Disclaimer: Janet Evanovich owns all rights to the following characters. This story is

intended only as artistic exercise and I am in no way profiting financially from it.

Warning: This story contains adult themes and language. Babe story.

Intentions of the Heart

Chapter 8: Reason to Doubt

Previously:

Ranger…

"Thank you, Tank. Chase, here, offered to give me a ride home." Stephanie turned to look at me through narrowed, scathing eyes. "Such a nice gesture from a complete stranger … don't you think, Ranger?"

Stunned I released my hold on the "Good Samaritan." What the fuck had I done?

"Babe, wait! I'm-" My words were cut off by a crushing blow to my jaw, sending me staggering backwards and blurring my vision. I didn't even spare a glance at my attacker, my eyes glued to Stephanie's retreating form. She marched into her room and violently slammed the door shut behind her. Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!

Chase shook his head, clenching and unclenching his, soon to be, bruised knuckles as he walked through the door. "That was for her, asshole."

Good, because I had never deserved anything more.

Stephanie's POV …

I was livid. I'm talking fire-breathing madder than hell! I slammed the door shut behind me and paced the length of my room. God damn Neanderthal! I seriously wanted to beat him to death with his own club! That chest pounding, knuckle dragging, Tarzan shit just proved my theory that men are, and have always been, the inferior half of our species. I mean, really, how can members of the male gender discover fire, erect pyramids, father the arts and sciences … and still have the emotional enlightenment of a three-toed tree sloth? It was mind boggling and it was a wonder they'd ever progressed past grunting and scratching their animal-skin covered asses! Stupid, penis-wielding idiots!

Who the hell does he think he is anyways? He had no right to treat me that way. In fact, the whole mess was his own damn fault! He wouldn't have had to jump to conclusions if he had manned-up months ago, NO, years ago like he should have! And, yet, he breaks into my apartment, after I hadn't seen or heard from him in months, and has the nerve to pull that possessive, caveman bullshit? I was going to kill him. Dead.

The low murmur of hushed, angry voices that had been carrying from the living room grew silent and I knew that another unpleasant conversation was quickly approaching ... IF I let him live long enough to explain himself...

Just as I was mulling over possible ways to main and dismember a certain "Man in Black" my bedroom door slowly opened, and I stifled the childish urge to throw something at the man walking through it. I stood with my hand on my hip, fixed Ranger with an icy death glare and steeled myself for the battle ahead. I hope you brought your rain coat, Batman, 'cause there's a shit storm on the horizon.

Ranger shut the door behind him and leaned back against it heavily. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied my face intently, silently, and I struggled not to crack under the pressure of his gaze. If he wanted to talk, then HE was gonna have to talk dammit!

He shook his head and dropped his gaze to the floor, muttering under his breath in Spanish. His shoulders slumped and he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, clearly at a loss for words. He lifted his head and looked up at me with that irritating, blank expression he used when trying to hide his emotions. I'd had it. I wasn't in the mood for a fucking staring contest! I kicked off my slippers, flipped off the bedside lamp and climbed into bed with a huff.

I got settled in the covers and tried my best to ignore him, to pretend that I was asleep but my heart was pounding in my chest and it was all I could do not to scream in frustration. I jumped when a warm hand brushed a stray curl away from my cheek and I instantly batted it away. "Don't … touch… me."

My inner sex goddess stabbed an imaginary knife into her gut and keeled over dramatically. Apparently, "Don't touch me," was a little much for her to bear. I didn't care. That wanton bitch had gotten me into enough trouble for one evening.

"Babe," Ranger sighed, kneeling down beside my bed. My heart clenched a little at the word and I cursed myself for it. No. He wasn't getting off that easy! Not tonight. How could he have said those things? Oh, right... "penis"… how I could I forget?

I lifted my head off of the pillow and shot him a dirty look that even the dim lighting couldn't disguise. "Didn't get all your cheap shots in earlier, or what?"

"Babe, please," he whispered pleadingly, "I'm sorry … I don't know what came over me, but when I saw you with him I thought-"

"Oh, I think it's pretty clear what you thought, Ranger," I interrupted angrily. His feeble attempt to rationalize his behavior only served to infuriate me further. I already knew how bad it looked, hell, I almost swallowed my own tongue when I realized it myself, but that didn't justify his reaction.

He rubbed his forehead and I could feel the frustration rolling off of him in waves. "I know, I know… and I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, but, fuck… it didn't look good and I-"

"Automatically assume that I'm sleeping with him?" I sat straight up in bed and threw my hands up in the air in exasperation. "Even after I tell you that nothing happened? Jesus, Ranger… is that what you think? Oh, look, there's a man in Stephanie's apartment... Clearly, she's screwing him! Nice, Ranger. Really nice. So, not only am I a filthy whore but I'm a liar too? You're unbelievable… you know that? "

Ranger clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes, "Don't put words in my mouth, Stephanie. I never called you a liar or a whore. Never."

"You didn't have to! The implication was loud and clear... Is that what you told Morelli about me, Babe?," I snapped, spitting his words back at him harshly. "What the hell does that even mean? Why would you even say something like that?"

Ranger shook his head dismissively, "I don't want to talk about that right now. I was wrong. I'm not going to sit here and make excuses to justify what I said. I fucked up… badly, and I'm sorry."

"No, Ranger, that isn't good enough! Tell me why?" There was a reason that he had lashed out the way he did, and there was no way I was just going to let it slide.

"Babe," he warned, and I could see that I was pushing him beyond what he was comfortable with... Good. If things were ever going to work out between us then he needed to learn how to let me in, to break down his emotional barriers and trust me. No more secrets. Besides, maybe he should have thought about that before he jumped to conclusions and made a complete ass out of himself.

"Don't you dare, "Babe" me Ranger! I want to know why in the hell you would say something like that! You came into my house and insulted me. I want an explanation, and after the way you treated me I don't think that's too much to ask for."

The muscle in Ranger's jaw flexed and his blank face slammed down like an iron gate. He was shutting me out… again.

"You know what? Fine. Get the fuck out! If we can't even have a God damn conversation then get out!"

Ranger leaned towards me until our noses were almost touching, he was seething, his eyes glittering dark and dangerous in dim lighting. Uhh-ohhh…

"You really want to know why I didn't believe you? Alright, I'll tell you why, Stephanie… because, I've stood and shook hands with Morelli minutes after having mine all over you. And, I know damn well that you told him "nothing" was going on between us. That's why."

The sting of his words was like a sharp slap across my face and I flinched away from him. Is that what this was all about? Did he think that what happened between us during my "on stages" with Joe was typical behavior for me? Even if he did, it's not like I was ever really unfaithful to Joe. Sure, I may have toed the line a little, but I never crossed it... not completely anyways. Besides, I didn't owe Ranger anything.

"First of all, we're not together, so I don't need to explain myself to you! Secondly, you were the one who kept pursuing me even when I was in a relationship! And, you sure as hell didn't have a problem with "poaching" then! Don't play the innocent here, Ranger. You've been toying with me for years. You're the master of "applying pressure" and even then I never cheated on Joe." I defended. I hadn't…. not really.

"No, you didn't," he acquiesced. "But, it's all a matter of perspective isn't it?"

Excuse me? "Perspective? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Batman? Nah, he was the fucking Riddler.

Ranger leaned forward onto the edge of the bed, propping himself up onto his elbow to hover over me, "It means that I don't share. Ever. Under any circumstances, to any degree. I'm not as tolerant as that fucking spineless cop and it won't end well for any man who poaches on my territory."

Was this guy for real? "Excuse me? Your territory? … YOUR TERRIOTORY?" I shrieked incredulously. "And, when, exactly, did I become yours? I don't remember you staking your claim here, Ranger! If you think for one second that I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life because your "lifestyle doesn't lend itself to relationships" then you're crazy!"

The fact that my heart had belonged to him for as long as I could remember felt like a moot point at the moment. Up until then, he had never accepted or acknowledged our relationship and I'd be damned if he gave in purely because of jealousy towards another man. I wanted him to want me because he couldn't live another day without me, not because he felt like his manhood was being challenged. Ughh, MEN!

Ranger opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off with a wave of my hand, "You know what? It doesn't even matter. You've made your stance on our "non-relationship" quite clear. There's no commitment between us and if I decide to bring home Chase or Joe or the entire Jet's starting line-up, it's none of your God-damned business!"

Ranger's entire body stilled, the look of remorse on his face quickly replaced with a mask of fierce intensity. Clearly, the conversation wasn't going in the direction that he had anticipated. His eyes burned into mine; glittering black and dangerous and I could almost feel the anger radiating from them.

"That's where you're wrong, Babe. You ARE my business. You have always been and will always be my business."

Before I could even register the movement I was hauled up to my feet and pressed flat against Ranger's rock solid chest, "What are you—?"

He fisted his hands in my hair, pulled me to him and pinned me with a bruising kiss, swallowing my words and devouring my mouth. There was nothing sweet about it. It was rough and possessive and incredibly sexy. He pulled on my bottom lip with his teeth and I shivered from the sensation.

I meant to push him away, really I did, but I was stunned… and my hands and lips seemed to have their own agenda… traitors. I was angry, furious really, but the emotion only seemed to fuel the passion of the moment. I matched his intensity with almost punishing force. It was primal and claiming and so much more than just a kiss… it was a battle of wills that I intended to win.

He broke the kiss and tugged back on my hair, exposing my neck for him to explore with his greedy tongue. His warm breath tickled the skin on my throat as he traced his tongue up its length to the shell of my ear. "Don't fool yourself, Babe," he whispered roughly, his accent more pronounced through the deep, raspy tenor and the sound made my insides quiver.

I chewed on my lip to keep from moaning and failed miserably when he tugged on my earlobe with his teeth. "You have always been mine," he growled, snaking his hand underneath my tank top and gliding his fingers up the bare skin of my back. Kneading, palming, holding me to him almost desperately, like I might disappear from he grasp.

He nibbled his way down my jaw, humming in pleasure, "Since the moment you walked into that diner you've been mine." I whimpered and my hands did a little exploring of their own, pulling his shirt out of his cargos and tracing the ridges of his chiseled stomach with my fingertips. Oh my God, his body…

He trembled under my touch and groaned deeply, rolling his hips into mine in a tortuously delicious rhythm. His muscles flexed and strained with his movements and I groaned from the erotic masculinity of it. His body felt so strong under my hands, and yet it made me feel powerful. Every shiver that rippled down his spine sent a wave of pride through my own. I loved that I could make him feel that way. That my touch could make his eyes roll back and his knees grow weak. It was intoxicating and empowering and made me ache to see him lose control. Mine…

I slid my hands down his backside and felt him flex into me and it was my turn to moan. He skimmed his fingers up my ribcage and traced the silhouette of my breasts with his thumbs. "You know it," he palmed their weight and I couldn't resist leaning into him. "Morelli knows it," he drew his thumbs over my hardened peaks and I dug my nails into his back. "My men know it," he skimmed his nose down my throat and across my collar bone, kneeling down before me to pull the strap of my tank top off of my shoulder with his teeth. Oh sweet Jesus… It was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen. It was as if he couldn't stand to take his hands off of me for even a second. I couldn't have agreed more.

His kissed a burning path across the expanse of skin just below my collarbones, repeating the motion on the other side, daring me to watch him with his eyes. I stood there panting, chest heaving, the thin cotton tank now hanging precariously from the ledge of my breasts.

He looked up into my eyes and grasped my hips tightly, "And, from this day forward I will make sure that no one ever forgets it." I stood there shivering, from the cold or his touch I wasn't sure. All I knew was that I wanted more. So much more. Tonight, tomorrow, forever…

His eyes raked over me and he growled, "MINE. Do you understand? I'm not going to share you with another man ever again… not Chase… not fucking Morelli… NO ONE."

His words ripped open an old, lingering wound inside of me, leaving me feeling exposed in more ways than one. I pushed away from him and crossed my arms over my chest. I couldn't do this. I deserved more than just a physical relationship, and I wouldn't let things go any further if that was all he could give me. A few months ago I would have jumped at the opportunity, accepting anything he would give me. Not anymore. I wanted it all, and we'd never get there if we didn't work out our problems first.

He looked at me questioningly and I pulled up the straps of my tank top and took another step away. "Then maybe you shouldn't send me back to him again. I loved you, Ranger… and, you knew it, and yet you sent me back to him anyway. Don't you dare blame that on me." What had he expected me to do? Sure, I was the one who made that mistake, but it's not like I had any other option at the time. If he had stepped up to the plate, instead of running like a coward, then none of that would have ever happened!

Ranger shook his head in disagreement, rose to his feet and stepped towards me until our chests were almost touching. "ONCE, Stephanie … I sent you back ONCE! And it's not like you put up much of a fight either," he added resentfully. "I may have told you to work things out with the cop, but you're the one who ultimately made that decision. How was I supposed to know how you felt about me, when you ran back to Morelli without a backwards glance?"

I stared at him with my mouth hanging open in shock. He'd been testing me… Whether he knew it or not, when he sent me back to Morelli, he was testing me, trying to gauge my commitment to him with my response. He was testing me… and in his eyes I failed miserably.

"Looking back I know it was wrong, but I only did it because I thought it was what was best for you at the time. Do you have any idea what that felt like? To watch you crawl back to him time and time again? It was fucking torture! I don't even have words to describe how painful that was."

I couldn't help but wince at the look of vulnerability and betrayal in his eyes. He wasn't a super hero… he was just a man… and, I loved him even more because of it. But, I'd hurt him … deeply, and I was shocked that I had never realized it before. I must have been so wrapped up in my own heartache, so wounded by his rejection that I was oblivious to the toll that it was taking on him. But, how could I have known?

"And, you think it was easy for me when you pushed me away like that? Because, it wasn't. It killed me, Ranger. You have no idea what that kind of rejection feels like. Besides, you never told me that you felt that way. How was I supposed to know?"

Ranger ran his knuckles down the side of my jaw, sadness creeping into his eyes, "I know, and it's the biggest mistake I've ever made. I'll shoulder my part of the blame… seeing you with him… Dios, it was punishment enough. And, you're right… I didn't tell you how I felt. I thought… I thought I was protecting you… but, even then, I showed you in the only way that I knew how. I'm sorry that it wasn't enough. I'm sorry that I pushed you away, but you can't blame me for trying to protect myself."

I never thought that Ranger would perceive my running back to Joe as an indicator of how our relationship would be. I saw it as an escape from the pain … he saw it as a mark of my character and it hurt to realize that some of his resistance towards a relationship was brought on by my own actions.

Exhaustion overwhelmed me and it was all I could do to stay on my feet. "What do you want me to say?" I asked weakly, quickly losing steam. "You offered me nothing, Ranger … nothing. I'm not as strong as you are, I need to feel loved, I need to have companionship, I need commitment, and, I'm so tired of waiting for you to give it to me." I practically wilted where I stood, hopeless tears streaming down my face.

My shoulders trembled with sobs, years of heartache pouring from me. "I can't do this right now, Ranger," I choked, strangled with tears.

He didn't move to leave, but instead wiped the tears away from my cheeks with his fingertips and wrapped me in his arms. A simple gesture filled with such tenderness and support that it threatened to unravel the last threads of composure holding me together. "Babe-"

"I can't. Not tonight." I couldn't take anymore. He looked at me hesitantly and I pleaded with him, "Please, we'll talk about everything. I promise… but I need to think... I just need some time." I couldn't stand anymore heartache in one night. It had been a hurricane of emotion and the aftermath was too daunting to take on.

He cradled my face and nodded, "Okay, but soon." He scooped me up into his arms, laid me on the bed gently and rolled me onto my side, climbing in behind me and pulling the covers over us both. He held me while I sobbed, his hand rubbing up and down arm in slow, soothing strokes.

We'd hurt each other so much; the intentions of our hearts masked by our own insecurities. I was relieved that he didn't speak, that he didn't push me for answers that at the moment I didn't have. It felt like hours before my tears finally ran dry, purging my heart of the burden that it had carried for far too long. My heavy eyes slowly drifted shut, and I willingly gave into sleep, for just a moment, letting the man beside me ease the ache in my chest.

Did I do Steph and Ranger's thoughts and feelings justice? I hope so, because that was completely emotionally exhausting to write. *sniff* I need some happy ;) Do you think those two deserve an HEA soon, or should they have to work a little harder for it? Let me know, it may change the course of the story…

xoxo

Jen