This chapter turned out way longer than I'd expected, but I decided to keep it as one lengthy one instead of breaking it up to try to keep the vacationy feel of it. Since this is the start of Ranger and Stephanie's honeymoon, there is a slight smut warning that goes along with it. Anything familiar belongs to Janet.
Chapter 24
I didn't have to worry about not getting to undress Ranger soon enough. As always, he was one step ahead of me. Ranger and I had our luggage already in the car, so after we left the hospital, Ranger drove us straight to a private airstrip just outside Trenton. That was interesting, but also irritating, because now there'd be no way of me figuring out where we're headed.
I thought I'd at least get a hint once some flights were called or from eavesdropping on other passengers' conversations. I should have expected that Ranger would be too smart to let that happen. Ranger keeps his secrets until he's ready to share them and not a second sooner. Ranger parked and got our bags out of the back of the car just as two guys came out of the building to meet us.
"Mr. Manoso," one guy said to Ranger,"the jet has been refueled and all the safety checks have just been completed. We're ready to take off as soon as you and Mrs. Manoso are strapped in."
"Thank you, Craig," Ranger told the guy."Stephanie, meet Craig Coolridge and Evan Anderson. They'll be piloting and co-piloting the jet for us."
"And we're the only ones on board besides them, aren't we?" I asked Ranger.
"Yes," Ranger told me.
Yep, Ranger is always thinking ahead.
"How long are we going to be in the air?" I asked.
"Long enough," Ranger said.
I rolled my eyes, but followed Ranger and the new guys as we got settled for lift off.
"Okay," I said to Ranger the second the wheels came off the runway,"we're officially on a plane, so it's time to spill where you're taking me."
The intercom came on and Evan's voice drifted out of the speaker to us.
"We've reached altitude. You can now move freely around the cabin."
I heard a click and then Ranger and I were alone ... for the most part anyway.
"So ... our destination?" I asked again, unbuckling myself.
Ranger's seatbelt was already undone and he was reaching for me.
"First things first, Babe," Ranger said, scooping me up in his arms.
Ranger carried me to the back of the private jet and opened a door. When I was let down, and the door was closed and locked behind us, Ranger's mouth covered mine before I even had a chance to look around the little room. My "First Lady" t-shirt was removed right after he lifted his head, and Ranger went to work on the button and zipper on my jeans. I was laid down on the bed in just my skimpy bra and gaping jeans.
I had just enough brain power left to hook my fingers into Ranger's waistband so he had to come onto the bed with me. I undid his belt buckle, got his pants open, too, and peeled his shirt off before my bra was thrown onto the floor. Ranger started slowly sliding my jeans down my legs and I knew the exact moment he saw Batman poking out of my miniscule underwear.
"Babe?"
I looked down my body at Ranger and smiled.
"Meet my something blue," I told Ranger.
Ranger's fingers slid into the waistband of my underwear, and he tugged them down far enough to see the whole tattoo. He studied it for a beat without speaking before meeting my eyes again.
"I appreciate the symbolism, Steph, but you should know by now that my face is the only one allowed down here."
Damn him. Ranger can make me damp without even trying. All it took was a few words and I was ready for him. Ranger gave me a cocky smile when he removed my underwear - like he knew exactly what I'd been thinking - pushed my legs further apart to make room for his shoulders, and brought his face back, but a few inches below Batman's this time. Damp no longer described what I was. Wet, achy, and impatient are much better, more accurate, adjectives.
"You starting without me, Babe?" Ranger asked, pulling back just before I went over the edge.
He scanned my sprawled body from where he was between my legs. My upper body was arched, and my hands were clutching fistfuls of sheet so I wouldn't pull out any of Ranger's hair in the heat of the moment.
The hungry look in Ranger's eyes made me feel like I was laid out entirely for his consumption. Who am I kidding? I am.
"No," I said, finally answering Ranger's question."I'm more interested in social orgasms these days."
"Good, because if you need a release without me, then I'm not doing my job."
Ranger does his 'job' just fine. Even if he has to go out of town for a few days, Ranger makes sure I'm barely able to walk before he leaves. That could be for his benefit, or mine, but either way, a shower massager or another guy haven't been even passing thoughts to me since we've gotten together.
"Ranger, I have absolutely no complaints about you in the bedroom," I told him."Or you in the kitchen, shower, living room, or front hall, in case you're wondering."
Ranger apparently wasn't really concerned about that. He got back to the business at hand and leaned close, pressing a kiss to the spot that made lights flash behind my eyes. And with one deliberate flick of his tongue, I shattered. No matter how many times I'm with Ranger, I'm still surprised that it can be this good between us. Ranger started on me all over again before I had a chance to fully recover. He kissed, licked, and sucked me into orgasm number two, and got me well on my way to number three when his fingers got involved.
When I was left panting, boneless, and a warm glow had spread throughout my entire body, Ranger finally shed the last of his clothes. He lifted my legs while separating them, and slid into me. My eyes took an inevitable trip to the back of my head and Ranger caught my moan in his mouth as he covered my lips and moved deep inside me. The fireworks missing from our wedding chose now to make an appearance.
My Batman is everything I could ever want. Generous to those he loves, kind to anyone who merits it, and confident enough for both of us on days I find myself lacking it. I'm determined to make those self-doubt days a thing of the past, and use the time I used to spend questioning myself showing Ranger just how much I love him and the woman I've now become because of him.
"Not to sound like Mary Alice or anything," I said to Ranger a long time later,"but are we there yet?"
Ranger picked his watch up off the nightstand and checked the time. His watch - along with everything else we'd been wearing - had come off at some point. I was more than a little pleased with myself, knowing that Ranger had to check the time because he'd been too distracted by me to automatically know it.
"We still have hours ahead of us, Babe," Ranger told me, settling me back down on his chest.
"Hours? But we've been in the air for hours already," I said."Where the heck are we going? Mars?"
"Not Mars, Steph. I'm too fond of this planet's comforts to want to visit there."
"Hah, hah," I said to him."So if we're staying on Earth, where are we flying to?"
"You really want to know?" Ranger asked me.
"Yeah. You've kept it a secret from me for weeks, so that should satisfy your Man of Mystery persona."
"You satisfy me, Babe."
"Apparently I only satisfy you short term if your body is anything to go by," I told him, feeling him hard against my thigh again.
If there is such a thing as a sex machine on the market, Ranger could've been the inspiration behind the prototype.
"That's because you keep touching me, Steph. If you want to walk out of here under your own steam, you might want to rest up a bit before you start playing with me again."
"I've always said that walking is overrated," I told him, lifting my head slightly and letting my hair brush across Ranger's stomach.
"You say that about running, Babe, not walking."
I moved my head lower and pressed my lips to each of Ranger's ribs.
"Same thing," I said, dragging my mouth slowly down his abs, flicking my tongue over the ridges there.
"Are you trying to seduce the information out of me?" Ranger asked, his stomach clenching with every touch of my mouth on his skin.
"Will that work?" I asked him, sitting up so I could look at him.
"Only one way to find out, Babe."
I lifted my eyebrows at his words."Was that a challenge? To see who will last longer?"
"Steph, I've been captured by rebels, tortured, and have suffered everything from knife wounds to multiple gunshots. I think I have the advantage here."
I grinned at him."You think so, but you're forgetting that I know exactly where to touch on your body to get maximum results."
Ranger crossed his arms behind his head, the picture of relaxation.
"You can give it your best shot, Babe, but I can withstand anything."
We'll just see about that. I used Ranger's position to my advantage, and started my exploration back at his mouth and thoroughly worked my way down the hard length of his body. I kissed his lips first, moving immediately away as soon as he tried to deepen the kiss.
"You sure you want to toy with me, Babe?" Ranger asked, his eyes hot but also amused.
"Ohhh, yeeeah," I said to him, using the tip of my tongue to trace the corner of his mouth.
Then I got serious. I slid my body on top of his, letting my nipples drag across his chest, then I kissed him like I meant it. A few strokes of my tongue against his got Ranger's arms from under his head and around me. That's okay by me as long as Ranger didn't try to direct what I do next. He'd issued a challenge and I plan on winning it. Or at least make my point before Ranger makes me forget everything around me, including my own name.
I cupped Ranger's face in my hands and used my lips and tongue to take over his mouth. Then I dipped my head and moved onto the Bulgari haven that is Ranger's throat. The scent of his shower gel never failed to calm and excite me. It's orgasmic and soothing, like Ranger himself. My lips followed the line of Ranger's shoulders, then his arms until they disappeared behind me before I ran my tongue over Ranger's biceps, enjoying the feel of all that power under and around me.
"Feeling chatty yet?" I asked Ranger, not at all successful at hiding how turned on I was.
"Not chatty, Babe. Extremely friendly, maybe."
"Fine," I told him."Have it your way."
I gently bit down on his nipple before again tracing with my tongue the muscles that make up his six pack. I smiled against Ranger's navel when I felt his abs ripple from all the attention I was paying them. As I moved lower, Ranger's right arm dropped to the bed while his left hand threaded through my hair. Ranger had been hard since I first kissed him, but he hadn't made a move to ease the ache, probably curious to see just how far I was going to take this.
I'm going to take this - and him - all the way. I straddled Ranger's thighs so he'd have a harder time controlling what I was doing, and leaned forward, taking as much of him as I could in my mouth. Ranger's fingers tightened on my curls, but he didn't make an attempt to take over ... yet. Damn it. He really can withstand any type of torture, even the sensual kind. I know from experience, that the second Ranger's tongue moves below my belly button, I'll promise him anything to get him to keep going.
I didn't break mouth-to-skin contact until I felt Ranger let go. And then I took him again, with my body this time instead of my mouth. It was slow and deep, and apparently not enough for Ranger. Had I remembered our game, now would probably be the best time to make Ranger talk, but I was too far gone myself to care about anything except him.
In one quick move, Ranger had me flat on my back and was buried even deeper inside me. He moved faster and harder, and I couldn't get enough. We came together, and the resulting explosion was headline making. It took a considerable amount of time to come down from that spectacular a high.
Ranger's head was resting on my breast when reality finally came back to me.
"I just now decided that I love plane rides," I said to Ranger, my voice not sounding at all like my own.
Ranger lifted his head after briefly sucking each of my nipples into his mouth. Now my fingers were tunneling into his hair, grabbing two handfuls of the silky, dark brown strands. If this kept up, neither one of us will be in any shape to leave the bed.
"I thought you dreaded long flights," Ranger said, covering my re-sensitized body with the sheet and then putting his head on the pillow next to mine,"and picture yourself crashing to your death."
"I may have found a cure for my plane phobia," I told Ranger, snuggling close to him and tucking my face into his neck."We might have to travel everywhere like this."
"I can arrange that, Babe. I'm certainly not opposed to it."
"You do seem relaxed."
"I am now," Ranger said, wrapping an arm around me and stroking my bare arm."I'm starting to think we should just stay in the air."
I pulled the sheet with me as I propped my head up on my hands, which somehow ended up on Ranger's chest again.
"Speaking of that," I said to him."You're right, you didn't crack. And I sort of forgot all about interrogating you. I still think you should tell me what place you picked for our honeymoon, though."
"We're headed to Desroches Island, Babe."
I looked at him."Where?"
"It's the largest island in the Amirante chain, which make up the outer Seychelles Islands. Desroches is southwest of Seychelles's main island, Mahé.
Now my questioning glance turned into an annoyed glare.
"Ranger, I wanted a honeymoon destination, not a friggin' geography lesson."
"Sorry, Babe," Ranger said, palming my cheek and tracing my scowl with his thumb.
Ranger isn't sorry at all if that grin is any indication.
"It's in the Indian Ocean, Steph."
"Ranger ..." I warned.
"You didn't let me finish," Ranger continued, not allowing me to move away from him like I'd intended."The island is in the Indian Ocean just off the coast of Africa."
I really don't want to know what my face is doing right now. Africa?
"Africa?" I said, out loud this time.
"Yes. Off the east coast of it near Kenya and Tanzania," Ranger told me, pulling my head to meet his so he could kiss my still open mouth.
That was pretty effective, since it sealed mine tightly to his.
When Ranger drew back, putting his head onto his pillow again, I lifted my eyebrows at him.
"I thought we'd be going somewhere close to Miami," I told him."Maybe Mexico or someplace in the Caribbean. Not halfway around the freakin' globe."
"That's why I chose it. It's a place you never would have expected."
"And never would have seen without you taking me."
"You wouldn't have seen anything except Miami, Babe, if I hadn't piqued your curiosity."
"Well, our house in Miami would've been a nice place to stay for a week or two," I told Ranger,"but I'm glad you decided to fight dirty and get me to agree with you. This place has got to be amazing if you're willing to spend this much time on an airplane."
"I've found an enjoyable way of occupying my time while I'm in the air, Steph."
"You definitely have. Wait ... does this mean I'm now a member of the Mile High Club?" I asked, thinking I can now top anything Lula brags about, since I'm pretty sure she hasn't done it on an airplane before ... and definitely not on a private jet.
"Is that something you're planning on working into a conversation?" Ranger asked me.
"Not really, no."
Unless I need to shut Lula up at some point.
I kept my head where it was and used just my eyes to look around the room. Our 'suite' had a huge bed, small kitchen area, and a full bath, all decorated with dark hardwood and cream-colored accents, like the bedspread we're now under. Combine all this with Ranger, and I could stay here indefinitely and not be unhappy at all. But I'd still like an idea of when we'd be on the ground again.
"How long do you think we have before we land?" I asked Ranger, after we'd gotten cleaned up and presentable again.
I'd mentally sent a long distance thank you to Ella for slipping some of Ranger's evil shower gel into my bag. Now I'm Ranger-scented, have been thoroughly loved by him, and get to spend two weeks alone with him. I know I'll have to share Ranger with Julie once we hit Miami, but that I can do since I enjoy hanging out with Julie, too.
"We've got some time, Babe," Ranger said to me, as we stretched back out on the bed, fully clothed this time.
I draped my arm across Ranger's stomach and settled my head not far from it. I closed my eyes and counted Ranger's heartbeats as I slowly fell asleep.
Since Ranger never needs sleep, I wasn't shocked to feel his eyes on me as I woke up.
"Was I out for long?" I asked Ranger.
"No. Less than an hour," he told me.
"And you stayed awake the entire time, didn't you?" I said.
Seeing as how I'm in the same position as when I'd gone to sleep - plastered along the entire length of his body - Ranger would've had to have stayed still.
"Yes."
"Why? Couldn't you sleep? You've been awake longer than I have."
"I could have slept if I wanted to, Steph, but I didn't want to. I enjoy holding you almost as much as watching you come apart in my arms."
'Romantic' Ranger has entered the building ... or boarded the plane in this case.
We got up shortly after, and Ranger popped the cork on a bottle of champagne not long before we were told that we're nearing our destination. When I held my Waterford crystal glass up to the light, the tiny bubbles bursting inside it were almost as eye-catching as my left hand. I should be used to wearing something on my ring finger by now, but I still find myself catching a glimpse of something bright out of the corner of my eye and being surprised by it ... now them.
And times - like now - I couldn't stop the idiotic grin that split my face every time I see the ring on Ranger's finger, knowing that I'm the woman who put it there. Ranger and I both know that he had absolutely no reason to marry me except that he wanted to. I'm not pregnant. I didn't force his hand with an ultimatum. And I also hadn't hinted at all that I wanted - or needed - a ring of any kind. All I did was love Ranger to the best of my ability, and that alone had been enough to convince him that he had to marry me.
I, Stephanie Plum - now Manoso - have done what no other woman has. I made Ricardo Carlos Manoso see, and want to say at an altar no less, that he finally needs someone. That he needs me. And that made Ranger even stronger in my eyes, because admitting that someone means that much to you puts you in a vulnerable position. I'd only realized that myself after Ranger was shot by Scrog. It was then that I figured out I love Ranger differently than I had Joe.
Joe was easy to put off, put down, and put on the back burner. Ranger was everything but. I couldn't insult Ranger, escape him, or ever ignore him. And that scared the fucking hell out of me. If I would have told Ranger that I loved him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, and he laughed, distanced himself, or simply disappeared, it would have hurt way more than all the injuries I've received put together. Thank God we overcame our fears, and Ranger made me see that I needed to marry him as well. Now we're both completely okay with the idea of marriage.
I've heard a bunch of stories about how after a wedding, when the party was over and everyone went home, and you were left alone with the person you just got shackled to, there's potential to feel sad and more than a little trapped. That isn't me. Our wedding was great, the celebration afterwards fun, but what I'd been looking forward to the most is now just beginning ... getting to build on what Ranger and I have already created together.
"You're being very quiet, Babe," Ranger said, once again sitting beside me in a seat more comfortable than what I'd had in my apartment."What are you thinking about?"
"Us."
"Rethinking marriage already?" He asked me.
"You could say that," I told Ranger."Now I think marriage is pretty freakin' good."
"It's been less than twenty-four hours, Steph. You may need to wait a little longer before you make up your mind."
"Nope. I've already decided that I like being married to you and I know I'm not going to change my mind about it."
Ranger brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.
"Are you ready to see something other than the inside of a jet?" Ranger asked me, when Craig told us to buckle up again.
"Yeah. I'm assuming you have every legality taken care of," I said to him, since Ranger didn't tell me to pack my passport.
Ranger has a way of getting things done without needing to inform anyone of his plans.
"I do. All we need are passports and licenses, and we have both."
"Thank you for choosing a place that doesn't require vaccinations," I told Ranger."I hate needles."
"I know you do, Babe."
The jet finally touched down on land again, and Ranger took my hand as we rejoined Craig and Evan. I hadn't spoken to them at all during the flight, and I tried not to blush when I said hello to them. It was no secret what Ranger and I have spent our time alone doing, since they knew Ranger and I had just gotten married and they were the ones flying us to our honeymoon spot. Evan also made sure to tell Ranger before we left Jersey that there was champagne chilling in the little fridge. I'm sure they figured out we weren't catching up on paperwork like Ranger usually does when he's traveling.
We left Ranger's pilot guys and boarded a much smaller, much less luxurious plane. And the flight from the main island to the one we'll be staying on was a way shorter plane ride than we've had so far. I kept my eyes on the window as Desroches Island got closer and closer and I got my first hint of what kind of vacation I'm in for. From the air, all you could see was a vast expanse of green from the leaves of what Ranger told me are coconut trees. The island was floating serenely in the middle of water so bright and so blue it looked borderline cartoony. Everything seemed even more incredible once we landed.
Ranger and I stepped off the plane and my breath caught as I looked around. I smiled at the people who greeted us, but my eyes were darting from one thing to the next, trying to take in everything at once. The sky was a brilliant blue, almost matching the water underneath it. Clouds were sporadic, but the ones that did drift by were ridiculously white and fluffy. The air was hot, and yet not as humid as I would've thought for a summer month in a tropical location.
We were shown to our accommodations and I immediately cut my eyes to Ranger. Of course Ranger wouldn't just pick a little place on the beach. No ... my new husband had rented out a whole freakin' villa. I had to admit, it was pretty amazing. The interior walls were all painted a pale yellow, with dark-stained trim and doors, and decorated with light wood furniture.
The bedroom had a very roomy bed with sheer material forming a sort of canopy over it, making it appear even more romantic than it obviously is. I'm just glad it isn't mosquito netting. Ranger made sure to inform me that this is a malaria-free island. Malaria is one souvenir I wouldn't want to leave with.
There were window seats and multiple places to relax in - or on - throughout the place. And even with all the wood furniture and its spaciousness, the villa felt warm but also elegant, not having the typical rustic log cabin feel to it. If I'd been shipwrecked indefinitely - and also happened to be a carpenter and interior designer - I would've built myself a house just like this ... except made it much, much smaller.
There was a large bathroom with double sinks, huge shower area, and one serious bathtub that had me mentally measuring Ranger and wondering if we'd both fit in it together. Ranger has said that he's good in the shower, and I'm betting Ranger would be just as good, if not better, in a bathtub. The kitchen opened up to a living space that's way bigger than two people need ever, never mind for only a week, but Ranger always chooses opulence over practicality. Well, when it comes to me he does.
The backyard is as spectacular as the house. There were glass doors which led to a patio and pool area that is better than anything I could've imagined. For an entire week, we get a huge solid wood deck, a crystal clear swimming pool, and various lounge chairs and secluded corners that hold all kinds of possibilities. Maybe I can convince Ranger to stay out here for at least half the nights we'd be visiting just to watch the stars come out.
Ranger and I had been told about all the activities we can do while we're on the island; bicycling, fishing, diving ... but truthfully, I just want to spend as much time as I can with Ranger. Clothed, naked, serious, or amused ... I don't care. I want all of him. And Ranger seems to feel the same way about me on this trip. Ranger never goes on vacation. He even works at the Miami branch of Rangeman when he goes down there to see Julie, so this is new for him as well. We're free to explore the villa, the island, and then each other. And there will be no phone calls, no emergencies, and no expectations other than to have a good time and bring home something good for Mary Lou.
I'll have to set aside some time before we leave to go shopping. I really hope they have some interesting shops here so I'll be able to get something for everyone back home. I'm confident that shopping won't be an issue because even a place like Newark has a tourist shop. I also hope that Ranger has the currency thing worked out. Ranger's just sneaky enough to have chosen someplace where my money is worthless just so I can't spend any of it, leaving him to foot the bill for the entire trip. Ranger likes to spend money as much as I like to complain about not having any.
Our bags were brought up to us, and after I'd unpacked as much as I planned to, I suggested we head outside. I wanted to look around - get the lay of the land so to speak - before Ranger got my clothes off again. The beach behind the 'house' was all pure white sand, and the water was warm when I dipped my hand into it.
"I wonder what makes the ocean smell like that," I said to Ranger, when we stopped at the water's edge to watch a boat go by."No matter where you are in the world, the scent seems the same."
"It's caused by bacteria turning decaying material - DMPS - into a gas called dimethyl sulfide," Ranger told me,"or DMS. It gives the ocean air that fishy/tangy smell."
Leave it to Ranger to know something like that.
"Don't tell me that, Ranger! I want to think the ocean is calming, refreshing, and clean. I don't want to be thinking about decaying material or bacteria when I'm swimming in it."
"Which you're planning on doing?" Ranger asked me.
"Maybe," I said, giving Ranger a head to toe body scan."Are you looking to do something physical?"
"To my body or yours?"
"Don't you think you've done enough to my body recently?" I asked him.
"No," Ranger said.
And then he proceeded to pull my tank top over my head, then start on the button of my shorts I'd just changed into. Luckily, I had a bikini on underneath my clothes. I'm not getting naked on the beach in broad daylight, no matter how persuasive Ranger is. Of course, that's what I say now, but I bet by the end of the week, my clothes will fly off on their own with just one look from Ranger's dark eyes.
My shorts joined my top in the sand, then Ranger's hands were on me. I would've really enjoyed that if I didn't know exactly what Ranger intended to do. Ranger waded out into the waves - still fully dressed himself - with me in his arms. He got far enough in so I wouldn't bash my head on anything, and then he tossed me.
I hit the water and made sure I didn't inhale any of it. Ranger is totally going to pay for that, I decided, as I floated to the surface. Well, he'll pay as soon as I feel like swimming back over to him. The water felt really good, and I was quickly forgetting about any type of revenge. I Iet my body relax and stayed where I was until I heard a splash not far from me. I opened my eyes, squinting against the sun, and saw Ranger's powerful arms cutting through the small waves, heading straight for me.
I might have inhaled a little of the bacteria water as I went from relaxed to playful, and started swimming in the opposite direction. Even as I was quickly treading water, I knew my efforts were pointless. There's no escaping Ranger when he wants you, our wedding is proof of that. I got maybe ten feet when Ranger's arm circled my waist and pulled me against his now bare chest. Okay ... this I enjoy, I thought to myself, as Ranger's mouth covered mine. We drifted a little closer to shore until the water came up a little past our chests. Ranger stood, holding me tight to him while he flooded all my senses again.
We made it onto the beach without either of us losing our bathing suits, and we laid out on towels for a while, letting the sun dry us before we probably ended up in the water again. This is way better than the gym at home. Maybe Ranger should add an indoor pool to Rangeman's workout options. I'd definitely prefer to burn my bakery fat this way.
My eyes kept straying to Ranger, taking in the dark, wet hair slicked back off his face and his deceptively relaxed position. Ranger's mocha skin was beaded with little drops of water and the sun was reflecting off them, making Ranger look even hotter, almost blindingly so. I watched one particular drop slide down Ranger's chest and over his rippled stomach until it disappeared into the waistband of his trunks.
"Are you ogling me, Babe?" Ranger asked.
"Uh-huh," I said, not bothering to deny it.
Like I had a choice in ogling him? Ranger is lying there looking like some freakin' beach God, carved out of solid muscle, and covered with the perfect shade of yum. It's not my fault that every time Ranger moves, his muscles flex and distract me. If Ranger didn't want me to look, he should've kept his clothes on. I'm sure as hell glad he didn't, though. Ranger enjoys looking at my body, but it's not a work of art like his is.
Sure, working out at least five days a week has helped make my jeans slide right on instead of needing to be pulled up with a car winch. And yeah, my heart doesn't feel like exploding when I'm running after someone, but I can't crush a Prius with my bare hands like I'm pretty sure Ranger can if he's motivated. I don't even mind that sometimes Ranger's weightlifting routine involves picking me up at will and throwing me in the surf, or throwing me over his shoulder before having his wicked way with me ... repeatedly.
Hey, it's my honeymoon. I'm allowed to dwell on my sex life. I leaned back on the towel and Ranger drew me close, using his arm to cushion my head. The sand would be softer than his bicep, but I'll always choose Ranger as a pillow over any other option.
I looked up at the sky, trying not to pinch myself to see if this is actually my life now. Lying on a beach, half a world away from Trenton, married to Ranger ...
"Ouch," I said.
"Did you just pinch yourself?" Ranger asked, turning his head to look at me.
"I may have accidentally caught a bit of skin between my fingers," I told Ranger.
"You aren't dreaming, Babe."
"It feels like I am. Especially today."
"You're not," Ranger told me."And you need to be wide awake for what happens next."
I rolled my eyes his way."And next would be ... what?" I asked.
"We're going to christen the shower and then break in the bed."
"Break in the bed?" I said."Or just break it?"
"Depends," Ranger told me.
"On what?"
"On how much you tempt me."
"Me tempt you?" I said to Ranger."I think it's the other way around."
"No. I had it right the first time. You tempt me more than you know, Babe."
"Oh yeah?" I said, trying to think of how much of a head start I'd need to get back to the house. I casually drew my feet up closer to my butt and prepared to haul ass."Prove it."
And I jumped up and took off, leaving Ranger to collect our things. I glanced over my shoulder once and saw Ranger snatch up the towels and our clothes and then follow me, breaking into an easy jog. I tried not to trip as I climbed the stairs, and even though I didn't, Ranger had reached me. He'd dropped the blanket and our discarded clothes, and scooped me up mid-step. I was tossed over his shoulder and carried inside.
Okay, so maybe I was slower than I could've been, possibly wanting to be captured. And having Ranger start the shower and remove my suit, then his own, made it well worth losing bragging rights if I'd been able to beat him here. Ranger took great - and extremely torturous - care in drying my now warm body before he kissed me and walked us both towards the bed. My body was already wrapped tight around Ranger's before we hit the cool cotton sheets.
I wasn't really interested in any kind of fishing, spending hours checking out the coral reefs, or riding a bike anywhere, but I was too curious about the place to not want to go beyond our little - okay, ridiculously huge - sanctuary. My mornings were spent on the back deck, sitting on a futon-looking thing near the pool, surrounded by Ranger. I always wound up with my back to Ranger's front, his legs on either side of my hips with his chin resting on the top of my head, and at least one arm around me as we watched the island breeze make little ripples on the surface of the pool. Then we'd head down to the beach before the sun was fully up, and run on the sand like we'd done in Miami.
I'd chase after a shirtless Ranger, my eyes never leaving that broad, muscled back, while my feet made deep indentations in the sand. As I tried to keep up with Ranger, I'd be appreciating just how the sun highlighted the unyielding strength of his body. Sometimes Ranger would stick to a light jog. And other times, he'd push me until my lungs felt ready to burst. But most of the time, Ranger would go easy on me so I could run alongside him. And now I always put a bathing suit on under, or instead of, my workout clothes so I can go for a swim with Ranger immediately afterwards to cool down before we'd head back to the villa to shower and decide what we're doing for the day.
Afternoons, Ranger and I stayed on the beach, went shopping and had lunch at one of the island's two restaurants, or took long walks around the area. Nights were my favorite, though. I remained in Ranger's arms, first outside watching the sun go down and the stars appear one at a time, then in bed when Ranger would curl his body around me as I relaxed into sleep. It was during these times we'd talk about nothing or everything ... what we'll be doing in Miami with the house when we get there, what I'm going to do about my mother when we're back in Trenton. And I had to agree with Ranger when he pointed out how surprising it is that the car he got me right after he proposed is still alive.
"I guess it is true," I said to Ranger one night.
"What is, Babe?"
"That this really is a new beginning for me," I told him."Even my car curse has been lifted. Oh shit. Maybe I should knock on wood or something for saying that out loud. Now we'll go home and be told that there was a fire in the garage or that a beam collapsed right over my Cayenne."
"You don't need to knock on anything, Steph. You've decided on the life you want, and everything is now falling into place because of it."
"You really think so?"
"I know so," Ranger told me. And he pulled me to him.
The island has plenty of palm-like trees, sand, and lots of sunshine, but it has a much different energy to it than Hawaii. Obviously, it's less crowded, but the people we've encountered here - even first-timers like us - really embrace the peace of the island. You can easily spot a tourist, but there seems to be a mutual respect between this land and the people who are visiting it.
After the fourth day, I decided that I should learn everything I can about the island before we leave, so I told Ranger I wanted to go on one of the nature tours we've been told about. I thought Ranger would tell me to go ahead while he checked his emails, but he surprised me again.
"What are you doing?" I asked Ranger, when he handed me my sunblock and grabbed two bottles of water.
"Coming with you," he said.
"You are?"
"Yes. I came here to spend time with you, Babe. And if you want to go somewhere, then I'm taking you."
"Even if that means killing time with a bunch of strangers and listening to someone talk about the island's 'flora and fauna'?" I said, quoting the brochure.
"Even if," Ranger said, following me out.
We met up with today's group and Ranger blended in about as much as a man like him could, which is to say ... he didn't. The women who got there before us kept taking sneak peeks of Ranger when their partners' backs were turned. I completely understand the impulse, but that didn't stop me from giving them all a 'back off' look when they finally noticed me there beside him. Ranger isn't the only one who can pull that possessive crap. Ranger didn't miss the exchange, and after shooting me an amused look, Ranger wrapped an arm around my shoulders, bringing me close to kiss the top of my head.
The tour was ready to begin not long after. We even got to meet one of the 'famous' tortoises known to the island. It was bigger than I thought it would be, but also friendlier, walking right up to us and letting me pet its head.
"You're not thinking of replacing Rex, are you, Steph?" Ranger asked, not actually smiling, but I could tell he was amused by me again."I'm almost positive Ella won't let one of those into the building."
"Hah ... funny," I said."This guy's cute, but he doesn't hold a candle to Rex. You know, I've never been away from Rex longer than a week. I wonder if he'll remember me when we get back home."
"Trust me, Babe, there's no chance of any male forgetting you."
"Speaking from experience?" I asked, jokingly.
"Absolutely," Ranger said, completely serious.
I don't need a reason to kiss Ranger now, but that did provide me with a good one.
We kept a steady, but easy pace as we were told about research projects being done on the island, and a few native animal species were also pointed out to us. There were little green lizards hanging out on every other tree trunk, but they didn't make me nervous. As long as nothing pooped on me while we walked beneath the canopy of leaves, I can handle everything else. As soon as our guide brought up how we can help conserve and preserve the island, I knew what I was going to do.
"I want to 'adopt' both an old tortoise and a baby," I said to Ranger."Then I can tell Mary Lou that I named them after her and Megan even if they won't actually let me."
"Babe," Ranger said."I think Mary Lou was hoping for jewelry or a t-shirt."
"She'll get those, too, but this will make a much better story. And I also want to plant a couple trees here so I can tell Angie that I've improved my carbon footprint."
"I think the amount of fuel we burned flying all the way here from Jersey will cancel out any trees you plant on the island, Steph."
"Whatever you do, Ranger, don't tell Angie that. Jesus, I'll get a twenty minute lecture about it."
"My lips are sealed, Babe."
Ranger's lips may be sealed now, but they sure hadn't been a few hours ago.
After we combed the beach with our tour group, looking for turtle tracks, and saw at least one each of every bird here, the tour came to a close. Ranger and I decided to order a picnic lunch from the restaurant and then keep walking around until we found a secluded spot that I thought felt right. It took fifteen minutes of us wandering along the bike trails, under the shelter of palm fronds, for Ranger and I to come to another area of beach we hadn't seen yet, where an entire tree must have fallen into the water at some point and then washed back ashore. It looked like a piece of driftwood except way bigger.
I set the blanket down on the sand where there was a large enough space for us to sit between the broken limbs. Ranger lifted both eyebrows at my dining room choice.
"What?" I asked Ranger."This is the closest thing here to having your back to a wall. You could pick off anyone walking on the beach before they'd spot you. See, I've learned all kinds of stuff since I started hanging out with all you military guys."
"I don't think I've ever had to take out someone in this exact terrain," Ranger told me, handing me the basket and then stepping over a large branch to sit down, too.
"Yeah, I picture you in more of a jungle or desert-type of landscape," I said, trying to imagine Ranger's life away from me.
"It's happened in both," Ranger shared."Among other places."
"Was Tank with you?" I asked, always feeling better when I knew Tank was watching Ranger's back.
"For most of them," was all Ranger would say.
I poked through the basket, and was happy with the fresh bread, island-made chocolate, sliced fruit, and fresh salads. I'm a little relieved that I won't be leaving this place with a few extra pounds to try to hide in Miami. I got to eat really healthy food, and exercise every day, but I didn't feel like I was doing either one. The food on the island is made from fresh ingredients, leaning heavily towards fresh vegetables, fruit, and seafood. Another reason why Ranger probably chose this place. It's healthy for my body ... as well asmy mind. But they still have killer desserts. I might've found the only problem with the place if they didn't.
Hmm, maybe a meeting with Rangeman's boss is in order when I get back, and ask about broadening Ella's culinary horizons and what qualifies as rigorous exercise. Of course, I'm pretty sure Ranger won't agree with anything that included me being in a swimsuit near the guys. If Ranger didn't want me to change in the building's empty locker room, I bet me in a bikini - or even a one-piece - will be out of the question.
Ranger and I finished lunch and then continued on our private tour of the island. The paths took us to all corners of the place, but I wasn't afraid of getting lost even if Ranger hadn't been with me. With Ranger's hand curled around mine, we took turns picking which direction to go, dodging leaves and lizards wherever we went.
We eventually ended up on a beach a ways away from the one we've become very familiar with. As we walked the shoreline, I saw a few crabs scrambling along the sand, trying to avoid the water.
"What's that smile about, Babe?"
"I was just thinking this island probably has more crabs than Joyce," I told Ranger.
Ranger tried not to grimace."I'm sorry I asked."
"I'm sorry I thought it," I said."Joyce doesn't belong in a place this pristine. Joyce and anything clean definitely don't go together. I have to give the skank some credit, though, if she hadn't been such a colossal pain in my ass, my feelings for you might've taken longer to change."
"How do you figure that?" Ranger asked me.
"You were my friend/mentor for so long, but that one comment you made to her about ruining me for other men really altered my view of our 'friendship'. Do you know that I spent most of that night imagining how exactly you'd go about ruining me?"
"I didn't know that," Ranger told me,"but had you asked, I would have told you how I would've done it ... in detail. Then spent the remainder of the night showing you."
"I bet you would've really enjoyed me asking," I said to him.
"I was hoping you would," Ranger told me.
Hmm, maybe I just found our plans for tonight.
"That's a different kind of smile altogether, Steph," Ranger said, eyeing my expression."One I definitely want to know about."
"You'll find out about this particular smile later," I promised him ... and myself.
After about an hour of watching the boats on the water and snuggling up against each other, Ranger and I gathered up our crap and walked back to our temporary home. This whole vacation so far has been relaxing, exciting, and breathtaking in every way.
One evening towards the end of the week, Ranger grabbed a bottle of expensive Cabernet and two glasses, and then told me we were headed back to our little beach. Ranger wrapped an arm around my waist, the bottle of wine brushing my hip as we walked out the kitchen door and down the back stairs to the sand behind it. I'd changed into a short, loosely draped sundress before we left, and Ranger had on a pair of pants and a short-sleeved shirt left unbuttoned.
Ranger had scheduled all services for our villa so we'd be completely alone except for the times allotted for food delivery or house cleaning. So we'd left our shoes and underwear in our bedroom, since I now know we won't be running into anyone here. This was as freeing as a nude beach without the embarrassment.
I spread out a blanket as close to the water as I could without it getting wet. Ranger sat down next to me and poured us each a glass of wine before wedging the bottle into the sand beside him. He had one hand resting on the blanket behind me, supporting my body as I leaned into his. My head automatically gravitated to his shoulder as we watched the sky turn at least six different colors before the sun completely disappeared for another day.
When it was totally dark around us, and late enough to be sure no one would be venturing out, Ranger took my now empty glass away from me and set it with his next to the recorked bottle. He pulled me up and into the water with him. Very soon after, Ranger sank his body deeply into mine. The heat of Ranger in and around me contrasted sharply with the cooler water as our bodies created their own waves inside it.
We got our clothes straightened out and then Ranger and I returned to the blanket, enjoying the quiet of the night and the seemingly deserted ocean, not caring that our clothes were damp. The waves were a little bigger now, and the ebb and flow of them were slowly making me drowsy.
I rested my head on Ranger's chest and he ran his fingers up and down my back until I felt my eyes start to drift closed. Ranger is a better sleep-inducer than Ambien.
"Come on, Babe," Ranger said, after a minute or two,"you'll be more comfortable in bed."
I slowly lifted my head and looked at him.
"I don't know about that," I said to Ranger."I'm pretty comfortable right here."
"You won't be saying that tomorrow morning," Ranger told me.
I sighed. Ranger had a point. A cushy mattress, soft pillows, and thousand thread-count sheets can be good, too.
I curled my arm around his and let my head lean against Ranger's shoulder as we crossed the sand and little section of trees that separated the beach from our back deck. We walked into the house and I managed to stay upright for our shower. Since Ranger did all the work, it wasn't hard. I got my body and hair mostly dry before Ranger took my towels away and brought me back to bed.
I've taken pictures of every sunrise and sunset since we've been here. At first, I was just hoping to take a pretty picture to show Mary Lou, but after the sunset of our first night here, I realized that I wanted to take them every day to remember our trip, and the moments Ranger and I shared in the twelve hours between our morning and nights. I know Ranger will take me back here any time I ask, but there will only be one honeymoon for us and I didn't want to forget any part of it.
The sunset of our last night on the island was one I would have remembered even without a picture of it. The sun was already gone, but the golden glow of where it had recently set was still incredibly bright. The clouds caught in the lightshow turned dark purple, and there were slashes of orange, pink, and a paler purple behind them as the sky darkened to a deep blue where I could already see three stars twinkling.
Ranger arranged to have a catered dinner delivered and set up on the patio for us. And I'd slipped into the dress I've been saving for a night exactly like this one. My dress was sleeveless and made from a pale, bluishy gray, flowy fabric that came down to the middle of my thighs. I added strappy heels to put me at almost the same height as Ranger.
And without me even mentioning what I was going to do, Ranger decided to get a little dressed up, too. I have to say that Ranger looked way better than I did. He had on dark gray pants and a thin, white, long-sleeved dress shirt with the sleeves already rolled up and the collar open to expose the delicious line of Ranger's throat. Aside from swim trunks and being naked with me, Ranger had stuck to a similar wardrobe. Ranger isn't a shorts/flip flops kind of guy.
Tonight, there was a slight breeze blowing a stubborn curl into my face, which I was totally fine with, since Ranger never failed to reach over and brush it back behind my ear or away from my face, sometimes touching my lips, cheek, or neck in the process. This whole week I've been in a constant simmer. To say Ranger and I have had an 'energetic' honeymoon would be an understatement. And still, all Ranger had to do is look at me a beat longer than necessary and I felt my body liquify. Again. I think I've discovered another one of Ranger's 'superpowers'.
Ranger pulled out my chair before taking the one across from me. There were a few candles that had already been lit on the table, and their flames were flickering in the evening air, casting intriguing shadows across Ranger's face that were even more distracting than the sunset. I picked up the wine glass Ranger had just filled and held it up to him. With one quick quirk of his lips, Ranger clinked his glass to mine.
"To us, Babe."
I smiled."To us."
"Am I going to be able to get you to leave this place tomorrow?" Ranger asked me, as we started eating.
"Yeah. I do love it here, but I'm anxious to get back to the house," I said to Ranger."It seems like forever since we were in Miami."
"It hasn't been that long, Steph."
"I know, that's why I said it feels like it's been forever."
"You're not alone in your thinking," Ranger told me."That's the impression I got from Julie, too."
"I did pick up on that," I said to him."It's nice that Julie's so excited about seeing you again."
"Seeing us, Babe."
"Julie likes me, Ranger, but it's you she really wants to spend time with. I don't know crap about kids, except that if you show them that you care about them, they'll care right back. And you've been doing that."
"It's getting easier to let her in. And I give you credit for that."
"Well, stop," I told him."Give yourself, Julie, and Rachel the credit. Ron, too. You four have done all the work. I've just been along for the ride."
"You may think that, Stephanie, but it isn't even remotely true."
"Okay, so I may have been a little involved," I conceded,"but you're Julie's other dad. And I bet if given the choice, she'd say she wouldn't trade you for anyone else. Just like I wouldn't."
"You're biased, Babe."
I leaned towards Ranger and kissed him."Yep, I am ... but so is Julie. I guess you'll just have to live with it."
"I'm glad to," Ranger said, taking the time to kiss me thoroughly before letting me go.
I rolled my eyes and focused on finishing my food so I could have dessert. When I'd had mine, and also Ranger's, I stood and left the table with Ranger following close behind. I slipped off my shoes and sat on the edge of the pool, letting my feet dangle in the water. Ranger did the same and rolled up his pant legs, his feet now in the pool, gently bumping mine. I listened to the sound of the water move as I swirled my feet, watching my "Plumberry" nail polish through the clear water ... Connie's beauty contribution to my wedding/honeymoon.
Ranger and I sat there by the pool until all the little candles burned themselves out. The trees rustled, the waves were close enough to us to hear, and I could feel the heat coming off of Ranger's body beside me. I was afraid that my life won't get better than this moment, but I'm going to do everything I can to top it every day.
Ranger tugged me to my feet when he felt me shiver, and led me through the house to the bedroom. Our dressy clothes came off, passion flared, and sleep was once again very slow to come. A few hours later, we were back with Evan and Craig, heading to Miami, Julie, and our new home together.
A/N: Most of the information I used for Desroches Island came from the island's website. And the ocean smell explanation Ranger gave Stephanie came from the Live Science site.