Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing. Rated M for later chapters.

Description: Slightly A/U (and maybe OOC) story of another way Steph and Ranger meet. What happens when you can't see the face of the one person that totally captivates your heart, body and soul.

Warnings: Smut ahead, don't like it, don't read it, but it's part of the story.

A/N: Took me forever but I got it done, so here it is. A HUGE thank you to two of my favorite ladies and killer Betas, Ber and Meg. With out your poking, prodding and pushing, well yea ya'll get the idea.

Chapter 9

When I arrived in our room, I was alone. I had been expecting as much. I moved to sit in what I was quickly beginning to deem "Our" armchair, just staring into the fire, lost in thought. I missed him already and I couldn't help but wonder when he'd return again. At worst, it would be a year. I wondered what the future would hold for me at that time. I had one semester left of school, but then what? I tried to contemplate that for a while but true to form, I got side tracked.

I realized that other than my first night here, I had never noticed the details of anything in this room other than the fireplace area. I decided to take the opportunity to snoop and walk around the room; all the while committing everything to memory. It was a fairly large room with the bed sitting slightly off center. On either side of it sat nightstands, each with a small lamp. Overall, the room looked homey, yet elegant almost.

As I continued to look around the room, I noticed the tasteful decorations; paintings and rugs mostly, a vase with silk flowers here or there. I also noticed three doors; two of which were to the right of the fireplace area and fairly close together. I found that both locked. The third door was directly across from the bed and it too was locked. It just figures that the doors were merely for show. In this dream, this was all that existed; just us and this room.

Forgetting about the doors, I turned again to take in the room. That's when I noticed the floor to ceiling windows opposite the fireplace. I quickly walked over and looked outside excited about what I might see. I was surprised to see the night-lights of what looked like a downtown area. I didn't recognize it, but it felt familiar somehow.

I stood there, staring out at the beautiful city below and let my thoughts drift back to him. I closed my eyes and began to feel more connected to him and his feelings. Somehow, I could feel his sadness pulling at my heart. I barely knew this man, yet, I felt like I've known him forever. The depth at which I felt his feelings and emotions truly pulled at me. There was something about him that I just could not escape. It was like a force of nature, connecting and consuming me with thoughts of him.

Eventually I let my eyes drift back open to gaze at the city. After a few moments of pouring over the city and taking in the details I could see, I let my eyes become roaming and unfocused. I gasped when I came to my reflection in the windows. I had not realized that I was no longer wearing the mask. My entire face was now exposed. I was both a mix of happy and sad at this. Happy because my man of mystery would be able to see me and that maybe it would mean that I could see his face too? Sad, because I didn't know when we would see each other next.

I instinctively lifted my hand to my chest feeling for the pendant lying there. I sighed and closed my eyes as I clasped it in my hand. I smiled when I remembered last night. 'My heart, is yours'.

That's when I felt it; that familiar prickling on the back of my neck.

It's just because you were thinking about him while touching the necklace, I admonished myself. I felt a single tear escape my eye and down my cheek. I lifted my hand to wipe it away and stilled as I felt the tingle again just as two very strong arms embraced me from behind. I'm just imagining it, it is just because I wish he was here, I thought to myself as a few more tears made a break for freedom and down my cheeks.

"Babe," I heard in my ear as I felt his muscular arms tighten around me and his heat press against me.

"Mírame, mi amor," He whispered to me and I let his Spanish accent flow over me. I held the pendant tight and more tears started to fall. (Look at me, my love)

"Stephanie. Please," My eyes flashed open to stare into the window's reflection where I saw him. He was standing behind me, arms wrapped around my body, his face half buried in my curls, while looking at our reflection. I was awestruck, speechless even as a million thoughts raced through my mind at once.

I had to be imaging this; he said he couldn't come. I am just willing his image into my dreams. I had to be I thought. I closed my eyes again as I felt him pull my hair away from my shoulder. He began dropping feather light kisses across my shoulder and up my throat; his hands ran the length of my arms. He grasped my hands, intertwining our fingers. I was pulled further into him briefly before being twirled around lightly until we were face to face, our hands never breaking contact. He pulled me up against him and he placed the softest of kisses across my lips.

"You are even more beautiful than I could have imagined," he said bringing his hand to my face and wiping away my tears with his thumb. I smiled as I nuzzled into his hand, trying to hide the flush in my cheeks.

He put his hand under my chin and slowly brought my face up towards his. I looked at him through lowered lashes as his lips brushed against mine lightly. In that instant with our eyes locked on each other and his lips slowly filling me with the promise of a never ending passion, I could feel his love and need coursing through me. All of my worries fled my body with his kiss.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and his other hand entwined itself in my curls. He pulled me flush against him where I could feel the heat from his already naked chest against my exposed skin. His tongue ran across the line of my lips, seeking permission and entrance. Our kiss deepened as I gave myself over to him and the passion that was building up inside me. I tilted my head back as he broke the kiss and began placing a line of kisses from my jaw to my ear. He licked my earlobe and drew it into his mouth before nibbling softly on the skin below it.

I felt the hand around my waist come up and slowly slide the zipper of my dress down, all the while never moving his lips from my neck. He brought his hands up to my shoulders, lightly resting them on the straps of my dress, as he kissed his way down to them. As he slowly slid the straps off my shoulders, he left open-mouthed kisses in their wake; building my desire for him with each kiss.

He slid the dress down my arms, his hands following the material until the dress fell to the floor. Then slowly he ran his hands back up my body, capturing one of my breasts in his large palm, the other came up to hold my face tilting it to better expose my neck.

"Una Diosa, es inpresionante." he whispered softly in my ear before he began kissing down my neck again. (A goddess, so enchanting)

I felt desire mixed with that special tingle rush through me and pool between my legs as he reclaimed my mouth. The sensation that was so strong and intoxicating to me already was only amplified greater when he slid a hand under my ass and picked me up effortlessly; carrying me across the room and towards the fireplace. As he lowered me to the floor in front of the fire, I briefly noticed that the hardwood had been covered in several very plush looking blankets surrounded by pillows. I didn't have the chance to notice more as he tugged me to him giving me a kiss that was worthy of melting the icecaps.

It was filled with all the passion and desire, that I too felt for him. I could feel it all. I could feel him. It sent a rush throughout my whole body starting at the tips of my toes and resting low in my belly. I was on fire and he was my torch. I kissed him back for all I was worth snaking my hands around his shoulders and up into his silky black hair. I felt him running his hands down my body. He held me firmly while one hand caressed it's way down my chest skating across my breasts. I trembled as I felt it skim down my side to my hips, towards the promise land. His touch left a trail of flames in it's wake, making the fire in my stomach rage hotter.

He slid his hand between my thighs, and I opened myself to him without hesitation. He slipped a finger along the inside of my panties, brushing against me slightly before tearing them from my body with one swift movement, tossing them aside. I threw my head back and let out a low moan when his fingers ran over my damp, slick opening.

"Dios," He breathed, dragging me closer. He bit down on my neck, his teeth meeting the pulse point. Simultaneously, he thrust into me with two fingers. My body fell limp with ecstasy. His fingers began to dance in a rhythm designed to build my desire and drive me wild. My breath became ragged as his fingers and mouth refused to release their hold on me.

I could feel my orgasm building as he continued to rub my g-spot in the most seductive way. As it built, I ran my nails up and down his back, eliciting a growl from deep inside his chest. I could feel my walls begin to clench as the fire inside me exploded and he bit down on my neck sharply. I could feel the skin break and the blood begin to flow. The pain that sliced through me mixing with the waves of pleasure only added fuel to my fire. I was never one for kinky sex, but his actions were the most erotic feeling I had ever experienced. And it felt so...right. It didn't feel as raw or animalistic as I thought it would have. Nothing mattered at that moment, not the blood or the roughness. It was the raw passion that had sent me higher than I had ever been.

He tenderly ran his tongue over the bite, licking the blood from my body and easing the sting. He gently eased himself from my body and lowered me the rest of the way to the blankets. I whimpered at the loss of his touch and opened my eyes to see him standing before me. His eyes were the darkest color of onyx I had ever seen and I felt my breath catch in my throat, when I realized that he had shed the rest of his clothing.

I watched him lower his body to rest beside me. He slid his tongue into my mouth once…twice…and then placed gentle kisses on my neck before continuing down to tease my hardened nubs. He brought a hand up to play with one, while taking the other between his teeth, nipping, licking and teasing. I thrust my chest off the floor trying to make him take more of me into his mouth.

Resting himself on his forearms, he used his hands to steady me, as he continued his tortuous decent down my body. The fire that had just been extinguished, was returning at an alarming rate again. The need for him within me grew as my body arched from the floor and further into him. I wanted him, I needed him and if the emotions I felt from him were accurate, he needed me too.

"Please," I begged as he kissed my abdomen.

"¿Si, mi amor? Tell me," he whispered before kissing his way back up to face me.

"I…" I tried as a moan escaped my lips as his tongue caressed the swell of my breast.

"Uh…I…" I whispered as I felt him push himself against me. I felt him at my entrance and I arched into him, moaning slightly at his presence right where I needed him.

"¿Si?"

"God yes," I moaned as I felt him sheath his sword to the hilt inside me.

a/n: It's gets better, I promise, don't kill me....yet.