"Let's skip dessert, Ranger. I want you. I want you now." I kissed her again, lifted her up and walked to my bedroom slowly as she wrapped her long legs around me. Who was I to question her request?

I walked her through the lounge and into my bedroom and closed the door.

All familiar characters belong to Janet. I'm just playing with them and imagining … sigh.

Chapter 4: Moving Forward

Stephanie's POV

I woke up slowly feeling good but aching in all sorts of places, good places, good aches. I think I must have run a marathon. No, scratch that, maybe a cardio routine. Pfft. I don't run. I giggled and the bed suddenly moved. I froze my hand feeling behind me. Omigod! I grabbed something warm and hard. Oops. I rolled over to see the most luscious warm brown eyes with the full 200 watts grinning at me since I hadn't let go.

"You're still here." I whispered a bit dumbfounded.

He kissed my forehead and smiled. God he's gorgeous, all over gorgeous. How did I get so lucky?

"Perhaps, because you are in my bed, Babe. And … I think I am the lucky one. Besides, I don't think I am going anywhere soon it seems …"

I followed his eyes to where they were indicating. Oh boy. My hand was fondling him, without my permission. I looked up into those warm brown eyes and I almost swooned. Am I dreaming? Maybe a cold shower will do.

His husky voice brought me back to the here and now.

"You are very much awake, Stephanie, and you are one hot, sexy Wonder Woman."

I blushed but before I could turn my head away his finger steered my chin so that I was looking up into his beautiful face.

This earned me one helluva kiss. I was breathless and wanting more.

"Don't sell yourself short, Batman. Have you seen you? I have seen all of you and there's a lot to like. I mean, really, these abs are to die for, and the rest of your body ain't half bad either and your eyes, Omigod! And, yeahhh, all melted chocolate and … yeah … and that smile, that smile is a real winner. And these lips …. Omigod. Please stop me, I'm rambling."

He kissed me with a chuckle. Then he looked at me with a lustful smile and pounced on me with his lips. Man could he kiss.

After another cardio workout (Yeah, I know) I really needed to go to the bathroom. He joined me in the shower which led to another round of lovin'. Man he had such stamina. And he wasn't kidding either. Ranger is more than good in the shower. Not that I was complaining but, holy batwings, Batman! You the Man!

We collapsed on the bed and rested for a while. I woke up some time later, like nearly three hours later, to the smell of fresh coffee. Well, I was still in bed and this time I was alone.

Ranger was very happy as he walked in wearing his sweat pants carrying a large tray laden with coffee and breakfast!

"Aw. No one has ever brought me breakfast in bed, ever!" He beamed at me.

I was almost misty-eyed. Jeez he looked so sexy in those low slung sweats and that gorgeous body all on display, for me. Maybe I should have my breakfast on that!

"We can do that if you wish, Babe."

Omigod! Please shoot me now. I blushed profusely covering my face to hide the evidence. He set the tray down, gently peeled my hands away from my face and smiled with those melting pot eyes.

"Whichever way you like it, Stephanie. But for now, here's your coffee," as he handed me a steaming mug with a kiss to my temple once my hands steadied and were able to hold it safely and independently.

Making ourselves comfortable, propped up with pillows against the bed head, we sat in comfortable silence sipping our coffees. I sighed and he smiled. Once we had been caffeinated he offered the breakfast tray and lifted the lid. Crepes, nice thin French crepes with strawberries and blueberries and cream and maple syrup! I'm in heaven. I think I might have moaned since Ranger grinned. He forked a strawberry and brought it to my lips after he had dunked it liberally in the cream. What a man!

"You're a keeper, Batman. I think I might keep you forever and never let you go."

I licked some cream off the strawberry before biting into it, as he watched my mouth. Mm-mm. Best way to have strawberries … well, unless it was served on his washboard abs! Whoo! Omigod. Is it hot in here?

He fed me some of the crepe which he had rolled with some of the fruit, cream and maple syrup.

Ranger's POV

Man, have I been stupid! I lay there while she was still asleep reflecting on our night of lust and loving. This beautiful bombshell still has no idea how she has gotten totally under my skin in the nicest possible way. How I ever sent her back to that asshole Morelli the last time still has me kicking myself. Trying to protect her, thinking he was the better man. As soon as I had closed the door I felt like a real heel after I saw the shattered look in her eyes. What a moron I was. Being noble. Dios. I was protecting my own heart. As my Abuela recently said, "For a smart man, how you can be so stupid!"

I was in denial. I couldn't stop thinking about her, those eyes, those lips, her lovely curves and the sounds she made. Many nights were spent replaying that night of 'the deal'. She was so cute, especially when she had the red wine. Putting pressure on her like I did in the parking lot of that building while we were observing our FTA du jour. I kept her close on surveillances, some distractions (I might have been the most distracted) and in the alley. Each time Morelli hurled his abuse at her my hands were itching to give him one. But I made sure she was safe, first on the scene as often as I could, being a close guardian when Morelli was about to fly off in his usual Italian arm-waving rant. Stolen kisses and make-out sessions in the alley and gentle touches at all other times, was all I could do without pouncing on her like a club-waving Neanderthal. I wanted to make her mine. But she still had feelings for that asshat.

Now here we are again, in bed after a night of unforgettable lovemaking as I admired her sleeping form next to me, cherishing her, thinking how lucky I am, warning myself not to make the same stupid mistake. My Abuela knew instantly that I was in love, probably before I was prepared to admit it to myself. I thought it was lust but with each mishap, rescue and car bomb, I realised the lust become love, stronger each time; after Stiva, after Abruzzi and so many other dangerous predicaments. Hector hit me upside one day and threatened to steal her heart if I wasn't going to man up! Hector. Yeah. If any woman could make him change sides, Stephanie was the one. Tank and Lester were on my case as well.

I was contemplating going down to the gym as I gently pulled the sheet up, shamelessly admiring her sinful body. It was more than just her beauty. She was stunning inside and out. Oh, inside. Dios. I couldn't get enough of her. My hunger was beyond quenched but I still wanted more. I hope I didn't hurt her. But she was just as hungry as I was.

If I leave to go down to the gym, that would not end well. The guys would know instantly once they saw my face and my back with her scratches. I'm not disrespecting her in that way. What happens on seven stays on seven. Pfft. I'm sure they've already worked it out. Besides, she might wake up early before I return and it would appear to be a repeat of our first magical night. I smiled, remembering how she called me the Wizard. No. I am staying, watching her as her lips moved provocatively, her wild curls splayed over her pillow. I like having her in my bed, waking up beside her, with her warm body against mine. I felt a calm wash over me. I want it. I want it all, I suddenly realised. If I was the Wizard, she was bewitching as the Enchantress. She broke my walls and captured my heart unequivocally. I loved her but in truth, I was in love with her.

After a visit to the bathroom I rang Ella and ordered a pot of coffee and breakfast for about three hours later. I could hear her smile as she offered to make crepes with fresh fruit and cream. I thanked her and quietly hopped back into bed.

Stephanie had rolled over and I could see her slowly starting to rouse. Stretching lazily and moaning, making incoherent talking sounds and then muttering about running and cardio had me smiling. She giggled and I couldn't stop myself from chuckling. As soon as she felt the bed move with my contained chuckle she startled, reached behind her, and took a firm grip of my growing manhood and rolled over. Oh man. Best way to wake up as I gave her my 100 watts. She gasped but did not release me as she grasped me tightly and then continued fondling me unwittingly.

Now after we had rested from our morning make-out and loving sessions, she once again sweeps me off my feet with her amusing mutterings and disclosures. That I can make her blush with a compliment is sweet, although a part of me is annoyed since she is obviously not accustomed to getting compliments. How can that be? But then again, between her sniping mother and that asshole Morelli, and that other asshole, Dickie! What man calls himself Dickie? She probably didn't get too much warmth from them and others.

Her sweet ramblings made me smile and I had to save her with a sweet interrupting deep and sensuous kiss. She warms my heart and I don't ever recall smiling so much in my life as now, in her presence.

Her disclosures when I brought in the breakfast tray almost rendered me speechless! Interesting. Something to file away, as once again she gives information to the enemy. Stephanie wants to play those games. And then she calls me 'a keeper'. All joking aside, I could tell she meant it from the heart. Wanting to eat off my abs had me coveting that thought lustily.

Feeding her the strawberry and then the crepe had my appetite wanting as she ate hungrily. I watched her lips and was so aroused that I forgot I was holding a maple syrup dipped strawberry on the fork poised for her next mouthful, when it suddenly drizzled onto my stomach, my abs to be exact. It was like slow motion. Her eyes widened and we both held our breaths. Slowly she removed the fork from my fingers and smooshed the strawberry onto my abs! Madre Dios! She crawled up to me on hands and knees and grinned lasciviously. I watched as her breasts swung and her tongue came out to lick the syrup. She nibbled the smooshed strawberry deliberately taking her time and taking nips of my abs. The wicked grin she gave me was so seductive. I grabbed the tray and quickly disposed of it on the bedside table, almost knocking the coffee mug down. I didn't care.

In the same instant she had straddled my lap and pounced on me taking my lips in a fierce and passionate kiss, nipping and biting. I wrenched a condom from the drawer and she snatched it, dressing me before impaling herself fully with a ragged gasp. I completely lost control and we were practically feral in our frenzied attack on one another.

We lay there totally spent our bodies still joined, glistening with sweat. I slowly and reluctantly extracted myself, tossing the condom in the waste paper basket beside the bucket chair.

"Man …"

"Mmm ..."

"Wow …"

"Mmm ..."

"That was …"

"Mmm-mmm ..."

I rolled over and smiled down at her beautiful glowing face. She smiled back languorously. I kissed her slow and deep.

"Yeahhh. That was like, wow, Batman. Mmm. You the Wizard all right." She sighed and beamed at me, still trying to catch her breath.

"You never disappoint, Babe."

TBC