Unapologize
By: PricklySare
Chapter Four—Steph's POV
Holy Hotcakes, I just walked away from Ranger. Ranger! Hello, new found inner strength. Where have you been all my life? I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror and wondered who the woman staring back at me was. Sure we both had the same hair, and the same eyes, our bodies were the same, and when I lifted my hand so did she; yet I didn't recognize myself in the reflection. Gone was the slightly frumpy, walking catastrophe, who was too afraid to go after what she wanted. In her place was this scandalously clad sex kitten in ruby red lace.
My cheeks were flushed, my eyes were sparkling with a feminine knowledge I wasn't aware I had, and I looked confident. Even with the realization that nothing in Ranger's life had changed, knowing that 'someday' was most likely not going to happen in either of our lifetimes, I felt stronger, and more alive in that moment than I had in the previous thirty-some years of my life. Okay, except maybe for that one night with Ranger. I felt completely alive that night. Hot flash! Yowzers. Don't think about it. Think of something else....like him in the shower....wait no! Shit!
The tightening of my nipples were on obvious display in my current state of dress, and I was thankful that I'd managed to lock myself in the bathroom. Not that a locked door would stop Ranger if he decided it was in his way, best not to think about that possibility. I have no idea what came over me while Ranger was in the shower. Okay, so maybe I did have an idea, but I was going to firmly lock that into denial and not focus on the fact that I knew what he'd been doing in the shower. That I had heard the animalistic growl of satisfaction that came from him. Knowing that I had effected him so much that he had to lose control in the shower made me feel decidedly wicked. Wicked enough that I had decided to play with him.
When he opened the bathroom door I knew the exact sight that I made leaning over in my ruby red bra and panty set. Wearing nothing but lingerie and FMPs would usually make me uncomfortable and self-conscious, but not this time. This time I felt like Wonder Woman. Strong and invincible. I knew I was Batman's weakness and I was going to enjoy my new found power. I felt the tingle down my neck and gently ran my hand over it before looking over my shoulder at the Man of Mystery. He had on nothing but a towel loosely wrapped low on his hips, and a few rogue water droplets that still clung to his beautifully sculpted chest. I wanted to devour him whole. Screw the FTA. My Hungarian hormones were screaming at me to take him where he stood.
"See something you like, Ranger?" I asked him with a naughty little grin. It was a question that I already knew the answer to, and if I hadn't known before, then the rapidly shifting towel would have clued me in. He just stood there watching me like I was lunch. His mouth was slightly open and his throat was working furiously trying to swallow. Even in the shadowed lighting I could see the predatory gleam in his eyes, and watched in fascination as his pupils dilated with desire. I knew the exact moment when he turned the tables on me. Damn him for being so much better at this than I was.
A wolf smile slid across his face and I had a momentary spasm in my southern regions with thoughts of him using those teeth on me. Calm down, woman. "Babe." He said, his voice was like black silk gliding across my skin, and it made me want to moan. My lips were suddenly dry and I nervously ran my tongue over the bottom lip trying to moisten it. I'm almost positive I heard him groan, but that could just have been my overly worked imagination playing tricks on my overheated body. "Your choice. Always has been, always will be."
Yeah, my choice. That was helpful. Shit. If I listened to my hormones and completely ignored the fact that my heart would be shattered in the morning light then there was no contest as to what my choice would be. I would be riding him like a bronco faster than he could say, 'Babe'. It felt like the war of the ages was being waged inside me. My heart, my mind, and my hormones were clashing around inside trying to prove who was really the top dog. Unfortunately, I knew who would win; and that meant I was once again going to miss out on a Ranger induced orgasm, or ten. As a last ditch effort I asked, "Has your situation changed?"
"No." He said. No pause, no time needed to think about it or re-evaluate his stance on relationships. Just a simple, yet powerful single syllable, 'No'. Big surprise there. My heart cracked a little, but I ignored it and stood my ground. I started this and I was going to finish it.
"Then I guess my choice is to go into the bathroom and finish getting ready. Don't want to keep the FTA waiting." I said as I walked past him and into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind me. I heard a muffled curse and felt my smile spread across my face. Take that, Batman.
Fifteen minutes later my make-up was complete and I was ready to slip into the orgasm of a dress that Ella had supplied me with tonight. The material was soft against my skin, and matched the bra and panty set perfectly. It had a straight neckline, a ruched bodice that hugged in all the right places, and long billowing sleeves that played peek-a-boo with my arms. The bottom him of the dress came dangerously close to the promise land, and I made a mental note to not flash anyone my goods tonight. All in all I had to say that I looked damn sexy. My hair cascaded around my shoulders in soft, managed curls, and my eyes were bright and shiny. I added a last coat of mascara and lip gloss and dubbed myself ready to go.
I took a deep breath and opened the door. Ranger's bedroom was empty and I found him leaning against the kitchen bar. He was dressed as Sexy Swat Ranger tonight and I had to concentrate on not tripping over my tongue. When he looked at me I saw his body go from relaxed to tense in seconds. The change would have been unnoticeable to most people, but in my Ranger obsessed state of living, I'd learned the subtle changes in his body. This time I knew for a fact he groaned. There was nothing silent about it.
"Dios, Babe. I'm going to owe my men hazard pay after tonight." His voice was soft and warm so I chose not to get angry about his comment. I was pretty sure it was a compliment. I think. "The FTA doesn't stand a chance."
I smiled at him and said, "What about you, Batman?" Oh shit. Hello, new found confidence. Are you trying to get me sent to a third world jungle?