Unapologize
By: PricklySare
A/N: Hey you wonderful ladies out there, we're getting really close to the end. Only a few more chapters left. Hope this smut makes you happy. :) Thanks to Stayce and M, who always get me focused, and point me in the right direction when I wander off course.
Sare
Chapter Fifty-Two: Stephanie Unapologizes
Steph's POV
I'd heard the door open and felt the tingling up my neck, telling me that Ranger was back. I didn't plan on jumping him the second he stepped inside, but some how, my body took over and without conscious thought I was wrapped around him like a monkey. Believing he was alive, and actually seeing him, touching him, knowing, were very different things.
His body was hard under mine, and for a moment I'd forgotten that we weren't alone in the apartment. When Lester interrupted us, I was both thankful, and annoyed. I refused to let my actions embarrass me, I'd finally accepted my feelings for Ranger, and there was nothing wrong with showing them. At least, not to my way of thinking, but there was a time and a place, and at that moment there were more important things to discuss. Ripping his clothes off and having my wicked way with him, while important to my hormones, and possibly my heart, wasn't the most important thing on the table. It certainly wasn't the reason for the meeting.
We'd separated, my body sliding down every hard inch of his, and Ranger once again became the cool, professional. He touched me often, nothing overtly sexual, just in small ways, while we exchanged information. After all, he might stake his claim so that others couldn't, but he wasn't the type of man to put physical needs before the job at hand; those small touches announced his possession more than any other action. I saw now that they were touches of friendship, familiarity, and love. Even if nothing had been discussed, there was love in everything he'd ever done for me.
There were still questions that needed answers, and words that still needed to be said, but once the guys had left, and Ranger had me on his bed, whispering soft Spanish words in my ear, making my heart swell, nothing else mattered. Only him, only us. What we could give each other right then, the affirmation that we were both alive.
I'd kissed him with all the passion that threatened to consume me when he was around, giving back as much as I was taking. I ran my fingers through his hair, keeping him still while I pressed my hot body against his. He'd been gone less than a month, but it had seemed like an eternity.
His hands were rough as he ran them over me, turning my skin to fire. There was an urgency in him that I hadn't experienced since that first time, and it only mirrored my own. We rolled around the bed, kissing, nipping, and touching. Exploring while we fought for dominance. We tore at each others clothes, desperate to get them out of the way. I needed the feel of his naked skin against mine.
"God... help me with this," I moaned, trying to work his belt free. My hands were shaking so much that I couldn't maneuver it out of the buckle. He rolled off me, making fast work of his boots, socks, and cargoes before coming back to kneel in front of me on the bed.
Smooth skin gleamed in the soft lighting, and I sat up to lick and nip at his chest, his nipples, and down his abs to his bare hips. There I sucked the sensitive flesh into my mouth, marking him. His hands fisted into my hair, and a growl echoed from his chest.
He pushed me back on the bed, kissing me deeply, sucking my lip between his teeth, before releasing my curls and unfastening my pants. I lifted my hips as he yanked them down my legs, his lips on mine, our tongues dueling for possession.
I felt the rough tug on my panties, and then the cool air brushing across my wet folds, before he placed my arms above my head, cuffing them in his hand. His teeth nipped down my body, causing goosebumps and making me shiver.
There was no gentleness when he sheathed himself inside my pussy, and the first wave crashed over me. My body was bowing and shaking, my need like a tight white heat inside me. I was caught up in the storm raging through me, and the only sound I could make was a helpless whimper as the feeling built. I needed to touch him, but his hand remained firmly around my wrists, keeping me hostage to his actions.
He was thrusting inside me in long, hard strokes. Bracing his weight on his forearms and knees he tangled one hand in my hair again, keeping my arms shackled by his other. My legs were wrapped around him, my hips working hard, meeting him thrust for thrust, the sound of our skin smacking against each other echoed through the room.
His eyes were dilated with pleasure as he pulled almost all the way out before slamming himself home. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," I said, each time he passed along my g-spot. I needed this, I wanted this, and I was so close that I felt like I was going to shatter.
Ranger's pulse was beating rapidly in his neck, and the sight of it had me flicking my tongue across it, tasting his sweat dampened skin. Releasing my arms he straightened and lifted my legs, placing one on each shoulder so my calves draped down his back. The angle changed, his shaft going deeper with each thrust, and the pressure built to a higher level.
My now free hands grasped at his thighs, sliding along the skin, until I dug my nails into his tight ass, pulling him closer, trying to bring him harder and deeper inside me. I closed my eyes with the pleasure of it, and he growled, "Keep your eyes open, Stephanie." I forced them open, just as he thrust again, my head happily spinning off into the atmosphere. "You're so damn beautiful," he whispered, and with a last hard thrust he buried himself to the hilt and filled me with his cum as I fell with a long moan into the abyss.
I was pulled from unconsciousness by the feeling of soft lips on my skin, and a smooth voice laced with Spanish. My stomach did a slow tightening, and I sighed. "Babe, I need you to wake up now."
"Uhn. Later. Five minutes," I mumbled, snuggling down into the covers, my back and ass flush against Ranger's hard, warm, body.
His hand slid along my arm, before dipping beneath the sheet and lightly tweaking my nipple, causing it to instantly harden. He trailed his lips along the same path his hand had just taken, shifting his body along my back as his lips made their way to the underside of my breast. The smooth caress of his tongue sent fire through me again, just as he gently bit down on a nipple. My back arched and I gave in to the feelings.
I sighed again, it was hopeless; I'd do anything for him, including wake up. "Okay, okay, but only because you-," I opened my eyes and my words trailed off. "Holy shit, Ranger!" I whispered. In front of me, held firmly in his hand, was the most exquisite ring I'd ever seen.
"Stephanie, I love you. Marry me, and be my partner, my best friend, and my home."
I reached a shaking hand out to touch the glistening diamond, the intricate pattern in the platinum, before rolling over to look him in the eyes. There were a million emotions rolling through me, and not a single one of them was uncertainty. "Yes," I said, "Without a doubt, yes!" Wrapping my arms around him I kissed him, pouring out all the love, the desire, and the happiness that was washing through me.
Our fingers entwined, and when we broke the kiss the ring was securely on my finger. "I know that there are things we need to talk about," Ranger said, before pressing his lips against mine again.
"Yes, there are, but before you say anything I need to un-apologize."
"For what?"
I'd been planning what to say since the morning after the show down with Val, and suddenly it didn't seem like such a scary thing. "I'm not sorry for telling Val how I feel about you. I'm not sorry that you heard, and I'm not sorry that I love you."
He placed a hand on either side of my face and said, "I'm not sorry either. You opened my eyes that day, and I'm not sorry at all." With that he sealed our lips together again, and any thoughts I had of talking vanished.
Several hours later I was physically and emotionally satisfied, at least for the time being, and ready to get to work. The shiny symbol of my future sat proudly on my left hand, and I smiled before removing it. "What are you doing?" Ranger asked, wrapping his hand around mine.
"Taking off the ring," I said. His eyes were dark pools, and I wanted to lose myself in them. "Why?"
"Ranger, you're supposed to be dead. How am I gonna explain wearing an engagement ring?"
"The same way you were going to explain why you look like you've been thoroughly fucked," he replied.
"Oh, that." I hadn't actually thought up a reasonable explanation for that, and couldn't really think of one either.
"Yeah, that." He removed his hand, and replaced the ring back on my finger. "It belongs on your finger, and it's going to stay there."
"Are you sure?"
"I rarely do things I'm unsure of."
I stretched up and kissed his lips. "I love you, Carlos."
"I love you too," he said, before deepening the kiss, making my head spin.
When I pulled away, I placed my hand on his chest keeping him from closing the distance. "I need to get to work. The sooner I look at the results from the search on our mystery girl, the sooner we can make our move." He didn't say anything just nodded. "I'm glad you're back," I said as I walked out the door.
I headed straight to my desk, anxious to see what information the search had uncovered on Marissa Santiago. Pulling the results up on my monitor, I wasn't surprised to find that there was no information found on her.
Picking up the phone I called Tank. "Hey, got the results back," I said when he answered. "There's nothing. Marissa Santiago doesn't exist."
"That's what you figured."
"Yeah, but I was still hoping that there would have been something."
"I know, Bombshell." He was silent for a breath and then said, "You doing okay?"
A smile crossed my face and it was obvious in my voice when I said, "Yeah, I'm good. Can you get Bobby? I've got to talk to Les, but then I'd like to meet with everyone in a few minutes."
"Sure thing."
"Appreciate it." The only response I got was the click indicating he'd hung up.
Dialing Les' number I waited for him to pick up. "What's up, Beautiful?"
"Need to talk to you," I said.
"Be right there."
I wanted to tell the guys about Ranger and me, but Lester was my best friend, so I needed to tell him first. While I waited I locked my computer and gazed down at the ring on my finger enjoying the lights reflecting off the diamond. Damn, it was a pretty ring.
When Les plopped down in the visitor chair I looked at him and smiled. "I've got a job for you," I said.
"Sounds intriguing," he said. "Do I get to shoot people?"
"Anything is possible," I said. What was sad was the truth in that statement. I stood up and walked toward him, leaning against my desk. His eyes were locked on mine, and I picked up his hand with my left. "I need you to be my maid of honor."
His eyes went wide, and he looked down at my hand. "Holy shit," he said. I couldn't see his eyes, but I knew he'd closed them. I loved Lester, and had Ranger not been in the picture I would have jumped on the chance to be with him. I knew his feelings, always had, and I didn't want to hurt him.
"I wanted you to know first, before anyone else."
"I'm assuming Ranger knows?" he asked with a laugh.
"Well... he will," I said with a grin. "He proposed last night... well, probably closer to this morning, but that's just semantics."
He looked at me, his thumb rubbing back and forth across my ring. "I'll do anything you want. You know that. Do you really want me to be your maid of honor?"
"Technically I think the term would be man of honor, but yes. You're my best friend. Who else would I want to stand there with me?"
"Does this mean I have to wear taffeta?"
"Maybe..." I said. "Depends."
"On?"
"How much you annoy me between now and then."
He gave me a devious grin. "Have you decided when you're getting married?"
Ranger and I hadn't talked about it yet, but in my heart of hearts I wanted to do it as soon as possible. We'd wasted so much time already, and I didn't need or want a big wedding. "I'm hoping for as soon as we can get a marriage license," I said.
He smiled at me, a genuine smile, "You're happy, and he finally got his head out of his ass, so I'm happy too." He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me close and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Thanks for telling me first, it means a lot. Now, let's go tell Tank and Bobby the good news," he said pulling me out the door.
Two pairs of eyes locked onto us when we stepped into Tank's office. I decided to forgo the fanfare and just lifted my left hand, showing off the ring, and said, "I'm getting married."
There were whoops and hollers, and I was spun around in circles until I was dizzy. Bobby, placed me back on me feet and smiled, "About damn time, Bomber."
"Good things and all that jazz, guys," I said. I wished that Ranger could be down here celebrating with us, but knew that it wasn't possible. "I think you guys should come upstairs later and congratulate the boss."
"I think you're right," Tank said. "But, how are you going to explain the ring? Ranger is supposed to be dead."
"I don't know, but when I tried to take it off he put it back on. Hopefully no one will notice."
Lester snorted, "Yeah, right. That bling is so bright, there is no way people aren't going to notice it."
I couldn't help but smile. "You're right, it is pretty shiny," I sighed. "If I'm lucky we can get this all straightened out soon, and it won't matter."
"We'll do the best we can," Bobby said.
"I know, Bobby. We're all doing the best that we can. The question is, what's the next step?"
"Maybe it's time you accept that new job." A devious smile crossed Bobby's lips.
"You know, I am feeling like I could really use a girlfriend. Maybe I will."
"We're going to pull Hades in tonight after shift, we don't want to alert anyone else until this is all cleared up," Tank said. "You might want to connect with him before you do anything else. Get the ball rolling on the crazy bitch."
A plan was forming in my head of just how we were going to deal with Ranger's handler, and I was going to enjoy whatever part I played in it. "I'll go work my magic, then I think I'll get some paperwork finished."
I gave everyone a hug before walking out of the office and closing the door behind me. It was time I touched base with our favorite leak, Hades.
He was sitting at the bank of monitors watching a whole lot of nothing happening when I approached him. "Hey, Hades," I said, rolling a chair up next to him and sitting down. "I have some down time tomorrow, and was wondering if Rissa still wanted to have the nickle tour."
His eyes raked over me, and I really wanted to scoot away from him, but I was playing a part, and I wasn't going to let my inner cringing get in the way. "Yeah, I can call her."
"It's okay; I'd like to call her. Girl talk, you know."
He snorted and said, "Sure, whatever," before writing down a number on a slip of paper and sliding it towards me without another word. I picked it up and went back to my desk.
I sat there for fifteen minutes, staring at the number like it was a snake that was going to bite me. I needed to share my plan with the guys, but wasn't ready to yet, and if I didn't contact her, there wouldn't be a plan.
Instead of calling her I decided to send a text. Rissa, have some time tomorrow if you want to get together. I could really use some girl time. Steph.
Two minutes later my phone buzzed with a reply. Love to. When and where?
I responded quickly. Meet you in the Rangeman lobby. Noon?
Noon. See you then.
With a sigh I set my phone down only to hear it buzz again. I looked at it warily; I really didn't want to talk to Rissa again. Not even via text. Picking up my cell, I noticed the message was from Ranger. With a smile I opened it. Nice job. Gym? I feel like a workout.
I should have realized he'd know what I was doing. I replied quickly. What about the cameras?
Scrambled. I'm waiting.
Jumping up from my desk I concentrated on walking casually toward the elevator. I pressed the button to take me to the gym and gave a little finger wave to the guys on the floor as the doors closed.
Stepping into the gym I was slammed against the wall, and Ranger's lips were on mine. His muscles were hard and flexed around me, and the thigh that was between my legs was rubbing against my clit.
"Missed you," he said, his lips barely a breath away from mine.
"Missed you, too," I said, my breath already coming out in gasps.
"You ready to work out?" he asked.
"I'm here aren't I?" I said with a smile. He didn't answer just returned my smile with one that made my panties wet. The next thing I knew my pants were around my ankles, he was on his knees with his face buried in my pussy, and I was riding the first crest of release.