OWNED BY J.E.- I just play around with them.

Last Time:

"Thank you Lester." Without even a goodbye I hung up the phone and laid my head on Diesel's shoulder falling asleep knowing I was safe and secure.

SPOV Continued

I woke up while I was snuggled into Diesel's chest as he was carrying me into my apartment. I decided to just pretend I was still sleeping so I could enjoy being in my boyfriend's arms. My boyfriend. God I loved saying that. Diesel chuckled before saying "I know you're awake but don't worry I like having you in my arms just as much as you like being there".

I just snuggled in even further and Diesel opened my apartment door without putting me down. Once in the apartment Diesel kicked the door closed and carried me to my bedroom and laid me on the bed. He gently kissed my lips and went to leave when I grabbed his hand. This was the moment that I decided my fate.

"Please stay with me. I am not saying that I want us to have sex but I don't want you to leave."

Diesel kissed my head and turned around, walked out of the room and I started crying. I heard the locks on the door go and I was alone or at least I thought so but a few seconds later Diesel walked back in sans coat.

"Sorry Sunshine, please don't be upset. I just wanted to lock the door and make sure that we were secure." Diesel's face was full of regret.

"No I'm sorry" I said. "I guess I am just so used to the men in my life walking out and leaving me that I was letting my insecurities get the best of me."

Diesel kicked off his shoes and sat me up to undress me. I let him. I am always in so much control that it was nice to let someone else take the helm for a while. I mean I have never really had someone take care of me.

"D, when you take care of me I feel cherished. No one has ever taken care of me before."

"What do you mean?"

"Well my mom was always trying to make me into Valerie and my dad was never home. The Dick wanted me to take care of everything for him so he could concentrate of his law office but in reality it was so he could screw around. Joe never did anything for me except yell and scream and I don't count Ranger because he wasn't a relationship."

Diesel looked at me sadly and finished stripping to his boxers before lying next to me and gathering me in his arms. He rocked me gently placing kisses on my forehead and hair until I fell asleep.

I woke up warm and secure but having to go to the bathroom so bad. I tried to wiggle out from under Diesel's arm without waking him but he just gripped me tighter.

"D, I gotta get up." It didn't work. So I tried again just a little louder.

"C'mon D, I really gotta go. I will be right back." He finally let me go and I scrambled to use the bathroom and brush my teeth and hair before going back and climbing in with Diesel.

Diesel rolled over towards me and propped himself up on his elbow and slowly drew his knuckle from my forehead to my chin caressing my face.

"Don't you have to work today?" he asked.

"Well I should go to Vinnie's and then Rangeman but with everything you told me I don't ever have to work again if I don't feel like it." Diesel was smiling.

"OK Sunshine, maybe talking you into what I want will be much easier than I thought." The whole time he was talking he was rubbing small circles on my bare stomach. At this point he could ask me anything and I would probably say yes.

"OK big man ask away" I said to Diesel playfully.

Diesel continued his ministrations and placed a kiss on my nose.

"While I was holding you when you were sleeping I was watching the shadows play across the walls and I noticed that your windows have no security locks and there is a fire escape right there. When I was talking to Lester he explained that he doesn't need a key to break in plus I already know how many stalkers have broken in. What I am trying to say is will you please move?" I was already planning on moving. I had been for a while now even before I found out about the money. Lester had talked to me about my security and how easy it was for someone to get in here and honestly I was really looking forward to a change.

"I was already planning on it. I was going to look for a more secure place that Rangeman monitors." Diesel looked at me and then put his head down. He said something so fast I couldn't catch it. I had to ask him to repeat it.

"Can you please help me buy a house? Now before you say anything I know that you are not ready for that yet and our relationship is to new but I would really like your help in buying a house that we both like. I mean I hope that you are spending a lot of time there so you should like it too." I took my time to formulate an answer. This was big. I mean Dickie already had a house which I moved into and with Joe I had some things there but I didn't help with picking out anything thing for the house but since both of the houses predated my relationships I had never done anything like this before. This was a huge responsibility. My face must have been showing my dilemma because Diesel looked worried.

"Steph, Sunshine, I am not asking you for anything other then your input. I just want you to be comfortable at any house that I buy. Honestly this is a pretty big decision and I am excited to be able to put down roots." I could see the sparkle in his eyes with his pleasure of the thought of having a home.

"OK D, I will be glad to help you." I kissed Diesel quickly and hopped up when I heard a knock on the door.

I quickly threw on my robe and went to the door throwing it open knowing it was Lester. Lester stopped by almost every morning with coffee and donuts. Well to my surprise this morning Lester had three coffees.

"Morning Les" I said with a smile.

Lester walked in and kissed my cheek as usual before heading to the kitchen talking the entire way (which wasn't to far considering I lived in a cracker box).

"So my beautiful best friend what has you so chipper this morning? Usually I have to break in and then drag your ass out of bed by force just to get you started and today you are bouncing around like a puppy on crack. For pete's sake I am even an hour late." Lester finally shut up and I was just lifting a cup of coffee from the carrier when Diesel walked in. He fist bumped Lester and grabbed a coffee. Lester did not seem surprised or upset that Diesel was here. We quietly drank our coffee and I was about halfway through when I stood and went to grab a shower. I really didn't need too but I enjoyed my job and wanted to go see Lula and Connie.

After my shower I walked in to the kitchen where Lester and Diesel were still sitting at the table talking. They finished up their sports conversation and Lester turned to me "Beautiful do you want me to come with and look for a new apartment for you? Diesel told me that you consented to moving and I have a few ideas that might appeal to you. Unless you want to buy a house, I can also help you with that."

I looked from Diesel to Lester and tried to keep my anger in check. They were just acting on a decision that I already made and they were allowing me to make my own decisions so I calmed myself and listened to the two of them.

"Sunshine, whatever you want to do is fine I just want you safe. Lester and I have been talking and we have a few ideas for places with outstanding security but remember this is totally your decision."

I nodded my head before I grabbed Lester and gave Diesel a quick kiss as I pulled Lester out the door. Lester and I had taken to working together for Vinnie I would help him with the medium and high bonds and he would help me with my bonds. Rangeman was happy because we had a one hundred percent capture rate so they didn't argue too much about our partnership.

Lester and I arrived at the Bail Bonds office quickly and as usual when Lester drove there as a parking space right out front. We hopped out and headed into the office only to have the door pulled open by Lula.

"Hey it's white girl and sexy. You haven't been here in a while. I thought you were in a third world country but even my man Tank wouldn't tell me anything." I glanced at Lester and tried to raise my eyebrow but I knew it was hopeless. I had never been able to do that. Connie wasn't in so Lula gave Lester and I our files and with a quick good bye we were out the door.

Our normal routine included pickup the files and head to Rangeman to figure out our plan of action and by noon we were out on the road again. I had also started training at Rangeman so I had to fit that in as well. Since Lester and I had quite a few skips we decided to search and plan all day, hit the gun range and then pick up the skips tomorrow.

I sat at my desk until lunch and Bobby showed up and off we went to Pino's with Lester. The three of us often went to lunch together and as usual the attention turned to my love life.

"So what happened on your date?" Leave it to Lester to mention my date in front of Bobby.

"Date, what date is that Steph?' See I knew it. The man can't let anything slide. I decided to just let Lester talk to Bobby since he was the one who brought it up.

"Steph went on an over night date with Diesel." Bobby's one eyebrow went up. They must take classes to learn that. I have tried for years and I still can't do it. Bobby looked at me and then back to Lester.

"You let her go on an overnight date with Diesel?" Bobby asked Lester. Whoa, since when does Lester have a say in whom and how I choose to date? I was just about to say something when Lester started.

"I definitely have no say in who Steph dates and you of all people should know that. She does what she wants when she wants and besides it's not like we don't know Diesel."

Hmm Lester made some good points. Let's see what Bobby has to say to that. My head was going back and forth like I was at a tennis match. I was starting to enjoy the hilariousness of my best friend and a man that I consider a brother.

"We know Diesel as a business contact but how do we know how he will treat Steph? I mean look at Joe, he was cheating on her the whole time and we never knew it."

Bobby has point but I never trusted Joe the way I trust Diesel. Diesel has never tried to change and manipulate me the way Joe had.

"Listen Bobby, I trust Diesel. I know that Diesel would never cheat on Steph or treat her bad for that matter. In fact I think that he will be the one person that can take on Steph and be the person she needs."

I threw my eyes back to Bobby for the retort and kept eating my meatball sub. I am glad that I decided to keep quiet this was actually fun.

"Ok so you think that you trust Diesel but how do you know and why do you think that he could be the one for Steph?"

My eyes flew back to Lester.

"Because he said so and I believe him."

I looked back at Bobby.

"OK then." Bobby looked at me then. "You have my permission to date Diesel." That was it I started laughing so hard I was crying. These men are my family and I just can't find it in my head or my heart to be mad at them. Lunch was fun with my boys.