The usual disclaimer: They're not mine

As always Beta'd by the wonderful Heather (Txbabefan).

A shorter chapter but there is some angst coming up. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 7

Carlos POV:

I woke up as my door was slammed open. My first instinct was to shove Steph behind me, the second was to grab my gun. Aiming at the unknown threat I felt Steph tense behind me.

"Lester!" I yelled. I grabbed the blanket and put it around Steph. "What the fuck are you doing in here?"

I grabbed my shorts and stood. I was going to kill him if there wasn't a good reason for him being in here.

"I was wondering who you were with and if you needed help. I'm surprised to see her. Figured you would have sent her home and claimed one of the girls from the party."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Steph asked. She had the flat sheet wrapped around her. She stood and stalked towards him.

"What is your problem with me?" she asked.

"I don't have one," he grinned at her.

"Obviously, you do," she growled at him.

"Look, I don't see a point in this. You're not going to be around long enough for this to matter."

She looked ready to swing on him. "Let me tell you something, Lester." She sneered. "Just because you're willing to stick your dick in anything warm, and you don't care as long it gives good head, doesn't mean you can talk shit to me. You think you're a ladies man; let me tell you we all see men like you as man whores. Your good for a night but let's face it we all know there ain't going to be nothing else."

I watched Lester's mouth drop open. "So, what's your problem? Have commitment issues? So what? I do too, but here I am. Feel like your God's gift to women? Trust me, you're not. If anything, the man standing behind me is the only person here that's God like. Feel like you need to sow your seed? Trust me, women don't want it."

"Damn." I grinned.

"What kind of woman did you find man?" Lester asked.

"A strong, independent one, not a bimbo, not a quick fuck," I said. I pulled Steph back into me.

"Get out before I break your nose," I told him. He closed the door. I turned Steph and looked down at her.

I leaned down and kissed her. "You continue to surprise me."

"Wouldn't want you to get bored," she said against my lips. My hand found the edge of the blanket she had tucked in and letting it drop to the floor.

"That's never going to happen, Babe," I said, letting my eyes roam over her body.

"Wouldn't want you to only be in it for my body," she said, pushing me back onto the bed. I sat on the edge as she fell to her knees.

"Babe..." I started. She took me into her mouth, her tongue circling the head. I growled. "I should be on my knees between your legs," I groaned.

"Mmm. Let me do this; you taste so good." She moaned and She took me deeper into her mouth. My hands found their way into her hair, tangling in and pulling on her curls.

"I get to taste you next," I growled.

I woke up deliciously sore, and well rested. I didn't know what time it was, and I didn't care. Steph was sprawled on top of me, my cock was nestled between her legs hard with her wet, hot heat against me.

"Steph," I said softly into her hair.

"Mmm. Carlos? Is there food or do you want to fuck again? I'm ready for either," she said stretching against me. I swear she was fucking insatiable.

"Breakfast, or lunch whichever one's closest."

She nuzzled into my neck. "Can we cuddle for a few more minutes?" she asked against my neck.

"Have I told you no before?" I asked her. She grinned against my neck.

"We've known each other for a week. I'm sure you will eventually have to tell me no."

"Only if you risk your safety or try and bring another man into this."

"So that's it?" she asked with a grin. I raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm, those are my main points. I won't say there won't be others."

She smiled and closed her eyes again. She nuzzled back into my neck. Eventually I managed to get her dressed in one of my shirts and a pair of sweats. I slipped on a tank top and a pair of shorts.

I led her into the kitchen. Tank stood against the counter, drinking a cup of coffee. I checked the clock on the oven. It was almost noon. Steph made her way to the pot. "Mind if I get a cup?" she asked him.

"Help yourself."

"Carlos?"

"Just black, Babe," I told her. She nodded and looked around. Tank opened the cabinet and showed her the cups. She thanked him and poured two cups, fixing hers and coming to the counter.

"Les said you almost shot him last night," Tank said. I saw Steph's shoulders tense and her ears perk up. I knew she didn't want to start another fight with one of the guys.

"Yeah, he fucking threw my door open and woke me up from a dead sleep."

"Fucking dumbass," Tank said shaking his head. He looked at me. "You hungry?"

Steph POV:

I nodded. I wasn't sure how to feel about Tank. He seemed to be the one Carlos was closest too, and the one he was relaxed with me being around. "I make a mean loaded omelet. I'm making me another one, I'll make you one."

"Thank you," I said. He smiled.

"What do you want in it?"

"What do you have?" I asked, making him he chuckled.

XXXXXX

We were still in the kitchen laughing and joking around when Bobby and Lester came in. Carlos wrapped his arm around me as he watched the two of them.

"Morning," Bobby said. He sent me a small smile. I smiled back. Les didn't bother saying anything. I finished my coffee and picked up my plate, I gathered Carlos's on the way and made my way to the sink.

"Want me to put these in the dishwasher?" I asked.

"Just leave 'em, Babe. One of us will take care of them," Carlos said.

"Dishwasher or sink?"

"Dishwasher," Tank answered with a grin.

I rinsed them off and opened the door. I put everything in and closed the door, not starting the cycle. I walked around the counter and laid my hand on Carlos's leg. "I'm going to take a shower."

He stood and pulled me to him. I felt him smile against my neck. "We're going to take a shower," he growled against my neck.

"Only if you can catch me." I grinned before taking off in a sprint.

"Damn," he growled. I heard chuckles in the kitchen, and I slid down the hall and into his bedroom. He followed behind me, pinning me to the wall next to the bathroom door.

"You think you're cute, don't you?" He growled against my throat, sucking on the skin of my neck.

"I think I'm adorable," I purred, pressing against him.

He grabbed me and carried me to the shower. "We'll see just how adorable you are."

XXXXXX

He walked me to my car. I opened the door and he leaned in to kiss me. "You coming over tonight?" I asked him.

"Do you want me too?" He grinned.

"Mmm, yes."

"Then I'll be there, and I'll bring dinner at six?"

"Works for me. I'm just writing emails today; I guess I'll see you in a few hours."

He kissed me again before letting me get in. He watched me pull away and I smiled and waved at him.

Carlos POV:

I walked back into the house, the first thing I saw was Tank, Les and Bobby were all gathered in the dining room,

"So, Les, what the fuck is your problem?" I asked him, settling into the open chair.

"I don't have one."

"Obviously you do. You're being more of a dick than usual," Tank snarked.

"Look man, she's just going to leave you. How many times have you seen it? A man gets deployed, and his woman writes him that she's leaving him. Or he comes home to find her fucking another man. Save yourself the heart break, man."

"Not every woman is like that," Tank growled.

"How do you know she isn't?"

"If she was, do you think she would have offered to leave yesterday to keep us from fighting?"

"She's just trying to get on your good side."

"You need to look past that shit," I told him. "I'm not going to have you fucking up my relationship. Steph is different."

"Because she's your Babe?" he sneered. I stood, reaching across the table to yank him to me.

Tank grabbed me and shoved me back into my chair. I glared at him. "You're pussy whipped. She lets you do anything doesn't she?"

"Les, your crossin' a line," Bobby told him.

"You all see it," He said.

"Look, Les what Susan did to you wasn't right. We all know that..."

"Don't fucking bring her up." He growled.

"No, you're projecting your shit onto my relationship."

"You hardly know her!" He yelled.

"Right now, I feel like I hardly know you." I growled at him. His face dropped. I stood and ran my fingers through my hair.

"I've got shit to do today. I'm spending the night at Steph's. I'll be leaving in a couple of hours," I said. I walked down the hallway and into my room. I grabbed the laundry basket and picked it up. I needed to get some stuff done before I went to Steph's.

XXXXXX

I walked into Steph's condo, my hands full. She came to the foyer and started to take thing. "What all did you get?" She laughed softly.

"I figured we needed fuel." I grinned. She laughed again and led me out onto her balcony.

"I didn't know you had a hot tub." I told her. "We'll be making use of that tonight."

She grinned. "Oh, will we?" she asked.

We lounged in bed about two hours later. Her head on my chest, my hand resting on her hip, holding her close. My phone rang, a ringtone I dreaded. I knew she felt me tense and looked up at me as I reached for the phone.

"Sir," I answered.