Something's Burning Chapter 5
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A special thank you for Margaret and I have gifted you a special piece.
…oooO0Oooo…
Ranger's POV
Stephanie had finally succumbed to the weariness and the sheer exhaustion of her "crappy day" and all the drama and trauma that played out in her parking lot.
From what I know, it began with her tentative arrival with the Beemer's number plate and the charred remains of the registration tag. She was so expressive, so stunning, as she finally approached me with the evidence. I had to really restrain myself from laughing out loud. But I eased up on her to find she had all these problems. So I gave her another one, another problem to think about. I kissed her, a sweet, memorable kiss on those juicy pouty lips as her limpid, dark sapphire blue eyes glistened at me, drawing me into her even more.
When I remarked,
"Think about it …"
I know, I was a bit cocky and perhaps a bit lustfully arrogant, but genuinely craving this blue-eyed beauty. I couldn't believe her response as she took the kiss up a notch and replied,
"You are all I think about … Yummm." Yum?!
"Playing with fire, Babe. You'd better be careful what you wish for." I'd warned her carefully.
"Well, perhaps I want to get burned…"
Aw … fuck! I was a goner when I looked into her brazen eyes confirming her honesty with such unconditional clarity, I had to taste her luscious sweet lips again. It was like a truth serum, that I couldn't restrain myself when I confessed my hunger for her. Yes, I have wanted to do that for a long time. Since I first saw her, in the diner, from that day, I knew she would be mine. I have watched and thought and lusted after her. Until this evening, I had never actually voiced that aloud. I couldn't stop myself. She had all the power. Go figure. I needed to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her. I was not disappointed. But, once again she caught me by surprise.
To think when I gave her the keys to the Porsche Boxter, not so long ago, I called it temptation, temptation to widen her horizons. Then this morning, yeah, only this morning, as I gave her the keys to the BMW, I just casually said they're wheels. She can have as many cars as she wants so long as this replays to this moment, with Babe in my arms, alive. I kissed her temple. This 'Crappy Day' of hers is about to change, for the better, if she will let me, if she will have me, if I take the right steps. Is this my future in my arms?
I called Babe temptation, my temptation, my desire. My Temptress.
Lester would have popped a valve! Big Bad Mañoso, my bad ass rep is on the line. But I couldn't give a fuck. I have my heart's desire in my arms and nothing else matters right now, until we reach our destination, somewhere warm and safe. Is this how it happens, our Someday, soon?
So, here I was, holding her in my arms, something I have longed to do, feeling pride and a surprising warmth for this spirited, beautiful woman, while we drive off into the night, to that somewhere warm and safe. "Please take me away?" she had said to me and my chest expanded, not just with pride. My heart literally skipped a beat. No better words were spoken to make me feel so gallant and heroic as I held my blue-eyed damsel in distress.
I looked up and saw Tank's eyes wink with the give-away creases of a knowing grin. If I wasn't feeling quite so warm and fuzzy as well as protective, at this moment, I would say his eyes were twinkling! Tank with the twinkling eyes. Go figure!
"You've got it bad, Bossman. Real bad. She's a Keeper. Can't blame you, really. She's something else," he added softly and reverently. I knew he understood.
My zone of reverence and reflection was abruptly broken as she wailed and moaned,
"Rex …" She suddenly sat up bolt upright.
"Rex! Oh my God! He's still in there!" and she began to sob and struggle.
I shushed and soothed her and crooned in Spanish in her ear, on her ear, kissing her temple as she calmed down again.
What the fuck! Rex? Who the fuck is Rex! That little dude, Randy, had referred to her revolving door. I looked warily at Tank's eyes in the rear view mirror. He was already on his phone relaying this new information, requesting details.
Long minutes later, Lester called back.
"Yo! … What!? He bit you?!" What the fuck?! Another pause with the faint reverberations of Lester swearing and laughing as my ears strained to hear their conversation. Fuck! I'm going crazy here. I scowled up at Tank.
Tank chuckled, yeah first twinkling eyes and now he's chuckling as I shot him a warning glare. He laughed and explained, chuckling again. Fucker!
"Rex … Rex is her pet, a hamster it seems," he replied with a shake of his head. His phone rang again.
"Okay. Good to know…"
I stared directly at him and he chuckled again.
"Rex, the hamster, had escaped with the help of Ramirez trashing Stephanie's apartment. But Les found him hiding in a soup can with the shattered remains of his little abode scattered all around him. He's arranging for temporary housing. It seems that Zip has a super condo for the little hamster. He and Hector are on their way with fresh accoutrements.
On cue, my phone buzzed. Hector's ringtone.
"Si, hermano? …"
I was silent and momentarily stunned while I absorbed and processed this new information. Tank's eyes watched me expectantly.
Stephanie began to moan and mutter for Rex. I smiled down at her, shifting her lightly, holding her more comfortably as I whispered,
"Shhh …I've got you, Querida. Shhh… Rex is OK. We have him safely. He's coming with us, Babe. Rex is safe." I loved kissing her, holding her. It felt so right.
"Oh, poor little Rex … 'Ssss good … Hmmm … warm and safe …," She whimpered with a wistful sigh of relief and snuggled into me, her warm lips nuzzling my neck. Once again she surrendered to the overwhelming fatigue.
Tank was waiting, stoic, but I know that inquisitive speculative expression as he eyed me whilst keeping his eye on the road.
"Our brother Hector, who loves his little Estefania Ignacia, my Babe, has taken care of business. While Morelli was in his vitriolic and venomous rage, our clever hermano taped his entire rant, audio and visual, and anonymously sent it to the Chief of TPD. That fucker has already been called in from his shift and is currently sharing a holding cell with Ramirez. Neither is happy about their shared accommodation and both have … mysteriously acquired some well-placed … slashing wounds to various … body parts, face and tendons. Morelli sustained some further injuries with compliments of Ramirez. It seems he didn't approve of the fucker's commentary either and it took some manpower and multiple tasering to remove and subdue him for medical treatment. Morelli will live and the scarring on his face will appear obvious as it heals. Hector assures me he was like smoke. "
"He didn't …?"
"No, no …Let's say … all appendages are intact and attached but will have some mild limitations."
"Fu-uck, yeah! He's the man! They wouldn't have seen it coming."
As Tank made the final turn to our destination, Hector and Zip signalled behind us, passed and Hector's grinning visage winked at me wickedly as he shrugged his shoulders in apparent innocence.
So, this 'crappy day' of hers … what else happened, before she arrived with the plates? I know it included that psycho whacko Ramirez with his taunts and invitations to meet God. What the fuck was that all about? I only saw her this morning for our run. Fu-uck. She must have encountered him while she walked back before I caught up with her after my final, albeit macho, laps. Then we had the asshole douche Morelli with his vitriolic diatribe, a memorable moment with most of the TPD there to witness his oversharing. What a fucker! He was so near to coming up close and personal with a knuckle sandwich. But, my Babe, she signalled for me to stand down. She was on fire, (Ha! Hector's Estefania Ignacia) with her fierce ferocity as she lay into him and handed him his ass for all and sundry to hear! Ooh yeah! I gave her an extra squeeze.
As we approached the gates, already open with Hal and Cal standing guard, Stephanie stirred, sensing the change in motion. She murmured and smiled sweetly, blinking slightly unfocused blue eyes up at me, humming momentarily and then she quietly drifted off again, sighing and snuggling warmly into my favourite spot whilst nuzzling my neck once again. Lester opened the car door, Bobby close behind in medic mode and nodded approvingly at me. Bags were retrieved by Zero, Vince, Manny and Ram from the other Rangeman vehicles as I climbed the stairs, carrying her over the threshold, smiling knowingly to myself, into the softly lit entry.
"Is this the Batcave, Batman?"
AN: So we are near to the end. Just one more chapter to go. Let me know what you think.