Unapologize

By: PricklySare

Chapter One

The night before.... Ranger's POV

Every muscle in my body was tense. The day had been one FUBAR after another and I was more than ready for it to be over. Stretching my neck to alleviate some of the tension I shut down my computer and headed out of my office. An hour in the gym should help me relax some before I was needed on a takedown.

The fifth floor was quiet when I walked out of my office toward the elevator, but the low grade hum I felt running through my body let me know that Steph was near. We'd been growing progressively closer the last few months since her relationship with the cop hit yet another rough patch. I'd been slowly letting her into my life, allowing her to see the parts I keep closed off from people. My life still wasn't where it needed to be in order to pursue a public relationship with her. The government still owned my time, and in essence my soul. Rangeman's contract as well as my own personal contract with the government was up for renewal in a year and then my life would be my own...or Stephanie's.

I made a detour towards the cubical that Steph uses whenever she is in the office and watched as she ran her hand over the back of her neck and without looking she said, "Hey, Ranger."

I couldn't help the smile that flashed across my face. "Babe."

She turned around and looked at me, "You look tired. Everything okay?"

Apparently the stress of the day along with too many sleepless nights ending in cold showers was taking its toll. "Long day." I told her.

She looked at the time and grimaced, "Wow. Long day is right. Looks like I'm not going to make it to my parents' house for dinner...again. I'm sure my mother is planning ways to make me pay for being a bad daughter."

"Think she'll take away dessert?" I asked, knowing that that possibility was exactly what worried her the most.

"Maybe I should give up sugar." She said with a grin at me.

"Maybe you should." I watched as a blush crept across her face at the husky tone of my voice. I knew exactly what would happen if she gave up sugar, and my libido was all for it. I would be more than happy to help her with her overflowing "jelly doughnut" hormones.

"Uh, uh, umm, shit." She is beautiful when she's flustered, which happens a lot when she's around me. I'm not sure what it is, I know I'm attractive, and I've had my share of women based on that fact, but she's always been different around me. I'm different around her. It's as if the way I look isn't nearly as attractive to her as the person she sees me as. Something to think about later.

"Babe." I tip her chin up with my finger so I can look into her eyes. "Got a job for you tonight, if you're interested." It would be best for me to focus on business instead of focusing on my urge to take her against the wall...or on my desk. Both of which have had starring roles in my late night fantasies.

She cleared her throat before saying, "Sure. When, where, and what?"

"Nine o'clock. You can get ready on seven and Ella will have everything you need waiting for you." I said. Not long after the Slayer incident I had Ella begin purchasing anything that Steph might need to make her comfortable. Currently there was a store room filled with nothing but outfits and accessories for her. Someday, I might even tell her about it, but not until the cop is permanently out of the picture.

I suddenly decided that I wanted nothing more than to spend time with her so I asked, "Would you like to have dinner with me?" If she wanted to have dinner with me I'd put off going to the gym. I do have my priorities.

"Yeah, that'd be great." She said with a huge smile. I felt my heart get lighter and my lips tip into a smile. The way to her heart was definitely through her stomach. At least most of the time, and I had no qualms with using that to my advantage. I waited for her to shut down her computer and grab her things together before walking with her toward the elevator. Once the doors slid closed it took all my will power to not push her up against the wall and devour her where she stood. I wanted nothing more than to plunder her mouth, tasting and taking what was mine. Instead, I tucked a wild curl behind her ear, marveling at the softness of it.

"So beautiful." I murmured in her ear, before shifting away from her. My heart skipped when I watched her eyes darken with desire. It was nice to know that neither one of us were unaffected by the other. The doors slid open and I led her off the elevator to the door of my apartment. "I'll call Ella and have her bring dinner up. Why don't you go shower, the food should be here when you're finished."

I knew how much she loved my shower, and honestly I loved knowing that it was my shower she was naked and wet in, and not the cop's. "Thanks. Who could pass up an offer like that?" She smiled at me and headed toward the bathroom.

Pressing the intercom I called down to Ella's apartment. "Ella, could you bring dinner for Steph and I, please?"

"It will be there in ten minutes, Ranger." she replied.

"Thank you, Ella." I said before heading into my bedroom to secure my weapons in the safe.

Ten minutes later I opened the door to Ella and moved aside giving her room to roll in the cart with dinner on it. "Would you like it in the dining room?" She asked.

"No, thank you. On the bar is fine."

"I made Stephanie pineapple upside down cake for dessert."

I knew Steph would be ecstatic about dessert, and knew I could look forward to more than a few uncomfortable moments while she enjoyed it. "Thank you, Ella. I'm sure she will appreciate it."

"It's no problem. I'm glad someone enjoys the finer things in life." She said with a smile. "Leave the dishes. I'll be back in the morning to pick them up." She said as she left the apartment, closing the door behind her.

The shower was still running so I walked closer to the door, envisioning the sudsy water trailing down Steph's body. The smell of my shower gel was seeping from beneath the door and the knowledge that she chose to smell like me, going so far as keeping a bottle of my Bulgari in her apartment, caused my body to respond. I was pulled from my thoughts by an unmistakable sound coming from behind the door. Holy Shit! Moaning. Mi Dios. You are a lucky bastard Manoso. That moaning meant only one thing. It was a shame that she was relieving her frustrations independently. Not that I hadn't been in the same position for far too long, myself, but I would love nothing more than to help her out. I'm good in the shower. Damn good.

When I heard her moan my name I had to bite my lip and close my eyes to keep myself from barging in on her and claiming her as mine. Moments later the water shut off and I took another deep breath to control my breathing and headed into the kitchen. Wouldn't do to be standing here like a peeping Tom when she opened the door.

By the time she came into the kitchen I was back in control of my body, and was serving our dinner onto plates. Her stomach took that moment to let out a loud rumble and I just shook my head. The sounds her stomach makes is a thing of legends. "Ready to eat Babe?"

"Obviously." She said with a grimace. "I'm starving."