The unexpected hurricane/tropical storm we had in my area, exacerbated by an earthquake at the same time, intensified the damages from the combined natural disaster. We were so not ready for all the flooding.
This story is close to the end. Next chapter will explore the movies behind Gray Eyes and Crew, as well as what the future holds for S&R.
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. Typos are my bad and I apologize if there's more typos than usual.
Ranger's POV
Finding Babe standing in her kitchen, and in the exact same spot as that night many moons ago, had my heart beating nearly out of my chest. Silently, I watched her moves. Raking my eyes over Babe's form, her back to me, wasn't enough to satiate my need to know that she's indeed okay.
With a water bottle pressed to her parted lips, Stephanie suddenly froze. Remaining still, I was able to envision her scrunched up expression as she tried to figure out what set off the tingling on the back of her neck.
Turning abruptly, our eyes locked the moment she faced me. The silence stretched for a long moment, neither of us daring to make the first move.
Telling myself that upon my return I was going to wrap my arms around Babe and never let her go, I decided to break the weird spell that left the air between us feeling thick with uncertainty.
"Babe." My voice echoed back to me as Babe obliterated the distance between us. Without hesitation, she came to me.
Slamming against my chest, Babe wrapped her left arm around my shoulders, enveloping me in a strong, one armed hug.
"You're back." Stephanie declared, voice dripping with emotion as I looped my arms around her waist. Death would be the only thing keeping me from enveloping her in my arms right this moment.
Without a word, we stood locked in an emotionally charged tight embrace. Mindful of her injury, I had to restrain myself. I wanted nothing more than to run my hands freely across her back while we kissed. Instead, I kept my right arm wrapped securely around her waist. Using my left hand, I threaded my fingers through her curls. Hugging Stephanie as tightly as I could without hurting her, I was content with this reality.
After months of fantasizing about a steamy reunion, this was more than okay. Sometimes, I dreamt that she'd immediately push me away and completely shun me from her life. Other times, I envisioned our encounter with high levels of passionate heat. Cupping her face, I'd kiss her deeply before pressing her against the nearest wall so I could bury myself to the hilt to be able to demonstrate how I feel about her as words have never been my strong suit. Those were the times I woke up from my short naps with a raging hard-on, desperate to be done with my assignment so that I could return to Babe's side. Of course, there were also many times when nightmares took over, exploiting my insecurities and fears. Those were the worst, making me anxious and filling me with uncertainty. What if I was too late? What if Babe wanted nothing to do with me ever again? Tormenting myself with what ifs wasn't beneficial to the mission or my team, so I had to compartmentalize to be able to get the job done.
Not currently chasing our first joint orgasm wasn't a loss. There will be time for that later, because my worst nightmare didn't become a reality. Thankfully! Stephanie is safe and she's not exiling me from her life. We have a lot to talk about, sure, but we have time. We still have a shot at joint happiness and I'm not going to fuck this up.
In a quick turn of events, instead of me begging for forgiveness, it's the exact opposite. The fingers of Babe's right hand, barely poking out of the immobilizing sling, desperately gripped my T-shirt over my abdomen. Pressing her face against the side of my neck, a slew of apologies flew past her lips as they brushed my skin in the process.
"Babe….Stephanie..." Delivering a reassuring squeeze across her lower back, my other hand massaged her nape as a way to assure her that she's not the one that needs to apologize.
"I-I don't recall everything I said that night before you left, but I'm guessing it was pretty bad." With her face firmly hidden from my view, Babe admitted that she was in a very dark place after Rossi.
"Babe." Kissing the top of her head, I reassured Babe that her feelings were and are valid. "I understand." I really do. Sometimes you hit that wall after an extremely close call, making you question everything.
We continued to fiercely hold each other for a long time, only our breathing and Rex running on his wheel filling the small kitchen with sounds. Promising each other that we had a lot to talk about, it wasn't until Babe shifted her weight with an audible wince that I realized the tight embrace wasn't conducive to pain relief.
"How are you, Stephanie?" Regretfully disentangling myself from her soft, warm body, I took a step back to be able to really look at her.
"Meh." Shrugging her uninjured shoulder, in typical Stephanie fashion she downplayed her heroics. Wearing a spooky themed pajama set, I figured she chose a sleep tank top for easier access to her wound for check ups.
"Babe." Cupping her beautiful face because I couldn't keep my hands to myself, I reminded Babe how special she is. Stephanie Plum was made to believe all her life that she was 'average' and needed to conform to the Burg mold, which severely messed with her self esteem. Regardless of how heroic she's been in the past and still is, this town loves to do anything in their power to bring her down a peg.
Not comfortable with praise, Stephanie chose to change the subject. Fine. We'll have time to explore that later. I'm here to stay, whether Stephanie makes it easy for me to be in her life or not.
"What about you?" Stephanie's eyes, those deep blue ones I've dreamt about for months, raked over my front, possibly in detailed assessment.
"I'm fine, Babe." Flashing her my best grin, I eased her worry. Physically I'm fine. Being tired and sore isn't a big deal. I'll live, especially because she is well all things considered.
"You hungry?" Babe reached for my hand, probably unconsciously. Stephanie's never been a very touchy person. Well, except with me.
When I shook my head, she asked if I needed anything.
"A shower would be nice, Babe." Chuckling, I looked down at myself. I've been wearing the same clothes for over twenty four hours. The air conditioning malfunctioned for the second leg of my flight, so I'm feeling absolutely disgusting after simmering in my sweat juices for the better part of a day. Besides, it's not like I got to enjoy a long, hot shower as soon as my mission was completed and I was free to return to my everyday life. A wipedown and a fresh set of clothes was as good as it was going to get before I returned home. Beggars can't be choosers, yet I still feel gross.
"I can arrange that." Gifting me a smile of her own, Babe turned on her sock clad feet. With an insistent tug, she led the way to the bathroom. "I'll get you clean towels." With a small smile, Stephanie exited the small space to give me unneeded privacy.
After leaving my cell phone and my secured Glock in the counter next to the sink, I quickly peeled my clothes and left them in a pile near the toilet. Knowing that the hot water supply is very limited, especially in the colder months, I braced myself before stepping into the tub.
The best I got was lukewarm, so I counted my blessings and got to work on my cleansing. Babe's shampoo would have to do the trick, as well as her conditioner. However, I was extremely surprised to find a bottle of my favorite Bvlgari shower gel next to Babe's usual body shower products. As I quickly lathered, luxuriating in the familiar scent, I couldn't help but picture all the times that Babe must have used my shower gel. Perhaps she used it on the days when she missed me the most, or simply just to feel closer to me. Before I could get emotional about how much unnecessary heartache Babe most likely endured in my time away, I reached for the handheld shower head. As I rinsed off the suds, I understood perfectly why Stephanie likes this type of shower hose over a traditional stationary shower head. Not only can it speed up a shower, but I'm sure it allows Babe more flexibility when the water is flowing out absolutely ice cold.
Turning off the water, I gripped the shower curtain and swiftly pushed it aside. With my hand still gripping the thick plastic shower curtain, I locked gazes with Stephanie. She was standing just inside the bathroom, the open doorway behind her. Clutching two towels against her chest, her assessing eyes flicked over me in detail. The heat of her stare would crumble a weaker man.
It didn't escape me that our roles were reversed in comparison to the rainy night she called me to uncuff her from her shower rod. That night, Stephanie was the one naked, wet and cold while I was fully clothed and equipped to be her savior. Seeing her naked for the first time ignited that spark within me, ensuring that one Stephanie Plum would become a very special and important person in my life.
"I, uh, checked to see if I had any clothes for you to wear since I didn't see any of your bags..." Grimacing, Stephanie shared that the two T-shirts of mine she has weren't viable options. "They're dirty. I, uh, wear them to bed and…" Her nervous rant ended abruptly, her feet mid shuffle, when I stepped out of the tub.
"Babe." Calling to her as I ate up the small distance between us caused Stephanie to drop the towels on the counter beside her in preparation to receive me in her arms. Well, one arm for the time being.
I wanted for us to have our long awaited conversation before we had any untimely interruptions, yet we once again are doing things in an unconventional order. Cupping her face in my hands, my lips descended over her parted ones. Her tongue slipped into my mouth, seeking mine, as her arm wrapped around my lower back. Our kisses rivaled those from that night before my departure, desperation and need climbing with every touch of our lips.
Akin to that night, regardless of how much the temperature spiked between us, there wasn't much we could do about the lust that always simmers just below the surface. At least, not at the moment. Eventually, we will.
We kissed until our lips felt raw, both from fervid kisses and from finally telling each other exactly how we feel. Hearing Babe confess the feelings she's so closely guarded, felt like a jab to my heart. Stephanie feeling like she wasn't enough and that was why I couldn't and wouldn't give ourselves a try, broke me.
"You are enough, Stephanie." Kissing her, I shared that she's more than enough. We are meant to be. Finally, we're chucking all the obstacles aside.
"You are too, Carlos." Her fingers dug into my hip as she clutched me closer, my very obvious reaction to her close proximity pressing against her lower abdomen with the movement.
With the agreement that we still had some minor details to go over, the vice around my heart disappeared with the knowledge that my biggest fear didn't become a reality. Babe and I will be tackling whatever comes our way together. We'll be an unstoppable duo, partners in and out of the field.
"Uhm…" With a light blush tinting her cheeks, Babe regretfully disentangled her good arm from around me. Efficiently, yet no less pleasurable, Stephanie wrapped her slim fingers around my hard dick. With all of our grinding movements, combined with our heated kisses and caresses, my body reacted quite predictably.
"Babe." I groaned, nearly exploding just from her fleeting touch as she shifted my hard dick aside to avoid an injury as she once again hugged me close. Stephanie plastering herself to my taught front? Yes! Always, yes.
"Raincheck." With a chuckle that rumbled across my chest given our close proximity, Stephanie flashed me a flirty smile even as her eyes drooped drowsily. Babe's ready to go lights out.
"Babe." Nodding, I pressed one more kiss on her tempting lips before we fully disentangled ourselves. I've waited, agonized even, so long for this moment. Waiting days or even weeks to consummate our new us isn't a drawback. In fact, there's nothing that can cause a hitch when Stephanie and I are both on the same page about our future. Nada. Absolutely, not a single thing or person can disrupt our mutual happiness. I'll make sure to enforce that.
Trailing after Babe, I helped her climb into bed and settle into a comfortable position. After depositing my gun and cellphone on the nightstand on my side of the bed, I lifted the covers and slipped in next to Babe's already sleepy form.
"I'll probably bawl my eyes out if this is a dream." Babe slurred as she was on the brink of slumber.
Kissing her forehead, I promised that this was real. "Get some rest, Stephanie." Murmuring my wish for her to have sweet dreams, I watched as she finally let herself succumb to the pull of the medication and slumber.
Regardless of how tired I was, sleep was elusive for me. My body is beyond exhausted, taxed to the max for way too long, yet my mind is too wound up to shut down. There's so many things we have to say to each other still that simply going lights out is unfathomable at the moment. Babe would be on the same boat had she not taken a narcotic to combat the pain prior to my arrival. From the updates I received, not only did she ensure the safe exit of her team, but Stephanie also neutralized three out of five assailants. Babe went above and beyond, even after she was injured. She needs her well deserved rest.
"Proud of you, Babe." I murmured as I placed my head next to hers on her pillow.
It was nearly dawn by the time exhaustion made me fold and knock out cold after closely guarding Babe's sleep, just like she's done for me on those nights when I really needed it. I must have raked my eyes over her still form until my eyes literally burned, eventually succumbing to extreme fatigue myself.
It's hard to know how long I was asleep for until my dreamless sleep was interrupted by what Babe likes to call a disturbance in the force. Fleetingly, I was expecting to find two distinctive bright blue eyes watching me closely, except I couldn't be more wrong.
Noting that Stephanie was still fast asleep, and taking advantage of the early morning sunrays filtering into the bedroom granting me minimal added visibility, I took a moment to watch Babe. She looked absolutely peaceful resting on her left side facing me. At some point, Stephanie threw her right leg over mine to keep me in place beside her while her fingers splayed over my side. Seeking the connection even in her slumber tore a small smile from me despite my sheer exhaustion.
Confident that Stephanie was still resting comfortably, I flicked my eyes around the bedroom. Spotting a shadowy figure filling the doorway would have explained what had my body automatically flipping into protective mode, alertness at maximum levels, except the door was still closed.
Wanting to truncate an unwanted and unsavory surprise, I carefully extricated myself from Babe's hold. Reaching for my gun, I was out of bed and headed towards the doorway, fully nude and everything, when I heard distinctive movement sounds floating down the hall.
Someone's inside.