Not mine, but a girl can dream.
Warning: language and sexual innuendo and smut.
Better Man 11
Storyline borrowed from Lean Mean 13
When I slept alone, I was all over the place; I always awoke tangled in my sheets. During the night I was usually up several times; to change position, get a drink, needing to pee, or get a snack. I never woke up in exactly the same position I went to sleep in. When I slept with Joe, it was the same thing, but I only had half a bed to work with. A few times I tossed and turned so much he left in the middle of the night or told me to go sleep on the couch. If we happened to wake up in the same bed in the morning, I was on my side; he was on his, our backs to each other. Do you think that should have told me something?
I really hadn't thought anything of it, until Ranger. I guess there were a lot of things I hadn't questioned until Ranger. Over the past two years he and I have shared a bed on several occasions. Each time, I went to sleep touching him in some way. Sometimes I went to sleep tucked into his side, him on his back; one of my legs thrown over his, my arm draped over his chest. Other times like now, I was on my side with him spooned against my back, his arms wrapped around me. In the morning I always woke in exactly the same position, and completely rested. The morning after the deal was the first time I noticed it. I chalked it up to the fact that we were so exhausted, neither of us had enough energy to move. But even nights there had been no sex, like when he stayed with me during Scrog; the mornings had been the same. Being with Ranger, awake or asleep, I was content. It felt right.
This morning I woke tucked up next to Ranger again. I could get used to this. One of his arms was under my head and his other was across my chest, breast in hand. The difference in our skin tone was stark. My breasts were whiter than white, his dark mocha hand a sharp contrast. It took my breath away.
I could feel Ranger's breath on my neck, slow and even. He was still sleeping. I glanced at the clock, 6:00 am. This was late for Ranger, early for me. Even though it was early, I was wide awake and well rested. It was pretty amazing considering how little sleep I had gotten. Ranger had really enjoyed hearing me scream his name and I did last night over and over again. Sex with Ranger was aerobic exercise. I had worked muscle groups I didn't even know I had. But rather than feeling tired in the morning, I was wound up like the Energizer Bunny.
I could tell when Ranger woke up. His breathing changed, his hand around my breast began to work in earnest and his erection that was pressed against my ass grew as he rubbed against me. All subtle clues I know, but I work in law enforcement, I am trained to notice these things. He worked my neck and shoulder with his mouth, brushing the skin with his lips, stopping to kiss, lick and nip places along the way. I felt his chest rumble against my back as he purred, sounding contented.
"Mmmm… morning," his voice was sexy with sleep.
I laughed, "I don't know Batman, I think I am a bad influence on you."
I think he was only half listening to me; a great portion of his attention was focused on my neck and breast. "Hmmm…" I think it was a question.
"Here I am wide awake at this unholy hour, while you are dead to the world. No running? Your inner alarm clock broken?" I teased.
He chuckled, "Nope, just a good reason to stay in bed. And I believe we got in plenty of cardio last night and early this morning." His voice deepened as he reminded me. I turned my head to look at him, yup, wolf grin. He kissed me before nuzzling his nose against mine. I could tell something was on his mind.
"So are you going to tell me about Morelli?" he asked softly.
I sighed, "Do I have to?"
"Babe," which meant yes you do.
"Fine. He's an ass. What more do you need to know?" I was hoping that would suffice, but knew it wouldn't.
He chuckled, "Maybe why you stunned him." He had brought his hand that had been still on the bed up to my breast, taking over for the one he moved to caress my hips and abdomen.
"Oh, that," I said, like I had almost forgotten. "Our conversation had reached a stalemate, I was right and he was an idiot. He needed a time out."
"Babe," this time it meant explain. I knew he was distracting me with his hands so I would spill. It was working.
I guess I was going to have to tell him, "Alright, I stepped into the alley to answer my phone. It was my Mom." I grimaced.
His eyebrow was raised.
"I know but it was either that or answer Lula's question about if you were helping me out sexually." Again with the wolf grin. He rocked his pelvis into my ass, rubbing his cock against me.
I continued, trying to concentrate, "Anyway, when I hung up the phone Joe was there."
"Where was Lester?" Shit.
"Don't be mad at him." I begged. "He was in the office picking up Rangeman files. I stepped out for some privacy. I didn't expect Joe to find me."
His movements slowed, they seemed gentler. He was frowning, "What did he say?"
I sighed, "Crap and lots of it, very loudly."
That wasn't going to cut it, "Specifically?" He ran his hand up and down my side, caressing me from under my arm to the middle of my thigh.
"Um, why I was lying and trying to ruin his career, he loves me, we were meant for each other, you are just using me, I've been screwing you behind his back forever; accept my place in the burg blah, blah, blah." I hoped if I said it all real fast, I wouldn't have to go into detail. He turned me so I was on my other side, now facing him. I think he wanted to look at me and realized I was getting a kink in my neck.
"And your response?" His face was different. It wasn't the blank face, but it wasn't the normal one either. I felt like something I had said upset him, but he didn't want to let me know it bothered him. He resumed brushing his fingers gently up and down the side of my body with slow caresses.
I continued on, "I told him he was the one lying. He is a sick fuck if that is how he treats people he loves. I am done with him and the burg." He smiled.
"And?" He asked.
If I played dumb, he might let it pass, "And what?"
"You look guilty." He took my leg and placed it on top of his as he slid his knee between mine.
Trying to distract me, he moved his hand to concentrate on my ass and thigh. He tipped his head and kissed my neck and throat. "What are you not telling me?"
I would tell him anything he wanted as long as he kept that up. "Um, I may have baited him a little bit. Ahh…" He sucked gently on the mark that was fading on my neck. "Well, he asked if I would have had the guts to stand up to him at the station if you hadn't been holding my hand. Um ahh… and I reminded him your hand had been on my knee I thought, but that since it had been so many places lately, I couldn't be sure." My voice was a throaty whisper.
"Babe," he chuckled as he slipped his hand between my cheeks to stroke me, raising my leg higher on his hip.
I moaned, "And maybe, just maybe when he insisted I must have been sleeping with you behind his back all this time, I kind of rubbed in his face how he could be sure that wasn't true by just looking at me." He stopped kissing my neck for a second with an eyebrow raised in a silent question. "Ohhh…" His hand was stroking my slit which was damp and waiting for him. "I looked thoroughly fucked and um happy. Everyone can tell when I've had sex. But I pointed out that he had never seen me quite so happy. With him the next day I glowed like a 40 watt light bulb. Yesterday I was putting out more like 120 watts." He must have appreciated the compliment. Two fingers slipped inside of me as I felt him growl against my throat as he resumed sucking and kissing my neck.
I felt lightheaded as I tried to explain. "It wasn't my fault. It was Bad Stephanie."
He kissed up my neck to my ear, sucking the lobe into his mouth then whispered, curious, "Bad Stephanie?"
"Hmm… You know like in the cartoons where they show the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Mine are Good Stephanie and Bad Stephanie." I don't know why I was telling him this, but he was making me crazy and I couldn't stop.
He moved to my lips, sucking the lower one into his mouth, caressing it with the tip of his tongue, biting it gently before releasing. "I think I like Bad Stephanie." He said against my lips.
I felt the need to warn him, "You shouldn't. She slapped you." I moaned.
He groaned, "She's the naughty one?" He moved his lips down my throat and latched on to my nipple. He moved my leg higher, thrusting harder, his thumb finding my clit. Omigod.
"Un huh," was all I could manage. With a clear head I am not terribly articulate. With what he was doing to my body, I was lucky I remembered to breathe, much less come up with words. All I could do was concentrate on the orgasm that was rapidly approaching, threatening to overcome me.
He growled. He spoke against my breast in a low voice, "No more slapping. Spanking on the other hand…" Omigod. He didn't finish, instead he sucked my nipple into his mouth and bit down as he pumped his hand feverishly into me.
"Omigod…Oh god Carlos…" My body contracted around his hand as I came; gripping his shoulders to keep myself from flying off the bed. He slowed his hand, but kept up the movement, prolonging my release. My breasts were covered with kisses and licks as I returned to earth.
I lay on my back trying to catch my breath. Ranger was propped up on his side next to me, tracing lazy patterns on my skin with his finger tips. There was a look on his face I couldn't quite place, sad maybe. He kissed my forehead, "Do you think I am using you?" That's what had bothered him about what Joe had said.
I snorted, "Do you think I would let you use me? What if I am using you? Why does no one think about that? Do I look that stupid?" I should just shut up, but it was such an asinine question. I think my reaction startled him, he didn't know how to respond, and so he kissed me, long and hard.
"Babe," he whispered against my lips, "I don't think you are stupid and I don't think you are using me. I just didn't want him to put doubts in your head."
I sighed, "Why would I listen to anything Joe has to say about us. The man wouldn't know a healthy relationship if it bit him in the ass. You should have heard him yesterday go on and on about how he loved me since he was 8 and we were meant to be. He didn't take it too well when I questioned the problems I saw with our past. He just got angry and insisted I was making him look bad and I have always thought I was too good for the burg. He was positively delusional." Sorry for my outburst, I leaned up and pulled Ranger to me, kissing him hard, trying to show that I felt the conversation was over and we could move onto other things.
He groaned into my mouth and rolled us over so I was on top of him. I sat up straddling him. I let my eyes rake over his body coming to rest on his beautiful face. I was shocked to find his eyes hard and angry. My eyes followed his hand and it traced up my left arm to an ugly bruise that circled my bicep. It was purplish black and I was pretty sure you could get fingerprints from it, the marks left by Joe's hand were so clear.
"Did he do that?" His jaw was set and he was trying to control his anger. His fingertips carefully skimmed the skin around the bruise.
I took a deep breath, "It got to the point where he wasn't listening to anything I said. The more I argued with him, the angrier he got. He had my arm. I knew if I didn't get away from him, I was really going to get hurt. So this," I nodded my head towards the mark on my arm, "was when I decided stunning him was the safest option for both of us."
Ranger sat up and wrapped his arms around me as he placed kisses in my hair. "You never disappoint Babe. After all the shit he has put you through, you were worried about what was best for him too." He began rubbing his hands up and down my back, pressing me to him.
"Joe may be an ass, but he has never been violent before. Sure, he has been a self centered bastard, but he had never physically hurt me before. He just seemed out of control. I think he felt like he was losing everything all at once. I am sure things at work will be rough, and we are over. You have to understand too, the burg put expectations on me, Joe has some on him too, as stupid as it may be, it will make it harder on him. But I don't think he will hurt me again. I am not excusing his behavior, but I don't see him repeating it." I kissed him gently. "Ok?" He nodded. "Good, I like the new dining room set Ella bought and I would like to have a chance to use it before you destroy it." I teased him.
He captured my lips in a bruising kiss and pulled me tightly to him. He growled and wrapped my legs around his waist and rose up to his knees. He moved to the edge of the bed and stood with me wrapped around him, his hands under my ass. He swiftly moved across the room and the next thing I know I was on top of the new dining room table. My ass was perched on the edge of the table and Ranger stood between my legs as he leaned me back on the table, kissing me senseless.
"All kinds of ways to use a table Babe," his voice was thick. I shuddered. He licked his way down my body until his face was planted between my legs. He snatched the closest chair and sat down. He spread my legs wide and looked up at me, his eyes black with desire, "Eating," he said in a voice that oozed sex. I moaned as his mouth descended upon me. He licked and sucked and drank like a starving man, groaning in delight. A new flood of wetness found his mouth and tongue as he brought me to the edge before pulling back. He stood and positioned himself at my opening. "Entertaining," he moaned as he slid into me. His eyes fluttered closed as his head dropped back, overcome with the sensation. Recovering, he wrapped my legs around his waist as he pulled back slowly before thrusting into me again. My body was humming as he pushed into me, sliding his hands under my ass and lifting me up to meet his thrusts.
The smooth wood against my back and the rough thrusts as Ranger pounded in and out of me were wreaking havoc on my senses. I brought my hands up to my breasts, twisting and pulling on my nipples, anything to get myself closer to release. Ranger's eyes darkened as he watched my hands work my nipples. I watched his arms as they flexed, moving me against his cock. I could feel his grip on me tighten and I knew we were both close. He brought his hand up and flicked my clit adding "Celebrating," to the list as we both came with intensity. He shouted my name and purred against my neck as I chanted his name in reverence; our voices echoing off the walls. We lay with our foreheads together, trying to remember how to breathe. He remembered first.
He grinned at me, "I like this table." He pulled me up off the table and set me on my feet. I kissed him and turned to head to the bathroom.
"Oh, I don't know if I'm sold on it. We might have to try it again later just to be sure." I smirked at him.
"Smartass," He reached over and smacked my ass playfully as he chased me to the bathroom.
By the time we finished showering, together of course to conserve water; it was too late for an Ella breakfast. Plus I wasn't sure I could eat at the table just yet without having a hot flash. Ranger had meetings to get to and I had skips to catch. He was going to grab something downstairs; I could get something while I was out. I picked up Lester and we were off. We drove through McDonalds. A huge iced coffee and 2 apple pies later I was ready. Hey don't judge, on the molecular level doughnuts and pies are nearly identical, cookies too. You can't argue with science.
"Where to Beautiful?" my chauffer asked.
"We need to go get the beaver guy." I told Lester.
He choked on his Mc Muffin. He recovered and then answered, "I can be your beaver guy Beautiful." Wolf grin.
I rolled my eyes, "Carl Coglin, he's a taxidermist with a penchant for explosives. The man stuffs beavers and makes them explode."
Bigger wolf grin. In a sexy voice he asked, "What do you think I do with them?" Holy hotflash. I chose to ignore him.
I explained about my POS car that had been groundhogged, poor Chet and the fun Lula and I had with Joyce. After he laughed so hard he had to pull over, we brainstormed. Lester suggested a truce; he placed a call, from one beaver man to another. When he explained the cable situation I came up with a plan. We stopped by my parents' house and picked up Grandma Mazur. Of course we couldn't be lucky enough for her to be waiting by the curb. She and my mom were waiting at the door.
"Beautiful, you go on ahead, I'll just wait here." Lester suggested. Coward.
"Un uh, you are coming in with me. You are my back up and I need back up in there." I tried reasoning.
He shook his head no, "Back up does not include having to fight off your scary grandma. I didn't wear a cup." He covered his crotch with his hands.
If reasoning wouldn't work, I could move on to threats. "Did you get in trouble for yesterday?"
He nodded, "Ranger was pretty pissed. I was supposed to meet him on the mats this morning, but apparently," he stopped to look me over from head to toe. Grinning he continued, "He had better things to do this morning. Thanks Beautiful. You saved my ass."
I narrowed my eyes at him, "If you think he was angry that I stunned a cop on your watch, how deep will you be when I shoot my mother because you were sitting here in the car?" It was low I know, but I couldn't go in there alone.
"Fine, but keep your granny's hands off my dick." He huffed and got out of the car. I didn't understand how these big scary Army men were afraid of my little old grandma. Sure she was a little odd and oversexed, but I loved her.
My mother greeted us both at the door with her perfect burg manners.
"Stephanie aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?" She looked at me kind of strangely, but I shrugged it off. She was probably trying to figure out which rumors she had heard were true.
"Mom, this is my friend Lester, he works with me at Rangeman." Lester gave her his full on smile and she blushed like a school girl.
Grandma leered at him, "Does Ranger only hire boys with nice packages? That Ranger is hot, but you could give him a run for his money." I think that was a compliment.
"Thank you Ms. Mazur. Ranger and I are cousins so there might be some family resemblance." He gave her a smile and took another step behind me.
Mom ushered us inside, Lester carefully keeping me in between him and my grandma's hands. Mom poured coffee and set out coffee cake. I'd already had pie, but the cake seemed like a nice compliment, almost like a side dish.
"So Stephanie, I thought you told me yesterday you and Joseph broke up." Great here we go again.
I sighed, "We did mom. It's for good this time."
"But if, then why…" She looked confused. Grandma interjected.
"If it wasn't the Italian Stallion, who helped you get your happy on? You look like you'd glow in the dark." I was dumbfounded. I knew my friends could tell when I had sex; I didn't know my family was included. Omigod. This is my mother and my grandmother and they know I had sex! Lester was doing a fish impression. I am guessing his Abuela didn't ask him about his sex life.
"Mother!" my mom shrieked.
"Calm down Ellen, you were wondering so I asked. It would be weird for her mother to ask. I was just trying to help out, ease the tension, although I don't think Stephanie has any tension left. Do you dear? Is it that hot Cuban bounty hunter Ranger who put that smile on your face or is it this one right here?" She grinned at Lester and he choked on his coffee cake. Ranger was going to have to pay him double for this.
"Grandma, I…"
She interrupted, "I could have told you it wasn't that Morelli boy Ellen, look at her. He doesn't have it in him to do this to her. I think it is because he spread it around so much when he was younger he doesn't have enough left for a quality job like this." I should have known better, I had a mouthful of coffee that was now spewed all over the table.
I hopped up from the table, "Sorry Mom, we've gotta go. Grandma's going to house sit while I take a guy in to get re-bonded." Maybe I could get out of this without having to pony up any info.
My mom saw us out, still staring at me. She turned back into the house, I'm sure she was headed to the pantry for some Jack Daniels. If I didn't have to work, I would join her.
We got Grandma settled in at Coglin's house and hauled Beaver guy down to get re-bonded. Lester and Carl discussed the finer points of beavers, but I felt there were really two conversations going on there. It sounded like they were both experts in their fields. Carl thanked Grandma for her help and asked if he could take her to coffee as a thank you.
Our job was done, so Lester and I headed off for surveillance. We had lunch at the food court, on the lookout for Simon Diggery. It was rumored he was working here today. Doing what, I didn't know.
I got a sandwich from Chik-fil-a, waffle fries and a Coke. Lester got 2 of the same and we found a spot to watch from. He kept looking at me, like he was going to say something and then stopping himself. It was driving me crazy!
"What?" I think I said it a little too loud because people all around us turned to look at us.
"So you wanna tell me about Morelli?" He finally asked.
"What about him?" I was tired of talking about Joe.
His eyes flicked to the bruise on my arm, "That from him?"
I nodded, "He wouldn't let go, so I stunned him. I told you he needed a time out."
He grinned and then shook his head, "I just can't figure it out."
"What?" I asked around a mouthful of chicken.
"What the fuck you were doing with him?" Him and me both.
I sighed, "It's a long story."
He chewed for a minute then decided to brave it. "I know most of it, the choo-choo game, the bakery…"
I gasped, "How is it you know and Ranger didn't?"
He looked at me like I was an idiot, "Would you want to be the one to tell Ranger something that would end in murder?"
He had a point, "Who knew?"
"I knew, Bobby and Tank too. One of the cops was talking at Pino's one night. If we didn't know it would have gotten back to Ranger we would have beaten the shit out of the guy just for telling the story. I can't tell you what we wanted to do to Morelli." He was remembering that night and apparently the plan because he had a far away happy look on his face. He finally snapped out of it.
"Beautiful, you know how protective Ranger is of you. It couldn't come from one of us. If it had he would have gone and killed Morelli and no one would have found the body. I am assuming the only casualty was the dining room table?" I nodded.
My eyes were wide, "How did you know?"
Lester shrugged, "Luis needed help getting the remains out and the new table in."
Crap, "So does that mean all of the guys know? I mean they all had to see the pieces of the table being carted out."
He looked like he really didn't want to tell me this part, "Umm, well most of them think you and Ranger broke the table…together. Someone even tried to dust for ass prints." My eyes went wide, remembering this morning.
"Oh God Ella! My ass print is on the dining room table!" I put my head in my hands and thought why me?
Lester looked at me like I was crazy. "Steph, the table is destroyed, don't worry about it."
I grabbed my phone and hit 1 on the speed dial.
"Yo."
"Are you in the building? Please tell me you are in the apartment and Ella hasn't been there yet." I was frantic.
"Babe, is this about the sheets? I told you not to worry about it." He was chuckling.
"No Ranger, this isn't about the sheets, this is about the fact that there is a giant ass print – my ass in the middle of the new dining room table." I was shrieking. He didn't say anything. "Ranger? Ranger? Are you there?"
"I'll take care of it." And he was gone.
I closed my phone and thunked my head on the table. On the third thunk Lester stopped me and held my face in his hands.
"My cousin is a lucky man Beautiful." I could tell he wasn't teasing me, he meant it.