I do not own any of these characters, although I would really like to meet
up with Ranger in a dark room somewhere. I simply borrow and gently use
them for my amusement.
Chapter Seven
This is the only chapter that I completely created.
We sat down, side by side, on the couch. I went through the entertainment center, fishing for the copy of Ghostbusters I had sent Ella out to buy today. Peeling off the wrapping, I popped it into the DVD player, and settled back.
"I didn't think you liked this movie."
"I don't."
"Then why do you own it?" she asked.
"Because you like it," I admitted.
Steph flashed me a smile, then settled back on her side of the couch to watch. I continued watching her. I've been forced to watch this numerous times with her already. Not exactly the movie I would choose myself. But I always enjoy watching her watch the movie. I did it surreptitiously, out of the corner of my eyes; if I was too obvious, she would feel my eyes on her and get uncomfortable. I didn't want her self-conscious. I had memorized the crinkles at the corners of her eyes that appeared when she laughed, the accompanying brief flash of white teeth. Tonight, she was more still and quiet than usual. No crinkles, no teeth showing. After a half-hour or so, she turned to me.
Those blue eyes looked so tired, and scared, and lost. "Ranger..."
Her voice was heavy with emotion. The question was, what emotion? My heart raced with all the things I hoped she might say. I didn't expect it when it came out. "I haven't thanked you for letting me stay here."
I took a deep breath. I wasn't sure where this was going, but the emotion in her voice gave me chills. It was bare, naked, real feeling. No banter, no innuendo. "No thanks needed. Whatever we give each other-"
She finished for me. "There is no price." She shook her head, the corner of her mouth turned up. "That doesn't mean that I can't say thank you. Especially since I didn't ask before I moved in here. I know that you value your privacy."
Truth be told, I was suddenly afraid of where this was going. Afraid I might hear something I didn't want to hear. I was sure she had called Morelli before she came up here. She wasn't living with him, but she had said it was because of the threat to his safety if she was around. They had argued before she left, but she still felt guilt in bed with me. I suddenly didn't want to wade into the emotional waters with her now. She wasn't thinking as clearly as she should be. Too much duress. Any decisions made now were not well thought out. So I went back to playful, my heart breaking the entire time. "Are you going to tell me that you looked through my underwear drawer?" I asked in a low, sexy voice.
Steph turned bright red and stuttered a bit. "I d-d-did no s-such thing."
The moment was gone. I leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head, pulling her close for a quick, friendly hug. "I don't value my privacy over your life. You did the right thing in coming here, even if you should have let me know you needed help." I stood up and handed her the remote. "I will always help you, Steph. No matter what."
Then I walked to the bathroom, showered and changed. I knew Steph would stay on the couch, as much as I might regret it. Emotionally exhausted, my body screaming to go get her and show her how I felt, I lay down to sleep. It took a long time before my eyes closed.
Chapter Seven
This is the only chapter that I completely created.
We sat down, side by side, on the couch. I went through the entertainment center, fishing for the copy of Ghostbusters I had sent Ella out to buy today. Peeling off the wrapping, I popped it into the DVD player, and settled back.
"I didn't think you liked this movie."
"I don't."
"Then why do you own it?" she asked.
"Because you like it," I admitted.
Steph flashed me a smile, then settled back on her side of the couch to watch. I continued watching her. I've been forced to watch this numerous times with her already. Not exactly the movie I would choose myself. But I always enjoy watching her watch the movie. I did it surreptitiously, out of the corner of my eyes; if I was too obvious, she would feel my eyes on her and get uncomfortable. I didn't want her self-conscious. I had memorized the crinkles at the corners of her eyes that appeared when she laughed, the accompanying brief flash of white teeth. Tonight, she was more still and quiet than usual. No crinkles, no teeth showing. After a half-hour or so, she turned to me.
Those blue eyes looked so tired, and scared, and lost. "Ranger..."
Her voice was heavy with emotion. The question was, what emotion? My heart raced with all the things I hoped she might say. I didn't expect it when it came out. "I haven't thanked you for letting me stay here."
I took a deep breath. I wasn't sure where this was going, but the emotion in her voice gave me chills. It was bare, naked, real feeling. No banter, no innuendo. "No thanks needed. Whatever we give each other-"
She finished for me. "There is no price." She shook her head, the corner of her mouth turned up. "That doesn't mean that I can't say thank you. Especially since I didn't ask before I moved in here. I know that you value your privacy."
Truth be told, I was suddenly afraid of where this was going. Afraid I might hear something I didn't want to hear. I was sure she had called Morelli before she came up here. She wasn't living with him, but she had said it was because of the threat to his safety if she was around. They had argued before she left, but she still felt guilt in bed with me. I suddenly didn't want to wade into the emotional waters with her now. She wasn't thinking as clearly as she should be. Too much duress. Any decisions made now were not well thought out. So I went back to playful, my heart breaking the entire time. "Are you going to tell me that you looked through my underwear drawer?" I asked in a low, sexy voice.
Steph turned bright red and stuttered a bit. "I d-d-did no s-such thing."
The moment was gone. I leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head, pulling her close for a quick, friendly hug. "I don't value my privacy over your life. You did the right thing in coming here, even if you should have let me know you needed help." I stood up and handed her the remote. "I will always help you, Steph. No matter what."
Then I walked to the bathroom, showered and changed. I knew Steph would stay on the couch, as much as I might regret it. Emotionally exhausted, my body screaming to go get her and show her how I felt, I lay down to sleep. It took a long time before my eyes closed.