This is an AU story. I hope you find the characters still themselves even if their world is different.

Huge thanks to Rach for her beta work!

Sally

The Good Wife

Chapter 9

So much for my sweet dreams. After my mellow from the wine wore off, nightmares invaded my sleep. I dreamed I was in one of those carnival games on a track moving back and forth while people tried to shoot me with those crappy bb guns. Then there was a big shadow of a figure trying to run me over with their car. After that I dreamed that my mom had poisoned my wine, but instead of killing me I ended up pregnant. But when the baby was born its skin was a nice mocha color and she was not happy! I tossed and turned and awoke to find Lester shaking me. He looked worried and I was embarrassed. I assured him I was fine and he returned to his post.

Apparently all I needed was to be woken up, because after that all of the scary dreams were gone and they were replaced by good dreams, no, not good dreams, great dreams. I got back to my previous thoughts of dessert and Ranger and whipped cream and Ranger. In my dream he was happily occupying my bed and I had decorated him with whipped cream and bite sized pieces of pineapple upside down cake. My goal was to clean him up, no hands allowed.

I started at his luscious lips which held a juicy piece of pineapple. I plucked the pineapple from his lips with my teeth and moaned at the sweetness. After devouring the it, I cleaned the excess juice from his lips with my tongue. Mmmm… Next I explored his mouth with my tongue, checking to be sure I hadn't missed anything. My tongue and lips traveled down his throat to that fabulous chest. I happily licked and sucked every trace of sweetness, paying special attention to his nipples, biting them gently before sucking them into my mouth where I could twirl my tongue around them. His breath hitched. I am nothing if not thorough.

Satisfied that my job there was done, I moved further south, amazed at the crevices created by his sculpted abs. I flattened my tongue against his skin to clean up a wide path of whipped cream and fruit revealing beautiful mocha latte skin. When I came across a bite of cake I carefully scooped it up with my tongue and sat up a little. Ranger watched with hooded eyes as I drew the cake into my mouth and moaned as it melted against my tongue and a low growl escaped from his throat. I tried to finish cleaning his abs, but there was an obstacle, in fact a very large obstacle.

Low on his stomach was a mountain of whipped cream covering what promised to be a very impressive cock. You know, I have always been a curious girl. I needed to get to the bottom of this, but when approaching an unknown situation it is always best to proceed with caution. So I was very deliberate and moved at a painfully slow pace as I licked him from balls to tip with wide, flat strokes of my tongue. Wow. I have always had a pretty good imagination, but this was beyond my wildest dreams. He lay before me, finally clean, hard and thick and huge. Even with all of the skin I had tasted, it wasn't enough. I wanted to taste more; I wanted him in my mouth. Had to make sure there wasn't any whipped cream hiding anywhere. This was going to take some suction. There was no way I could fit all of him in my mouth, but never one to back away from a challenge, I was more than happy to try. I leaned over to lick… What the hell?

Gone. Gone was my beautiful naked Ranger. I blinked hard and found myself on my back with my hands above my head. Ranger was straddling me, restraining my wrists and from the look in his eye, barely restraining himself. His eyes twinkled black and his breathing was labored. With his dark eyes and his dark hair framing his face there was something wild about him. Omigod. He wasn't naked, but if dreams really do come true, I could feel exactly what had been waiting for me under that mountain of whipped cream pressed into my belly. I blinked again, taking in the sight before me and licked my lips.

His voice was low and steady, his eyes piercing mine. "You were fondling me in your sleep."

My eyes got wide, "I WHAT?" I tried to sit up, but he held me in place.

His eyes softened just a bit, "You were sleeping and apparently dreaming. I've heard of sleep talking and sleep walking, but I have never heard of anyone sleep fuc…" I cut him off.

"Alright! I get your point." I bit my lip, mortified. My eyes averted his as I mumbled, "Sorry, I don't remember what I was dreaming about." I blushed, knowing full well what I was dreaming about.

His face broke into the wolf grin. "Liar." He had regained his control.

I tried to move out from under him, but he didn't budge. I tried to defend myself, "Well, I was sleeping, I can't be held accountable. You were awake. You should have done something." Take that mister!

The wolf look softened as some of the tension broke and he smirked at me, "I did do something. I stopped you; you were going to suck…"

"Okay!" I nearly shouted.

He grinned and explained, "I didn't stop you before that because at first I was asleep. Once I woke up enough to realize it wasn't just a really good dream, you sounded so deliberate with all the moaning and talking, I thought you were awake, so I was just going to enjoy myself." I blushed again. Not only did I grope him within hours of meeting him, I was molesting him in his sleep! I am in a desperate state.

He released my wristsand sat up slightly, lacing his fingers through mine and bringing them up to rest in between us as he continued, "Then you said something weird about pineapple and whipped cream and I realized you were sleeping. As much as I was enjoying myself, you didn't know what you were doing, not consciously anyway." He looked a little embarrassed. He was embarrassed? Then what did that make me, mortified?

I closed my eyes tightly. Maybe it was all a bad dream and he wasn't really there, I hadn't really humiliated myself so colossally. I opened one eye. Shit.

He was giving me the full 200 watt smile, "Still here Babe."

I shook my head, "I am so sorry."

He shrugged, "Want to tell me what you were dreaming about?"

My eyes got big, "No!"

"Someday?" The wolf grin was back.

I smiled slowly, "Maybe." It was just then that I wondered when he joined me. "You weren't here when I went to sleep, or when Lester woke me up."

He released one of my hands and used his to trace my jaw and he kissed me softly. "You were having nightmares again so Lester called me. He was worried when he had to wake you."

I closed my eyes, even more embarrassed, "So you came to my rescue and I fondled you in return?"

"Sounds like a fair trade to me." He leaned down and captured my lips with his, softly at first. His tongue traced the seam of my lips and I opened for him. I moaned as his tongue touched mine and the kiss turned passionate. My hands traveled up his muscular arms and I ran my fingers through his silky hair before grabbing a handful and using it to bring him even closer to me. He growled and his hands went to my breasts, cupping them through the thin knit of my cami. His thumbs found my nipples, hard and aching. I slid my hands down his sides to his hips.

Just then his alarm sounded on his watch. He groaned and rolled over to grab it off of the bedside table. There was something very intimate about seeing his things resting on that table, it gave me goose bumps. He silenced the alarm and then rolled back over to me and gathered me in his arms.

We were both breathing hard; he regained the ability to speak first. He stroked my hair, "The nightmares, were they about the stalker again?"

I nodded, "Yes. Mostly, that and the twisted family dinner we attended last night."

He grinned, "I would love to hang out in here all day and make your bad dreams go away, but we have a meeting with the State Police at Rangeman this morning and we need to get going." He gave me a quick kiss. "The guy on the case is good, but he can be a pain in the ass if things don't go his way, so I want to start off on the right foot. You go shower and get ready." Another quick kiss. "I need to head back. Bobby is outside your door. He will drive you over to Rangeman for the meeting. I would offer to keep you company, but we don't have nearly enough time." He gave me a longer kiss before he jumped off the bed and made his way to the chair. He threw on a sweatshirt and grabbed a pair of running shoes. He headed for the door, but stopped with his hand on the knob and turned to me. "But if you hurry, you can use the shower massager, you look like you might need it." He flashed me a cocky grin and he was gone. Ass.

He may have been an ass, but he was right. So of course I did hurry my little self into the bathroom and rushed through shampooing and conditioning. Since I had shaved last night I had plenty of time to enjoy my shower massager along with my fantasies of a very naked Ranger. The thought that maybe someday they wouldn't be just in my head me hyperventilate a little bit. I turned up the intensity on my shower massager and all of my nerves faded away with my release.

After a good long bout in the shower I needed to move on to doing my hair and makeup. The problem was even after several rounds with my new toy, I was surprised that it just kind of took the edge off of my need. Normally I would be blissful and calm. I was beginning to discover there was nothing normal about Ranger and my attraction to him. I shook my head to clear it and moved on to making myself ready. I did the classy makeup and after drying my hair I pinned it up into a messy twist which was more appropriate for a business meeting.

When I opened the bathroom door I found Connie waiting for me. We would go over the schedule while I got ready. She followed me to the dressing room and stood outside the door clicking through her Blackberry while I changed.

She whipped through the schedule, "You are meeting with the State Police at Rangeman in half an hour. After that you have a meeting with the Core Team for updates. You have an appointment with Mr. Santos in the gun range late morning and a late lunch meeting with Mr. Manoso to go over case files."

I listened to Connie click off my schedule for the day while I readied myself. I chose a slim black skirt with a generous slit paired with my black calfskin knee high boots with the three inch heel. I topped it off with a soft blue wrap front sweater. Platinum hoops for my ears and I was good to go.

As I stepped out, Connie continued, "I have a bag packed for you. Mr. Manoso wanted you to have a change of clothes for your work in the gun range. I also threw in some jeans for later." I smiled at her. Connie always took good care of me. She knew I was much more comfortable in jeans than just about anything else. She was a lifesaver. She looked at me a minute before deciding if she should ask, "So have you made any progress? I know you can't tell me everything, but I'm worried about you Steph."

I assured her, "We're just starting the investigation really. Which I think is ridiculous considering all of it started back in November. I can't wait to get a hold of the officer in charge from the State Police and give him a piece of my mind for keeping me in the dark about this for months." Connie got a funny look on her face but before she could say anything she was distracted by the black t shirt that was lying on the wing chair in the sitting area. I moved quickly to collect Ranger's shirt. She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. I looked down at the t shirt and couldn't help the stupid grin that spread across my face.

"Good for you. That is one fine looking man." She fanned herself.

I shook my head, "No, it's not like that."

She raised her eyebrows, "Why the hell not? You deserve it Steph, with all of the shit you put up with, you deserve some happy. And I have no doubt that man could do the job."

I walked back to the dressing room and tucked his t shirt into my pajama drawer. "Maybe, we'll see. God knows it's been forever. Right now I have to focus on a stalker." She handed me my black leather jacket and purse.

"Well as long as he's guarding your body up close and personal, I vote you should multitask and take advantage." She winked at me, opening the door.

"I'll take it under advisement," I told her as I stepped into the hallway to meet Bobby.

Bobby and I took a black SUV to Rangeman. He was sweet and we talked the whole way. He asked how I was doing with the panic attacks and nightmares. I assured him I hadn't had another attack since yesterday at breakfast, although there hadn't been any more pictures either. I told him there were a few nightmares still, but that I had them under control.

He gave me a knowing smile, but didn't say anything.

I blushed, "It's not like that. He just has a way of making me feel calm and safe." And horny as hell, I kept to myself.

He let out a bark of laughter. Maybe it hadn't been to myself. Shit.

"Omigod, first Lester sees me all over him in the limo and now I tell you that. Geez, you guys must think I am some scorned wife who sleeps with every good looking guy she comes across." I buried my face in my hands.

He was shocked, "Lester saw you attacking him in the limo?"

I couldn't look at him, I just groaned.

I felt his hand on my back, "No, I don't think that. I think you are unlike anyone I have ever met." I looked up to glare at him. "No, I mean you are amazing, with all of the work you do, plus putting up with your husband," his look darkened. "I just can't believe how caring and open you are. Plus you have a sharp mind and great instincts." He smiled at me, "As for you and the boss, I have never seen anything like it. The two of you seem to have some connection. The other night I thought I was going to have to sedate you; your nightmares were so bad. But as long as he was with you, you were calm." I was shocked. "Plus you have an effect on him too. Normally he is very serious, all business. The man has been through some dark shit and he carries it with him. But with you he seems lighter and easier to work for I might add."

I was dumbfounded. I knew I had felt some spark with Ranger, but I chalked it up to him being incredibly hot and it being six years since a man had even touched me. But if I thought about it, I knew it was more than that. I trusted him almost instantly. With my history with men, I didn't trust easily. And I told him things, things I had never told anyone else. Around him I lost control of my mouth and my brain got foggy, like I was pulled into his orbit.

"We need doughnuts!" I declared. He looked at me like I had grown another head, but he didn't argue. I directed him to the Tasty Pastry in the burg where I worked during high school. Their Boston crème doughnuts were the best. I asked Bobby how many guys were working today and if they were all as big as the four I had already met. Armed with this information I ran in and bought one dozen Boston crème and six dozen assorted for the guys. Bobby helped me load them into the car. He warned me he didn't think Ranger would be happy about the doughnuts; he had pretty strong opinions about junk food. I assured him I was the client, it was my meeting and as such, I was responsible for the refreshments. You can't have an early morning meeting without doughnuts!

We pulled into Haywood right on time, even with the detour to the bakery. I followed Bobby to the elevator and we rode up to the 5th Floor, which was where the control room and offices were. He introduced me to more Rangemen along the way. I was right in that there was not a homely one in the bunch. I learned the Stegosaurus was named Hal and his friend with the tattoo was Cal. I also met Vince, Junior, and Binkie. The only Rangeman who did not fit the mold was Hector, not that he wasn't good looking. Hector was about my size and obviously a former gang member. Even though he didn't have bulging muscles, you could tell he was strong. He had gang tattoos that I knew symbolized the number of lives he had taken. He thanked me for the doughnut in Spanish and was quite shocked when I answered him in the same. He gave me a huge smile and told me how nice it was to have a beautiful woman visit the office.

Bobby and I finally made it to the conference room and by now we were a little bit late. I gave Ranger an apologetic look. His face was blank, but changed to slightly amused when he took in the boxes from the Tasty Pastry. I smiled. He nodded to the seat on his right and I took my place. I turned to glance at the other people around the table. I smiled at the gentlemen seated as my gaze traveled the table, until they landed on the last face. My eyes narrowed. You have got to be fucking kidding me. This is just fucking great.

Ranger was giving introductions which I only half listened to until he reached the end, "And by the look on your face you already know the officer in charge of your case, Lieutenant Morelli."