"Thanks Ranger." I mumbled.
"Anytime."
By the time the bedroom door clicked shut I was well on my way to dreamland.
Eleven Days Later
Chapter 1
Eleven Days Later…
I woke up with an overwhelming feeling of dread. I could no longer think of a reason to put off the inevitable. I was in the middle of a full body stretch on the couch when Ranger made his way through the living room.
He was still adjusting his watch when he spoke. "I'll be back by five so you have all day to get your stuff gathered up. I thought we could grab Pino's takeout and eat at your place."
"Sounds good Ranger. Thanks again for letting me stay here as long as you have."
"No sweat. It was actually nice having you here." He stopped talking and stared at me. The room filled with all the words left unspoken.
During the last two weeks, Ranger and I had settled into a pretty familiar routine. He hit the shower first in the morning then I would take my turn. We would go our separate ways for the day, but by 6:00 we would both be back at the apartment. Most nights we just had Ella bring up some food but a few times we went to Rossini's for a late dinner.
Despite spending more time together than we ever had in the past, it seemed that we both worked hard to put more distance between each other. There were no kisses against the wall, there were no soft embraces or gentle caresses. The sexual tension was still alive and well, but we both backed into our corners and only eyed each other from across the room.
I don't know what Ranger's reasons were for his distance, but I new exactly what I was doing. Or should I say I knew exactly what I wasn't doing. It was hard enough to live in the confined space of Ranger's world, temptation was all around. I knew the minute I allowed myself to cross that invisible line I wouldn't be able to stop.
I had spent several sleepless nights tossing and turning on the couch. I had found a new sense of willpower when I managed to keep myself from sliding into bed next to him.
I no longer had Joe to use as an excuse. I was officially a single woman with no ties, and no reasons to feel guilty for acting on impulse. So why didn't I just go through with it? Why didn't I just cave to the temptation and allow myself to be swept up in it? One reason. Fear.
I was scared of being rejected. I was scared of getting hurt. I was scared of what he would say the next morning. There were too many ways it could turn out horribly. So I used my fear as another excuse to keep my hands to myself.
"Later babe." Ranger said as he grabbed his keys and angled through the door.
"See ya Ranger." I said to an empty room.
Just as I was about to settle in for a nap I heard the door open. I glanced up and saw the familiar face of Ella.
"Oh Stephanie, good morning. I didn't realize you were still here." she said
"Yup, just getting ready to hit the shower and start the day." I lied.
"Well I'll just start in the kitchen and do the bathroom last so you can get ready. Do you have any laundry you need me to do?"
"No thanks Ella. I'm returning to my apartment tonight so I guess it's time I start doing my own laundry again." I tried to laugh to make the moment lighter than it actually was.
"Oh dear. I had hoped you would be staying with us awhile longer. I so enjoy having you here." she said.
"And I enjoyed being here, but there's no reason for me to stay. It's time I get my life back to normal."
Ella smiled, "Normal is so overrated and if you ask me I could think of one really good reason for you to stay."
I felt my face blush 12 shades of red, so in an attempt to avoid the path of the conversation I quickly gathered up my blanket and made my way towards the bathroom.
It was exactly 5:00 when Ranger strolled back through the apartment. I was in the bedroom putting the last of my belongings in my bag when I heard him approach.
"How was your day?" I asked.
"Crappy with a side of shitty."
I smiled, "That good huh?"
"Yup. Just let me change clothes real quick and we'll be on our way."
"Ok." I said as I zipped my bag closed. I waited on the couch while he changed. I looked around the apartment and thought of all the warm memories it would hold for me. This was the first place Ranger told me he loved me. This was the place that kept me safe when I had feared for my life. But mostly, this was the first place I got to peak into the private life of Ricardo Manaso. Somehow I knew that would always be the most important memory of all.
When we arrived at my apartment I threw the bag into the bedroom and tried to forget that I was home. Don't get me wrong, I love my apartment. But after returning it felt empty. The realization that I would once again be coming home to an empty apartment every night really started to get to me. I tried to shrug off my bad mood and joined Ranger in the kitchen where he was busy piling Pino's takeout onto plates.
We ate in relative silence on the couch. We commented briefly on the great taste of the food or the silliness of the show on TV, but neither of us were willing to address the real issue at hand.
When we had both cleared our plates, I gathered them up and headed towards the kitchen. Ranger followed close behind carrying our empty glasses.
"Want some wine?" I asked, trying my best to think of reasons to get him to stay.
"Nah. I better get going, I've got an early morning tomorrow."
"Ok." I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
Neither of us moved. He stayed on one end of the kitchen and I on the other. Our eyes shifted uncomfortably up and down each other, until finally they met. Time seemed to stop as we stared, both trying to read the thoughts of the other.
When the tension built to it's ultimate climax we both relented. Ranger took two steps toward me and I towards him. We came together in a clash of emotion. My hands found their home on the sides of his face, pulling him closer to me for a passionate kiss. His hands started on my back but quickly found their way to my ass.
He gripped me through my jeans pulling my groin towards his. He cupped my butt and with a rough tug pulled me off the ground. I instinctively locked my legs around his waist causing a moan to slip from his lips.
I pulled away from him just long enough to whisper, "bed".
He immediately devoured my mouth again while maneuvering us towards the bedroom. I could feel him kicking his shoes off as we went. Our lips never broke while my hands pulled and tugged at his shirt.
Ranger stopped in the doorway of the bedroom and rammed me against the door. My breath caught in my throat but his tongue put me back on course.
His hands were all over me but somehow I wasn't satisfied. I nearly lost all sense when I felt him pull my tank top out of my jeans. We broke apart only long enough for us both to loose our shirts. When we were pressed together once again he walked us towards the bed, stopping when his knees hit the edge of the mattress. He grabbed my legs and pealed them from his body. When I was free he tossed me backwards on the bed where I finally came to rest with a bounce.
The room was filled with the sounds of our heavy breathing. I lay before him on my back, my chest covered only by the thin material of my lacy bra. He fell forward on the bed until he was straddling my leg between his knees.
His face was full of heat and lust. He reached down and unbuttoned my jeans with one hand while the other hand gripped my bra and yanked it to shreds. Within seconds, he pulled my jeans to the floor and ripped my panties in the same fate as my bra.
I laid before him completely exposed, legs spread slightly with my desire for him evident. I tried to speak, to tell him what I wanted, where I wanted to be touched and how. But nothing would come out, no sounds other than a moan would escape my lips.
Watching my struggle, his lips curved into a smile as he stepped back off the bed to remove his jeans. When he was as naked as I, he quickly fell on top of me. His mouth explored my own briefly before moving to my neck, my chest, then my stomach.
As his tongue circled my belly button while his hands teased and tugged at my nipples. They became hard nubs as sharp pangs of desire rolled through my body.
When his lips began moving south, my hands gripped his head. I let his silky hair twirl between my fingers and when his tongue hit the right stop, my body jerked to attention. My fingers were no longer gentle, instead they pulled and yanked his hair in an attempt to beg for mercy.
He didn't let up and he didn't ease. He simply pushed forward, licking and stroking my clit with fierce determination. When my breathing began to quicken he slide two fingers inside of me, opening the gates to my orgasm. It rolled over me in waves, starting at my toes and working up to my head then going back down and settling between my legs.
I panted and moaned and screamed until my body was exhausted. Ranger licked me the entire time, causing his oral torture to continue until my body was numb from the sensations.
When I finally relaxed, Ranger made his slow ascent back up my body. When his tongue lingered on one spot long enough to cause my back to rise from the mattress he would quickly move on to the next spot.
When his mouth found mine once again his arms slide underneath me. He embraced me and I could feel his desire in every inch of skin touching my own. With one more kiss, he rolled us over and placed me gently across his body. I pushed away from him and sat up to get a better look at the man before me.
His hair was disheveled and his dark chest was covered with droplets of sweat. Already he was panting and he had done nothing but touch me. I figured I would ease his tension and began my own form of torture.
I shifted down his body until our hips met. I felt him thrust against me, but I pulled away to keep the contact to a minimum. I wanted to make him beg just as he had made me. I didn't form the words, but he had read my body as if it were his favorite book. He answered my shivers and shakes with the exact right moves and I hoped to do the same for him.
I continued to slide down his body until my breasts were sliding against his thighs. I looked into his eyes as I took his hardness in my mouth. He immediately bucked off the bed, causing his cock to slide further against my tongue. For a moment he held a breath, then when I released him from my lips he let the air back out. I licked a gentle stroke back up his shaft then placed the head of his cock between my lips, giving him the smallest of kisses. He drew in a breath again and when he released it he panted, "God babe, you have to stop."
I smiled at him and finally gave him a break. I crawled back up his body, allowing my tongue to lead the attack. I placed myself over his crotch and reached down to guide him into place.
We both moaned with pleasure as he sank deep inside of me. I ground my hips against him and then quickly fell into a steady rhythm. I bounced on top of him as his hands came up to grasp my breasts. He kneaded them with his fists as I leaned backwards to shift him into me further. Ranger met me thrust for thrust and pant for pant. When I didn't think I could take the pressure any longer, he sat up meeting me chest to chest. He wrapped his thick arms around my body and I let my legs slide around his waist.
His mouth licked and bit at my neck while he pulled me close. I continued to bounce in his lap until his hands found my hair and pulled my head back. He licked the soft spot under my chin and then buried his head in my shoulder when his orgasm finally shuttered through him.
Ranger whispered, "Christ" in my ear as the final shocks of ecstasy ripped through him. We collapsed into a pile on the bed. His arms tangled in mine with my legs draped across his body.
We both continued to pant until we each fell asleep.
To be continued…