69This is it guys... the final chapter. Please let me know if anyone feels like there are lose ends and I can throw together and epilogue.
Ranger drove me back to Hayward so Bobby could take a look at my wrist. Thankfully I hadn't actually broken anything, just a bad sprain. He showed me how to wrap it and told me it would be tender and sore for a few days. Ice would help but most importantly, I should not use it for awhile.
As the adrenaline from the day's events wore off my eyes became heavy. Ranger and I made our way up to 7 and I collapsed onto his leather couch. I could hear him rummaging through the kitchen cabinets and hoped he was bringing me a glass of wine. Closing my eyes I replayed the last two day. I started to understand my mom's exasperation with my job as I realized how fucked up my life was. My car had been blown up… again, I was kidnapped… again, I shot my ex-boyfriend, sprained my wrist, puked on batman, and I had sex loud enough for every one of the merry men to hear. I grimaced at that thought but then smiled when it triggered the shower sex too. That was a good thing.
I guess there were other good things about today as well. Joe finally told me the truth about him and Terry. I was still pissed but was starting to feel bad about shooting him. What if he had to have surgery? Or, oh God! What if I hit an artery or something and he's dead now! No… someone would have called me, right?
Rangers hand caressed my check and I opened my eyes to see him standing above me. "Do you want me to call and check on Joe?"
"How do you do that?" I whispered, earning me a soft smile. Without answering he made a phone call and inquired as to Morelli's status.
Snapping his phone shut he filled me in, "Just a flesh wound babe. He got 8 stitches and went home a few minutes ago." I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Then I scowled when I realized he probably wasn't in very much pain. And, what, a flesh wound would heal in a couple days. Bastard.
Reading my mind again Ranger said "I could make him suffer." An image of Marino grabbing himself made me laugh at what Ranger was probably imagining he could do to Morelli. This earned me a raised eyebrow and I couldn't help but ask.
"What did you say to Marino? He seemed terrified of you." If you didn't know Ranger you wouldn't have been it but I saw him shrug.
Still ignoring the question he handed me a plate with a Peanut butter and olive sandwich on it. My eyes lit up and reached to pick it up with both hands, scowling when I realized I still couldn't use my left. Ranger chuckled and tore the sandwich apart, handing me half. When I finished the other half I sighed in contentment and leaned back against the couch, Ranger mirroring my position on the opposite side.
With Ranger silence isn't unusual, but tonight I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. Like there was something that needed to be said, and neither one of us knew where to start.
Okay Stephanie, think of a safe topic first. There were a lot of changes that I wanted to make, one of them being my job. Maybe I could start there. Ranger always said I could work full-time for him if I wanted. "I'm thinking about quitting bounty hunting."
This earned me a nod, as if he already knew it was coming. "And I don't want to live in my apartment anymore. It doesn't feel safe." I could tell that surprised him. Still he didn't say anything and the awkward silence returned.
"Where do you want to work?" his voice was soft and at first I wasn't sure if I was making it up in my head or if he really spoke. "Steph." He prompted. Oh, I guess he did say it out loud.
I shrugged. I couldn't just tell him I wanted to work for him. What if he didn't want me around all the time anymore? But there was no way I was working at the personal products factory so if a job at Rangeman was out then I'd have to stick it out with Vinnie for awhile longer. Although I promised myself no more hiding and denial, so suck it up Stephanie and ask if you can work at Rangeman.
"There's always a job for you here." Raising my eyes to the ceiling I silently thanked God.
"That would be great." I felt him shift on the couch and then his finger ran down my cheek cupping my chin to make me look at him.
"I'm proud of you. It took a lot of courage to confront Morelli today."
"I probably shouldn't have shot him." We both chuckled. "I have no idea how I got a hold of you gun that quickly."
"You never disappoint babe." He leaned in and brushed his lips across mine. "Come to bed with me Stephanie," he pleaded. I just nodded and followed him into the bedroom.
Gently he pushed me so I was sitting on the bed and kneeled before me. Our lips met and anticipation welled inside me. Even though I'd already slept with Ranger twice today, something was different this time and I couldn't fight the nerves building in my stomach.
His tongue licked my lower lip and I opened up to let him inside. Our movements weren't frantic but calm and almost tranquil. I surrendered to the feel of his soft lips on mine, of his tongue darting in and out of my mouth. His hands skimmed under my shirt and caressed my breasts. Arching my back I pressed into him, wanting more. The kiss was broken as he slid my shirt over my head. Placing hot kisses along my jaw he worked his way down my neck while his hands unhooked my bra, sliding the straps down my arms and tossing the garment over his shoulder.
He lightly pinched my nipples between his thumb and fingers and I moan at the sensation. Groaning in response he licked and nipped at my ear lobe whispering "I love that sound". I couldn't help it, I moan again, this time with a sharp intake of breath as he bit down on one of my nipples.
I could hear the blood pulsing in my ears and knew if he continued I was going to cum before he got even close to the promised land. His tongue swirled around my nipple and I bucked into him. Switching breasts he focused his assault on my other nipple. His hands were caressing my back and stomach and he returned them to play with my breasts as he kissed his way down my stomach. Softly he urged me to lie back on the bed and I obliged.
His hands left my breasts to pull his shirt off and I reached out to run my hand over his now bear chest. This man was so beautiful; I couldn't believe how lucky I was that he would share these moments with me.
I felt my shoes and socks being removed and then his hands running up my calves, my thighs, and lightly over the one place I wanted him to be. He smiled at my impatience and unbuttoned my jeans, slowly pulling them over my hips and down my legs.
Soft kisses were placed on my stomach as he drew small circles on the inside of my thighs. "Ranger, please". He moved his lips lower as his hands discarded my panties, exposing my slickness. He took one of my legs and pulled it over his shoulder spreading me wide and rested his head on my thigh. I could feel his breath on my hot center as he ran two fingers over my clit causing me to writher on the bed. "God Ranger, please," I begged. Slowly he moved his fingers south and circled them around my entrance. I tried to lift my hips but he held me in place before slowly sliding them into me.
My moan was loud as I felt my muscles clench around him. Painfully slow he pulled them out of me and returned to circling my clit. "I'm so close Ranger, please don't stop." This time he dropped his head and sucked my nub into his mouth, thrusting his fingers inside me. I came immediately and screamed his name.
He smiled up at me as his fingers continued to slide in and out prolonging the orgasm. He used his other hand to undo his pants and I felt another orgasm building as his fingers continued their assault inside me. He could feel my walls tightening again, "I love watching you cum babe." He dropped his mouth to my clit again and swirled his tongue around. Just as the beginnings of the orgasm hit me he sucked me back into his mouth gently biting down. I flew over the edge crying out his name.
As I was catching my breath I felt him poise above me, nudging my legs apart so he could enter. "No, not yet," I whispered watching a pained expression cross his face.
"Babe, I need to be inside you. Now." He demanded. I smiled and pulled him so he was lying next to me. Slowly I stood and knelt between his knees. "Steph. " I could hear the warning in his voice.
"Let me do this Ranger." I lowered my mouth and licked the precum off his tip. I heard a sharp intake of breath and looked up to see his eyes squeezed shut, hands balled into the covers. I sucked his tip into my mouth and swirled my tongue around his head.
Languidly I sucked more of him into my mouth until I felt his tip hit the back of my throat. Locking my lips around his cock I pulled up until his head met the inside of my lips, then I sucked him back down again. "Fuuuk Steph…."
This time I opened my throat taking all of him in me, drawing circles with my tongue around his base. I continued to slide my mouth up and down, sucking and licking at all the right spots. I could feel the tension in his legs, keeping himself from thrusting into me.
Letting out a low moan he released his hands and pulled my mouth from his cock. "I need to be inside of you when I cum Babe, please." His voice was strained his eyes pleaded with me.
He scooted back on the bed, pulling me with him. Straddling his erection I lowered myself onto him whimpering at the contact. Resting my sprained wrist on my leg I leaned back using my right arm for support. Lazily I circled my hips knowing I was teasing him.
He growled and flipped us, never loosing contact. His mouth crashed down on mine and I cried out as I felt him thrust inside me. It was quick and hard and amazing. I could hear the soft slapping when our skin connecting and I wrapped my legs around his waist encouraging him to go deeper and harder. He reached up and grabbed the headboard for leverage as he pounded into me. His eyes never left mine as he fucked me like I had never been fucked before. I closed my eyes as I felt my orgasm build and cried out at the sensation.
"Touch yourself" he demanded as his pace quickened. I could see the muscles in his neck tighten and knew he was holding out for me. Sliding my hand down my stomach I hesitated, never being this vulnerable with anyone before. "Please, babe. God please."
His eyes followed my hand and he groaned as he watched me circle my clit both of us coming undone at the same time. Tears filled my eyes as the most intense orgasm shot through every nerve in my body. I felt Ranger shudder as he spilled inside me.
He was still embedded in me when I opened my eyes. Lowering his head to my shoulder he tried to catch his breath.
"Dios, that was amazing." I lost track of time as we lay in eachothers arms stroking and kissing.
He pulled out of me and curled into my back, throwing a blanket over us before circling his arms around me. Soft kisses were placed on my back and shoulder and I closed my eyes savoring the moment.
"Move in with me" he whispered before sucking at my ear. My heart sped up wanting so badly for what he said to be real. "You were right Steph. I've been calling what we have anything other than what it is." Holy shit, was Batman about to change his stance on relationships? "When you confronted Morelli today I was so proud of you, proud that you finally stood up for yourself and stopped letting him hurt you. But at the same time I realized I should be proud of you for standing up to me as well."
I turned to look in his eyes. I needed to know if this was real. He grazed his lips across mine before continuing. "I love you Steph. No qualifiers. I've been an ass and tried to come up with any excuse to keep you at a distance but, I don't want to anymore. I'll probably suck at being a boyfriend." He laughed, "Hell it's been 8 years since I opened myself up to a relationship and the only reason I did that was because Rachel was pregnant." He turned serious again, "Please Stephanie, give me a chance."
Everything fell into place for me and for once, I knew I was making the right decision. There was no second guessing, no worries about what my mother would think, and no guilt.
"When we were in your office today I realized that my life was in chaos because I wasn't following my own lead. While I always did what I wanted, I held back a part of who I really was so I could try to please everyone, including you." I took a deep breath and pushed on
"Part of me was terrified to end things with Joe because I've never been without a man, but another part of me was terrified because there was a chance you might make good on your threat to occupy my bed. You scare me Ranger" he pulled back "No… just listen."
Once he relaxed I continued, "Emotionally you scare me Ranger. You are the only person who has ever seen right though my lies, the only person I trust wholeheartedly, the only person that pushes me to be who I really am. And that scares me. But if I'm honest, I'm not scared because I don't want it. I'm scared because for once I feel like everything is right, that for once I can stop worrying about what other people might think. For once I might have a chance at finding out who I really am and what I can offer the world. You give me that courage and I would love nothing more than to move in with you and give you a chance to continue to push me into being who I really am."
My speech earned me a 200-Watt smile before his lips crushed mine in another bone melting kiss. "You never disappoint Babe."
"And I always get my man."