"This is so fucking stupid," Chris mumbled, scowling at his reflection in the stand-up mirror in his hotel room. He was adjusting his black tie while wondering where the time went. Lost in a sea of steamy sex and a twisted game of one-up-manship with the fiery Stephanie McMahon, Chris had lost all track of time. Three weeks had come and gone, and now the day had finally arrived where their game would come to an end. Chris still wasn't quite sure how he felt about that.

"God, you've been bitching all day, just shut the fuck up already," Stephanie called out from her bathroom where she was putting the final touches on her makeup. She leaned forward closer to her mirror to properly apply her eyeliner. Nothing less than her best would do on this night.

Chris snorted as he secured his tie. "You said this was a waste of time this morning. Now you've had a change of heart?"

"No, it's still a waste of time," Stephanie said with a smirk. "But you don't see me whining and complaining about it every five minutes. Don't tell me you're missing me already?"

"Dream on, sweetheart," Chris said, smirking himself as he looked himself over in the mirror. Some people would say he was conceited, but was it really his fault that he was so handsome? "I'll be rocking another woman's world tomorrow night while you're pretending to have an orgasm with Ape Man."

"Oh, Christopher, you've figured me out," Stephanie sighed, leaning back to admire her work. "Yes, it's true, I do fake it often. In fact, I have been faking it with you these entire three weeks."

Chris laughed a deep and rich laugh that made Stephanie smile against her will. He finally stepped away from the mirror and walked over to the couch, sitting down in a relaxed position while he waited for her to finish. It was his experience with women that told him that no matter how much he prodded and pleaded, women still took their damn time whenever they felt like it. Since Stephanie cleaned up well, he could afford some patience.

"No one fakes it with me," Chris said smugly, flipping on the TV to check the weather. "Don't confuse me with your idiot ex-boyfriend."

"Soon to be boyfriend once again," Stephanie pointed out, finally emerging from the bathroom. Chris looked over and kept his gaze cool and smooth as he took her in. She was wearing an elegant black dress that hugged her curves perfectly. He felt a stirring in his pants as she gave him a playful smirk, slowly turning around to give him the full 360 degree view. The back was low-cut, dipping down and inviting his hand and his eyes down. Chris exhaled slowly as Stephanie turned to face him again. "So? What do you think?"

"If you don't get him back tonight, then he just doesn't like women," Chris said, his voice deepening as he turned off the TV and got up to his feet. He gave her a slow, appraising look down to her legs, and then slowly back up. Stephanie felt a little breathless under his scrutiny as he walked over to her.

"You like what you see?" she asked him flirtatiously.

"I like what's under the dress more," he said, his voice a sexy growl as he put his hands on her waist. "Let's ditch the party and throw our own right here, Princess," he whispered in her ear.

"Mmm," Stephanie sighed, leaning her head back as Chris brought his hot mouth down to her neck. "It's tempting…" she mumbled, feeling his rock-hard erection through his dress pants. She was a heartbeat away from giving in to one last round with Chris when he lifted his head to kiss her on the mouth. Stephanie immediately brought a hand up to his lips, before shaking her head. "Um, you're not about to ruin this makeup that took me a while to get perfect."

Chris chuckled, his hands still roaming up her back. "That's alright. It's not your mouth I want anyways."

"Such the charmer," Stephanie said snidely, giving his belt a light tug. "But you're just going to have to keep it inside your pants tonight. It's not about the sex tonight, Chris, if you can wrap your head around that."

Chris glared at her back when she pulled back and turned away from him with that smug attitude that defined her. It was one of the things that he simultaneously loved and hated about her. She could get him going, put him right in the mood, and she still had the self-discipline to walk away. No other woman had ever had such control around him and it both aroused and infuriated him.

"Right, because it's about love and all that bullshit," he sneered angrily.

"Oh please," Stephanie guffawed. "Don't make me laugh. This isn't about love, it's about power. You knew that from the very beginning."

"Come on, Steph," Chris said, coming up behind her and putting his hands on her waist. He leaned in and kissed her behind her ear. "I'll make it fast."

"Fast as always," Stephanie teased with a smirk, feeling a shudder run through her at the feel of his warm breath by her ear.

Chris laughed at that as she pulled away from him again. "That's alright, you'll be missing me soon enough, baby," he said, walking behind her as they headed towards the door. "Don't worry though. I'll fit you into my schedule. How about right before my matches, in my dressing room? You can help me unwind."

Stephanie laughed heartedly as they exited their shared hotel room. "Oh, Chris, you kill me."

"You're a handful yourself, Stephanie McMahon," he told her, smoothly coming up next to her and wrapping his arm casually around her waist. They walked together towards the elevator, looking to all the world like a perfectly happy couple. Chris smirked a little and whispered in her ear, "So who is in the lead?"

"I stopped keeping score," she said with an easy shrug, reveling in his touch and avoiding eye contact with him.

He smiled at that. "Because I was winning?"

This time she looked at him out of the corner of her eye, raising an eyebrow. "I'd say it was a tie."

"Well then, a tie it is."

An hour into the party, Chris was already bored out of his mind.

Stephanie had switched on her charm the moment they walked into the party. Almost everyone had turned to see the gorgeous brunette on his arm, and Chris couldn't help the warm feeling that had spread through his chest at knowing she was his. Granted, she wasn't going to stay his. He didn't mind that too much. The fact was that Chris Jericho had learned a long time ago to stay in the moment, and for now, she was his. And that's all that mattered to him.

Now he was sitting at a table alone in the large banquet hall, an untouched drink in his hand. He was wearing one of his nicer suits, and had noticed several single women looking his way. For the first time in a long time though, he didn't much care. Normally he'd be picking out the hottest woman at the party and working his untouchable game to lure them into his bed for the night. Instead, he was nursing a half-hard erection as he watched Stephanie move through the crowd at her father's party. Every now and then, she sent a glance his way with a small hint of a devious smile attached to it that made Chris smirk. There was a secret in her eyes that only he was in on, and he could only chuckle and shake his head as she continued her sweet, daddy's girl act. He was the king of the façade, knowing how to bullshit his way through anything to get whatever he wanted.

And she was his perfect match.

He was leaning back casually in his seat as Stephanie finally approached him. She smirked a little at the way his blue eyes wandered down her body, almost feeling a hint of regret that she hadn't tasted and felt him one last time. But guys who were good at sex were a dime a dozen, so what difference did it make, really?

"Well aren't you looking like the handsome, loner type over here all by yourself?" she teased, taking a seat next to him.

"Just watching you do your act," he responded, his smirk growing in amusement.

"Jealous that I do it better than you?"

"You wish," he snorted, before sitting up in his seat and leaning closer to her. He let his eyes hungrily wander down to her inviting cleavage. "Come on Steph, enough of this horseshit. How about we get the fuck out of here and I take you back to the car and fuck you so hard that you don't even know your own name?" he whispered, his face inches from hers.

Stephanie was left breathless for the second time that night, the heat rushing to her face (among other places). Turning away from him, she composed herself and was going to respond when something caught her eye.

"Hunter just got here."

Chris frowned and followed her line of sight. Sure enough, there was Triple H sauntering in, "fashionably late" and also dressed in a nicely pressed suit. Chris grunted and leaned back again, resting one arm on the back of Stephanie's chair.

"Guess so," Chris mumbled.

Stephanie looked back at Chris and smirked. "Wish me luck?"

He snickered, his lips teasing a smile. "Knock 'em dead, baby."

"Aw, such a sweetheart," Stephanie teased, leaning in and giving Chris a peck on the cheek. She stood up and he promptly slapped her on her rear. Stephanie yelped, her face flushing red from embarrassment as she made sure no one saw. She turned to glare at Chris, who just gave her a wicked smirk.

"What?" he asked innocently. "You don't mind when we're in the bedroo-"

"Ugh, just shut up!" Stephanie snapped at him, making him laugh out loud. She went to smack him in the back of the head, but he got a hand up and blocked it. It was rare to get Stephanie McMahon so flustered, but she had been teasing him since they woke up. She deserved it. Self-satisfied, Chris watched as she shot him a look that could kill before walking away.

Slowly, his laughter and good mood began to melt away as he watched Stephanie approach Hunter at a table across the hall from him. By the time she sat down next to Hunter, Chris' smile was completely gone, a deep scowl in its place. He leaned forward in his seat again, crossing his arms on the table as he watched with complete concentration.

Hunter looked up in surprise when Stephanie took a seat next to him. They exchanged a few words and then they both got up together. Stephanie took the lead, of course. That was only to be expected. A muscle near Chris' jaw flexed as she led them outside for a more private conversation. Chris grabbed his drink and chugged down a large part of it.

What the fuck did he care anyways?

"Hey baby."

Chris looked over at the woman who had taken a seat next to him. He had been so preoccupied, he hadn't even noticed. Her hair was long and a very light blonde, and she was wearing a strapless red dress that screamed "fuck me now." Chris eyed her up and down, giving her the once over. She would do, he supposed.

"Hey yourself, gorgeous," he said smoothly, adopting his charming act as he gave her his best smile. He could see her practically swooning in response, and his smile wavered a little bit. This was just too easy. He looked away, suddenly not interested.

"What's your name?" the blonde woman asked, blissfully oblivious of his assessment of her.

"Guy who's not fucking you tonight, whore," Chris answered bluntly, earning a gasp from the woman. He rolled his eyes and stood up, grabbing his drink. He stalked away, thankful there was music playing and that no one was really paying attention to the raving woman in the red dress screaming curses at him.

He headed to the back where there was a bar section, and took a seat on one of the barstools. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. What was wrong with him? Since when did he reject an easy lay?

Must be getting sick or something, he figured. He motioned for the bartender to come over.

"Hey man, give me something that will give me a buzz and quick, will you?" Chris asked.

"Make that two."

Chris tensed at the very familiar female voice that he hadn't heard in a long time. He grit his teeth together and stayed stone still as the woman sat down next to him. Of all the fucking rotten luck in the world…

"Well, aren't you going to say hi, Chris?"

He turned to glare at her, his grip tightening on his glass. "What the fuck are you doing here, Trish?"

Trish gave him a puzzled look, as if surprised by his hostile greeting. "Well, Vince invited me. Why are you here? I didn't see you on the invite list…" She left unspoken the part that said she would not have come had she known he would be there.

"Not that it's any of your business, but Stephanie invited me."

"Oh, I see," Trish said thoughtfully as the bartender brought them their drinks. "So you're dating her now?"

"I don't date anymore," he borderline snarled at her. "Thanks to you."

Trish rolled her eyes. "From what I hear, you've definitely moved on without me. You're quite the man whore these days, aren't you?"

"What can I say? I learned from the best," Chris sneered, looking at her with pure disgust.

"I'm flattered," Trish said sarcastically. "Really, I've apologized a million times to you. I don't know what else you want me to say, Chris."

"There is nothing else to say. I've moved on."

"Doesn't seem like it to me," Trish said with a smug smirk, as if proud of that fact.

"Well, it did take a little bit of effort. Someone cheating on you tends to have that effect."

"Oh geez, here we go," Trish said with a sigh. "Always have to go there."

"You still fucking that asshole you cheated on me with?" Chris asked bluntly, earning a shocked look from Trish.

"Geez, do you have to be so crass?" Trish hissed, glancing around to make sure no one heard Chris' remark.

Chris snorted in amusement, a bitter smirk creeping up on his face. "Lots has changed since the day I used to fuck your brains out, Stratus. And to think I almost asked you to be my ball and chain."

"Charming," Trish muttered sarcastically. "And no, I'm not seeing him anymore."

"Sucks for you," Chris said, raising his drink and chugging it down all at once.

"Chris, really, I'm sorry," Trish said, borderline pleading with him. "I don't want you to hate me."

"Too late."

"Can't we just put that behind us?"

Chris stood up and pulled out his wallet, taking out a bill and tossing it on the counter. He then tossed one towards Trish, earning an infuriated look from the former women's champion.

"Already have," Chris said, not even bothering to look back at her as he turned and walked away. Two women pissed at him, and the party wasn't near over. He was on a roll.

But he couldn't help it. He was different now, and while most of it was due to Trish, a good chunk was now due to Stephanie. No matter what Trish Stratus thought, he had come to terms a long time ago over what he had walked in on during a time when he had been head over heels for her. His consequent "to hell with commitment" attitude had been inspired by the type of hurt he swore to prevent from ever happening again. And it had served him damn well.

Until now.

He wandered aimlessly through the party, as if in a haze. Every now and then he would notice a woman checking him out, but he just wasn't feeling it. Blessed with a sex drive that was unmatched (by anyone not named Stephanie McMahon, anyways), it usually didn't take much to get Chris in the mood. But tonight was different, and he didn't know why. He couldn't even blame it on that bitch Trish Stratus. She had soured his evening, yes, but he hadn't been interested in the blonde woman in the red dress that sat down with him, and that was before Trish popped into the picture.

Was it because Stephanie was such a challenge? Was it the allure of Stephanie McMahon that was making other women seem… boring in comparison? It was giving him a headache to think about it, and Trish's presence didn't help. He really just wanted to get laid, but he wanted it to be with Stephanie McMahon.

He blamed it all on her rejecting him that day. Surely if she had just given him some, then he would be more relaxed and not thinking stupid things. Hell, he might've even still be flirting with the blonde in the red dress…

Without even thinking about it, he wandered outside for some fresh air. To hell with everything. There was no sense in dwelling on his past with Trish, because he couldn't go back and change anything now. There was also no sense in dwelling on the upcoming days that he was going to spend without Stephanie McMahon in his bed, because he couldn't do anything to change that either. The woman wanted her power and status, and Hunter had the gold. Chris had nothing to offer her except good (scratch that – amazing) sex, and that wasn't enough to keep a woman like her around.

Not that he wanted to keep her around anyways. It was just a thought…

"I missed you so much, babe," Hunter said, relief running through every vein in his body as he hugged Stephanie to him tightly. He kissed her on her temple just as Chris stepped through the double doors into the cool night air.

"Mmm, I missed you too," Stephanie responded, not completely lying. Sure, everything with Chris had been great and all, but Hunter gave such amazing hugs.

Plus, he was the heavyweight champion and on top of the world. Chris was, well…

Why am I even thinking about him? Stephanie asked herself angrily. She was here with her boyfriend, the man she actually cared about, and she was thinking about another man who was as conniving as she was.

She would never exactly figure out how she felt him there, but she did. Taking a look over Hunter's shoulder, she saw Chris. He was standing casually with his hands in his pockets, his shoulder leaning against the wall to the building the party was in. With only the night lighting illuminating him, he was a sight. Stephanie could see the brightness of his eyes from where she was, and she suddenly felt like she was drowning in his gaze.

"Um," Stephanie said, pulling away from Hunter a little bit. "I'll just meet up with you in the car, okay? I have to go talk to Chris."

Hunter followed her line of sight and scowled. "Ah, just leave him. Let's get the hell out of here."

Stephanie turned her attention back to Hunter and gave him a glare. "I don't think I stuttered," she sneered.

Hunter exhaled through his nose impatiently, before mumbling a half-hearted "whatever." He turned and headed off to go get his car while Stephanie walked over to Chris, who was waiting for her.

"So?" he asked, raising a curious eyebrow. "Did you two kiss and make up?"

"Something like that," Stephanie laughed. "He's such a female sometimes, even more than me."

"Is that what you call yourself?" Chris asked, smirking when Stephanie hit him in the arm. They both laughed as Chris stepped up closer to her. Stephanie instinctively put her hands on his chest.

"Haven't I proven to you already how much of a woman I am?" Stephanie asked with a smirk of her own.

"Touche," Chris noted, leaning in closer to her. "There's still time for you to make a run for it, you know. We could go back to my car and go back to the room and fuck all night."

"That would be deliciously cruel," Stephanie said thoughtfully, as if contemplating the idea. "Buuut, I have to decline."

"Well, how about a dance then?"

The smirk on Stephanie's face disappeared, being replaced by a look of genuine surprise. "You want a dance?"

"Sure, why not? There are all these old geezers there on the dance floor. At least me and you would provide eye candy to everyone watching," Chris said with a devilish grin.

Stephanie took a look over in the direction Hunter had walked in, before shrugging. "Sure. He can wait," she told him with a seductive wink. Chris snickered as she took his hand and led him back inside, right onto the dance floor.

Chris smoothly and expertly took her into his arms just as Stephanie turned to face him again. Her breath caught in her throat at his sudden proximity. She put her arms around his neck as he smirked.

"It's been a blast, McMahon," he told her, his tone teasing and quiet so only she could hear him. Stephanie was briefly mesmerized by the blue of his eyes before she cleared her throat.

"Yes, it has. So, are you in love with me?" she asked, mimicking his tone.

"Nope. How about you? You love me?"

"Nope."

"You love fucking me though."

"Well, a girl has needs. And you weren't exactly complaining either."

"Guess nobody wins the bet, huh?"

"Guess so," Stephanie snickered, pulling herself closer to him. She felt safe in Hunter's arms, but she felt nothing but warmth when she was with Chris. More than anything, that's what she was going to miss. His soothing and calming body heat, always ready to warm her or satisfy her own heat. Hunter wasn't terrible in the sex department, but he just didn't have Chris' heat.

"Good thing we didn't put money on it then," Chris said quietly, wanting to break the silence between them. If they could talk, then he could forget how perfect she felt against him.

"You should find yourself a girl and settle down, Jericho," Stephanie told him, laying her head on his shoulder to soak in more of his heat. If only he wasn't in his suit. If only it was just his skin and hers… "All that sleeping around you do is going to get you an STD."

Chris chuckled lightly, and Stephanie smiled a little at the way his laughter rumbled in his chest. "I'll settle down when you do."

"Guess we're just not the settling down type."

"We sure as hell aren't, that's for sure," Chris said, his tone smug. "I'll be moving on fast, so you know."

"Good," Stephanie said, lifting her head to come face to face with him. They both stared silently into each other's eyes for a few moments right as the music ended. That snapped them out of it, making them come apart at the same time as everyone started clapping for the live musicians.

"Well, you should get going. Don't want to keep the local jackass waiting," Chris said, crossing his arms defensively over his chest.

"Don't talk about yourself like that," she teased, giving him a smile that paralyzed him to the spot. She stepped up to him and kissed him on the cheek again. "Thank you."

He smirked a little. "Pleasure was all mine."

"Well, I don't know about that," Stephanie said with a snicker. "I'll see you at work, Chris."

"Yeah, see you at work," he said, watching as she turned and walked away.

Chris stood in his spot long after she had already walked out the doors, even when people around him started dancing again. After some time, he headed out too. There was no point in him staying there anymore, not without her there. He didn't even see a point in trying to pick up another woman to replace her, because there was no replacing her.

It was then that the truth hit Chris like a ton of bricks. Someone had lost.

And that someone was him.