Chapter Twenty-Five

I must have looked extra fragile sitting there on the couch beside him because Ranger scooped me up into his lap when I didn't respond. Dragging one leg on either side until I was straddling him. It might have been sexy, but the way the gruesome images were fighting each other for dominance in my brain, it was hard to feel like anything but a little girl curled up in his big, strong arms. I just rested on his chest, my face in his neck while he wrapped me up in him. "It'll be okay, Babe."

I shook my head, my face still buried. "There's a head in my fridge. It'll never be okay again. I'll have to stay with you forever." His chest rocked under me and I knew he was laughing. "It's not funny."

"It's a little funny. And forever is a long time, Babe."

"Are you saying I can't stay with you?"

"I'm saying that's not a decision that should be made just because there's a head in your fridge." I made a squished up pouty face that was part disgust, part whimper. He must've felt it because he laughed at me again, kissing my temple. "One problem at a time."

He just held me for a while. Rubbing my back. Making me feel safe and protected and loved. He was so warm. A firm support beneath me that felt immovable. Unbending. Hard. Oh boy.

I could feel Ranger's eyes searching me. His lips brushing my face. He caressed my cheek on his way to my chin. Lifting my mouth to his. When he kissed me, it was with that slow, deep passion that was full of meaning and desire. Parts of me were suddenly very aware that I was laying all over him. And those parts didn't care that things had gone so horribly wrong. The tingling started to burn all the way across my body. Conjuring much better thoughts than the ones I'd been thinking.

His fingers slid to the back of my neck when I opened up to him. Holding me close as his tongue slipped into my mouth, pulling me closer. Not that he needed to. I was practically grinding on him right there on the sofa. I licked his upper lip and I think he might have groaned just a little bit.

I was on my back so fast it could have been all reflex. His hands tugging at my jeans. My shirt went next. Then his. And then there was nothing between us at all. His incredible chiseled mocha body touching every inch of my burning skin. By the time we hit the finish line, I could hardly breathe. My heart pounding in my ears. Every part of me singing. Ranger slipped an arm around my waist and lifted me up so he could carry me to his bed.

The pizza was cold and long forgotten when we finally came up for air, our sated bodies vaguely wrapped in sweaty sheets. Ranger had pulled me on top of him. Caressing me with the kind of lazy contentment that only came with vigorous lovemaking. He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I'm starting to think this whole gang war thing might be worth the trouble."

"Why, because you're getting laid?"

He laughed under me, kissing my head again. "Hard to take anything for granted if it gets you into my bed."

"Always the opportunist."

"I did warn you," he said, rolling me under him again. His mouth was on my neck, right in that delicious spot where it met my shoulder, using both lips and tongue to get me hot again. His teeth grazed my skin in a gentle way. "In fact, I have some very specific plans for you while I've got your full attention."

"Part of your campaign to ruin me for all other men?"

He grinned. "If I haven't managed that yet, than I must not have been trying hard enough."

And try he did. I didn't have a single ounce of strength left when his phone rang the next morning. Drawing me out of a deep sleep. Ranger didn't have that problem. He was one of those people who could pop awake at a moment's notice. He stretched to pick up the phone from his bedside table without relinquishing his hold on me. Drawing me into him even after he'd answered it. He listened for a moment. I could tell it was Tank. Ranger kissed along my shoulder while his second in command gave him a report of the night's activities. I caught a couple of words, but in all honesty I stopped caring when Ranger's fingers slid across my body, his mouth inching down from my collar bone. "Have we had any contact with him?" he asked, pausing just long enough to say it before he took my breast in his mouth. It took everything I had not to moan loud enough for Tank to hear. I was already squirming against him like a brazen harlot. He grinned. "I figured. Tell them I'll be down in fifteen." Then he thought for a second, looking me over like a starving lion. "Make that thirty." He disconnected and tossed the phone somewhere on the bed, wrapping around me again.

"I thought you hated being late for work."

The smile surfaced. He always seemed to like it when I teased him. "There are some acceptable excuses for being late," he said, returning the favor in a very literal way. This time I didn't hold back the moan. "Besides. I'm the boss. That comes with some benefits, like delaying an impromptu meeting with Carson and Pritchard so that I can take advantage of the woman in my bed."

"Is that something you do often?"

"Only when I'm very, very lucky," he said, kissing me. It led to some high quality passion. The kind that had me limp and satisfied when he finally got around to getting out of the bed. He appreciated the sight for a moment. Obviously proud of himself. "You interested in some food before we discuss the rest of Tank's report? I could have Ella bring something up. Or we could go the quick route and grab some of the leftover pizza."

"I'm good with pizza."

Ranger disappeared into the kitchen and came back a minute later with the box. He set it on the bed next to me and scooped me up again, letting me lean with my back against his chest. His arms around me. It felt kind of normal in a bizarre sort of way. How scary is that?

He kissed my shoulder when he leaned in to take a slice of cold pizza. "Seems our new friend was busy last night. There was an outbreak of violence on Comstock. Centered around what was left of the Slayers. First guesses suggest it involved the designer drug Pritchard mentioned."

"The drug that made Avery Jessup bite Lula?"

"That would be the one. The most insidious thing about it is the static time. People who get high on this drug are basically emptied out. Devoid of thought until something catches their attention. Then all hell breaks loose. Hal said Jessup was tough to handle. Imagine five or six Jessups laying in wait for an unsuspecting gang to come along."

"Jeez. Maybe Lula was right about the whole walking dead thing."

"That's not a bad analogy. With the Slayers taken out and Skeezer's crew running under new management, the balance of power is definitely shifting in the new player's favor. Not only is Delgado backing him, but now I'm hearing reports that Cruz's people have been seen too. It would be a tenuous alliance, given that the three sides hate each other, but for the moment it seems they've put that aside against a common goal."

"Getting rid of you?"

"Many have tried. None have succeeded. The only major kingpin that's stayed out of it so far is Romero. He's not exactly a fan, but he knows how to read the wind. Knows that if he stands against me now, it won't be pretty when I come out the other side. Tank said one of our mutual contacts has been in touch. Romero's staying back out of respect. He always was the smartest of the four."

"How can you be so confident?"

He smiled when he kissed my ear. "Given half a chance, Delgado and Cruz will turn on each other and this thing will be back to a turf war. I have no doubt that's the reason they're involved. Some promise of power. Delgado's been eyeing Colichio territory for years. In fact, it was his people The Rug went away for. Delgado got cocky and seven of his men got popped for his trouble."

"So what do we do now?"

"Recon. The more intel we have, the more we can anticipate their movements."

"Then we still need to find Mini. She knows a lot more than she's saying. Any sign of her yet?"

"No. But Tank said Thatch was moved out of intensive care this morning. I've got some people watching his room. As much to see if she'll try to visit as to keep any bad guys from finishing the job. I get the impression Mini's too smart to do something so obvious, though."

"I think you're right. She might try to call him, but I don't see her walking into the hospital. Is he awake?"

"He has his moments. But if you're thinking about visiting, that might not be the best idea at the moment. At least not until I can guarantee the building is secure."

"You love me."

That earned me another smile. "Yes."

"But is it still the kind of love that only comes with a condom? Because it's hard to tell sometimes. This doesn't always feel like it's just sex."

Ranger drew in a pensive breath, lifting my hand to his lips. "It's not just sex, Babe."

"Then what is it?"

"You need a label?"

"A label might help."

"What kind of label would you be looking for?"

"I don't know. I'm just a little confused. You've been acting awfully boyfriendy for someone who doesn't do relationships."

"Babe, there's more to a relationship than love and affection. I don't do relationships because I can't afford it. The price is too high."

"What price?"

"All of it. I told you there were parts of my life I'm not proud of. Things you wouldn't want to know, even if I could tell you. Trust me. This is all I'm capable of."

"Still not the marrying type?"

"I try never to make promises I can't keep." Ranger kissed my ear and angled out from behind me. "I've got about five minutes to grab a quick shower. This meeting will mostly cover evidence and leads you already know about, but if you do come down you might want to wear something more than just my T-shirt. Not that I didn't enjoy seeing your nipples showing through my clothes yesterday. It's just that not a lot gets past Carson. Might sully your reputation even further if he saw that for a second day in a row."

"What's his issue, anyway? Was he not hugged enough as a child?"

Ranger shrugged. "The dickishness might be congenital. Never paid it much attention before because he's such a good agent. I can handle an ass as long as they do their job."

"You let him have it yesterday," I pointed out.

"I said I can handle him being an ass. Doesn't mean he gets to be disrespectful." He leaned over and kissed me before he went in the bathroom to take a shower.

I lounged around on his bed even after he'd gone downstairs. Of course, I'd watched him get dressed. I wasn't missing that show. But after he left, his words started running in overobsessive circles in my brain. I got up and went into Ranger's shower. It was so much better than the outdated orange and brown bathroom I had at home. Like everything else in Ranger's life, his shower was expensive and state of the art. Perfect. Like him.

Ranger didn't make promises he couldn't keep. And apparently, all that was between us was love and affection. And really hot sex. I felt obligated to add that part. It was an important part.

Love and affection did sound pretty great. It was how I felt about him, too. And really, what more can you ask for in a relationship? We had faith in each other. Trust. Fierce loyalty.

But no future.

It was a little whisper in the back of my brain. Ranger wouldn't make promises. Couldn't, according to him. I knew it was because he was an honorable man who didn't like going back on his word. Predicting the future wasn't one of his superpowers. But deep down I knew there was more to it than that. There were parts of Ranger's past he'd never share with me. Morelli was an open book. I'd known him my whole life. Knew all his faults and his secrets. I'd seen the skeletons in his closet. I didn't even know where Ranger's closet was.