Previously -

The man pushed his sunglasses up and his eyes flashed beautiful and almost crimson before adjusting and becoming a soft honey color and he said, "Tell him that you don't need his help. Tell him goodbye."

" 'Kay."

Lula mumbled, "Yeah. Tell him."

Pecker whimpered, "Tell em' all bye. Bye, bye. Bye, bye..."

Chapter 2

He reached his hand out again and took mine and I felt heat flash through my body so fast I jerked like I was about to have a seizure. The man turned my hand over and rubbed my palm and looked at me with his sexy eyes and I looked up at Joe. "It was an accident. Not my fault, Joe. Nobody was killed, detective. You can go. We're still off, right?" I smiled at the handsome man in front of me.

"What the fuck are you saying?"

"We should date other people. Bye, Joe."

"Hell no! We're invested. We're practically engaged!"

"Bad investment." The man leaned into me and gently grazed my lips with his and his taste was intoxicating and he set my whole body to tingling and then I felt flames licking me in sensitive places.

"Mmmm. Oh God, yes. More..."

"Cupcake! That's what you sound like when we're in private. What is wrong with you?"

"Do I..? Kiss Bob for me."

"What the fuck? Who is this guy? Get your hands off my woman!"

The man stood and turn on Joe and said very calmly, "I think that she is saying that she no longer needs your services, officer."

Joe growled, "I don't know who you are, but you're the one that needs to leave and…"

All of a sudden Joe bent over and grabbed his stomach and ran behind a car and we heard him retching. Joe slowly walked back to us in a few minutes and looked at the guy and then down at me.

He said, "Fine, Cupcake. If this is what you want. You'll be fucking sorry when you clear the smoke out of your head."

Finally, he stomped away still holding his stomach.

The man looked down at me and smiled and said, "That's my 'Harley' burning. That was part of your misfortune?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry. It's not usually my fault. I swear."

He grinned. "Not to worry. I consider myself lucky. It is my fortune that I stopped for refreshment here. I would not have met such a beautiful and enchanting woman as yourself."

"Me? Really?"

Lula mumbled, "Wull' I ain't exactly chopped liver, handsome."

He looked at Lula and said, "Make that two beautiful women."

Lula giggled. "Ain't you a sweet talker. White girl, he just a cutie with a booty like, POW!"

Pecker said, "Yeah. I'll second that one."

I nodded. "Mmm..hmmm. He's definitely all that and a box of fries."

He stuck his hand out and smiled again. "Come, I have an alternate means of transportation."

I reached my hand up and took his and I was instantly under his spell. Oh, my. Lula and Pecker trucked along behind us like in a trance too. Pecker was mumbling.

He led us to what looked like a brand new Audi AS7 in a quartz grey. He unlocked the doors and opened each one and held them for us. Pecker got in the back and Lula got in on the other side and he motioned for me to get in the front passenger seat. The seats were black leather and the car had decorative inlays in fine grain ash dark wood. It smelled like it had just come off an assembly line. We buckled in and the guy started the engine and put the car in gear and then I saw a Porsche slowly roll into the parking lot.

I watched the Porsche park and a boot attached to a sexy black jean clad leg step out and probably for the first time ever, I turned my head away from him and focused on someone else as we drove away. The man looked over at me, "What is your name, lovely lady, and where are we headed?"

"Oh, right. I'm Stephanie Plum and we need to take Mr. Pecker to the Trenton Police Department first, please."

He smiled at me again. "I'm Lucius Beliar. I'm very happy to make your acquaintance.

"Thank you for the ride, Mr. Beliar. Do you live in Trenton?"

He turned and grinned at me. "My pleasure and call me Lucius. You could say that I'm planning on putting down roots here."

"In Trenton? Most people are trying to move out, not in."

He laughed. "I have a very good reason for wanting to stay here awhile." He turned to me and this time his eyes were darker and smoldering and the grin had changed.

We dropped off Lula at the bonds office and I gave Lucius directions to my apartment and he pulled in and parked in my lot. I thanked him and started to open the door and he wrapped his hand around my arm and shook his head. I waited as he opened his door and walked around the car and opened my door and extended his hand. I took it, noticing that it was smooth, uncalloused and well manicured. What a gentleman he is.

I was focused on him as we were walking to the building and he slowly turned his head and locked his eyes on another car pulling into my lot. He leveled a dark glare on the car and its occupant and I turned to see who it was. It was Ranger's Porsche. Lucius stopped and slowly pulled me against him and put his hand behind my neck and tilted my head back and he continued to stare at the Porsche as he took my mouth. I closed my eyes and was lost in the kiss. His smell and taste was unique and intoxicating and it was addictive and I was already hooked. When his tongue entered my mouth a small shock passed through me and it was like every memory of every kiss and touch from any other man was nearly wiped away.

When he let me go to breath again, I looked up and he was grinning in Ranger's direction. Then he took my hand and turned and led me into my building. "Which floor, Stephanie?"

I was flummoxed and had to think for a minute. "Uh..second." We took the stairs and walked to my door without me telling him which one. I opened the door and he walked in with me.

"Stephanie, would you go to dinner with me tonight?"

I said without thinking about it , "Yes."

He reached down and took my hand and dropped his car keys in it. I looked up at him. "You need a vehicle to drive. I would like to offer mine to you."

"I can't take your nice car. You don't even know me. Most of mine end up like the one you saw today."

He laughed. "I have many cars. They are just things. I would be honored if you would drive it."

"How will you leave here?"

The doorbell rang and he smiled and said, "Already taken care of. Until tonight, then. I'll pick you up at half past six."

He leaned down to kiss me again as I heard my locks tumble and when Lucius let me go, Ranger was standing in the doorway and he looked angry.

Lucius turned to him and his eyes flashed and he said very calmly, "You will cease coming into this apartment uninvited from this day forward."

Then Lucius turned and slowly walked out the door just like he had through the smoke, bumping Ranger as he went. I gulped at the look on Ranger's face.

He slowly shut the door behind Lucius and said, "Who is that man, Babe?"

"His name is Lucius. That's pretty much all I know."

"You don't know anything about him and you let him touch you and kiss you that way?"

It suddenly made me angry that he would ask me that question. While mine and Joe's relationship had continued to bleed and stagnate for the last two of the three years we had been a couple, Ranger had tortured me with his own touches and kisses. He had let me starve most of the time. He gave me only tiny bits of himself to keep me hungry for him and then when I would get frustrated and want to give up, we would have the intimate moments. He would touch me like he was actually making love to me and then he would hurt me and become distant and push me away again every single time. Even after everything we'd been through together. I was a Ranger addict and I was slowly losing myself and any hope for any kind of happy.

So, with that last thought I said, "That would be none of your concern or business, Ranger."

"I beg to differ, Babe. You are my business and I have been trying to keep you safe for a long time."

"I appreciate that. Why do you even bother if you don't want me to belong to you? I'm just curious. I feel the need for an answer to that question now."

His eyes changed. "Babe, you are my friend. I have told you before that my lifestyle just doesn't lend itself to a normal relationship. I care about you and I love you in the only way that I can. I give you my protection and I'm there when you need me."

I said simply, "Ranger, it is hard being your friend and always wanting more. I don't think I can do it any longer. I'm tired of acting like I don't feel the way I do."

I never had the guts to say what I really felt to him for fear that he would push me away for good and it would break my heart. I had always felt that a little bit of Ranger was better than no Ranger at all. Today, the words had just easily come and now they were said.

His whole face had changed now and he moved toward me like a lithe cat and pushed me against the wall, caging me and putting his hands in my hair. "I have to share you with Morelli, but I won't share you with any other man."

"I don't want to be shared and Morelli is out of the picture now. Are you stepping up to take his place?"

"What do you mean that Morelli is out of the picture?"

"We broke up for good today. We haven't had much of what you'd call a relationship either. Well, for a long time."

He pounded the wall behind me and I turned to see if the plaster was still intact.

"Ranger, I have a date. I need to go get ready now."

"What is his full name. I want to check him out."

I shook my head in disgust and glared at him.

"Time to leave, Ranger."

His blank face came down and he grabbed the back of my head and jerked it toward him for a punishing kiss. His lips demanding that I open for him and I did and even offering him my tongue. His hand slid slowly down my back to my ass and he pulled me tightly against his groin and then he started moving his hips and making small circles. I kissed him back with the same fervor and ferocity and cupped his exquisite firm butt and pressed in to him even harder. I could feel his erection growing. He let me go and grabbed my hand and started to pull me to the bedroom when I poured ice water over his ardour.

"If you take me to bed, it will be for one reason. You're choosing a relationship with me, not marking your territory, Ranger."

He let my hand go and growled.

I headed to my bedroom and turned to him at the doorway. "Just so you know, I have loved you for a long time. After Scrog and then Hawaii, I thought…" I shrugged. "Well, I was wrong." Where did my courage suddenly come from? I just told him how I really feel and he'll likely be gone for good tomorrow.

I turned and went in my room and shut the door. I was going through my closet looking for something to wear when I heard the apartment door open and slam shut.

TBC -

Warning you girls. I already told you this and I'm going to warn you again. This starts out like normal funny, but gets dark and angsty. Google Rosemary's Baby. If you are leary and continue to read the train wreck, it is on you. Don't want no grouching at me. This is a scary Halloween story...