Weekend at Ranger's

By Dayoh

Chapter Two: Saturday

Snuggled next to Ranger in his bed, Stephanie watched him sleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady motion. The hour was late, and she was tired, but an engaging mixture of thoughts were rolling around in her head, forcing her to stay awake.

After their frenzied encounter in the foyer, they'd finally made it to the bedroom, making love slowly, taking time to physically discover each other's body from head to toe. Ranger had explored every crevice of Stephanie's body, and his tongue had gone where no other man's tongue had gone before. She realized rather quickly that he'd do just about anything, within reason, to make her feel good.

Stephanie draped her arm across Ranger's chest, her head tucked into his neck, fingers playing in his hair.

"I could get used to this, babe," he said, eyes still closed. "You ready for more?"

Stephanie smiled into Ranger's neck, her lips tickling his skin. "I thought you were sleeping."

"Cat nap."

Stephanie's eyes were heavy with satiation. It was two o'clock in the morning, and she was ready for more than a cat nap. Ranger had worn her out. "You're like a muscle relaxant," she said. "I'm beat."

Ranger's chest vibrated with a quiet chuckle. "I'll give you a few more minutes to rest, but don't get too comfortable."

Stephanie closed her eyes and mumbled, "Yep…few minutes."

Then she snuggled closer to Ranger and fell into a deep slumber.

A few hours later, Stephanie opened her eyes to find light from the sun peeking through the blinds. Ranger was still in the same position, mouth slightly open, face relaxed in sleep. During the night, she'd somehow snagged the comforter off his body, hogging all the warmth. Ranger's naked form was covered only by a top sheet, his best asset outlined under the thin material.

Stephanie threw the comforter over Ranger and inched her way out of the bed, padding to the bathroom. An early morning chill was in the air, raising goose bumps on her bare skin. There was a white, fleece bathrobe hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Stephanie assumed it was there just for her, since Ranger didn't wear bathrobes. Her assumption was confirmed when she tied the robe around her body. It was a perfect fit. She'd have to remember to thank Ella the next time she saw her. While she figured the bathrobe was Ranger's idea, she knew Ella was probably the one who'd bought it. Ranger didn't shop for women's clothes.

Stephanie's bladder was full and screaming for relief, so she went to the small closet, privately housing the toilet, and handled her business. Standing at the double vanity, she washed her hands, glancing at the mirrored medicine cabinet in front of her. Stephanie was curious about the contents inside. Her mother had once told her that a woman could learn a lot about a man by snooping through his medicine cabinet. And Stephanie was born to snoop, right?

She washed her hands twice, quietly trying to convince herself that snooping through Ranger's medicine cabinet was wrong. But the little devil on her shoulder won the debate, convincing her it would be a good idea. She had the right to know if Ranger was hiding something she should know about.

What if he was on anti-depressant medication? That would certainly explain why he didn't seem to ever get riled. Not even in the worst situations. And although it was probably a little late to worry about Ranger having a venereal disease, she remembered an incident that had happened in college. Her best friend at the time had been shocked to discover her boyfriend had genital herpes. She'd confronted him after snooping through his dorm-room, finding the ointment in his medicine cabinet.

Stephanie dried her hands, trying to occupy her mind with other thoughts outside of prescription meds and venereal diseases. Ranger would probably tell her if he was on any kind of medication that would affect their relationship, right? Deciding to run a bath, Stephanie ambled to the tub and turned on the faucets. There was a small jar of Michael Kars Bath Soak sitting on the edge of the tub. Stephanie opened the jar, sprinkling the minerals into the water.

Score number two for Ella. Ranger didn't take baths, so she knew the product had to be Ella's choice. Ranger was a thoughtful guy, and she loved that he'd considered all the extras and provided them for her. And that was reason enough to not go snooping through his medicine cabinet.

Closing the door so that the running water would not disturb Ranger, Stephanie was morbidly drawn back to the cabinet, deciding it wouldn't hurt to take a quick peek. Pulling the door open, she scanned the shelves quickly, finding the usual stuff one would find in a medicine cabinet. The first shelf held shaving cream and aftershave lotion, an unopened box of Tylenol, and Band-Aids. On the second shelf, there was a bottle of rubbing alcohol, a tube of sports cream, deodorant, and mouthwash.

She moved the items around, checking for a hiding place, but found nothing incriminating, just a bottle of multi-vitamins tucked in a corner. Blowing out a sigh of relief, Stephanie closed the door to the medicine cabinet and let out a small yelp as Ranger's face appeared in the mirror. He was standing behind her. His face held no expression, and his eyes were at half mast, lazy with sleep.

"You scared the crap out of me," she said, looking at Ranger's reflection in the mirror.

"Something I can help you find?" He asked, staring back at her.

Stephanie didn't miss a beat. "I was looking for an extra toothbrush."

Ranger pressed his naked body against Stephanie's back. She could feel that he was ready for some fun in the bathtub. Reaching around her, he opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out a toothbrush packed in an unopened box. How the hell did she miss that?

"If it had been a snake, babe…," he said, setting the toothbrush on the vanity. He kissed her on the back of the head and walked to the tub, shutting off the water.

Stephanie's heartbeat kicked in again as she watched Ranger amble towards the toilet. She shimmied out of her robe and stepped cautiously into the tub, inching her way into the steaming water. She could hear a steady stream of water hitting the bottom of the toilet as Ranger emptied his bladder.

"Hey!" Stephanie yelled. "Close the door when you do that."

"Babe, are you serious?" Ranger said incredulously. "Now is not the time to get all modest on me."

Stephanie smiled, sinking into the water. Ranger was right. Just a few hours ago, all of her modesty had flown out the window. But it felt weird listening to him using the bathroom. They were in a new place in their relationship, and she would have to get used to being with Ranger on an entirely different level of comfort.

"Come on, you have to admit this is still a little weird," Stephanie said, watching as Ranger washed his hands. He walked over to the tub, his manhood dangling between his legs, and Stephanie fought the urge to take him into her mouth. How was that for modesty?

Ranger smiled down at Stephanie, as if reading her dirty mind. "Yeah, well that weirdness seems to be wearing off pretty rapidly. Make room for me."

She scooted her ass across the bottom of the tub, making room for Ranger's strapping frame. Settling in behind her, Ranger turned on the jets for the hydro massage and grabbed Stephanie's hips, pulling her between his legs, her back flush with his chest. He put his mouth close to her ear, his breath warm on her skin.

"What were you searching for in my medicine cabinet?" He asked in an unassuming tone.

Stephanie relaxed into the warmth of the water, and Ranger's body. She closed her eyes and blew out a sigh, contemplating her answer. She could maintain the toothbrush story, or she could tell Ranger the truth. She wasn't sure what the truth was, though. What had she really been looking for?

"I'm not really sure what I was looking for, Ranger. Probably something that would tell me more about you."

"And that would be?"

Stephanie leaned her head back against Ranger's shoulder. "Maybe some kind of prescribed medication, or…." Stephanie wasn't sure she should divulge in the details of what kind of medication she was hoping to not find.

"Prescribed medication?" Ranger repeated, a hint of annoyance lacing his words.

"My mother once told me that a woman could learn a lot about a man by what he keeps in his medicine cabinet. So, I guess I was checking to see if you were on some kind of prescribed medication."

Ranger was silent. And Stephanie knew the silence meant he was trying to keep his aggravation in check.

He said, "Stephanie, I'm not a guy who needs to take prescription drugs to get through the day. Do you really think I'd hide something like that from you?"

Stephanie maneuvered her body, straddling Ranger's hips. They were now face-to-face and she could look him in the eye to explain how she was feeling.

"Ranger, please don't get angry. You've been this mystery man in my life for the last three years. And there's a part of me that still wonders if I know everything I need to know about you."

Ranger studied Stephanie's face, absorbing the uncertainty in her eyes. In that moment, he saw a woman who was optimistic about their future, yet still unsure of what she was getting herself into. The secrets he'd kept from her were affecting her ability to trust him completely.

"Babe," he said, "I would never do anything to deceive you. So stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. I've been honest with you about who I am and what I do. If your curious about something, ask me and I'll tell you the truth."

Stephanie rested her forehead against Ranger's forehead. "I love you so much, and any unexpected revelations would be hard to accept."

Ranger cupped Stephanie's face in his hands, "I love you, too. But if this relationship is going to work, were going to have to trust each other."

"Since we're on the subject," Stephanie said. "Do you remember the time I asked you if you used to smoke, and you said 'I used to everything'? What did you mean by that?"

"I used to dabble in drugs and alcohol, mainly in college," Ranger admitted. "But I never got hooked on one particular kind of drug. Once I joined the Army, I stopped drinking and experimenting with anything that prevented me from thinking clearly."

Stephanie studied Ranger's face, trying to imagine the man who was now disciplined and focused as a young, carefree rebel, dabbling in crime and drugs. She knew there was still some bad boy left in Ranger, but he'd worked hard to become a successful business man and, generally speaking, Ranger was a good guy. He was loving and generous, intelligent and courageous. He had his faults, but who didn't?

Wrapping her arms around his neck, dripping bath water in his hair, Stephanie kissed Ranger's lips, mumbling against his mouth. "I trust you, Ranger. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. But, I'm also trying to understand Ricardo Carlos Manoso, the man behind the mystery. So bear with me, okay?"

Ranger ran his hands up and down Stephanie's back, her skin soft and slick from the mineral salt she'd added to the water. "Ricardo Carlos Manoso can be an exceptionally intricate man," Ranger said, his lips twitching with a hint of a smile. "And I'm sure you've noticed he's hard as hell right now. So, are we done talking?"

He placed his hands on Stephanie's breasts, ending the conversation. His thumbs circled her nipples, the nubs hardening under his touch. She pushed her hips forward, rubbing her mound against Ranger's erection, the movement causing water to trickle over the side of the tub.

"You have something else in mind?" Stephanie asked seductively.

Grabbing a handful of Stephanie's ass, Ranger growled in response, slipping deep inside her center, the warm water adding an erotic element of friction. Stephanie arched her back, moving her hips up and down Ranger's shaft, giving him an opportunity to capture a nipple in his mouth. He held the hard tip between his lips, brushing his tongue back and forth over the sensitive skin. Stephanie moaned and continued to rock her hips slowly.

Ranger's sitting position didn't allow much movement on his part, so Stephanie drove as he guided her hips with his hands. And she was using her vantage point for all it was worth, rubbing her swollen clit against Ranger's stomach as the water lapped around their bodies and over the edge of the tub.

Ranger wasn't one to do a lot of talking during sex, but he didn't have to. Stephanie knew he was close when he started thrusting his hips upward, matching her down stroke in perfect rhythm. She buried her head in the side of his neck, her loins tingling from the electric current running through her body, causing her toes to curl in the slick water.

Seconds later, Ranger wrapped his arms around Stephanie's waist, holding her tight as his body trembled with the same electricity. Then he collapsed deeper into the water, bringing Stephanie with him, her head resting on his shoulder. They relaxed in the water, silently recovering for a few minutes. The only sound in the bathroom was the steady gurgle of the jet system, pushing bubbles through the water in the tub. After a few more minutes of silence, Ranger spoke first. "Babe, I'm shriveling like a prune. I'll leave you to soak for a while, okay?"

Stephanie lifted her head off his shoulder. The Ranger induced fog that she'd experienced several times over the last few hours was slowly clearing from her head. "Okay. Give me 15 more minutes."

Gently lifting Stephanie off his body, Ranger kissed her on the lips and stepped out of the tub. "Stay as long as you like," he said, wrapping a towel around his waist. "I'm going downstairs to make coffee."

"Kay," Stephanie said, turning on the hot water, adding to the lukewarm left in the tub.

The hot water felt good on her skin, and if her hoo-hah could talk, it would be thanking her for the pampering, as well. She was definitely going to have a hard time walking if they kept going at it like this. Stephanie loved sex, but Ranger was a beast in the bedroom…And the foyer…And the bathroom.

She made mental note to find a high-quality, multi-vitamin to supplement her diet. She was going to need the extra energy now that she was with Ranger. Adding another handful of mineral salt to the water, Stephanie relaxed, surrounding herself in water. And then she closed her eyes to think.

When her eyes opened again, Ranger was staring down at her, an amused look covering his face. He'd traded in his towel for a pair of black, running pants, and his chest was bare. "I'm just checking to see if you're still breathing," he said.

"Has it been 15 minutes?"

Ranger pulled a towel off the rack, holding it open for Stephanie. "Try 40 minutes, babe. You're covered in goose bumps."

Stephanie stood up in the tub, and Ranger wrapped the thick towel around her body, lifting her off her feet, scooping her out of the tub.

"Wow!" She said, wrapping her arms around Ranger's neck. "I could get used to this kind of service."

"Enjoy it now," he said in a soft voice. "I'm trying to impress you. In a few months, you'll be picking up my clothes off the floor while I sit in front of the television, holding a beer."

Stephanie rolled her eyes, a sarcastic look covering her face. "That's such a stereotypical representation of our future together. Next you'll have me barefoot and pregnant."

Ranger set Stephanie down on the tiled floor. "I like the idea of you in bare feet, but we should probably hold off on the pregnant part for a while."

"Agreed," Stephanie said, padding into the bedroom. "I don't have any clothes to put on. And I don't want to walk around in that dress all day." She looked at Ranger pointedly.

"And?" He said, giving her a mischievous grin

Stephanie's eyes narrowed to slits. "I'm not walking around your house naked!"

Ranger opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a grey, sweatshirt with the sleeves cut out, and a pair of black, cotton boxer-briefs.

"I thought you didn't wear underwear," Stephanie said, taking the clothes from Ranger.

"Winter wear," Ranger said, watching as Stephanie pulled on his clothes. She twirled in front of him, as if she were showing off a new outfit. Her long, toned legs were on full display.

Ranger, grinning from ear to ear, lumbered up to Stephanie and pulled her into his body. He said, "You look real sexy in my clothes, babe. But you won't be wearing them for long."

He grabbed her by the hand, pulling her towards the door. "I'll make breakfast. You're going to need the energy."

****

Sitting on the same stool she'd occupied a week ago, Stephanie watched as Ranger prepared scrambled egg whites, turkey bacon, and whole wheat toast. It was déjà vu all over again. Except this time, she was more than just a visitor in Ranger's home. She was his lover, maybe even his girlfriend. She wondered if two days of passion really validated them as a true couple. And how would Ranger define her going forward? Good friend? Girlfriend? Companion? What were their official titles for each other now?

"I know it's not the bacon, so it must be your brain burning, babe?" Ranger said. "You're too quiet, so you must be thinking too hard."

Running her hands through her bedraggled hair, Stephanie pondered bringing up the relationship topic again. Even though she was sure Ranger felt the same way she did.

"I was just thinking how nice this is," Stephanie said. You know, spending quality time together, acting like…a real couple."

Ranger ambled over to Stephanie, snuggling his body between her knees. He had a lazy smile on his face, not a care in the world at the moment. "We're not just acting like a couple. We are a couple. This is what you want, right?"

"Yes," Stephanie said without hesitation. "I just want to make sure it's what you want, too. It's easy to get caught up in the moment, and disregard reality for a couple of days. But I don't want to wake up Monday morning and get slapped with a heavy dose of reality, especially if we're not on the same page."

"We're on the same page, Steph," Ranger said. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me."

He gave Stephanie a deep, passionate kiss, as if to emphasize his words.

Pulling his mouth away, he ran his thumb over the soft skin of her mouth. "I love you so much it scares me, babe. And I've never felt this way about any other woman in my life. Trust me, it's all about you."

Stephanie felt her heart flutter. She cupped the back of Ranger's head, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. "So, I'm your girlfriend?"

"Yes," he said. "You belong to me."

"Good to know. And while we're on the topic of love, you do realize that certain sacrifices come with loving me, right?"

Ranger lifted an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Dinner at my parent's house, at least once a week. And then there'll be the occasional holiday meal we'll have to attend."

"Shit, Steph. You sure know how to ruin a moment. Let's cross that bridge when we get to it, okay?"

Stephanie ran her hands up and down Ranger's bare chest in a soothing motion. "We'll be crossing that bridge tomorrow night. Dinner will be served at six p.m. Think of it as an initiation into the family."

Ranger closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh. "Your grandmother thinks I'm black," he said sarcastically. "And your father hates that I'm not Italian. I can hardly wait for you to tell them that I'll probably be the father of your first born child. I'll leave my gun in the truck, just in case things get ugly."

"It's not going to be that bad! We'll survive the evening just fine." …If there's truly a God in heaven....

"And just wait until Lula and Connie find out we're together," Stephanie continued. "We won't have to tell another sole after that. It'll probably be front page news the next day."

…Probably, the evening news on the same day....

Ranger did something that resembled an eye roll. "And you thought I complicated your life. Let's eat before I lose my appetite."

****

There was a basketball game on the television in Ranger's den. But Stephanie hadn't kept up with the score. During the first few minutes of the game, just as Ranger had promised, he'd slipped his clothes off her body, and planted his head between her thighs. And of course, she had to return the favor. It was the fair thing to do.

Now, with the game in half-time, Stephanie was lying face down on the sofa. Ranger's naked body straddled her hips, as he massaged the muscles in her back and shoulders, warm oil dripping from his hands. Stephanie moaned into a pillow resting under her head, his thumbs pressing into the small of her back, kneading her soft skin.

Sliding his hands across her ass, he worked his way down the back of her thighs and up again, stopping to push a couple of fingers inside her warm center. Slowly, he explored her inner walls, her muscles tensing and releasing from the heat of his touch.

"God," she mumbled in low voice. "That feels so good. Your hands are magical."

Ranger was silent, focusing intently on the job at hand. He shifted his weight, his erection hot and hard, hovering over Stephanie's ass. Gently removing his fingers, he grabbed the pillow from under Stephanie's head and placed it under her belly, giving her ass a slight lift for easier access. Stephanie smiled, gripping the arm of the sofa with her hands, knowing what was coming next.

Ranger secured his knees on either side of Stephanie's body, bracing his weight on his forearms as he lowered his body on top of her. And then he pushed into her, burying himself deep inside her body. Stephanie let out a stifled gasp, relishing in the sensation of Ranger's cock, filling and stretching her inner walls to accommodate his size.

He moved slow and steady at first, pulling all the way out, and then filling her completely. But as Stephanie pushed her ass into his pelvis, rotating her hips each time he penetrated her, Ranger increased his thrusts, a groan escaping from deep within his throat. Stephanie could feel his hard chest pressed against her back, his hips pumping hard, rocking her body with pleasure.

She moaned loudly, a familiar heat rising from her core. Ranger's hips pounded against Stephanie's ass, the sound of skin slapping against skin echoing throughout the room.

"I'm so close, babe," Ranger groaned, pushing his hand between the pillow and Stephanie's stomach, rubbing her mound, pushing her to the brink. A sudden burst of light formed behind her eyes and she cried out, calling Ranger's name. Her body convulsed as Ranger took her over the edge. And if she had not been so consumed in her own pleasure, she would've felt him bucking his hips erratically, releasing yet another dose of warm fluid deep within her body.

Ranger collapsed on top of Stephanie, his chest rising and falling rapidly, trying to recoup lost oxygen. Stephanie took the weight of his body, struggling to catch her breath.

"I'm not going to live through the rest of the weekend if you keep this up," she said. Her words were slurred, as if she were drunk. Ranger flipped Stephanie over, and scooted under her, so that she was lying on top of him.

"Babe," was all he could spit out at the moment. He was spent, too.

For the rest of the afternoon, Stephanie and Ranger followed a similar pattern. They ate when they were hungry, watched movies when they were bored, and made love when they were horny. By midnight, they'd christened just about every room in the house. They were both sore and languid, but satiated beyond belief. Ranger had made good on his promise, and Stephanie had survived every round, blow by blow.

Waiting for Ranger to set the alarm and turn off the lights, Stephanie stood at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the railing. Ranger walked up behind her, pushing her forward with his body.

"I never noticed you had so many stairs," she said, counting the stairs with her eyes. "I have a good idea. You run up and grab a couple of blankets, and we'll sleep on the floor in the den."

Ranger smiled wide. "Are you trying to get out of walking up the stairs, babe?"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to do," she said. "I'm not going to make it up those stairs tonight."

Ranger scooped Stephanie up in his arms, taking the stairs one by one.

"My hero," she said in an overly dramatic tone. She wrapped her arms around Ranger's neck and kissed his cheek.

"I'll show you what a real hero can do, as soon as I get you up these stairs."

TBC…