"Whoa," I said, blinking my eyes at the bright lights. "Who took my gravity?"
Lester was clutching his stomach, from the looks of it trying his best not to wet himself at my little display. I made a mental note to pay him back. Later.
"You might have pushed the lever the opposite way you meant to," Zack hedged, flashing me those brilliant white Cheshire cat teeth in a large grin.
"Of course I meant to," I grumbled. "I work out all the time. Every day. In my sleep." I realized dimly that I was lying on my back and someone had my head in their lap. Damn. No, it wasn't a lap. It was a folded up cushy sweatshirt. But it smelled really nice, so I figured it was almost as good.
Lester snorted and turned away, shoulders shaking. "Ass!" I yelled to his retreating back.
Another snort.
"Stupid, egotistical, macho man, I-can-kick box-and-you-can't, too good…" I grumbled, throwing an arm across my eyes.
There was another loud laugh and I remembered Zack was still there. Wonderful. Great way to meet more of Ranger's men, Steph. Fall flat on your face. Well, at least I was consistent. Might as well get to know the real me right off the bat. Pull no punches. That sort of thing.
"I think I might need to sit up now," I said, and Zack grabbed my hands to help me up. "Okay, much worse," I said, as the blood rushed to my brain. "I don't exactly come here much," I confessed.
"I thought as much. Most regulars don't talk to the exercise equipment."
"What was your name again?" I asked. In case I had brain damage or something from being bucked off by the treadmill from Hell.
"Zack Morgan," he said, extending a hand. His grip was gentle but firm, and he smiled into my eyes when he said his name. A very likable person. "I just got back from Cuba about three hours ago. My apartment is on the sixth floor."
"What were you doing in Cuba?" I asked.
"Job for Ranger. He'll fill you in later tonight. I spoke with him before I came to the gym, remember?"
"Nope," I said, rolling my neck around. "I don't remember a thing. Humiliation will do that to you, you know."
Zack smiled and perused my face for a moment. "Would you like to work out with me for a bit? I could help you."
"OH no! Nope. I've had enough embarrassment for one day, thanks."
"Come on," he said. "I think I know something that would suit you. You might even actually like it."
I rolled my eyes. "If it's got to do with exercise, I wouldn't hold your breath."
"Ranger said that, too."
I glared at him and got more laughing.
"Try it?" he said. His brown eyes were very persuasive. Dammit.
"Okay. But if you end up in the emergency room it's not my fault!"
He laughed and led me over to one of the cabinets lining the walls. It was black and basic metal, but when he opened it I gasped. It was filled with all kinds of weapons. Long sticks and short sticks, spear-looking things and more spear things with various hooks on the ends, swords both long and short, and these really nifty trident looking things with handles on them. They captured my attention first. They were…sexy!
"I thought you might like those," Zack said. "Most independent women love the Sais. They're sexy."
"You don't have ESP, do you?" I asked him. What was it with people and being able to read my damn mind!
"Not that I'm aware of. That's what most women think of these," he said, pulling a pair of them out of the case and handing them to me. "You shouldn't be able to really hurt yourself with these, unless you stab yourself. They aren't sharp."
"What did you call them again?" I asked, slipping my fingers around the small curled points to the sides. The weight was unfamiliar in my hands, but comfortable. I slid the blades against each other and smiled at the crystalline ringing.
"When you get really good sparring with them, you can make them sing," Zack said softly, as though he didn't want to interrupt my enjoyment.
"Can you teach me how to use these?" I blurted out. Then I blushed. Kind of presumptuous to ask a guy you'd barely met to spend all his spare time-
"Sure. It'll keep me in practice, too, actually. It's been awhile." He pulled another pair of Sais from the case. These were a bit longer, closer to twenty-four inches from the base of the handle to the tip of the blade.
"Mine are bigger because they need to be fit to you. If they're too much longer than the length of your forearm from elbow to wrist you can whack yourself."
"So that's why mine are shorter." Call me Stephanie Plum, master of the obvious.
"You catch on quickly."
I sent him my best pissy look, which only resulted in more laughter. He was irritatingly likable. Damn him. Ranger knew I'd like him. It was probably why he'd sent him after me. And I knew he'd sent him after me because he was thoughtful enough not to let me get bored. Either that, or he remembered how crazy I was last time I got bored while I was here.
"Okay, the basic things you need to know are that these are used mainly for jabbing and punching. You can strike the side of someone's face with the edge of the blade, or you can stab them with the tip." He made some basic movements, slashing sideways and then thrusting the blade forward. I copied him, and he smiled with approval.
"Widen your stance a little bit, and drop your shoulders down so you're not so tense. It's all about fluidity of motion." He made some more moves, different directions and put together, and it came off almost like a dance. Very beautiful, actually.
"Okay, so I need to be graceful?" Dammit.
"The grace will come naturally with these. The points on the sides can be used to catch an opponents weapon and twist it out of their hands. Let me show you." He moved to stand behind me, thrust my left arm straight out to my side, hooked the prong of his Sai against mine, and shoved. The blade went flying out of my hand and bounced on the floor. It made a loud noise, but no one paid any attention.
"Wow."
"Yeah," he said. "It's pretty effective." He picked up my Sai from where it had fallen and handed it back to me. "You sure you want to learn how to do this?"
I nodded. This appealed to me in a way no other form of working out ever had.
"Then let's go over there on a mat," he said. "You don't want to fall on hard ground with one of these under you." His smile was gentle and warm, and it was nice to know that someone could genuinely want to help me, even though they didn't know me. Or maybe it was because he didn't know me…
"Now stand in the position I showed you," he said. I tried, and then he came over to adjust my grip on the Sais so that the blades rested between my index and middle finger. It felt much more comfortable. "Better?"
"Much."
"Okay," he said, settling into the same alert but relaxed position. "From this position, you can move your body any which way. That's why it's best to use this position when you're just learning."
My mind went immediately south of the border and brought some heated visuals to the backs of my eyes. My cheeks flamed, and I knew I was blushing.
"You have a dirty mind, Ms. Plum," he said, and he winked at me.
"I can't help it! It's the Jersey Girl in me."
"Terrible excuse."
I glared at him and got more laughing. He laughed easily and often. I was thinking we could be very good friends indeed. And if Ranger trusted him, then I trusted him. It wasn't even a matter to think over. I trusted Ranger with my life, and if he would trust someone to get close to me then they were trustworthy.
"Try and block my blades this time," Zack said, after showing me how to move and do some turns properly. I felt comfortable with the Sais already, like I'd been using them for years. Zack must be pretty advanced in his own martial arts if he could pick out how easy these would be for me. I never thought I'd be useful or good at any kind of fighting. But this didn't feel like fighting. This felt powerful, and feminine at the same time. It was very empowering!
"Okay," I said, holding one blade low at my waist and the other at shoulder lever, with my shoulders relaxed, just like he showed me. It felt natural, but the Sais easily weighed three pounds each, and my muscles were underdeveloped. One thing I could count on from them was more upper arm strength!
Zack came at me, a bit slowly, but still moving fast enough to take all my attention. He moved as if to strike my face (far enough away that he wouldn't really touch me) and I successfully blocked him. Another jab to my side, and I brushed him aside, turning out of his reach. He smiled, proud, and lashed out again. And again. And again.
Forty minutes later, I was exhausted and exhilarated all at once. I had blocked almost all of his attacks, and moved correctly.
"Do you want faster?" Zack asked, flipping the blades around backwards in his hands. He flashed me the big grin, and my breath caught.
"Don't do that," I said, glaring at him. "It's devastating."
He shook his head and continued smiling. "I wouldn't tell Ranger that. He'd lock me up."
"Somehow I'm having a hard time working up any fear of you," I said, brushing a stray piece of hair from my ponytail behind my ears. I was sweating profusely, and I still didn't want to stop.
"I figured as much," Zack said, crouching into a lower position. "Wanna try to up the danger a little? Feeling comfortable?"
I flipped my ponytail over my shoulder and grinned back at him. My self-confidence was skyrocketing, and I felt sexy as hell with the Sais in my hands. Zack was a good teacher, and he wouldn't throw me more than he felt I could handle. I could handle faster. I had been watching him strike and move, and thought maybe I could get away with it myself. Let's see what the New and Improved Stephanie Plum can do, I thought.
"Feeling very comfortable."
"And sexy."
"You got me. These things are sexy."
Zack smiled. "I told you."
"Smart ass."
"Come on," he said. "Let's see what you've got, kitten."
"Very funny."
He lunged for me then, and I laughed and danced out of his way. He raised an eyebrow at me and I laughed again. Exhilarated was definitely the word for how I felt. If I could master these blades, I could do anything. The new Stephanie Plum would have a real chance.
"Nice," he said, and lunged for me again. I let my brain go, and let my body feel what was going to happen. The sound of our blades striking was like music to my ears. He was right. If you got better you could make them sing. And Zack was definitely better. But he let me continue winning, giving me just enough challenge to really make me work for it. He slashed, and jabbed, and moved like lightning.
But I wouldn't give up. I was panting, and my heart was beating, and suddenly I wanted to win. Very, very badly I wanted to win.
On the next available opening I lashed out with my blade, catching him in the shoulder and knocking him back a few inches. His eyes widened, and the grin turned wickedly mischievous. "Fighting back, kitten?" he taunted, and a slow smile spread across my lips.
"Who's fighting?" I asked innocently, and laughed when he lunged for me again. Zack was big and heavily muscled, but I was smaller and faster than he was. I could dance easily away from him most of the time, but it wasn't any real fun.
He lashed out diagonally with his blade and I met it in midair. Again and again, his blade met mine and sang. Down low and back up to try and get at his face. It got more intense, the more he realized I was really taking to the Sais. He had a potential star pupil on his hands, and my thoughts were that he was going to test the shit out of her.
"Careful, kitten," Zack said, stepping in close and missing my hip by centimeters, "I may decide not to be gentle."
"Oh, please," I said, rolling my eyes tucking myself behind him. It was just fast enough that I had an opening to hook his Sai the way he'd done with me earlier. I saw my chance, and I seized it before it passed away. Clang! His blade dropped to the floor, without as much force as mine had, but to the floor nonetheless.
Zack's mouth dropped. "You'll be here every day from now on, if you really want to get good with these," he said, striking out with a backward slash that grazed my arm with the tip of his blade. I yelped and jumped back, but didn't drop my own weapon. It hadn't broken the skin, but Zack looked apologetic all the same.
"Stephanie, I'm sorry! Are you alright?"
I looked down at my arm and the red welt blooming there. It was painful, but I didn't want to stop. I was at a point of pleasure and pain. Just like when you were making love to someone and the pleasure was so unbearable it almost hurt? That was where I found myself now. The power I felt was indescribable. I was sexy. I was in control (sort of). And I felt like I could even tell Jeanne Ellen to kiss my ass.
I shook my head. "It's fine." Crouching into a low position, I held one of the blades above my head and grinned at him. "Come on, Zack…what are you waiting for?"
I purred the last bit, laughing when he rolled his eyes at me.
And then he was on me again, pressing his weight advantage harder and harder. It forced me back a step or two, and I began to get a little nervous. He was awfully big, and much stronger than me. I'd have to fight dirty.
The next time he stepped into me, I whirled around with my back to him and dropped my blade to pelvic height, a single breath away from the family jewels.
Zack stopped, mouth open, and gaped at me. "You fight dirty," he said, a slow grin curling his lips.
I laughed. "I like to win."
Applause broke out around us, and I all but jumped out of my skin. I stepped quickly back from Zack, who still looked shocked. The powerful high that I'd been on dissipated as quickly as it had come on, and I blushed ten shades of red. My nose was dripping sweat, I was tired, and the muscles in my arms suddenly felt very limp.
There were about fifteen people standing a ways back from the mat, clapping and cheering. I recognized Bobby and Lester, and when I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck I knew Ranger was right behind me. My knees went limp, and his arm caught me around the waist in time to prevent an embarrassing fall.
Ranger kissed my temple, sweat and all, and breathed me in. "Babe," he growled into my ear, and a flash of heat went straight south. Only through extreme self-control did I manage not to whimper, or moan. Zack had nothing on this man.
"Morgan," Ranger said, extending his hand and smiling warmly at him, "it's good to have you back." He squeezed my shoulder slightly. "She didn't break you."
Zack grinned. "Almost did. She plays dirty."
"That's my girl," Ranger said, and kissed my temple again. I was mortified. Ranger was usually never touchy-feely in front of anyone. I guess now that we were officially 'together' it was okay for him to be public about it. I wondered now if that had been more out of respect for me than a need for secrecy. Hmm. I'd have to think about that later.
"You gonna take a bow, Babe?" Ranger said, smiling at me.
I looked around at the faces, surprised that most of them were beaming at me, and not Zack.
"Does this mean I won?" I asked.
"It would appear that way," Zack said dryly. He smiled at me. "Be here tomorrow at ten, and I'll teach you more. If you're interested in learning, that is. If you ask me, you're a natural with the Sais, Stephanie. It would be a crime not to pursue it for you."
It was a genuine statement and it made me uncomfortable. I wasn't ever a natural at anything. And to be told that I was by a guy who was obviously a master was even more disconcerting.
Ranger looked at me, and I realized I hadn't said anything. "Oh. Yes. Yes, I'll be here. I really like these," I said to no one in particular, examining the dulled blades. They were possibly the sexiest weapons I had ever seen. You certainly didn't see them walking around the streets of Trenton every day.
"Damn, Bombshell!" Lester said, jogging over. "Didn't you see any of us standing here?"
I shook my head. "I was busy."
"I'll say," he said, grinning. " We've been standing here for almost an hour. You were giving Zack a run for his money, and he's…" he trailed off at Zack's warning look that I almost missed, and finished lamely with, "…well trained." Then the grin was back in place and Lester patted my back. "You'll do nicely, Bombshell. I'm thinking you'll do just …fine." And he walked away.
"What was that all about?" I asked, and the guys just laughed.
"You need a shower," Ranger stated, and Zack raised an eyebrow at me. "And thanks to you, so do I." And without another word he scooped me up in his arms, Sais and all, and carried me out of the room.
"You can bring those back later, kitten!" Zack called, and the guys' laughter followed us out into the foyer.
I nestled the Sais onto my stomach so they wouldn't fall and wrapped my arms around Ranger's neck. "I need a shower?"
"Yeah."
"And you need one because…"
Ranger growled, deep in his throat. "Because if I don't have you naked and wet in five seconds I'm going to explode."
I couldn't help it. I got a visual of our morning shower and I moaned, low and throaty, right into his ear.
We reached the elevator and Ranger hit Seven without putting me down. Half a second later he pushed the stop button, reached up into the corner of the elevator and disconnected a cable, pushed button two on his cell phone, barked "Don't bother us," into the mouthpiece, slammed the phone closed, pressed me up against the elevator wall, still nestled safely in his arms, and crushed my mouth with his.
The Sais slid from my stomach and clanged loudly to the floor, making me jump. Ranger took that opportunity to situate me better, wrapping my legs around his hips. Dimly I realized that he was wearing his work clothes, and his belt was in the way, nudging me uncomfortably.
Even as I thought this, Ranger set my bottom on the handrail and stripped the belt off. He unsnapped and unzipped his cargo pants and freed himself, making me moan again in anticipation. I needed him now as badly as he needed me.
"Babe," he said, his tone asking me if I was ready for him.
"Yes, Ric," I said, tugging at his shirt, pulling him closer to me. I needed him inside me now or I'd die, right there in the elevator. "I'm ready."
"Thank God," he said, and plundered my mouth with his, even as he lifted my hips and with one hand stripped my shorts and panties down. He wrapped my legs around his hips again, and I whimpered, clutching at his shoulders for support.
And then he thrust inside me, hard. I saw stars behind my eyes and I gave a strangled half-scream, sinking my teeth deep into his neck. He growled again and gathered me close, stroking me inside so hard and fast that I was beyond all coherent thought. My body was on fire, and I was a mad woman. I clawed at his back and arched my own, pressing against him as fully as possible.
Ranger was a man possessed. His mouth devoured any bits of skin it could reach. My neck, my face, my mouth…no piece of me was safe, and my body reveled in his attentions. The feel of him moving in and out of me, stretching me, drove me to the point of desperation. His strong arms were moving me back and forth, holding me up against the wall as though I weighed nothing.
Our eyes locked, and in the deep black pools of his eyes I saw myself the way I knew now that he must have seen me. Wild and untamed, and completely irresistible. I was inside his defenses, and he loved me as much as I loved him. I wondered distantly if he could see in my own eyes that he had become my world.
But then heat spread through me, my muscles clenched, and I teetered on the brink. Ranger stopped moving for a split second, took my lips in the sweetest kiss I've ever known, and whispered, "Te amo, querida…"
And with his eyes still locked on mine, he thrust once more…and we both fell apart. I screamed, the sound muffled because I buried my head in his shoulder. Ranger groaned, long and loud, his body stiffening to the point of steel. I could feel his release deep inside me, and tears filled my eyes.
When he finally stilled within me, we just stayed that way for a long moment, breathing in each other's scent and relishing the feel of being so close. His heart was pounding so hard against my own I thought it might burst from his chest and run away with mine. I took my first shaky breaths and pulled back just far enough to smile at him. His lips tempted me, and I brushed them with my own.
Ranger put his hand possessively on the back of my neck and held me there, worshipping my mouth with his. So tender were his kisses that it made my heart hurt. "I love you, Ricardo Manoso," I said. "I love you."
Ranger rested his forehead against my own and sighed. "I love you, Stephanie Plum. I've been a fool. I'm sorry."
"No," I said. "Not a fool. Everything is just right. I'm so happy," I said, and was surprised to find that it was true. Ranger made me very, very happy.
"Let's get you into the shower," Ranger said, righting his own clothing. "You'll be sore later."
"From the workout?" I asked, managing a cheeky smile.
Ranger's eyebrow went up, and I sighed. "I'm going to need health insurance if this is going to continue."
He took my lips in another possessive kiss as he set me on my feet. "You'll need it," he said, and bent to grab my panties and shorts, pulling them up my legs. "It's going to continue, Babe. I'll never have enough of you," he said, pushing the seventh floor button again.
"Well, that's a promise I'll hold you to," I said.
"Count on it, Babe."