Disclaimer: I don't own Plum characters. A nod of respect goes to Janet Evanovich and her imagination for creating these characters. I'm merely messing around.

TBC Word Challenge: Ranger, tequila, salt and a lime.

..::Wordless Comforts::..

Batman isn't invincible. Neither are his friends.

There were just a handful of times I'd gone to Ranger's apartment willingly when I knew he'd be in residence. With the way my heart was pounding, I wasn't so sure this was one of those times; but I couldn't stop myself.

Lula was inconsolable. Rightful so.

I stepped off the elevator half expecting him to be waiting for me on the other side, but all was quiet when the doors slid open. I stepped off and went to his front door. I lifted my hand to knock but thought better of it and just let myself in.

He sat at the breakfast bar with his back to me and the door, his shoulders slumped forward. I watched him for a second before I made my way closer to him. I dropped my bag on the floor and stood beside him without touching him.

Ranger didn't look up at me. His chin slumped down to his chest and he was silent. To stand there and see him like this killed me inside. It was all I could do to breathe past the lump in my throat.

I wasn't good at this sort of thing.

I cleared my throat and wrapped my fingers around the bottle he held. Our fingers touched and he didn't shy away from the contact. "I'll take a shot of that if you don't mind."

I slide the bottle of tequila from away from him and took his shot glass. I filled it to the brim and took it. The smooth texture of the tequila burned its way down my throat and settled among the butterflies all ready swimming around.

When I sat the shot glass back down on the counter, my eyes watered and it was all I could do to keep myself from coughing. Ranger's hand reached out and slid the glass and the bottle away from me. He looked up at me, eyes red rimmed and blood shot.

"Babe."

Ranger poured himself another shot and knocked it back with the ease of a seasoned vet and poured another.

I slid it away from him and knocked it back. It was obvious to me that he wasn't in much of a talking mood and it was obvious that I was a light weight because I was already feeling a bit drunk from two shots of tequila.

I put my hand on Ranger's shoulder and leaned my head against his and we stared at the same spot on the counter. The silence wasn't comforting, but it was bearable with Ranger beside me.

It could've been Ranger. I could be in Lula's shoes right now. I couldn't even begin to think about how I'd deal with that.

I pressed my lips to his temple and took a deep breath as I moved away from him. I went to the other side of the counter and went to the fridge for some water. I grabbed out two bottles and slid one across the counter to him and instead of thanks, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pour another shot and toss it back. The bottle of tequila was getting dangerously low and I wasn't sure what would happen once there was no more tequila to drown all the sorrow.

"I'm not going to cry on your shoulder." He was so quiet for a second I thought I had imagined him saying that, but when I looked up, he was taking another shot, eyes focused squarely on me. "And I don't want to talk."

I forced myself to not look away. "I never said I wanted to talk."

He was off the bar stool and in front of me faster than I could move. He pressed me into the cool steel of the refrigerator, "Then what do you expect of me?"

I stared at straight into his bare chest, unable to breath, unable to think. "I expect you to be real with me."

I didn't want to be breathless. I didn't want to be so overcome with the feel of him against me that I couldn't remember the real reason I came here to be with him, but when he stood this close to me the only thing I could think about was getting naked and sweaty with him.

It was as if he could hear my thoughts. His hand brushed up my side, and skimmed the outer swell of my breast. He grazed his thumb over my nipple and it hardened painfully and strained to feel more. He palmed my neck and his thumb played with my lower lip. A rush of desire shot southward and I went hot all over as he rocked his hips into mine.

He put his lips to my ear, "This is what I want to do, babe. All night, and I'm not going to stop. No matter how many times you cry out my name."

Every inch of me contracted and I was so wet at the thought of him sliding deep inside of me while I cried out his name that the only thing I could do was lick my lips.

He drug his lips along my jaw line and pressed me firmly into the fridge before taking my lips with his. His tongue slid against mine and I moaned as I threaded my hands through his hair and kissed him back. I could feel every solid inch of him twitching between us and the desire to have him grew to a fever pitch. I tore my lips away from his and looked him in the eyes. My pulse raced and my knees felt weak.

"I didn't come here just for this." He pulled on the little strap holding my tank top up and kissed the skin along my collarbone. "I don't want you to think it's okay to use me and forget about it in the morning."

His lips stopped moving and his eyes focused on mine. "I never forget, babe. Never."

..::End::..

Original Posting Date: July 19, 2009

Secondary Posting Date: October 24, 2011

A/N: Someone once asked me if I liked anything I've written. I replied no. In my eyes, it's never going to be good enough.

Yet, I lied. I liked this one. I hope you did too.