Wow, I've never gotten so many people mad at me for a cliffhanger before! Here's an update before I end up with a bunch of readers at my door with pitchforks. Short chapter, so I could get it out quickly.

Recap: Stephanie works out her feelings in the shower. Ranger tells him why he had a flashback. Stephanie starts to say the L word.

Ranger

Every second while she tried to say it seemed like an hour. I'd known I loved her for years, though it took sleeping with her to get me to admit it, even to myself. I wasn't looking at her, as much as I wanted to. I'd waited a long time to hear this, I didn't want her to lose her nerve.

I'm lying to myself. I don't want to say I'm broken and see agreement in her eyes. That would just fuck me up even more.

I need her to say it, more than I want to admit.

Stephanie

This shouldn't be that hard. Why could I not get the damn words out? I mean, I say I love all kinds of things. My family, my friends, Ella's cooking, Boston Cream donuts, and Ranger's sheets just to name a few. How could I say I loved his sheets but not that I loved him?

And as that realization hit me I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face in it. "You're so much more important than sheets. Yes, I love you. I'd love you even if you had crappy sheets." And then I kissed him, tears streaming down my face.

Ranger

No idea how my sheets entered the conversation, but I didn't really care. She had said she loved me, and her tongue was exploring my mouth. I pulled her into my lap so she was straddling me, our lips never parting. I tangled my hands in her wet curls and held her close to me, until I felt her tears dampen my own cheeks. I pulled back a few inches and wiped them away with my thumb.

"What's wrong, Babe?"

"I love you, and I know you love me, in your own way…"

I rested my thumb gently over her lips. Her beautiful, pouty lips, slightly swollen from kissing me.

"I love you in every way. I'm just an idiot. I thought staying away from you would keep you safe, but I couldn't do it. I've loved you for so long, and it's always been with my whole heart, even if my life isn't conducive to relationships."

She looked into my eyes, trying to read the truth in them. "Really? You've always added a qualifier whenever you said you loved me."

"My life is complicated, though I've been trying to simplify it. But do you really think I'd walk into a room knowing I'd likely be shot, or jump off a bridge, or deal with your crazy Granny if I didn't love you more than my own life?"

"Yes. You're a hero, you're Batman. You save people all the time. And Julie was in that room too."

"True. I've risked my life for a lot of people, but you're the only one I would ever put up with your Grandma for."

She laughed softly, and kissed me again. I stood up, her legs wrapping around my hips as my arms held her close to me. I carried her over to the bed, her lips pressed to mine until I lay her gently on the sheets. One quick tug and her towel was gone, and I moved my lips to touch every inch of her. I brushed her skin gently with my knuckles, my fingertips were too rough and calloused for the sensations I wanted to give her.

She started to moan and arch her neck, and I suckled at the soft pink peaks at her breasts. I started to undo my shirt, glad I was wearing a button-down so I didn't have to pull a shirt over my head. Then I kicked off my pants, not even bothering with my socks. I just wanted to touch her, to reassure her, to show her with my body how precious she was to me, because I wasn't good enough with words to ever tell her.