Warning! Adult Language, Adult Content and Adult Situations! Adult EVERYTHING! Warning!

You've been warned.

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies… as usual. I don't own 'em and don't claim to. I am just havin' some fun. That's all.

A/N: I imagine all the fans of this story are ready to give me a swift kick straight to my ass for taking so long to update. I understand. I totally deserve it. I'd be pissed off too. I'd want to drop kick someone too. So hopefully I made it up to all of you with the smutness quality.

You have Stayce (XJerseyGirl) to Thank for this whole story, since she's the one that begged me for a fluff/smut short story. You have Jude99 to thank for giving me a swift kick to the ass and reminding me that people were waiting on an update.

And remember… This fic was started before TS was released. No spoilers for TS. POST EOT. I'm writing like I don't know what happens in TS.

...Or Your Money Back

I was leaning against the RangeMan issued SUV when Lula came hauling ass down the back steps of the precinct. Tank was walking slowly behind her, no expression; his eyes noticing everything. Lula was waving her arm at me in a hurry up motion.

"Quick!" She said, "Super Cop is in a mood. You best get out of here while you can!"

I heard Junior laugh, and there was no time to shoot him a look. Before I could move, Joe Morelli was standing on the top of the steps leading into the backdoor.

"Cupcake." Joe said, "Can I speak to you a minute? In private?"

I caught Junior smirking out of the corner of my eye and I shot him the death look.

"We were just leaving." Lula said to Joe. "Maybe you should call her sometime instead."

Joe raised an eyebrow in Lula's direction. "Then leave without her." He told her.

Lula opened her mouth to give Joe a piece of her mind, and I held up my hand to stop her.

"It's okay." I told her, "We'll only be a minute." I said looking at Joe. I said it loud enough so that Joe could take the hint. I didn't have the patience for a big nasty argument today. I walked past Lula and Tank and up the steps to face Joe. He was looking particularly rough around the edges this morning, like he had been working double shifts and was working on his tenth pot of coffee. Even when Morelli was looking a little rough around the edges, he was still hot.

I leaned back against the railing, feeling a little antsy.

"Joe."

He focused his chocolate brown eyes on me and his posture relaxed a bit.

"This wasn't the kind of private time I was looking for."

I smiled, "This is as private as you're gonna get for now."

A smile quirked at the edge of his mouth and he nodded to Junior and Tank.

"You have something new going on that I don't know about?" He asked. "Those you guard dogs?"

I shook my head and laughed softly, "No, we just stepped out for a joy ride."

Joe gave a bark of laughter and stepped closer to me. He was leaning over me, and his hands were on either side of me supporting his weight on the railing.

"How about you come over for pizza tonight? The Rangers are playing on ESPN."

I pursed my lips and thought about it for a minute. I knew where the pizza was leading. Last time I'd been over for pizza, we'd had balls to the walls sex for a couple of hours and then the fight of all fights over working for Ranger, again. It was a repeat argument that we seemed to have at least once a week and usually ended with me stomping away.

I wasn't in the mood for that kind of night, plus I was almost one hundred percent sure that I was going to be busy in the bedroom department tonight if someone played their cards right. It just was not going to be with Joe.

"How about let's not go there again, Joe." I said, slipping away from Joe. I leaned away from the railing and Joe took a couple of steps back. I looked him in his eyes and I could see the cop face slipping back on, "Remember the last time. That didn't go so well. We agreed to take a break, and that's what I intend to do."

"You mean you intend on using your free time in Manoso's bed." Morelli sneered.

I narrowed my eyes. "What I do is none of your business." I told him, "You can't tell me that these few weeks you haven't been spending them in Terri's bed. I know that you two are working together again. Tell me, do you ever slip up and call her by my name?"

Morelli smirked down at me, but it didn't quite make it to his eyes, "What I do is none of your business."

I raised an eyebrow and took another step away from him.

"At least we can agree on that." I lifted my chin a notch, "I take it then we're through?"

"Yep." Morelli said. His voice was even not giving away a hint of emotion.

I laughed despite wanting to choke him and made sure to sound as fake as possible as I said, "Send Terri, my love."

He snorted and shot me an angry look. "That's it. That's all you've got to say."

I crossed my arms over my chest and got just inches from his face, "Yep."

"Fine."

"FINE."

Morelli threw open the door as I bounded down the steps, I heard Lula snort as I got closer.

"That must've not been too bad." Lula said, "Tank and Junior didn't have to pull their guns and Morelli is still among us livin'."

"Not for long." I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" Lula said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I said let's get back. I have a lunch date."

I heard Junior's snort of laughter and even Tank broke out in a smile.

"Just get in the car." I said with a roll of my eyes, "Wise guys."

We got back to the office with just seconds to spare until the noon hour. I could barely contain myself as we stepped on the elevator and rode it up to the fifth floor. Tank and Junior stepped off first and I made a beeline for Ranger's office. I knocked on the door and heard a gruff, "Enter."

I opened the door and closed it behind me. A slow smile spread across my face as I turned and leaned against the door. Ranger was talking on the phone, dressed in a black cashmere sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. Ranger's eyes caught mine and a smile played at his lips.

"Hurry." I mouthed to him.

I watched as Ranger finished up his phone call and stood up from the desk. His eyes never left mine as he made his way over to me. He leaned into me, his hands on either side of my head, his mouth inches from mine.

"Babe."

I smiled and my eyes twinkled. "How was your morning?"

Ranger tucked a wayward curl behind my ear and raised an eyebrow in my direction, "Long."

"Did you pencil me in for lunch?" I breathed out. "I could come back later if you're busy."

Ranger slid his hand down the door to the doorknob and turned the lock into place.

"Seems I penciled in a business meeting for the lunch time hour." Ranger had his lips pressed against my hairline, taking his time and causing me to forget what I was going to say. The lower half of his body was firmly pressed into mine and each time he moved against me, stirred up the fire burning inside.

"Hmmm," I murmured. "I hope this meeting doesn't take too long."

Ranger's tongue flicked out across my ear lobe and I gasped.

"I plan on it taking all afternoon," Ranger said softly against my ear, "Babe."

Couple hours later, I was lounging against the desk. My hair was messy and I had thrown on Ranger's sweater, which was hanging off one shoulder exposing the slight swell of my right breast. Ranger was sitting on his leather couch, his dark charcoal dress slacks were pulled up but still unbuttoned and the belt was laying against the office door. He was shirtless, and just seeing him like that made my heart flutter. He caught me staring at him and smiled.

"Babe," Ranger said, getting up off the couch and crossed the distance between us. "You're looking at me like I'm lunch." He moved himself between my legs and threaded his hands in my hair, tilting my head back and languidly kissing my lips. I slid my hands up his chest, scraping my fingernails over his nipples as I brought my hands back down and to the waistband of his slacks. I hooked a finger in his boxers, pulling him more firmly against me and felt him smile against my lips.

"I've had lunch already," I told him as I traced a finger underneath the elastic waistband of his boxers, "I'm looking for dessert."

I flicked my tongue out, and lightly licked his lips. Ranger's hands slid from my curls, down my back and cupped my behind, pulling me snug against him. My nipples puckered as they brushed up against his chest and I gasped. My pulse began to flutter wildly as Ranger placed open mouth kisses along my exposed shoulder and collarbone. When his teeth grazed the hollow spot between my neck and collarbone, I moaned out his name.

"I thought you said you wanted a break." Ranger murmured against my lips. I slipped my hand underneath the material and Ranger groaned, "Your hand seems to be in my boxers, Babe."

"Mmmm," I said, leaning up a little bit further so that our lips met for the briefest second, "I hope you don't think that is a problem because break time is over."

Ranger used his hands to lift me up off the desk and I wrapped my legs around his waist, threaded my hands in his hair. I brought my mouth down onto his and the kiss was full of passion. There was nothing soft about it. I nipped at his bottom lip and licked it; and then I stroked his tongue with my own. Every time his tongue moved against mine, I felt the white hot heat of desire pulse deep within me. I moaned his name against his mouth and I heard Ranger groan.

"I hope your office is soundproof." I whispered hotly to him. I had my eyes locked onto his and I sucked his lower lip into my mouth, grazing it with my teeth. "I'm feeling rather… wild."

Ranger's eyes darkened to black silk and I could feel my heart doing the tap dance of lust. He let me slide slowly down his body, his hands still holding me until I placed my feet on the floor and he backed me against the desk again. When the cool edge of the desk met against the bare skin of my ass, I gasped and Ranger took advantage of my shock. His mouth lowered back onto mine and this time he was in charge. He was in total control, plundering my mouth, claiming me as his own. He stroked my tongue with the same unabashed leisure he spends when he is inside of me. Stroking my fire, bringing me to new heights and teasing me until I begged for release.

I used my free hands to push his slacks down and Ranger caught my hands in his own. He pulled his mouth away from mine and took his time placing small kisses along my jawbone to my ear lobe. His breath was hot and his voice was thick with desire.

"No." His tongue flicked over my earlobe and I went weak at the knees. I was slick and wet, ready to be taken but I knew he was playing with me. "No touching."

My lips parted and he sucked my earlobe into his mouth. His teeth grazed it, tongue curling around it to soften the dull pain inflicted from his teeth. He pushed me onto the desk so that I was slightly sitting and the sweater rode up high on my thighs barely covering me. Ranger let my hands go, and immediately they went to his boxers. He pulled away from me again and stood just out of reach.

"Do I need to cuff you to the desk?"

My eyes were heavy lidded and I bit my lower lip.

Ranger made a harsh noise in the back of his throat and crushed his lips to mine. He pinned me against the desk with his lower half and I could feel how hard he was. He was just as ready and willing as I was.

His right hand caressed my breast from outside the sweater and continued to move downward until he brushed against the hem of the sweater. His lips were on mine as he pushed the material out of his way and dipped inbetween my legs. He was touching me so lightly, skimming over the skin softly that even as I arched my hips upward, he would pull his fingers away. I was just about to cry out in frustration as he pushed a finger into me. His lips were soft on mine, hovering just above them, whispering about all the things he was going to do to me. Just the sound of all of it, had me tingling all over. I arched against him and he stilled all movement.

"You are so wet, Babe." Ranger murmured against my lips. His finger made the slightest of movement and I cried out again. He slowly withdrew his finger and I moaned as I tried to keep contact with him. I watched as he brought his finger to his mouth and his tongue darted out. I watched mesmerized as his tongue touched his finger and he bought his mouth back down to my own.

I was beyond control. I moved against him, trying to fit him to me and he stayed right where he was. His mouth moved from mine, to my neck, to the curve of my exposed shoulder and top of my breast. My nipples were hard against the material of the sweater, he made sure to tease them from over the sweater, making the fabric wet, and blowing on them so that they tightened to the point they were painful. He made his way down my torso, and I went to thread my hands in his hair to guide him to the spot I wanted him, but he pulled my hands to him and sucked one of my fingers in his mouth. I cried out as his teeth grazed the tip and new warmth spread in my lower abdomen.

"Ranger…" I moaned.

"I said hands off, Babe." He flashed me a hot smile and let go of my hands. I gripped the edge of the desk until my knuckles were white and I felt Ranger's hands slip underneath the hem of the sweater, pushing it up slowly. He exposed me inch by inch slowly, his mouth covering the skin as he found it. I was breathing in short pants, trying to inch my way up so that the hottest spot on my body would get touched soon. His mouth made its way from my abdomen, to my hipbone and to my inner thigh and my pelvic muscles contracted.

I moaned in anticipation and I felt Ranger smile against me.

"Patience."

Patience wasn't a word in my vocabulary. Words like, now, hurry and faster were running through my mind at this moment. I felt his hot breath first and I shivered. Then his tongue flickered out and touched me, and I moaned shamelessly. When his mouth descended, I was out of control. I could feel myself winding up tighter and tighter, and just as I got to the breaking point, he pulled away.

Ranger crushed his lips to mine and I plastered myself to him, unwilling to move away. I had a need that wasn't fulfilled yet. I wanted to maintain contact with his skin, feel the heat of his desire and hear him moan my name as he pushed deep inside me for that last time. He pulled away just far enough where our lips were no longer touching and our eyes met. I leaned back against the desk. My breathing had become erratic and was coming in short pants.

He came back so that he was between my legs, scooting me further up onto the desk, grinding himself against me. I wrapped my legs around his torso and pulled his lips back down to mine.

"I want you to be inside of me." I told him, hotly, "Ranger… Come inside me."

Ranger groaned as I moved so that he was pushing inside of me. He moved slow and steady, and each time I tried to rock my hips against his, he grasped my hips with a firm hand to still me. When he was fully buried to the hilt, then he rocked his hips slowly against mine. I was past the point of moaning. I was crying out each time he rocked back, filling me completely. Ranger's tempo increased and he brought his mouth back down to my own. I was edging so close, when Ranger slid a hand between us. I lost control and cried out, arching my hips against his. Ranger slowed his tempo to allow me to finish and picked it back up, building me back up and making me want more. Just as I reached the second peak, Ranger did as well and groaned in satisfaction as I pulsed around him.

Ranger was leaning on me, when I finally came out of my daze of sexual satisfaction. I let go of the desk and tried to rub some circulation back into my hands. Ranger leaned away from with a smile and grabbed my hands, rubbing circles on my wrists and kissing them before he let me have them back.

"I thought you didn't eat dessert?" I asked him with a laugh.

"Babe," Ranger told me as he leaned over to kiss me lightly on the lips, "I'll take that dessert any day."

Nice to know. I thought. Even Ranger can be tempted with something sweet.

He gave me a hand and peeled me away from the desk. I looked around the office and our clothing was thrown about the room in a whirlwind of impatience. His sweater fell back over me, drooping off my shoulder more, and I felt like I was wrapped in Ranger. The familiar smell of Bulgari floated to my nose and I suppressed a happy sigh. Ranger pushed a hand through my curls and tipped my head back so that I was looking him in the eyes. Something flashed in his eyes and the familiar crinkles around his mouth returned. Ranger graced me with a practiced smile.

He was trying to read me. I thought. Apparently, I'd messed up his ESP with the large amounts of sex we'd been having recently.

"I'm not having regrets." I told him. "I was thinking, I like the way you smell."

His eyes had returned to their normal dark chocolate color and sparkled with the office light dancing on them. He grabbed a hold of the neckline of the sweater and pulled me close to him. He licked my neck slightly and I pushed off him, holding him at arms distance away.

"Oh, no you don't. You keep this up and I'll never get anything done today."

Ranger laughed softly.

"You had other plans today."

I gave him a sideways look. "Gotta work to pay the bills."

"You're already at work."

"Exactly. I don't see you pulling Tank in your office for a nooner and licking his neck." And other regions below the belt that were still tingling, I thought to myself with a smile.

"Babe." He said with a smile. I could hear the amusement in his voice.

"Ranger."

I moved past him and started gathering up my clothes into a pile. I hated to pull off this sweater. It was a great sweater, and smelled just like him. Warm, manly, faintly of his shower soap. Damn if it didn't smell good enough to moan about.

I heard Ranger groan and I realized I must have moaned. Oops. I bent over at the waist to pick up my jeans and I felt Ranger behind me, then I realize what I had done and blushed bright red. I'd forgotten I didn't have any panties on.

Stephanie Plum, sex fiend extraordinaire. By accident, of course.

I turned my head to the side and was met with a pair of black lust filled eyes focused right on mine.

"Stephanie…" Ranger groaned. His hands were at my hips, fingers stroking in circles on my flesh. I straightened up as much as I could, and Ranger kept me pulled firmly against him. I half turned my head, so that my cheek was resting on his chest and Ranger's index finger lifted my chin up. Our eyes met and he lowered his head down, lips touching mine lightly with just the right amount of tongue to keep it interesting. He threaded his hand through my hair, and tilted my head back further. He parted my lips and slowly stroked my tongue with his own with steady strokes. The longer the kiss went on, the more insistent it became, and the more I melted into him. I broke away from him with unsure steps and my breathing was anywhere but under control.

"Ranger…" I said breathlessly. He was a sight, standing in front of me with his boxers pulled up and his slacks buttoned and riding low on his hips. He looked like a male model. Dangerous, alluring, and hotter than sin. He reached out and tugged me back to him.

"I need to get dressed." I murmured.

"You're body is telling me a different story, Babe."

A couple of beeps by the intercom interrupted us.

"What was that?" I asked as I pulled away from him.

Ranger shifted a hand through his hair, "Tank."

"Meaning?"

Ranger gave me a look and I knew that I wasn't going to get any info.

"Right." I said. I pulled on my panties and jeans. I pulled the sweater off and heard a swift intake from Ranger.

"Hand's off." I told him. "You got work to do."

A smile quirked at the corner of his mouth as I pulled on my bra and RangeMan top.

"Dinner?

"As long as I'm not on the menu." I told him.

Ranger flashed me the wolf grin. I handed him his sweater back and his fingers brushed mine for a brief second and I tingled in places that should be dead to the world right now.

"Go," Ranger said. "Before I throw you down on the rug."

Nice to know I'm not the only one affected. I thought to myself. I nodded and walked over to the door. Ranger was walking behind me, and his fingers beat mine to the lock. I turned my head and looked up at him.

"Dinner."

"Count me in." I told him, leaning up to his lips like I was going to kiss him and pulled back at the last second. I brushed his hand to the side and unlocking the door. Ranger turned me, and flattened me against the door. His hips stirred against mine and my pulse fluttered. His hand moved from my hip, to my side, skirting around the outer edge of my breast and I tipped my head back wanting him to kiss me. I watched as his lips started to descend and he crooked a smile.

"Later, Babe."

I felt my jaw drop open and I recovered quickly. I narrowed my eyes. So he wanted to play. Hmm, I thought. Two can play at this game. I would remember this for later.

"Later," I told him, turning the lock and letting myself out, "Babe."

I heard him laugh as I walked away.

I had been at my desk for nearly three hours. My inbox was completely cleaned out, and I had the last file in front of me, entering in all the info before I searched. Just a routine background check for Ranger on a client, unfortunately for me dull as dull could get.

I hadn't seen him since earlier in the office. Just the thought of him standing with his shirt off was enough to make me get hot. I hit enter on the keyboard and used the file to fan myself. When I felt the familiar tingle down my spine, I promptly sat the file down and looked up at a smiling Ranger. His hand settled at the nape of my neck and he bent down to take a look at the screen.

"Find anything interesting?"

"Nope." I told him. "Seems pretty normal. Why? Something missing?"

He shook his head.

"Ella has dinner ready upstairs."

Ranger gave me a look that screamed sex and I swear my panties caught on fire.

"You ready?"

"Sure." I said with a calm that I wasn't quite feeling, "I'm starved."

I printed the info off the screen, and took it from the printer. I slid everything into my outbox, logged out and gathered my things. I finger waved bye to Woody and Hal at the monitors and made my way over to the elevator where Ranger was waiting. The elevator doors opened and he gestured for me to climb aboard first and he followed. We stood leaning against opposite walls, going upstairs in complete silence. I was staring at the floor, and I could feel Ranger staring at me. I could feel him undressing me with his eyes. The air in the elevator was nearly crackling and I gripped a hold of the railing a little bit tighter to make sure I didn't throw myself on him. I didn't want to seem like I was desperate or anything… Yeesh. Who was I kidding?

Just when I couldn't take anymore the elevator stopped moving and I looked up waiting for the doors to pop open, but instead I was met with Ranger's hand on the stop button and him wearing a grin.

"What are you doing?" I asked him. I stared at him wide eyed as he stepped in front of me. He pulled the key fob out of his pocket and pointed it in the direction of the security camera. Ranger flashed me the big bad wolf grin and placed his arms on either side of me, pinning me between the railing and his hard body. And all of him was equally hard.

"I was thinking about dinner." Ranger told me. His mouth was near my ear and I could feel my legs turning to jello. "I know what sounds good."

I braced my arms on the railing and held on tight. I was pretty sure that I'd just ruined my favorite panties.

"Oh." I managed to say.

"Yeah." Ranger said before licking my neck.

I bit my lower lip.

"We're in an elevator… At the office." I said trying to reason with him, but his hand was making its way up my side, and his fingertips brushed the underside of my breast at the same time, and it came out all breathless and rushed.

"Mmm." He said at the curve of my neck and shoulder. "Even better."

My heart was pounding out of control. I wanted to be the one in charge but I just wasn't able to focus on the task at hand. He was grinding seductively slow circles against my hips and his hand on my breast was what really had me flustered.

I had it bad. I couldn't get enough. I was once worried I'd turn into a nymphomaniac and now I didn't have to worry. I was one.

"You're turning me into a sex fiend." I moaned.

"Sounds promising."

Ranger nipped at my shoulder and I whimpered. My knees started to give out and he wrapped an arm around my waist holding me firmly to him. He brought his lips to mine and the kiss was explosive. It was hot, demanding, and impatient. A lot like the man holding me up.

I curled my fingers into the front of his sweater and gave him all him all I had. Screw playing games, I wanted this. I wanted him. Again. Who cares if it was in an elevator? He turned the security camera off… right?

I heard the call button buzz and Ranger pulled away from me with a harsh swear. We looked at each other, chests heaving. My fingernails left marks in his sweater and his eyes were as black as his sweater. I put a hand to my lower abdomen and realized that my jeans were unbuttoned and unzipped. I looked up at Ranger and he shrugged his shoulder.

Damn. I thought. He was good.

Too good. I warned myself.

Everything was good for now. What happened in a few days when he got tired of me? Or I got tired of him for that matter. Not that I thought I was going to tire of him soon. But hey. You never know.

For once I'd like to be the one to say we'd never be anything more. I'd like for us to be more, but it was unlikely that Ranger would ever open up enough for that to happen. I'd like to be the one to take charge and write my own destiny. I'd been doing that for a few years career wise; but my personal life was a different story. Seemed to me that everyone had their own agenda when it came to my sex life. Ranger and Morelli included.

Ranger hit a button and we resumed moving upward. I met Ranger's eyes and the look caused shivers of anticipation to dance along my spine. The doors dinged open and Ranger waited for me to step off before he followed close behind me. I could feel the warmth of his body radiating on my back and that caused me to move a little faster to the door than I normally would.

I tried the doorknob and it was locked. I threw Ranger a look of impatience over my shoulder.

"Babe."

Ranger reached past me and slid the key into the lock.

"It's just that I'm hungry." I defended. I swore I heard him chuckle at my back and threw open the door.

I shuffled into the apartment and noticed dinner sitting on the kitchen bar counter. I started walking to the counter when I was scooped up from behind. Ranger maneuvered us into the bedroom and threw me on the bed.

"I'm hungry too." He said, pulling off his sweater. He unbuttoned his slacks, and I stared, wide eyed and swallowed hard. "And I want dessert… now."

We were sitting at the bar counter in the kitchen picking at dinner. It was lukewarm and still tasted like heaven. Ella was one in a million. Everyone needed an Ella. I snitched a red potato off of Ranger's plate and he glanced up at me. I popped it in my mouth and shrugged a shoulder. He shook his head.

"It's your fault." I told him, "I'm practically starved."

We finished up and I put the dishes in the sink and rinsed them off. Ranger came up behind me and brushed the hair away from my neck. He pressed one kiss to my jaw line and pulled away.

"I've gotta go out of town for a couple of weeks." He told me. "The new contract for you is ready, if you wanted to read over it. Standard contract, like the first one you signed with HR. Have you given any thought to the field work?"

Not really. I thought to myself. I'd had sex on the brain all day.

"Sure. Why not." I said. I was bored to death in the office. Today was the first day I'd actually not been on auto pilot all day, mindless processing names and printing files. I'd actually seen daylight today. Made me long for the old days, when I'd chase a skip through three-week-old garbage or I'd wear my lunch instead of eating it.

"Talk to David in the morning and he'll get you set up."

"Okay." I said.

I'm not going to ask it. I thought. I'm not going to ask where he's going. It's none of my business. It was on the tip of my tongue to spill it, but I bit my tongue. Asking questions like that felt too clinging. Something I was trying not to be.

"Business." Ranger told me. "Got business in Boston."

"Oh." Stephanie Plum, Master of conversation.

I felt Ranger smile in my hair.

"Something on your mind, Babe? I can hear your wheels turning."

"No."

"Stephanie."

I turned in his arms and leaned against the sink counter.

"Then use your ESP and read my mind."

The lines around Ranger's eyes crinkled and I thought that he was trying hard not to lose his patience. I tried to brush past him and he blocked me.

"Where are you going?"

I jutted my chin up. "Home."

We locked eyes.

"Did you think I was staying here tonight?" I asked him.

He didn't reply.

Hmm, I thought. Interesting.

"It's late." I told him. "I gotta get going."

"No, you don't."

I narrowed my eyes. "I'm not going to argue with you."

"Good." Ranger replied.

"Because I'm leaving." I said pushing past him. I went under his arm and picked up my purse from the counter.

Ranger tugged on my shoulder strap and it was hard enough he pulled me back into him.

"Why are you doing this?"

I didn't know what he was referring to specifically, but it sounded an awful lot like a loaded question. A question I wasn't quite prepared to answer. If I answered truthfully, Ranger would back away from me and not look back. If I didn't answer at all that would make me a coward. And I can be called many things, but I'm not a coward. I just like denial.

"I'm leaving because this isn't my home."

I heard Ranger take a deep breath and I knew that I'd stretched his patience far enough for tonight.

"That wasn't what I meant."

Remember Stephanie, I warned myself. Don't blab the truth. You've done something for yourself finally. Don't fuck it up now by telling him something he doesn't want to hear. He's out for a good time and so are you. You are both adults. So act like one. Don't act like some giddy high school girl with your first crush.

I put my hand over his and pulled my shoulder strap away. I looked up in his eyes and the emotionless Ranger was back in place. I took a couple of step backwards and stumbled back into the door. I was feeling anything but emotionless. In fact, I was clogged up with all kinds of emotions that I didn't want to contemplate. The emotionless look would work wonders for me right now. If only I could achieve that.

"Goodnight Ranger."

Ranger only nodded. "Babe."

And I walked out feeling lower than I'd ever felt before.

The last two weeks had been shit.

Ever since I walked out of the apartment on Ranger, I'd been miserable. I hated to admit it, but I had done the wrong thing. Fact was that I was afraid and didn't really know how to go on. I knew that he didn't want a relationship. I'd been warned plenty of times that in he didn't do relationships. Fact of the matter was, I did. And that's where I was running into a conflict. I had wanted a casual relationship for just sex, but I'd had it with the wrong person. The one person I knew I couldn't just have a causal fling with.

Don't get me wrong. I loved Morelli. I'd known Joe most of my life. I'd even lost my virginity to him, but I was no longer in love with him. Our moment had passed. We'd always been in love with each other on the wrong days to make it work. I'd always love him. I just couldn't be in love with him like I wanted to be.

I was in love with Ranger.

The thought hit me like a ton of bricks even though I already knew the truth of it. I'd been so good at denying it that when I finally admitted it to myself; it crushed all the air out of my lungs. Being in love with Ranger was probably not such a smart idea, but when do I ever rely on smart ideas?

I shifted in my seat and Junior cut his eyes to me.

"Is your ass asleep?"

I nodded my head and rolled my neck trying to relieve the tension in my spine. Another hour stuck like this and I'd be in big trouble. A nap seemed like a very good idea.

"When Ranger said field work, I assumed he meant questioning people not sitting my ass in a SUV with you for 10 hours."

Junior laughed, "You sound like you don't want to spend time with me."

I laughed, "You would assume right. I don't."

Junior flashed me a wolf grin, "I have other thoughts about what we could be doing."

"Forget it. I'm not going to make out with you like a couple of hot and heavy teenagers."

Junior's grin widened. "Who said anything about making out?"

Mental head slap. I have a feeling I know what spectrum Junior was going for. Bedroom sports.

"At least I talk. You could be sitting here with Tank." Junior told me.

Very true.

"Tank talks." I said.

Junior raised an eyebrow at me, and I grinned. "He knows my name."

"Bright eyes," Junior told me, "I hate to break this to you; but everyone knows your name."

"Why do I feel like I just walked onto the set of Cheers?" I said with a laugh.

I checked my watch, only another hour to go. It was Friday and I was exhausted. Every night I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. My thoughts kept wandering back to Ranger. I couldn't even cry about it because I'd been the idiot this time.

Junior's cell phone chirped and he answered with a standardized "Yo." He made a few noncommittal replies and disconnected.

"So what's up?" I asked.

"Shift change. Be here in twenty."

I took a deep breath. Twenty more minutes. I could last twenty more minutes. I told myself. Twenty minutes was a short time. I shifted in my seat again.

"So what's up with you and Ranger?" Junior asked. "Did you take my advice?"

I grimaced. "Yeah, not so much."

"What did you do?" Junior groaned, "Is that why you've been in a bitchy mood for the past two weeks?"

I shot him the death glare, "Who you callin' bitchy?"

Junior raised an eyebrow at me, "See."

I huffed. He was right. I'd been extra bitchy.

"It's fixable." Junior told me. "Anything and everything is fixable."

"I don't know." I groaned. "Maybe I should just leave it alone."

"What!" Junior exclaimed. "What's wrong with you? Lost your balls already?"

I looked down at my lap. I was pretty sure I'd never had balls before.

"You know what I meant, smartass."

I took a deep breath.

"Things didn't go as planned. And I got defensive."

"How defensive?"

I shrugged my shoulders and spilled the story.

"Okay." Junior said. "I can't believe I'm going to say this. This is questioning my manhood." He shook his head at me, "Do you want him or not?"

I didn't reply because I wasn't so sure I knew how to answer.

"Remember what I said about playing the game?"

I nodded my head.

"Scratch that." Junior told me, "This is gonna need a more direct approach."

He explained it all out to me and the more I listened the more it made sense. I just had to make sure I stuck to the plan.

"You got that?" Junior asked.

I chewed on my lower lip. "I think so."

Junior grinned. "Good because he's here."

"WHAT!" I shrieked.

Junior laughed and opened the SUV door.

"Boss." Junior nodded.

I looked to my passenger window and didn't see anyone. That dirty rat! I thought. Junior was a no good rat-fink! Junior gave me a finger wave with a grin on his face and I shot him the stiff middle finger. When I got my hands on him the next time I was going to climb up on a step stool and choke the living hell out of him!

Ranger slid behind the wheel on the driver's side and locked the doors. His face was giving nothing away. His eyes were still expressionless. I hated this. It made me feel sick.

"Babe."

"Ranger." I muttered.

We sat there silently for about ten minutes until I just couldn't take it anymore.

"What's going on?"

Ranger didn't reply and I sighed. I tried again.

"When did you get back?"

"A few hours ago."

Jesus, I thought. Trying to talk to him was like trying to talk to a brick wall. Take a deep breath, I told myself. Patience.

Fuck patience.

"You know, I'm trying to have a conversation with you." I shifted in my seat. My ass was numb to the state past uncomfortable. I was about to get stir crazy. "My ass is numb. I'm hungry and I've been sitting here for ten freakin' hours. The least you could do was try to make an effort here."

Ranger slid his eyes to me.

"Uncomfortable?"

"You don't know the half of it." I mumbled under my breath.

This almost got a smile from him. He kept his eyes on the house and I kept my eyes on him. I was studying him, gnawing on the inside of my lower lip.

"Why are you here?" I asked quietly. "Do you ever take a break? Ever heard that work isn't life?"

"My work is my life, Babe."

"Maybe that's your problem."

He slid his gaze to me and pinned me with a hard stare. I raised an eyebrow.

"That doesn't intimidate me." I snapped.

Ranger reached over and grabbed a hold of the collar on my sweatshirt jacket and leaned over the console. Ranger pulled me to him so that we were only inches apart. I held my breath and could see the streetlight gleaming in his eyes. A smile crooked at the edge of his mouth. It was a hard-edged smile.

"How about now?"

I wasn't intimidated by him. I was scared shitless of my feelings for him. I felt suspended in time. His knuckles were touching my bare skin and the heat of his hands were scorching me. One brief touch and I was instantly on fire for him. In my book, that was definitely a reason to be afraid of him. Those feelings I couldn't control and could do nothing about. He'd never allow me in. I was as close to him as I'd ever get.

"There is only one thing terrifies me, Ranger."

He held onto me a moment and the air crackled. My lips parted and his eyes darkened. His eyes went from mine to my lips and I subconsciously licked them. He brought his eyes back up to mine and let me go. I leaned back in my seat, my eyes still on him.

He seemed to be thinking. About what, who knows? Ranger keeps his thoughts to himself. He doesn't like to share, which was part of our problem.

I suppressed a sigh. I was never going to break through to him. He kept me blocked off. The more I tried to push, the more he backed away.

Ranger hit the ignition on the SUV and put it into gear.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking you home."

I crossed my arms over my chest and turned my head to look out the window. It's what you wanted, right? I asked myself. You wanted to go home.

But why did I feel all this weight sinking down on my chest?

He's pushing you away again, I thought. Just like when he told you to work on your relationship with Morelli. He's running scared.

Interesting thought about the man in black.

What was it about me that kept him coming back to me? I'd always wondered this. I'm nothing special. But we always seemed to look for each other in a crowded room. Whenever I was standing with my back to the door, I knew the second he walked in. My body just knew him. And what was scarier… My heart did too.

We pulled into my lot and Ranger parked near the door. He left the SUV idling and flipped the lights off.

I sat there for a minute listening to myself breathe. I finally swung my gaze to his profile and Ranger glanced at me.

"Why do you block me from your life?" I asked. I kept my eyes on him, watching his every move. I knew what to expect from a question like that.

Ranger unlocked the SUV and I hit the lock button on the door panel. I leaned against the door, turning my full attention to him.

"You know, I've gotten use to you blocking all emotion from me. I expect that out of you." I told him. "I know you only allow me to see what you want me to see."

I bit my lower lip.

"How does it feel to have only have your work? Does it satisfy you at night? Does it make you happy, Ranger? Because I don't know what makes you happy. I don't know anything about you."

When Ranger didn't reply, a tiny bubble of nervous laughter escaped from my lips. I shook my head.

"Why do you push me away?"

No answer.

"Answer me."

Ranger looked away from me, towards the door of my apartment building and I knew that was the conversation ender.

"I thought I could do this, but I thought wrong." I told him. I reached behind me and unlocked the SUV. I hopped out and slammed the door, walking briskly up to the building doors.

I couldn't believe I was so stupid. Whatever stupidity had come over me when I thought sleeping with Ranger was a good fucking idea, I hope I'd gotten it all out of my system; because I couldn't do it again.

I was numb on the inside. I couldn't even hurt. I shook my head and by passed the elevator. I was such an idiot. I climbed the stairs quickly, hoping to make it into the apartment and to my bedroom before I broke down. I dug the keys out of my purse and shoved the key into the doorknob. I tossed my purse onto the kitchen counter and went straight into the bedroom and locked the door. I flung myself onto the bed and stuck my face in a pillow. But it smelled like him.

I laughed and the laughter turned to tears and the tears were followed with open-mouthed sobs. It's not a good feeling to lose the one thing you'd figured out you wanted and could never have. Ranger would never be mine. I could have him in bed, but he'd never allow me into his heart.

I laid on the bed until my throat was raw and my eyes felt like sandpaper. I had a headache from hell from crying.

All my life I've done what others have wanted. I felt like it was my duty to make other people happy, but really the only person's happiness that mattered was my own. I was the only one that could make that happen.

I crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom, turning on the shower. I took a nice, long, hot shower until all the hot water was gone and my eyes were starting to feel a little more like normal. I turned the shower off and stepped out, grabbing a towel off the rack and wrapped my hair with it. I slipped on my red terry cloth robe and opened up my bathroom door to Ranger sitting on the edge of my bed.

His mouth was set at a grim angle and I averted my eyes from him.

"Get out." I said, pointing to my bedroom door. "I'm tired of playing the cat and mouse game with you."

When he didn't move, I cleared my throat. Ranger stood up but he took a couple of steps in my direction.

"Stop."

Ranger reached out and grabbed a hold of my hand, tugging me to him.

"I'm serious." I told him. I couldn't do this right now. I didn't want to hear his excuses. "I want you to leave."

I pushed away from him, but he held his ground.

"You ever think about that day you told me to go back to Morelli?" I asked. When he didn't reply, I held my ground. "I do. All the time. I can still hear the words ringing back to me. I realize that I may have been another notch in the bedpost, but that is probably one of the most defining moments in my life. Want to know why?"

"Babe."

"Don't Babe me." I hissed. "You want to know why, Ranger? Because, I realized that you and Morelli thought you could make my decisions for me. But I'll tell you what. No one makes my decisions for me. I'm in charge of my life. Not you. Not Morelli. No one else. Just me."

"Cut it out." Ranger growled.

I was determined to speak my mind; even if it was the last time I ever did so. He needed to hear this. I needed to get this off my chest.

"Do you ever catch yourself wondering what if? Or have you convinced yourself that we are a bad idea and we should only wander down that path occasionally when the mood strikes? I mean I think I'm entitled to know."

"Listen to me." Ranger said.

I tilted my head back and stuck a finger in his chest.

"No." I said. Ranger arched an eyebrow and I used the last of my courage to challenge him. "You listen to me. I've had it. I've had enough. You want me to lay it all down on the line for you and you don't return the favor. How is this for laying it all down? I'm in love with you…"

I sucked in a harsh breath and my eyes widened. Out of all the things I wanted to say, that wasn't it. That slipped out unexpectantly.

I stood stock still, holding my breath as I listened to my heartbeat rapidly against my chest. Neither of us made a move. It was like the moment was never going to go away. I pushed against him and Ranger let go of me. The knot of panic lodged itself at the base of my throat and I couldn't swallow it no matter how hard I tried.

Oh my God, what had I done?

I stumbled backwards in shock and looked away from him.

"Leave." I told him. I tried to keep my voice steady, but my lower lip trembled. "Now."

"Stephanie." Ranger spoke my name softly.

I felt the tears start to burn the back of my eyes and I was breathing in short pants to keep myself from letting the tears spill.

"Just don't." I told him, shaking my head. "Don't say anything, Ranger."

He reached out and pulled the towel from my hair and threaded his hands through my curls.

"Look at me."

I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip. I didn't want to look up and see his face. I didn't want to hear that he thought it was nice that I fell in love with him, but that was the breaks of the game. He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted my head up.

"Open your eyes, Babe."

I opened my eyes and his eyes met mine. His face was softer; the lines smoothed out and something in me broke. I could live without him, but I would never have what I had with him with another man.

Ranger brought his lips down onto mine in a kiss that was soft and insistent; and I hesitated before I curled into him, curling my fingers into his T-shirt and holding him against me. He slid his hands around to my lower back and pulled me against him, taking the kiss deeper, more urgent and demanding. And I threw everything I had into that kiss. I didn't want to let him go.

Ranger slid his fingers around the sash tied around my waist holding the robe closed, working the knot loose and dropping it to the floor. He pushed the side of the robe open, and his hands touched the bare skin of my hips. His lips tore away from mine and his eyes slid down the length of my body, drinking in the sight of me. Ranger put his lips to my collarbone and I pushed up on him. His tongue touched my skin and I moaned his name.

He pushed the robe off my arms and it fell to the floor. Ranger tugged his T-shirt off and backed me over to the bed. His mouth was on mine, his hands at my hips holding me to him. I opened up my eyes and our eyes locked.

"Do you want this?"

The air seem to get caught in my lungs and for the briefest of moments I debated saying no that I didn't want it to end this way; but I'd just be kidding myself. I wanted him. I wanted him with an intensity that even a raging fire burning out of control didn't even come close to matching. Just one last time to say goodbye.

"Yes."

"You're a beautiful sight, Babe."

I was standing at the edge of the bed and had just pulled my robe back on. I gave a slight smile that I was hoping didn't look too sad or wistful. I'd just spent a few wonderful and glorious hours in bed with him for what I thought would be the last time. After telling him that I was in love with him, I figured this was his way of softening the blow of him walking out of my life for good.

He reached over and took my hand in his. He flipped it over and pressed his lips to the palm.

"You should know something." He told me. "I fell in love with a curly haired brunette that never takes no for an answer a few years ago. I've loved her ever since."

My lips parted and I pulled my eyes up to his. I stopped breathing and he flashed me a smile and kissed each one of my fingertips.

"I've done some terrible things in my life. But something that keeps coming back to haunt me is the fact that I've pushed you away knowing that I could never distance myself from you. I'm not proud, but I did what I thought I had to do for you, Babe."

I chewed on my lower lip and Ranger pulled me closer.

"A relationship will be tough work. I'm hard to deal with. I'm use to being alone and doing things my own way. We'll never have a traditional relationship. And there will always be things I couldn't tell you."

I nodded. I realized that in his life that there would always be secrets, but honesty was something that Ranger did very well. It's something that I wouldn't live without.

"Ready to fly, Babe?"

The corners of my lips tipped up slightly at the phrase. All my life, I've wanted to fly. Here was my chance. The chance to make my own decision and fly with it.

"Always, Ranger."

The End...