Disclaimer: I don't own them. Just playing with them.

Thank you to my wonderful Beta Heather (Txbabefan) for jumping head first into the middle of this story and helping me clean everything up.

I'm going on a two week hiatus from publishing. I'm going to try and finish wrighting this story so I can publish regularly and try to get rid of my writers block for Married Life.

Chapter 20

Married Life

Steph POV:

Yesterday, Carlos had been cleared to resume normal activities. Of course, the first thing we did was make love. Carlos took me against the front door of the apartment, then the kitchen counter, and then we finally made our way to the bed. I woke up this morning before him. I grabbed my phone and slowly slipped out of bed.

Carlos shifted to pull me back to him, but I managed to get out of bed without waking him. I made my way into the bathroom pulling out my phone, dialing a number I knew by heart.

"Yo'." Tank answered. I could hear road noise in the background.

"Good, you're already on the road. Today, mission Put a Ring on it is a go," I said. He chuckled.

"Is he awake yet?"

"No, passed out still. He wore himself out yesterday," I told him.

Tank chuckled. "I bet."

"Shut up," I told him. "I'm about to go get the rings. The justice will be ready for us. I just have to get him up and dressed."

"Shouldn't be hard," he said. I smiled.

"He's full of surprises," I told him before hanging up. I dialed Ella's number. It was six thirty, later than normal.

"Yes, dear?"

"Can you bring up breakfast in about thirty minutes?" I asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Thank you, Ella."

"You're welcome. Bye, bye dear," she said before hanging up. I grinned and snuck into the dressing room. Opening the safe I found the ring boxes sitting side by side. I grinned and set them aside before closing the safe. I got out my sapphire blue dress and heels before walking into the bedroom. I straddled Carlos and felt an immediate response. I leaned down and kissed him softly. I trailed my nose over his jaw line as his hands found my hips and he pressed up against me.

"If you get up, you can join me in the shower." I said against his lips. I slipped off the bed and heard him growl. I flung his shirt off of my body as I got to the door and heard his feet hit the ground.

In the bathroom I turned on the shower and warmed the water. He padded into the bathroom and wrapped his arms around me. "You would think you had enough after last night," I grinned as he kissed my neck.

"Hmmm, pleasurably sore," he purred in my ear. "You?"

"It's been a while since you put me in some of those positions." I smiled up at him. He growled and pushed me into the shower, and he followed. Shutting the door, he prowled towards me. I stepped back until my back hit the cold tile wall.

After laying a soft kiss on my lips, Carlos sunk to his knees. He pulled my leg over his shoulder and kissed my thigh. "Carlos..." I moaned softly as his tongue found my clit. My back arched and I tangled my hands in his hair.

"Carlos, please." I moaned.

"Please what?" He growled, sucking my clit into his mouth.

"I need you inside me," I groaned and arched my back.

Carlos dropped my leg and stood, his hands finding the backs of my thighs and he lifting me. He pushed into me, my back arching even more, my nails digging into his shoulders.

"Carlos..." I stuttered on a moan.

"Tell me, Babe." He growled against my throat, nipping at the skin.

"Faster," I moaned. I rolled my hips against his on the next thrust. His hand tightened on my hip, rolling my hips to meet his. My nails raked down his back, no doubt leaving angry red lines. Not that either of us cared at the moment.

"Carlos!" I gasped, as he twisted his hips as he thrust into me.

I was right on the edge; I dug my nail into his back. "Come with me Carlos!"

His thrusts grew out of control, as I came around him. Carlos followed and when he was finished slumped against me. I slid down his body and picked up the shampoo and conditioner. He took them from me with a smile.

"I love you, Babe."

"I love you, too, Carlos." I whispered it softly against his lips as he leaned down to kiss me.

I got him out of the shower and into the dressing room. "Put on a suit." I told him as I ran a wide tooth comb through my hair.

"Why?"

"Because I have a surprise for you. Breakfast is on the table. Ella brought it up while we were in the shower." I told him. I dropped my towel and tossed it back at him. I heard a growl and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door.

I laughed softly and pulled out the blow dryer. I dried my hair and found the curling iron under the sink. Carlos knocked on the door just as I finished putting on some light makeup.

I pulled on his robe and opened the door. He stood in front of me; black slacks hung low on his hips and a white dress shirt, open and baring his hard chest to my eyes. I stepped forward and placed my hands on his chest. One of his hands found my hip and the other took one of my hands in his.

"Breakfast is waiting," he told me.

"You can go ahead and eat." I locked eyes with him.

"I'll wait for you," he said and leaned down to kiss me softly. "You look gorgeous Babe."

"You're not looking too bad yourself," I told him. He smiled.

He picked me up, cradling me in his arms. "Come eat with me and then we can finish getting dressed."

"Fine."

We got off the elevator in the garage; Carlos raised an eyebrow. "Tank is driving us," I told him.

"You're up to something," Carlos said, smiling.

I grinned. "Was there ever any doubt?"

We slid into the back seat of the Hummer; Tank in the driver's seat, Les on the passengers side.

Carlos raised an eyebrow and looked at me. I smiled sweetly at him.

"Might as well tell him, little girl," Tank said.

"I think he might already know," Les spoke up.

"Carlos," I said turning to look at him. "I probably should have asked you this before we left. Will you marry me?"

Carlos smiled. "I think I beat you to asking that, Babe."

I swallowed. "Do you want to get married today?"

Carlos's smile softened. "Whenever you want," he told me. Then his brow furrowed. "We don't have rings."

"We do. I grabbed them from the safe before I woke you this morning."

He smiled, shaking his head. His hand found the back of my neck and he pulled me closer to kiss me. "I love you, Babe."

"I love you, too."

Tank parked outside of the courthouse, and the four of us walked inside. I walked to the desk. "We're here to see Judge Richard Davidson."

"Stephanie Plum?" She asked. I nodded.

"Yes, the judge is waiting on you. I'll let his secretary know. Then you can go up."

I smiled at her. She made the call and told us to head up to his chambers. Taking Carlos's hand as we got onto the elevator, he ignored the guys and pulled me close, ignoring the guys. "Are you ready to be Mrs. Stephanie Manoso?" he asked me.

"Well, I asked you to marry me. Shouldn't you be Mr. Carlos Plum?"

He shivered and I laughed. I kissed him softly. "I can't wait to be Mrs. Stephanie Manoso."

XXXXXX

An hour later I walked out of the courthouse as Mrs. Stephanie Manoso. Carlos's hand was in mine; we walked out of the courthouse. Tank and Les followed.

We headed back to Rangeman; Carlos and I took the elevator up to the seventh floor and walked into the apartment. Carlos picked me up yet again, wrapping my legs around his waist. His lips claimed mine in a hard, bruising kiss. His hands found my heels and he dropped them to the floor. I shoved his jacket off.

Carlos pulled back, and his lips found my neck. My hands fumbled at the buttons of his shirt. "Babe," he growled softly.

"Carlos," I moaned.

His hand was behind my back, he pulled the zipper down on my dress. I pushed his shirt down his shoulder, and he pushed it the rest of the way off. He yanked the dress over my head, his hands roaming over my body. He was touching me everywhere. He palmed my breast as he worked his way over my shoulder and down to my chest. His mouth found my nipple, stroking and sucking.

I pulled him up, and claimed his mouth in a hard kiss, nipping at his bottom lip.

We laid in bed, my head on his chest, our breathing finally settled. Carlos rolled me the rest of the way on top of him so that I could look him in the eye. "Babe, are you going to be upset if we stay home for our honeymoon?" Carlos asked.

I set my chin on his chest, so that I could look at him. "No, I just want to spend some alone time with you. That means no working."

"We can go over to Philadelphia and stay in a hotel for a week," he suggested.

I grinned. "That's fine, but eventually you'll have to take me on a real honeymoon."

He smiled. "I'll take you on a honeymoon every year for the rest of our life."

"Carlos, I believe that's called a vacation." I laughed softly.

"A proper vacation." He told me. "A month somewhere, we can be alone. Or we can travel and be alone."

"Always extravagant." I said. He growled and rolled me onto my back.

"I love you, wife."

"I love you too, husband."

Remember this is continued in Married Life.

Series order Time for Someday, Ranger's Bad Day, and then Married Life.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for all the reviews!