Not mine, but a girl can dream.

Warning: language and sexual innuendo and smut, actually this chapter is lots of smut, but all integral to the storyline, I promise you. J

Better Man 8

Storyline borrowed from Lean Mean 13

I must have fallen asleep on the way to Haywood. The stress of the day had caught up with me. Who am I kidding? I could fall asleep anytime, anywhere, but the stress of the day from hell did contribute. I awoke when Ranger opened my door to help me out of the truck. He looked like he thought about taking my hand to help me down before he changed his mind and scooped me up bridal style and headed to the elevator. Now the enlightened, independent woman in me wanted to throw a fit and stand on my own two feet. But the tired and emotionally overwrought woman told her to shut the fuck up and just enjoy the feeling of safety in Ranger's arms.

Neither one of us had said anything since we left Joe's house. I was relieved that it was over, but I was hurting, not from the loss of Joe, but the loss of what I thought I had with him and the sting of his words as he showed me what little regard he had for me, speaking to me as if I was a whore. Ranger was quiet, which was not unusual, unless you took into consideration the last couple of days, and then it was downright weird. I didn't know what was going on with him, with us. Something had changed, there had been a shift. He had put a lot on the line, risked our friendship to force me to take a look at my life. When he got more than he bargained for, which was not unusual where I was concerned, he stepped up instead of running away. He had been tender and sweet with his touches, but there was still heat between us, evidenced by my 2 Ranger induced orgasms today. What I didn't know is was this closeness a temporary change as he helped me through this transition or was this taking it to the next level? My head hurt too much to think about it.

When we reached the apartment, Ranger shut and locked the door without putting me down before continuing to the bedroom and into the bathroom. He set me down and held onto my hips as I steadied myself. I placed my hands over top of his and squeezed.

"Thanks," I said simply. What I meant was, thanks for saving my life again tonight, for letting me fight my own battles, for being my best friend and for the ride upstairs. Oh and last but not least, definitely not least – thanks for the orgasm in the parking lot. I could have listed all of them, but I thought a simple 'thanks' covered everything. I am sure he understood what I meant.

"Anytime. Proud of you Babe." He kissed the top of my hair, which I am sure reeked of smoke, but thankfully it was not singed this time.

I needed out of these clothes and to rid myself of the smoke and soot from the fire. I started to strip as Ranger turned on the shower for me. I was down to my bra and panties by the time he finished adjusting the water temperature and turned to me. His breath hitched and his eyes darkened. He looked at me longingly before speaking hoarsely, "You clean up, and I'll go down and shower on four." He turned to leave. I caught his hand and he turned to me.

"Ranger, stay." He looked at me, taking in my state of undress as his eyes darkened a little more. He hesitated, having some sort of internal debate. Since I had no ESP, I had to wait until he finished. I thought he was going to say no, so I pulled out the big guns, "Please." I asked softly.

He didn't say anything; he just turned back towards me and started stripping off his clothes and weapons. While I would have loved to just stand and watch the show, I was feeling so filthy, from the club, the fire and from Joe. I stripped off my bra and panties and stepped into the shower. Stepping under the spray I washed my face first, getting rid of the grime.

I felt Ranger behind me. He placed both hands on my shoulders and began to knead them. My head dropped forward to give him better access. He swept my hair over my right shoulder and added kisses while he continued to massage my shoulders and upper arms. He stilled when he came upon the bruise had had left on my neck, tracing it with his fingers before kissing it gently. He stepped back for moment, reaching for my shampoo. He lathered up my hair, using the pads of his fingers and thumbs to massage my scalp. It was such an intimate act.

He proceeded to rinse my hair and then turned his attention to the rest of me. He lathered up the sponge and washed my body from tip to toe, tender, gentle movements. It was again, intimate without being overtly sexual. Of course a shower with Ranger had my hormones humming, but I managed to not make a fool of myself. He shut off the water and wrapped me in a towel and then himself. I was nearly comatose by this point, except for the hormones that is. I was touched by his actions. He reached into my basket under the sink and grabbed my comb and started to tame the snarls in my hair. A tear slid down my cheek. Other than my hairdresser, no one but me had combed my hair since I was in grade school.

He was taking care of me. I mean Ranger always took care of me; made sure I had jobs when my rent was due and skips were slow, made sure my gun was loaded, even if it was in my cookie jar, rescued me from my psycho stalkers, but this was on a whole different level. No one had even taken care of me in this way, I was touched deeply. I leaned in and kissed him gently as a thank you. I would have spoken, but tenderness like this was nothing I had ever experienced and I had no words.

His lips were so soft and welcoming. I traced his bottom lip with my tongue before taking it and sucking it into my mouth. I nipped and licked at it before releasing it again. I felt a low purr from deep in his throat as his mouth opened and his tongue invaded my mouth, sweeping, tasting, caressing. His hands came around and rested on my back, pulling me towards him. I fisted one hand in his hair, holding my mouth to his and the other slid down his back, over his perfect ass, holding him tightly to me. Any thoughts of being tired and sleeping flew out of my mind and were instantly replaced with a desperate need to have another Ranger induced orgasm. With no Joe guilt to hold me back, I planned on getting this one the old fashioned way; I was going to earn it.

The kiss deepened, he took control while I let my hands roam over his beautiful body. My left hand, still on his ass reached under and cupped his cheek, before massaging it not so gently. As I used that hand to pull him tighter to me, I could feel his reaction to me pressing hard into my hip. I released his hair with my right hand and trailed it down his neck, over his shoulders and to his chest. Finding his nipple, I pinched and twisted gently, bringing it to attention before I scraped my fingernail over it drawing a groan from him. Encouraged, I pulled back from his lips and started licking and sucking my way down his neck. The rumbling purr emanating from him sent a shock to my belly and I felt a rush of wetness between my legs. Knowing that I was making him feel this way made me feel sexy and strong. Go Wonder Woman! I let my hand move from his ass, over his hip, reaching between us to rub him though the towel. He moaned and his hips flexed, pushing himself further into my hand. I snaked my fingers into his towel at his waist to pull it away when he grabbed my wrist and pulled back from me, breathing heavily.

"Babe," he said breathlessly. I was breathing hard, not really wanting to talk, just in the mood to feel. So I stepped towards him placing my hand low on his stomach reaching again for his towel.

"Ranger," I replied in a voice that sounded much huskier than I could have thought possible. He placed his hand on top of mine, trapping it. "We can't do this, you…, me…, we need to talk, sort out some things." He sounded like he was trying to convince someone of this, but I wasn't sure if it was me or him. I sure as hell wasn't listening.

"Yes we can." He had one of my hands in his, so I used the other. I reached up grabbing his hair and pulling his mouth to mine as I kissed him hungrily. He had been caught off guard. I had learned from the master; applying pressure and all that, yada, yada, yada. Even the surprise of being caught off guard couldn't suppress his body's reaction to my kiss. I could feel him shudder and felt his erection pulsing against my hip. Feeling wicked, I rocked my hips against him. He growled before pulling back from me, pressing his forehead to mine. He pulled my hand from his hair and held both of my hands in his, behind my back, holding me to him. It was similar to how he held me in the truck that night when I had slapped him. I had been determined then and I was determined now. He was trying to maintain some control while I was pushing him to lose it. He was trying to be noble and I was having none of it. He wanted words; I could use some of his own.

"Ranger, are you my friend?" I know I sounded breathy, but I was hoping it was working for me, not against me. He pulled back a little so he could look at me, trying to read where I was going. He knew it wasn't a real question; he was just trying to figure out what I wanted for an answer. Rather than risk the wrong one, he just nodded.

I leaned back into him, placing kisses along his throat as I spoke in a hushed tone, "These are the benefits, I thought you wanted them. Remember?"

He stepped back, a look of sadness in his eyes, "Steph, I didn't mean it, I was hurt and angry."

"So you don't want me?" I tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let me. Great, now when I am ready for this he is the one backing away. I felt like I might just self combust from sexual frustration. Is that possible? I hope it isn't too messy; I would hate to leave that for Ella.

"No Steph, you are twisting things. Of course I want you, just not like this. You need time, you have things to work through, and I don't want to take advantage of you." His eyes pleaded with me. I knew what he was doing, he was protecting me again. Well this is one time I didn't need protecting. I am a big girl. Of all of the Rangers this was my least favorite, Noble Ranger. The one who put what was morally right ahead of everything else and not caring who it hurt, himself included.

Maybe I was making a mistake, but all I could think about was being with him, tonight. That night we had together was the best night of my life, I didn't know if it had been a mistake or not, but some mistakes are too much fun to make only once. Good Stephanie said, 'this isn't a good idea, it could be painful in the morning.' Bad Stephanie bitch slapped her and told her, 'pain is mind over matter, I don't mind and you don't matter.' It was getting awful noisy and crowded in my head. So I told them both to shut the hell up while I focused on my goal. All I knew was I needed to feel powerful and sexy. The only time I have ever felt that way was that night, with him. I wasn't going to let him stop me because of some stupid misguided moral crusade.

"Goddamit Ranger! Don't do this to me! Don't treat me like this." I pulled back from him.

He looked confused and I felt a little guilty, "Like what?"

I needed him to understand, "Like I am a victim, like I am broken."

He tried to soothe me, but I was having none of it, "Steph, I'm not…"

I interrupted him, "What Joe said to me, when I think about the things he's said and done to me, I feel dirty and small and weak and I don't want to feel that way…" I drifted off. He put his arms around me, tucking my face into his shoulder while he stroked small circles on my back.

"Babe, shh…, it isn't true, any of it." He seemed at a loss for how to comfort me. I had a few ideas.

I needed him to understand, this is what I wanted, what I needed from him tonight. I pleaded with him, "I don't want to feel this way. I want to feel strong and beautiful and sexy." I didn't know what the morning would bring, what would happen between us in the future, but I didn't care. I needed him tonight.

He slipped his finger under my chin and tipped my head up to look at him. He kissed me softly and whispered against my lips, "Babe, you are all of those things." His eyes pleaded with mine to believe him. Words were nice, but tonight I needed actions.

"Show me." I demanded as I kissed him deeply.

He returned the kiss before Noble Ranger made another appearance and he pulled back.

"Do you think I am strong?" I asked in a hushed tone.

Both of his hands slid up to cup my face and he looked me in the eye as he answered, "You are one of the strongest people I know." His voice was full of admiration. I felt myself tear up. I needed to hear this, to be reassured.

"Do you think I am beautiful?" I was embarrassed to be begging the answers from him, but I couldn't help myself, I seemed to be spiraling out of control.

He kissed the spot just below my ear before whispering, "Tu eres muy bonita. You are very beautiful."

"Do you think I am sexy?"

"God yes." He answered hoarsely, almost painfully.

"Show me Ranger. Make love to me." I begged him shamelessly.

"Babe." He sounded pained. Again, I felt guilty. I knew he was trying to do what he thought was right, but he was misguided. "Babe, I want this, I want you, you know that, but we need to talk, sort some things out, I don't want to take advantage of you." He was starting to sound like a broken record.

Something inside me snapped. All of my life I had been the good girl, listened to what other people wanted for me, what they thought I needed. It didn't go so well. I couldn't let Ranger and I go down that road too. I let other people make decisions for me and I resented them for it. I was my turn to decide. If things didn't go well, I would gladly accept the blame. I would take the pain happily, hell a little pain might be nice. Pain is Mother Nature's way of telling you you're not dead yet. The opposite of dead is alive and I needed to feel alive.

Angry, I pulled away from him, not wanting his comfort. "What about what I want? What I need? Isn't that what started all of this?" My voice was rising.

"Steph…" I didn't let him finish. Noble Ranger needed to take a hike, I needed Sexy Ranger back.

"What? It's ok when you push me to make my own decisions about my life, but when I decide what I want you feel the need to protect me from myself again? How fucked up is that?" I was working myself up into a good head of steam. "I understand you thought you need to protect me from Joe tonight, I get it, but I took care of it, I am fine. What the hell do you think you are protecting me from now?" I have had enough of his crap.

"You aren't thinking all of this through. I don't want you to get hurt." He tried to reason with me. Like reasoning with me has ever worked.

"Are you going to hurt me Ranger?" I asked him in a throaty whisper. "Maybe I want to get hurt, feel some pain. The line between pain and pleasure can be very fine. Very, very fine." My voice lost its anger and took on a seductive tone. Now I was downright taunting him, begging him.

"Babe, I would never hurt you. I am just trying to help you. Give you the support you need." I could feel his resolve slipping away. I licked my lips and pulled out the big guns.

"What I need Ranger is for you to get over here and fuck me. Make me scream your name and forget about Joe and every other rotten thing that has ever happened to me. Do you think you can do that for me?" With the challenge made I dropped my towel and waited. I didn't have to wait long. Before I could blink he was in front of me and his mouth crashed down on mine in a bruising kiss. He growled and backed me up until I was flush with the wall. Both of my hands were fisted in his hair, scared that if I let go he would be gone. I poured my need for him into that kiss. His hands were at my hips, holding me tightly. He slid one of them up to cup my breast as he ran his thumb over my nipple causing it to pebble. I moaned into his mouth and arched into his hand, wanting more.

He tore his lips from mine, a husky timbre to his voice, "Are you sure Babe?" I am sure neither of us wanted to stop.

Not trusting my voice, I let my actions speak for me. Keeping one hand in his hair, I pulled back, exposing his neck to me. I licked the few remaining droplets of water left from his wet hair off his neck before I moved to his pulse point where I licked and then sucked hard marking him. My other hand slid down his chest, scraping over his nipple and continuing down to his waist and grabbing that damn towel, ripping it from his body. Pleased with myself, I grabbed his cock and gave it a firm squeeze before releasing him and grabbing his ass to pull his hips into mine. I released the skin from my mouth as I licked a path up to his ear and whispered, "Very," grinding my hips into his as I pulled him harder into me.

I felt him shudder and a deep moan escaped from him as he captured my lips again in a greedy, hungry kiss. He sucked my tongue into his mouth and caressed it with his tongue. He released my mouth as his lips captured my nipple sucking hard before scraping it between his teeth and teasing it with his tongue. His other hand was busy making sure my other nipple was not neglected; he pulled and rolled it between his finger and thumb until it ached. Not wanting to show favoritism, he moved his mouth to the other side and repeated his actions.

I was overwhelmed with desire and the need I had for him was pulsing through my body. All thoughts of the outside world ceased as I gave myself over to the sensations he was causing in my body. He released my nipple and he returned to my lips. He graced me with an intense kiss before whispering against my lips, "Dios, Babe. You are so beautiful." He kissed me again, and then pulled back, "I want you so much." He placed kissed along my jaw until he reached my ear. He sucked the lobe into his mouth, scraping it with his teeth before whispering in a strained voice, "I need to taste you. I want to watch you come screaming my name." I nearly came right then. My legs buckled, but he caught my hips and pressed me hard into the wall to steady me. He licked the shell of my ear and asked me, "Do you want that Babe?" Did I want that? God yes, I couldn't think of anything else I wanted in the world.

I could barely choke out the words, "Please." I sobbed.

He dropped to his knees in front of me, his gaze sweeping my whole body. I was unashamed as I watched him worshiping my body with his eyes, waiting for him to do the same with his mouth. He swept my left leg over his shoulder as he ran his hand back up, under my thigh and up to my hip where he used it to steady me. He leaned forward inhaling my scent as his eyes fluttered closed. After a moment they opened again and caught mine briefly. He leaned in and licked my lips, parting them with his tongue.

At his touch my head flew back and eyes shut, trying to concentrate on the feeling of his tongue on my body. He tortured me with his mouth licking slowly up my lips, circling around my clit and then pressing the lightest of kisses to it before starting over again. My body hummed as he repeated this over and over again. He let out a moan of contentment, like there is nothing else in the world he would rather be doing. I whimpered at the vibrations his moan caused. I felt a finger trailing along behind his tongue, following his set path before feeling it plunge inside me. I shrieked at the invasion and he added another, thrusting in and out of me, following the pace of his tongue.

I panted; my orgasm was tightening in my belly as the heat from his mouth spread out reaching all the way to my finger tips. My hips started to buck against him wanting more. His tongue stopped its travels and he latched onto my clit sucking it into his mouth caressing it with his tongue. His fingers thrust into me harder and faster, matching the pace of my hips while he continued to press my hip into the wall keeping me from falling. My orgasm ripped through me with such force I had to grab onto his hair to steady myself while I screamed in reverence, "Omigod…yes…god…fuck…Ranger!"

He withdrew his fingers from me and I whimpered, but they were quickly replaced by his tongue as he thrust into me, then lapped at the juices that flowed from me before thrusting in again. Not satisfied with his access he swept my left leg over his other shoulder, his hands under my ass, holding me steady against the wall. Before I could come down completely he had me spiraling up again. Through my lust filled haze I watched as he loved my body, sure in the knowledge that he was enjoying it as much as I was. The muscles in his arms flexed as he held my full weight seemingly effortlessly.

What I can only describe as gurgles of pleasure escaped my throat as I came again with Ranger fucking me with his tongue as he reached over and pinched my clit, holding my right hip against the wall with his forearm. I could form no words this time, just shrieks and purely inhuman sounds escaped as my body shook with my release. Had Ranger not held my weight I would have crashed to the floor.

He slipped his hands from my ass and moved them up my back. With my knees over his shoulders and his face still buried between my legs, he stood and carried me over to the bed. How he knew where the hell he was going was beyond me, but I wasn't really in any condition to ask. He laid me down placing kisses along my lips and on my clit, causing me to shiver in their sensitive state. He climbed up my body laying wet kisses in his wake. As soon as I could reach him, I kissed him hungrily eager to taste myself on his lips and tongue. There is nothing sexier than a man who has the taste of you on his lips. Another thing I discovered with Ranger. With Joe oral sex was means to an end, a way to get me ready for the main attraction. With Ranger it was an experience all in its own right. Ranger made me feel like a goddess and he was more than happy to worship at my temple.

Embracing my inner sex goddess, I felt the need for my own worship at the altar of the Cuban Sex God. Deepening the kiss, I gripped Ranger's shoulders and pushed, whispering to him in my now hoarse voice, "Sit back." He pushed up and sat back on his haunches. God this man is sexy and tonight he was mine. In what capacity I didn't know, but he was my best friend and I knew he loved me; in his own way he had said, but whatever that way was, it was enough. My gaze traveled from his muscular thighs, over his beautiful cock that ached for me, his gorgeous muscled abdomen and chest, to his broad shoulders which usually held the weight of the world. I continued up the cords in his neck, appreciating the mark I had given him, his strong jaw and his gorgeous face framed by the curtain of his silky black hair. His eyes were locked on mine as I took in his sexy smile and I returned his gaze filled with love and desire.

I sat in front of him, his legs spread straddling mine. I reached up dragging my nails across his abs, he shivered. Encouraged I traced the crevices separating the muscles with my tongue. A groan was my reward. I grasped his thighs above the knee and moved up to his hips, with gentle pressure. My hands slid over his hips and around to cup his ass as I nuzzled my cheek against his stomach and the soft and silky fine trail of hair that lead to his luscious cock. I licked my lips in anticipation and looked up at him.

In a voice filled with desire I said to him, "I want this," grasping the base and giving it a gentle squeeze. I leaned over and licked the pre cum that had gathered on the head, pulling it back into my mouth and swallowing with satisfaction. "I need this," I said. My eyes locked on his as I leaned forward taking the head into my mouth and sucking, then stopping to twirl my tongue around it, paying special attention to the slit. His head dropped back as a satisfied growl came from him; my eyes closed, focusing on the taste of him, the way he felt in my mouth, against my tongue.

He was impossibly hard, pulsing against my tongue. My right hand was wrapped around the base, stroking him with a gentle rhythm, my left remained on his ass, stroking and kneading. I moved to take him deep, knowing there was no way I could take all of him. In fact after all this time, I wondered if all of it was going to fit anywhere, but I was really looking forward to trying. God he tasted good, his skin so smooth over the hard muscle that mirrored the rest of his body. I ran my lips up and down his shaft as far as I could, stopping and sucking hard at his head and then licking it like a lollipop. He moaned and I felt his hand fist itself in my curls, the other in a tight fist at his side.

In a strangled voice he croaked out, "Jesus Steph." I smiled around him and moaned taking him deeper in my throat. My hand slipped from the base of him to cup and roll his balls in my hand before tugging gently. Any other plans I had were cut short as he slipped from my mouth with an audible 'pop' as he hauled me up the front of him. "Fuck," Ranger muttered against my lips before kissing me fiercely.

I pulled back long enough to murmur "Ok," before I found myself on my back and his face inches away from mine and his eyes trained on mine.

"Dios Mio, you are so beautiful." He leaned forward and kissed my lips gently. "You make me lose control," another kiss. "The way you respond to me; I love to watch you come while I pleasure you with my lips and tongue." He kissed me deeper this time before continuing, "The sight of your beautiful lips wrapped around my cock makes me want to give you anything you want and tell you all of my secrets." A long and sensual kiss, "But there is nothing like the feeling of being buried deep inside you watching you come, screaming my name while your body squeezes me tight as I fill you with my cum." Wow. I had no words, well no words other than 'wow' and I didn't think that would quite cut it. So I kissed him; hoping to tell him all that he made me feel, sexy and beautiful, powerful and cherished. Being with him was unlike anything I had every experienced, like there were entire groups of emotions and nerve ending that were only accessible to him. I loved him.

Breaking the kiss, he held my gaze, looking at me in a way no man ever had. He rocked his hips, teasing me with the head, running it back and forth over my slick folds. I gasped when he touched my clit and then moaned in anticipation. "Ranger, god, I need you. I need you now." I whispered desperately. He smiled against my lips as he rose up and buried himself inside of me. My eyes went wide with the sensation and then fluttered shut, overwhelmed.

He was still, whispering against my cheek, "Open your eyes Babe." I opened them, looking into the most gorgeous Latino eyes, nearly black with desire. He started to move, pulling almost all of the way out, before swiftly filling me again. Setting his own pace he continued, I moaned at the sensation, being so full, so complete, so satisfied. "God, it's been so long," his voice was thick with longing.

Echoing his sentiments, I could only get out, "Perfect." I felt like I was going to faint, the doomsday orgasm was just beyond the horizon and quickly approaching. My eyes slid back into my head and I closed my eyes, it was all too much. I was on sensory overload, I was so close. Then he stopped. Bastard. My eyes flew open.

"Keep your eyes open, I want to see them when you come and I want you to see me. See what you do to me. I want you to know it is me inside you, making you fly." He kissed me, gentle at first, but it heated quickly as we were both screaming for release.

"Eyes open or not, I know it is you inside me. No one has ever made me feel the way you make me feel; fill me so perfectly, send me so high, make me come so hard." Apparently my inner sex goddess was still in full control of my mouth. Good Stephanie would never say such things. She was such a frigid bitch. Spurred on by my words, Ranger resumed his movements, but it wasn't enough. I met his thrusts, giving as good as I got. I wrapped my legs around his hips, taking him deeper; he growled and thrust faster, his eyes locked with mine. I was on the edge, "Harder, oh god, Ranger, fuck…fuck me harder." I ground out teetering on the edge. All too happy to help me out, he thrust into me hard and fast, grinding his hips, bumping my clip with each stroke. I lost it, my orgasm ripped through me violently, shattering me into a million pieces before pulling back into one. "Oh god, Ranger, oh god, Ranger…yes, yes, yes." I was sobbing, my body pulsing as Ranger followed me with a shout, my name followed by lots of Spanish that I couldn't understand. Wow. Again with my eloquence, I am a master of the English language, what can I say.

Ranger rolled us over, so I was on top, his arms wrapped around me to keep my boneless body from sliding off him. He pulled the sheet to cover us as I sighed. "Happy," was all I could say.

Ranger's chest rumbled under me as he chuckled, "I'm a lucky man Babe." Feeling more content than I had in years, well since you know, I drifted off to sleep, with Ranger rubbing circles on my back speaking softly in Spanish. Tomorrow, I would deal with the rest tomorrow.

5,641 words minus title, warning, yada, yada, yada.