Thank you for the awesome support on this story. I've come to learn that games are a great way to teach things to people. Teamwork, communication, etc. are better learned by doing;)
As a reward for the long wait, I've made this chapter a bit longer than the previous.
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
I shivered as a cold breeze reached me, awakening me from a dreamless sleep. Searching for warmth, I snuggled closer to the solid body resting next to me. I pressed myself as much as physically possible against Ranger's side as I murmured, "It's freezing."
Ranger wrapped his arms around me, automatically passing his hands across my back in soothing caresses. He kept that up for a few moments until he shifted and got out of bed to investigate.
I gripped the blanket close and listened as he moved around the room in the dark. I heard a few flicking sounds, but no light illuminated the room.
"Power's out." Ranger's statement was followed by soft shuffling sounds. A small light source illuminated the room, probably that pen light he takes everywhere, just as he said he was going to take a look.
I listened to the soft sounds of his footsteps for a moment after the door clicked shut. Muffled voices could be heard, but it was hard to make anything out. Deciding I wanted to know what was going on, I got out of bed and used the blanket to shield away some of the cold by wrapping it around me. The floor was freezing too, so I stuffed my bare feet inside my sneakers before exiting the room.
"What's going on?" I asked Ranger and the others standing out in the hall. Someone was using their cell phone as a light source, which was bright enough to illuminate a small radius around them.
"We don't know." Josh piped in. He too was wrapped in a blanket.
"Power's out." Amy mumbled as she approached us from the other end of the hall.
I saddled up next to Ranger, opened my arms to share warmth with him and shivered when the cold hit my naked body. Ranger got the message, stood behind me and slipped the blanket over his shoulders. I gripped the edges of the soft fabric and crossed my arms, effectively sealing the warmth in. Ranger's hands landed on my hips, swiping his thumbs back and forth. Automatically, I leaned back against him.
"We are having some technical difficulties." Emily's soft voice said as she joined us. Unlike earlier, she was dressed and wearing a rain poncho.
"It's raining?" Sebastian asked as he aimed his light to the floor.
"It's starting to pour outside." Nick mumbled before dashing down the hall towards his room. That was certainly weird.
"What happens now?" I asked, sucking in a breath when I felt Ranger's hands move. His right hand closed over my left breast as his left inched below my waist, fingers ghosting dangerously close to my doodah. A whimper escaped me and when I realized all eyes were on me, I had to cover the slip with a cough. "It's freezing." I'd felt cold moments before, but that was before Ranger got handsy.
"While we work out this little inconvenience, I'll provide you with extra blankets." Emily also said that if anyone needed help with the fireplace in their room, that she could provide assistance.
Ranger and I were sufficiently heated, so I only grabbed one of the extra blankets Emily handed out before rushing back into our room.
"That was evil." I told him as we stumbled inside the room. I kicked off my sneakers as I searched for the bed blindly.
"Babe." Ranger obviously had a better sense of orientation than me, because he snagged me by the waist and tumbled us on the bed. "You pressed your round little ass against my dick." His lips crashed against mine as his lower body ground against mine.
"So, it was my fault?" I asked with false indignation when we broke apart for air. He nodded against my throat while his lips left a trail of nipping kisses on my heated skin.
S&R
I awoke to an offending beeping sound. Groaning, I rolled over and reached for my cell phone resting on the bedside table. Cracking an eye open, I read off the notification flashing on the screen. "Great." I murmured as I dropped my phone on the pillow next to me. My cell phone had less than 5% battery left.
"Babe?" A strong arm snaked over my hip, pressing me back against a hard body. Ranger nuzzled my shoulder as his hand splayed over my abdomen.
"My cell is almost out of battery." I sighed as I felt his hardness poking the small of my back. We dozed off after our last round of lovemaking after the whole power outage meeting, which was only a handful of hours ago. His lips latched onto my nape, teeth scrapping before his tongue swiped out to soothe the light sting. "Carlos…" A moan tumbled past my lips when he hooked my left leg over his, pressing our thighs together as the tip of his erection nudged at my doodah.
"Stephanie." Ranger let out a moan of his own as his fingers teased my entrance. We've had so much sex in the past twenty four hours, but not even the constant orgasms can quench the desire that always seems to linger just under the surface between us.
He slipped inside, slowly dragging out before slamming back in. Fast entrance, slow exit. He did that over and over again, until the orgasm unleashed those magical sensations throughout every nerve ending in my being.
Satisfied and warm, I rolled over to face him. "Hi." The sight of his sleep tousled hair and half grin made my heart skip a beat. His beauty leaves me breathless, especially when it hits me without warming. "You're beautiful." I breathed, smoothing my fingers across his forehead.
"Babe." He groaned in protest. "Handsome, hot, wizard, manly…" Ranger listed. "Hell, even studly is acceptable." He gave me his patented Ranger's glare, but it didn't work because instead of looking tough he looked adorable. And quite edible too.
"You are.." I planted a kiss on his lips as I crawled over him. "…beautiful!" I shouted as my feet hit the hardwood floor and I dashed towards the bathroom. I knew I wouldn't get too far, but I still giggled uncontrollably when he caught up to me.
S&R-Ranger's POV
Babe is full of surprises. She has this spontaneous streak I'm not even sure she realizes is within her. I'd be a liar if I said that it doesn't annoy me at times, like when she gets rid of her trackers, but other times it makes me feel alive. Now is one of those feeling alive moments. We had so much unresolved sexual tension at one point, that our lovemaking usually involved some degree of lust, desire and passion. And it wasn't until the status of our involvement changed to something more defined, that we realized we could also be fun and playful in bed.
"Ranger!" She squealed when I caught up to her, slipping both arms around her waist as she crossed the doorway into the bathroom. "No!" I fiddled with the water before I stepped inside the shower, brining her with me. "It's cold!" She complained as she plastered her shivering body against mine. I adjusted the water until it no longer flowed out freezing and turned warm. Five minutes later, we decided it was as good as it was going to get.
"Sorry." I brushed my lips against her in apology. How was I supposed to know the stupid water would take forever to heat up? Groff's wife couldn't have picked a worst place for this retreat thing.
The water went from cold to warm to scalding hot throughout our shower, making us speedy up with our cleansing.
I left Babe to deal with her hair in the bathroom as I went in search of clothes. The power was still out and the air was sort of chilly. I don't do the nude thing in the cold. Fuck that. I thought as I grabbed a thermos long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.
Babe joined me just as I completed my outfit with two guns and a knife. "We can wear clothes now?" She gave me a puzzled look as she adjusted the towel she wrapped herself in after our shared shower.
I stood, grabbed her bag and handed it to her. "Rules don't apply when the power's out."
"Really?" Babe is cute when she tries to arch her eyebrow at me. My half smile must have done the trick, because she didn't question my logic and started dressing.
When we reached the dining area we saw that everyone had opted for clothing this morning. Even that kid who intercepted me in the hall yesterday was wearing clothes, much to my relief.
I draped an arm across her shoulders and leaned into her side, brushing my lips against her ear as I whispered, "Babe." She rolled her eyes as she walked away, zeroing in on the freshly brewed coffee.
S&R
"It's fucking freezing." Dr. M muttered when he joined us for today's session. "It's colder in here than it is outside."
"I didn't sign up for this shit." The hairy guy whined.
"Yeah." His partner added as he huddled closer to Hairy.
"Life is full of surprises." Dr. M told us that said surprises aren't always in our favor. "Sometimes a change in plans is called for and being able to adapt is key for success." He asked everyone to follow him outside.
He was right. Out here at least the sun's rays warmed you up a bit. Menard led the way as we rounded the side of the big house. We reached a tennis court, half of which was scattered with tennis balls. It probably didn't rain much last night, because the court was fairly dry except for a tiny puddle on the corner.
"How about we warm up a little?" Menard clapped his hands together. "The goal of this exercise is to cross from one side to the other." He pointed to where the balls were scattered. "The only rule is that you can't touch the ground." Dr. M smiled and stepped aside, saying that everyone had to get through. "If your feet touch the ground, you must start all over again."
Everyone stood dumbfounded for a moment as they tried to figure out how to go about this. While they thought about it, I placed my right foot on the nearest ball. I tested the feel of it before I put my other foot on another ball. I moved experimentally at first, until I felt confident enough to just go for it. Before I knew it, I was close enough to the other side to jump over to the 'end zone'.
"Well, shit." Groff groaned. "When he does it it's easy."
Groff's wife whispered something to Babe. Her eyes widened with surprise at whatever Mrs. Groff said, but Babe nodded in acknowledgement.
"Who's next?" Menard asked the others. Babe gave it a try, but missed the second step. "That's alright, Stephanie." He encouraged, instructing her to start over. As she did a look of determination etched her features.
"Move that ball." I said to Babe. The path she took left her a few feet short from reaching my side.
"This one?" Babe asked, nudging the ball I was pointing at with her foot.
"Yes." She rolled the ball and when she was near enough I extended my arm in her direction. Babe took my hand and jumped over the small gap. "Nice." I praised.
"Elisa is pregnant. She hasn't told Nick yet." Babe said Groff's wife was worried about a fall.
"Oh." She asked if I could help her cross. "Is that allowed?" It was my turn to tease her rule interpretation.
Babe shrugged. "The person crossing can't touch the ground."
"Babe!" A bark of laughter escaped me as it hit me what she wanted me to do. I kissed her cheek before walking back across the court.
Everyone gave me a funny look, but I ignored them. When I reached Elisa, without a word I scooped her up and carried her to the other side.
"Is that allowed?" I heard Groff ask. I didn't hear any type of protest from Dr. M, so I figured it was.
"Thank you." She said when I set her on her feet.
"Señor Mañoso, you have to start again." Dr. M said that if someone goes back to help someone cross, they have to re-cross themselves.
"Fine." It was a piece of cake, so I didn't mind. Plus, Babe asked.
Just as I started to make my way across the court again, strategically choosing which tennis balls to step on, a loud explosion boomed nearby.
"Oh shit!" Hairy said, turning everyone's attention to the sky. A cloud of smoke was rising on the other side of the building.
"They're here!" Groff started with his conspiracy babble, but that wasn't what tugged at my instincts.
I grabbed the Glock strapped to my left ankle and turned to Babe. She took it without questioning me. Reaching for the gun at the small of my back, I shared a look with Babe. When she nodded, I knew she understood what I wanted her to do.
"Whoa!" Someone gasped, but I didn't stop to see who. I guess some people here are squeamish when it comes to fire arms.
I slipped into my zone, as Stephanie likes to call it, as I sprinted around the side of the building. My gut was telling me there was something wrong with this picture. Maybe Groff's not so paranoid after all.