All familiar characters and phrases belong to Janet. Mistakes are solely mine.
I didn't need the text from Gene telling me that Stephanie is here and on her way up to my apartment to know she's the one who just let herself in. It also has nothing to do with her being the only one besides Ella who has unlimited access to the seventh floor. I felt that there was something off ever since I drove by her apartment out of need more than necessity on my way home from dropping off an FTA at the TPD. Her living room light had been on hours after she should have been sound asleep in her bedroom.
I'd wanted to stop and find out why she was obviously awake so late, but she had asked for a day of space to 'figure out a few things', and I respect her enough to allow her that twenty-four hours no matter how much I'd suffer during them. I had to believe I was the reason for her sudden need for a re-evaluation of her life. I could have gone up, persuaded her to open up, and then proceed to kiss every worry away, but I wanted her choosing me on her own … not under any kind of pressure or lust-driven coercion.
The reason Morelli was never successful in getting her to marry him, or even commit to him, is he knew somewhere in his reptilian brain that they didn't belong together and he tried to force it. I knew from the moment I saw her that she is - and will remain - my Babe, and I never doubted that Steph and I would come together when the time was right.
My gut is now screaming that it's go-time for us, but I remained silent and still and let her come to me. She was quiet as well, while she relocked the front door, put her shoulder bag down on the sideboard, and cautiously made her way to me. Being so attuned to her, I heard every step. She paused in the doorway of my bedroom and I definitely heard her take a deep breath and steel herself to come all the way inside. She did, but stopped again only feet from my bed.
"I know you're awake," she said, but in a whispered tone as if she weren't as sure as she sounded. "There's no surprising you."
"You drove here in the middle of the night," was my response. "That is surprising."
"You know what I mean." She finally closed the distance between us. "I couldn't stay away," she admitted.
"I know, Babe. And I'm glad you finally stopped fighting it." I lifted up the edge of my blanket. "Come here."
She didn't hesitate now, except to untie and kick off her Chucks. And then she was in my bed, and in my arms where she belongs. I dropped the covers back down over us and pulled her body tighter into mine.
"I'm sorry for being such an idiot," she said, after a few beats of silence.
"You're not an idiot, Steph. You needed to be as sure as I am about what's between us."
I'd guess it was an unconscious movement, still being nervous, but her ass moved back a little more into me. Given what she said next … maybe it was intentional instead.
"Doesn't feel like there's much between us right now."
"There could be more or less, the ball's still in your court."
She went quiet again as she processed that. I slid my arm under her breasts and curled my hand around her ribs.
"No pressure, Babe. I'm just happy that you're here and have admitted that you want to be."
"I've always wanted to be where I am right now. It was never you," she said into the room.
"It was to some extent if you've trusted me with everything in your life except for how you feel. When I was ready for more than just a bed or the cover of a bet, I should have updated and upgraded my no relationship, no ring comments. I thought I'd get over my obsession with you, but I found out the hard way that you aren't just an addiction … you are the person I will always need in my life to make it feel like it matters. I was willing to settle for just being your friend if my life or myself scared you too much, but things and conditions have changed."
"Same here. And that's what terrified me. You're freakin' hot ... the sexiest, most intense man I've ever met if I'm being totally honest, so I could just blame that for wanting you, but that's not why I'm here."
"Care to elaborate on that?"
"No, but you deserve an explanation. As good as your body looks, and how memorable time with it has been, I realized that I want to call you just to grab lunch or supper because I really look forward to talking to you about my day and hearing the details of yours. I even enjoy how you tease me for what I order. I actually think it's kinda sweet, yet still really annoying, how you always try to persuade me to include a vegetable or a non-fried protein."
"A salad won't kill you."
She placed her hand over the one I had gripping her ribcage. "It will. I'll pass out outside the restaurant after all the throwing up I did, and at that moment a bus will jump the curb and hit me."
"Only you, Babe," I told her, kissing her curls.
"See? That's another thing."
"What?"
"How you listen to everything I say and usually think it's adorable or amusing. That's actually nice considering how many people are convinced that I'm purposely pissing them off, or they just ignore me entirely. Even when we weren't in bed like this, it still felt like you were having a good time just hanging out."
"Because I was. There aren't a lot of people outside of those I've served with who I can relax even a little around. You have such a calming effect on me, I forget where and what I am."
"No you don't," she said, turning to look back at me.
"Alright, I don't. But you make me want to. It doesn't sound like much, but it's significant."
"I know it is. You don't let down your guard for anyone. Even when you're with Julie, you keep your hand near a weapon in case you need to protect her."
"I do the same with you," I admitted.
"I know, but usually you're simultaneously kissing – or being playful with - me. You're always ready to protect me, but you have us both enjoying the times in-between, when you aren't required to defend me or my mouth."
"You do a good job of that yourself, but you are right. I enjoy our time together … naked or clothed, public and private. I love you, Steph, all of you ... not just what your body makes mine feel."
"It's sad how happy that makes me. I've always thought there's too much wrong with me to be lovable, but you really do … no questions asked and no strings attached. The absolute least I can do is love you back the same way. But I want to give you more just for everything you've given me."
"You aren't who your mother, Morelli, or the Burg has tried to bully you into being, Babe. You never were. You didn't fit in because you were meant for bigger and better things."
I willed my dick to stand down as she turned around in my arms and wrapped hers around me, her breasts pressing into my pecs. Her nipples are already making a point and I haven't even touched or sucked them yet.
"One thing I can always promise is to give you bigger and better of everything you want," I added.
"The only thing I want is you," she told me, lifting her leg to curl around my hip while she trailed her fingers up my abs and chest to my lips. "Before you ask, I'm one-hundred-percent sure. I don't want to be just your friend or your work partner, I want the type of relationship I've been avoiding … with the man I secretly started loving after the first rescue."
"If you're not referring to me, I'm about to get out of this bed and go shoot someone."
"I am talking about you," she said against my lips. "So how about instead of going to shoot a non-existent threat, you stay right where you are and kiss me?"
"There is nothing I would enjoy more, Babe."
I lowered my head to hers and didn't release her mouth until we were both desperate to take this relationship to the next level. I started off naked, but seconds after I broke the kiss, Stephanie was too. No surprise, once I saw and tasted more of her skin, I couldn't hold back. I rolled her onto her back and moved between her thighs, taking her first with my fingers and mouth, followed by my dick.
By the time we were both sweaty and spent, we became a solid couple from more than just words. She's always been mine, but she finally sees that she is … and is now swearing that she wouldn't have it any other way.