Rated: M for language and SMUT. Not mine, not making any money.

Operation Thaw

-Chapter 38-

Six weeks had passed since the New York incident. Both the American and Russian governments were pleased that slavery ring had been closed no matter the means. Ruslan's friend, Anton, had been turned over to NYPD to be held responsible for the deaths of the other seven women. The connection with Exclusive Services was kept completely out of the news and Loretta was never the wiser.

She and Ranger were growing closer, getting to know each other better. They occasionally spent the night at her place, other times at his. They went on real dates and worked together. This resulted in several small confrontations with Joe escalating to a loud confrontation two weeks ago.

He was leaning up against her truck when she came out of Pino's. She eyed him with disgust, "What do you want now, Joe?"

"Cupcake, it's been two months. You've made your point. I'm sorry. I'll take you dancing and out on a date or two. Stop embarrassing me already."

"Embarrassing you?" she smirked. "How exactly am I embarrassing you?"

"By draping yourself all over Manaso. We both know you're just using him to get back at me."

She snorted, "To get back at you? Why would I need to do that? Have you done something I need some revenge for?" She laughed. "We're over Joe. If I'm honest with myself, we were over long before we broke up two months ago. We were just going through the motions. I have no interest in getting back at you. Now, please, get over yourself and get over me!"

"Cupcake…"

She interrupted him, "Oh and stop calling me that. I hate that nickname. I've always hated that nickname." She turned away from him then and hopped up in Ranger's truck. Her body language clearly said she was permanently done with this conversation.

Before she could shut the door he looked at her carefully, "It's really over then, Stephanie?"

She nodded and tipped her head toward the faces pressed against Pino's windows before softly saying, "You're the only one who refuses to see it, Joe."

"I'm sorry. Good-bye Stephanie."

A week later she heard through the grapevine that Joe had accepted a transfer to Boston.

She was at her desk, when Ranger came in his eyes dancing with delight. "Babe, come with me." He held out his hand. She would have followed him into hell regardless, but his enthusiasm had her curious. He pulled her with him into the elevator and fobbed their way to seven. "What are you doing, Batman?" she teased.

"You'll see. Trust me?"

"Always."

"Then close your eyes." She did and he tied a scrap of silk over her eyes. Taking her hand he led her out of the elevator and to the door that led to the roof. "Careful on the stairs, Babe." As they neared the top of the stairs she could hear a dull pounding sound, but wasn't sure what it was. At the top of the landing she felt him remove his shirt. His hands moved to remove hers, followed by her bra.

"Um, Ranger?"

"Shh, carina, just feel it." He lifted each leg and removed her shoes and then slid her pants down her legs. She stood in her panties, listening to his boots hit the floor with a thunk, followed by the rasping noise of his zipper sliding down. She heard fabric rustling and lighter thunks. She assumed he was folding their clothes. Strong arms moved to embrace her and she found herself pressed against a deliciously naked body; his arousal evident against her.

He scooped her up in his arms and opened the door to the roof. Cool, moist air immediately assailed her skin and made her nipples pucker. Water hit her skin and she realized it was raining. Thunder rumbled in the distance and he lowered her onto a cool surface. Her skin broke out in goose bumps from the contrast of the cool air and Ranger's warm body.

She tipped her face up, enjoying the feel of the rain gently misting down on it. Flicking out her tongue, she tasted the clean, fresh water. This movement pulled a groan from Ranger and he leaned down capturing her bottom lip between his teeth before running his tongue along it. He deepened the kiss, slanting his mouth more firmly against hers. Greedily she sucked his tongue into her mouth and ran hers against it.

Pulling his mouth away, he slid his mouth down her jaw before swirling his tongue in the hollow of her throat tasting the fresh rain. His hands skimmed down the sides of her body, coming to rest on her slim waist, his thumbs resting just under her breasts. His movements were gentle and tender. She arched against him when he stroked the swell of her breasts. "Oh, Carlos," she groaned in pleasure. His tenderness was causing pressure to build inside her. She was used to the passion building hot and volcanic between them, but this was something different. Her lack of sight built her anticipation and heightened her senses, making her ache to the core. He hadn't even touched her where she needed him the most.

Perfect jewels of clear liquid hung from her nipples like morning dew on flower petals. The droplets quivered and he flicked his tongue against them before pulling the tight nipple into his mouth to savor her. He was just getting started and already his need for her was consuming. He wanted her to wrap herself around him, locking him deep inside her with her legs around his waist. He drug his mouth across her skin to her other bud, trailing his tongue, gathering rain drops along the way. Dropping his head he kissed and suckled down her body causing her to fist her hands in his dampened hair. At the apex of her thighs he just stopped, mesmerized by her beautiful body, the tiny triangle of dark brown curls beckoning him. As he looked at her he was overwhelmed by a lonely ache begging to be filled. He loved her so much. He had let her in but now he wanted her fully.

He must have been still for longer than he realized because Steph tried to sit up asking, "Carlos?" He slid his hands from her waist around her back and rested his head on her stomach. She gently massaged his scalp, running her fingers through his hair. They lay together just enjoying the sensation of the rain on their heated bodies. Finally he spoke, "I love you so much, Stephanie."

She pulled off the blindfold and sat up, cradling his head. "I love you too, Carlos." A shiver ran through her body and he snapped out of his haze.

"Babe! I'm sorry. You're freezing." He scooped her up and they quickly made their way back down to the apartment and into the shower. He turned his attention back to her as the hot water pounded against them. Entranced once again by her beautiful body, he returned to lavishing it with his attention. Picking up the bath pouf he sudsed it up with Bulgari and then ran it seductively between her breasts down to her naval. Next he circled each breast avoiding her hardening nipples. Kneeling before her he picked up her left foot and gently caressed the pouf up and down her leg, pausing on the sensitive spots on behind her knee and on her inner thigh. Repeating the same actions on her right leg, she groaned, "Carlos!"

From his position he could see the evidence of her desire glistening on her pink lips. Unable to resist, he dropped the pouf and slid his hands up the back of her thighs, pulling her to him. He dipped his tongue into her sweet juices. "Christ, Babe, you taste so good." He felt her legs tremble and pulled her down to sit on the built in bench, spreading her thighs wide as he did. Burying his head he feasted with gusto, his nose against her pubic bone as his tongue thrust inside her. She lifted one foot up on the bench granting him better access and ran her hands across her breasts.

He paused for a moment to demand, "That's it Babe. Play with yourself. Pinch your nipples. I love watching you touch yourself." Returning to his feast, his eyes roamed her body as she massaged her breasts and then pinched and pulled on her nipples. The hard twists made her nipples red and fresh juices flow. Gleefully he lapped them up. Her soft moans were growing louder as he assaulted her clit, nipping and sucking on it. Slowly he slid one long finger into her dripping hole. "Oooooooh," was her breathless response. He inserted a second finger stroking faster and she moaned loudly, arching toward him. Twisting his fingers inside her, he stroked hard against her g-spot while sucking on her clit. She bucked against him as she came and he gentled his movements just applying light pressure on her clit with his tongue. As she came down he slowly withdrew his fingers and suckled the juices dripping from her. Raising his hand, he caressed her cheek. She turned and captured his fingers in her mouth, sucking her juices from them.

"Dios, Babe!" He found it incredibly erotic when she did that. He drug her from the bench into his lap. She slid her slick lips over his shaft, coating him, before lifting her hips enough that the tip of his hard cock rested at her opening. He thought about thrusting up but waited to see what she was up to. He looked deep into her eyes and found her studying him. Whatever she saw pleased her and she slowly welcomed his aching cock into her tight body.

She lay cuddled in his arms after their shower activities. He kept winding and unwinding a curl around his finger and she felt a tension in his body. Something was bothering him. She traced the planes of his body with her fingertips and waited. Finally, he took a small breath and quickly asked, "Babe. Will you move in with me?"

Her hand stilled. She thought their relationship might be getting to a point where Ranger would ask her that question. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you looked at it, she'd already given the matter great thought. "No, Carlos, I won't." She resumed the patterns she'd been tracing on his body as he stiffened, "I've given this a lot of thought. I love you. I've loved you as my friend for even longer. I don't want to move in with you. I want to make a home with you, but we haven't even been dating for two months. I did the moving in, moving out thing with Joe. You were right; it was an unhealthy pattern of behavior and one I won't fall into with you. I love you too much. I want to give us time." She willed him to understand.

He felt as if he'd been kicked in the groin when she said no, but as he listened to her explanation he realized she was right. She was afraid to fall into a relationship like she had with Morelli. There was no way in hell their relationship would ever be like that but he could understand her feelings. He was just going to need to continue with Operation Thaw. Sensing she needed reassurance, he kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer to his body. "Okay Stephanie. I can't say that I'm not disappointed, but I understand your reasoning. Just as long as you understand it's an open offer."

She kissed his chest, "Thank you for understanding Carlos." She looked like a feline as she turned, stretching as she went and crawled up to straddle his body. With a mischievous glint in her eye she proceeded to show him how much she loved him.

Word count: 1991 (excludes title, disclaimer, etc.)