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

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No Spoilers

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No Prompt

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Pairing: Babe

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Universe: Canon. (But OOC.)

..::Difference Between::..

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I'd been tossing and turning for the past three hours; the Indian summer breeze doing nothing to cool the heat running through my veins. I rolled to my stomach, looking for a cool spot on the bed. I scissor kicked my legs through the covers, searching for that last little patch of heaven and when I didn't find it, I punched my pillow and groaned.

Nothing I did was making this any better. I couldn't get him out of my mind.

I was going to get him back for doing this to me. I really was. Being sexually frustrated wasn't high up on my fun list. And it wasn't my idea to drink that bottle of wine at a dinner that was supposed to only be business tonight.

Business, my ass.

If only my shower massager wasn't broken.

But of course that was his fault too.

Asshole.

I closed my eyes again and practiced the deep breathing techniques I'd learned in that free yoga class I'd taken on a whelm. Something about harnessing my free spirit and focusing my chi. A lot of hooey if you asked me, but it seemed to work. A few deep breaths and my heart rate steadied out and sleep called out to me.

The moonlight was always brighter in my dreams. The stars always shining, twinkling like fresh fallen snow. I was in my bed, looking out the window as I always was. The curtains fluttered in the breeze, bringing in that crisp autumn scent. Even in the moonlight, a shadow fell over me, looming. A giant standing next to my bed controlling my mind, making my body do unthinkable things. Things that I wish I had a partner for.

My hand slid up my abdomen, slipping underneath the hem, moving upward to cup my breast. My fingernail brushed my nipple and it puckered painfully. I was burning up, my little cami tank and boy shorts suction cupped on my body; my nipples were as hard as diamonds being scratched by the cotton material that felt like sandpaper, as my body moved on it's own accord. I bit my lower lip as I brushed my hand away from my breast and moved south, tracing my hip bone and slipping underneath the soft micro-fiber of my boy shorts. I was wet just thinking about him, imagining his hands replacing my own. I pushed them off, kicking them away from my feet to the edge of the bed. I could feel him on me even though he wasn't touching me yet. His presence filled the room, the dark spice scent swirling around me, filling me, reminding me that he was in control. No matter what.

There was just the barest brush of skin on skin; the rough pad of a finger tracing along the inside of my hand, sending shock waves straight to my core. I moaned, begging for him to touch me all over and he pulled his fingers away for the briefest of moments. The bed dipped with his weight, his hands sliding into my hair and fisting it, pulling me roughly into him. He took my lips under his own, biting my lower one and sucking on it. He slid his leg between mine keeping the sheet between us, trapping me so that I couldn't move away even if I wanted to. I bit back a moan and my hips undulated on their own volition. He pushed the sheet off me and yanked off the cami. I opened my eyes, eyelids flickering over and over again; trying to focus, but his face was well hidden in the shadow of the room. I could feel his lips on me, his hands roaming over my hips, lifting me, rolling with me. He pushed me harder, faster, ignored my pleas for more, giving me only what he was willing to part with. He was hard, filling me, making me cry out. But not his name. Never his name.

His hips pushed into me and another wave of ecstasy flowed over me. I exploded into a million little star bursts and cried out, my fingers digging into the hard muscle of his back until I thought I would dig my way to bone.

Finally, the ecstasy faded to a pulsing afterthought. The cool air sustained me, stroking my skin like a million tiny flower petals. I lay in the bed, his body braced above me, his lips near my ear. His breath fanned across my neck, each time he took a breath, his chest crushed into my own.

I arched into him, my body beginning to burn for him again. He responded by sinking his teeth into the soft skin at my collarbone, not breaking skin but enough to make me cry out. He was so hard, moving within me like a slow rolling wave. And the more I arched into him, the hotter I became my body winding up like a toy ready to let loose. The more I climaxed, the harder he rode me. He was never sated, all night, every night. His body coming into mine. He made me feel like I belonged in his arms. My body would sing for him as his fingers stroked me; as his lips would claim me. Even as his hips were pushing into mine, I would cry out for more. I cried out for his touch. I never wanted his hands to leave me. I cried out for his lips. I ached for his lips touching my own, moving along my jaw line, his breath along my neck before his teeth grazed the soft skin. I begged for more. I lived for it in these dark moments of night. I dreaded when the night would end and he would leave me.

Every night he came to me, giving me everything I'd ever wanted and taking everything. When the night was over, he'd leave me and I'd woke up every day a little more frustrated than I went to bed as. The night always ended the same. Him finally sating himself, spilling into me deep, so deep as I spasmed around him. He would whisper words to me I couldn't understand, so soft, so full of devotion. My eyes would close, as his whispered words caressed my skin, his lips worshiping every inch of me as though he was memorizing me for the day to come. His lips would touch mine, gentle and then seeking, his tongue dancing along my own, coaxing me and then gentling out again. As he would leave me, my eyelids fluttered as his thumb caressed my cheek. His lips would brush my own again and he would be gone.

His lips touched my own, his fingers weaving through my hair as he brought my lips up to his. His tongue touched mine and the heat spread throughout my body. He could feel it, because I felt him smile against me.

My eyes searched his. His eyes were black; the moonlight seemed to be dancing in them.

"Don't go," I whispered, my eyes were heavy and my body ready for sleep. His fingers fell upon my lips, his thumb soft on my lower one. He kissed me again and before I could speak, he disappeared.

I woke up to sunlight through my window. The birds were chirping happily, the smell of fall all around me. I rolled over in my bed, finding a cold spot. I snuggled in, breathing in the smell of cold sheets laced with a dark spice scent. I laid there forever, listening to the birds chirp, listening to the wind chimes hum. And then my cell phone buzzed.

I reached for it. My cell phone was set on vibrate and it was vibrating all over the place, dancing out of my reach until I fell out of the bed reaching for it. I hit the hardwood floor hard, busting my elbow and swearing six ways from Sunday. I flipped open the cell phone with a solid round of "fuck, fuck, fuck" coming out of my mouth.

"What."

"Why are you still in bed?" I could hear the annoyance in his voice. Like he'd never overslept in his life. Wait, he probably hadn't, hence why he was an asshole. He got no pleasure in life other than pissing me off.

"I'm busy masturbating and you're interrupting me. You got a problem with that?"

I heard him snort and I cleared my throat. What I was doing was better than masturbating. I was busy reliving my night. Over and over again.

"You wouldn't have to do that if you would just say the magic word."

"I'm not going to scream out your name like some low-budget porn movie. You can just forget that."

"You know that's not what I mean."

I moved back up to the bed and pulled the blanket up to my nose. It smelled like him. God, I couldn't wait until tonight. "But I sure as hell know that you're not willing to give me what I want. Why should I settle when I could hold out a few weeks more and get what I truly want?"

"Because you want it bad."

I dropped the blanket and frowned, "I must not want it bad enough. Maybe you've lost your touch."

He laughed; his deep voice rich like dark chocolate. "Babe, I've not lost my touch. You're just in denial."

It was my turn to snort, "You are so full of yourself. It's almost ridiculous the amount of confidence you have in your game."

"You're not a game to me."

"Sex is a game to you. You fuck, you orgasm and you leave. What about that to you isn't a game?"

"I never said that sex wasn't a game. I said you weren't a game."

"Same difference." I was starting to get annoyed. Really annoyed. "We fuck. That's what we do. Granted, you're good at it, but it's still a game we play."

"When I fuck you, it's not a game to me. Does it feel like it when I'm moving inside you?"

There was a knock on the door and I almost groaned. I was naked, my cami I'd been wearing the night before was on the floor with the straps ripped off and my underwear was no where to be found.

"Look this conversation isn't going anywhere. I'll be in to pick up my case load later." And before he could argue I flipped the phone closed. I threw on my robe as the knock came again and prayed it wasn't my grandmother.

Or my sister.

I threw open the door and instantly wished I would've check the peephole.

Fuck.

"What are you doing here?"

He was grinning, and it wasn't reaching his eyes. His cell phone was still out in his hand and his body language was tight. He was in all black, as usual, and looking like sin incarnate. I undressed him with my eyes. It was hard not too, with that hard body, thick muscled shoulders and back and eight pack abs. He was twice my size, always looking down at me glaring. But his eyes held something else today. Uncontrollable lust. For a second my heart stopped out of fear of the unknown and then the tide of need rolled over me and I found myself wanting him as much as I wanted to shove him out the door and slam it in his face.

He raised an eyebrow at me watching him so intently. He pulled his shirt over his head, his black cargos were riding low on his hips and I licked my lips involuntarily. He grinned as he pushed his way through the doorway and stalked me until my back was flat against the wall. His hips went flush against my own, his body hot and hard. He pushed a knee between my legs and I had a flash back to the night before.

His mouth was hot on my neck, his lips on my ear, "This is what you wanted, isn't it. You wanted me to fuck you. To let you ride me until you're satisfied and then keep going until you beg for mercy."

His hand pushed into my robe and he cupped my breast. My body was instantly lit on fire. I leaned my head back against the wall and arched into his hand.

"But there won't be any mercy to be found. There would be nothing but orgasm after orgasm after orgasm." His hand dipped lower, cupping between my legs, his finger sliding deep into wetness. "You're so wet." His lips slid along my jaw line as I heard a zipper slide down, "And you're so tight." He pushed hard into me and I cried out. The robe fell from my arms and stayed trapped between my back the wall. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. I put my lips to his collarbone and flicked my tongue out, tasting him, breathing him in deep. And all movement paused.

Dark spice; the smell that had been tempting me the past month in my dreams.

I moaned and brought my head up, but he moved in that moment and pushed deep into me. I lost all train of thought as he stretched me, filling me, showing me I was still sore from last night. His hips moved and I moved with him. His hand was cupping my ass, moving me with a rhythm that stole my breath away.

"Why?" I whispered, gasping as he went in deep, and stayed. He ground his hips into mine and I leaned back against the wall, lifting my hips against his in an effort to get some relief.

His teeth grazed my collarbone and his fingers dug into the soft skin of my cheeks. I shifted again and his fingers curled almost painfully into me.

"Tell me what I want to hear," he said. His voice was rough and his unshaven cheek scratched along my neck.

"No," I said, moaning. "Tell me why."

"No." He moved me until he was just teasing me with his tip, touching my clit and circling with precision. I fisted my hands in his hair and pulled hard.

"Stop teasing me and fuck me."

He slammed into me and I screamed. He found my mouth and shoved his tongue hard into me, fucking me with all he had. I came once, crying out. He kept moving, harder, faster, and I came again. I was mindless, moaning nonsense over and over again and I felt him swell within me and I came again, crying out his name. He slammed into me one last time and came, riding wave over wave with me until I couldn't possible move an inch.

I finally lifted my head from his shoulder and the look in his eyes said it all.

"Why have you been sneaking in my house like a thief in the night for the past month?"

"Because it was better that way."

I pulled his hair again and he leaned forward to bite my lower lip.

"Maybe for you." I rolled my hips and he instantly was hard again. He leaned into me, pressing me flat into the wall and kissed me slowly. His tongue stroked mine, making my body sing for him once again.

"From where I was, it was for you too." He rolled his hips, stealing my breath away and lifted me up, letting my feet touch the ground and the robe fell to the floor. I had no qualms standing there buck naked in front of him. It's not like he hadn't seen it before.

"So why not tell me?" He stepped away from me and zipped up his pants. I slipped my hand into the back of his cargos and tried to yank him back into the room. "Hey. I'm fucking talking to you. You sneak in here every night and fuck me senseless and you don't think I deserve an explanation?"

He turned, trapping my hand in the back of his pants and pulled me into him. "Because we both wanted something neither of us were willing to give. Just leave it at that. Enjoy it for what it was."

I pushed him. Hard. And instead of moving away, I met a brick wall of unforgiving muscle. "You know I can't now. I've been getting off with you without even knowing it. We work together every day. You asshole!"

"Why are you fighting me on this?" He leaned down until we were eye to eye. "Why can't you just leave it to what it was?"

I narrowed my eyes, "Because you took advantage of me."

"Because I knew it was what you wanted? I don't buy it. Try again."

"Because you're an asshole and you know it."

A muscle in his cheek twitched. "You're treading on thin ice, babe. Spit it out."

"Because you knew I wanted you and that pisses me off."

"Ding. Ding. Ding." He put his index finger under my chin and held me in place. His eyes searched mine. "Did you never think, even once, that I wanted you just as much as you wanted me?"

"Why would you? You never really showed much interest in getting in my pants in a more permanent fashion and you knew I just didn't want to fuck you on the fly. I can't trust myself that way. You know that." I lowered my voice, "I feel like you used me to get what you wanted."

"Sometimes in life we can't have what we want. No matter what we're willing to do to get it."

"So that's it? That's all you have to say for yourself?" I pushed him. Hard. "You fucking prick. All this time. All this fucking time you knew I loved you and you pushed me away."

He grabbed a hold of my arms, but I wasn't having any of it. I yanked my arms away from him, stalking him like a tigress hunting her prey. "For years, I've done nothing but walk in circles around my life. I've been confused, looking for any sign from you to know that you at least somewhat cared for me, but all I get is innuendos and hints of emotion hiding somewhere in that cold empty place where your heart is supposed to be. How do you think it felt for me to hear you say that you're love didn't come with a ring? Or that I needed to go back to Morelli?" I circled him, backing him into the wall with fiery intent. "In my own way… God, how I'd hoped that had meant something different than from what it actually meant, you self-centered asshole."

I felt my lower lip trembled, and I bit it hard to keep it from showing. I'd draw blood before I showed weakness to him. "All those nights I lay in bed thinking of you. All those mornings when I woke up and you weren't right beside me. Did you ever think of what you were doing to me? Did you ever stop to think that maybe I wanted something different from what you thought I did?" I looked into his eyes, not afraid of what I'd see. He didn't intimidate me. Not anymore. "All this time, I thought there was something wrong with me. You understand that? You show me what I can do. Show me that I can fly on my own and you still make me feel like I'm not good enough. Like I don't…" I breathed once through my nose. I almost lost it. I steeled myself, putting my emotions into lock down like he'd taught me once, not too long ago. "Like I don't deserve you or what you can give me."

I was so close, close enough to breathe the same air, to pull in the warmth of his body, to feel the hard lines of his arms and torso against me. And I closed my eyes, just for one long second, wanting to feel like I had before, wishing everything could be different between us. But it was time to let it go. I was holding on to the last thread, and it wasn't going to be long before it broke.

"This has to stop." I swallowed, hard. "If you can't stop it, then I will. I can't do this. I can't deal with you living in the shadows of my life. I can't deal with this feeling of dread when you walk out the door. And I can't deal with the fact that you won't allow yourself to be in love. So I need you to walk away. For good."

His fingertips brushed along the inside of my wrist, and I closed my eyes again, fighting back the tears of what I'd just said. He interlaced his fingers with my own and brought them to his lips where he kissed the pads of my fingers tenderly before dropped it and weaving his fingers through my hair. I leaned into him. I couldn't stop myself. It was just so hard to let him go. I didn't know if I could. I didn't know if I had the strength to do it.

"I won't walk away," his voice was soft, blanketing me with its rough cadence. If this was the last moment we spent together, I would always remember the way he smelled, the way his voice could make my heart skip a beat. "Not this time."

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.:End:.

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Original Posting Date: Never.

Written: February 21, 2007

Posting Date: December 02, 2011

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This "one-shot" was originally started to get to know my original fiction characters. As you can clearly see after reading it, it quickly morphed into Plum territory. In the beginning it was really difficult to find my voice and find my groove; and I would find myself writing my characters and turning them into Ranger and Steph because I wasn't sure where I was going with it all.

I never posted this before simply because it wasn't wholeheartedly Plum; but a wonderful friend of mine told me to post it regardless of what it was. So here it is.

NaNoWriMo 2011 is behind me. I hope everyone who participated in NaNo 2011, whether you "won" or missed the 50k mark, is proud of themselves for attempting such a feat.

Next up, several projects. Including a couple of challenges issued by my dear friend, Margaret. Thank you for waiting patiently while I worked NaNo last month.