Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to Ms. Evanovich and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warnings: Adult language, adult situations, a little bit of smut

Chapter 40: Saturday, August 27th, 0500-1200

Ranger's House

Stephanie's POV

The sun is shining down on me, and I'm lying on a chaise lounge, listening to the sound of the ocean ebbing and flowing. The sun is bright, and I feel it's heat warming my body, my torso first, then my arms and elsewhere. I feel kisses placed on my face, my neck and then down my chest. I feel a tongue around my nipples with heat flooding between my legs. I can't help but arch my back into the mocha latte body that is nipping down my body. I continue to feel his mouth move further down, with a French kiss in my belly button. I hear a moan and groan. One I think is from me. Suddenly I feel fingers inside my core and my eyes open.

"Good morning, Querida," I hear Ranger, no Carlos say.

"Mmmm" is all I can muster in reply. I feel Carlos turn me around, so I am facing the foot of the bed, with my body straddling Carlos' mouth. I feel his tongue enter inside me and feel myself becoming undone.

"So sweet, Querida, you taste so sweet," Carlos says as he continues to lick me. I observe his manhood rising, and I feel it is only right to say hi to his soldier. I lean forward and place my mouth around his delicious cock. I had forgotten how big Carlos is, I need to use my hands with my mouth to surround him. I hear Carlos groan, so I know he's enjoying my ministrations. I never enjoyed this position before. When Dickie tried it with me, after about two or three minutes of me sucking his cock he would stop satisfying me. Joe avoided this position, wanting his pleasure only. But with Carlos, oh God, it is amazing.

I suck his cock with the same intensity that he is licking my pussy. He places two fingers inside me and pumps them into my core. When his fingers pump slowly, I bring him into my mouth slowly. When he goes faster, so do I. It doesn't take long for me to feel his balls contracting, his vein pulsing, then I feel him pinch my clit, allowing my orgasm to hit hard as his seed hits the back of my throat. I roll off Carlos, lying next to him. He reaches over and pulls me on top of him, kissing me deeply.

"Good morning, Babe. I could get used to waking up like this." Carlos says, voice husky with satisfaction.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to attack you in your sleep."

"Babe don't worry. I enjoyed myself. I still want to be inside you, but I know you're not ready for that yet. I love you, Querida, unconditionally."

I don't know what to say. I'm pretty sure that I love Carlos too, but I'm not yet ready to admit that to myself or Carlos. I don't know why it is so difficult for me to say those three words. "I know, Carlos. I'm sorry, I don't know what to say. I don't know why it is difficult for me to express my feelings to you."

"Stephanie, Dr. Lewis suggested that you see a therapist along with Julie. She believes that you have some unresolved issues from your rape. It could be why you have difficulty committing and trusting men."

I sigh. I hate to admit it, but I think Tara is right. "Carlos, I'm afraid to face those demons. It happened so long ago, and I've buried the memories. I only stopped having nightmares about four years ago. I don't want them to come back. I don't know if I can face those fears."

"You'll be with me, and I'll be with you. I will help you through anything and everything. Remember, Babe, no price." Ranger says before kissing my forehead.

"But Carlos, there is always a price. Nothing is free."

"Stephanie, look at me." I look into his eyes. "I love you. You are my light, my life, my soul. I need you in my life. I have more money than I could ever spend in three lifetimes. I want to give you everything you need. I want to buy you anything and everything your heart desires including clothes, jewelry, cars, you name it. I want to take you to see the world. Babe, whatever you want, I will give you. Please let me. I thought I had everything I ever wanted, but that day I met you, I realized that I didn't. Now, with you lying next to me, in my arms, Julie in the next room, my life is almost complete."

"Almost complete?" I ask.

"The only other thing I want is to see you grow round with my child, to have a baby together, a piece of you and me to live beyond us, as a symbol of our love."

"Carlos, I'm overwhelmed." I start before he places his finger on my lips.

"Ssh. You don't need to decide anything today. I'll give you the time you asked for, but I just thought I'd give you the facts you needed to make your decision."

We lay together in bed a few more minutes before his alarm goes off. "Are you ready for our run?"

"Yup. Let's go."

We run the six miles that we've been running and spend a few minutes in the ocean, cooling down and making out a little. We re-enter the house at a quarter after seven. We quickly shower separately and eat breakfast with Julie. Promptly at eight, the BAU arrives.

Hector and Garcia immediately sit down and continue to dig through the adoption records and birth certificates listed for children that correspond to Emma and Thomas Goodwin's dates of birth. I decide to run an in-depth background on Terry Gilman. Though I know a lot of the basics, I don't know her family dynamic or her adult history outside of Burg gossip. Something also wasn't right when it came to the break-in at Dickie's. I decide to run a search on him while running one on Terry.

Luke, Spencer, Lester, and Manny are working on trying to figure out who the Miami unsub is. Rossi and Simmons are on their way to get Scottie. At least by the end of today, we'll have some of the answers we need.

Tara gave Ranger the number of her mentor last night, Karen Purpura. He made an appointment for Julie at one o'clock this afternoon. I asked him, during our run, to make me an appointment with her as well. I know, in my heart, that I love Carlos and I want a good life with him, but I still don't trust him. I am afraid that one day he's going to wake up and wonder what he is doing with someone as plain as I am. I mean, he's a Cuban sex God, capable of landing any woman in the world; that is based only on his looks. Add in that he is a multi-millionaire and there are very few women who wouldn't vie for the title of Mrs. Ricardo Carlos Manoso.

The search on Terry pings complete, I hit print and the papers are flying out of the printer. I select my favorite purple highlighter and begin to read up on Teresa Gilman, nee Grizoli. I find nothing surprising or unusual in her early childhood or teenage years. It isn't until her college years that I start to see interesting information show up on her history. It seems that Terry was a bookie in college, a pretty good one from what it looks like based on her bank account. Her sorority raised the most money for their philanthropic causes the years that she was attending school. She was the head of her sorority her senior year. Her mother died when she was fifteen. Her mother's name was Camila Orrograsso. Her mother's brother was beneficiary on her life insurances, not her father, Gianni Grizoli. Interesting. Her uncle's name is Richard Orrograsso, but he shorted his name to Orr when he was twenty-three, which coincided with Camila marrying Gianni. Holy shit! Dickie and Terry are cousins.

"Son of a bitch," I exclaim as I hit print. Going through Dickie's search, I know what I'm going to find. I don't even need to look to know that Terry and Dickie are unsub number one and number two.

"What is it, Babe?" Ranger asks.

"Terry Gilman and my no-good piece of shit ex-husband are cousins. My ex-father-in-law is Terry Gilman's mother's brother. I never knew that I married into the Grizoli family. No wonder they hate me. My divorce with Dickie ruined any chance that he would ever have at holding a public office. His goal in life was to become District Attorney, then, run for City Council or Mayor, eventually leading to a run for Congress or the Senate. I was to be his good little housewife, following him around and helping to progress his career. I was fine with that role until I found him fucking Joyce on my brand new dining room table. I made sure that everyone knew of his extramarital affairs. Unfortunately, I didn't have money, so my crappy lawyer allowed Dickie to stick me with all his debts. I got out of the marriage with over twenty thousand dollars in debt and Dickie had a ruined reputation. I still think I had a better outcome." I say, finishing my rant.

"My Spidey Sense is telling me that Terry Gilman is our first unsub and Richard "Dickie" Orr is our second unsub. They both fit the profile to a T. Dickie has a superiority complex. I do believe, now knowing his connection to the Grizolis, that if he would have succeeded in his political aspirations, that he would be in their pocket."

"It does make sense. As cousins, there would be loyalty between them. That could be what we thought was a sexual relationship." Rossi says.

"I wouldn't put it past Dickie to be sleeping with Terry, or at least fantasizing about it. He is scum with a capital S." I add.

"Babe, were the Grizolis at your wedding?"

"Ranger, everyone in the Burg was at my wedding. It was an affair with over 300 guests. I didn't even know half of the people there. I cannot go through that torture again."

Javier comes into the room with some good news for us. Children's services decided to grant us temporary custody of Thomas Goodwin. After Javier told them about the forged adoption and the possible tie to the murders, they agreed that staying with Ranger and I would be in Thomas' best interest. Now, to tell Julie and Maggie. I realize that another shopping trip is necessary to buy clothes for Thomas, along with some games.

"Ranger, we need to get supplies for Tommy, clothes, bedding, toys, etc. When are they planning to release him?"

"Monday morning. We can't get a judge to sign off on his custody arrangement until then." Javi answers.

"I guess we can give him the room that Mariela's been using. I know you wanted Woody, Manny, and Hector staying here, but I think it would be wise if they moved to Rangeman. We can give Mariela the large suite and Lester and Bobby can stay where they are." I start planning.

"Babe, Hector will stay in the first-floor bedroom. Manny and Woody will stay here. I'd prefer to have us all on-site." Ranger replies.

"We need to get furniture."

"Babe, take my credit card, go inside the house and order whatever we need online with Julie. You can have it shipped here tomorrow. Pay whatever fees we need to pay for express delivery. Don't worry about the setup. Between all of us here, I'm sure we can put the furniture together. Don't worry about the expense. If you want to go shopping for clothes, you and Julie can go tomorrow. I'll have Hector and Lester accompany you both."

"Okay. Thanks," I replied before kissing Carlos chastely. I take his card and go into the house to give Julie the good news.