Edited for content.

Family Ties

Chapter 19

I woke up slowly. Ranger tightened his arms around me, and I realized I hadn't been dreaming. I smiled as I stretched a little before turning over to face him.

"Morning," he said, eyes still closed.

"Mm-hmm" was the best I could manage as I snuggled in closer.

Before I could blink, Ranger had flipped us so that I was pinned under him. Not that I was trying to get away. Warm brown eyes smiled down at me. He was holding himself up, letting me breathe by taking most of his weight on his arms, leaving the muscles well defined. I couldn't help myself. I reached out to run my hands up his arms to his shoulders.

His eyes met mine as I reached up to touch his face. I traced his eyebrows, down the side of his cheek, and finally ran my fingers across his strong jawline to his chin. He dipped his head to kiss my fingertips. I smiled up at him lazily as I stroked my hand down the strong column of his throat and continued down his sculpted chest.

We both watched my hand as it trailed below his chest to explore his washboard abs, the muscles tensing beneath my touch. His skin radiated warmth, even in the chilly morning air. His sharp inhale encouraged me, so I continued.

He swore softly before throwing the top of our sleeping bag back. His eyes found mine as he lowered himself to kiss me. The kiss started out slow and gentle, but quickly became deep, hungry and demanding.

Ranger lowered himself completely, freeing up his hands...

Suddenly he lifted himself up again and looked me in the eye. "Babe, if this isn't okay with you, now would be the time to tell me." His voice was low, gravelly, and sexy as hell.

I couldn't find my own voice to answer, so I reached down between us to touch him. He stilled completely. After a moment he let out a shaky breath. "Jesus, Babe." It was half whisper, half groan. As if his words broke his paralysis, suddenly he seemed to be everywhere.

"Ranger" I breathed.

"I know. Me too, but I don't want to rush this." He followed me back down, kissing me for long minutes. His gaze slowly traveled up my body. My normal reaction would be to cover myself or turn my head. Not with Ranger. His gaze was ardent, tender. It made me feel elevated rather than embarrassed. He continued to look up until his eyes once again met mine. They weren't just dark now, but blazing with heat.

He once again held still, fighting for control. I loved that I could push him that far. The wildness I sensed that he had barely harnessed didn't frighten me.

I responded with a complete lack of inhibition and a ferocity of my own. That seemed to snap that last bit of control he was clinging to, unleashing his own wildness. As I felt him start to tremble, I slipped over the edge, taking him with me.

We held each other, hearts pounding, as our breathing began to slow. He lifted his head enough to kiss me tenderly before rolling us over and tucking me in tightly against him.

Neither of us felt the urge to speak. He stroked my back slowly, lightly as I sighed. Finally he tilted my chin up to look at him.

"As much as I'd like to stay like this all day, we'd better start thinking about getting dressed before Snake and Kappy get here."

I nodded, then stretched. Standing, I held a hand out to him. He allowed me to help him to his feet before pulling me to him for a mind-blowing kiss.

We separated to get cleaned up and dressed. I met him as he was starting breakfast over the fire. "Hungry?"

I smiled over at him. "Starving."

"Babe?" I waited. "After this is all over, what would you think of us going away together for a while. No distractions, just us."

I kissed him softly. "Sounds perfect."