A/N Writing a story from RPOV and in his voice has proven to be an interesting challenge. Many thanks to midnightandahalf for her help in keeping it real and keeping it readable. This chapter includes the Janet Evanovich Fan Fiction FB group February (slightly tweaked) dialogue prompt. I own nothing but the mistakes.

Chapter 5

I let myself into the darkened apartment and move quietly toward her bedroom. I don't want to startle her, so I detour to the bathroom to grab the nightlight.

"What are you doing here, Ranger?" she asks before I can get the light plugged in. She sounds very much awake.

"We weren't done talking," I say, finding the outlet and casting a 4 watt glow into the room. I settle into the chair in the corner. My chair.

"I think we pretty much covered everything. How's your man?" she asks as she pushes herself up to a sitting position. Nice try with the deflection.

"The bullet went through. He was more pissed about getting tagged by some banger wanna be." And I'll make sure he spends the next two weeks on monitors thinking about how he should be more aware of his surroundings.

"You were right when you told me I shouldn't settle, but that's exactly what I've been doing ever since I met you."

Her shoulders slump forward and she collapses in, trying to make herself a smaller target. Christ, this is why I don't talk about feelings.

"No, Babe, that's not…" I pause to get my shit together. "What I mean is, I've been settling for stolen kisses and stolen time. I've been settling for only part of your attention. I'm done watching you with anyone else. I'm not going to settle for anything less than you and me, together, all in, monogamous. A condom, a ring, whatever we decide."

Steph is quiet; too quiet. Generally not a good sign with this woman. A prickle of anxiety starts to move through me.

"Why?" Her voice is quiet and she sounds sad. Definitely not the reaction I expected.

"Why what, Babe?"

"Why this? Why now? Just a few hours ago it was still 'my life doesn't lend itself to relationships'. Now you're sitting here at," she stops and glances at the clock, "1:03 in the damn morning, telling me you want a relationship? Offering a ring? Why, Ranger? What has changed in the last few hours?"

"I got my head out of my ass," I have no better answer than that. "I heard what you said and you were right."

I get up from the chair and move to sit on the edge of the bed. She's sitting, but curled up into a ball, arms clasping her knees to her chest. A defensive posture, protecting herself.

I can't keep from touching her now that I'm so close. I tuck a stray curl behind her ear then trail a finger down her arm, watching the goosebumps I raise along the way. She clasps her hands tighter as I try to take one.

"Please?" I'm playing dirty but there's too much at stake.

She relents, and I bring her palm to my lips. She's wary, ready to rabbit, so I move slowly. I kiss the abrasions on her palm. The goosebumps are back as my lips move up her bare arm. A shiver goes through her as I kiss that sensitive spot under her ear. I move to her mouth but she turns her head.

"You didn't answer my question. Why did you decide to get your head out of your ass?"

Man up, Manoso. And don't screw it up this time. "Because I love you." There, that wasn't so hard. "I screwed up, all right? But I never once lied to you. My life doesn't lend itself to relationships or rings. I've done a lot of bad shit in my life, but loving you is different. It makes me different. It makes me better."

"You've loved me for a while, what's changed?" she asks. Her tone is still wary, but there's something more. Hope? My answer is going to make or break us.

A sigh escapes before I can stop it. Her eyebrows shoot up but she doesn't say anything. Three days of torture by Colombian rebels wasn't as difficult as this conversation.

"I realized what I could lose."

I watch her process my answer. Her normally expressive face is blank; that's annoying.

"What don't you want to lose?" she asks softly.

"You."

I wait, trying to gauge her reaction. Nothing. She's too quiet. Am I too late? Has she given up on me already?

I try not to flinch as she launches herself at me. I appreciate the thin tank top and tiny shorts she's wearing in the nanosecond before she straddles me. Even through my cargoes I can feel the heat of her core, and my cock takes notice. She's rarely the aggressor, and I'm completely turned on as she grabs my head. Her mouth moves toward mine in slow motion. As tongues touch, she moans and melts into me. God, I love the way she tastes. The way she feels. My hands slide up under the back of her thin tank top, reveling in the feel of her soft, smooth skin. Wanting more.

I break the kiss to pull her top off and take one of her pebbled nipples into my mouth. Her moans make me hungry for more. I take my time, savoring her breasts, her neck, her mouth. My dick is painfully hard, straining against my zipper. And I want more. I want to taste every inch of her.

Her legs wrap around my hips as I stand, clutching her delicious ass to keep her from sliding down. Her mouth finds my neck and she seems just as intent on devouring me as I turn and lower her to the mattress. One quick tug and she's naked.

"You look like I probably do standing in front of the dessert bar at Harrah's," she says, voice husky and sexy as hell.

"You know how I love pie, Babe."