Author: Feather (Flightf)

Warnings: Spoilers all the way through Twelve Sharp.

Disclaimers: I own nothing…JE owns it all….I will return everything when I am finished. I am basing the strip aerobics on two programs Shelia Kelly's the S Factor and Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease.

Rating (K-M) M

A/N: This is the 1st story in my Pole Dancers Diary Series. Reviews and comments always welcome. Special thanks to Tammi and Heidi who are filling in while my muse is AWAL.


Chapter 9: Temptation, Frustration, and Fries made out of Gold

(Ranger's POV)

I've spent the last year having dreams that started just like this morning. Waking up to my Babe's hands roaming my body velvety soft fingers lightly caressing my skin, her body still soft from sleep, her breath catching in slight gasps as she took in my body. I need to feel her body next to mine, so I let her continue until I could feel my control come close to snapping; catching her hand just as it reached the waistband of my boxer shorts. For a moment she fought me- so I raised both hands above her head and flipped us over so I was in the dominate position. She was wiggling her body under mine and I had to fight to gain control over my body. I lowered my face into her neck and gave my one and only warning.

"Babe," my breath hot on her neck, "I'll give you this one free but next time that counts as partial consent."

I could feel the change in her as she processed my words. Her body that was soft from sleep and lust was now taut. Her breath was coming in short pants; I could tell that she was on the verge of panicking. I kept myself still pressing her into the mattress giving her time to make a decision. When I finally heard her voice I had to keep myself from sighing.

"Ummmm…Ranger. You're in my bed."

Trying to hide my frustration with being turned away yet again, I lifted my face and gave her a slight brush across the lips. I wanted to change her mind, remind her how it was between us. I wanted her to be haunted by those 12 hours as much as I was but all I could do was say, "Babe."

I got up, knowing I'd reached my limit for the day and went to the chair. I dressed with the efficiency that I had acquired during my years in the military. I could feel Stephanie's eyes burning into me but I refused to look at her until I was fully clothed. When I sat in the chair to pull on my boots I finally allowed myself to look in her direction. She was laying on her side with an elbow propping her head up. She was flushed a slight pink, her eyes were glazed and her lips were parted with the tip of her pink tongue showing. As I finished tying my boots, I couldn't resist myself so I walked over to the bed and leaned down until I knew she would be able to feel every word through her whole body. I let my desires show through my voice.

"You want it babe?"

All my blood headed south as she let out a gasp and laid back on the bed. I could see her desire in her eyes but she was holding herself back. I moved my mouth over to her ear.

"Well?" I said, flicking my tongue out to just taste her. "Here's your chance."

A moan escaped her and I could see a shiver travel down her body. I know that I was back to the snapping point of my famous control. Who would guess that this little white girl from the Burg would be the one to break my legendary control? With a chuckle I returned upright and gave her a rare smile.

"I'll be back with it." Not trusting myself to look at her again I headed out to my truck.

I started the ignition and noticed that it was only 6:30 in the morning. I knew that my Babe was already fast asleep again, so I had the time to take a shower and check into the control room before she would need the cure. I pulled out into traffic and headed towards Haywood. Driving effects my body like Valium, typically it allows me to slip into a peaceful Zen existence but today however I found myself focusing on the women that I left behind. By the time that I pulled into my parking space my knuckles were white from gripping the wheel. The muscles in my shoulder blades were so tight that it hurt to move.

I hit the button for the 7th floor and leaned back against the elevator. I closed my eyes for just a second until the door opened and I pulled myself off the railing and to my apartment. I dropped my keys in the dish, trying to let the calm of the apartment sooth my tense body. Realizing that I needed to release all this pent up frustration, I headed towards the bedroom.

One hour and ten miles later, I found myself letting the sprays of hot water pound my still aching muscles in my back. Exercising was a short term band aid for my issue but at least now I didn't have a permanent hard on. I would have to find a solution to my problem soon.

I checked the control room before making my way through town to the drive through at McDonald's. I mentally cringed when the screen screeched and screeching teenage voice shouted at me, "Welcome to McDonald's, would you like to try our new cinnamon bites this morning?"

"No, I need the largest coke and fries that you have," I said, forcing myself to be polite.

"We don't carry fries until our lunch menu starts at 10:00 am. But we do have hash browns."

I looked at the clock on my dashboard it read 9:32. I debated my choices. I could threaten him or I could bribe him. It was a tough call, but I finally settled on bribery. "I'll give you a fifty to sell me a large fry."

"Uhh… sir that is against company policy. Come back in thirty minutes and we will be serving fries."

I made my last offer before I pulled my gun to get the damn fries. "Look. I'll give you one hundred dollars for a large fry and coke."

"Pull around to the 1st window."

I pulled around to the window and a young man in his early twenties grinned at me.

"The fries will be about three more minutes in the fryer, please pull around to the front and I'll bring them out to you."

Ten minutes later I had a gallon of coke and a bag of fries that should be made of gold sitting next to me as I pulled into Stephanie's lot. I quickly scanned the lot, satisfied that every car belonged. When I finally reached her door, I used my key so I didn't spill the coke. The apartment was quiet so I headed towards the bedroom. As I passed the bathroom I heard water running, my lips twinge into a small smile. I couldn't believe that my babe was awake on her own. I walked into her bedroom, noticing that the closet door was open a mountain of shoes and clothes were in the middle of the floor. Shaking my head, I took the coke and fries and sat them on the night stand while I decided to wait her out on the bed. The covers were twisted and half on the bed and half on the floor. Just as I straightened them up and settled myself with my back against the headboard I heard a whimper come from the bathroom. Pulling my gun, I immediately headed towards the door trying to keep as quiet as possible. With my hand on the door knob I listened trying to figure out what I might find inside. I could hear her breathing coming in short pants and her moans getting louder and the smell of Bulgari invading my nose. My hand fell from the knob and hit against my leg. I had to stop myself from dropping my gun from the shock.

"Oh my God, Rannnngggeerrr." Was followed by breathy moans and took me back to the only other time I had heard those words. I stood there the whole time as her moans were getting louder and I had lost count how many times she had called my name, reliving the night with her. I closed my eyes and I could experience watching her eyes as she screamed and panted, her body withering on the edge of orgasm, I could taste her. By the time she screamed my name the final time I was so hard that I wondered if I would be able walk and I was cursing myself for not walking out the door when I had the choice. The sound of the shower curtain being opened sent me back to the bed. I settled myself against the headboard and tried to gain control over my raging emotions. Just once I would like Stephanie to understand how close she brought me to losing all control. The buzzing of the blow dryer reminded me that she would be done soon and I needed to slip on my blank face and put Carlos back into the shadows.

The door to the bathroom opened and Stephanie peeped her head out, looking into the living room. When she thought that she was alone the door opened and she walked out wearing only a towel humming the theme to Batman. Fuck Batman, I thought. When was she going to realize that I am just a man? In some ways it amazed me that this woman thought that I was a superhero but part of me wanted her to look at me like just a man.

I swallowed quickly when she dropped the towel and reached in the drawer for her underwear. Damn… I can't believe that she has no clue that I was here. What is it going to take to get her to be more aware of her surroundings? A five year old could pick her locks. Anyone could be in here. Anger and lust were waging a war in my head. She slipped on a black bra and a pair of black satin underwear with a bat signal in rhinestones. When she turned and caught my eye, I couldn't help myself.

"Babe, I thought the Bat Signal was used to call Batman to take care of a problem but from here it sounded like you took care of the problem all by yourself." I force myself to smile but all I wanted to do was burying myself deep inside her make her scream Carlos until she didn't have a voice left.

Her sparkling blue eyes widened with shock and she was doing a pretty good fish impression, with her mouth opening and closing. I finally looked away and walked over to her. I tucked a curl behind her ear. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her but I couldn't trust myself so I had to settle for tracing the outline of her lips with my finger.

"You have five minutes to get dressed and meet me in the living room, after that I'm coming back, and if I find you dressed like that, I just might forget that I am not really Batman and answer that call." And with that, I walked out of her bedroom and had a seat on the couch, setting the timer on my watch for five minutes. I'd just hit the start button when the phone vibrated at my hip. I flipped it open and when Lester's number popped up, I hit the talk key.

"Yo."

"Boss, I was just calling to check on Bombshell. Did you find out the problem? She doesn't hate me, does she?"

"I'll take care of it." I replied, closing off the conversation. Mentally cursing myself for not remembering why I was here in the first place. I looked down at my watch and noted that she had two minutes left. I could hear her moving around the room and talking softly. I wondered who she was talking to but knowing Steph she was just talking to herself. Leaning my head back I closed my eyes practicing relaxation techniques, when at the same moment my watch beeped and the bedroom door opened.