Stephanie...and forgive me if I'm skeptical...but who's to say you don't leave me high and dry once you have what you want? Make me just another pawn in your game?"

"If that was the idea I would do this all with someone I don't hold in such high regard. I don't think you're the kind of man who would let someone outsmart you like that."

He feigns bashfulness at her compliment and responds in kind, he thinks highly of her as well. She blushes when he talks he notices. Can not keep eye contact for long. She is either lying through her teeth or soaking wet at the thought of him and he desperately hopes its the latter.

"It won't be easy, Hunter. My father has resources we don't...he'll fight tooth and nail to get revenge at some point, even if at first everything goes well. Damaging his ego won't put him on the shelf forever."

She suddenly sounds frightened, like the severity of what could happen has just struck her. He is sure that Vince will come after him for 'corrupting' his baby girl but Stephanie has nothing to fret over. Vince won't lay a finger on her, not if he has anything to say about it.

"Hey, you have nothing to worry about." he says softly, lifting her chin with a finger. "I'll watch your back and you watch mine. No ones gonna pull a fast one on us."

"He's a very powerful man, with very powerful friends. I don't doubt your ability to take on the world, I know how strong you are, but we can't be together 24/7. I don't want to get hurt, I don't want to see you get hurt. I'm just nervous that if something goes wrong...I just want to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. There can't be any flaws in this. None at all." his finger moves from her chin to her lips before she can continue. He grins slightly and her cheeks turn rosy again.

"Where's all that self assurance you had jut a moment ago? Where's the sexy determined woman who has faith that this will work out? Stephanie you could have gone to anyone but you came to me because you know what I'm capable of. Tell me what I have that sets me apart from the rest, that's the answer to your doubts."

She is breathing heavily from their close proximity. His hand firmly grasps her thigh in reassurance but his thumb traces small circles on the inner most part. He can be affectionate. He can be gentle. There is much more to Hunter Hearst Helmsley than she knows and he wants to show her exactly how much. He will blame it on his admiration for the headstrong personality she has been exuding as of late but he's just never been so impressed with a woman before. He admires her drive; her passion and he knows that if they work together they might as well be unstoppable. But her apprehension is understandable. Putting her faith and trust in a man she barely knows isn't probably something she's done often but she's doing it for him-with him-and he respects such bravery. It only makes sense that he gives her the same.

"I'll protect you. You know I will." it's barely a whisper as he presses their lips together and just as quickly pulls away. Stephanie is entranced, with her eyes locked on his own and her fingers tight around his wrist.

"Do you know what I can offer you that other men can't?" his face leans in close to hers, words menacingly low, trying to make his voice as frightening as his size indicates he is. But she doesn't budge an inch. Only grins up at him, undeterred by the hulking man in front of her.

"I plan on finding out soon enough."

Stephanie wraps her arms around his neck and and pulls him closer with all the brash confidence a beautiful young woman should have.

Even though his stomach is doing backflips, he smiles into the kiss. No, this feeling isn't fear at all.