235Thank you all for the great feedback. I hope you continue to enjoy.
As always, all the characters you recognize belong to JE and I'm just having fun with them.
Warning: There is just a little bit of smutty goodness at the end of the chapter!
Previously:
I took a minute to think about it, instead of immediately protesting, which is what I wanted to do. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. The babies were real. Ranger had the photographic evidence to prove it in his pocket, a souvenir from the doctor's office. They would need a lot of stuff and a lot of room. I blew out a sigh.
"Are we really going to do this, Ranger?"
He flashed me his full-on smile. "Yes, we are going to do this and it is going to be good!"
A few minutes later we pulled into the parking lot of my apartment. Ranger took my hand as we went inside to find Dillon. It was time to close one chapter of my life and begin a new one.
Ranger and I walked across the parking lot and into my apartment building. While I checked for mail, Ranger answered his cell phone.
"Yo. Fuck! When? My office in 2 hours, I want a full report."
I watched as Ranger's blank face slammed into place before he raised his eyes to look at me.
"What's going on, Ranger? And don't give me that blank face! We've come too far for that."
I watched his face while he waged an internal battle with himself. Finally, he looked at me and his face softened slightly. "Babe, it isn't personal. You have to understand. The ability to keep what you call my "blank face" in place has saved my life more times than I care to admit. I'm not using it to shut you out, okay?"
Sigh. "Okay. Can you tell me what is going on?"
"The team lost Conti this afternoon. They're trying to reestablish contact now. I don't have the details yet, but we'll be meeting in 2 hours in my office."
"Well, he really hasn't tried anything else and we don't even know if he's the one responsible for my apartment and the bomb, do we? I was looking to buy a ticket to Denial Land.
"No, we don't have definite proof, you're right. But Steph,"
I just knew there was a "but" coming!
"We have a really good idea that it was him and he may have just been waiting for his chance and found it today. We need to get this over with and get back to RangeMan."
The ticket booth just closed and the train to Denial Land has left the station without Stephanie on board!
Dillon was meeting us in the apartment so we took the stairs up to the second floor. The door was open and Ranger stopped me while he went inside. He quickly waved me inside where Dillon was standing in the living room. Ranger explained to him that an emergency had come up and we needed to get back to the office. Dillon already had the paint samples and bathroom fixture catalogs and tile samples set up on the kitchen counter. We went over the choices and I picked out everything I liked. I also explained that I probably wouldn't be moving back into the apartment, but I would honor the balance of my lease, which still had 9 months left. I figured that maybe Grandma might want to stay there or Ranger could use it for out of town employees when the 4th floor at RangeMan was full.
We were standing in the living room, just saying our goodbyes when there was a loud crash in the bedroom, followed by two loud bangs. I turned towards Ranger just as the living room window shattered and 2 objects sailed through the broken window and into the room. I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could get a word out there was a bright flash and a large explosion and my world went black.
My ears were ringing and I couldn't see. I just stood frozen with fear. I felt Ranger grab my wrist and pull me towards the door. I stumbled after him as I heard another crash and then felt rather than saw the heat of fire building rapidly. Ranger got us out of the apartment and into the hallway. I still had spots dancing in front of my eyes from the bright light but I was beginning to be able to see again. Ranger was on his cell, dialing 911 I assumed. I noticed then that Ranger had also dragged Dillon into the hall. We both began stumbling down the hall, knocking on doors and trying to get the other tenants out of the building. Ranger had pulled my door closed as we exited the apartment, but I could feel the heat radiating from the door and the wall. At least the living room, if not the entire apartment, was now fully engulfed.
Once we cleared the second floor, Ranger dragged us out to the far side of the parking lot, just as several RangeMan SUVs tore into the parking lot with tires screeching. The sound of sirens we getting louder, as the fire trucks responded to the scene. Ranger told me to stay with Lester, who apparently wasn't following doctor's orders to work only 4 hours a day, and he went back into the building followed by several other Rangemen, to continue clearing the building.
Les guided me over to the edge of the parking lot and pulled me down into his lap as he sat.
"Are you okay, Steph?" He asked me.
"I don't know what happened. It was so fast. There was a crash and a bright light and an explosion and I couldn't see anything. My ears are still ringing!"
"That sounds like a flashbang," Lester replied. "It's like a grenade, but it doesn't explode really. Just flashes and makes a loud bang. It doesn't usually cause a fire unless there is fuel of some kind, though." He looked puzzled.
"Something else flew through the window after the original flash." I told him. "Oh God! What if there are more bombs? Ranger went back in there!"
I jumped up and ran towards the building, but Les followed and grabbed my arm, spinning me back around towards him suddenly. That was enough to start my head spinning and my stomach lurching. I stumbled back over to the edge of the parking lot and leaned over, getting sick in the grass that bordered the asphalt.
"Steph, it's okay. The fire department is in there, too. They're just clearing the building. Ranger's fine." He was rubbing my back and had knelt beside me. When I was done heaving, he picked me up and carried my over to one of the SUVs, popped open the back hatch, and then sat down with me in his lap.
"You don't have to carry me, Les. I think I can manage to sit without keeling over you know."
Lester just laughed. "I know, but I don't often get a chance to hold you like this….and Ranger can't even yell at me for it!"
"You're hopeless, you know that?" I told him, but I leaned my head on his shoulder and decided that it felt nice to have those strong arms wrapped around me, even if they weren't Ranger's arms. We sat for what seemed like forever, as fireman went in and out of the building and cops milled around. Somebody had brought coffee and donuts for the seniors and several lawn chairs had appeared. They seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the show - like a live Trenton version of CSI. One of the cops and a fire investigator came over and got a statement from me and I could see Ranger standing across the lot, talking to the same guys a few minutes later. When they were finished with him, Ranger headed over to where Les and I were sitting.
He walked over and leaned against the frame of the SUV. "You okay, Babe?"
"I'm fine. Is everyone okay?"
"Everyone was evacuated safely, Babe. Dillon double checked. The fire was contained to your apartment and the apartment next door. The other residents will probably get the okay to go back inside in a few hours, after the fire department and engineers make sure that it is safe." He put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me from Lester's lap into a hug.
"I'm so tired of this kind of stuff happening to me, Ranger."
"I know, Babe. We're going to find some place where you feel safe. I promise. Okay?"
Before I could answer, a shadow fell across my body and I looked up to see Joe standing over me. He looked ready to explode. His face was purple and the veins in his neck were standing out.
"Goddamn it, Stephanie!" He started to yell at me.
Ranger thrust me back at Lester and quickly turned around. "Don't start, Morelli! Stephanie did not do anything to provoke this. That asshole Conti managed to slip our tail today." His voice was low and menacing, his eyes fierce. There were few men who wouldn't cower under that famous Ranger glare. Joe was one of those few.
"You don't know that this has anything to do with Conti or my investigation, Manoso!" Joe spat back. "Besides, in her condition…."
Ranger quickly interrupted. "We will NOT have this discussion here or now, Morelli. If you have something you want to say, you call my office and make an appointment. You will not bother, Stephanie. Do you understand me?"
Lester had wrapped his arms back around me, whether for comfort or to keep me from attacking Joe, I'm not sure, but I did take some comfort in knowing that I had a lot of men who would do everything in their power to keep me safe.
Tank had come up silently and stood next to Ranger, glaring at Morelli.
"You better find some evidence that Conti is behind this, Ranger. Otherwise, I expect a list of either your skips or Stephanie's who could possibly be behind this and the other attacks." Joe had his fists clenched at his side. I recognized the look of barely contained fury.
"We're investigating all possibilities, Morelli. You'll be kept informed as much as we feel it is necessary." Ranger was clearly dismissing Morelli with the tone of his voice and his body language, as he turned his back and reached down to pull me up into a tight hug. "Ready to go home, Babe?"
I was completely drained, but I did manage an eye roll at Ranger. I know that the "ready to go home" comment was more for Morelli's benefit than mine. I was rewarded with Ranger's "thinking about smiling" face.
We left Morelli fuming in the parking lot, where Lester and Tank made sure that he didn't try to stop us.
As we drove back to RangeMan, Ranger slipped into his zone. "Why was Morelli so mad," I asked him. "Does he think I bombed my own damn apartment?"
"You know that's not what he's upset at Babe. I'm sure he was relieved you were okay, but still worked up about our discussion. Don't worry about it. Try to get a quick catnap." I didn't sleep, but leaned back with my eyes closed. Ranger went back into his zone, but held my hand the entire way, squeezing it gently and occasionally raising my hand to his lips to kiss me gently.
When we got back to Ranger's apartment, I immediately stripped and headed for yet another shower. Ranger was going to need a higher capacity hot water heater and some industrial size bottles of Bulgari shower gel if I kept this up!
I stood under the shower with my head back and eyes closed, letting the jets pound into my skin, too tired to even lift my arms. A couple of minutes later, I heard the door open and Ranger slipped into the shower behind me. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tightly against him, my back to his front. He kissed my neck and shoulder and then reached out to grab the bottle of gel and the scrubby from the shelf in front of me. "Let me help you, Babe," he said softly, continuing to nuzzle and kiss my neck. He lathered up the scrubby and proceeded to wash every inch of me from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head, shampooing and conditioning my hair, always keeping as much of me as possible in the warm spray of the shower jets. He sat me on the shower bench and proceeded to lather himself while I enjoyed the show. He grinned at me, but had himself showered and hair washed in about 3 minutes flat. Damn Army training!
He turned off the water and wrapped me in a big towel, wrapping another around his hips. At this point I was pretty much asleep on my feet, and was barely aware as Ranger dried me off. He led me back to the bedroom and sat me on the edge of the bed while he pulled one of his big T-shirts over my head. I managed to pull my arms into the sleeves as I tipped over, Ranger pulling back the covers for me. He leaned over and kissed my lips and my eyelids. "Sleep now, Babe."
I woke up sometime later, to the feel of Ranger's hard length pressed into my back. I was curled up on my side, my head resting on his biceps and his other arm draped over my waist, rubbing circles on my stomach.
"Hey Babe," he whispered, kissing my neck and nibbling on my earlobe. I shivered at his touch and wiggled back against him. "Playing with fire, Babe," Ranger chuckled. "How do you feel?"
"Relaxed and rested," I answered back. "What time is it?"
"It's almost 10 o'clock."
"Wow! That was a long nap."
"You needed it Babe. I was tired too. I've been laying here napping with you for the last hour. I hated to wake you up, but Lester told me you threw up again this afternoon and I want to make sure you get something to eat and drink."
I had a much better idea, but I had an urgent call from nature to take care of first. I started to scoot towards the edge of the bed but Ranger tightened his arms around me. "Ummm, Ranger? Unless you want to really embarrass me, and then have to changer your linens, you really need to let me get up!"
Ranger chuckled. "I just wanted to remind you to sit up slowly, Babe. Maybe the babies will cooperate with a little 'playtime' if you are careful."
Yippee! Great minds (and horny bodies) think alike!
Ranger burst out laughing as I slowly sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. "Oh geez. Did I say that out loud?" Ranger grinned and nodded. "I have got to stop doing that!" I whined for the umpteenth time in my life.
I sat on the edge of the bed for a couple of minutes, while Ranger rubbed my back lazily. I was able to look around and the room wasn't spinning, so I cautiously stood up. "So far so good," I told Ranger as I walked slowly to the bathroom. I quickly took care of business and then washed my face and hands. I started to check myself out in the mirror and immediately decided it was best not to go there. Ugh!
When I made my way back to the bedroom, Ranger was leaning up against the headboard, sheets draped across his legs and low over his hips, not doing much to disguise his obvious desire. "Okay, Babe?" he asked.
"Fine," I replied. I slipped back into bed and lay on my side, head propped up on hand, as Ranger tossed the sheet loosely over me. "Any news about Conti?" I asked.
Ranger rolled over on his side facing me, sliding down off the headboard so that we were face to face, just inches apart. "Later, Babe, okay?" He reached out and pulled me closer to him, so that we were pressed together, from our toes to our foreheads.
"I love you," Ranger said as he placed gentle kisses across my face. "I love our babies," he said as he bumped my belly with his, smiling. He reached down and pulled my top leg over his, then began teasing me with his fingers, tickling my inner thighs and trailing his fingers lightly across my mound. He kissed me deeply then and I moaned into his mouth. I rolled onto my back and Ranger rolled with me, keeping my upper body pinned to the bed with his while his fingers continued to do wonderful things, making me ache with the need for him.
Ranger slid down the bed a little until his face was buried in my chest. He took first one nipple and then the other into his mouth, gently licking, sucking and nipping at my flesh, going back and forth from one to the other, driving me wild. I moaned and stretched as my highly sensitive nubs contracted tightly. I could feel the moisture pooling between my thighs as Ranger continued running his fingers slowly through my slick folds. I reached between us and began stroking his rock hard cock, wrapping my hand lightly around it, just barely teasing the silky skin. Ranger moaned as he continued his gentle assault on my breasts. He slid 2 fingers into me and began slowly fucking me with his fingers, circling my clit with his thumb. The tension was building lower in my belly and I arched my back. "God, Carlos," I said, gripping his cock tighter and rubbing the precum around his swollen head. "Please…" I moaned.
"Please what, Babe? What do you want?"
"You," I managed to gasp, as he brought me closer to the edge.
Ranger slipped a third finger inside me, and began rubbing my clit directly first gently and then more firmly. I arched my back, feeling almost paralyzed, as every muscle in my body began to tense up. "Don't stop…don't stop…omigod, Carlos!" Ranger growled at the sound of his name on my lips and bit down on a nipple, sending me soaring over the edge. Wave after wave of orgasm washed over my body. My muscles tensing around his fingers as he continued to thrust in and out. Then he pulled his fingers gently out, using the flat of his palm to rub my mound firmly while I came down, my muscles releasing and relaxing. He kissed his way back up my neck and to my mouth, kissing me deeply again. I was breathing hard still, and hadn't yet found my voice when Ranger rolled over on top of me, his hard length poised at my entrance, teasing me, rubbing against my wet folds. I wrapped my arms around his back and down to his ass, grabbing him firmly and pulling him down so that he plunged into my pussy, filling me completely. "Babe," he moaned into my lips, pressing his hips into mine, forcing me to lie still with him buried to the hilt. He leaned his forehead against mine while he struggled to regain control, then began slowing moving his hips, moving in and out, nuzzling my neck and nibbling on my earlobe.
I began meeting his thrusts, encouraging him with my body to increase the speed and power of his thrusts.
"You want more, Babe? Tell me."
"Fuck me harder, Carlos. Faster!"
Ranger began pistoning in and out furiously, slamming me down into the mattress with every thrust, and I met him thrust for thrust, my feet planted firmly against the mattress, giving me more leverage.
I could feel that delicious burning building again, and I moved my hands to my breasts, squeezing and kneading them, then pinching my nipples.
"God Babe, that's so hot! I love to watch you play yourself," Ranger gasped, never slowing down. I smiled and trailed one hand down my belly, reaching for my clit and began rubbing furiously between our bodies. "Christ, yes! Cum with me Babe. Let me see you!"
My eyes flew open and locked with Ranger's as we both shattered apart, orgasms taking over our bodies. He pressed his hips into mine again tightly, continuing to thrust as my pussy released and contracted again and again, milking his cock. I felt like I'd been lost in his gaze for hours when he finally broke the eye contact, leaning his forehead down against my shoulder, gasping for air and trying to gain control of his breathing.
He bent at the waist and placed gentle kisses against my belly. "Good babies," he said into my belly button. "You give mommy a break more often and I promise you each a Porsche for your 18th birthday!"
I burst out laughing as Ranger chuckled, placing a hard wet kiss on my stomach, which chose that moment to growl loudly.
"Somebody's hungry," Ranger said. "Let's get something to eat, Babe. Ella left us some dinner earlier when you were napping." Ranger helped me up slowly and nudged me towards the bathroom. "Why don't you clean up and I'll go heat up our food." Ranger swatted my ass as I headed into the bathroom and I blew him a kiss over my shoulder, squealing as I sped up. It was nice to feel good for a change!
I took a fast shower, lathering my body and rinsing and conditioning my hair in just a few minutes. I hopped out, braiding my hair since it was way too late to bother with a hair dryer. I slipped into one of Ranger's T-shirts, but decided to go combat underneath. If I was lucky, maybe there was more playtime in my near future!
I was laughing to myself as I went into the kitchen, and Ranger grabbed me around the waist, lifting me off my feet for a toe curling kiss. "It's good to see you with a bounce in your step, Babe."
"I know I should probably be more scared and freaked out, but right now I'm enjoying feeling good and hungry," I told him honestly.
"Good!" Ranger said. Planting another hard kiss on my lips as he set me back down. "Let's eat and I'll tell you about Conti."
We sat at the kitchen counter and I dug into some chicken and veggies. If Ranger noticed that I didn't complain about the healthy offering, he didn't say anything, just smiled and dug into his plate as well.
I was practical enough to realize that this brief respite from my nausea was just that, a respite, and I knew that there were still some scary things out there for me to face. Right now, though, I was determined to enjoy a few minutes of peace with the man I loved.
And God how I did love him!