I do not own JE's characters. I just like playing with them.
A/N: My muse fluctuates and this story came out of me trying a twist. I wish I could do this, but I guess I will just make it good for Steph and Ranger.
This chapter is slow moving as is their relationship. Sometimes, the buildup is better. I am trying to show a new Ranger and a new Steph. Am I rambling too much? That thought occurred to me.
I am posting this chapter and the next one close together, and then I am back in my zone for Nena. Sorry to keep you all waiting.
Bear with me and my silly sense of humor. The rating is earned for some language.
Thanks for your messages!
Steph POV
My phone rang waking me up. I shift in the bed. Carlos moans and pulls me closer to him. I kiss his lips gently and reach for the phone. I look at the time and it is 0300. "What?"
"Little Girl, I need you to do me a favor." What does Tank need?
"What is up, Tank?" He sighs.
"See, Manny got shot on a surveillance that turned into a takedown and the doctors over here are being intentionally vague and strict. I have tried to explain about guards and that we have his medical proxy, but they see us in our black clothes and stop listening. I am very tired, Little Girl and they are speaking medical terminology to me. It sounds like on Charlie Brown." I get out of bed.
"Tank, I am on my way. Send all but two guys and you home. Try to smile. Give me twenty minutes."
I put on ripped jeans and an Xavier sweatshirt and I pull my hair into a loose bun. I put on my 5" CAT boots and put my gun into my waistband. I write Carlos a note and kiss him again. The last thing I grab is my new jacket. Ella found them and ordered them with overnight delivery. It looks like a flannel shirt, but it is a bullet proof jacket. Mine is black, grey and white. I drop Max off on the 5th floor and head to the hospital.
When I enter the ward I know that this will out me to Morelli, but my guys are more important. Tank makes a beeline for me. I give him a go cup of coffee. "Calm down, Tank. Let me go and talk to the nurses. What is his last name?" He drinks from the cup.
"His name is Manuel Suarez." I nod and walk over to the nurse's station. I spot Jenna Womack. She was in the same year as me and she was in the homecoming court. For the right gossip, she will be my best friend.
"Hello, Jenna." She brightens.
"Hello, Steph! What is going on? Why are you here?" This is too easy.
"Jenna, one of my co-workers got shot and his family lives out of town. You see that big tall guy over there?" I point to Tank. She nods and licks her lips.
"He is in charge right now and he is kind of shy. He just wants to make sure that Manny is okay, but the doctors won't listen to him because of his size. The poor thing. He needs a good woman. He is a great guy and he was an army Ranger." We stare at Tank some more. I lean in close to Jenna.
"I heard he got two jugs of iced tea from Maria yesterday, too. His name is Tank. I came here to help him. So, can we check on Manny and maybe leave a bodyguard or two at his door?" She looks like she is trying to undress Tank in her head.
"Sure, Steph. You know he was quiet when he came here to visit you. I just thought he was mean or something. That poor guy! Do you think he would go out for coffee with me?" I smile and nod at her. She writes down her number and I walk away with Manny's room number.
"Tank, here is Jenna's number. She said she would like to have coffee with you. Manny is in room 2512. Let's hit it." He smiles and hugs me. We make our way to the room and go inside.
"Hello, Manny. Are you trying to get more pie out of me?" He smiles and waves at me. Where is he hurt?
"Hey, Steph. I got shot in the back, but I was wearing my vest and my jacket because it got cool outside. I was knocked out and they brought me here. I can leave as soon as you guys sign the paperwork. I will have bruising, but that is it. These jackets are the shit. I love Ella." Wow. I love her, too.
"Tank is on paperwork. I just came to translate Rangeman to Burg. I have to go, Sweetie. Switch with someone for desk duty for a day or so. I will bake you a pie if you get me the ingredients." I kiss his cheek and leave taking the stairs. I get to my car and I am almost back at Rangeman when my phone rings again.
"Hello?" He sighs.
"Donde estas, Estefania? El perro no esta aqui." He must be really tired. He wants to know where Max and I are.
"I am almost back, Carlos. Max is in the control room. I will be there in ten minutes, okay?" He mumbles.
"Si." He hangs up. Wow. I park and I go and pick up Max and make it to my apartment within the ten minutes. I strip to a tee shirt and my panties and get into the bed. Carlos pins me to the bed and kisses me. We roll so that I am on top of him like always and he takes my ponytail out so he can play with my hair.
"Take me with you next time." He says it quietly. I kiss him again.
"Yes, Carlos. I wanted to let you sleep. You were so tired from yesterday." He hugs me tighter.
"You were gone, Babe. I thought I dreamed everything, but then I know this is not my room." I am officially in love with sleepy Carlos. I stroke his hair and me moans again.
"I love when you do that. My Abuela told me to keep you close, Babe. I promised her. When is your brunch?"
"She wants to go on Tuesday." He nods. Max barks and I pick him up and put him on the bed.
"I went to the Burg and told them that I work here, so incoming." He shrugs.
"Babe, Morelli cannot get into this building and I am not worried about him. The guys know not to give out your number. Just be careful." I agree.
"Carlos, promise you will wear a jacket or a vest on all takedowns." He opens his eyes.
"Yes, Steph. I promise, and you do the same." I frown.
"I am not doing takedowns, but I will take a jacket to onsite meetings, okay?" He smiles and goes back to sleep. Carlos told me that he sleeps better when I am there, so we can take turns, but he is sleeping with me from now on. I just smiled and nodded.
His family ate all of my pies and Woki tried to come home with me. Celia said I can take him to the park one day this week and he made me promise to call him. He walked me to the car. He is so adorable.
I know it is new, but I really want our relationship to work. I hope we can stay professional during work hours. I like how open we are with each other when we are "home". Carlos moans.
"Stop thinking so loudly, Babe. Do you need help getting to sleep, Querida?" Whew. My hormones are like yes please, but I know we should wait.
"I am fine. Sorry, Carlos." He turns his back to me and I cuddle as the big spoon and wrap my legs around his. I kiss his head and drift off to sleep.
Ranger POV
Damn. I think I am in love. It is 0630 and I have not left the bed because Babe is sprawled all over me and I don't want to move. When I woke up to use the bathroom and she was not here, I was worried. I read her note, but it did not have an ETA for her, so I called her. I love that she knows Spanish. She kissed me and held me and I never want to sleep alone again.
Tonight is our first real date and I look forward to it. I even have four guys that volunteered to come like they are on a date to have our backs. We are not going to Rossini's. We are going to the Waterhouse. It is a seafood restaurant that is upscale. I just want to see Babe dressed up. I have chosen a cobalt blue halter dress that has a kind of flared skirt.
I asked that she wear her hair wild and loose and that she uses her thigh holster. She agreed instantly. She said she wants to take her safety seriously. She even took her gun in the middle of the night. Babe is good at stealth if she got away from my clutches and left without me knowing. She snores a little and she wrinkles her nose, too. Max barks and I look at him.
"Fine, your Highness. I am coming."
I shake her. "Yes, Carlos?" She sounds so sexy. I kiss her gently.
"Querida, I am taking Max out. Get up and we can work out and come back and make breakfast together." She smiles.
"Together, aren't you tired of me? Who do you usually hang with, Carlos?" Tank sometimes, but I am a loner.
"Yes, together, Steph. Sometimes, I hang with Tank. I will review the payroll program this afternoon, and I will look at my proposals for the week, but today I am all yours. I am not on call. That is also why Tank called you instead of me. I will be back, Babe." I put my jeans back on and take Max outside.
Lester sidles up to me while I watch Max patrol the lot. "Hey Cuz, I heard from Pedro and Tio Rick that you are in love. Does Beautiful know about this woman?" Is he kidding me?
"Lester, I took Babe home with me yesterday." He looks shocked.
"Wow, Cuz. Are you sure she does not have a thing for me? I thought we had a moment that time in the break room." I just laugh and watch Max.
"All of her ideas worked for the FTAs. The guys at Dave and Buster's should be an easy take down today. She is a good hire and all of the guys like her. So can you get her to bake me a pie?" I smile at him.
"You will have to barter with her yourself and then you will have to pick up extra monitor shifts for eating pie." He just grins.
"Nope. Manny needs the extra desk duty for a couple of days. Stop being all extra strict. I heard she put Portia into her place and that Abuela loves her." I smile at the memory.
"Yes. They kept talking in Spanish and mostly they were trading recipes. I think they are right, Les. I might be in love, but I am not rushing anything. Do not gossip about us. Babe does not want to flaunt our relationship. How was it at the deli yesterday?"
He laughs. "It was great. We talked to Maria and asked about the meats and she made a big show of taking our measurements on the slips of paper. She was very funny and her store was packed all day yesterday. We cooked out on the roof using George Forman grills and then we played poker. It was a nice evening. So, can I have the penthouse since you don't sleep there anymore?" I laugh and shake my head at him. He is a mess.
"No, Les. I will alternate where I sleep and do not tell everyone my business." He looks at me like I am dumb.
"Carlos, the whole building has cameras. You need to be aware of your surroundings. None of us think she got the job because of you. We can tell she is smart and very capable. She is also a good shot. You are more human around her, so we all automatically love her. Now I am going to work out."
I follow him into the building, but I go to my apartment and change into workout clothes. When I get back to Babe's apartment, she is standing there waiting for me.
"Hey there, Ranger. Can you tell my boyfriend Carlos that I owe him a massage later?" Max barks. I kiss her again. I never get tired of kissing her.
"Thanks, Babe. I loved the massage before and I think you should tell my novia that I will rub her feet tonight. I pull her out of the apartment, but I do not miss her huge smile. Wow, she is pretty. We pass Ella and Steph tells her we will cook our own breakfast. Ella glares at Steph until she promises to trade recipes with her, too. They are so funny.
Joe Morelli POV
In addition to everyone talking about me yesterday, I had to endure a lecture from my mother and another one from the chief. He saw the Youtube clip and said if I do something like that again, he is putting it into my file as conduct not becoming of a police officer. He said I am on probation and if I cannot handle being a detective, he will bust me back to a uniform.
My mother spent two hours yesterday bemoaning the fact that she won't have grandchildren because I am too small to attract a woman and then I am too rude to keep one. By the time I left her house, she was crying and she said she would continue to pray for me. I am glad today is Sunday and I have the day off. My phone rang and it snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Yes?" If it was another call about my dick I was going to lose it.
"Joe this is Mooch. I heard from Kevin Johnson who heard it from Fred Watts that Jenna Womack at St. Francis' is going on a date with one of Manoso's guys." So fucking what?
"So what?" He sounds aggravated with me.
"Jenna said Stephanie set her up with him because she said he was shy and that he is her co-worker. She works for Manoso!" Motherfucker!
"Are you sure?" He scoffs at me.
"Yes, Joe. Anyway, she is not lost. She got a new job. I heard she has a company car and everything. I got that one from Mr. Molecki and he is friends with her dad, so he would know." I hate Manoso.
"Thanks, Mooch, I will talk to you later." I hang up and look up the number there.
The call is answered immediately. "Rangeman, this is Jacob speaking how may I direct your call?" He sounds all extra polite.
"I want to speak with Stephanie Plum." He goes silent.
"Sir, Miss Plum is not on shift at this time. Do you need assistance? I would be glad to transfer you to someone that could help you with your security needs." This guy is awfully chipper.
"I am a friend of hers. She would want to talk to me."
"Sir, this is the business line you called. If you are friends with Miss Plum, you will need to contact her on her personal line." Dammit.
"She changed the number and I don't have it. Can you give it to me?"
"Sir, I am not allowed to give out personal information. We are a security company after all." He seems like he is making fun of me.
"I am a police detective."
"That is wonderful, sir, but unless Miss Plum is a suspect in a criminal investigation, or I am served with a warrant, I cannot use your job title to breach security. I would lose my job, sir."
I try to count to ten forwards and backwards so I do not yell. I am so fucking frustrated. The polite goon breaks the silence.
"Do you want to speak to someone about having security installed at your home or business?" Hell no.
"No, thank you."
"Then I need to terminate this call. Have a pleasant day and stay safe." He hangs up. I call her best friend. I know Mary Lou Stankovic has her new number.
"Good morning, Stankovic residence. Jack! Stop writing on your brother! I can still see you!" Sheesh. I forgot she has three kids and they are 6, 7, and 8. She got married right after high school.
"Mary Lou, hello this is Joe Morelli." She says hello and yells at her kids again.
"That is it! Next Sunday you will go to Sunday school and the main service, Jamie! That is what you get for using the glue. I am leaving your hands stuck to your face, too."
"So, I am calling because I am looking for Cupcake."
"Is this a police problem, Joe? Did something else happen to her?"
I open my mouth to answer her and she yells again.
"Put the dog down and stop making him dance!"
"No, nothing is wrong with Cupcake, she just changed her number."
"Did she? I must be a bad friend. I have been so busy and I had to use our deep freezer for the extra iced tea and discounted kielbasa that Lenny got from Maria. She said he should work for Rangeman or something. Women were giving me high fives all day yesterday." Whoop de do for you.
"My mother called me and all she said was 'I understand'. I must have spaced on Steph getting a new number. I don't have it. I hope she calls me soon. I heard she knows someone that got three free jugs of tea yesterday." Arrggh.
I am so pissed that I called and wasted twenty minutes of my life on this bitch, that I rush her off the phone.
"Thank you, anyway, MaryLou. I will talk to you later." I hang up and think, and then I call the Plum House. They have to have her number, right?
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Mrs. Plum, this is Joe Morelli." She hums a little bit.
"Little Joe?" Dammit! I got Edna.
"I came over with donuts for after church. I do not live here in case you are confused, Little Joe." Well, maybe I should ask her.
"Mrs. Mazur, what is Cupcake's phone number?"
"I told you to stop calling her that name, Little Joe." I almost growl at her.
"Fine, what is Stephanie's phone number?"
"Why do you need her phone number, Little Joe?"
"I want to ask her out on a date, Mrs. Mazur." She laughs at me.
"Oh, she cannot date you, Little Joe." What?
"Why not?"
"Besides the fact that she told me she would not date you for all the donuts in the world? She has a man and she does not cheat. Was that all, Little Joe?" I am so fucking pissed.
"Who is she dating, Mrs. Mazur?"
"She is not dating you, Little Joe. Give up. You are too small for her anyway. My baby granddaughter deserves a man with a grown up package. Have a good day." She hangs up on me.
I throw the phone across the fucking room. Who is she dating? Where does she live? Why does she keep calling me Little Joe? Before yesterday, I had no complaints. People told me all about their free iced tea. All of them said they got it because their dicks are bigger than mine. Maria is now on my list. She gave Manoso three of them. I hate her too, now. Bitch.
Stephanie POV
I was sitting here watching Dance with Me on dvd while Carlos was reading files. He looks so sexy. He is using the dining room table to do his work. I am pretending to watch the movie while I watch him. I just got a text from Mary Lou. Man, she is funny. She still only has the burner number anyway. I have decided that unless they are a Rangeman, they are not getting my personal cell number.
After a half hour, he puts down the files and I jump up and pull him forward on the couch. I start to massage him and he moans again. Max is with Hal. He said he was going to the park and could he take Max. I gave him the pooper scooper bags and some treats for Max and they left.
"Estefania, eres muy bonita." Here he comes with the flattery. Yes, I am pretty.
"Thank you, Carlos."
"Morelli called for you at the main switchboard. Binkie stonewalled him." I clear my throat. He sighs.
"Fine, Jacob stonewalled him."
"Carlos, Jacob is a sexy name." He pulls me into his lap.
"Stop calling other men sexy, Babe. It is against the relationship rules." I laugh.
"We have rules, Carlos?" He kisses me and nods and gets up to get paper.
"Rule number one. No lying." I nod. I like that rule.
"Rule number two. No cheating." I just give him a duh look. "What if it is an op or a mission or something, Carlos?"
"Babe, I said no cheating. That means sex. If you have to kiss someone for an op, it better not be a French kiss. I will maintain the same rules, but I do not anticipate that happening. If some woman tells you differently, shoot her or kick her ass, Babe. I am your man and I mean that." Ooooh, Mufasa! I just smile and nod in my daze. He is amazing. Once he starts talking, he never shuts up. Seriously, though, I know he has let his guard down and I love it.
"Rule number three, no leaving me alone in bed. Wake me up and tell me the situation." I giggle and he writes it down.
"Rule number four, carry your gun and wear your tracker at all times." Wait a minute.
"Are you saying our relationship could depend on my having my gun?" He nods at me.
"Fine. I get it. You would worry. Where is your tracker, Carlos?" He smiles and points to his earrings. Oh.
"Rule number five, no calling other men sexy." I giggle and kiss his neck.
"Seriously, Babe, I want you to always call me first when you need help or you just want to talk. I am your man. I don't care if you are friendly with the guys. I just want to be first." He said it again!
He kisses me. "Unless it is work or a mission, I will call you first, Babe. I will call you when I need to talk." Any minute now, my alarm is going to go off. This is like a dream.
"Definitely, Carlos. I will always call you first. You mean so much to me already." He kisses me again. I point at his list.
"Are you finished?" He shakes his head.
"Rule number six, let me give you gifts." I think about it.
"Fine, but you have already given me a lot lately. Pace yourself, Carlos. I do not want you to buy me a country or an island. I love my earrings and this chain and I will wear them always because they are from you. I love Max, too. I don't want you to spend a lot of money on me. What about you write me letters or something to show you care? I am not that materialistic." He smiles at me and kisses my cheek.
"Alright, Babe. I will keep that in mind. I know all gifts don't have to be expensive. Rule number seven. It's the last one. Always fight fair and do not run away." Wow, that is a big one.
I lean over and kiss him. "I will always try to hear you out, Carlos. I do have a temper, but I will try to meet you halfway and I won't tell your mother we are fighting. What is between us is ours. Please do not tell the guys personal stuff about me." He just blinks at me.
"Babe, I will not tell them things about you. Now I have something to tell you. I was married before, too." I hold his hand.
"I was with a girl on leave and she told me she was pregnant, so I married her, but I had to leave again on an assignment. When I came home, she had given birth and found that I was not the father, so we had an annulment." Wow.
Now I get why I was met with such bitchiness yesterday. They were protecting Carlos from an opportunistic bitch. They just need time to see that I truly care about their brother. Whew. I was worried it was because I am not a Latina.
"Thank you for telling me that, Carlos." He smiles at me.
"I want there to be no secrets between us, Steph, unless it is someone else's secret. I am healthy and I have a clean bill of health. I have never had an STD. I have not really had a serious relationship before. I have always used protection and I have not been with anyone in the past four months." Wow, he is sharing, huh.
"I am healthy, too and I am committed to my training and exercise plan. I have never had an STD. My marriage was my only relationship. I have always used protection, even with Dickie and I have not been with anyone in over a year. I have not trusted anyone since he cheated on me. I will have my birth control updated again this week. I use the shots that I get every three months." Carlos hugs me.
"He was a fool, but I am glad he ruined his chance to be with you, Babe. Thank you for telling me about your birth control. Did you tell Bobby?" I nod and kiss him. We start a nice make out session that is interrupted by a knock on the door followed by two barks. Max is back. I get off Carlos' lap and answer the door. Max runs inside and goes to his water dish.
"Thanks, Steph. Max was great and girls talked to me!" I smile at Hal.
"Good, Hal. See you later." I close the door and go back to the sofa.
"Babe, how much time do you need to get ready?" I think about it.
"I need an hour and a half, Carlos. It is 4pm right now, so we can make out at least for another half hour." He grins at me.
"I love kissing you, Babe, but we cannot make out for a half hour. I am only human and you are killing me. I am not going to pressure you, but you are very sexy, Steph." Wow. Well…maybe? Yes. I will do it. I pull him into the bedroom and tell Max to take a nap.
"Carlos, let's do third base."
"You want us to fondle each other?" I shake my head.
"No. More."
He seems to be thinking.
"Do you mean oral sex?" I nod.
"Time out." I just stare at him.
"Are you sure, Steph?"
"Yes, Carlos. I am ready to do third base with you." He laughs.
"Time in." He is hilarious.
"Babe, oral sex is not a base."
"It is today, Batman. So mote it be." I push him onto the bed and we strip. Carlos tickles me and I bite his ass. I always wanted to do that. He is laughing and so am I. This is fun and he looks amazing. I pin him and he frees his hands and touches my breasts. I moan and bite my lip. Oh, I am supposed to do stuff, too. I kiss him and fondle him. Wow again.
I slide down his body and I lick his abs and I kiss lower and lower. When I take him into my mouth, he starts talking to me in Spanish and his voice is so deep. He promises to be faithful to me and says that he is mine. Wow, Batman. He tells me that I am beautiful and that he is a lucky man. I suck and slurp on his cock like I am a hungry person. He moans louder.
"Babe, oh hell yes that feels so fucking good. Don't stop." He pulls me so I am crouching over his face and then I think I passed out or something, because, Carlos was moaning and so was I. Wow, we were both kind of trembling and suddenly I feel an intense orgasm rip through me. I hold on and keep pleasing him until he yells my name, and then I take my nightmare mother's advice and I swallow. We collapse next to each other and breathe heavily.
"Wow, Babe. I feel great. Look at you, with your hair all wild and your skin has a slight flush to it, and you smell like me. Damn, Babe. I want you all the time. I love how smart you are and I really love when we play together. You always make me smile, Steph." I look at him and smile.
"So, orgasms make you talkative, huh?" He tickles me again and I yelp.
"You are a bad girl, Stephanie." I shudder.
"I thought you liked bad girls. So, how does my pie taste, Batman?" He bites my neck.
"Stop that! Put marks where no one can see, Carlos. I work with impressionable men like Hal. I cannot have him blushing at me all day." He snorts and moves lower.
"I love your pie, Babe. I am going to enjoy eating it for dessert every day." I think I just had another orgasm.
"Are you threatening to give me oral sex every day?" He looks at me.
"Yes. Rule number eight. This is my pussy." I moan out loud because he went to third base on me.
"Get off me! Go get dressed and let Max in here. He is probably feeling lonely." I try to shove him away.
"Do you agree to the rule, Stephanie?" Hell yes.
"Yes, of course, Carlos and you know I called dibs earlier. All of that is mine. I will shoot a bitch." He laughs and gets dressed. I put on my robe and walk him to the door.
We kiss and I promise to be ready by 6:15 since our reservations are for 7pm. "So good, Babe. I love your sexy mouth." He is still kissing me and murmuring to me. "Get out, Ranger. I have a date tonight and Carlos is a stickler for being prompt." He smiles at me.
"See you soon, Querida." I close the door behind him and lean against it. We only went to third base and those orgasms were so intense. Wow. I really will shoot a bitch. I ran to my room. I had a beauty regimen to get through.