A/N: This story started out as a 1 or 2 chapter fluff/smut short because I was being "hounded" by some friends. Apparently my mind doesn't work that way, and somehow the story took on a life of its own. Warning: The chapters are relatively short. For those of you not happy with the ending, please be paitent. I promise a follow-up story is hot on its heels and I should start posting it within the next two weeks.
A special thank you to Kate Manoso. I'd be lost without you, Babe! Love you!
Thank you Kate, Stayce and Lisa for your gentle persuasion, support and of course all the laughs.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. They belong to the amazing J.E. I'm just borrowing them for a little fun. I get paid nothing!
Warning: Smut, Spoilers 1-13, Language
Steph makes a deal of her own - Chapter 1
Steph's POV
I sat in the dark, leaning back against the headboard with my phone in my hand. You can do this, Steph. You and Joe have been broken up for over a month. You have needs, and you know for a fact that no one can satisfy them more. Just take a deep breath and do it before you chicken out.
Without giving myself any more time to think, I hit the speed dial and slammed my eyes shut. By the time I heard the phone ring through I was already regretting my decision. I hurriedly slammed my phone shut and started hyperventilating.
Okay. It's after midnight. Probably he's already asleep and didn't hear the phone. Probably it didn't even ring through on his end. It won't even register on the caller i.d., and he won't ever need to know that you almost made a fool of yourself. Even better, he'll never need to know how desperate you are. It's bad enough he knows how much you want him every time he comes near you.
Flopping back on the bed, I felt my heart stop when my cell phone rang. I put the phone in front of my face and peeked at the readout in the dark.
"Crap, crap and double crap." Okay, don't panic. Just don't answer the phone. Damn, you have to answer the phone. If you don't, he's going to come looking for you, and if he shows up at your door tonight, he's going to be in your bed before the night's over. Are you ready for that, Stephanie? Hell, no. I haven't had a chance to shave my legs yet. I haven't done my make up. I'm in my sweat pants. Why weren't you at least prepared before you called? Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. The phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"Babe."
"Hiya, Ranger." I knew my voice was a little too cheerful, and Ranger paused on the other end.
"Everything all right, Babe?"
"Sure, why wouldn't it be?
"Because you called my cell phone and then hung up." Fuck. Now what? He didn't even give me time to come up with a good lie.
"What's going on, Babe?"
"Nothing."
"Do you need my help?" Oh, god, yes, I needed his help. I needed a Ranger-induced orgasm in the worst possible way and had no idea how to go about getting one. I mean a girl can't just blurt out, 'Hey, I'm horny. Would you be willing to help me out?' At least this girl can't.
"Stephanie, do you need help?" Yeesh, I really wished he'd stop asking me that.
"Um, I'm fine. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something." Again, a long pause.
"Babe, you hung up."
"Yeah, well I sort of changed my mind."
"You changed your mind about wanting to talk to me about something."
"Yes," I said emphatically, the way a senior citizen might yell BINGO.
"Babe, something's going on. I'm coming over. I'll be there in five."
"NO." Shit, I just yelled at Batman. I could feel the force of his personality through the phone.
"I mean, I'm not exactly dressed for company."
"Babe."
"It can wait."
"I'm on my way."
"Wait. Just wait." Okay, Steph, you can do this. Think.
"Ah, you know how you asked me to do that distraction Friday night?"
"Tomorrow night? Babe, if you don't want to do it, just say so."
"No. No, I'll do it. I was just thinking maybe I should get more from this job than I normally do." Okay, that hadn't exactly come out right.
"I see. So you're not happy with the ten percent of RangeMan's take anymore? Exactly how much do you think you should get, Stephanie?" Ah, hell, now Ranger was pissed. Could this conversation get any worse? Well, look at it this way, you've hardly got anything to lose now.
"Um, actually, I don't want more money. I was sort of hoping we could maybe make a deal." I knew the minute Ranger's ESP began working by the invisible current of electricity that came through the phone and the fact that my nipples hardened and heat filled my stomach. Ranger's personality and sex appeal could not be diminished by something as ridiculous as a telephone.
"What kind of deal did you have in mind, Babe?" I could hear Ranger shifting in his bed. His breathing came through the line slow and deep, and his voice had dropped to a husky whisper that sent shivers through my body.
"I'll do the distraction job, and if you make the apprehension, you spend Saturday night with me." I squeezed my eyes shut and felt the heat spread from my stomach into my face. Ugh! I can't believe what a dork I am.
I don't know where Saturday night had come from. All I knew was if I made the deal and then had to wait until I could work up the courage to collect, I'd be a shriveled up old woman groping at younger men like Grandma Mazur.
"Let me see if I have this straight. You're going to help with the distraction job tomorrow night, and if the men and I are able to make the apprehension, I get to -- I have to spend the night with you Saturday night?"
I took a deep breath and through my mortification blurted out, "Yes."
"All night?"
"All night." I heard Ranger's soft laughter across the line.
"Well, it's not part of your normal contract with RangeMan, but I think we can work something out. Eight o'clock?"
I figured since I'd already made a fool of myself and there was no turning back, I might as well go for the gold. Not knowing when this opportunity might come along again and knowing Ranger's habit of getting out of bed at five or six o'clock in the morning, I wanted to make the most of the night. Besides, it was going to be hard enough to wait until Saturday. If I had to spend all day Saturday waiting for 8:00, thinking about what I had done, I might chicken out.
"Um, I was thinking maybe 6:00 might --"
"Done." I blinked at Ranger's quick response.
"Okay. Ah, good. Fine then."
"I'll pick you up for the distraction tomorrow night."
"Right, the distraction. Tomorrow night. Okeydokey." Again, I heard Ranger laugh softly.
"This guy's not known for showing up at the bar before 10:30 or 11:00 so be ready by 10:00, Babe." Before I could answer I heard Ranger hang up.
Oh my god, what did I just do? It's official. I'm a slut. After thinking about that for a second, I jumped up, flipped on the light and ran to the mirror. I saw the smile on my face, and knew without a doubt it would be twice as bright Sunday morning. Yeah, I thought to myself. I can live with that.
