5

I lay in the warmth of Ranger's embrace, still trying to remember what happened after the fight. Things came back to me in snatches, disconnected vignettes.

I remembered drinking beer, lots of it, laughing and joking with Lula and the guys. And later, slow dancing with Ranger, him holding me tight against his hardness, my feet not touching the floor. And the possessiveness when he kissed me at midnight, murmuring, "Merry Christmas, Babe."

Since the bar was so well stocked, right after midnight the guys acquired a bottle of tequila and began drinking shots. I knew there was no way I could keep up with them, and I didn't even try. But sometime during the shotfest Lester produced a handful of Santa hats, and they were all wearing them, even Ranger. He really must be feeling the liquor.

I wasn't partaking of the shots, but I'd been longing for eggnog all evening. And the caterer had just replaced the depleted punchbowl with a fresh one. It looked delicious, frothy and creamy, and a small crowd was gathered around to partake.

I hobbled over on stocking feet, having abandoned my heels shortly after the ankle-twisting incident, and got two cups. Limping back to the table, I handed one to Ranger.

"Babe."

"Oh, shut up and drink it, Ranger. And don't tell me you don't do dessert. This isn't dessert. It's a drink. A delicious, healthy drink made with milk and eggs. A lot like your smoothies, except without the fruit."

He appraised it, sniffed it. Although all the beer and shots hadn't seemed to be affecting him, the Santa hat was clear evidence that he was very relaxed.

"Try-y-y it," I urged. "You'll li-i-ike it."

He held up the cup of eggnog in a toast. "To you, Babe."

I held my cup up, too. "To you, Ranger."

And we solemnly clicked together the large plastic cups and drank it down.

oOo

After he carried me to the car I must have fallen asleep, because I had no memory of arriving at the RangeMan building, coming up to his apartment, removing my clothes…

Omigod, we were both naked when we woke up. I wondered if we…

"Don't worry, Babe," Ranger said from beside me, his eyes still closed. "Nothing happened last night. We were both too drunk."

"So why were we naked?" I asked, almost disappointed. Didn't he want me?

"I always want you, Babe. More than I should. More than anything…" He trailed off.

"Did you undress me?"

"Yeah, I thought you'd be more comfortable out of those clothes. I was going to put a t-shirt on you, but I guess I fell asleep first."

I snuggled up against him, not wanting to think anymore. The steady rise and fall of his chest under my cheek was comforting, and I could tell when he fell asleep by the deepened movement.

Feeling him breathe was even better than counting sheep, and I soon followed him into blissful oblivion.

TBC