Something's Burning Chapter 11

"Hector, hermano. Take these and we'll meet you at the office in a few." I handed the boxes through the window to Hector and Zip, not before she quickly snatched a chocolate glazed and another Boston cream. She giggled. "I need these," she tried to justify in explanation, moaning contentedly. Oh, holy shit. She's driving me crazy. I make myself more comfortable, well, I try to as she continues her luscious moaning until she licks her fingers clean. I can't maintain my composure completely and grab her other hand and I assist with the clean-up process, slowly, watching her pupils dilate. I lick the corner of her mouth where a remnant of chocolate icing enticed me to further the process and then plunder her mouth with a deep and drugging kiss. We came up for air, both of us breathless, staring at each other. Slowly I grab her seatbelt and click her in and place my hand on her thigh as I slowly take off, heading for Rangeman.

"Office? You have an office?"

oooO8Oooo

Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, favourites and follows for my first chapter story. I might go over the 200 this time. Wahoo! A special thank you to Margaret who challenged me to write and helping me out of the doldrums while my muse was also on vacation. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Not mine, not making any money. Characters belong to JE and I'm just having fun and playing with them.

Chapter 11

Stephanie's POV

Distract, distract, distract. Oh, boy! He he he. But I knew I had him when I licked my fingers. Two can play at that game, Batman and I learned from the master himself. But, whoa! What a kiss. My panties did not survive. I think they went into melt down. Note to self: always carry spare panties. Distraction … But his hand is on my thigh. Oh, boy.

"But, I thought … Your address … is a vacant … lot … I thought?" Oops. I blew it there. Now he knows that we looked it up. But, I'm rather nosey and curious so he was bound to know we'd investigate or look it up. He didn't say anything but he raised an eyebrow at me and there was that distinct little tilt of a smile in the corner of his mouth. How does he do that, that one eye brow thing? It's really quite sexy.

"Sexy, Babe?" and he smiled his 100 watt grin.

Oh boy. I definitely need another donut. Make that two donuts.

"Donuts, hmm? You need to explain this donut thing to me … in detail." He had a playful, mischievous expression on his beautiful face with those deep, dark lustful eyes.

Oh boy. Distract, divert, ugh … something. He's amused.

"So, Ranger. You have an office?"

"Right here, Babe," he indicated through the windscreen as we rolled up to a security gate leading to an underground car park. The gate opened automatically. Definitely not a vacant lot. I sat there feeling more than a bit dumbfounded totally unaware of my surroundings, when my door opened and a grinning Ranger helped me out of the car. I was a bit stunned. Well, the grinning had something to do with it. I noted a lot of shiny black vehicles as he walked me over to an elevator. He guided me into the elevator with his hand in the small of my back. It felt so nice, gentleman-like and caring. I looked up at him and he smiled knowingly at me flashing that dazzling 100 watts of charisma. The elevator pinged open onto the fifth floor. Fifth floor?! It was more than just an office. He guided me into the open area and I must have had my goldfish look on because he gently tapped my jaw up and closed and announced, "The control room."

"Wow, Batman." At that Tank came over with a chuckle, as Ranger took a phone call, ruffled my hair and said, "Yes, Little Girl, this is the control room. We monitor our security clients' premises and over there is the research department," indicating a range of cubicles and other offices. There were men in black on monitors and others in the cubicles. They all acknowledged me in some form or other, friendly, polite and gorgeous with a wave, a nod or a smile. Oh my God. With what criteria were they hired? Muscles, good looks, sexy smiles, muscles, gorgeous smiles, gorgeous eyes, muscles and they all look amazing in black. Did I say, tight black, body hugging t-shirts? Is it hot in here?

"Earth to Babe?"

I startled and he chuckled. "Skills, Babe, very specific skills. They have strict criteria which must be met and maintained consistently at top level. We have a gym and a gun range which all of us are required to schedule into our fitness regime. We can go to my office because there's something I need to discuss with you but first we'll get something from the break room."

In the break room were some tables and chairs, a couple of large glass fronted fridges, one filled with water bottles the other shelves with platters and an open glass cabinet displaying a wide range of rolls, sandwiches, healthy looking muffins and a wide selection of fruit. There was also a café bar. While Ranger grabbed two water bottles I selected a muffin and an apple. Hey, I can eat healthy, sometimes. Hmm … no donuts, not even a chocolate bar.

"Hey. Those donuts. I bought them for the guys. Where are they?"

"In that fridge, Babe, bottom drawer."

Lester came in at that precise moment as if his donut radar was pinging. Aha! I placed the boxes on one of the tables and quickly grabbed one with sprinkles as Lester announced the arrival of the donuts. Mmmm. That feels better already. I sighed into my mouthful and someone moaned, I think it was me. Oops. Ranger stared at me with dark eyes and I grinned, licking my fingertips slowly, the apple and the muffin already relegated to wait for another person or day.

"Watch out guys. There's a tractor beam here," laughed Lester with another one of those shit eating grins on his face.

"Playing with fire, Babe."

Did Ranger just growl? Hmmm … something to remember. He shepherded me quickly into his office. Of course, I was a willing shep, er, sheep. I winked at Lester as a departing gesture, just to mess with him.

"Come into my parlour,' said the spider to the fly," recited Lester with his eyebrows waggling expressively.

Ranger quickly closed the door, pushed me up against the wall and kissed me deeply, hungrily, with a lot of tongue and wandering hands.

"Mmm … Sweet. Coffee with chocolate sprinkles."

Smiling dopily I looked right into those luscious chocolaty brown eyes. "Mmmocha chocka latté," I hummed longingly while trying to catch my breath. Mocha chocka latté, how apt. I smiled at that idea. He raised his eye brow and looked at me like I was his prey. Yikes! Checking: drool, no, all clear; yep, still had my clothes on as another pair bites the dust. Oh, yeah. I didn't bring spares. Note to self: bring extra emergency panties. He still had me pinned to the wall also somewhat affected by that kiss and perhaps a bit of my teasing.

"I noticed there were no cakes or donuts or even chocolate bars in that break room, Ranger."

"Today there were donuts, Babe. I don't allow that sort of contraband in the break room. My men need to focus. Can't have them be alert if they are in a sugar coma."

"Huh, yeah. I guess not. Luckily, I saved the day." And he slowly released me from his body which had held me captive against the wall. I didn't mind. He was firmly pressed against me and hardly a space between us, me and his hard body. I may have moaned again, I'm pretty sure it was me. I blushed and he was smiling at me.

"It's hard to keep my hands or my lips off you, Babe." He took a deep breath and stepped back so I could see the room.

Wow. His office was impressive, masculine, exuding power, authority and efficiency. He steered me to a sofa picking up our water bottles from the floor near the door and placing them on the table. His phone rang and he excused himself to his desk. While he talked and tapped on his computer, I was looking around his office and realised that this soft leather sofa alone probably cost more than all the furniture in my Spartan little apartment. Then it hit me. I had no home to go to and only the clothes on my back, which come to think of, I did not buy. Who had bought these for me? It all fitted so well … including my underwear. Oh. Okay. Someone knows my size. Oh boy. Shit. I'm homeless and …"

"Something's burning, Babe. Are you alright? You look a bit out of it?"

"Um, well. I just realised that I'm kind of homeless and I have no clothes except these and they're not mine but they fit and someone knows my size and they bought my underwear and I don't know where Rex is and ..."

"Breathe, Babe. Breathe. Look at me. I've got you, Babe. Your homeless status is temporary. However, it appears that your wardrobe is limited to what you wore and what you have on now. That was Manny and Hector reporting that all of your belongings have been damaged. Your clothes had been slashed and hacked or torn to pieces including your shoes. I think Ramirez went a little crazy in there and that's how he found your little friend, Randy. He was hiding in your wardrobe. By the way, he is recovering well and out of surgery in a stable condition. He was complaining about his computer which Ramirez trashed along with all your furniture. Fortunately he had backed it all up to his hard drive."

"Poor Randy. I feel kind of responsible."

"No, Babe. Not your bad. I have given him a replacement computer so he can do what he needs to do. His hard drive survived and he is anxious to complete some project he was working on. Randy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, Babe. He asked after you and Hal assured him that you were fine and safe. Rex, too, is fine and he is here at Rangeman."

"Rangeman?"

"My company, this building. Now, Babe, I think we need to discuss accommodation options. And I have some other things I wish to table for your consideration."

Luis' POV

Leaving the stairwell to check the supplies in the break room for Ella I immediately detected a change in dynamics in the control room. I stopped and observed, leaning on my loading cart. There was an undeniable buzz and some low yet animated discussion. Everyone was busy as is the norm and on-task but there was definitely a distinct change in the atmosphere. I restocked the water bottles and arranged them in orderly rows still wondering what could possibly make such an impression on these fine young men. I updated the ipad stock list.

Ella snuck up behind me.

"You noticed? I bet you can feel it too, mi Querido?" she whispered conspiratorially.

She was humming. I know she's happy about something when she hums like that, almost dancing as she does. Humming and smiling and swaying to the music in her head.

"You know something." I eyed her suspiciously but curiously and she was grinning with a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Come here, mi Querida esposa."

"Oh Luis, she's here. Stephanie. You can feel it, all the men too. Look at them. They adore her, we know. They talk about her and we have heard the stories. But you too can feel the difference in here. I can tell." I nodded. She was right, of course.

"There is something special about Stephanie and I didn't believe it could be so until I saw for myself. It's her first time here Luis and look what she has done, how affected they are just by her presence."

Hmm. She's right, again. They are affected in a contented way. It's a rare sight indeed to see them still alert and aware but decidedly happy.

"Our Carlos has opened his heart and he is in love, Luis." With that my dear Ella's eyes glistened and she leaned into my side as I put my arm over her shoulder in a side hug, kissing her on the temple.

"Si, Ella," was the quiet reply from our Hector as he and Manny came through from the stairwell.

"They are both in love and we know they have been for some time but they have only just reached that point of realisation. Hector has some beautiful photos of them, looking at each other, saying so much, without words. These last few days have cemented that situation, for want of a word. She's a good match for him, Luis, sharp, incredibly resilient, charming, witty, kind, genuine and feisty, oh yes, very feisty, just to name a few traits. She's not a gold digger. Stephanie is my Wifey, and she came into the hospital for me and stayed by my side. She sees us as her friends, noble and honourable men, Luis, her Merry Men, not just scary dudes in black and without judgment." Manny was rather wistful but it was clear beyond a doubt that he too was entranced by Stephanie. I have heard all the stories. I'm curious but a bit mixed up.

"Your Wifey? Stephanie is the Bombshell Bounty Hunter, si? Not that leather-clad blonde vixen that lusts after him? I'm confused."

Hector and Manny visibly grimaced and shuddered at the mention of that viper. I have no time for women like that.

"No! Eww. No, not that one, Luis! Man! Oh, I'll need to bleach my brain now. Bomber, Beautiful, Bombshell, Babe, Little girl, Angel, Chica, my Wifey … they are all one, Estefania, Stephanie, Stephanie Plum the Bombshell Bounty Hunter." Manny explained. "We all have pet names for her," and he chuckled, "Mine was under the influence of pain meds and anaesthetic and Stephanie convincing the nurse that she was my wife. Hence, Wifey." He was smiling broadly at that.

"Oh, Luis. She was teasing him. Stephanie brought donuts for the men. Here, across the break room, Carlos had captured her with his eyes and Lester warned everyone to watch out for the tractor beam. Cal and Lester even danced the limbo underneath but they just didn't see … they were oblivious. They only had eyes for each other." Ella sighed so I gave her another squeeze.

"Yeah, my Wifey is a force to be reckoned with." His pride was supported by Hector nodding in accord.

"I think you are all a little in love with her, Ella too. I need to meet this woman who has enchanted you all so easily. I have heard all the stories and the names but I didn't realise they were all one person. I just thought you all had girlfriends." We all chuckled at this as Carlos' door opened and all eyes drifted their way. Her eyes sparkled and although there was a tinge of sadness in them, her carriage was still strong. Ah, yes, of course. Big, bright blue eyes. Oh, yes. Carlos, she's a keeper if what the men say is true. She smiled at us coyly and blushed because she looked thoroughly kissed. Hmm, Carlos. I raised an eyebrow at him. He gave a little shrug with a grin and a wink holding her hand. The apple did not fall far from the tree!

I looked at Ella, humming to herself, smiling wistfully.

"Ella, Querida? You know something. Are you going to share?"

"Hmm? Oh. Perhaps … What do you think? Chocolate cake? Ice cream perhaps? Or, something else for dessert?

oooOooo

So … what do you think? What does Ella know? What is Ella planning? And what does Ranger have in mind?

Of course, Ella and Luis call him Carlos but out of respect will say Ranger in the company of others.