Physical Evidence

NOT CUPCAKE FRIENDLY. Angst. Sexual situations. Adult Language. Babe HEA!

Not mine. No profit. Belong to JE.

Thanks to my fabulous Beta, Jacqueline!

Chapter 35 – May 26, 2010 – 7:45pm

Ranger intended to make Steph forget Joe Morelli ever existed as he continued his exploration of her body. After the passion they shared in the alley outside the bonds office, being separated from her for almost two weeks had been torture. Now he had the opportunity to take his time and love her the way she deserved, in a comfortable bed, on the sheets she loved.

"I hope you aren't tired, Babe. I plan on keeping you busy most of the night. I need to make up for 12 long days away from you. I'm going to eat, drink and breathe only you for as many hours as I can keep you awake." Ranger whispered to her as he undressed her.

"Sleep is the last thing on my mind, I assure you. I need to feel connected to you completely. I missed you even when I didn't remember why. Now that my memories are back, I want to create new ones with you." She smiled softly at him as he peeled off his own clothes. Her eyes softened as she took in the fading bruises that sprinkled his skin reminding her of how easily she could have lost him while he was in prison. She wanted to kiss each one away.

"I need to feel connected to you, too. Being taken away from you when you were so pale and fragile in that hospital bed was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I wanted to be there when you woke up." He confessed as he lay down next to her.

"You were there when I woke up." She admitted. "I felt you kiss me and heard the words you whispered to me. I know you didn't want to leave me."

"I'm never gonna leave you again. You'll be sick of me in a month because I'm sticking to you like glue. I bet you never thought I was the clingy, smothering type, did you?" He teased.

"I'll never get sick of you. Not after feeling what it's like to be away from you. Cling to me. Smother me. I need you to." She told him seriously, tracing a finger over his right eyebrow. "I just want to be with you."

No other words were spoken as he claimed her lips, and they both moaned at the sensation as he covered her soft, curvy body with his hard, muscular frame. Feeling her supple breasts against his toned chest was heaven; the softness of her hair and sweet smell of her skin intoxicating. He loved to kiss her and he took his time, pressing his lips softly against every inch of her, breathing her in and memorizing every detail. As he settled himself between her legs, lifting her knees over his shoulders, he dipped his head down to taste her and tightened his arms around her thighs as she bucked her hips off the bed.

"Easy, Babe." He whispered against her skin as he tortured her with his tongue. "Just relax and let me love you." Her moans and whimpers echoed around him as he feasted on her, bringing her to climax over and over again. The way she responded to him amazed him.

"Please, Ranger. Come here." She pleaded as she tried to pull his shoulders back up the bed. Granting her wish and covering her body again, he tangled his hands into her hair and kissed her hungrily, allowing her to taste herself on his tongue. Feeling wetness on her face, he pulled back and looked into her eyes as tears streamed down her face.

"What is it?" He asked tenderly as he wiped them away. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm overwhelmed with emotion right now. I just need you. I've never felt so much love for someone before and it's all consuming." She explained through her sobs. He kissed her softly again.

"I'm gonna make you feel so good, Stephanie. I want to show you how much I love you." He whispered. "I need to be inside you, but I want to hold you, too."

He rolled her onto her side and spooned her from behind, then rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. She was laying on top of him with her back to his front, his body warm and strong beneath her. He laid her head back against his right shoulder as he kissed her neck. Using his right hand to play in her slick folds, he used his left to knead her breasts and tweak her nipples. He whispered words in Spanish as he continued to kiss, suck, and nip at her neck.

"Please!" She begged. "I need to feel you inside me."

Reaching between them, he placed the head of his cock at her entrance and gently rocked his hips, slipping inside her at a delicious angle. His movements were slow and deliberate with only a slight rocking of his hips to create the friction needed. She moaned at the sensations the position caused, hitting the sweet spot inside of her just right. Ranger's hands were everywhere, caressing and setting her nerves on fire. He turned her head to the side, bringing her lips toward his so he could kiss her. He knew she was getting close and he wanted to swallow her cries with his mouth.

Picking up the pace of his hips, he began rocking more quickly and deeper into her as she moaned and gasped at the feelings he was unleashing. Grabbing for the hand that was wrapped around her breast, she brought his thumb to her lips and sucked it into her mouth frantically as her moans increased in volume. He began circling her clit with his other hand as he whispered to her.

"That's it, Babe. Let go. Cum for me." No sooner had the words come out of his mouth when a scream tore from her throat as she climaxed violently. He quickly covered her lips with his, wanting to swallow her cries. Her legs trembled, and sobs wracked her body as she kissed him frenziedly.

Realizing Ranger hadn't climaxed yet, Steph rolled off of him and then straddled his hips, reaching down and slipping him back inside her. Ranger gripped her hips tightly, letting her set the pace. She began riding him slowly, rotating her hips around and around as she raised and lowered herself with her knees.

"Look at me!" She commanded when he'd let his eyes close. His eyes popped open and he stared into her eyes intensely. "Keep your eyes open. Do you understand?" He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "You feel so good. I love the way we fit together." She told him huskily, laying down on his chest and kissing his lips while the change of the angle drove him deeper inside her. She slowed her pace even more, causing him to groan and his eyes to glaze. He still never looked away.

"Do you love me?" She asked as she laid open mouth kisses all over his jaw and neck.

"Yes." He whispered. Sitting up, she reached back and placed her hands on his thighs as she started to increase her pace again. His hands never relaxed the grip around her hips.

"Are you in love with me?" She asked huskily as she began riding him with urgency.

"Yes!" He answered more loudly as his breathing became erratic. "Oh! I'm almost there, Babe."

"Will you marry me someday?" She gasped out as her walls started contracting around him.

"Yes! Oh, yes!" He shouted as he held her hips tightly against his, halting her movements until he'd completely emptied himself inside her. Rolling her under him while keeping them joined, he framed her face with his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "Yes, I will marry you someday. Tomorrow. Next week. Next year. Whenever you're ready." When her eyes filled with tears of joy, he added, "Someday, I want to see your belly swollen with our child growing inside you. Will you let me give you a baby?"

"Whenever you're ready." She whispered with a bright smile. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He kissed her gently and then rested his forehead against hers. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist and just held onto him tightly. He popped up onto his knees, careful not to slip out of her and wrapped her snuggly in his arms. They just held each other like that, enjoying the connection they shared.

After spending the entire night making up for lost time, Steph and Ranger slept in, enjoying waking up in each other's arms. Ranger got up to make coffee and Stephanie answered nature's call. She glanced at herself in the mirror and grinned at the glow she was sporting after Ranger spent the entire night convincing her how much he loved her. Everyone would be privy to their activities after just one look at her, which simply made her shake her head and smile.

She heard Ranger's cell phone ring and then the rumble of his voice as he talked to whoever was on the other end. She wrapped herself in Ranger's robe and then padded out to the living room in time to find him setting two mugs of coffee on the table in front of the couch and then he turned on the television.

"Come here, Babe. There's something interesting we're supposed to watch." He informed her as he reached for her hand and pulled her into his lap. "Lester called and told us to turn on the press conference that's starting in a few minutes."

"Press conference? Who's giving it?" She asked curiously.

"We'll soon find out. It's starting now." He gestured to the screen.

"Good morning. I'm Rozell Cannon with WXYZ News. This morning, we're about to hear from the Chief of Police, John Stenson, regarding several changes in personnel at the Trenton Police Department. These changes are a direct result of the death of Sergeant Joseph Morelli, whose body was found last night at the Howard Johnson Hotel off Route 1. Let's go live to the Chief now..."

"Good morning, citizens of Trenton. It has been my great pleasure to serve you for the past six years. That's why, this morning, I regret to inform you that I will be resigning as Chief of Police, effective immediately. As Chief, I tried to maintain a fair, upstanding police department, made up of men and women who possess the upmost integrity and respect for the law and protecting the citizens of Trenton. Last night, the body of Sergeant Joseph Morelli was discovered at a hotel across town. He was recently promoted because of his years of excellent detective work in several departments. He'd received commendations for his success in undercover operations. He grew up in Trenton and proved to be one of its most respected citizens. No one is as shocked as I am to find out that he also abused his power as an officer of the law to coerce private citizens into committing crimes. It seems his undercover work hooked him on drugs and allowed him to hide that drug use and abuse his position with the TPD. A warrant had been issued for Sergeant Morelli's arrest at the time his body was found. He not only framed an innocent man of sexual assault charges, but he also put several women in the hospital because of violence against them. He obstructed justice, falsified reports, and abused his authority on a regular basis. The charges go on and on. I assure you I am deeply embarrassed by his behavior and feel it is my duty to step down as Chief of Police. Evidence has been uncovered that Sergeant Morelli has blackmailed several members of law enforcement. Investigations are underway to uncover those acts and the individuals involved. I feel it was my duty to prevent corruption in the police department and since this happened on my watch, I feel responsible for the many women and citizens who were hurt by Sergeant Morelli's behavior. An autopsy is underway to discover Sergeant Morelli's cause of death. At this time, it is being classified as an accidental death. If that should change, the public will be informed accordingly. Thank you for your years of support and I apologize for the pain and embarrassment that Sergeant Morelli's actions have caused the great citizens of Trenton. If I'd known...I should've known...I would've done something to put a stop to it and for that, I'm deeply sorry. I wish my predecessor much success. I hope the city of Trenton finds a new Chief who will clean house when it comes to corruption and protect this city for all it's worth. Thank you."

"Wow! How is he going to stop people from finding out about his part in the blackmail and granting Joe's promotion?" Steph asked.

"We've destroyed the evidence and the prosecutor has agreed to sweep the Chief's drug use, video, and his part in Morelli's promotion under the rug. The terms were the Chief's immediate resignation and his full cooperation in nailing Judge Dicce and the clerks in the prosecutor's office."

"Oh my God! Look!" Steph pointed at the screen.

"Good morning, Rozell. We are live at the Howard Johnson hotel off Route 1, where hundreds of women have gathered because of Sergeant Joseph Morelli's death." The news reporter announced.

"Is it a memorial?" Rozell asked.

"No. In fact, it's the opposite of a memorial. Usually in times of tragedy, people gather to celebrate or honor those who have died. In this case, the women want to reveal Sergeant Morelli's crimes against them, publicly disgrace him, and offer a place for those victimized by him to go to feel as though they are not alone in their suffering. They are using this place where he died as a place to bury their burdens and suffering. Excuse me, ma'am? Can I ask you a few questions?"

"It's Candy!" Steph exclaimed.

"Absolutely. What would you like to know?" Candy inquired.

"Who was Sergeant Morelli to you?"

"Well, I just found out that he's the father of my unborn child." Candy explained, laying her hand across her flat belly. "Before he died, I was his well kept secret. He forced me to blackmail people for him, and he used that evidence against the TPD to earn his promotion."

"Are you telling me that Sergeant Morelli received his promotion because of his blackmail?" The reporter clarified.

"Yes." Candy replied. "He also beat women repeatedly, humiliating them and using them to fulfill his sick obsession of his ex-girlfriend. He's drugged and raped more women than will ever be proven. He was a sick, twisted bastard!"

"What do you hope to accomplish today?"

"I just want to enjoy the freedom I have now that he's dead. I don't have to live in fear anymore. I can raise this child alone and without his twisted views on domestic bliss. I just hope all of his other victims will be able to put their nightmares behind them as well."

"Do you know if all of the women here today are victims of Sergeant Morelli?"

"Yes. I do know."

Candy began walking to the front of the large group of women. Stopping in front of them, she gestured to all of them.

"These are the women so far who've been victimized by Morelli." Candy revealed. "There are probably many more that will come forward now that they no longer have to fear for their lives."

"My God! There's so many of you." The reporter commented. "Can any of you tell the public why you're here?"

A parade of women began telling their stories about how they met Morelli and how he ruined their lives, either by breaking their hearts, drugging them, or raping them. The reporter finally finished interviewing the last of the ladies.

"Thank you, Ladies. I hope you find peace after today." Turning back to the camera, she stared wide-eyed and commented, "A tragedy turned into hope. Back to you, Rozell."

"Holy shit! Candy has a baby on the way!" Steph stared at the screen in disbelief. "Do you think there are other women out there who are pregnant by him?"

"From the looks of how many women were just on the screen, it's a definite possibility." Ranger reasoned.

"Thank God I didn't end up pregnant!" Steph cried. "What is Angie Morelli going to do when she finds out? She hounded Joe for years to give her grandkids!"

"I doubt she had this scenario in mind." Ranger replied seriously.

"Those poor women! How did he become such a monster? How is Candy going to raise her baby? She can't go back to the streets!" Steph twisted her hands in worry.

"We'll figure out a way to help, Babe." Ranger promised. He kissed her tenderly and smiled. "You never cease to amaze me. After all that Morelli did to you, instead of worrying about yourself, you only worry about Candy and her unborn child. You are the most unselfish person I know. I love you, Stephanie."

The smile she gave him lit up her face and then her eyes sparkled with mischief. "According to the city of Trenton, the physical evidence of our love speaks for itself. I don't know if I believe it though. I think I may need more convincing." Steph teased as she straddled his lap.

Ranger devoured her mouth in a bruising kiss and gripped her hips firmly, pulling her tightly against him.

"I'm planning on convincing you for the rest of the day. But, I think you can feel the evidence already." Ranger whispered huskily as he stared into her eyes. "I'll spend the rest of my life convincing you if that's what it takes. Believe that, Babe". She saw the sincerity of his words reflected in his eyes and her heart melted at the thought of growing old with him. She smiled tenderly at him and claimed his lips again, ready to make more memories with the man that her heart would never let her forget.