Not my characters, just having fun.

Chapter 4

After Ranger called Bobby he came back and helped me get dressed again to avoid contact with my burnt skin. After I had clothes on he kissed me on the forehead. I leaned up to kiss him on the mouth but he leaned back.

"First," he said, "I have to get this out of my way." And he grabbed my right arm very gentle and slowly pulled it around behind my back. He twisted until my hand was up near my shoulder blades with my arm resting against my back. This made sure that my burn was facing behind me, not touching Ranger and not touching me. He switched hands so he was still holding my right hand but now it was from the other side of my body.

"Comfortable?"

"Its ok." I said. Shrugging my shoulders. Not my favorite way to stand around but if it kept me from getting re-injured, it would be worth it.

"Good." He said. His left hand came up into my hair and pulled my face forward to meet his. Then he kissed me. I felt like electricity had just shot from my lips to my toes and back up into my belly. The warmth I had felt earlier had returned full force as if the unpleasant tearing of my skin hadn't happened at all.

I moaned into his mouth and felt him hard against my stomach again. He traced my lower lip with his tongue and I opened my mouth to allow him entrance. I wrapped my good arm around his neck and slid my fingers into his hair along his scalp avoiding the leather tie holding it back in a ponytail.

His hand left my hair to travel down my body. His fingers started at my ear and then trailed down my jaw. They swept down my neck and down between my breasts. I was breathing heavier now as each touch sent tingling sensations through me. They continued down over my stomach and to my right hip bone where Ranger grabbed hold of my and pulled my hips into his body. A growl escaped from Ranger's chest which added with the increased contact, despite the clothes, cased the warmth in my stomach to build and I had to break away from his mouth to breath.

"I missed you." I said again.

"Babe."

"5 months is a long time."

His eyes darkened again and he returned to exploring my mouth. Just then the doorbell rang. Ranger growled again, this time a very different noise. He kissed me once more, this time very gently before he walked away to open the door. I followed him out into the family room and sat down on the couch.

Bobby came in to attend to my open blister. He added some antibiotic cream to keep it from getting infected.

"If you pop anymore blisters, we might have to put you on an oral antibiotic. I don't want your arm getting an infection. Keep this cream on it but only a thin layer. Try to keep everything away from your arm for now. We can wrap it when you're working but its best to keep the bandages off of it as much as possible."

"Ok, I can do that." I said.

"Come down in the morning and I'll help you with it ok?" Bobby asked as he packed up his things to leave.

Did he realize what he just said? Was I sleeping here? Did I want Bobby to know if I was sleeping here? Did Ranger want me to sleep here? He has just gotten home and probably wants some space and some quality relaxing time. I must have been thinking for too long because when I looked up Bobby was still waiting for an answer.

"Um, I'll stop by your office before I go to my cubicle." There, that answer doesn't say that I'm sleeping here but promises to follow through on what he asked of me.

"Ok, you alright Bombshell?" Bobby asked.

"Fine." I looked away since I could feel the blush that was still covering my face.

"She doesn't live here yet Bobby." Ranger said.

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry."

I just nodded. I couldn't really speak. Not because of the embarrassment, but because of the yet. Ranger said yet. He said I don't live here yet. Does that mean that I will in the future? Does he mean on 4 or up here with him? Shit.

I looked up and Bobby was gone. Ranger was standing in front of me, still without a shirt on. I had put his t-shirt back on with the sweats so that Bobby could check out my arm without seeing the rest of me. I know he's a doctor and everything but I still would rather not be naked in front of him when I can avoid it.

"Sorry Babe." Ranger said looking truly irritated.

"Its ok. People make assumptions." I said.

"You don't have to stay here if you don't want to."

"Why wouldn't I want to?" This was easier than admitting how much I wanted to stay with him.

"You're always welcome here Babe, you know that."

He completely avoided my question and turned it back on me. Shit. Maybe I could just ask him about "yet."

"Why did you say yet?"

"What?

"Yet. You said yet."

He just stared at me.

I sighed. "When Bobby implied that I'd be here in the morning you told him I don't live here yet."

His blank face slid into place. Not a very good sign. Maybe he misspoke.

"I didn't mean to say that."

"That's what I figured." I said trying to hide the hurt. Sure I like my freedom and I always hated when Morelli tried to get me to give up my apartment but everything with Ranger was different.

"Babe."

"So what is there to eat?" Smooth change of subjects on my part. Not.

"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Ranger asked.

"Yes."

"Do you want to stay here longer than tonight?"

"What?"

"I didn't mean to say 'yet' because I was going to wait until I had settled back into my normal life before I asked you to move in with me. But since the element of surprise is gone due to my slip up, I am asking now."

"Wait, what?"

"Babe, will you move in with me?"

/

So the story is just kind of leading me now. I'm still not sure where I want to go but I'm enjoying it so far. Part of me is thinking I should end it before it gets bad… I don't really trust my writing yet. What do you think?

PS Thank you so much for the encouragement to get this far and all the wonderful reviews.