Disclaimer: I own nothing, except Keagan.

A/N: This chapter has some intense emotions and actions and language. There is smut at the end. You have been warned. Oh, this is for Kathy who needs this chapter to make her happy. My thanks for all the great reviews. I appreciate it!

Commence

By

Calliope

Part Five

RANGER'S POV:

Where the hell did this guy come from? Fairies-R-Us? All he needed was a pair of tights and a little lace around his collar and he could sing soprano in the icecapades. What in the hell did Stephanie see in this guy?

And what was all that rubbish with the white roses? Purity and innocence? I've never heard such trash in my life. Stephanie is too hot...too everything to ever be something dull like pure and innocent. She's got spunk and guts; she needs red roses instead of white. The only thing pure and innocent about her is her soul and no fancy man was getting dibs on what I considered mine...and everything about her was mine. She just didn't realize it. And that's why I'm here.

I'm nuts right? What man goes on a date with the woman he loves, when he's not the 'date'? Sign me up for insanity....I had to do something. She was moving too fast for me to plan ahead and I did the only thing available to me. I moved my ass in and threatened death to anyone on my team who blew my cover. At least I could prevent Romeo from moving things forward in her bed....it wasn't going to happen.

Talk about shock! That's what I felt when she unloaded her 'plan' on me. When she informed me that there would be no more trips to the alley, I automatically assumed that Morelli was putting pressure on her again. I wasn't worried. I could get around Morelli when I was ready and I wasn't quite to that point just then. I had a few more things to finish before I could begin my 'wooing' plan. Yeah, well that was all blown to hell when she told me she was going on a REAL date and it was with a guy I DIDN'T know. That was just unacceptable. It made me furious, with myself and her. I was faced with disbelief that the woman I always believed was mine was moving on...without me.

Over my dead body.

So, there I was, sitting on her couch when someone knocked on the door. Hell, I knew who it was and I'd cut off my own hand before I let another man into her apartment to pick her up for a date. Hell no...it wasn't happening. I ignored the knock on the door and pretended like I was caught up in whatever was playing on the television. I couldn't even tell you what I was watching...it could have been the Hallmark Channel for all I knew.

And then she walked in. I replayed it in my mind like a bad country song. She opened the door with enthusiasm and I couldn't help but think she'd never met my presence with that much enthusiasm. Was I mistaken? Did she not feel anything for me? Was I alone in my longing? I shook my head to clear my thoughts as I realized just what she was wearing. The damn blue sweater! The one I had bought her! She had the audacity to dig it out of my duffel and wear it anyway...after I had forbid it! Oh, I was seeing red at that moment! It took everything I had to stay seated on that couch and not to rip that damn sweater off her and the only thing that stopped me was the fact I knew she'd answer the door in her bra to make a point.

And no man was going to see her in just a bra from that point forward....the point I decided she was mine only. I was just going to have to figure out how long it would make her see my side of things and to give up her idea of dating. If she wanted to date...I'd take her out. Whatever it takes to make her understand that her soul is already owned, it's not hers to give away any longer, it's mine...all mine. Sound chauvinistic? Yeah, probably...that's the way it is and the way it's going to stay.

And then, AND THEN!! Fancy pants arrived with fucking flowers and my woman, MY WOMAN, was standing at the door, fucking speechless. I am the only man that has ever left her speechless and it is something I pride myself on. And some other man comes along and my woman was basically gaping at him and doing nothing short of drooling.

I was left staring at them...helpless to do anything except grind my teeth and clench my hands into fists at my side. Trust me, if it would have been possible, I would have had smoke coming out of my ears. Any other person would have been ashamed of eavesdropping, I wasn't. I listened shamelessly. I had to give it to the Fancy pants...he was pulling out all the stops and flattering words and Stephanie was falling for it. I glared at the man, Keagan, as he kissed my woman's fingertips. I wanted to rip his lips right over his swelling head! I forced myself to stare straight ahead, at the television. Keagan thrust the roses into Stephanie's hands and she led him into the kitchen with her. That was a smart move on her part because I would have pitched him down the stair well head first if she had left him alone with me.

I sat on the couch and fumed and brooded. Then I realized that it shouldn't take but a few seconds to put those damn roses in a vase. They were taking entirely too long. It was enough to launch me off the couch and stalking to the kitchen. I rounded the corner and saw Keagan pressed up against Stephanie's back as he HELPED her reach a vase. My ass. I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms as my nostrils flared with the force of my anger and let the sarcasm drip from my question about interrupting them. Of course I was interrupting them and I was going to continue to do it until I drove Mr. Keagan right out of her life. I was going to make a nuisance of myself. And then the man had to be diplomatic by introducing himself and wanting to shake my hand. I didn't want to shake his hand...I wanted to rip it off. That hand had been wrapped around MY woman's waist. I'd like to tear it off and choke him with it.

But, you'll be happy to know that I was the bigger person. I should his hand and refrained from doing anything to him. Yet. That wasn't the way to win Stephanie...I knew that, somehow. And then they thought they were going to depart for their date and leave me at the apartment. Stephanie even told me not to wait up for her....those words secured my plans. Oh yes, I was going to make a HUGE nuisance of myself. Oh yeah, I was going to be far more than tape on her ass...

Let's just say that neither Stephanie nor Keagan were impressed with my plans to join them. That was just too bad. I was going and I didn't give a damn if they liked it or not. I would also be going on any future outings the two planned. Think of me as double sided tape. I was going to 'stick' to my Babe.

Ah, and the surprise from Keagan when I followed Stephanie into the backseat. I hope he didn't think I was going to allow her to sit shotgun with him while I sat FORGOTTEN in the backseat...nope, it wasn't going to happen. I used the closeness to touch her and remind her who she belonged to. Unfortunately, I don't think she understood exactly what I was saying. I was sure she would, with time.

And isn't Keagan nice by asking Stephanie if she wanted dinner and dancing, oh, and was Mexican okay? I answered for the both of us while Steph sat in a shocked silence beside me. I'm not a stupid man; I knew I was going to pay for my behavior later. When we returned to the apartment, the hot temper of my woman would be focused entirely on me and she would unleash it with a vengeance. I was looking forward to it. I was not looking forward to being a third wheel and observing Keagan fawn over Stephanie like she was his last hope. And then eating with the asshole.

Keagan pulled into a small restaurant on the outside of Trenton. LaPosada was not somewhere I had been before, although I knew they offered intimate dinners and sassy dancing. They had a reputation for being the place to go for ultimate privacy and indulgence. I had to hand it to Keagan; he chose an excellent place for a first date. Too bad he was dating Stephanie and her man....probably he didn't see it that way though. He opened the back door on the driver's side and extracted Stephanie before I could pull her out behind me. I made a mental note that he was sneaky and crafty...skills I would normally appreciate.

I slammed my door and scowled at the backs of the two lovebirds as I was left behind to follow. Did I not tell him I was the bodyguard? Did he care nothing for her personal safety? Keagan had his arm wrapped completely around Stephanie's waist and pulled in close to his body. He was whispering something in her ear and she was blushing and giggling. Was he looking down the 'V' in her sweater while speaking into her ear? Surely he wasn't stealing glances at her breasts! I narrowed my eyes as I thought about my options. If there was a second date, I would remember to plant a microphone somewhere on Stephanie so I could listen to his whispering. What? A man needed to know all his enemies moves and that is exactly what Keagan is...my enemy.

I followed closely behind them as we entered the restaurant and were greeted by the hostess. Keagan politely informed them that they were a party of two and that her bodyguard would be happy sitting at the bar. MY ASS! Before I could say anything, the hostess led Keagan and Stephanie to a small table with two chairs on the edge of the dance floor. I followed along and glared at the hostess and then the two chairs with hate. Keagan seated Stephanie and as he rounded the table to his chair, he made the mistake of smirking at me. I don't bloody think so!

I very calmly, but quickly caught Keagan's arm as he thought to breeze past me and whispered into his ear. "You will set up another chair at that table or she will be sitting in my lap."

Keagan raised a brow at me and the smirk grew. "You aren't serious?"

Oh, I was very serious and it was time for him to learn he wasn't going to play games with me. I returned his smirk, but mine was deadly. "Try me."

His smirk disappeared and he glared at me while he motioned the server over and requested another chair. He seated himself in front of Stephanie and I took the extra chair from the server and planted my ass right on Stephanie's right side. I sat down and smiled slyly at Keagan as I was sitting thigh to thigh with her. He thought to stare at MY woman over a romantic dinner? Now he could stare at her and me. Wasn't Keagan a lucky, lucky man?

He stood and excused himself to take a phone call. Stephanie took advantage of his absence to smack me on the arm with her napkin and then hissed at me under her breath, "Just what do you think you are doing Ranger? First you move into my apartment and now you are trying to ruin my date!"

Her face was bright red with the fierceness of her anger. She was mad and I thought she was beautiful. I smiled at her. "Trying to ruin your date? If you think I'm just trying, then I'm not doing my job well enough."

She glared at me. "Why are you doing this? I'll let you stay in the apartment since you won't see reason, but I refuse to let you ruin the first date I've had in years! Keagan is interesting and I might be able to build a future with him if you will just give me a chance and disappear."

I caught her wrist in a loose, but unbreakable grip and brought it to my lips. I kissed the inside of her wrist as I tilted her face up to mine. "Listen to me very carefully Babe. I will be ruining this date and any other dates you have with this sap. And you won't be building a future with him or any other man, so you might as well get that thought out of your head. I'm not disappearing."

Her eyes widened and she gasped. She took in a deep breath and I smiled as I realized she was staring at my lips with a look that I would call longing. She caught herself and shook her head and whispered, "Why are you doing this to me? Why now? You don't want me! You've said that often enough! I've finally accepted it! Now do the right thing and let me get on with my life."

I don't want her? Was she blind? Hell! I've spent years trying to stay away from her and we both know it hasn't worked! I was trying to find the words to tell her exactly how much I wanted her and why now it was finally going to happen when Fancy Pants decided to show up and ruin the chance for further conversation. He sat back down and smiled at Stephanie. I released her wrist, but kept my hand firmly planted on her thigh under the table. I watched her and she watched Keagan as she returned his smile. She reached under the table and tried to pry my hand off her leg. I wasn't having it. She took a big gulp of her wine and decided to ignore me.

After the server took our orders, I found myself a third wheel in a very intimate conversation. Keagan and Stephanie talked about everything under the sun; literature was a favorite to both of them and of course they discussed the great tragedies of Shakespeare. Stephanie leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand while Keagan shared his experience on the stage in London with her. She stared at him dreamingly and I felt her distancing herself from me...not physically, but emotionally. And then the food arrived and I was forced to take my hand off her thigh in order to eat. I was broodingly cutting my food while Stephanie talked with her hands and shared some of her more humorous escapades of bounty hunting with Keagan.

He laughed at the right places and I wanted to beat his face in. He ignored my presence and made Stephanie the center of attention, for him. She was mine and I was watching another man attempting to take her away from me.

And then Keagan asked her to dance. It was the Samba...a sexy Latin dance and my heart ached as I watched her laugh nervously and then follow his lead. It was a Latin dance she should be learning from me and instead I fumed as I watched him jive on her. He worked his hips against her and I was planning certain death for him. There was a roar through my ears and the only thing I could think was, MINE. I heard a crunch and I looked down to discover I had broken off the corner of the table from the force of my grip. I snarled at nothing and threw it on the floor.

The music wound down to nothing and Keagan was leading her back to the table. She was smiling so radiantly that it felt like Keagan was driving a fist in my stomach and in a way he was. Stephanie couldn't see his face since she was walking behind him, but he was gloating and giving me a look that said, 'See, I won now and what are you going to do about it.' He was rubbing it in and it was the wrong thing for him to do...never bait the bull.

I stood up slowly and ignored Keagan as I stalked towards my woman...Stephanie. The music that was starting was perfect for what I wanted. I was going to make love to Stephanie on the dance floor and there was nothing more perfect than the Latin dance of the Rhumba...it was romantic and sensual. I nailed her with my gaze and her eyes widened as she recognized my predatory approach. I didn't give her time to run as I pulled her into my arms and out of Keagan's. We lost him in the first twirl and I set out to do a little reminding of my own.

Her body felt divine in my arms and she didn't resist me. As the tempo of the music escalated, I pulled her into the first arch that forced her body against mine...toe to toe and breast to chest. She was breathing fast and staring at me like she was just seeing me for the first time. "That's right babe." I whispered against her ear as I worked her between my thighs. She shuddered and it wasn't in a repulsive way.

The music sped up again and I began turning her in a series of swings and simple lifts and suddenly it slowed again and allowed me to grind myself against her back as my hands roamed her front. I smiled with animal satisfaction as she tilted her head back against me and I bent my head to feast on the curve of her neck. We began a slow, graceful movement and it was pure torture as her natural body mechanics flowed with mine. It was beautiful, it was erotic.

The last of the music flowed fast and then slowed in tempo again. I twirled her in my arms so she faced me again and then I brought her to ride my thigh to the melody. She stared at me with wide, needful eyes as she continued to grind my thigh and I tilted her back into a dip. At the last pulse of the drums, I brought her back up, slammed her against my thigh and I watched with immense satisfaction as she came against my leg. Her mouth fell open in surprise and her eyes turned a deep, cerulean blue. Her lips parted with a sigh and I caught the moan with my mouth as it escaped. We were turned away from the tables and were in the shadows so no one witnessed our display. I swallowed her moans and released her lips as I would her hands around my neck. We were both breathing hard, but she yanked my head down and panted in my ear, "I ruined my panties Ranger."

I closed my eyes and almost shook with need. I wanted to beat on my chest with superiority of what I was feeling and I wanted Keagan to see it. I wanted him to know that I made her lose herself on the dance floor, not him. My plans were ruined as the lights on the dance floor were back on. I reluctantly released Steph and followed her back to the table. Somehow, she managed to look unaffected as she took her seat again and smiled at Keagan. He glared at me over her head and I wanted to laugh...he had seen everything.

The rest of the meal passed too slowly for me and I had to listen to Keagan fawn over Stephanie and praise her for her dancing and her bounty hunting skills. He was encouraging her and I felt bereft because that was always my job....I always encouraged her. Stephanie excused herself to go to the restroom and I wanted to follow her, even to wait outside the door, but the look she gave me was enough to make me stay put. I had pushed her buttons enough for the time being. I spent the ten minutes she was gone glaring at Keagan with murder in my eyes as he returned my glare with a coolness that made me want to wipe the floor with him. We didn't say one word to each other and I was fine with that. He paid the bill while she was gone and suddenly stood when he noticed she was making her way back to us slowly. I followed suit and as we were both staring at her, he finally broke the silence. "I trust that you won't be coming on a date with us again. Don't think I didn't see your little display on the dance floor. Rest assured it's the last time it will happen. The next time she comes, she'll be sighing my name, not yours. Let's see how that makes you sleep at night."

I felt a rage sweep over me that I haven't felt since I was in combat. To tell you the truth, the only thing that kept me from pulling my gun and shooting him was the fact that Stephanie was walking towards us with an uncertain look on her face. I pulled myself together the best I could and mumbled that I'd wait for them at the Expedition. When I hit the night air, it shocked me back to reality and helped clear my clouded vision. I took several deep breaths and focused my thoughts on how it felt to dance with Stephanie.

Keagan and Steph came out the door a few minutes later. He was talking to her animatedly, but in low tones so I couldn't hear the conversation. I was standing on the passenger side, glaring at Keagan's head and was caught off guard when he suddenly threw the Expedition keys at me. "Here. You can drive back and I'll happily sit in the back seat with Stephanie. And I'll happily take a bullet for such a beauty."

My muscles tensed again and I took a step toward him when he looked up and met my gaze. He was daring me to start something, I could see it in his eyes. And Stephanie just sighed. "Can we just go home, I'm tired."

I heard the exhaustion in her voice and she's the only reason I didn't push it. I climbed in the driver's seat and positioned the mirror so I could see the backseat clearly. I didn't waste any time driving back to the apartment and I made sure we didn't stop at any stoplights...call it a talent of mine. I glanced in the mirror often and I wasn't thrilled that I couldn't see Keagan since he was sitting in the shadows. Stephanie had her head resting against the seat and her eyes were closed. I saw a flash of movement in the mirror and I turned just a little to the right to see Keagan's hand resting on her thigh in almost the exact position my hand had rested earlier. My temper was fraying at that point and beginning a slow burn.

I made it back to the apartment in record time. I got out of the SUV and was rounding to get Stephanie out as well, but Fancy pants was already pulling her out and has his arms around her. He ignored me. I growled, "Stephanie...it's late."

She looked over at me and nodded tiredly. "Go on up Ranger, I'll be just a minute."

I didn't want to go up without her and I didn't want to leave her alone with him. I made a show of sighing heavily and going in the door and making my way to the elevator. Instead, I ran up the stairs, skipping three at a time. I made short work of her locks and ran for the bedroom window, where I could see the parking lot clearly. I slowly opened the window a few inches so I could see and hear. I should be ashamed of my antics, but I'm not.

I caught Stephanie thanking him for the evening and him asking her if she would like to go out again over the weekend. I wanted to sing when she said, 'Maybe and Call me' instead of instantly agreeing. I didn't like his cocky smile he bestowed upon her or the fact that he jerked her in his arms and kissed her. I was ready to go through the glass when I realized his hands were on her ass, pulling her into him. And I really didn't like the fact that she kissed him back...it was too long before she pushed him away. Too long for me at least.

She kissed him.

I watched and fumed, even when she pushed him away and waved as she came into the building. I watched as Keagan turned and saluted me with his middle finger and then got in his car and drove away. The bastard has known I was watching. It didn't matter though.

I paced the living room as I waited for her to return. I was mad as hell and a little bit hurt. I didn't know which was worse. I didn't care. The more I paced, the more my anger took precedence.

I heard the elevator doors slowly opening and knew she was coming. I settled myself on the couch with my arms crossed, waiting. I turned all my attention on the door. I wanted be the first thing Stephanie seen when she crossed the threshold. I hadn't locked the door, so she opened it slowly and flipped the living room light on. She set her purse down in the chair and looked at me and then blinked. "I thought you would have went on to bed. You didn't have to wait up for me."

I stood up slowly and looked at her with a raised brow. "Didn't I?"

She bit her lip, as if she were nervous. "No, you didn't. It doesn't matter. I'm beat. I'm going to bed. Sleep where you want, I'll see you in the morning."

I moved quickly and stood in front of her in the hallway. "Not so fast Babe. We have something to discuss."

She blinked again as she looked up at me. "What?"

I backed her into the wall and followed her every step of the way. I leaned down and brushed her curls off her neck and inhaled slowly. "I can smell him on you. Did you enjoy kissing him?"

She trembled in my arms and I'm arrogant enough to admit it wasn't from fear. She always reacted to me this way. "W-what are you talking about Ranger?"

I boxed her in with my arms and nibbled up her neck to her ear. "Did you think I wouldn't see you? Tell me why you kissed him."

She sighed and leaned slightly into me. "I didn't kiss him. He kissed me."

I smacked my hand against the wall and turned my burning gaze to her. She stared at me with wide eyes. "I saw you kiss him back! Are you trying to rip my heart out Stephanie?"

If it was possible, her eyes widened even more as she stared at me with something like disbelief. "R-ranger?"

I groaned into her curls and let my hand roam up her long legs and under her skirt. I pushed it up a bit, seeking...and discovered she wasn't wearing any panties.

I lost it.

I dropped to my knees and pushed her skirt up to her waist and she let me. I stared at her for what felt like an eternity and she was shaking in my hands. I stared at the bareness and then let my hand wander to the center of her and found her wet. I stood up quickly and boxed her in again and leaned my face against hers. I was furious. "Where are your panties Stephanie?"

I thrust my thigh against her core and let her wetness saturate the linen of my pants as I stared down at her. My arms were shaking with rage. She stared up at me with disbelief and something else, but it wasn't fear. She bit her lip again. "Tell me, Tell me now." I ordered her softly.

She groaned as I thrush my thigh against her again. She blinked and then shook her head and mumbled incoherently. "I took them off when I went to the restroom, after we danced. They were so wet they were uncomfortable."

Relief washed over me...but she had been in Keagan's arms without panties and he had his hands on her ass. "Where are your panties Stephanie? And so help me God, you better not tell me Keagan has them."

She turned bright red and pointed at the jacked I had thrown on the couch during my pacing. I stared at her and then pushed off the wall and walked to my jacket, staring at her while I picked it up and searched through the pockets. Sure enough, I pulled out a pair of satin thongs from my left pocket and they were still wet. I held them tightly in my hand and stared at her hard, my nostrils were flaring from emotion. "Why? When?" I bit out.

She turned a little redder and stared at the floor. "I didn't have anywhere to put them. And you were the cause, I thought it was fitting. It seems wrong to go out with one man wearing ruined wet panties caused by another. I slipped them in your pocket while you and Keagan were glaring at one another."

I closed my fist around the panties and stalked to her again. I can't describe the aggression or the possessiveness that I was feeling...but I felt a deep need for her and I was going to have her. She watched me through hooded eyes and gasped when I ripped her favored blue sweater right down the middle and pulled it off her. I'd be damned if she'd wear it for another man again. I unzipped her skirt and pushed it quickly down her long legs. She stood in front of me wearing nothing but her black boots and a slight rosy blush. I stood up and caught her lips with the force of the hunger I was feeling.

I kissed her until we were both out of breath and panting. I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom and threw her on the bed wearing only her black boots. I made short work of my clothes and fell on her. I caught her hands and wrenched them up beside her head, holding them in mine. She gazed at me in shock. "Why are you doing this to me?" She panted.

I stopped, but didn't release her hands. I gazed down at her and willed her to see everything I was feeling. I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Don't you know?"

Before she could say anymore, I drove into her with a force that pushed us both up the bed. She screamed my name and arched into me as she came from my first thrust. Her long legs wrapped around my waist tightly. I pumped into her until she sang for me again and I roared as I emptied into her.

I fucked her four times that night and made love to her until the early hours of dawn. I wrapped around her as we both fell into a slumber. Before I fell asleep I had a few thoughts.

First, I hope to god Stephanie knew exactly how I felt for her. After last night, surely there wasn't a question any longer.

Two, just in case she didn't know, I was taking a leave of absence from work because I wasn't going to leave her side until she accepted me and I made her understand exactly the way things were.

Last, Keagan could wipe the god damn smirk off his face because Stephanie came again and again....and my name is the one and only that she sang as she writhed under me.

And so help me God, it's going to be the only one.