The Test

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Warnings for language and smut!

Chapter Forty Three

Stephanie waited impatiently for the elevator and launched herself through the doors the moment they opened. She expected to land in Ranger's loving arms but instead she found herself alone as the elevator lifted upward.

Glaring at the cameras in the elevator Stephanie stormed "Damn it Lester! I'm meeting Ranger! Stop messing with me and bring me downstairs!"

Vince looked hard at Ram and said "Don't even think about it!"

Ram smirked as he answered "But she'd think it was Lester! Maybe we could just bring her down long enough to see that Ranger isn't here? And tell her he was called out on a takedown… C'mon, Man! Where's your sense of humor?"

Vince spoke sternly as he explained "It's not my sense of humor you should be worried about but your sense of self preservation if you screw up Ranger's plans for tonight. You saw all the shit he had hauled in here! If we fuck this up…"

"Yeah…I know. Mats for the next six months…"

"Try Siberia in our jock straps until we die from hypo-fucking-thermia…"

Resigned to another boring night of monitor duty Ram offered his hand saying "Okay…okay….we'll let them be. Bet they have some night though…."

"True dat." Vince agreed as they performed one of their complicated hand rituals and watched Stephanie Plum pace across her rising cage.

The elevator stopped at the roof level and Stephanie waited anxiously for the doors to open so she could hit close and then head back downstairs to find Ric and kill Lester!

Ric had been so excited about this evening and he was always on time…this wasn't like him…

She was starting to really worry when the doors opened and she saw a toned mocha latte arm reach for her as the man himself uttered "Good Evening, Babe".

Ranger grasped her hand and pulled her out of the elevator before stopping and holding her at arm's length as his eyes roved over her body. "Babe…you are exquisite." He kissed her hand and continued huskily "You look incredibly lovely tonight and I am an extraordinarily lucky man".

Stephanie leaned into Ranger and responded "I'm the lucky one. You are so wonderful; Ric and you look unbelievably handsome tonight!"

Her eyes devoured his gorgeous body as she admired the perfectly cut and pressed Armani tuxedo he was wearing. Paired with his deep dark eyes, long silky hair and matching diamond studs…he looked simply delectable.

"You look amazing, Ric! Better than Cary Grant, Robert Redford and Clark Gable all rolled into one!"

"Thank you, Babe. I'll return the compliment and tell you that you light up the world better than any actress illuminates the silver screen."

Their lips met in a brief but passionate embrace before Ranger asked "Are you ready for dinner, Babe?"

"Yes but where are we…" Stephanie stopped abruptly as she realized she'd been so busy admiring Ranger that she had failed to notice the roof of Rangeman had been transformed into their own personal Wonderland.

The normally austere rooftop was typically barren except for a helipad and several storage sheds that housed extra all weather gear as well as some of the guy's outdoor toys.

There was also a shed for the equipment that Louis used to maintain the building as well as some security cameras but that was it.

Tonight none of that was really even visible…you wouldn't know it was the same roof….

Ranger took Stephanie's arm and began to guide her down a path made of champagne colored satin. The path was lined by ornate stone pedestals spread every few feet; each one topped with a glowing antique oil lamp to light their way.

Blush colored rose petals were strewn atop the golden trail but Stephanie's eyes were drawn to the end of the passage…

The Spartan storage sheds were anything but stark tonight…instead each one was covered with trellis and latticework displaying a variety of vines. There were aromatic sweet peas in fuchsia, lavender and coral as well as the distinctive scent of bell shaped honeysuckle in blooms of white and yellow.

Richly perfumed climbing roses with their glossy green leaves and voluptuous velvet petals in peach, crimson, yellow, white and pink…

Moonflowers gleamed in the starlight as their ivory blossoms welcomed the darkness with a flourish…

The space between the storage sheds was also beautifully filled….velvet covered chairs flanked a round table set with Waterford crystal and the finest linen. A bottle of Dom Perignon Rose was chilling in the ice bucket next to the table.

Cache pots of all shapes and sizes bordered the area between the table and the trellis…each one filled with a riotous variety of flowers.

Stephanie was awestruck as she stared at the elegant irises in blue and white coupled with the yellow tulips. She could smell the bunches of fragrant purple lilacs as they perched next to a yellow starburst of daffodils.

Ruffled peonies in white, pink and lemon yellow shared space with striking multi toned snapdragons and cheerful zinnias in chartreuse, lavender and red.

Tall spikes of silvery gray heather and pearly white gardenias complimented each other perfectly as they shimmered in the night…

Spectacularly shaped Bird of Paradise in bright orange and vivid blue were scattered everywhere as were exotic orchids in every color of the rainbow…

Larkspur, begonias, Canterbury bells, pansies, hyacinth, carnations…so many flowers that Stephanie couldn't begin to identify them all. She could only marvel at the lush, vibrant scene Ric had created for her…just for her…how was that possible?

Stephanie turned to Ranger with tears in her eyes and asked "You did all this…for me?"

Ranger lifted her hand and kissed the pulse point that was throbbing on the inside of her wrist as he answered "Yes, Babe. I only wish it could be more…"

"More?" Stephanie spoke in wonder "I can't imagine anything more incredible than this…"

Ranger's eyes darkened in excitement as he said "Oh, Babe…there is so much more... If things were different…there is so much that I want to share with you. I wanted to take you to Amsterdam. To the Keukenhof Gardens. We'd stay at the Hotel Pulitzer and make love as we watched the lights on the Canal…. Then we'd go to London and stay at the Savoy…we'd hold hands as we walked along the Thames and revisited history before going to tour the Exbury Gardens and visiting the Crown Jewels…"

"I want to take you to Paris and go horseback riding at Versailles before heading to Le Palais de la Mediterranee in Nice...so we can watch the sun rise over the Cote d'Azur."

He stroked her arm from shoulder to wrist and continued "I want to stand in the shadow of the Sphinx with you, see the view from the Parthenon and make love on every beach from Bora Bora to Point Pleasant. There were…are… so many places that I wanted us to be tonight and I promise we'll get to them someday but with Miguel on the loose the timing was wrong… I'm sorry, Babe."

Stephanie's eyes sparkled like liquid sapphires as she asked him "How can you apologize? No one has ever done anything like this for me? No one has ever wanted to share the world with me? This…tonight…is so perfect… It's more than I ever dreamed of and it's even more incredible because I am sharing it with you…and you have these plans for us…" The tears spilled over her lashes as she continued "I can't wait to experience all of that with you…"

"I want that too, Babe. As soon as this is over…we'll take a trip. Start our journey together. I love you, Wonder Woman. Will you dance with me?" Ranger hit the remote for the Bose stereo system as he took her in his arms and they swayed to a song Stephanie had never heard before…

The music plays so soft and sweet
My hands they shake when our lips meet
All that I ask is that tonight
We have this dance of love

Your eyes, they shine like stars above
This is the night that I've been dreaming of
It's your favorite song
Girl, can we hold on in this dance of love

Something comes over me when you are near
So close and yet so far
I could die here in your arms
As we hold on in this dance of love

The music plays, you're all I see
I feel you breathing so close to me
Take my hand, tonight I'll be your man

In this dance of love

Something comes over me I can't explain
Girl, when I'm holding you
The world just slips away
As we hold on in this dance of love

And all I ask is that we have this dance
The music plays, we close our eyes
So soft, it flows into the night
You're like a prayer
Nothing else compares in this dance of love
You know I want you, take my hand
And I will be your man in this dance of love

"This song is beautiful, Ric. I love it and it's the way I feel every time you hold me…"

"I like it too, Babe but even choirs of Angels couldn't express the depth of my love for you…These songs are as close as I can get…" Ranger wrapped her more tightly in his embrace as the next song started and she heard Garth Brook singing…

Well I'm shameless
When it comes to loving you,
I'll do anything you want me to,
I'll do anything at all.

And I'm standing
Here for all the world to see,
Oh, baby that's what's left of me,
I don't have very far to fall.

You know now I'm not a man who's ever been
Insecure about the world I've been living in.
I don't break easy, I have my pride,
But if you need to be satisfied

I'm shameless.
Honey, I don't have a prayer.
Every time I see you standing there
I go down upon my knees.

And I'm changing,
Swore I'd never compromise,
Oh, but you convinced me otherwise.
I'll do anything you need.

You see in all my life I've never found
What I couldn't resist, what I couldn't turn down.
I could walk away from anyone I ever knew,
But I can't walk away from you.

I have never had anything have this much control on me.
I've worked too hard to call my life my own.
And I've made myself a world, and it's worked so perfectly,
But it sure won't now, I can't refuse,
I've never had so much to lose.
And I'm shameless...

You know it should be easy for a man who's strong
To say he's sorry or admit when he's wrong.
I've never lost anything I ever missed,
But I've never been in love like this.
It's out of my hands.

I'm shameless.
I don't have the power now,
And I don't want it anyhow,
So I gotta let it go.

And I'm shameless.
Shameless as a man can be.
You could make a total fool of me.
I just wanted you to know
That I'm shameless.

"I always thought you were like that…so strong and self sufficient…I never thought you'd let me in Ranger…but now…this song goes both ways. I'll do anything for you too…for us. I can't ever be without you again…"

"You won't be, Babe. This is forever…" Ranger swore as he captured her lips in a searing kiss.

They pulled apart gasping for breath as Ranger said "Hungry, Babe? I think we need to feed you before this goes any further…"

Stephanie smiled at Ranger as she suggestively traced the long lean lines of his body with a single fingertip and said "I am hungry…very hungry…but there is something that I want more than food…"

Ranger's eyes darkened with desire as he admitted "In that case, I'm ravenous, Babe. But I think we need to eat actual food first… Let's see what Ella has for us…"

He guided Stephanie to the table and touched her heart again by pulling out her chair…he was always so careful with her…always such a gentleman.

The silver covers were ready to be removed but Ranger held off for another moment as he poured the champagne and handed Stephanie a glass. Raising his goblet he gazed soulfully into her eyes and toasted

"To us, Babe. Tonight and every night, for the rest of the our lives…"

"To us, Ric" Stephanie echoed "Always and forever…"

Their glasses clinked gently before they leaned in for a gentle kiss and began to savor the effervescent froth.

Ella had outdone herself and Ranger lifted the covers to reveal platters loaded with mouth watering food. Peppery Steak au Poivre with brandy and cream, broccoli sautéed in wine and garlic, rich potato parmesan and asiago pave and feather light rolls with butter.

Stephanie began to eat and couldn't stop her moans of enjoyment as she reminded Ranger "I love Ella."

"I know, Babe" Ranger grinned and teased "She's my secret weapon. I know that even if you ever get really angry with me you'll never be able to leave me because you'd be leaving Ella too."

"That's not true!" Stephanie snorted as she continued eating and moaned again saying"Oh, who am I kidding? I'm never leaving this! It's sooo good…"

"And we haven't even had dessert yet…"

"Dessert? Where?" Stephanie's head practically swiveled as she began looking for additional dishes…

"I thought you wanted me for dessert, Babe…"

"I can multitask Ric, now what's for dessert?" Stephanie demanded.

"Would Chocolate Soufflé, Maple Flan in a Walnut Crust and White Chocolate Fantasy Cake with Raspberry filling motivate you to…multitask, Babe?"

"Oh my God! That would motivate me to build a space shuttle out of crazy glue, duct tape and popsicle sticks!"

Ranger laughed as he explained "That wasn't the kind of motivation I was hoping for Babe…"

"Really? I'll see what I can do…" Stephanie grinned and then asked more seriously "Maple flan?"

"A hybrid dessert…maple syrup is an East Coast specialty and flan is a staple in Cuban cuisine. It's one of my favorites and it seemed like a perfect blend for tonight…"

"I can think of several perfect blends for tonight…"

"Can you, Babe?" Ranger asked huskily.

"I'll have to try and demonstrate my thought processes…after dessert." Stephanie responded coyly as she reached for her fork.

They finished dinner and dived into dessert. Stephanie was ecstatic as she moaned "Oh…God…I don't think I've ever had anything so good…this is incredible."

"Have I been replaced with chocolate soufflé, Babe?"

"You could never be replaced, Batman but these desserts…" Stephanie moaned and closed her eyes "they're just the perfect combination of flavors and textures and with the coffee…it's all just sooo yummy…you have to have a taste…"

Ranger's eyes darkened as he answered "Oh, I plan to Babe…" he pulled her closer and his tongue caressed her lips before he released her saying "Mmm…Babe…you taste sweeter than any dessert…you always leave me wanting more…"

"More can be arranged…" Stephanie purred as she stood and suggested "Maybe we should go downstairs…"

"Not downstairs, Querida. Come with me…" Ranger tugged Stephanie toward the last storage shed and it was only then that she realized it was a little different from the others.

There were no lattices…instead the heavy vines were hung in perfect boughs on walls that appeared to be rippling

Ranger escorted her to the far side of the shed and lifted a discreet flap before sweeping Stephanie into his arms and carrying her into a tent unlike any she'd ever seen…

The walls were secured by framework around the top but the ceiling was open and offered a romantic view of the moonlit sky.

Ocean scented candles dotted the area and warmed the tent with firelight. Sand was scattered over the floor and surrounded a bed covered with pale blue sheets and a white satin comforter. More flowers and tall reed like grasses surrounded the bed but these were reminiscent of the beach…

The sounds of the sea wafted from the small CD player sitting next to the bucket of chilled champagne that waited by the bedside along with two crystal flutes…

Ranger laid Stephanie gently on the bed and covered her body with his own as he began kissing her. Their tongues tangled for control as she reached for him but Ranger stopped her saying "Not yet, Babe. Tonight is about you…about showing you what you mean to me."

He kissed his way down her hairline and into her neck as he continued "I need you to let me set the pace…let me give you pleasure…" as he began peeling the lovely dress from her silken skin.

A few moments later they were both bare except for Stephanie's jewelry and Ranger was staring at her "Querida, I loved you in that dress but you have never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now…"

She stared back into his molten eyes and whispered "I've never loved you more, Ric" as she leaned up to meet him.

Ranger ran gentle hands down the length of her body as he kissed her. Then he began using his lips to torment her… teasing her nipples until they stood in taut peaks as he stroked between her slick folds.

Stephanie arched into his mouth and begged for more…

"Please, Ric. I want you so much…I can't wait…"

Ranger kissed his way down her stomach as she exploded beneath his clever hands…she was still recovering from her first orgasm when he replaced his fingers with his lips and began to massage her clit with his tongue.

Stephanie was going crazy as he sucked her clit and rammed three fingers inside her. "Ric…please…I need you now! I need to feel you inside of me…deep inside me! I can't take anymore!"

She spasmed around him as she came and he smiled into her hot wet heat as he continued licking…forcing her off the bed with the strength of her aftershocks.

Stephanie floated down from her orgasm and felt as though her spine had melted as she tried to reach for Ranger saying "I want to make you feel as good as you do me…"

"You do, Babe. I love to watch you cum and I plan to do it many more times tonight. Just let me play…please?" He nipped at her neck as he began kissing her ear and nuzzling into her shoulder before working his way back down again…

Ranger took his time…slowly stroking every part of her body…kissing up and down her spine and leaving no area untouched by his lips…

Stephanie's eyes were dilated and her body was flushed with pleasure as she pleaded "Ric…please…I feel like I'm going to explode….I need you to make me cum…please…let me cum…please fuck me…I need to feel you inside me…"

"Soon, Babe" he whispered as he tortured her clit with his tongue...almost allowing her to come but then backing off as he drove her higher and higher…

In a frenzy Stephanie reached her own hand down but Ranger stopped her murmuring silkily "I guess you must be ready, Querida…"

He slid up her body and thrust inside her in one fluid motion…

Christ, she was wet…so wet…he could barely keep from coming as he fucked her…alternating between making circles with his hips and slamming into her with quick hard strokes…

Stephanie clung to him screaming in pleasure as she exploded in rush of wetness. The feel of her clenching around him sent Ranger over the edge and he buried himself inside her as he came in the most powerful orgasm of his life.

They lay heart to heart on the bed, holding each other tightly as their breathing normalized and Ranger smiled at Stephanie saying "I love you, Querida. Are you ready for more?"

Please read and review…

"Dance of Love" was written and recorded by Dan Hill.

"Shameless" was originally written by Billy Joel and was individually recorded in separate versions by Garth Brooks and Billy Joel.

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