I woke up with Ric spooning me from behind and running his fingers lightly up and down my arm. I opened my eyes and snuggled deeper into him.
"You feel like joining me in the gym this morning?" Ric asked while continuing to move his fingers up and down my arm.
I just groaned in response.
Ric just laughed and I felt him turn onto his back. We both lay there for a minute without saying anything and I started thinking. I was thinking about how I had eaten an awful lot of birthday cake yesterday. This made me think about how my jeans have been feeling a little snug lately.
I stood up from the bed and walked into Ric's closet. I grabbed a pair of black yoga pants, sports bra, socks, and Nike crosstrainers. I had stayed with Ric for a short time recently before he left for Miami and I was thankful that I still had some stuff here. I walked towards the bathroom to change and saw that Ric, surprisingly, was still lying on his back in bed. The only thing that had changed is that he now had his arms folded behind his head. He was just watching me, following me with his deep brown eyes.
"What are you doing?" I questioned.
"I think I'm in shock," he stated with a grin on his handsome face.
"Oh, haha," I mock laughed back while continuing on my way to the bathroom. "Sometimes even I need to workout," I said as I shut the bathroom door. After I used the facilities, changed my clothes, and tamed my hair I emerged from the bathroom to find Ric in a pair of black basketball shorts and a black tank top. Before my brain and my mouth could catch up to each other I found myself saying, "Yummy."
I quickly covered my mouth with my hand and Ric just looked at me with a glint in his eye. "What am I going to do with you?" He asked while slinging an arm around my shoulders.
"I just don't know," I mumbled while we walked to the stairs together.
When we entered the gym I was happy to see that it was empty. I just didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. I was still confused about what was going on with me and Lester. Ric went straight for the weights and I went straight for one of the treadmills. Ric is able to get into a "zone" while he works out, but I need a little help from my ipod. I placed the earbuds into my ears and turned the treadmill on. 45 minutes later I turned the treadmill off and looked up to find Ric setting his weights down. He walked towards me, we smiled at each other, and wordlessly walked back to the stairs and up to his apartment. We entered the apartment side by side and I felt the cool, calmness of the place wash over me. I went straight to the kitchen for coffee.
"I'm gonna take the first shower Babe."
"Okay."
I sat down at the kitchen bar and drank my cup of coffee. I started thinking again about Lester. He really did seem to care about me, but I just didn't understand what was going on. Why did Bobby leave the room to talk on his phone the other day and what "friend" had Les been staying with last night? I will just have to talk to him today and figure it all out.
"The shower is all yours."
I turned around in the bar stool to find Ric dressed in a dark suit. "Important business man today, huh Batman?"
"Yeah," Ric smiled. He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead, "Just come downstairs to work when you're ready."
"K."
I watched Ric walk to the front door, open, and shut it. I got up and went to get ready for work.
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"Freakin' Rodriquez," I grumbled to myself. I have been doing searches for hours now. I checked my computer monitor and found that it was 11 o'clock. "Well, no wonder my stomach is growling," I grumbled again to myself. I stood up from my desk, did a full body stretch, straightened out my black Rangeman t-shirt and walked towards the break room in search of food.
"Hey Bomber."
"Hey Tank. You going to get lunch to?"
"Yep, looks like we're both going in the same direction."
As we got closer to the break room I could hear Lester's voice. "I didn't know Les was here today," I said while looking at Tank.
"Don't know Bomber," Tank responded.
As we entered the break room I saw that Lester was there and he was talking to Bobby. They looked like they were having an intense conversation and neither one of them noticed me or Tank walk in.
"I don't know what to do Bobby."
"I just can't believe that you actually slept at her house last night."
"Veronica needed me last night," Lester stated quietly.
"You just better not fuck things up with Steph, man." "Oh shit," Bobby said as his eyes met mine.
"What?" Les asked while turning around to see what Bobby was looking at.
I stood rooted to the ground, I couldn't move, "You told me you ended it with her," I ground out.
"I, I, I did Baby," Les stuttered out.
"Don't you Baby me. What the hell is going on Lester?"
"I can explain everything, I promise."
"Okay, start explaining," I stated very slowly.
Lester walked towards me and I took a step back. I could see the look of hurt in his eyes. He stopped dead in his tracks. "Please Baby. I just need one more day and then I will explain everything, I swear."
"No, I want to know right now why in the hell you slept over at Veronica's house last night?" I said in a very loud voice, some might consider it screaming.
"I just can't right now, please just give me one more day," he said with a pleading look in his green eyes.
Again he held out his calloused hand and took a step towards me. I again took my own step backwards. "Get the fuck away from me Les," I yelled.
At this point Ric walked into the room. I guess he heard all the yelling.
Les took a quick look at Ric and said in a condescending voice, "Well, where did you sleep last night Babe?"
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ric clenching his fists with a frightening look in his eyes.
I sarcastically replied, "Well, Les I'm sorry but I just can't answer your question right now. I just need one more day, Baby."
Lester and Ric started moving towards each other. Tank got in the middle of things and Bobby was trying to hold Lester back. I walked out of the room. More like I ran out of the room. I ran to my desk, retrieved my handbag, and ran to the parking garage. At this point I couldn't even see anything because hot tears were rolling down my face. At this point I also realized that I did not have a car parked here. I couldn't handle all of this, I dropped to the garage floor and hugged my knees to myself while sobs wracked my whole body.
I don't know how much time had passed when I felt myself being lifted off the ground. "Shhh, Babe, I got you."
I melted into Ric and wrapped my arms around his neck. Warm and safe I thought to myself. "Thank you," I whispered into his neck.
He set me on my feet and opened the door of the Porsche. When he turned around I gasped. He had a dark bruise on his cheek and some dried blood on his bottom lip. I reached out to gently run my finger along his bottom lip, but Ric caught my hand and gently kissed it. "Don't worry, I'm fine Babe."
He pointed towards the open car door and I slid into the leather seat. Ric got into the driver's seat and started the car. "Where are you taking me?"
"Home to your apartment. I want you to pack a bag and feed your hamster because we are going away for a couple of days." Ric said this all in a very matter of fact way, the way that he says most things with such confidence. And for once in our relationship I was just going to let him tell me what to do. I wasn't going to question or argue I told myself.
After a few silent moments Ric looked over at me. We both grinned at each other, "You're not even going to argue with me about this Babe?"
"Nope," I answered.
Back at my apartment I threw a couple pairs of jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, underwear, bras, make-up, and a simple black dress just in case in a bag. I fed Rex and told him how sorry I was for being such a bad hamster mommy. He just wiggled his whiskers at me.
"Come on Babe, the rat will be fine for a couple of days," Ric said while opening my apartment door.
I blew Rex a kiss, turned out the lights, and walked out the front door.
"Where to know Batman?" I asked as Ric slid the car into traffic.
"You'll see, just sit back and relax."
I let out an exasperated sigh, but then I must of really relaxed because the next thing I knew it was dark outside and the car had stopped.
Ric got out of the car and I followed him while rubbing my eyes and trying to wake up. When my vision had cleared I looked up and knew exactly where we were. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" I questioned Ric.
"Yes Babe."
"But, I mean, I never thought, I just…." I attempted to stammer out.
"It's fine Babe, we can relax here."
"We just haven't been here in so long and I just never thought you would bring me back here," I rushed out.
"Babe," he answered trying to quiet me.
"Well then, to the batcave, Batman," I said while walking towards the front door of Ric's house. Yes, I had finally seen the batcave shortly before Ric had left on his trip to see Julie. After what had happened between us the last time I just never thought we would come back here together.
I looked up in the midst of my thoughts to discover Ric staring at me, "Stop thinking so much Babe. I'm going to open a bottle of wine and head outside to the spa, and I hope to find you out there when I get there."
With that he turned and walked towards the kitchen.
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I had changed into a simple black bikini and walked out onto the beautiful patio. It is a gorgeous concrete patio with a large built in swimming pool. There are lots of comfee lounge chairs surrounding the pool and even a small bar off to the side that has a well stocked refrigerator behind it. I heard the patio door open and shut behind me. I knew it was Ric and I didn't even turn around. I continued to admire the tiny white lights that Ric had hanging all around the patio area. I let out a contented sigh as Ric wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his warm, bare skin and he leaned into me while placing his chin on my head. "It is beautiful isn't it? I forget how relaxing it all is," He quietly said while hugging me to him.
"Mmmm," I said while reaching my hands up to hold his arms. I just wanted to feel close to him.
After a few moments Ric interrupted our silence, "Come on, let's go get that wine." He placed one arm around my shoulders and I placed one arm around his waste while we walked to the bar.
When we reached that bar Ric said, "You go ahead and get in the spa. I'll bring the wine over."
I gave a slight nod of my head and went to the spa. Ric must have already been out here to open the lid up and I was able to just slide into the warm water. I had only been in for a minute when Ric slid in next to me. He sat our wine glasses on the side of the tub.
"Come here," He said in a very sexy voice. I slid over next to him and he wrapped his arm around me. I rested my head on his well developed chest and listened to his heart beat for a minute. Ric picked up a remote of some kind and clicked some soft jazz music on. He then handed me my wine glass while he took a sip from his. We just sat like this, snuggled together, and drinking our wine.
I sat my empty wine glass down at the same time Ric sat his down. "Do you want some more?" he asked.
"No, I'm good."
I snuggled deeper into his chest, enjoying the strength and safety. "You know that I love you," Ric said in that quiet sexy voice of his.
"Yes, and I love you," I stated in an equally quiet voice.
"You know that I can't help you if you don't tell me when someone or something is bothering you."
"I don't need you to fight all of my battles."
Ric turned his body slightly causing me to lift my head from his chest.
"No, I can't fight all of your battles. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to."
I was so turned on and felt so close to Ric right now that I couldn't help myself. I reached my hand behind his strong neck and pulled his head down to meet my lips. I think at first he was surprised because he started to pull back from me, but I kept a firm grip on his neck and then he was kissing me passionately. His hands were running all over my body and I was exploring the plains of his body as well.
"Oh Ric," I moaned as he latched on to my neck.
"Stephanie, you are so soft, you feel so good," he growled as he moved from my neck back up to my lips.
"I need you, I need to be with you," I rasped out as we continued to run our hands over each other's body.
Then suddenly I think the world stopped. Everything just stopped. Ric was not touching me, kissing me, nothing. Finally, after what felt like forever Ric spoke. "We can't do this Stephanie. I think we both already know this."
I finally looked up, he had such a soft look in his eyes. I scooted forward the foot of distance that was now separating us. I wrapped my arms around his middle and put my forehead on his chest, "I know," I whispered.
Ric's arms came to rest around me. "Do you remember what we talked about last time we were here together?" Ric whispered.
"Yes," I whispered back.
"Refresh my memory."
I looked up into Ric's eyes and wrapped my arms even more tightly around him. "After you made slow, passionate love to me upstairs…" I paused and took a shuddering breath. I continued to look deeply into Ric's eyes. "We lay in bed and discussed why a relationship between us would not work."
"We will be friends for life, but we will watch each other move into different relationships with different people," Ric finished. He then sunk into me and rubbed his stubbly cheek against my face.
"Ric?" I questioned quietly. "Would you please just take me to bed and hold me tonight, I need you."
We both sat up and I had silent tears rolling down my face. "I would love to hold you all night Babe, I need you too."
Ric squeezed me to him, "You've had a rough couple of days, huh?"
I don't know why, but suddenly I couldn't stop crying. I was sobbing into Ric's bare chest and he was rubbing my back while whispering, "Shhh, Babe, I'm here, I love you, everything will work out, Shhh." He continued to rub circles on my back with his well calloused hands until I had cried my last tear.
Ric stood from the hot tub and I watched as he put away the wine and placed the empty glasses on the bar. He pulled a large blue beach towel from a hook and walked towards me. I wordlessly stepped out of the hot tub and Ric wrapped the towel around me. We slowly walked upstairs together to the bedroom.
So, just what was Les doing with Veronica?? I promise we will find out in the next chapter and that Les and Steph will eventually get together--along with some smut of course