Chapter 3
Rangers POV
I sank further into the arms of the woman who was my rock, my unruly hair falling in my eye as the tears burned the back of my breath came in short pants and I felt Steph grip me tighter,I buried my face into the black t-shirt she my face into her chest a cry escaped from me before i could stop it,i squeezed my eyes shut as my whole body shuttered. She rocked me back and forth like a child terrified of a passing storm.i coughed as the tears clogged my throat and another cry was ripped out of me as the day and its events fully settled around us. Everything flashed through my head,every heartbreaking second of waiting, Every sickly sweet moment of hope we spent looking. My chest began to throb from the forces of my wails but I just couldn't stop it,I felt all my emotions draining out of me as if the stopper holding everything back had been yanked it all I felt her everywhere. Her hand on my back stroking away the tension she found there,combing through my hair untangling knots with her nimble fingers. Her steady heart beat against my frantic one. Once the sobs and wails trend into small quiet hiccups she lifted her cheek from the top of my head.
"I know you're in no shape to move right now but your soaked and we should get you dried off at least.''she whispered in my ear.
I waited for a beat before lifting my head from her chest and faced her.
" i dont know if i can steph… Im so tired." I whispered to her.
She smiled at me sweetly and moved so she was on her knees while I was still on the floor, but she never let me go.
" I can grab a towel and dry you off, plus you have a spare set of clothes here." She said as she tucked a piece of hair back behind my ear and then she helped me stand.
I looked at her, she stood in nothing but an old tshirt and not much else, wait she was wearing one of my shirts. The thought brought a fresh round of tears I almost couldn't keep at bay but I bit my lip and walked with her toward her bathroom.I was sitting on the toilet and she grabbed a towel and started to rub at my still dripping hair. She then stripped me of the long sleeve shirt and undershirt i wore and then she made me stand and remove everything else and hang it over the shower rod, I smiled at the memory of her being handcuffed to that very same shower rod.
"Put the towel around your waist and I'll grab the clothes I have for you here." she said as she hurried from the room.
" Weird, I don't remember leaving clothes here. " i numbers as i leaned heavy on the titled wall beside here full length mirror.
It wasn't long before Stephanie was back with a full set of none other than batman pajamas, I couldn't help it I laughed. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and my sides pinched. She blushed and looked away from me.
"I bought them just in case we… never mind." She plopped them into my arms and smiled, But the smile didn't completely reach her eyes.I looked at her as i pulled the set on and then pulled her in for a hug.
" I owe you so much steph.." I said looking into her eyes as I rested my forehead against hers.
"Ranger, you don't owe me anything. Do you know how much you have done and still do for me?" she said, laying her hand over my heart and gripping the logo she found there. I smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. She giggled, it was a light sound that reminded me of summer evenings with family. I shut my eyes as I held her close until she shivered.
"It's late, let's get some rest and hopefully tomorrow i may be able to explain how I ended up on your doorstep looking like a stray dog." I said pulling her behind slid in on either side of her sage green sheets, she cuddled to my side and I reached over to flick out the light. I dragged my fingers up and down her spine and near her left shoulder blade I felt her wince.
"What's wrong?" I asked her, looking toward her in the utter darkness.
"It's a long story ranger, one i don't honestly want to retell at this point in time, i want to make sure you're ok…" she said looking up at me in the blackness.
"Ill let it go for now but when morning comes were going to talk about this, about us and about are relationship. I spoke softly into her ear.
She tilted her head towards me and snuggled in.
"One more thing, steph." I looked at her once again.
"Yeah?" she asked, her voice heavy with sleep.
"Please call me Carlos from now on babe." I said
I felt her nod excitedly right before slipping into a restful sleep,
"It was always you,'' I whispered." I pulled her against my chest and followed her into slumber, no matter what. My heart will always be hers.