Yay! New chapter! I thought for a moment that I wasn't going to be able to post this when my ADD kicked in. But I strained through it and I think you'll all be pleased. Sorry for the mistakes. I figured it was better to post than to wait another day (and have you all anxiously waiting) and make sure everything was the way I wanted it.

Not mine.

Warning: Smut. Ranger and I had a little talk. He was done waiting (and honestly, so was I). Don't like it, skip the end.

Man, I have to stop drinking Mountain Dew...

Author's Note: This is just a re-upload... I needed to make a tiny change.

"All right, kiddies. Mom and dad are going out for a few hours. So stay here and be good." Tank said, pulling on a light jacket. We may be in Texas, but the nights are pretty cool.

Lester's head shot up from the game of solitaire he was playing. "What?"

"We need a break from you two." Bobby said, joining Tank in the hallway.

"No way can I be alone in a room with her." Lester growled.

"Hey!" I said, putting my crossword puzzle down. "Sitting right here!" Lester rolled his eyes and ignored me. I chucked my pen at him.

I know, childish.

Lester caught it before it hit his head. "Nice try, sweetheart."

"See? You two will be just fine. Just try not to kill each other." Bobby soothed.

"Oh and we stored all of your guns in my safe." Tank stated.

"Now you're just being cruel."

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. Tank and Bobby grinned at me.

"We'll be back in four hours."

And they left.

Lester and I were alone.

I always knew that Karma was a bitch, but I never knew she could be this cruel.

Lester and I stared at each other for a moment, then we grudgingly made our way to the monitors. Looked like dinner was winding down.

I chanced a glance over at Lester. He was watching the monitors and sulking.

I sighed and rolled my eyes again.

"Keep rolling them and they'll get stuck that way, sweetheart."

"Bite me."

"I'd rather not."

We sat in silence again.

I didn't know what was wrong. Usually I had guys falling down around my feet at this point. They're usually begging me to take them to bed.

But no, Lester just keeps avoiding me like I have the plague.

I narrowed my eyes and thought about the plan. Each time I made a move, he countered it.

I was beginning to think this was like chess.

And I may have already lost my queen.

Maybe a new strategy? I peeked at him once again.

This time, he was staring at me.

"What?" I snarled.

"You want to say those thoughts a little louder next time?"

Holy shit. "I didn't say them aloud!" Okay, my voice may have squeaked a little.

"No, but they're all over your face. I'm not as easy as your last date. Alfred."

"Alex was a very nice man."

Lester's fist clenched. Ah! Finally! A reaction I know! "Jealous?"

"Whatever. Why aren't you out with him right now?"

"Because if you haven't noticed, we're all alone here and you need someone to watch your back." Plus, he had served his purpose. He was also a little boring. Who knew someone that hot could be that boring?

"Especially if you can't get to your gun."

"Please," Lester scoffed. "Tank's code is easier to break than Stephanie's computer password."

"Wow, you would invade Stephanie's privacy like that?"

"No! Never! The girl can barely remember her own password sometimes."

"You're a jerk."

"And you're nuts! You have to be the craziest person I've met! Have you ever thought about asking me out?"

"Like I would ever think about that?"

"Please. Isn't that what you're doing? Acting like a child to get me to notice you?"

"No." Okay, and that probably came out more petulantly than I wanted it to. He stared at me like he didn't believe me.

"Look, when I heard that you had all the other women… I thought…" I sighed again. "I wanted to do something to stand out from all the other girls."

"So you drove me crazy?"

"It worked, didn't it?"

His eyes shifted away. "Maybe."

I grinned now. "Gotcha."

We sat for a few minutes in silence.

"So, are you going to ask me out or not?" He asked me.

I smirked. "Maybe."

It was so quick, I didn't have time to react. He leaned over and kissed me hard on the mouth.

"Gotcha." He said as my mouth continued to sizzle. I pulled his head back and began kissing him in earnest.

We stared at each other for a minute. I felt the stirrings of bolting, but my feet stayed planted to the tile.

I wasn't running away this time.

Instead, I made my feet move forward and grabbed the antiseptic wipe from his hand. Gently, I guided him to the shower and sat him down on the ledge. I joined him and started to wipe his knuckles down.

"Are you going to tell me what he said?" I asked. I wasn't stalling. I wanted to know first. So sue me! My curiosity got in the way.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I handled it."

"Well from what I can see, your fist did the actual handling."

"Cute."

"Just tell me. I promise I won't do anything rash."

"Let's just say that the poem that Joe wrote on the wall was tame compared to his comments."

"How did you know about that?"

"When will you learn that I know everything? I gave Joe a black eye when I found out."

"You did?" My stomach fluttered. I shook my head, clearing it. "You're changing the subject."

He stared at me for a moment. "You're not going to let this go."

"Nope." I stared at him until he caved.

It took two minutes.

He sighed. "Fine. He said that if I was ever bored of you that he could take and I quote, 'that fine piece of ass and teach her something'. And then he went into that something. Now that, I will take to the grave."

I wasn't sure what to say to that. "Did you punch him hard?"

"Yep."

"Good."

We sat there silently as I continued to clean his knuckles.

"Thank you."

"For punching the guy? That was fun."

"No." I looked up at him. "For being so patient with me."

He raised a brow.

"You knew."

He looked down at his feet. "Knew what?"

I tugged his hand and made him look at me. "Don't look away. Not now."

When he looked up, I could see all the love in his eyes. All the love he had been forced to keep hidden from me these past few months. "You knew." I whispered, cupping his cheek with my free hand.

He briefly closed his eyes and leaned into my palm. He started to speak but I stopped him.

"No, it's my turn. I want you to listen to me right now and then you can speak." I paused and took a breath.

Here we go. Taking the leap.

"Right before Anne left she asked me a question. After all that we've been through, would I change a minute of it? When I thought about it, really thought about it, my answer was no. We've known each other for years and I wouldn't want anything to change. I think we've both made mistakes, but I have to believe that if we didn't make them, we wouldn't be here right now. And I wouldn't be telling you that I love you. Because I do. I love you so much that it scares the ever living crap out of me. But I was in denial for so long that I didn't know which end was up anymore. I think I was even in love with you after you sent me back to Joe…"

"I was a bastard for doing that."

"You weren't ready."

"How can you defend me?" He shot up and began to pace. "Hours after we had sex, I was sending you back to another man. Who does that?"

"Someone who wasn't sure what they wanted. Hey, I'm as much to blame in that situation." He scoffed. "I could have said no. I could have told you that you were nuts. I could have said that I didn't want Joe anymore. But I was too scared and in denial about what I was feeling for you. And you were too. No one is at fault for that."

"What about when I told you that marriage and babies are stupid and careless?"

"Who said I wanted kids or to get married?"

"You just think you have all the answers, don't you."

"Yep." I stood up and got in his path. "Because I love you. Because I'm in love with you."

He cupped my cheeks and sighed. "But someday you might want marriage and kids."

"Sure," I said, shrugging. "Maybe someday. But how about we cross that bridge when we get to it. I just want to take it one day at a time with you."

"Because you love me?"

"Got it in one. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it."

Ranger brushed a few curls away from my face. "The only thing that matters is that you got here." He smiled now. "You know, I was willing to way forever for you to figure it out."

"Because you love me?" I asked, batting my eyelashes.

He chuckled. "Got it in one." He brought his lips to mine in a sweet and tender kiss. "I love you so much."

I smiled. "You have no idea how much I love hearing you say that."

"Well get ready to hear it a lot. I need to make up for lost time."

He kissed me this time with a little more heat. I think my knees buckled. "Wow." I breathed. "I forgot how good you were at that."

He just grinned. When our lips met again, the heat went sky high. Our lips pressed tightly together, teeth nipping and tongues tangling.

When we finally came up for air, Ranger put his forehead on mine. "God, I want you so bad. It's been too long."

"I can't imagine that it's been that long for you since…"

"There hasn't been anyone since you broke up with Joe."

I was baffled. I knew he wasn't a monk, but I had no idea he would do that. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I had hoped that you would come to me."

"What if I never came around?"

"Babe." He said with a knowing smirk.

"Okay, stupid question." Because it was inevitable. I was going to figure it out sooner or later. Ranger smirked and leaned in for another kiss when my phone rang.

Natalie.

"Perfect timing." I said sarcastically. Ranger chuckled and moved his mouth to my neck.

"Where are you guys? We looked away for a second and you were gone."

"I'm in the bathroom."

"And you answered your phone! Ew! I don't need to hear that!"

"Hear what?"

"Whatever it is that you're doing."

I rolled my eyes. "What are you twelve?"

She ignored that. "What about Ranger? Is he okay? We saw the punch. It was pretty awesome."

"He's fine too." More than fine, I thought to myself as he rocked his hips into mine.

Natalie chattered on about something for a few more minutes. Honestly, I wasn't paying attention. I was completely focused on the things Ranger was doing with his hands and mouth.

Which was about the time I moaned. Loudly.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Ranger took the phone from my hands. "She's about to have really hot sex with me. So do us a big favor and keep the cameras in her room off."

Natalie stammered out her response and they hung up. Ranger, grinning from ear to ear, put my phone in my pocket and grabbed my hand.

"You're pretty happy with yourself."

"Damn straight." He gently pulled me from the bathroom.

"Wait, you were serious about the hot sex?"

He just nodded. When we reached my door, he pushed me against it and leaned in close. "I need to be inside of you right now. I can't wait for a more private time."

Well. When he put it that way…

Seeing the affirmation in my eyes, he opened the door and pushed me in. Closing it and locking it, I felt a completely different side of Ranger come out.

Mating Ranger.

I think this is my favorite.

"Take off your clothes."

"You don't want to do it for me?" I teased.

"Not unless you want that shirt to become a rag. Take it off."

I shivered and my panties soaked. I made quick work of my pants and shirt, but teased Ranger with the underwear.

When I was done, he picked me up and tossed me onto the bed. He leaned over me, as if to kiss my lips, but changed directions and went for my lower lips. As his lips made contact with my clit, I arched my hips and grabbed onto his hair. He shoved two fingers inside of me and I was gone. Ranger continued to thrust his fingers in and out as I came down.

And then started the whole process again. He sucked my very sensitive clit harder when I tried to pull him off and his fingers moved faster as I tried to shift away from him.

"You can take it, I know you can." He said, voice thick with lust.

"No…" I moaned, as my body threw me over into another orgasm. He rode me down and removed his fingers. I watched from the bed, feeling like liquid goo, as he stripped himself. I opened my legs for his hips as he mounted me.

"Next time, I'll be gentler." He said, caressing my face.

"Uh huh. Sure. In me. Now."

I grinned and stuffed himself inside me. I arched my back and hips into him as I screamed.

I had forgotten how good he felt.

He waited for a minute for me to adjust and then began to thrust. My body shivered with pleasure as he moved in and out of me.

Ranger put one arm under my back, his left hand tenderly rubbing my neck as the other held my hips in place as he sped up the pace.

"Please…" I moaned. I was so close.

Ranger countered by moving his hand from my hip to hitch my left leg higher on his hips, changing the angle of his thrusts.

My mouth dropped open and I let out a low moan. As I unconsciously licked my lips, I made sure to keep my eyes on Ranger. Usually during sex, I close my eyes. It's just my normal reaction to that much pleasure.

But after the first night I had with Ranger, I loved keeping my eyes open.

Ranger's eyes began to glaze over and his hips started to lose their rhythm. He was close.

Thank god.

Our lips met in a very passionate kiss as his fingers found my clit again. My body trembled as I began to orgasm. His fingers sped up and I flew off the cliff. My muscles clenched around him as I shrieked and clawed at his back. Ranger pressed his hips into mine as he came inside me. He growled my name and his body gently collapsed onto mine.

I was complete mush. All I could do was listen to our racing heartbeats, our panting, and grin like an idiot. I'm pretty sure I had no brain function.

And I was okay with that.

A few seconds later, Ranger chuckled. "God, that was fantastic." He said, nuzzling his nose into my neck. He was still panting and each one made my sensitive skin tingle.

I couldn't speak, so I just nodded.

Ranger lifted his head and the smug smile widened on his face. "I think my work here is done."

"Ass."

He kissed me. "You love me."

"Not right now I don't."

Now he pouted. "I'm hurt."

"Shut up. If you let me be on top, I'll love you again."

His eyes darkened and he hardened inside me. "Deal." He said, as he rolled onto his back.

"Yay! I love you."