So, today is going to suck mightily for me. I could use some love and encouragement.
Reviews make me feel better.

Recap: Ranger has a series of dreams about traumatic times from his life.

Stephanie

I woke sometime around dawn to Ranger squeezing my body with his arm, gripping me tightly enough to be uncomfortable. He seemed to be dreaming, he kept saying "Breathe, Babe, Breathe." I turned over, still wrapped in his arm, and tried to get him to wake up.

"Ranger? Ranger, wake up honey. Please wake up."

His body was tense and he seemed to be sweating. I kept calling his name, but he wasn't answering me. On TV they slap the person, but I didn't think that was a good idea for a few reasons. I'm not a fan of hitting people I love, especially just a few hours after I tell them I love them. I didn't want to traumatize him any further, and he was quite capable of hurting me very badly without even realizing who I was. But it was scaring me that he seemed so tense, even in sleep.

"Ranger, Ranger!" I kept calling his name. Then I reconsidered. Most of his traumatic times would have been in the military, right? Where he was known as Ranger. So maybe that wasn't penetrating his subconscious, because that's what people in the dream would be referring to him as. I went with a different tactic.

"Carlos!"

His eyes flew open and he scanned around him. I saw him relax as he realized where he was. "Babe."

I comforted him and held him until we both fell asleep, just like he had done with me a few days ago. It couldn't really just be a few days, could it?

While I had hoped we'd sleep in after an exhausting day (and not a lot of sleeping the night in King Of Prussia), we were rudely awakened at 7 by Ranger's cell phone ringing. I mumbled at him to let it go to voicemail, but he insisted on being all responsible and answering it. He mostly listened, occasionally dropping an "understood" or "affirmative". My heart sank when I heard the words "0930 hours, got it."

He hung up abruptly and looked at me apologetically.

"I'm assuming that wasn't good news?"

"I'm so sorry Babe, there's been chatter online."

"Chatter?"

"White supremacist groups are targeting the rally, and there has been chatter on some of their message boards about possible actions. I need to meet with the team in a couple hours to go over new security protocols. I'm sorry Babe, I had a great day planned. Selfies in front of the Love statue, a visit to the Franklin Institute to see the dinosaurs and planetarium, a cheesesteak in South Philly, the Italian Market…"

I kissed him to shut him up, something I'd never had to do before. His arms wrapped around my back and I lay on top of him, breathing in his scent and running my hands through his hair. His body relaxed as it I melted onto him, the tension draining away. "I'm sure it was an amazing plan. But this is more important, and you know it. Not just for Rangeman, but the work itself. I'd never forgive myself if something happened, I'd always wonder if we could have made a difference."

He looked deep into my eyes, his brown orbs meeting my blue ones. "You are so amazing. I'm sorry about this."

"It's fine. Where is the meeting?"

"In a room at the Art Museum. If you want you can walk around there while I'm meeting. Or you can take the Porsche and explore the city. I'll call you when I'm done, and we can use whatever time we have left to explore the city." He whispered into my ear "Though I really want to be there to listen when you get a cheesesteak."

I blushed. He always found my moaning over food endearing and sexy, I found it embarrassing. "I'll go to the Museum with you. If the meeting takes a really long time, I'll head out and explore. If not, I'll be just a few floors away and we can get back together sooner."

He kissed me, and made a phone call. "Frank, there's been developments, can you and Silvio be at the Art Museum by 0930 hours?" Then he hung up.

I rolled my eyes. "After waking them up on a Sunday morning, you couldn't even say goodbye?"

"Efficiency babe. I have other plans for every moment until I have to leave."

He wrapped a hand in my hair and pulled my face to his, covering my mouth with his lips. I ran my hands along his chest, feeling the muscles as they flexed with his movements. We hadn't bothered to get dressed after the previous night, so there wasn't any clothing between us, aside from Ranger's socks.

He rolled me onto my back and lowered his mouth to my nipple, nipping at it just enough to be short of pain. I arched my back, and moaned when I felt a finger enter me. It felt amazing, but it wasn't enough. "Ranger, I want you in me."

"Always happy to oblige, Babe." he said, reaching for the box of condoms on the nightstand. I was rubbing my breasts in anticipation when I heard him mutter "Shit!"

"What's wrong?" I gasped, desperate for another orgasm.

"The box is empty."

"Do you have any more in your pants?"

"I'm not sure, let me check." He scrambled off the bed in a most un-Ranger-like fashion, searching his pockets in his dress slacks, cargo pants, wallet, suitcase, even my purse. "Did you get any at the mall?" he asked, eying my suitcase.

"No." I said regretfully, wishing that I'd picked up those flavored condoms I had looked at.

"Dammit. Well, just one thing to do then." He crawled back into the bed and put his face in my pussy, licking away at it with all the intensity I had come to expect from him. I moaned and reached out my hand to grip him, giving him some firm strokes that got him rock-hard again. He groaned into me, the vibrations feeling amazing.

"Lay on your back" I said, scootching aside to give him space. He did, and I climbed on top of him, pushing my legs under his arms and taking his cock in my mouth. He murmured "Dios Babe" and returned to his work, wrapping his arms around my hips to pull himself closer into me. With every nuzzle and suck I returned the favor, stroking him with my hand where my mouth couldn't reach. His hands splayed over my butt cheeks, massaging the muscle and rubbing sensually. I felt a pinky brush against my opening. I'd always refused to do anal with Morelli, it felt degrading, but Ranger never degraded me, and it actually felt pretty good.

"Do it" I managed to get out before shoving himself back into my mouth, and I felt the amazing sensation of him pushing in, very slightly and very slowly. It was incredible, and I nearly came then and there. I let out a passionate cry and sped up my hand, knowing I would finish soon and wanting him to come along with me.

When the orgasm hit me it nearly bowled me over. I had to control myself not to bite down, but my whole lower body shook and trembled. My throat was parched from all the heavy breathing, and when Ranger came I sucked his seed down greedily to sooth it. Then I collapsed on top of him, panting heavily and unable to move as all my muscles went limp.

Ranger

I've been in danger many times in my life. Dozens, possibly hundreds of times. I've often wondered how I would die.

If it could be this way, with Stephanie smothering me as she lay in a post-coital heap, I'm pretty sure I'd go quite gentle into that good night, with no raging against the dying of the light.

But I wasn't ready to go quite yet, so I turned my head slightly and kissed her inner thigh, taking in the scent of her arousal as she lay spent upon me.