Finally some more! Let me know what you think!

'Walk me up?' I asked.

Ranger smiled in the darkness, 'Sure.'

Then he sent me the wolf smile.

Chapter 17

Ranger slid an arm around my waist as we walked up the stairs, holding me close. I enjoyed the feel of his arm around me, but wished I was less conscious of Lester and Hector following a few steps behind. I unlocked my door and disabled the motion detectors. Ranger and I went to the living room, whilst Lester re-did all the locks and bolts.

I sat on the couch, but seconds later I was being lifted firmly into Ranger's lap. I smiled into his eyes and kissed him lightly - provocatively. His eyes darkened and he leaned forward and gave me a deeper kiss, sending tingles of desire to all the right places.

We stayed there, kissing each other: not lazy kisses, but I-want-to-rip-the-clothes-off-you-and-take-you-now kind of kisses. My heart rate was soaring and I'm pretty sure that just kissing him brings me to about a millimetre below climax.

Ranger Esp'd and his eyes darkened, without a word he lifted me up, setting me on my feet, then he stood and took my hand, leading us to the bedroom.

Ranger paused before we entered my room.

'Turn on some music.' He instructed Lester and Hector.

Then he tugged me into my bedroom. He closed the door and pushed me against it, lowering his lips to mine. As he kissed me his hands slipped under my t-shirt to the back of my bra and, with a skilled flick, the clasp was open. He smiled against my lips and his hands slid round to my front. His fingers caressed the swell of my breasts, and then he paused and pulled away from my lips.

Through the door we could hear 50 Cent's 'Candy Shop' blazing in my living room.

I rolled my eyes, 'Lester's such a…' I paused, not sure which insult to use.

'Wiseass?' Ranger supplied.

'Yeah.' I agreed.

Ranger smiled and started to kiss me again. This time his hands didn't pause; they swept round my breasts, kneading me gently in his callused hands. His thumbs stroked against my erect nipples and I arched my body into his. Ranger firmly rolled my nipples between his forefinger and his thumb and I moaned into his mouth.

Our bodies were pressed together and I could feel the line of his muscles against me, especially one deliciously hard muscle in particular. I rubbed my body against his and he groaned. My hands found there way under Ranger's painted on t-shirt and my hands found, and toyed with, his nipples. It was his turn to moan.

His lips left mine and started kissing their way down my neck. His tongue flicked against a sensitive spot on my neck and I gasped. He lathed the spot with his tongue and then he bit down on it. I gasped again, and my fingers laced in his hair and held him to my neck. He alternately licked and bit my neck: marking me.

I wanted him to kiss me, but before I could say anything his lips were trailing their way up again to my mouth. Our hot tongues met and battled, tasting each other, teasing each other.

Reluctantly Ranger pulled back, 'I want you Babe.' He said, his voice husky and low, 'and not just for sex. If that's all you want with me then I need to know now.'

Wait. Wasn't that what I was supposed to be saying?

And then what he said actually registered with my brain.

OMG! He wants me! And not just for sex – he really wants me!

I was staring at him, mouth open, eyes vacant, saying nothing. Shit Stephanie, say something!

'I want you Ranger, and not just for sex. If you're going to send me back to Morelli then I need to know now.'

His eyes were nearly black; 'I won't send you back to Morelli.' He promised, 'I won't ever send you away again.' Then he lifted me up into his arms and started to carry me to my bed.

He froze, then he turned and carried me back to the door, his hand searching for the light switch. He flicked it on and we stared at my bed.

There was a box in the middle of my bed.

But that wasn't what had grabbed my attention.

The bed was soaked in red paint. Either that or it was blood. I'm going with paint.

There was a thoughtful air freshener on my bedside – guess the psycho didn't want my room to smell bad. It's the little things that are important; sure he terrorises and kills women and hacks up their bodies…but hey, he buys you air freshener, so he can't be all bad, right?

Ranger gently deposited me in my chair and then he approached the bed. He pulled a silk handkerchief out of his pocket and used it to open the lid of the box. He looked inside and replaced the lid.

Ranger turned to me, 'Babe? Was the keypad green?'

I nodded; I'm not sure I can speak.

Paint my mind chanted over and over again, refusing to accept anything else.

Ranger swore calmly and levelly, then he dug out his cell. He speed dialled someone and told them to get the Rangeman forensic team to Stephanie Plum's apartment.

He lifted me into his arms again and carried me away from the gruesome scene. Lester opened his mouth, probably to say something jokey, but he closed his mouth with a snap as he looked at our faces.

Soundlessly Hector and Lester went into the bedroom to investigate.

Ranger put me down on the couch and turned off the music. The sudden silence was achingly loud.

Ranger got a blanket from my cupboard and wrapped it round me, putting me on his lap again, his arms gathering me close.

'Babe?' he said softly, 'say something.'

'What was in the box?' I asked, my voice shaking slightly.

'Not sure it's a good idea to tell you right now.' Ranger replied.

'Please. Don't keep things from me.'

Ranger sighed. 'Stephanie Orrato was missing her eyes.'

I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat. 'Her eyes?'

'Eyes.' Ranger confirmed.

'The red stuff is paint, right?' Even to my own ears I sounded desperate.

Ranger didn't answer, so I had my answer anyway.

Bells were clanging, whistles were whistling, and I slipped away into the world of the unconscious.

I awoke with a knot in my stomach. I briefly wondered why, and everything came back in a rush.

'Babe.' Said Ranger, his voice carefully controlled, but I could hear the underlying worry.

I opened my eyes reluctantly, 'Three time's a habit.' I said, 'If I faint again then fainting can become my new hobby. Do you suppose fainting could be in the Olympics? I think I'm getting pretty good at it, maybe I should compete. What do you think?' I asked Ranger.

'I think-' He paused, obviously changing what he was going to say, 'it could be in the Olympics.' He concluded, letting me stay in the Land of Denial for a bit longer.

I flashed him a grateful smile, squinched my eyes shut, and concentrated on mentally writing my winning speech when I got Gold at the fainting Olympics.

I first began fainting when I started receiving strange packages from a psycho, which contained body parts…

Shit. I couldn't say that! I'd have to pretend it started differently. Hmm, how about it…

I first began fainting when I began having regular sex with Batman. You see, Batman is pretty damn amazing in bed, and he can build you up to doomsday orgasms where the only option is for you to explode or faint from sheer mind-boggling pleasure. Naturally I chose the latter option, and before I knew it I had reached professional fainting status.

I smiled; that was much better. I sighed suddenly, my smile vanishing: If only it was true.

I dragged my mind kicking and screaming back to reality. 'What do you do when home isn't safe anymore?' I asked Ranger.

'You go somewhere that is safe.' Ranger replied.

'Like a hotel?'

'Like the Bat Cave.' Ranger said.

I stared at him. 'But the Bat Cave is forever.' I said

Ranger smiled slightly, 'You'll like it.' He promised, 'It's got a swimming pool and a sauna.'

'Does it have a hot tub?' I asked.

'No. Do you want a hot tub?'

I considered it, 'a hot tub would be nice.'

'I'll get one put in.' Ranger assured me. 'Anything else?'

'How about a gym?'

'It has a gym.'

I grimaced, 'I was afraid of that. What would persuade you to get rid of it?'

His lips twitched, 'how about if I make sure there's always junk food in fridge, then I get to keep my gym?'

I thought about it, 'Including donuts and ice cream?'

'Yeah Babe.'

'And Tastycakes and pop tarts and Twinkies?'

'Ok.'

'And potato chips and worthless white bread and olives and peanut butter?'

'Babe.'

'What?'

'That stuff'll kill you.'

I smiled with a hint of despair, 'not sure my life expectancy's too great at the moment.'

'My life before yours.' Ranger said simply.

And I knew he meant it utterly. I was shaken – did you die protecting someone you just loved in your own way? The thought of Ranger dying made me want to cry, 'I don't want you to die either.' I said forcibly.

'Then you'd better live a long time then.' Ranger suggested, his lips tipping up.

I smiled genuinely and kissed him, 'It's a deal, Ranger.'