All characters belong to JE I'm just playing with them for now.
You know when you are younger your parents always tell you to grow up, and you always think just wait mum when I have grown up I'm going to make you proud. Well let me tell you it never works that way. My name is Stephanie Plum and my mum has just uttered those words, I mean it's not my fault some moron FTA thought it smart to throw me into the garbage bags at the back of the Tasty Pastry. Sorry let me up date, I'm a thirty... something bounty hunter Jersey girl from Trenton. I catch moron FTA's on a daily basis by pure luck for my cousin Vinnie's bail bonds office. I only do easy FTA's or failure to appears and the other bounty hunter who is every woman's favourite wet dream is Ranger, AKA Batman, AKA Ricardo Carlos Manoso. He is 6foot something of pure bulging male perfection. His band of Merry Men are the best and scariest guys I have ever met and I love them all and trust them all with my life. The only problem that occurs between the Merry Men, Ranger and me is my on-off boyfriend Joe Morelli, my mother wants me to marry him, my friends want the details of sleeping with him and I'm pretty sure Ranger wants to make him vanish to some third world country. Oh well that's my life so back to the present, unfortunately.
My mother has this view I am never going to get married therefore I am now sitting at my parents house for dinner with Joe Morelli, my now ex boyfriend sitting to my right. It doesn't bother me too much though because we have decided to stay friends so we sat and chatted about who is recently out of jail, I have a stalker problem, and the new bets at the cop shop. I was allowed to escape quickly with Joe at the end and still get my coveted left over's bag, I love pretending to my mother we are dating, it gets rid of lots of awkward conversations. Joe dropped me off at Rangeman and I headed up to my new flat on the fourth floor. Once I had dropped my left over's in the fridge I changed into my uniform and headed to the control room for my monitor shift.
As I stepped onto the floor I spotted Ranger talking to Hal and Woody at the monitors so I headed into the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water for the shift then wandered through. Hal and Woody were gone and Ranger was sat watching monitors.
"Hey Batman."
"Hey, wonder woman."
"You on monitors?" I was surprised because he never does monitor shifts, perk of being the boss, and I had thought I was on with Lester tonight.
"Lester had a family matter to deal with and no one else can cover so here I am."
"Wow sounds good, I got you water."
He took it and we settled into comfortable silence just watching the monitors. After a while I got fidgety, I liked working with Lester because we always swapped info, like he taught me some Spanish and I was teaching him a little Italian and the hand gestures.
"You can't be bored already Babe?"
"Well I usually have a new Spanish phrase by now so you could help me so I can surprise Lester next shift?"
He agreed and we spent the next 30 minutes going over what Spanish I knew and he taught me a few more phrases that were guaranteed to make a skip quake. The conversation then dwindled while I tried to practice and we were back into silence again. After a longer time now, I was fidgeting, hey it's not my fault I'm an chatterbox and Ranger only talks if forced to. We sat for a few beats till I looked over, the corners of his mouth were tipped up and I could tell I was amusing him so I looked back to the monitors and stared to think about what I could do to pass the time. Ah ha plan in action.
"So Batman, can I ask you a question?"
"You can ask I might not answer."
"OK, what was your favourite cartoon as a kid?"
"Dangermouse."
"Really, mines was the A-team. OK can I ask you a few questions?"
"Same answer as before."
"OK what is your favourite food?"
The game went on for hours and I felt I knew a lot more about the man of mystery by the time our shift was almost finished. What surprised me was when he asked me a question.
"Why did you keep going back to Morelli?" As much as I was surprised it wasn't because of the question it was because he had asked anything.
"He is Burg, my mum loves him, he is acceptable to fit with the Burg and I thought I would want that one day but I realised I needed to do things to please myself and we were a crap couple so it is defiantly over for that reason. It's ironic the reasons I stayed with him before were the reasons I left him."
"You aren't dating Morelli anymore?"
"No we broke up about 2 months ago, did you not know that?" Wow and I thought Batman knew everything.
"Not everything Babe and no I didn't know, he was with you at your parents tonight."
"Mum still thinks we are dating, I don't have the heart to tell her and as long as we are both single we play along for her. Plus we make pretty good friends."
The rest of the shift passed in silence and when Zero and Junior came to relieve us at 1am we parted and I headed down to my apartment on the fourth floor, when I exited the lift with a wave to Ranger he pulled me back against him, "I'm glad we had our chat tonight Babe, see you in the morning."
When he released me I pulled myself together and headed towards my apartment and shrugged on a pair of shorts and a tank top and tumbled into bed for a deep and dreamless sleep, all in all a good day.
I woke to my alarm at 8 and headed o the gym, pulling on a sports bra and shorts, I still hate exercise but because of the Rangeman policy I have been able to get a lot more tone and I can eat donuts and not feel guilty. As I turned to lock my door I saw the note hanging there, opening it I saw it was typed so no idea who it was from.
I love your curly hair, the way it bounces when you walk and how it shines.
I cannot have another stalker in here. I decided to head up to the control room and check who left the note. I was immensely flattered when they told me it was from someone within the building and not to worry about it so I headed to the gym. After a tough hour work out I showered and dressed in my Rangeman uniform then trudged off to my cubby. I dropped the note in the drawer and turned my attention to the computer screen in front of me and guess what another note.
I love your milky white skin; it's perfect and glows like the beautiful moon.
I couldn't help but smile hell it was damn flattering so I dropped it into the drawer and suddenly finished a lot faster than normal, guess a happy worker is a productive one. I headed to the break room for lunch and to chill while I waited for Rodriguez to fill my tray again as usual. When I scanned the room and headed to collect my hidden tasty cakes I found they had another note attached.
I love your lips, red as a rose and soft as silk.
Wow, this was such a good day, hell if I could have someone other than a stalker leaving me these notes I was going to explode with happiness, I had guessed it was Ranger but it was such an un Ranger thing to do and he would have stolen my tasty cakes. I headed back to my cubby to find it had indeed been filled again. After finishing those searches I signed out for the day and headed o the office in search of some new FTA's and for a chat with Connie and Lula. I had dropped the third note in the drawer with the rest and was grinning like a fool when I pulled out of the Rangeman garage in my company truck. Pulling up to the office I found Connie and Lula looking scared, Connie had a little white envelope in her hand, damn guess I have another stalker.
"Hey, I guess I got another stalker then?"
"Think so, I didn't want to open it."
I pulled the small note out of the envelope and let out a sigh of relief as I noticed it was another letter from my mystery admirer at Rangeman.
I love your eyes most of all, they shine like sapphires in the night, I am drawn to them with no consent of my brain.
"It's OK it's from my mystery Rangeman admirer. I have been assured by the guys in the control room that I don't have a new stalker to worry about."
It's weird over the last two months, I have gotten better at my job and gotten in shape, I can even keep up with all my FTA's which I could only have managed in a car before and then it would have blown up. I liked this new me mostly because I was a lot safer, I noticed this as when I thought I had a stalker again I had put my hand on m gun to call Ranger and warn him immediately this would never have happened with the old Stephanie.
"So girls the real reason we are here, the night out tonight, we were gonna get some guy attention if I remember correctly."
"Your right girl, well you and Connie on account of I got a stud muffin waiting for me a home when I need some loving. I thought we could go to Moonlight, it's been refurbished and is cool and classy now. What you think?"
"you got yourself a deal girls, I was gonna try and sweet talk my boss and see if I could get a driver for tonight, I mean I don't want to have someone worrying about driving or taxi's. I'll go ask now and phone you later, are we still meeting at yours Connie?"
"Yeah that's fine and I have some drinks to get us started. So be at mine at 7."
I skipped out of the door, such a good day, I have someone showering me with compliments, a night out with the girls and the day off tomorrow, thank god I forgot about FTA's because I could see someone like the usual crowd putting a damper on my plans. As soon as I climbed in my car I saw the note, I practically ripped he envelope open then read the words that made my heart swell again.
I love your smile, the way a genuine smile lights up your face and the whole room around you.
I could most definitely get used to this. I skipped up the stairs at Rangeman and up to Ranger office then knocked and waited. "Come in Babe." I pushed open the door and walked in, the almost smile on his face let me know he noticed the spring in my step, which I'm pretty sure he had caused.
"Ranger, could I ask you a big favour?"
"Depends what it is."
"Well, you know when you and the boys go out you take a driver with you?" He nodded so I continued. "Well, I was wondering only if you have a man free and it wont cause any problems if I could borrow a driver tonight?" I crossed my finger behind my back and hoped he was in a good mood, especially with me because I didn't wan guilt over asking.
"Of course, the boys are going out tonight as well so the drivers are all picked out, I'll have someone ready for you around 6:30?"
"Wow, that would be perfect, thanks, so does that mean you are coming out tonight?"
"Not unless I get this paperwork finished, but I will try."
"OK, I'll leave you to it." I rushed out of the office so he could get started faster and hopefully finish faster. It was 4 already by the time I made it to my apartment so I rushed to get ready. There had been another note on my door but in my haste I had ripped it off and dropped it on the bed and jumped in the shower, shaved, exfoliated and put some magic leave in conditioner from Mr Alexander through my hair, I stepped out and moisturised all over, hey a girl's gotta make an effort. I pulled on a Victoria secrets red plunge bra and thong panty set and set about doing hair and make-up. I slipped in an Enrique Iglesias CD and blared the music I dried my hair into soft curls and pinned some up into a quiff at the top of my head then set about dancing around my apartment in my underwear trying to find my perfume. While I was dancing and searching I felt a cool breeze of air and turned to my front door to find a boxer clad Lester staring open mouthed at me, I blushed under the silent compliment of his dark lust filled eyes until he spoke.
"Damn Bomber, you shouldn't do that to a guy, I was just coming to tell you to shut your shite off but if you're going to do that dancing I suppose you can continue. Just as he said that and I was appreciating the view I noticed behind his foot just at the edge of the door was the perfume I was looking for.
"Wait Lester don't move your foot, my perfume. I've been looking for that."
He bent down and picked it up to hand it to me, just as Bobby walked past.
"I don't even wanna know but by god Bombshell you should dress like that more often." As he walked away Lester headed out to and I shut the door. It was weird, I didn't get too self conscious around the guys any more, mainly because of the compliments I guess but hell it was nice. I started to get ready again. My hair was looking good, make-up was minimal but made a drastic impact and made my blue eyes stand even more than usual and my clear lip gloss gave my lips a soft but natural shine. I called the girls and arranged to pick them up one by one around 6:30. Pulling on my red FMP's I was almost ready a small sprits of perfume and I slipped the little red dress on, flattening it down over my curves I was happy with the effect, I looked hot and I knew it, this was going to be a fantastic night, the only annoying thing was trying to hide my outfit from the guys before the club. I dialled Hectors number and he was immediately at my door with his huge Rangeman windbreaker, it went well past my knees therefore the dress was completely hidden. I headed down with Hector to the garage and found out he was going to be our driver for the night and as it was 6:25 we should get going anyway. I gave the camera little finger wave and we pulled out of the lot.
Once all the girls had gotten caught up and pleasantly pissed we staggered to the car and Hector drove us to the club. Guess it was Trenton's night out tonight I noted as I spotted Eddie Gazarra and Big Dog at the bar ordering drinks. I gave them a wave and we headed to get a table, a few margarita's later the Trenton PD night out joined the girls night out to dance, there was just the same number of people in both groups so we all headed up to dance, Eddie and Connie danced, Lula and Big Dog Danced, Mare and Lenny danced, Val and the new boy Danny danced then Morelli and me danced. I had a great time swirling round and round the dance floor with him, he kept his hands to himself but kept dipping me low and lifting me round, I was laughing at every stupid move and it was turning into a great evening. I was enjoying the envious glances of most of the women in the room I knew he looked good but I also knew something they didn't, he had a new girlfriend and I was immensely happy about that, I didn't have time to ask him how she was because I heard a few gasps stopping my immediate train of thought. I saw all the female's in the room suddenly turn to the entrance and glanced to see the commotion, all my favourite Merry Men had just entered all looking amazing and if I wasn't so hung up on Ranger I would be all over them. They each filed into the seats we had vacated and had another table and chairs pulled over for when we returned from dancing. I nodded to Morelli and he let me go to see them while he got himself a drink.
As I walked over the guys focused on my outfit, I could see the appreciative looks on their aces and couldn't help but smile as I walked over to great them. I was immediately pulled into a hug by Lester and sat on his lap while we chatted and waited for the rest of the girls to return. I was getting pure death glares from everyone now, I was just dancing with the hottest guy in the club and when he was finally overshadowed by a group of gorgeous muscle clad men I went over and sat with them. If I wasn't me I would be jealous. We chatted danced and tried to not watch Lula and Tank making out in the corner of the booth and had a great night. I was just starting to think about the one person who could make this night even better when I felt a familiar tingle run up my spine and I knew it was going to be a good night. I turned around from where I was sitting on Bobby's lap and came face to face with the sexiest man I had ever met, Ranger never failed to take my breath away but tonight he knocked any oxygen I had out of my body, he was wearing his hair tied back and had on a black silk shirt, his black dress trousers were hugging that marvellous ass and if my legs weren't jelly I would have rushed over to him and taken him right there.
He started to walk towards me and was intercepted by a busty blonde with legs up to her chin, she was obviously trying to get him to dance with her, Ranger was having nothing to do with her and sent her away, immediately after the blonde had vanished a brunette with another inflated chest bounced in front of him and was again sent back to her friends. The third and thankfully final person to try and distract Ranger was none other than Jeanne Ellen, she was dressed head to toe black like Ranger and was sporting the biggest cleavage I had seen, her leather mini was indecently small and she was trying to stop Ranger with her whole body in front of him, he gently picked her up and dropped her to his side and continued his path to the table. As soon as he reached the table I saw the looks, they were 'if she gets to dance with him I'll murder her in her sleep' looks from all the females present, well also 'he is so damn fine' looks which I'm pretty sure I was giving that look as well. Ranger took no notice of anyone but Tank before he turned back to me and offered his hand.
I gently placed my hand in his and extracted myself from Bobby's lap, as we headed to the dance floor I never took my eyes from him, he looked so relaxed but completely single minded. We stopped in the very middle and he pulled me close. It was a slow song so we swayed in each other's arms for what seemed like an eternity. His heat was radiating through my dress and I was getting hotter and hotter every time he dipped his head to kiss my exposed neck. The next two songs were slow and I had a feeling someone had requested them, during the third slow song I decided to test my theory of the notes.
"So I wondered if you knew anything about the notes I've been getting?"
"Notes? I don't think I have a clue what you're talking about." He sounded innocent enough but the warm breath on my neck and the fact I could feel him smile meant I had hit the jackpot.
"Well, they go on about what someone thinks about me. I thought if it was you I would tell you what I thought about you but since you have no idea."
I wasn't sure if the bulgari, closeness to Ranger or the alcohol was talking but I was feeling very flirty and I was sure I could use this to my advantage.
"Go ahead Babe, what do you think about me?"
"Well, I love you're dark hair when its down and I just want to feel it brush against again my naked body." I felt his breath hitch and he pulled me closer if that was possible. "I also love you're dark mocha skin, and I imagine licking and nipping and sucking it," his breath was deep and controlled now so I continued to work him up, "I also love your lips and how they felt touching every part of my naked body. I love your eyes when you look me up and down and how they pool dark when you like what you see. I love your ass, firm and muscley, I dream of sinking my teeth into it, and I love your dick, the way you plunged deep into me and tortured me with such pleasure for hours that night. I also love it now, how I can feel the effect I'm having on you just from my thoughts."
I pulled back and looked deep into his eyes, I felt the intense desire then suddenly his lips crashed down on mine, we battled for control of the kiss and I let my hands roam his back and ass as he held me tight. When we finally broke apart I could feel his heart hammering in his chest as he fought to regain control so I leant closer and brushed the shell of his ear as I whispered seductively, "Why don't we go back and I can show you how you make me feel?"
"Not yet babe, I can't go back over there just now." What? I was getting all the signals he wanted me. "Babe, I can't wait to get you home, but I need some control first." I suddenly remembered about the amazing present I couldn't wait to unwrap and let out a small chuckle.
"It's not funny babe, I never lose control like this, I mean someone could have walked right up to me guns blazing and all I would have been thinking about was you."
I let out a fully fledged laugh as I noticed the pressure on my stomach lessen and he regained control. We finally headed back to the table and said our goodbyes with a wink from both Lula and Lester we headed to the car. He had driven the Porsche, god damn that man, he knew all my buttons. As soon as we were in the elevator heading to the seventh floor he had me pinned against the walls and was assaulting my lips with such force I thought I might orgasm just from that. We finally reached the seventh floor and he picked me up, I wrapped my arms around his waist as I nipped and licked his neck at his pulse point. As soon as I hit the bed I was a goner. Let's just say we stayed there till late afternoon, I felt bad to have taken up so much of his time but the lack of sleep had made my hangover non-existent although I didn't think I would be able to walk properly for a few days and I tell you it was worth it.
We climbed out of bed for a shower together and only immerged when the water turned cold, then after dressing we headed through for food. I was about falling asleep but the sight of Ella's French fries and a fried egg sitting on the table next to a large coke made me rethink my plan to include breakfast. After a light conversation at breakfast Ranger suddenly turned serious.
"Babe, I want to ask you something and don't get offended or anything, is that OK?"
"Yeah of course." I wandered over and sat in his lap and he wrapped his arms protectively round me gathering me into his chest.
"I was wondering if you are going to get back with Morelli ever again?"
The question shocked me and I was all but ready to explode till I remembered his words.
"We will never be in any relationship again aside from friends, and not like we were friends, without benefits." I added that at the end to clarify I was never bed hopping with Joe again. He looked relieved and I felt my heart swell for a minute, was he going to ask me to become his girlfriend? No don't be stupid he's the man of mystery never with a girl for a long time. I slumped into his chest at that thought and he started rubbing circles on my bare arm.
"Babe, I think we should give 'us' a shot." He blurted it out all so fast I thought I had missed it.
"What?" Ok I must have misheard him, he doesn't do relationships.
"I think we should give 'us' a shot," he repeated quietly, was Batman nervous? "Yes I'm nervous; I want you, not just now, forever. Would you join me for dinner here tonight?"
"Wow, em, yeah I would love to. But not to be rude or anything, why now?"
"I didn't realise you and Morelli were through or I would have asked sooner, I can't deal with thinking about you with another man and I care about you so much it feels right now."
"Well finally." I teased and was rewarded with death through tickling. He stopped and picked up his phone dialling he slid me a smile and wink. "I'm taking the day off, I was going to take in Ronnie but one of the teams can do that, I'm not to be disturbed unless it is an emergency until at least 12 tomorrow, I'll be down to assess progress at 5, got that?"
He must have received affirmative because he closed his phone and carried me off to the bed room.
That was 4 months ago and I have never been happier, we thought about what we wanted for our relationship and it has gone perfect since that day, we had one fight over guns but other than that we agree on everything. It became an equal relationship really quickly with him giving up a little office time and when I went after medium bond FTA I took a Merry Man or Ranger himself just as last minute back up. He had been on a few short missions away but always returned in one piece, I could tell he was leaving as soon as I found the flowers in my cubby so I wandered into his office where I knew he would be finishing last minute paper work. Setting myself down on his lap I wrapped my arms round his neck and pulled his head into my neck, it felt different this time and my spidey sense was tingling like mad but I couldn't do that to him, he needed my support not more worry. We stayed together for what seemed like hours, when he pulled away I looked into his eyes and poured all my love for him into the look, he looked right into my soul and I saw his unease but most of all the sheer force of his love. I kissed him as tenderly as I could and let him take control. When I reluctantly pulled away I thought it best to ask now before I cried.
"How long?"
"Two months."
"Where? Who with?"
"South America, I get to pick my team, I'm thinking Bobby, Lester and Tank if they will agree."
"OK, I trust you guys. When do you leave?"
"In three days at 3 in the morning."
"Well, I'll let you get your work done and we can get ready for your last day here." I winked and got a full fledged wolf grin in response and a swat on the bum.
Work was always boring but today it held no meaning what so ever. I thought about just leaving but when I thought about how I would probably be taking the next two mornings and the whole of the third day off I returned and tried to finish as I could and flew through the rest of my searches, I picked up some files for Vinnie and collected all pretty easily, guess the thought of a few work free days with the Wizard can make for a good reason to work better. After work I headed home, funny how in a short while home can change from a rundown apartment to a calm and serene penthouse. I loved it there and it was a lot homier now that I had convinced Ranger to let me put a few photos up. I was going to miss coming home to the calm and having my very own masseuse and having my dinner with the gorgeous hunk of a man.
The last three days passed faster than I had ever imagined, there was nowhere near enough time for Ranger and I to spend a lot of time together, there was dinner with the guys, dinner with my parents and dinner with his parents. The moments we got together were spent completely entangled with each other and whispered conversations. The last night we lay together after the most tender love making I had ever experienced. He whispered soft Spanish in my ear and I relaxed into his embrace.
"You think it will be easier or harder with Tank here?"
"Harder, I trust the guys but Manuel, I don't know him as well, I'm sure it's fine though."
"Well as long as you're sure. It won't be the same here without you."
"I'm gonna miss you, just think though it's my last mission with the government so I will get to stay here with you a lot longer."
"I can't wait to finally have you all to myself."
Three AM came a lot faster than I wanted and we were standing in the garage, Ranger, Lester, Bobby, Manuel and Tank all getting ready to head out.
"So Bomber you going to miss me?" Lester asked batting his eyelashes.
"I'm going to miss you all, so stay safe and be careful or I will cause physical harm."
I gave hugs to all the guys until I was passed over to Ranger. He held me close and whispered reassurances in my ear. Our lips brushed and he took control, it was all I could do to stop crying, when he pulled back we looked into each other's eyes
"I love you." He whispered into my ear. "I'll come home just for you."
"I love you too and you better get back here."
We pulled apart and Tank wrapped an arm around my shoulders, I watched them climb in the truck and just before Lester closed his door I shouted to them.
"Bring him home to me."
"We couldn't keep him away if we tried." He closed the door and they pulled out of the garage.
I pulled away from Tank and headed up to the control room with him following. Sitting in front of the grid until the little truck light went over the edge. I was alone then, two months without Ranger, two months of waking up alone, and two months of eating alone. I crawled into bed and felt the first of many tears slide down my cheeks.
