A/N: Big thank you to all of my readers and especially my readers who review. It really makes my day! Also, encourages me to write more...so maybe I'm a review slut but I don't care. ;) Anyhoo, please enjoy a Ranger POV. I'm thinking several more chapters to go at this point although I only have 1 and half more written at this point. Please review! Enjoy!
What Have I Done by Dermot Kennedy
"I thought I'd be better off alone
Now, my soul has been torn and reborn, started breathing
What have I done?
What have I done?
I never thought I needed saving, I was right where I should be
Good God, I know it's dangerous, but it's you that I need
I'm in love this time
I'm in love this time..."
Defining Moments
Chapter 23: On a Mission… to Make Her Mine
Ranger's POV
I'm sitting in front of my former handler. We're in a conference room on the edge of Jersey. I keep my face blank and I stop myself from shaking my knee. I take a glance at my watch. Dios, I'm going to be late.
"Ranger, think about this please," Pete says for the third time since we entered the room, "you're the best at what you do." I arch a brow.
"I know," I reply, "but I'm out." He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. I do an internal smirk. This is why guys like him would never be out in the field.
"You'll never have to work with Jeanne Ellen again," he tries again before fiddling with his tie. I arch my brow again.
"Don't care. I'm done," I say again, crossing my arms over my chest, "You're wasting my time." Pete glances at the window on the wall. I wonder who put him up to this.
"Ranger, let's just think about this, please," Pete tries again, "You will be well paid. At most, one or two times a year."
"Listen to me Pete, I am not getting any younger," I inform him, "I have a thriving business and there's a woman out there I want to start a life with. I. am. done. Now, unless you have a severance package for me, I'll be on my way." I shove myself back from the table and head to leave the room. I open the door and pause.
"It's been good working with you, Pete," I say before leaving. Goddamn U.S. Government thinks they own you. Thankfully, my contract was up last month. I just had to finish that one last mission. I'm irritated that it's already almost 7 pm. Tank had texted me the time and place for Steph's celebration tonight. It's not something I want to miss. Damn, I'm so proud of her. My chest swells with pride as I think of everything she overcame and conquered. She's a hell of a woman.
I break several laws to get back to Trenton. Unfortunately, even speeding doesn't help much when there's an accident and standstill traffic. Steph would be so disappointed to see that my driving zone is broken. It's no surprise that it's because I'm trying to get to her. I'll still need to get to my apartment, shower and dress before I can head to the restaurant. I text Tank and he informs me that they're entrees just came out. I was supposed to be there for dinner. My hands clench the wheel. Finally, I see the crash coming up on my right side. As soon as I'm an appropriate distance away, I speed up. I weave in and out of cars. Several honk at me but I don't care. I'm a man on a mission.
I screech into the underground garage at Haywood. Thankfully, as it should be, my parking spot is open. I don't even bother to take the keys out of the ignition before I'm running up the steps to seven. As soon as I enter the door, I'm starting to strip off my all black clothes. I deposit everything into the laundry basket before jumping into the shower. After getting out of the shower, I slip on a pair of black slacks, and I know just the shirt. I open the top dresser drawer and pick out my unworn blue sweater. Ella picked it out for me a few weeks after Stephanie first stayed at the apartment. I think back to Steph's comment regarding seeing me in the blue suit, and I know she'll enjoy seeing me in this color. I slip my diamond stud into my earlobe and tie my hair back with a leather thong. I take a quick glance in the mirror before deeming myself acceptable. I grab my wallet and keys before jogging back down the steps. My heart is racing as I think of what I'm going to lay out on the line tonight.
I get into the Turbo and head off to the restaurant I know they're enjoying. Tank is keeping me updated by text. I think he's hoping this will get him out of mat time for not keeping me updated on Steph during my mission. I pull into the parking lot, and I take a deep cleansing breath in through my mouth before breathing out through my nose. I need to be more open if this is going to work. At least I know I'll never have to go back for another mission. I exit the Turbo, locking it before heading inside. The lighting is dim and the music is pulsing. Guess the restaurant is no more and it's club time.
My eyes adjust quickly and I begin sweeping the crowd. I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of the curly haired beauty. My eyes lock on her quickly. She's as beautiful as ever. And Lester is dancing with her. I clench my fist and let out a breath. I know she is not interested in him like that, but I know he loves her. I can tell she notices me because her hand goes to her neck. The song ends and her eyes lock on mine. I can't stop the smile from spreading across my face. Finally, I get to be with my Babe. Thankfully, Lester takes his cue and leaves. I guess he can tell Stephanie and I only have eyes for each other. I know exactly how I want to start this.
"I couldn't help staring at such a beautiful woman. My name is Carlos Mañoso, and you are?" I say using the same words as that night undercover. Only this time, I want her to know me, the man behind my badass Ranger persona. There's a time and place for each one, and now is the time for Stephanie to meet Carlos. She plays along and I can see the recognition of my words in her blue eyes. Dios, she is stunning. Unsurprisingly, it's an adjustment and I have to gently correct her as she tries calling me Ranger again. Ranger is for work. Ranger doesn't do relationships. I need her to understand that with her, I will always be Carlos now. I place a finger on her lips as I lay it out on the table.
I end, "Please tell me, do I still have a chance?" I can feel my heart in a vice grip as she stays staring into my eyes. She must have really been practicing her blank face because I can't tell what she's thinking. I'm getting worried since it's taking her so long to respond.
"Yes," she breathes softly, "Yes, you still have a chance. Yes, you still have my whole heart." Her words are music to my ears. I let out the breath I had been holding as relief floods my body. She still wants me. I move my arm to circle around her waist as I pull her as close as possible to my body before descending my lips on hers. I'm like a parched man in the desert as I move my lips against hers. She feels so good. I sweep my tongue against her lips and she grants me access immediately. Her body melts against mine and it's like it was perfectly molded for mine. My hand tangles in her hair, and I can feel my body responding. I'm just like a schoolboy when it comes to her. I push my pelvis into her, and I know she can feel my reaction. I pull my head back as I try to control my breathing. Our bodies stay fused together. I don't want to let her go now that I finally have her. I rest my forehead against hers. I love getting lost in those ocean blue eyes, especially when they're sparkling with love and passion.
The slap on my back does nothing but annoy me as I recognize my pesky cousin's voice.
"Finally got your head outta your ass, huh?" Les questions with a smirk. The only reason he's still breathing is because Tîa Rosalie would kill me and because I can see the amusement on my Babe's face.
"Lester," I warn as I give him a nod in greeting. He reminds me that I shouldn't be hogging her since it's her celebratory night. He's not wrong. I do have a plan. I want to say a few words in front of our friends. I realize most of the people here are her friends, but it's nice knowing how many RangeMen she considers among her friends. I give Les a little more shit so he knows I don't appreciate him talking to me in that way in front of my woman. He's lucky we're related otherwise I wouldn't tolerate it at all.
We walk outside, and I find the rest of the group sitting around a fire pit. Stephanie moves out of my arms to sit between Mary Lou and Connie. I ensure everyone has a glass of champagne before I make a little toast. After everyone finishes their sip of champagne, I make another announcement.
"And, just so everyone knows-I love you, Stephanie Michelle Plum," I finish my announcement with a smile. I'm sure everyone is shocked to hear me say it so publicly. I just want to make sure everyone knows she's officially mine. Connie and Mary Lou push Steph over to me, and I wrap her in my arms before planting a kiss on her rosy lips. I've never met a woman who could make me so unaware and vulnerable as Stephanie. The hooting and hollering continues, and I smirk as we finish off our kiss. Steph's eyes are sparkling and her lips are swollen. She yawns and I know it's about that time. I want to spend every night with her, and I'm relieved when she agrees to stay with me on seven. I don't want to give her the wrong impression. I may want her in my bed, but I need her more than just for sex.
I send a quick text to Ram so he and Hal can come pick up the Turbo. Nothing could separate me from Stephanie at this moment. Her sitting on my lap covers the way my body reacts to her and also makes it a sweet kind of torture.
We make it back to RangeMan and up to seven without incident. There's a few things I want to clear up with Steph before anything else progresses between us. I grab two glasses and fill them with water. I'm not sure how much she drank before I arrived tonight, but I know how alcohol affects her. She gives me a smile as I hand it over to her.
I then clear the air regarding Jeanne Ellen Burrows. I can see the relief in Stephanie's eyes. I'm not sure if she thought anything else happened between us, but I didn't want there to be any doubt. She thanks me and moves closer. I put my hand over hers.
"Look, Stephanie, I will be trying my best to be open with you. It's not my strong suit so you might have to remind me every now and then," I say hoping she'll understand any struggles I have with her going forward. Her blue eyes are shining like crystal clear water. I put our waters down and grab her waist before hoisting her up on the counter. I can feel my erection grow at the slight feel of her against me. I kiss her. As much as I want her, I also want to make up for all of the bullshit from the past couple years. I want to take her on real dates. I don't expect anything from her now, but she doesn't seem content with that.
"Babe, you drive me crazy with the slighest touch," I groan as she shifts against me. I lift her and carry to her to the bedroom where I gently lay her on the bed. She's truly a vision with her rosy cheeks, just kissed lips, hair fanned around her face and her eyes sparkling.
"Ra-Carlos, we can do this right," Steph responds, correcting herself before saying Ranger, "but maybe we don't have to do it in the right order? I mean look at our relationship so far." She's not wrong and I'm an opportunist.
I look down at her as she lays on my bed. Her curls are fanned out around her head and I can see the pebbled buds of her breasts beneath the tight blue dress. My fingers have crawled up her creamy thighs. Her dress has been pushed up. I play with the edge of her lacy thong.
"Well, the part of me being an opportunist is still true," I say before sliding one finger in between her wet folds. I groan as I feel her and my dick becomes even stiffer than before. I slide two fingers into her easily, and she whimpers at my touch.
"Dios Babe," I mutter, "you're so wet." I pump my fingers in and out of her feeling satisfied as she reacts to me. I move down and press a trail of wet kisses along her neck. I'm holding my body weight mostly off of her with one hand as my other is busy at her center. Her hips start bucking against me. I am in between her breasts now. I'll have to remind her to wear this dress more often. I quickly use my teeth to pull back the fabric before my lips latch onto her nipple. I lath it with my tongue as my fingers work faster. Her breathing is coming in short pants. I bite gently down on her rosy bud, and she jerks even harder against me before moaning my name. I move the pad of my thumb over her clit and gently build pressure. She grinds against my fingers, helping to push her closer to the edge. Just watching her makes me want to cream my pants. I work it a little more before she grips me tightly and screams my name as she comes undone.
Her thighs are trembling as I slide my fingers out of her hot center. She opens her eyes and her eyes track me closely as I lift my dripping fingers into my mouth. Her chest is moving heavily and her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. I slowly suck her juices off of my fingers.
"Mmm, my favorite dessert," I murmur before moving into capture her lips once more. I'm surprised when Stephanie decides to take control. Of course, I let her move me as she straddles my hips. My dick is throbbing painfully at this point, but I want to take our time. This will just be the beginning. She slowly takes my sweater off before peppering my throat and chest with kisses. I'm surprised at my reaction when she runs her nails up and down my torso. The sensation causes me to suck in a breath and for goosebumps to break out across my body. This causes her to shoot me a satisfied smirk before continuing her exploration. She quickly works the button on my pants and has me naked before her. My hard on is saluting her proudly, begging for her to touch me. She presses a kiss to the base of my shaft causing a groan to come from my lips. She moves slowly, torturously before licking me quickly and taking me all the way into her mouth. I hiss and my hips thrust forward, but she's not deterred. She cups my balls and massages me with her hand. Her tongue feels like heaven. I'm getting so close. I grab her arms and quickly flip up so she's underneath me once more. I look into those expressive eyes. All I find is love and desire. My chest swells. How the hell did I get lucky enough to deserve her?
"Are you sure you're ready?" I question, not wanting her to feel pressured or unsure. I so badly want to consummate our promises to each other, but not if she's not ready. She answers me quickly in a firm voice. No hesitation. I quickly roll on a condom before positioning myself at her center. I move my dick over her wet slit twice before stilling above her. I lean down and capture her lips with mine. Unexpectedly, as I kiss her, she tilts her hips up causing me to enter her in one smooth motion. I have to still myself at the feel of her tight, hot pussy wrapped around my dick. I breathe heavily as I try not to blow my load like an inexperienced teenager. I'm gripping the sheets tightly. Her nipples tighten as she adjusts to me being inside her. She becomes impatient and her hips start moving. Once I'm under control, I tuck a curl behind her ear before kissing her once more and setting a fast pace. She moans excitedly as I pump in and out easily. I can feel my dick throbbing and her tightening as our orgasms build. I move my hand down so I can play with her clit.
"Cum with me Babe," I say gruffly as I pound into her. This first time is not going to be a long one, we'll have plenty of time for soft and slow later. She chants my name and I can feel her nails digging into my ass. This spurs me on even more, and two more thrusts and we've both gone over the edge together. I slide out of her and quickly tie and dispose the condom. She nuzzles into my side. I smile. I'll never get enough of her and I say as much.
"I love you too," she replies with a sigh. I smile. We were both a bit commitment-phobic and now here we were. She falls asleep first, and I'm content feeling her warmth against me.
I wake up around six and smile. Steph has managed to lay directly on top of me at some point during the night. She's snoring softly and her head of curls is right under my chin. I relax and enjoy her sleeping. A little later, I gently move her and she barely stirs. I make my way to the kitchen where I start some coffee and begin making breakfast. I make some pancakes for Steph along with eggs. I put some turkey bacon on. I leave the bacon in the pan as I decide today is the best time. The rest of the food is warming, and I head to my study. I bend down to open the safe behind my desk. The safe opens with a soft click. I reach in and pull out the black velvet box. I open it, just to remind myself of what's inside. It's a princess cut diamond with two sapphires clustered around it. I can't believe I bought this so long ago, but I saw it and knew I had to keep it for if this moment ever came. I slip it into my pocket before heading back to the kitchen. I make a call to Ella, and she's eager to help. I know this is sudden, but I've had this ring for almost as long as I've known Steph, and I'm just not content to wait any longer. Looking at the clock, I'm surprised that the smell of food hasn't woken Steph yet. A soft knock at the door comes and I find Ella there with a big grin on her face. She hands me the small pitcher she filled with orange juice and champagne.
"Finally," she says in that motherly tone. I smile at her and thank her.
Just as I've set the table for two, a bleary eyed Steph wearing one of my t-shirts emerges from the room. I'm tempted to greet her properly and not get out of bed for another hour.
"Carlos?" she questions, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She's adorable. I walk over, wrap an arm around her waist and place a kiss on her mouth.
"Good morning Sleeping Beauty," I greet, pulling out a chair for her. I pour her a cup of coffee and fix it the way she likes. I then fix both of our plates. Her has three pancakes, three pieces of turkey bacon and two scrambled eggs with cheese. She smiles up at me gratefully.
"Thanks for breakfast, Carlos," she says between bites, "also, I never got to tell you yesterday, but I loved seeing you in color. I hope to see more of that." I smile and reply, feeling a tightness in my stomach knowing what I'm about to do. I'm eating egg whites and two pieces of sprouted grain toast with a side of fruit. We finish eating in a companionable silence. I think we're both too content to do more than enjoy the other's company. She's polishing off the rest of the bacon as I get up to fill two champagne glasses. I hand her a flute filled with mimosa, and she looks at me with questioning eyes. I smile as I drop to one knee. She gasps and a hand flies to her mouth.
"Babe, Stephanie, we've never had a traditional relationship," I begin, "I don't want to waste any more precious time. I want to give you my last name and everything I can offer. Will you do the honor of marrying me?" I finish and open the black box. I see tears fill her eyes but they don't spill over. She takes a shaky breath.
"Yes, yes," she whispers with a smile as one tear breaks loose and trails down her cheek. I grin and take the ring and slide it on her finger. She places the glass down and I pull her to me for a crushing embrace. Our tongues tangle and she moans against me. We pull back, and I sit next to her. We each take a sip of the mimosa. She grins as she looks over at me.
"Don't think you get out of going on dates because of this," she states, her eyes narrowing. I know a threat when I hear one. I give her my 100-watt grin.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Babe."