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Chapter Two – Rude Awakening
Ranger awoke as he always did, all at once, all systems on alert & aware of where he was. There was something vibrating on the bed, Stephanie muttered something unidentifiable, rolled over & buried her face in Rangers chest.
"What?" There it was again, the vibrating.
"Stupid phone." She said with a yawn, "Find it, answer it, I'm still asleep."
After a short search, it was near their feet, he answered as was his custom, "Yo."
There was a short silence on the other end then, "May I speak to Stephanie please?"
Ranger jostled the woman trying to melt into the sheets until she cracked an eye, then he handed her the phone.
"This better be good because I haven't even had a doughnut yet."
"Stephanie this is your mother, I just got a call, that black truck was parked outside of your apartment all night."
"It wasn't all night Mom." She let the sigh of relief tremble along the line for a minute before she said with a grin, "it's been there for only about 6 hours or so, it's still here."
"Stephanie, why did he answer your phone? Do you have more crazy people after you?"
"Nope, for once I'm crazy free," grinning at Ranger who was looking at her as if she sprouted a third head, "the phone was on his side of the bed."
Deciding not to take her Mom so seriously had been an excellent decision, she actually enjoyed teasing her mother now.
"Stephanie Plum what if Joseph had called, you know he's your last chance…"
"For what? Marriage? Kids? Joe Morelli is not the only man on the planet Mom."
"Yes but how many would put up with your nonsense?"
"Well I have other redeeming qualities." With a stretch & a yawn she realized that a half naked
Ranger was in her bed & she was talking to her Mother! Idiot!
Sitting up Indian style to better see her eye candy, she picked back up the conversation "Mom I love you, I know you love me too, I'm sure Joe has moved on, if not to bad because I have."
The silence on the line was deafening, "We're having Rack of Lamb tonight & chocolate cake for dessert, Ask Mr. Mancuso if he will be available."
Stunned Stephanie, asked Ranger who was now grinning at her, he accepted, which she related to her mother.
"All right then I'll see you tonight." When he mother clicked off she stared stupidly at the phone for a moment then at Ranger.
"You threw down the gauntlet and your mother picked it up. Why are you surprised? She's your Mother after all."
Glaring at him for a minute, thought about it, then shrugged, "I just didn't expect her to give in so easily. You on the other hand seem to be forgetting that my Grandmother will also be at dinner."
Big bad Batman blanched at the thought of a little blue haired lady.
"I only agreed because I want to leave for Montana tomorrow."
Stephanie looked at him a moment she'd forgotten that they had decided on going away together.
"Babe? Second thoughts?" His expression closed.
"How cold is it in Montana? Are you gonna teach me to ride a horse?"
He did a lip twitch that qualified as a Ranger smile.
"How do you know I can ride a horse?"
"Can't you?" He nodded, "Is their anything you can't do?" she sighed propping her chin on her palm & elbow on her knee.
"Babe."
"We have to go shopping, I want a fur lined coat like Vin Diesel in XXX and boots too."
He shrugged, which she took as assent, "When do you want to leave?"
"I'll call you."
"Ok then you have to get out so I can start packing."
"Babe you throwing me out?"
"Yep, it's ten o'clock. How long are we going for? I'll pack for two weeks."
"Which means you'll have enough clothes for a month."
She grinned at him as he did the lip twitch thing again and tugged her into his lap.
He brushed his mouth lightly with hers, "One bedroom or two?"
Stephanie was under no misconception about the strength of her will power especially when he was nibbling on her lips and his hands were sliding up over her barely covered ass, pressing her body down on his, plus she wanted him so badly. She made a sound of frustration in her throat, trying to capture his mouth with hers to deepen the kiss. But he neatly evaded her by transferring his attentions to her neck, she shivered as the teasing, biting caresses heated her skin.
Just then his phone rang, "Leave it." She gasped, shifting so her nipples could drag across his chest.
After it rang insistently two more times, Ranger muttered a curse and flipped her onto her back under him, reaching for the phone. Not to be thwarted, Stephanie slipped her tongue over his nipple, laughing breathlessly when his greeting came out in a strangled groan. She raked her nails lightly down his back, used her teeth on his neck & rubbed her moist core against his hardness, the silk of his boxers and her inconsequential panties no barrier.
"What?" That too came out strangled.
He listened for a minute, "Be there in ten." He looked down at Stephanie her eyes dark & aroused, her lips red from his kisses. "No, Cancel it."
She grinned up at him, "Cancel the meeting? Are you going to stay & help me pack?" she reminded, trying to look coy.
He didn't look to happy at the reminder, "Don't cancel it, I'll be there in ten."
He growled at her and attacked, sliding the straps of the silk camisole she had worn to bed down & latched onto a nipple. Her laughter was cut off by a moan that was his name. He didn't stop till her breathing was ragged.
"So this is how to shut you up?" he murmured against her lips.
"Now you talk?" she breathed.
"I have to go."
"Now! I'll shoot you with your own gun."
"That's not my gun."
"Shut up, please shut up."
Her breasts bare, nipples glistening from his mouth was almost more than his strained patience could handle, with another brain numbing kiss he got up, and only a tremendous effort of will kept him from rejoining her.
When he exited the bathroom, fully fitted in badass black, he found his Babe surveying her closet an open suitcase on the bed, she hadn't bothered to dress just covered her delectable breasts up.
"Babe, you sure about this?"
"Sure about what love?" she mumbled absently, tugging a sweater dress off a hanger and into the suitcase, her mind on shoes.
When he didn't answer, she replayed the last couple of minutes, Good Lord she'd just called Ranger 'Love'.
Stephanie bit her lip, trying to discern his expression, being almost killed had amazing side effects. Getting her life in order had been her first priority, she'd broken up with Morelli and spent a great deal of time alone just taking stock.
A few conclusions had come about;
her mother; would perpetually be ironing since she loved being a bounty hunter & wasn't giving it up,
if she was going be said bounty hunter; she might as well get better at it
and (This is a big one) she wanted Ranger, ok ok she was in love with him.
After letting her mother in on the first, letting the Merry Men help her with the second and now that Ranger had made an overture she was going to take advantage, especially since she had encouraged a lot of the stress on their relationship by throwing Morelli into the mix.
True, he had sent her back to Supercop but when had she ever done what she was told without an argument, even when her life was in danger she still did what she wanted anyway. So she would take responsibility for her share of the blame, besides which he was a man & men tend to say & do stupid things so that was also part of the problem too, she hadn't taken into consideration that even though he was Batman, he was still a man too.
So here she was scantily clad in her bedroom with the sexiest man on the planet and she'd let slip a little something she had intended to keep to herself a little while longer. So she did what she always did, no not denial sheesh, she followed her instincts.
Stephanie smiled and moved to him sliding her arms around him resting her cheek on his heart, "I'm definitely sure." She said meaning more than the question he had asked. (Ok a little evasion, baby steps.)
When Ranger's body relaxed and his arms looped around her, she breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at him, his expression was the same, she decided that he was stunned. Smiling trying to hide the smugness, it was nice to surprise Batman for once.
"Babe." Was all he said before he fitted his mouth to hers.
That kiss topped all kisses, the ground trembled, the earth shook, the phone rang, wait? What? The phone rang? Huh!
Her frazzled mind realized that Ranger had picked put the offending instrument & practically yelled, "I'm on my way, Damn it!" then slammed the phone shut.
Hugging each other tightly Stephanie found she had never felt so content, as when she was in this man's arms. Sighing she stepped back till they were no longer touching.
"Ok Mr. Manoso you better go before you miss your meeting."
"I'll call you later." He said by way of farewell, trailing fingers down her cheek followed softly by his lips.
Stephanie turned back to her closet, but not before stopping to say over her shoulder in a voice ripe with promise, "Oh by the way, that will be one bedroom."
The Rangeman's hands clenched and he made a move toward her them stopped. "I'll get you for that Babe."
"I'm counting on it."