Thanks for the huge response to the last chapter. It means a lot to know I've got continued support.
So, just in case anyone else was confused. The only ones that know about the marriage thing are S&R, Mariela and Bobby. The rest of Ranger's family knows to some extent that he's having problems. Hope that clarifies things. And if you're wondering what's Lester's deal, just sit tight. It will be revealed very soon.
Remember those hints I've talked about for a few chaps now? Here's one, remember Ranger's hint that he once broke the news about his marriage via the phone? Well, Steph didn't know about him having an ex-wife. Now that she knows, it'll be interesting to see how she deals with that knowledge. Hehehe. The other hint had to do with Mariela and Bobby's story. There's something different about her…
Oh, and, let me just say I was real torn on two different paths for this chapter: have them go all the way or not quite just yet. I hope my choice doesn't disappoint.
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
Ranger's POV
The kiss escalated quickly. One moment our tongues were tangled and the next I had her pressed up against the nearest wall. I have no recollection of how I moved us there, but the closer proximity further ignited the fire of desire between us.
I put my hands on the backs of her thighs, right below her ass, and hefted her up. Automatically, she wrapped her legs around my waist. Her ankles locked behind me as her arms snaked around my torso. I couldn't stop touching her, especially now that she was pressed right against my hard dick. My hands slipped beneath the hem of her T-shirt, palms pressed against her abdomen and my fingers inched higher up.
When the need for air became a must, we broke the kiss. We were breathing hard, trying to catch our breath so we could get right back to the lip action. As long as we were taking a quick breathing break, I took the opportunity to drag her T-shirt up. She got the message and raised her arms to allow me to take it off. Her T-shirt landed on the floor somewhere behind me, but I was too busy staring at the rise and fall of her chest. Babe was wearing a simple black cotton bra. It fit her just right and I thought it was the sexiest lingerie piece I've seen today.
I got lost in her scent, the feel of her wrapped around me, and the sight of her alabaster skin. My lips trailed the tops of her breasts, flicking my tongue out for a quick taste every now and then. Fuck. She was moaning and humming, the sounds combining deliciously with the atmosphere between us. I've wanted her bad since the first time I laid eyes on her. I'm very certain she wants me too. At least, a part of her does. The part that makes her snuggle against me when she's in a deep sleep.
And it was that thought that made me realize that if we were going to do this, then we had to do it right. There would be time to take her up against the wall or the couch later.
"Aahh!" She squealed when I placed my hands on her ass and moved away from the wall. As a reflex, her arms and legs tightened around me as I headed towards the bedroom. Since I enjoyed that startled sound a little more than I should have, I tumbled onto the mattress. I landed on my back, with her straddling my waist. The slight bounce tore a moan out of both us. The silky boxers heighted the rubbing sensation of her denim covered pussy.
"Babe." Someone growled and it was a great probability that it was me. I flipped us to be on top and continue my exploration of her soft, creamy skin.
I'd just unhooked her bra when the unmistakable sound of a phone ringing reached our ears. "Uhmm?" Babe tugged on my hair, but I shook my head. It would just take a quick flick of my wrists to remove her bra and bare her breasts to my hungry gaze.
"Ignore it." I mumbled against a mouth full of the underside of her right breast. As if my wish was granted, the distant ringing ended. I smiled against her flesh, relieved to know that the interruption was over. It seems I did get rid of her bra, because the next thing I knew I was closing my lips around a tight nipple.
Babe was moaning, arching into my mouth and dragging her nails from my nape down to my lower back. The combination felt perfect, making my hips thrust out of their own volition. Like I said, the moment was just right.
But that was up until the phone started ringing again. This time the sound was a hell of a lot louder and annoying. It took me a moment to realize that it was coming from the landline this time. Fuck! Can't I have one moment of privacy?
"Phone's ringing." Babe muttered. "Are you gonna get that?" It took me a moment to process the inquiry given the fact that her hands slipped beneath the waistband of my boxers when she said that.
"Babe." I said my name for her on a groan when I felt her squeeze my cheeks. I knew she loved my ass.
When the ringing continued it dawned on me that whoever it was wasn't going to give up. With a regretful sigh, I reached for the phone as I released Babe's nipple. "Yo?" I growled, annoyed and frustrated.
"You're an asshole!" Nothing will ruin the mood like your ex yelling at you over the phone.
"What?" Forget the annoyance and frustration. Now I was confused. Rachel hardly ever calls me.
"You. Are. An. Asshole." The low tone told me she was grinding her teeth in an effort to keep her cool.
"I don't know what you're talking about." It took a lot of self-control not to yell back. I won the battle partly because I had a half naked Babe under my taut body.
"Your daughter is a crying mess right now thanks to your stunt." Rachel was fuming, I could tell, but it would be nice to know why.
"Is Julie alright?" With the close proximity and Rachel's shouts, I'm sure Babe got the gist of the conversation.
"No, she's been crying since she got back from soccer practice." Rachel said something about me being a dick for not stopping to say hello to Julie.
"Rachel, help me out here. What happened?" I was working hard to keep calm, but my heart was racing with uncertainty.
"Julie saw you at the park. She waved and called you over. And you ignored her." It sounded like Rachel wanted to strangle me for that. "It's bad enough that you hardly ever see her…"
"Look." I cut her off before she went off on a tangent. She knows the reason I hardly ever get to see my daughter is because she limits and schedules my visits. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not in Miami."
"Then where are you?" She snapped incredulously.
"In Jersey." I had to grind my teeth to keep calm. "Can you put Julie on the phone?" If my daughter saw 'me' that could mean that my double is in Miami right now.
"No."
"Daddy?" Julie came on the line and I sighed with relief.
I crawled off Babe, because I can't have a conversation with my daughter while staring at Babe's naked chest. "Hi, baby." I asked her to recount the event for me.
"I saw you at the park." She said she spotted 'me' by the parking lot during soccer practice. "Why didn't you say hi?"
Fuck. It made my chest ache to hear her so hurt. "It wasn't me." I explained it the best I could that she probably saw someone who looked a lot like me. "When I'm in town you're always the first to know, right?"
"Yes." That usual happy spark returned to her tone, easing away some of my tension.
"Listen, I'll see you in a couple of days, okay?" When she replied with an exited 'okay!', I asked her to be good and reminded her not to talk to strangers. "Can you put Mommy on the phone?" As I waited for Rachel to come back on the line, I watched Stephanie slip out of bed and dash towards the bathroom. When the bathroom door closed, I got the sinking feeling that things were about to get even more complicated in several aspects of my life.
"What's going on?" It sounded like Rachel had calmed down somewhat.
"It's hard to explain over the phone." I said softly. "Look, I'm going to send a group of guys to keep an eye out." She knew the drill. A team from Rangeman in the Miami office would contact her right before they installed themselves outside of her house. The guys would tail her at a distance when she was out. "It's just a precaution." There have been threats on my life more times than I can count and just in case I've always added extra protection to my family. Rachel hates it, but she accepts it nonetheless.
"You better keep me in the loop, Ricardo." Rachel knows I hate being called by my first name. I think that's why she does it.
As soon as I ended the call with my ex-wife, I dialed the Miami office. I got in contact with Silvio, who more or less runs that branch, and gave him instructions. Without questioning me, he told me he would send out Rogelio and Beto. I've worked with them on several take-downs in Florida, so I had no problem with Silvio's decision.
The next person on my call list was Hector. I told him to come to the penthouse and to bring his equipment. Maybe he can access a security camera or something and see if we can see what this fake me really looks like. It pisses me off that he was so close to my daughter and could have easily approached her taking advantage of her confusion.
Once I finished with my calls, I strode towards the bathroom. I stopped to listen and heard water running. I know Babe and I have unfinished business. On top of that, we probably have to discuss the intimate turn our involvement has taken. I don't like postponing the inevitable, but I had important business to deal with. I was torn, but in the end I knew I had to prioritize.
In the time it took me to get dressed Hector got his stuff ready. I waved him inside and told him to set up in the living room. Hector arched an eyebrow at the colorful lingerie decorating the couch. The other eyebrow rose when he spotted Babe's discarded T-shirt on the floor. He didn't comment, but a tiny smile tugged on the corners of his mouth. That was practically a full-blown grin for him.
"What?" It might have come off as a growl. Hector shrugged as he booted up his computer, going straight to work mode.
I decided to be productive too, even if I wanted nothing more than to barge into the bathroom to talk with Babe.
