"This is your fault."
Shane looked up, shock in his eyes. "MY fault? How is it my fault?"
"You own the damn company, don't you? You're supposed to be the puppet master, right?" Booker T ranted, pacing around the amply sized hotel room. "It's your fault I lost the WCW title tonight!"
"It's NOT my fault!" Shane replied. "I did everything I could! I sent Austin out to help you when it looked like you were in trouble!"
"Thanks for having faith in me!" Booker growled, continuing to pace. "I can't believe that trust you've put in that cowardly old hillbilly! You saw how he botched up his 'rescue' attempt tonight!"
"He didn't botch anything!" Shane insisted. "How could he, or anyone, have known that Angle could recover from that?"
Booker sighed, sinking into a padded armchair. "Nevermind. Who cares anyway? It doesn't matter how or why it happened, the fact is I lost my title! And to the WWF too! I feel like a total idiot!"
"Baby," Shane sighed, coming up behind the tall man and putting his hands on his shoulder. "You are not an idiot. You lost the title on a fluke, that's all. You'll get it back, baby, I know you will! I do have faith in you, even if you doubt it, I do." Shane wrapped his arms around Booker's neck, resting his dark head on the wrestler's dark shoulder. "I had enough faith in you to give you my heart, didn't I?"
Booker sighed, raising his hand to caress Shane's dark locks. "You barely even know me," he whispered. "We only met a few months ago!"
"But that's long enough," Shane whispered, tilting his head so he could look into Booker's eyes. "A few months in more than enough time, if it's the right person. And you are right for me, baby. You're perfect. I've known that since the moment I laid eyes on you."
Booker looked away, uncertainty in his eyes. "And how many people have you said that to?" he asked bitterly. "How many times have you whispered that in some poor sucka's ear just to get him into your bed?"
Shane sighed. "Baby, I know Lance hurt you. I know he hurt you bad. But I'm not him baby. He's a rotten apple, so rotten he told half the WCW roster that he loved them, and a good portion of the WWF. He fooled a lot of good men. It wasn't your fault. You can't give up on love because of one broken heart, darling."
Booker sighed deeply. He turned his head, looking straight into Shane's dark eyes. In their depths he saw no falseness, no deception, only sincerity - and love. He opened his mouth to speak, but Shane put his finger over Booker's lips.
"You asked how many people I've said that too," the McMahon heir whispered. He paused for a moment, his finger tenderly tracing the curves of his would-be lover's face. "One. Only one, in my entire life. And that's you."
Booker felt his heart melt as he gazed into Shane's eyes. A small smile crossed his lips, his hand moving up to gently caress Shane's soft hair. Shane leaned into the touch, his eyes closing. The heir's eyes shot open as he felt the soft touch of lips against his own. Overcoming his surprise, he quickly relaxed into the kiss, wrapping his arms around the larger man's back as the kiss grew deeper. Booker drew back after a moment, taking a deep breath to still his pounding heart. Taking another deep breath for courage, he stood, taking Shane's hand and leading him over to the room's large bed. He lay the heir down with the greatest of care, then settled onto the mattress next to him. He froze, staring at Shane and not quite knowing what to do next.
Shane smiled sweetly, propping himself up on his elbow and gazing at the taller man. "You don't have to, you know," he said softly. "I can wait for anything physical. As long as you know that you have my heart and you keep it safe and whole."
"No." Booker swallowed. "I want to. I want to make love to you. It's just..." he swallowed, looking uncomfortable. He looked into Shane's open, caring eyes, the love in those beautiful orbs giving him the strength to go on. "I ain't been with men much," he admitted, clearing his threat nervously. "I ain't been with none but - but Lance, and the way it was with him, I don't want it to be with you." He looked up at Shane, relieved to see understanding in the heir's eyes.
"It's ok, darling," Shane crooned, his hand stroking Booker's powerful shoulder. "Just do what feels natural to you. Don't force anything. Take it slow, make it beautiful."
Booker swallowed, his pulse quickening with excitement as his gaze ran over Shane's body. He nodded in response to what Shane had said, hesitating only a moment, then pulling the smaller man into his arms and kissing him. Their lovemaking was slow, sensual, and passionate, leaving both exhausted and sated.
Shane lay in his lover's arms, idly trailing his finger across Booker's well muscled chest, where his dark head was resting. "I hope I've changed your mind about love," he whispered. "It's not supposed to be something that hurts you, it's supposed to be intimate, and beautiful."
"Like what we just shared," Booker whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Shane's temple. "I believe you, baby. And I - " He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry that I can't say it quite yet. But I will. Give me some time, baby, I promise I will."
"It's ok. I can wait to hear it. And when I do, baby, it'll be the most wonderful moment of my life." Shane closed his eyes, content for the moment to just feel the warmth of his new lover's body against his own.
THE END