Since you all asked for it, Chapter 3!

Warnings: None

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

Enjoy!

Sir

Chapter 3

Choices, Sir

"Jesus Cupcake, you can't even bring in an old woman, without fucking it up!" I rubbed my sore shoulder and ignored the person ranting in front of me. I just wanted to go home, put some ice on my wounds and then take a long nap or something.

"It wasn't my fault, Joe," I said, looking over to him, watching his handsome face turn red with anger, "And it's not like you have room to talk about it, we're over with, remember?"

Once upon a time, I had been head over heels in love with the man in front of me. Joseph Morelli was everything I had wanted in a man; Smart, funny, outgoing and a big sports fan. He went to Mass on Christmas and Easter, like a good 'Burg boy and he had a good paying job. Joe Morelli was and still is my mother's answer to getting me settled down and married with children. Once upon a time, that had been my thought too, maybe Joe and I could get married, we could live in his aunt's house, and have the perfect 'Burg life. Then one day, I woke up and thought, that's not the life for me. I didn't want to be a housewife, I didn't want to just settle for what was in front of me. For a spell, Joe and I lived together, but then I was exposed to his demanding side, to a side I hadn't expected.

'Pino's for dinner, Cupcake, Christ, can't you make a decent meal?!'

'I don't want you out there chasing criminals, leave that to me, it's my job, stay here and keep house.'

'I know it's date night, but we're going to stay in and watch the hockey game.'

Once upon a time I had been 16, young and naïve, and Joe had been 18, confident in himself. He waltzed into the Tasty Pastry, gave me a look and took my virginity from behind the counter and later wrote about it on the walls. Everyone got a kick out it, my parents not so much. Now here we are, years later, looking at one another, me with a sore right body, because Lucy Walker hit me with my own car, and Joe with a red face, angry about the choices I made in my life.

"I'll take you back, Cupcake, just get rid of that lousy job, I talked to your mom, she said the tampon factory is hiring," Joe said, leaning in close to me, "You can work there for a month or so, come live with me and then quit it and be my wife."

Was that all I was to Joe; wife material? Was I even a person to him? I shook my head and then said, "I have to go, Joe."

"I'll come over, with Pino's, Cupcake, 7PM sharp!"

"Please don't," I mumbled, walking away from the man and over to my car, which now had a Stephanie sized dent in it. Also, there was someone waiting for me, leaning against it, causally. My heart leapt up and I could feel the heat rise in my face.

Ranger was leaning against my car, looking right at me, his eyes dark and searching. I gave him a finger wave and said, as I neared him, "Hey Ranger, how you waiting on?"

"You Babe," Ranger said, cupping my chin gently, and turning my face, "That's going to be a bad bruise if you don't ice it soon."

I gave him a smile and said, "Will do, Ranger, is that all?"

"How'd this happen?" He asked, checking me over for wounds, "Get hit by a car?"

"My car, Lucy took the keys from me, tried to drive off but hit me instead. She had drank a bottle of Jack Daniel's, before I got there, very unruly," I said, as Ranger lifted my shirt up slightly, "Don't-ahh-"

"Babe, you are nothing but a giant bruise on your left side," Ranger said, giving me a look, "Lucy in jail?"

"They're booking her now," I said, earning a smile from Ranger.

"Proud of you, Babe," He said softly in my ear, leaning over and tracing my cheek. It was such an intimate gesture that it had me gripping the strap to my purse tightly.

"Thank you Si-I mean, Ranger," I said, quickly covering up the fumble, "For the uh…advice about the ice."

"Ice," Ranger said, giving another one of his long looks, "Yes, now, anyways, back to this bruising, go home, run a warm bath, put some Epson salt in it and soak for about an hour. Turn your phone off, lock the doors, no moving, just relaxing. Put some ice on your cheek, the soak will take care of the rest. I don't see you struggling for breath, so no broken anything. Take it easy tonight Babe, okay?"

I nodded my head softly almost too afraid to speak, but I managed a soft, "Yes…"

Ranger kissed me on my forehead and then said, "Take care of yourself Babe," before heading off to a waiting black Rangeman SUV.

I climbed into the car, breathing heavily, closed the door and looked into the rearview mirror. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and whispered, "Yes Sir..." Oh god, that felt so…good to say it out loud.

I went home, doing exactly what Ranger me told me to do. I filled the bathtub up, dumped half a bag of Epson salt into the warm water, along with some floral smelling bubble bath and then locked the doors, turned my phone off, got naked and soaked for an hour. During that hour I thought, long and hard about Ranger. He didn't ask me to go take a bath, he told me to take a bath. Was it a test to see if I could be his sub, that he could be my Dom?

I ran my good hand then sank back into the warm water, the salt water soothing the pain. If I said yes to Ranger, he would be in control of me. Would he be as bad as Joe, would I be powerless to him. I thought back to earlier today, when Lucy hit me with my car. I had lost control of that situation, and then the fire department and the police department had a pool going on her, again. I brush it off, all the time, but it still stings, like they're betting on me to fail. My failure was their entertainment and it sucks. And then there was Joe's reaction, he never did ask me if I was okay, he just went in on me, demanding this and that, demeaning me.

I sat up in the bath and then had a moment of clarity. Ranger never demeaned in that way, Ranger would never force me into something that I wouldn't want, he would ask me first. Ranger wasn't making me be his sub, he was letting me decide, on my own. I…I could do this, yes, I could do this, I could give Ranger control of me, because I knew, in my heart, Ranger wouldn't abuse me.

I smiled and laid back in the water, looking up at the ceiling. The words that my mother said, last night, during dinner slipped away from my mind. I don't care how nasty it was, this was what I wanted. After I soak in the bathtub, I was going to go over to Rangeman and tell him.

An hour after soaking, I got up and made my way to my bedroom. I turned my phone on and found that Ranger had left me a message.

'Take two aspirins and take a nap, no distractions, Babe, you need the rest.'

I placed my phone on the side table and said, in a soft voice, "Yes sir," taking out the bottle of pain killers and going to get a glass of water. I smiled to myself, that felt and sounded so natural. I took the medicine and took a nice nap, Ranger had been right, rest was just exactly what I needed.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"Cupcake, I'm here!" I jerked up from my sleep, looking around wildly, "I have Pino's and beer!"

I turned and grabbed my phone to look at the time, 7:45. I groaned and fell back on the bed, wincing in pain as I did. I was in my bathrobe and nothing else. Shit, I didn't want Joe to come into my bedroom and see me like this, he would take that as an invitation. I got up, as quickly as I could, and then ran over to my closet, pulled out a dress and slipped it on. I ran a hand through my hair and then walked out into the living room saying, "Joe, I didn't say you could come over."

"Cupcake, I think it's time we talk about our future," Joe said, looking me up and down, "You look good enough to eat, Cupcake."

"This isn't happening," I said to Joe, giving him a look, "Get out, Joe, how in the hell did you get in here, I took your key!"

"I made a copy, Cupcake," Joe said to me, making look at him in wonder, "Look, if you just apologize, which is what I'm here for-"

"Joe, you need to go," I said, touching my arm, "We're through, over, done! Get out Joe, now!"

"I know what you do, Cupcake, you say we're done and then you fall back into my arms," Joe said, moving closer to me, "Let's just skip that and jump in the hay, the boys miss you."

I shook my head and said, "Things are never going to change with you, are they Joe," before I grabbed my purse, "Fine, you won't leave, I will."

I rushed by Joe, slipped my feet into a pair of shoes and then wrenched the door open, I turned to Joe and said, "If you're not out by the time I return, I'm calling the cops."

I took the elevator down to the parking lot, making my way to my car. I climbed in and drove off, I didn't care where I went, I had no destination. I drove until all the rage that I felt from Joe's arrival at my apartment faded away. I drove until I was calm enough to think and then I stopped the car and looked out the windshield.

I was up the street, or 15 seconds away from Rangeman, 15 seconds away from Ranger. I looked down at the radio clock on the car, since I left my phone at my apartment. 12:24…I had been driving around for almost five hours. This was a sign, everything that happened to me today was a sign; a good sign.

I got out of the car, grabbing my purse and then made my way to the gate that separated the street from the parking garage. The seven story brick building was dark and quiet, a little too quiet, for my taste. It didn't matter if the building was dark and quiet on the outside, someone was in there, because the gate pulled up and then I was walking into the underground garage, over to the elevator, which opened up for me. I climbed into the elevator and then watched as it closed, the fifth floor button already lit. A 10 second ride felt like 10 years for me, as the doors opened up to Rangeman's office floor. The floor was dark, saved for the light coming from Ranger's office. I bit my lip and then walked slowly down the dark office to the lit office. I stood before the partially opened door and almost turned to run away but Ranger stopped me.

"Babe, you can come in, if you want."

I closed my eyes and then grabbed the door handle and pushed it open. I walked into the office and found Ranger sitting behind his desk, dressed in a black Armani suit. He gave me a look, his eyes glittering in the soft light in his office. I placed my purse on the desk and then looked over to Ranger, again. I licked my lips and then Ranger said, "12:27, Babe, where's your friend?"

I gave Ranger a shrug and then walked over to him, going behind his desk. He clasped his hands under his chin and then said, "12:28…Babe."

I placed my hands on the arm rest of Ranger's office chair and looked down at him. His chocolate brown eyes darkened with something and his lips curled up in a smile. Ranger looked over to the clock on the wall and said, "12:29..Babe…"

I didn't know what to do, but slide down to my knees, looking up into Ranger's eyes. Ranger's hand swept through my curly brown hair and his fingers caressed my bruised cheek. I leaned into the hand and then Ranger asked, "What are you here for, Babe?"

"I'm here for you, Sir," I said, looking up at Ranger's face, "Tell me what to do…"

"12:30...good timing Babe."

TBC….

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