JE is the only one who profits. I just get to play. Not that I'm complaining – who would complain about playing with Ranger?

Many thanks for all the comments – they make this even more fun! Please continue; I love reading all of your hilarious and insightful thoughts.

AN: Major smut ahead – proceed with caution

######

"Ranger, are you listening?"

"Of course I'm listening." I wasn't listening. What I was doing was having a crazy episode of déjà vu.

Stephanie was naked and straddled on my equally naked lap. I'd sat down on the chair in my bedroom to lace up my boots and had somehow ended up naked and painfully aroused.

I bent my head and captured a pebbled nipple in my mouth. She inhaled sharply, took the tip of my erection between her fingers, lifted herself up on her toes and slowly guided me deep inside her tight, tight walls.

"Christ, Steph," I hissed out as she began to move up and down at a torturously slow pace.

"There's something I need to tell you," she said maybe for the second time – I couldn't seem to think straight and there was that feeling of déjà vu again. I was pretty sure we'd done this before.

"Do you really think this is the best time to be talking?" I asked and licked her other nipple. I smiled against her breast when a small moan sounded in the back of her throat.

"No," she breathed, "but it's important."

"Perhaps you should have mentioned it before we got naked." Holy shit. I'd dreamt this. I had this conversation with her during that crazy hot, unbelievable and very wet dream. Maybe I was becoming clairvoyant.

She slowly rotated her hips and I think my cock bumped her cervix. "Probably," she agreed and then stretched her arm back and ran her fingers up the underside of my balls. A shiver ran up my spine and I conjured up the image of Lester and Hector almost kissing to keep from coming. "But you distracted me with your ridiculously talented mouth."

I attached that mouth back onto her other breast and just like in my dream, I marked it and then nipped it gently with my teeth before soothing it with a kiss. "Are you complaining?"

"No," she said and her head rolled back in ecstasy as I grabbed her hips and slammed her down hard. "Oh God," she huffed out and picked up what had been a leisurely pace.

I was getting ready to lose it so I attempted to distract myself. "What did you need to tell me?" I asked.

She was close too. She was very close. I could feel her beginning to clench around me and her fingers were digging deep into my shoulders. "I need to leave the building for my sister's wedding shower."

That wasn't like my dream at all. She was distracting me with mind blowing sex so I would agree to let her outside. Sneaky. It's something I would have done. I've discovered that Stephanie will agree to almost anything when I have my dick buried inside her and she's just on the edge of an apocalyptic orgasm.

"Can we talk about this in five minutes?"

She ran her tongue around the outer edge of my ear and nibbled on the lobe. "You think we'll be done in five minutes?"

"If you don't slow down it will be less than five minutes."

She reduced her speed and then nearly stopped her movements all together.

"I said slow, not glacial." I moved my hand from her back and slid it between our bodies. When I began rubbing slow circles around her clit with my thumb she propelled herself up again and began another rhythm on my shaft.

"That's cheating," she commented right before I took a nipple between my teeth. I applied pressure to the distended nub between her folds and her orgasm hit her hard and fast. She contracted her muscles around me tightly as I wrapped my arms around her and lifted us both off the chair. I took the two steps to the bed, still inside her, and fell onto the mattress already stroking her to another release.

Her legs were spread wide and I grabbed onto an ankle and pushed her right leg up and back so her knee nearly touched her breast. This lifted her hips up at just the right angle and I pulled out almost all the way and plunged back in deeper than I thought I could ever go. I only sank into her a few more times before we exploded together. I felt it all the way to my toes when I came - it was hot and fierce and long and she was whimpering my name as I continued to pulse inside her. I've never come that hard or long in my life.

"Wow," she whispered when I'd finally emptied myself completely and withdrew, collapsing beside her. "That was intense."

"You have no idea," I said with a hint of wonder. Each time with her felt like the first time. How was that even possible? I stretched out along the length of her, resting my head on her shoulder and flattened my palm over the taut skin of her bare stomach. She let out a small, contented sigh when I started tracing random patterns across her skin with my fingers. My cock twitched at the sound and my hand found its way to her breast. She'd already made me late, what was another ten minutes?

Her nipples hardened under my caress and she made an inarticulate sound before saying, "I love the way you touch me."

That breathy confession made me completely and inexplicably hard again. I just couldn't seem to get enough of her. I lifted myself up and over the top of her, spreading her thighs with my knees, and settled between her legs.

"How do you do that?" She asked in fascination.

"What?"

"Recover so quickly. I don't think that's normal," she added with a laugh. It wasn't, not for me anyway, but with her it didn't seem to matter. I was pretty sure I could fuck her for days without any difficulties.

"It's you," I told her. I slid my hand between our bodies, running a finger down through the center of her slick folds. She sucked in air through her teeth when I pushed it inside her. A gush of wet, hot heat coated my skin. I pumped her twice before withdrawing my hand and replacing it with my cock. "See how wet you are for me? I can't control myself when you're this wet and ready for me." I surged forward and then kissed her. I stroked her walls until she was close to falling over the edge and then stilled inside her.

She gave me dirty look and I had to smile. "You can go to your sister's shower," I said, going back to the reason this whole naked, sweaty session began in the first place. Not that I'm complaining. I'd gladly stay naked and sweaty with her all day if I could.

I started moving again and she wrapped her arms around my back. "I can?"

"Yes, but you have to have a team inside with you. Four, at least."

"Four?" She sounded mildly indignant so I moved my hands underneath her and dug my fingers into her ass, bringing it up and off the mattress. I pulled out and slammed back in, quick and hard.

"Yes, four. Not negotiable." I was moving fast now and she was about to come.

"Ranger!"

I stopped completely, knowing it would drive her crazy. "Yes?"

"Bastard," she mumbled and then contracted her inner muscles around my dick, trying to encourage me to continue.

"Are you agreeing to my terms?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes," she hissed out as I gave a tiny thrust. She moved her hands down my back and needled my ass with her nails. And then she slid a finger into the crack and circled the sensitive ring there. "But I have one condition."

Shit. Stephanie was trying to turn the tables on me again. I should have never let her know how much I liked when she did that with her finger. I picked up the pace and rubbed her clit with my thumb. A groan rumbled from her chest and then she pushed her finger inside the rim. I jerked at the sensation and it drove me deeper into her.

"What's the condition?" I asked, hating how desperate my voice sounded, and knowing I would agree to anything she wanted.

Stephanie's voice was just as labored as mine but she managed to say, "They have to dress like party guests, not stealthy ninjas. And I want Lester to wear something pink."

I started to laugh but she swirled her finger and then pressed down and I came instead. She clamped around me with her own climax and then I fell on top of her and tried to regulate my breathing. "Jesus," I said after a minute. "I think you're trying to kill me with sex."

"I don't think that's possible. You're insatiable."

I rolled off her onto my back and took a couple of slow breaths. "I don't know, I'm feeling pretty sated right now." I really was. I could probably go back to sleep pretty quickly. Unfortunately the phone on my nightstand started ringing so that wasn't an option.

"I really hate your phone," Steph said as I reached for the offending sound.

"At least you got to come first this time," I reminded her and she was smiling when I answered to Tank's impatient voice.

#####

I didn't let Steph know, because it was so much fun when we negotiated details, but I had already planned to let her go to the wedding shower. I sent a team to the reception hall two days ago to set up camera surveillance and already had her guards on the schedule. I'd have to remove Ram and replace him with Lester since she specifically requested him – He was currently on monitor rotation because I was still punishing him for being nearly naked and uninvited in my apartment - but having to attend a wedding shower wearing something pink would add to the castigation, so I'd make the allowance. I called Ella with instructions about the kind of outfit to purchase for him. I'd have to make sure Hal got video of the event as I wouldn't be able to attend.

Speaking of the devil, Lester stepped onto the elevator when it stopped on five. I knew there was a bite mark on my neck and I saw the comment on his face before he even opened his mouth.

"Unless you want monitor duty for the rest of your life, keep your mouth shut."

My cell phone rang and I watched him bite the inside of his cheek to keep from talking. I hoped it hurt.

The display read 'restricted' but I thought I knew who it was so I answered the call.

"Manoso."

"I can't sit on this forever," Morelli said by way of a greeting.

"Tomorrow night," I informed him. "It will be done."

He was quiet for several beats. "I'll do what I can until then." He disconnected and I returned my phone to my pocket.

"She's fucking your brains out isn't she?" Lester asked unable to contain himself. Apparently my punishments were not severe enough. "You are such a lucky bastard. There are more of those marks aren't there? Where? Where does she like to bite? Where does she like to be bitten? C'mon, give me just one little detail!" His face held such an eager expression I almost didn't do it, but he really did have it coming.

He doubled over from the unexpected impact of my fist into his stomach and dropped to one knee as the elevator door opened into the parking garage. I stepped out and then held the door open while he tried to get his breath back.

"Monitors, one more month, and you'll be on the wedding shower team."

He looked up at me with wide, fearful eyes. I smiled and added the rest. "Stephanie has requested a special outfit for you." His faced visibly paled and I released the door. I knew he was on his way out, but I punched the button for the fifth floor so he'd have to ride up and come back down again.

Tank was leaning against my Cayenne, waiting for me. "Do I want to know what that was about?" he asked as we got into the car.

"He deserved it," I said.

"I have no doubt."

We left the garage and headed out to meet up with Hector and Manny. They were critical in the next step to getting the streets safe for Stephanie to once again to roam.

"Morelli called. He's getting…anxious."

"It has been two days. If I was in his position, I'd be anxious too." Tank let that hang in the air while we waited at a red light. "Are you sure we can trust him with this?"

I crossed through the intersection when the light turned green. "Ordinarily, no. But under these circumstances he'll do what needs to be done to make sure she's safe."

"He'll lose his badge if something goes wrong."

"He's aware of the risks."

Tank nodded and fixed his gaze on the scenery for the rest of the ride. I knew he was uncomfortable with Morelli's involvement, and honestly I was too, but things would go smoother if we had someone in the police department pointing things in the right direction.

And because he was in love with Stephanie, he didn't even hesitate when I made the call.

Hector and Manny had been tirelessly working on the preliminary set up all week so when we finished the meeting today everything was in place. One more day and the threat to Stephanie's life would be completely eliminated. And I'd be able to sleep again – at least until the next time.

####

When we returned to the building and entered the garage, Stephanie and Lester were stepping out of the elevator. My cousin's arm was draped over her shoulder and she was rolling her eyes at whatever he was saying. It was probably something that deserved another punch in the gut.

"Try not to kill him," Tank said when I put the car in park. "I have enough paperwork as it is."

I ignored the jab and stalked out of the vehicle, contemplating which of Lester's fingers I would break first. I did not like the way he touched her and I had not forgotten that he'd kissed her, on the lips, right in front of me.

"Going somewhere?" I barked when they got closer to my car.

Lester at least had the foresight to remove his arm from her body before he got too close to me. "Shooting range," he answered.

"I don't think so," I started and Tank stepped in front of me.

"Santos – with me. Upstairs. I have an assignment for you," he commanded tightly and Lester opened his mouth to protest but Tank shook his massive head and his jaw snapped shut. He followed Tank back to the elevator and I looked at Stephanie for the first time since the exchange. Her eyebrows were raised almost to her hairline.

"What was that?"

"The gun range, huh?" I said, deciding Lester wasn't even worth the conversation. "You must be really desperate if you're willing to fire your gun on purpose."

She gave me slow smile. "Well, I wanted to have another poker party, but the last one seemed to bother you a little so I figured I should find something else to do."

My eyes closed briefly trying to stop the images from that afternoon from resurfacing. It was something I didn't really want to think about again. Except for what happened after everyone left. Now that was a memory.

"Good plan," I said, "But I think I can come up with something else to keep you occupied."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Every time you say that I end up naked."

I gave her what she calls my thousand watt smile. "I like you naked, but this is something else. Clothing is required by law."

"Intriguing. Does that mean I get to leave the building before tomorrow?"

I hit the button on the key fob to unlock my Turbo as a response. Her eyes lit up. "Now? Where are we going?"

"You've been talking about a wedding shower present for days."

Her jaw dropped open and I thought it might hit her chest. "You're taking me to the mall?"

I laughed at the shocked expression on her face. "Yeah, Babe."

"What about Junkman?"

I wanted to tell her that the assassin was currently on ice at the morgue, and thanks to Morelli, under the name 'John Doe' so the slayers didn't get wind he was dead and give the contract on her to another killer – but I kept my mouth shut. She didn't need to know anything until it was all over.

"Babe. You'll be with me," I said simply. She rolled her eyes at my arrogance but then she grabbed me by my full utility belt and pulled me to her. She lifted up on her toes and kissed me until I was having more than a little problem breathing normally. "If you keep that up I might rethink the whole getting you naked thing and skip the mall."

"No way," she said, stepping back to put distance between us. "I'm pretty sure you volunteering to take me shopping will never happen again so I'm going to take full advantage." With that declaration, she ran to my Porsche and jumped inside; probably afraid I'd change my mind.