She threw the covers from her legs, grabbed her robe and headed toward his room. She crept in quietly and watched his sleeping face for several minutes. When she could no longer wait she reached down and placed one finger across his lips. She placed her own lips next to his ear and said,

"Ranger.. wake up, there's something I want to show you."

Starting Over

Chapter 14

"Babe?"

"Shhh. Ranger. Just trust me."

Ranger smiled slowly then gently placed his hand into hers and allowed himself to be pulled from the bed. She tiptoed quietly down the hall, and lead him to the front door. Once they were outside and no longer worried of waking the others Ranger spoke again.

"Steph, are you trying to steal my moves?"

Stephanie glanced back at him and offered him one of her finest eye rolls. "Very funny, but I have something a little different in mind."

Ranger's interest was definitely peaked and he quickly stepped up his pace to keep up. She lead him hand-in-hand toward the coast and back to the tent where he had slept the night before. She bent down, unzipped the door, and motioned for him to move inside.

As she was securing the door behind them, Ranger once again questioned her. "Babe, I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to show me."

A small, satisfied grin settled across her lips as she turned to him. "Do you always talk this much Mr. Manaso?"

Ranger let out a small chuckle then lowered his body until he was propped on his elbows behind him. He stretched out his long legs causing Stephanie's eyes to travel the smooth length of his body. "Only when I'm dragged out of bed in the middle of the night by a beautiful woman."

Stephanie sat down beside Ranger with her knees tucked underneath her. Her face smoothed softly as she began to speak. "Well, I'm glad I could be of such amusement for you tonight, however we have other matters to discuss."

Ranger sat up as he spoke, "And what matters would that be?"

Stephanie rose to her knees and placed a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back into place. Her face tensed slightly as she took a deep breath while searching for her words.

"Ranger, just hear me out. I'm not real good at stuff like this, but I'd like to try."

Ranger noted the seriousness of her tone and nodded slowly. "I'm all ears Steph. I won't interrupt you again."

She waited a moment before making her next move. When she finally spoke her voice was deeper and huskier than her usual tone. "Ranger, you've done nothing short of bearing your soul to me these past couple of months. Deep down I've wanted to do the same but I've been too scared, too scared of being hurt, of hurting you. But I've realized that maybe real love is worth taking a chance on or even more, maybe real love demands we take those chances."

She shifted her position closer to him and slowly began thumbing the belt of her robe. "Joe wasn't a chance for me. He was suppose to have been a given. He was suppose to have been the one, but look where that got me. Instead of going with my instincts, I ignored them and married him anyway. That night you came to my apartment before the wedding, I wanted so much to tell you what I really wanted. I've regretted every night since, that I didn't tell you how I really felt. I can't go on regretting anymore Ric. It's time I take the leap and show you."

As her words filled the tent she threw a leg across Ranger's lap until she was straddling him. She grabbed the knot in the robe and slowly untied it. She let the soft cotton rope slide from her fingers as the fabric shifted slowly off her shoulders.

There was barely enough light for Ranger to make out the curves of her body. His hands reached up and stroked her sides, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind.

Stephanie threw her head back in pleasure as a small moan of delight escaped from her lips. She could feel Ranger growing beneath her as only his silk boxers stood between their flesh. She raised her hands to his and gentle pushed them back to his side.

"This isn't a mutual sharing thing Ranger. This is all about me showing you how I feel."

Ranger argued, "I need to feel you Babe, please let…"

Stephanie cut him off with her lips, slowly lowering her body to his. Her hair falling gracefully around her shoulders until it teased his chest. Her lips were soft and moist at first, but she thrust her body into his and the kiss quickly became more demanding. He opened his mouth to give her the access she was nearly begging for. As he slipped his tongue passed her teeth she took a deep breath and drew back from him.

"There will be time to touch me Ric, but right now I need to show you this. Please let me."

This time he didn't argue and he dropped from his elbows until he was laying completely on his back. Stephanie sat back up until she was once again straddling him. She dropped her hands to his chest and gently began stroking her nails against his skin. His body shuddered in pleasure.

"I'll never forget the first time I laid eyes on you. Connie had mentioned to me that you were attractive, she nearly even drooled as she spoke. I assumed that no one could be as gorgeous as the person she was describing, but I knew the moment I walked into that restaurant that you were the man spoke of." Stephanie leaned her body against his once again and nestled her lips against his throat. She gave him butterfly kisses that left behind a wet trail.

"It wasn't that you were simply gorgeous. It was all the confidence you carried. You sat at that table as if you owned the place. At that very moment I was captivated with you. But it wasn't until you actually agreed to help me that I knew you were meant to mean something more to me than just a friend."

Stephanie returned to the assault on his throat. She kissed and nipped at his creamy skin as he dropped his head to the side, giving her unlimited access. Only after he was nearly breathless did she speak again.

"It didn't take long for you to become an obsession for me. The more I was near you, the more I wanted to be with you. The more you touched me, the more I wanted to be touched. The more you kissed me, the more I wanted to be kissed. I tried to substitute others for you, but none of them compared."

Stephanie slide her body slowly down his until her chin rested directly between his nipples. She lifted her head and allowed her tongue to explore his left nipple, then slowly his right. She licked and sucked until his skin glistened. When the dark pink bud tightened she took it between her teeth and gave him a small nibble. He arched his back in a mixture of pleasure and pain.

"No other had skin as smooth and dark as yours. No other reacted to my touch the way you do. I gazed into their eyes, but no other's darkened with desire for me as yours does. No once else could cause my skin to ripple and melt the way your touch causes mine. Some had long hair, but none felt as soft and sensual as yours felt when it fell across my breasts when you were deep inside of me."

Ranger thrust his body slightly with her words. She had never spoken this way to him before, and they both knew at that moment that no other would ever create this much excitement for either of them again.

"When I'm alone and my hands move slowly between my legs, my thoughts are always of that one night with you. I never imagined you spoke the truth about ruining me, but that's exactly what you did. You ruined me the moment you became my friend. You ruined me the moment you showed me you had faith in me. You ruined me when you risked your life for mine and when you trusted me with yours to help when you needed it. You ruined me when you put your hands on me. You ruined me when you thrust your body into mine."

Stephanie lifted her body from his only enough to allow her hands to free him from his boxers. She grabbed his throbbing cock and gently guided it inside of her. It was hot, wet and deep all at once. They both gasped in unison.

Her voice caught as she tried to continue to speak. "I've loved you for so long that now it's hard to remember a time when I didn't love you." She lifted her body from him, then slowly settled it back against his skin.

"I don't ever want to loose you Ric. I don't think I could survive it."

In a ragged breath, Ranger finally spoke. "You'll never have to find out Stephanie." He once again trailed his fingertips along the side of her body. As she began to bounce faster atop him she grabbed his hands. Their intertwined fingers gripped harder with each stoke.

She rode him slow and deep, then faster and more shallow. She alternated her speeds and movements with each sound from his lips. When he cried for faster, she did just that. When he begged for deeper, she dug her nails into his skin and pounded his body with her own. She gave him everything he asked for and everything she could think of.

"Oh God, Stephanie I can't wait."

As soon as he said it, Stephanie dropped quickly to his chest and bit his nipple once more, this time leaving a deep impression in his skin. He gasped and thrust even further into her, spreading the orgasm throughout his body.

With a panting Ranger still inside of her, Stephanie remained pressed against his chest. She lightly stroked the unmarked nipple with her finger as she gathered the courage to finish the conversation.

"There's one more thing Ric."

"Yeah, babe?"

"Will you marry me?"

Without pausing he answered, "Yeah babe, I will." And with a quick kiss to forehead they both fell into a satisfying sleep.

-----------------------------

The following morning Stephanie awoke to the feel of a soft stroking movement on her leg. She moaned deeply but didn't move, not wanting to discourage the welcomed teasing.

Her thoughts quickly turned to the previous night. They had slept only briefly, waking up at different intervals to once again make love. Ranger had more than once returned the same sentiments she had given him. The night had been nearly perfect, and the sated smile of Stephanie's face admitted just that.

"Mmmm, Ranger I can't believe you're ready for more." Stephanie said enjoying the continued assault on her leg. Her head was cuddled in the bend of his shoulder while her leg was tossed completely across his lap.

In a sleepy voice, "whad'ya say babe?"

"I said I can't believe you're ready for more. I love what you're doing to my leg."

Still too sleepy to completely comprehend Ranger asked, "What are you talking about? I'm not touching your leg?"

Stephanie's body froze stiff. "If you aren't touching me, then what's on my leg?"

Ranger lifted his head and looked down at her. "Don't worry babe, it's just a little crab. I'll get…"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" In a series of quick, neurotic movements Stephanie was on her feet and screaming. She shook her hair, rubbed her arms along her body and did everything she could think of to get the critter off of her. Before Ranger could gather himself to help her she had unzipped the tent and ran at full force towards the house.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Her screams continued until she slammed the front door of the house and collapsed her head against it. She stayed still only for a few moments, because before she could completely calm down she was startled by the sound of glass breaking behind her.

Stephanie jumped and turned around quickly to find herself facing Lenny and the boys. All three of them stared at her with their mouths nearly on the floor. It was only then that Stephanie realized she had made her brave escape from the crab wearing nothing more than a few grains of sand.

To Be Continued…