Author's Note: No luck yet on the moving front, but fingers crossed and we're still praying. Thank you for all the reviews.. You guys are just... so wonderful!
Merry Christmas!
Chapter Twenty
When Steph pulled back, Hector licked his lips, savoring the unique taste that was only Stephanie. He made an appreciative noise in the back of his throat while giving her a wicked look that held tons of promises. Steph blushed making Hector chuckle softly.
"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" He asked as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulling her close.
Steph sighed and told him everything her dad had told her.
His eyes widened. "You were more out of it than you thought, huh?"
Steph nodded. "How much more did I miss?" She asked, talking more to herself than him.
Hector kissed her forehead. "You have to think about how far you've came. Don't focus on what's passed, Florecita. You'll only continue to set yourself back." He rubbed her back as he spoke.
She leaned against him, taking in his warmth and strength.
"I know you're right, but all I keep thinking is how much more have I missed?" She hated that her voice sounded whiny but she couldn't help it. She wanted to pout at the unfairness of it all.
"Think of it like this instead, what have you gained?"
Steph took a deep breath. "I'm stronger. I'm better at my job because I know self-defense and I'm healthier now. I'm closing to my mom. And…" Steph stopped and looked up at Hector. "I have you now. I found you." She said with a smile.
Hector gave her a happy almost loopy grin. "Yes you have me. Thank God you noticed." He teased.
She playfully smacked him. "Of course I noticed. You've been my rock, my savior through this. I don't know what I would have done without you." She admitted.
Hector continued to rub her back as he kissed her forehead. "You don't have to worry about that, Florecita."
"Promise?"
He hugged her tighter to him, kissing the top of her head. "Promise."
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She knocked on Mary Lou's door and waited. When the door was finally flung open, she never expected for Mary Lou to scream down the block. She was then engulfed in strong arms and more screaming in her ear. She winced and tried to pull away, but Mary Lou was having none of that.
"Steph, I thought I'd never see you again." ML gushed.
Steph was confused. "What?"
Mary Lou yanked her into the house and dragged her towards the kitchen. Steph stumbled, trying to keep up with her best friend. She followed ML into the kitchen as Mary Lou chatted and talked.
"…And after you ran out of here screaming that you would never talk to me again, I got scared and worried."
Steph's jaw dropped in shock and her eyes widened. "I… I said that?" Steph questioned in absolute shock.
Mary Lou turned to finally look at her after grabbing a bottle of – sparkling grape juice. Well that's good, right? Since she had to drive home eventually.
ML sat the bottle down with a thump and nodded quickly, afraid the tears would fall if she opened her mouth. She then turned and grabbed two plastic cups with a grinning snowman and a blonde in blue on the front of them.
"I'm sorry, Mare." Steph apologized sadly. She had no idea she treated her best friend so cold.
Mary Lou poured them a drink and shrugged. "You were going through something, Steph. I hope you can tell me one day, but you're my best friend and I've always got your back."
Steph wanted to cry as she walked over to her best friend in the whole world and hugged her. ML returned the hug just as fiercely.
"I was raped." Steph spoke softly in Mare's ear.
Mary Lou gasped and hugged Steph tighter. "Oh honey, I am so sorry."
Steph returned her hug, trying not to cry, but failing miserably. When Mare's body started to shake, she then realized that she was crying too so Steph let the tears flow unchecked.
After a few minutes of crying their eyes out, the best friends finally pulled apart and looked at each other. Steph smiled first, giving Mary Lou the all clear that she was indeed okay. Mare returned the smile and wiped the tears away.
"This calls for wine but unfortunately I don't any." Mare handed Steph a blue cup and saluted her before downing it like a shot. Steph giggled and followed her best friend.
They both sat down at the kitchen table and Mary Lou poured them another 'shot'.
"How are you doing? Really?" Mare asked, concerned.
Steph took a small sip. "I'm okay now."
"Because of that hunky guy you've been seen with?" Mary Lou wiggled her eyebrows in typical Lester fashion.
Steph laughed at ML's antics, but she was confused too. "How did you hear about him?"
"Steph, you've always been the talk of the 'Burg and this time makes no different. It's been good talk mostly. How happy you seem. "
Steph gave her this goofy grin. "I am happy because of Hector. I don't… he just took noticed and didn't let me hide."
Mary Lou's eyes filled with sadness. "I should have done the same, Steph. I'm sorry I didn't."
Steph shook her head. "I think it had to be Hector. I don't think I would have listened to anyone else."
She nodded, still sad. "What about the guy?"
Steph took a deep breath. "He's in jail. I brought him myself since he was an FTA and I'm pressing charges."
"He was one of your FTAs? Oh Steph…"
Steph stopped her there and explained the whole story. When she reached the end, Mare nodded in understanding.
"So it's gonna be in the papers tomorrow?"
Steph nodded. "Yep. He's going to trial next week so it's finally going to be in the papers."
"Will your charges hold since it was six months ago?"
She took another small sip and nodded. "He plead guilty. He admitted that he raped me."
"He did?"
"He didn't at first. He denied it, but then he spent the night in jail and Eddie said the next day he was screaming his guilt through the bars of his cage. Eddie's words, not mine."
Mare's brows furrowed in confused. "That's weird, huh? But I'm glad he's going to jail, Steph. I hope he rots in there or better yet, I hope someone kills him."
Steph gave her a small smile. "You're too sweet, Mare."
She grinned evilly. "I seriously hope the bastard gets raped in prison before they kill him."
Steph laughed. "Mare, I didn't realized you were so into violence." She teased her best friend.
That made Mare sober up and she reached out to grab Steph's hand. "I'd kill the bastard myself for hurting you, Steph. You're my best friend and nothing I do or say will make it better, but I promise I'll keep trying. First night we can, we're going to have a girl's night and we are going to have a blast. And we are most definitely going to get drunk. Maybe your hunky man can watch over us that night." Mary Lou once again wagged her eyebrows.
Steph laughed. "I think that can be arranged."
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Steph opened the door to her apartment and followed Hector's smell into the living room. He was laid out on the couch, watching a football game. Hector grinned when he saw her.
"How did it go?" He asked, reaching out to take her hand and dragging her down on top of him.
Steph settled down against him, resting her chin on his chest. "Mary Lou said I ran out of her house screaming that I never wanted to talk to her again. And she always said that the Burg is talking about us."
Hector reached up and tangled his fist in her thick curls. "Does that bother you?"
Steph raised her eyebrows. "Which one?"
"The screaming part first?"
Steph shrugged. "Kind of, but I'm remembering what you said so I'm okay at the moment."
He nodded. "And the other? The Burg knowing?"
Steph grinned. "I'm good with it. At least everyone knows you're mine."
Hector laughed, making them both shake. "Damn right I'm yours, just like you're mine."
"I have a question." Steph declared suddenly.
Hector blinked and slowly nodded. "Okay…"
Steph licked her lips. "When are we going to have sex?" She quickly asked before she lost her nerve. Maybe Mary Lou served her wine instead of grape juice.
Hector groaned and immediately went hard underneath her. That was a good sign, right?
"Have you told everyone yet?" He asked through clenched teeth.
Steph shook her head. "I still have Connie and Lula to talk to."
Hector took a deep breath. "Go tell them and when you get home, if you still want to take our relationship to the next level, I'll rock your world."
Steph shivered in his arms and leaned down to kiss him. Hector deliberately kept the kiss short much to Steph's dismay. She gave a small pout before getting to her feet.
"I'll be back. I hope you're prepared and clean!" Steph told him before heading to the front door.
"I'm definitely prepared, but why clean? Not that I'm not because I am, but why?" He asked her just as she reached for the door knob.
"Because I'm on birth control and I don't want anything between us." She met his eyes and held his stare.
"Bareback?" He gulped.
Steph nodded slowly.
Hector growled and fell back against the cushions of the couch. "Go talk to Connie and Lula before I change my mind. Fuck I'm hard as a railroad spike." He growled out in pain.
Steph giggle.
"Now, Stephanie!" Hector demanded.
Steph giggled all the way to the Bond's office.