Usual disclaimer. I own nothing all characters belong to JE. They come to my yard to play and then I will send them home. I write for fun and relaxation.

Please read and enjoy. I live for reviews.

All mistakes are mine no Beta on this.

Chapter 5 Life As We Live It

Languidly lying in Ranger's arms, I looked at the huge diamond on my finger and thought about all he had said. Love, forever, the Batcave, the air he breathed; could I the Trenton Screw-up live up to this? How long before he grew tired of my mishaps and left me? Kicked me to the curb like Joe said he would.

Could I live with it if Ranger left me? This is why I could never commit. Was I good enough for this man who only wanted to give me everything? Could I live up to his dream and expectations?

All of my doubts and fears reared their ugly heads and I started to silently cry.

Ranger sensed my tension and pressed his lips to my cheek.

"Babe, what's wrong. Have I hurt you in some way? Why are you crying? Please look at me." He gently turned me in his arms and tipped my chin up to look in my eyes. He pulled me close and kissed my tears away.

"Ranger, it's just my insecurity. I can't see how I can be enough to keep you happy. You have everything to give me and I have nothing to give in return. Look at you; you are handsome, strong, confident, in control of all your surroundings, determined and rich.

I'm just a screw-up, everything I attempt goes wrong, I roll in garbage, destroy cars and clothes, I am a laughing stock in Trenton and the only thing I'm good for is to make people money on bets."

Keeping his eyes locked with mine, he pulled up against the headboard, and gently he pulled me to him. My legs were around his waist and we were groin to groin.

Taking my face in his hands, he smiled as he started to talk. " Babe, at the risk of sounding conceited, I guess I am those things. That has been my life. Those are the only things I had until three years ago. I met this beautiful determined woman in a diner. She was everything my life had been missing, but I didn't know that at the time. Over the next few months I learned just who she was."

"What did you learn, Batman"

"Let me see, what I learned?" he pulled me close and kissed my chin.

"First, I could see how beautiful she was with her wild curly chestnut hair and azure blue eyes that changed colors with her mood. She had a gorgeous body and legs that went on forever. Oh, what I wanted her to do with those legs. I learned she was tough with real determination. She was a survivor and was willing to do almost anything to get her job done. That was just the first meeting. Later I learned she was, trusting; willing to put that trust in a stranger when she called me to free her from the shower rod.

Though you were embarrassed and a little afraid, you trusted me. I must admit I had worked to put that fear in you with my gansta persona, but your strength over came it all. Even as I looked at your body and open face I couldn't break that trust. Believe me when I say it was one of the hardest things I had ever done. I wanted you bad. Right there handcuffed to the shower rod."

Steph's eyes turned dark as she stroked my face. "Please, go on."

"After that night I was lost, but still couldn't admit it. I ran, I hid but you were always there. When I closed my eyes I could only see your blue ones. I found that when I went on missions; they no longer provided me with the High that I had felt before. I still got the adrenaline rush but in the end I just wanted to come back to Trenton. I realized that was my home. After one mission, I was tied up with Ramos and this same blue eyed girl came to my rescue. You never asked if I was guilty, your only question was, 'are you alright?' There was no doubt in that question just concern. Later when I relayed that to Tank, he told me I had it bad. He could read my face." Ranger was smiling now.

"I bet Tank tried to talk you out of it."

"No, Tank just told me to be careful and treat you gently. That you were not of our world and I should remember that before I made a move. He also reminded me how rare that kind of trust is."

Ranger, I have always trusted you, then that night with the handcuffs and your language was not Gangsta, I knew you were something more."

"You could always see more to me." He smirked at me.

"When you used my truck and found your way to Haywood, we were all impressed. Then you figured out how to break into my apartment. Tank was astounded how clever and brave you were. He couldn't believe you put it all together. When he called me he was laughing. 'Boss you will never believe what that little girl has done now.' I advised him to let you hide out. That something must really have you spooked to bring you there. When I walked in your eyes said you were afraid, but your face was determined. It was all I could do not to laugh when I told you I might throw you out the window. "

"I was afraid you might and I couldn't blame you. After all I had invaded your private space."

Shaking his head, "You were so brave and determined how could I throw you out. I was so glad you stayed and the warmth of your body against mine was more than I could even dream about."

"Then there was the Scrogg incident. You jumped in and insisted on helping. Again, you didn't doubt me. You offered only help. You had proved to my men and me that you were special. There was nothing average about you. I came into that apartment knowing I was going to die. It would be my only act of love for you. Waking in the hospital with you holding my hand, my first thought was this must be heaven. Later when you brought me cake and perched on my desk, I didn't know how I could ever live without you."

"But, you went away, you left me then."

Ranger kissed her lips and slid his tongue down her neck, "Yes, I left, but I was never away from you. You were in my thoughts constantly. That was when I came to terms with my needs and my wants. That you were all I ever wanted and needed. I just had to find a way to make you mine. I was sure you wanted me but I had to know you loved me.

Giving you the job at Rangeman was the best thing I had done at that point. Watching you interact with my men let me see you had captured their hearts too. Seeing you joke with Lester and how you accepted everyone cemented you in my heart. You accepted us as we are all the dirt and warts; you made us your brothers. Believe me when I say, I didn't want to be your brother.

To sum it all up, you are; beautiful inside and out, with a heart of gold, your eyes and your wild curls mesmerize me. Inside you are; strong, brave, true, and trusting. You are loyal, intuitive and determined. Babe, you are everything I have ever wanted in a wife, lover and partner; now and forever.

With you sex is amazing, but I want more. I want all of you today, tomorrow and forever. I could never leave you, Babe. I never want to spend a day without you in my arms."

"Carlos, you have told me how you feel, now care to show me." Slowly she stroked her fingernail the length of Ranger's hard throbbing cock that was pressed between them.

"Say it again Babe, and I'll show you just what I mean." Carlos flipped her on her back never leaving contact. His throbbing head pressed against her entrance.

An hour later in the shower, "Babe, do you understand how important you are to me? Is there anything I can do to drive your insecurities out of your head? I will be more than happy to do anything." He slowly ran his hands over her breast, bringing her nipples to attention before slipping his hand between her thighs to cup her hot center, "Anything."

He slipped his straining cock between her thighs and her knees grew weak.