DISCLAIMER: All characters are based on the characters developed by Janet Evanovich in her Stephanie Plum series. This short story follows the events between Smokin' Seventeen and Explosive Eighteen.

Chapter 4—The Lies

"Hi Joe." I said while trying to pull away from Ranger's wondering hands. I had to stifle a moan as he started to put his hand under the top of my dress.

"Cupcake! How are you? I miss you. How was your flight?" Joe asked

"It was great! There were no problems and I got here without blowing anything up." It was getting harder for me to concentrate on the call because Ranger wasn't giving up. I guess we had too many interruptions already this morning. Finally, I managed to pull away and I walked out onto the sand, fixing my dress once again.

"Cupcake? Are you there?"

"I'm sorry, Joe, I ordered room service for lunch, it just arrived." Lie #1.

"Oh, I asked if you still want me to come if I close out the case. We have a couple of suspects and it seems that I could have this closed-up tight in two days. Then we can spend your last 2 days together, naked, on the beach."

"That would be great, but don't worry if you can't make it. I am actually enjoying my time alone. I didn't realize how much I needed a break until I got here. Sitting on the beach with a book in my hand is very cathartic. I don't want you spending a ton of money on a last-minute flight. With the jet lag, you wouldn't really enjoy yourself for two days." I told him. Lie #2.

"Steph, are you still mad at me for canceling?"

"To be honest Joe, yes, I am still mad at you. You promised that you would take your vacation, no matter what. You were not even supposed to be working and you went in for overtime anyway and got stuck on a case. You could have handed it off to another team, but no, you didn't. Instead, you canceled and sent me here to Hawaii on my own. So, now, I want to enjoy my time by myself." Lie #3, I wasn't by myself.

There was silence on the other end. Then, Ranger came out wearing a black bathing suit. His body is amazing, and I couldn't help looking him up and down. Finally, Joe said, "I'm sorry, Cupcake. I know I hurt you. I will try and make it up to you. Just don't have too much fun there without me. Oh, and call your mom before she irons burns into everything. She's worried about you."

"Okay Joe, I will. You know the time difference is a killer."

"Yes, I know. But your mom doesn't get it. Bye Cupcake."

"Bye Joe"

"I love you."

"Me too." Lie #4. I hung up the phone and immediately dialed my mom. "Hi mom."

"Stephanie Michelle Plum, it's about time you called. Your father and I were worried about you."

"Mom, I know. I'm fine. I just had a little jet lag last night and went to sleep after I got to my hotel room. By the time I woke up, it was too last to call you. It's only 11:15 here."

"I understand. I'm glad to hear your voice. Are you okay there by yourself?" My mom asked.

"Yes, I am. I am not staying at the original hotel I book. I won a special raffle from the airlines and have been upgraded. Let me give you the name of the new resort." I told her the information and she wrote it down. Lie #5

"Stephanie, that's great. Just make sure you call before you leave, okay? I'll see you when you get home."

"Will do, mom. Bye"

"Bye Steph."

As I hung up the phone Ranger took it from me and turned it off. He threw it into the room. He turned me around and went right back to where he left off before the phone calls. He was kissing my neck, and he finally took off my sweater while kissing my arms as my skin was exposed. He then moved onto my back. He was still behind me, arms wrapped around and pulling my back into his chest. This time, I allowed the moan to escape my lips. "Inside", I said to him. He slowly pulled me in while continuing his assault with his mouth on my body. He finally got my dress off me and I was standing there in my bra and panties. He pushed me against the counter by the kitchen in the suite and took off my bra. He was rubbing a kissing my breasts, getting me so turned on that I completely forgot that I had just hung up with Joe 10 minutes before. He moved down with his hands, rubbing my core with his fingers, priming it for his mouth. He pulled down my panties with his teeth, and the started to kiss my legs from my ankles up before stopping by my thighs. He stood up, picked me up, and placed my ass on the counter. He kissed me with his tongue battling my tongue, it was frantic. I could get enough of him. I wanted him inside me and tried to pull him towards me but he just moved his mouth back down my chest, to my breast, my belly button, and finally my core. He attacked my core with his tongue and fingers and before I knew it, he had taken me over once, then a second time. He gently lifted me off the counter and placed my feet on the floor. I started to kiss his chest, but he stopped me. "Not yet, Babe. This is all about you." Oh boy. What did he mean by that?

He picked me up and carried me to the bed, where he laid me down on my stomach. He started to massage my neck, my shoulders, my back, sneaking a feel of my breasts, before moving down. He followed with gentle kisses. I was so hot. I really need him. I tried to turn over to kiss, him, but he stopped me. "Not yet, Babe. Don't make me get the handcuffs". He must have seen the horror and excitement in my eyes. "Why, do you want them?"

"I thought you said you didn't need handcuffs to enslave a woman."

"You're right, I don't. But it could be fun." he said with a amused smile before he once again entered me with his fingers. Two inside me with his thumb rubbing on the outside from behind. He kisses were on my neck below my ear and his other hand was cupping my breast and rubbing my nipple. I climaxed again. I wanted Ranger even more than I did before.

"Ranger, please, I need you inside me."

"Babe, not yet."

Not yet?! What more could he possibly do to me that he hasn't already? I have never had any experience like this. I know that he is enjoying it, because his member is so hard. I don't know how he can control himself. He turned me on my back and kissed me like he's never kissed me before. Suddenly, he had my hands cuffed above my head onto the headboard. I didn't even see him get them.

"Ranger, what are you doing?" I whispered.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes." I said with my voice wavering.

"Have I ever hurt you?"

"No."

"Then just go with it, Babe. I promise, you won't regret it."

He continued his kissing and rubbing and feeling. Everywhere he touched me send shivers down my spine. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he said "I need you, Stephanie. I may be a little rough. I'm sorry. I don't know if I have enough control not to hurt you. Do you want me to remove the cuffs first?"

I thought about it for about one second "No. I needed you inside me like an hour ago."

With that, he spread my legs. He put one leg over his shoulder and slowly entered me. He gave me a chance to adjust to his size, before slowly pushing in even more. It started off slow and quickly built to a fevered pace. I wanted to touch him. I want to pull him into me. I want to kiss him. But not being able made me even more excited. He was kissing me before I knew it and then we both felt the release together. He kept going until we were both and empty and we couldn't take it any longer. He undid the cuffs, kissed my wrists, rolled onto his back and pulled me on top of him. "I love you, Babe." He said before we both drifted off to sleep.

I woke up first after our early afternoon workout and had an opportunity to watch Ranger sleep. I was trying to figure out what got into him, because even though I always knew he was magic, what we did was supernatural. I looked at my finger and saw the fake wedding band. Part of me wished it was real, but then I remembered that Ranger is not the marrying type. This level of commitment was not available with Ranger.

I slowly got up off the bed and jumped in the shower. I got out, and put on my black string bikini. Joe had picked it out, and even though it is a little to skimpy for me, I got it for him. I would never wear this to Point Pleasant or anywhere else near home because I wouldn't want anyone to see me in it. But, with this private beach and just Ranger, who has seen me naked, I had the confidence to wear it. I got my beach towel, sunglasses and sunblock and headed out to the beach, looking once last time at Ranger's awesome body.