Happy New Year! (I know, over a week later, lol). Disappeared for a while since life had an interesting twist to wrap up my most eventful year ever. Early Dec my mom wanted to go on a little road trip for her bday. We visited the spots she marked on the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, making memories along the way. Everything went well (even got to swing by and see the Bonnie and Clyde Getaway Car, which in retrospect was a subtle foreshadowing of the violence that was to come), until the drive back. We were set to spend the remainder of the weekend at my mom's cousin's place. Homes are very isolated in this part of the Mojave Desert. I woke up in the middle of the night due to the strong feeling of being watched. Turns out an intruder chose that night to break in and wasn't expecting for someone to be sleeping in that room (usually an empty guest bedroom in the back of the home). Wrong place, wrong time type of deal. The whole experience was wild! It all happened very fast, therefore I initially didn't realize I was tagged by a knife during the scuffle. The nearest populated area from where we were was a good forty minute drive, cell service was spotty… just a nightmare all around. Thankfully everything is progressing well with the healing. Definitely a crazy ending to my 2022, followed by COVID at the start of the new year. Yay, 2023!… At least it isn't as severe this time around (in 2020 it was horrible for me; this time it feels like a nasty cold). On the positive side, however, my birthday is on Friday, so there's that…
This is a tag to 'Watch Me Burn', giving a glimpse into S&R some time after the events of their Vegas work trip. It's not required to read that short before this one, but it would help to know the full details of how S&R got to the point in the snippet below. I'm getting back to all WIPs (works in progress), but I just needed a little spicy fluff before going back to the darker stories. Let me know your thoughts on this lengthy glimpse (around 7k words without the long AN). I wanted to upload this before the holidays, but here we are. Better late than never, right?
This is rated M for Merry Mature Holidays...
Disclaimer is the usual: The Plum universe belongs to JE; there may be more typos than usual...
Ranger's POV
After a long, exhausting and extended work shift, taking the stairs up to my penthouse apartment on the seventh floor is a must on my quest to a restful end to my day. The short ascend allows me to shrug off the remaining shreds of a taxing extended shift. There were times when my need to see a certain curly haired, blue eyed someone won over the vital necessity of slumber. A slow grin stretched my sore from talking too much lips as I reminded myself that I no longer have to choose between two different destinations at the end of my day.
Why? Because I get to find Babe on seven at the end of our work days for the rest of our lives. I get to come home to her every single night until our time on this earth is up.
"Babe?" I called in greeting as I closed and locked the front door behind me. My keys made it to the silver bowl next to Stephanie's set as I quickly scanned the new mail on the sideboard. Finding that nothing was pressing, I left the small stack of envelopes where they were to deal with in the morning on my way down to my office on five.
"In here!" She called back, the echo of her smoky voice a clear indication that she was in the living room. Simply the sound of her voice had my body standing at attention.
Making the short trip to my destination, my grin widened the instant I spotted Stephanie. She was on her tiptoes as she attempted to place what looked like a light up ornament on a high branch. Her curls swiped against the tops of her shoulders as she tied the string around the chosen resting spot. Thanks to her stretched out posture, I got a nice view of her toned, bare legs. Mmmm. Of course I looked my fill. I'll never pass up an opportunity at getting an eyeful of Babe. Ever since I saw her wet, naked form handcuffed to her shower rod I've savored every instance of Naked Babe throughout the years. And let me just say that she still knocks my breath away every single time, just like she did the very first time.
Roaming my eyes over her body, I grinned when I noted that she was already in her relax/home mode as she likes to call it. Standing with her back to me in the holiday socks she sneakily added as part of her Rangeman uniform, Babe embodies my idea of what home is to me: finding that special someone upon crossing the threshold. I know it's a bit hypocritical of me seeing as I so stubbornly proclaimed that my life didn't lend itself to relationships. It clearly does with the right person.
The added bonus of seeing Stephanie without pants has always been a secret indulgence of mine. In her old apartment, bottoms were a requirement for bedtime. She usually opted for flannel or sweatpants to help combat the sometimes nearly insufferable cold temperatures in that ancient building. Here in the privacy of our apartment, she's allowed herself the luxury of being more lax with her wardrobe. I may or may not have adjusted the temperature to tip the scales in my favor, leading to welcomed sights like this one. Currently, I'm in the process of convincing her to go to bed naked every night. It's a work in progress, yet the No Pants trend is a step in the right direction.
"Babe." I said in amusement as I watched her attempt to attach yet another ornament on the already nearly saturated tree. This particular branch was way out of her reach, though I appreciated the sight of her black Rangeman embroidered cotton panties flashing into view when Stephanie lifted her arms way over her head. Why she didn't use a ladder, I'll have to ask her later.
"I almost got it." She said breathlessly while continuing to struggle. Babe had a solid grip of the branch, however, she needed an extra boost to be able to fasten the ornamental sphere in place.
As the licensed opportunist that I am, I gave her the needed uplift. Placing my hands on her hips where her Jersey style long sleeve shirt was bunched up due to her movement, I easily lifted Babe off the carpet and up two feet higher.
"Ranger!" Her startled gasp was drowned out by the immediate giggling fit that followed suit. The automatic full body jerk dissipated as soon as the shock factor did. Babe was quick to snake a leg around my side as a way to have a last minute hold. "We're going to fall." She chastised while she took advantage of her new vantage point, instantly getting to work to complete her previously impossible task.
"I'm not going to drop you." I assured that it was in neither of our interests for her to get hurt tonight. Or ever. Nope. I have private plans for us. And to appease her inner worry, I shifted my hold to be able to wrap one arm around her upper thighs below her waist, while I used my free hand to offer support to her lower back.
It didn't take Stephanie long to complete her task, squirming in my hold to be able to partially lean back against my right shoulder. "Mission complete, sir!" She very much saluted while flashing her widest grin. As Stephanie looked down at me, her bright smile and sparking blue gaze filled my heart with joy.
Also, the dangling curls curtaining her beautiful face combined with her enticing unique aroma had another one of my organs rapidly swelling with a corresponding rush, all product of the close proximity of this enchanting woman. The effects of our close contact were in full effect for Stephanie as well, her eyes changing from the lightest of baby blues to the darkest indigo as her heated gaze took me in with excruciating detail. By the time Stephanie's perky smile vanished, the glint of desire was in full swing in those captivating swirling blue orbs of hers.
"Babe." This time I used my nickname for her to convey that she was being a smartass. Correctly interpreting my Ranger speak, as she likes to refer to my wide range use of Babe, earned Stephanie a roguish smile.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm amusing." She huffed out jokingly before bowing her head to blow me a playful kiss. Even though we've put it behind us and have come a long way, I still take every opportunity I have to correct my previous fuck ups.
"You've never been entertainment, Stephanie." I was an idiot uttering that line, too stupid and stubborn to listen to the obvious feelings she awoke in me from the start so I deflected the only way I knew how: by creating a barrier and pushing her away.
"Lo se." Stephanie surprised me by answering in Spanish, saying that she knows. Proud of her effort, I loosened my hold so that she could slowly slide against the front of my body on her short descent. "Mmm." Babe's moan and sparkling blue look she gave me over her left shoulder had me sporting a wolf grin automatically.
Of course, Babe isn't one to be left behind in the teasing foreplay department. With a torturous ass wiggle, deliberately brushing against my already hard cock, Stephanie wordlessly pointed out that she's game for some nighttime nooky.
"I thought you finished decorating the tree Monday night?" I punctuated my question by sliding my left hand along her right cheek, further tilting her head just right so that I'd be able to give her a proper greeting after not seeing much of her since breakfast.
"Mmm…" Stephanie's moan vibrated across my hand and down my throat as our tongues tangled during our frenzied, heated kiss. "Yes, but thanks to my niece Lisa I spotted these and got an idea." Babe rushed to say as we gasped for air long seconds later. "Like what I did with them?" The inquiry was said against my lips right before Stephanie came back for seconds. God, I can literally spend hours just kissing this woman. "And best of all, they were a dollar!" She felt the need to add, her excitement palpable.
"Babe." The clear spheres have a removable top, which Stephanie took advantage of in order to personalize the softball-sized light up ornaments with a photo. One sphere is proudly displaying our first picture as husband and wife after our intimate and swift ceremony in Las Vegas earlier in the year. Rangeman partnered with the FBI for a capture. Thankfully after completing the job we were tasked with and then some, Stephanie and I simultaneously found ourselves on the same page. Due to our spontaneous epiphany we promptly, yet mutually, decided that we were going to give ourselves a real shot at being together. Fully and unequivocally a couple. So, we took advantage of our surroundings and got hitched.
"Our wedding pic is my favorite." Stephanie confessed somewhat breathlessly as she twisted around to fully face the tree. Naturally, she used the adjusted stance to deliberately torture us both with a series of well placed hip rotations. The final shreds of tension evaporated from me as I fully blocked out the outside world, basking in our shared moment.
Sliding my arms around her waist from behind, I steepled my fingers together over her stomach as we both focused on the eight foot natural pine tree. I never bothered with decorating the penthouse for the holidays before. Most years I was too busy working or overseas neck deep in a jungle or desert working a covert government mission to care about festivities. Ella has always added festive flair to the lobby and fifth floor. Some of the men do their own version of holiday cheer in their personal workstations and apartments. Stephanie on the other hand, always tried her best to infuse the season's cheer into her apartment. Most of the time she'd just come out of a stalker or firebombing, or simply just didn't have the funds to properly adorn her space. This year, she pitched the idea of wanting to properly celebrate our first holidays as Mr. and Mrs. Mañoso. As always, it was impossible for me to say no to such an innocent yet meaningful request. How could I deny her when she was all sheepish smiles and hopeful blue eyes? With Ella's help, as well as Hal's and Cal's, Babe went out in search of what she deemed the 'most perfect Christmas tree'. The men shared that Stephanie had them drive nearly an hour outside of Trenton to find what they nicknamed the holy grail of trees. I heard all about how many lots Babe dragged the men through until she found what she had envisioned.
Mindful of my preferences, I was pleasantly surprised to walk into the penthouse one night after a tedious patrol shift to find that not only had Stephanie gone all out with her elaborate design, but Babe chose a silver and various shades of blue theme. I appreciated the containment of colorful explosions. My favorite thing about this setup is that the sparking lights reflect off the blue ornaments, in turn making Stephanie's eyes look bluer than usual whenever she's in close proximity to the tree. It took me longer than I'd like to admit for it to sink in that perhaps Babe consciously planned the color scheme for both our sakes, because yes she's been ravished by the lit tree nearly every night this past week. Babe's become extra irresistible I might add.
"You're my favorite." I added after agreeing that our wedding photo also had my vote. "Although, the photo from Rangeman's Holiday dinner is a close second." On Saturday night, I hired contract workers to cover monitors and patrols for the overnight shift so that I could take everyone at the Trenton branch to a holiday celebration. Miami and Boston had similar events, with Hector and Silvio creating a virtual connection for us to share the get-together despite the distance. I rented a banquet hall in Newark to appreciate my New Jersey team for another year of hard work and growth. Stephanie, whether she wanted to believe it or not, joined Rangeman pretty much since our inception. Yes, she's had more of a contractor/part time role for the most part. Regardless, that doesn't make her any less of a Rangeman. Or Rangewoman, as she points out under certain situations when the distinction is noteworthy.
After our return from Las Vegas, Stephanie integrated herself into Rangeman more fully. She's taken it upon herself to learn every aspect of the business. My wife likes to give new names for almost everything in her life, which means Rangeman is now referred to as the fam business. So far, she's excelled in the sales and research roles. The clients absolutely adore her. I have it from good authority that she's been hit on by a handful of them, respectfully of course. Otherwise, they'd no longer be a Rangeman client because they wouldn't be sharing the same plain of existence as the rest of us. The men like to joke good-naturedly that Stephanie call sell anything, even to the most difficult of clients. I agree.
"Great job on closing the sale with the Bollenbeckers, Babe." Not only did she manage to bring a sizable contract onboard, but she also gained both personal and business accounts from what started out as a potential referral lead. In fact, Mrs. Bollenbecker already prepaid a full year's worth of services for both accounts. Impressive work indeed. The big sale will be included in the calculation of year end performance bonuses. I anticipate that Stephanie will try to argue that it's too much money, nevertheless she deserves every penny. In anticipation to her protest, the Core Team and I have developed a handful of proposals for her long term time here at our company. We have a varied suggested position that will grant her the excitement of tracking down FTAs, yet will also allow her to use her people skills as she takes over handling certain customer accounts. I always strive to place my employees in a role where they cannot only succeed, but also showcase their unique skills. The flourishing of full potential is highly encouraged at Rangeman. Stephanie has come a long way from that near desperate woman I met at a diner years back.
"Worked hard to present all of the relevant talking points to mmmmm…" Stephanie's drawn out moan interrupted her recount of events.
Smiling at my opportunistic ways, I continued to take advantage of her distraction to resume my re-exploration of her most intimate zones. I already have the fingers of my right hand stroking her folds just the way I know she likes, further fanning the flames of desire as I slip my left hand under the hem of her shirt on my path to her breasts. Focusing solely on her pleasure, I made sure to tease every erogenous zone I had access to as I placed an open mouthed kiss on her back over her shirt, right over the last name she so proudly displays on a near daily basis. I completely understand why she loves wearing this jersey and I'm all for it.
Our impromptu marriage in Vegas months before is something neither of us planned as the name suggests. I may regret a lot of things in my life, but marrying Stephanie in a simplistic ceremony under a gazebo was perfect for us. Because of our previous commitments, we were unable to have an extended honeymoon. All we could squeeze in at the time was a handful of additional days in Sin City before we had to return to Trenton. Stephanie wanted us to really enjoy our new us. For that reason, we opted to hold off on sharing our news publicly. Hector, Hal and even Lester promised to keep our secret until we were ready to make it public. The Core Team was the only exception. I notified them because as my wife I wanted Stephanie to be included as a beneficiary in all of my policies. In the event that something happens to me, it is my wish that both my daughter Julie and Stephanie are protected. It's the least I could do for my loved ones and I know Babe would be fair in executing my final wishes.
Things were smooth for us up until a handful of weeks ago when our love bubble was so rudely burst. Stephanie had discretely moved out of her apartment and into the penthouse with me shorty after our return to Trenton. She hadn't shared the news of our marriage to anyone, keeping even her childhood best friend Mary Lou out of the loop for the time being. We had decided to do so only until the timing was right. The time came unexpectedly when Helen Plum and Morelli bumped into our group one Saturday afternoon earlier this month at Pino's. Stephanie's love of Halloween sparked the men to invite her to a one of a kind Christmas/Halloween mash up event. It was some sort of convention. To make the occasion an even more memorable one, the guys commissioned matching long sleeve Jersey style shirts for their outing. The front of the black shirt has the logo of the convention plus the event's date while the back sports a number of choice plus their last name. The men were pleasantly surprised when Stephanie chose to have the number twelve on her jersey as well as opting to use her new, married name: Mañoso. In honor of her open display, I ordered my shirt to match hers as a surprise. Almost every man in attendance figured out that we were married solely on the subtle announcement. Not that our rings didn't give us away during our outing or anything. Up until that point we'd both been careful not to blatantly advertise our union. We mutually decided to enjoy our new us before we let the rest of the world know. Stephanie sporting such an obvious sign meant that she was ready to fully disclose our news to the world. Subtle, right? In fact, it was actually Vince who pointed out that the men all thought our wedding bands were something along the lines of promise rings since neither of us had acknowledged the new jewelry upon our return from Nevada.
Congratulations were dished out by the guys and we had a fun morning enjoying the booths and activities that were offered at the spooky Christmas holiday event. Before returning to Rangeman, Babe suggested we stop at Pino's to pick up food to share with the men that weren't able to attend the convention. Someone must have tipped off Morelli and Mrs. Plum because they arrived minutes after we did.
"Stephanie!" Helen's reprimanding hiss had enough venom to outrank several venomous snakes. She went on a tirade about how Stephanie would never be able to find a suitable suitor if she kept prancing around town with a bunch of men. "Parading around town sporting this man's last name has the Burg tongues wagging. How do you think this makes you look?" And on she went on about how Stephanie should act more 'ladylike' and some other bullshit that was drowned out by Babe's laughter.
"Honestly, mom, this isn't the nineteen fifties anymore." Wiping laughter tears from her eyes, Babe pointed out that she didn't care about how anyone saw her. Not anymore and not ever. Babe finished off her spiel by saying that she only cared about the opinion of herself and her husband's. "No one else gets to say anything about how I live my life. I dress how I want and hang out with whom I want. Period. End of story."
Both Helen and Morelli looked like fish out of water, opening and closing their mouths as they struggled to process the grenade Babe had just detonated.
"Husband?!" Finally, it was Helen who found her voice first.
"There's absolutely NO WAY you two are legally married!" Morelli added seconds after his not-so-future-anymore mother-in-law. "Shacking up with someone doesn't automatically mean you're married!" It was obvious Morelli and the Burg had finally found out about us living together. It honestly took longer than I expected, since we weren't necessarily being super secretive about it. The way the vein on his neck pulsed as spittle flew out of his mouth showed how much he despised said news. "Since when?!"
Morelli resorted to his signature arm waving, which activated my protectiveness to the next level. Acting accordingly, I shifted to provide a Ranger body-sized shield, mine, for my wife. Not wanting to stay on the sidelines, Stephanie moved to stand beside me as she addressed the two deluded Burgers.
"We got married back in May." Succinctly, Stephanie made a point to flash her rings while she acknowledged being Mrs. Mañoso now.
"You've been married for over six months and didn't bother to tell your family?!" Helen had to make it all about her, as always, making a show in the process as she pulled out the guilt trip card.
"My husband and I are very private with our lives." Once again, Babe nipped the tirade in the butt while she signaled the waitress to have our order ready.
"It has to be a fake marriage. No way this charade is LEGAL." Morelli wasn't going to back down without a fight. Too bad his whole little show wasn't more than a grown man-child throwing a tantrum. Her lost the war before the battle even began. He just needs a one final reminder.
"Nope. It's legit." Babe dug her cell phone out of her pocket to flash a photo of our Just Married selves. God, she was gorgeous and the short ceremony was just perfect for us. "Don't even think about trying to stir up trouble." Stephanie warned Detective Italian Dumbass. "We're both of age and sound mind. There was no coercion, no bigamy, and…" Just to make sure she really drilled it into his thick skull, Babe leaned forward to whisper the last piece so no one aside from her target and us would hear. "…we most definitely consummated the marriage. In fact, consistently do." With that, Babe took the lead and we all headed back to Rangeman to enjoy our celebratory dinner.
"Ohhh…mmm…" Babe's moan reverberating across the silent living room pulled me back from the memory of how everyone in the Burg found out about our marriage, redirecting my attention solely to the woman who waltzed into my life one afternoon in a diner and completely shifted my world off its axis.
Leaning against me Babe let herself succumb to the overwhelming pleasurable sensations as sweet relief washed over her body in wave after wave. I know just what she likes and how she needs it depending on her mood. Something told me that tonight Babe was all in for less gentle and more fiery passion. I can deliver any way, no problem. For her, always.
To my surprise, Stephanie spun around to fuse her lips to mine mere seconds after her expeditious orgasm barreled through her. "Babe." I warned with a groan when she stroked me over the thin material of my slacks. I want her all of the damn time, but it's on days like today when I only get minute glimpses of her during our workday that just make me next level desperate to fuse myself with her. Over and over again reconnecting with ourselves while we block it all out. Just us.
The next thing I registered was her slim hand unzipping my pants while her lips continued to clash with mine in fervent fueled kisses. Her feather light touch was a sharp contrast to the ardent kiss we were currently in the midst of. The softer her touch, the harder I kissed back. I can't get enough of her, us, or this moment. You'd think the urgency would have waned off by now, but no. Emotions continue to be heightened the more time passes.
My need for release was evident, yet Babe was electing for a teasingly mischievous approach. At least for the time being.
"Steph..." I let out another warning when she trailed her fingers down my shaft to cup my taut balls. In a complete shift from the tantalizing taunt, she abruptly took me in hand. Her grip was tight as she gave me three firm strokes. "Oooohh, Babe." A low, long groan slipped past my gritted teeth, a guttural sound against her mouth that was full of sensual promise.
'Don't play with me' was at the tip of my tongue before my wife's fiery blue gaze met my darker one.
"Off, now." Her breathless order was my command.
Taking a step back, I shrugged out of my tailored suit jacket. Tossing it aside, I gave no shits about where it landed as I moved on to safely deposit my weapons on the coffee table in front of the couch. My tie and shirt immediately joined my jacket on the carpeted floor before I reached for my belt buckle. I was deliberate in my hand movements, watching with satisfaction as the heat of Babe's stare raked over the skin I uncovered. She's let slip how much my 'corporate mode' turns her on, so I intend to use it to my advantage. Perhaps it's the snug fit of the suit, or maybe the holster that makes her hotter than usual. I haven't deciphered it yet, but when I do I will make careful note of it. Just like I know that seeing me in jeans or in any other color besides black never fails to make her wetter.
"Your turn." I pointed out once I stood completely naked and ready before her. Instead of getting rid of the few articles of clothing on herself, Babe took the time to watch me unabashedly. The absent embarrassment for being open about her needs and wants has been a very nice surprise these last several months. Her new self imposed freedom allows her to be more transparent in our shared intimacy, leading to the exploration of previously uncharted waters thanks to her candidness.
"Come and get me, Batman." With that sensual smirk that she so freely graces me with nowadays, Stephanie lifted her arms up high in the air in invitation. Rather than removing her shirt herself, Babe was going to give me the sexy courtesy.
You're on, Babe. You're on.
"Babe." Mirroring her smirk, I winked as my hands disappeared under the hem of her jersey. My lips brushed against her tempting ones again and again, kissing her unhurriedly even as I swiftly dragged my hands up her sides to lift her top up and over her perky breasts, leaving it bunched beneath her shoulders.
"Ranger." My name tumbled from her kiss swollen lips and onto mine on a soft, urgent whine.
Smirking, I focused my attention on her high, suckable breasts. Like the bottomless routine, going braless in our private space is yet another one of Babe's recent adjustments. If we both come up to the penthouse at the same time, which has been rare this past week, I get a front row seat of Babe's undressing routine. When she makes it up here before me, I have a good idea of Stephanie's more relaxed getup before I even cross the threshold. It's a win-win for me either way.
"Carlos…" Her throaty whimper was my cue to keep moving. Smiling around a mouthful of sensitive flesh, I resumed my tasting path. Removing her shirt while sucking her nipples until they were hard peaks was easier said than done with Babe's shuffling movements. She's not one to stay on the sidelines willingly. Like ever. "Ranger." Spearing her fingers through my short hair, Stephanie nudged me to get to the main act. Just in case I missed the hint, her hands then trailed down my chest and abs, aiming for a hard as steel target.
"Stephanie…" I groaned her name in encouragement against the soft swell as she lightly scraped her short nails in the proximity of my stiff cock. Except, my wife simply teased my heated skin instead of touching me exactly where I needed her to.
Taking the cue, I carefully yanked her shirt off of her.
"Hi. How was your day?" Stephanie's cheeky smile as she looped her freshly freed arms around my shoulders was sweet payback. Why is it payback? Well, skin to skin contact is one of my weaknesses and she knows. Naturally, I loosely wrapped my arms around her tempting self.
Flashing her another smile, I told her all about my boring day filled with endless paperwork and in person client meetings. "Dreaded desk duty for the most part." Of course, I did my talking while skimming my lips across hers and then down the column of her throat. I felt her shiver with anticipation every time my breath ghosted against her delicate skin. For that reason, I did it over and over again as I filled her in on my unexciting day.
After spending some time driving her crazy with just my lips and hands on her sensitive breasts, I sank to my knees to put me at eye level with her midsection.
"Hi." I breathed against her tiny rounded belly. With her barely showing baby bump, it's been easy for Babe to conceal that we're expecting even in the middle of her second trimester. Unless she's wearing a form-fitting outfit, she doesn't look pregnant. She was initially concerned about not showing, but we've been advised by her doctor that changes will be more rapid and abrupt as she nears the third trimester. And things have. Lately I've felt that she looks completely different at the end of the day versus our early morning start. I may be biased, but I know her body almost as well as I know mine. There's little chance that I'd miss obvious changes in her now that I watch her even more closely than I ever did before.
Yet another monumental life changing event was finding out that Stephanie was pregnant. And just like our bombshell nuptials, a baby was just as unforeseen. Neither of us expected a pregnancy, especially after Stephanie switched birth control methods shortly after our marriage. We wanted to be covered once we got rid of condoms, so imagine our surprise when Babe's mysterious symptoms turned out to be pregnancy related even after our careful contraception plans. Due to her carrying small, neither of us suspected it. Sure, we've been having a lot of sex since that night in Vegas, yet we thought we'd covered all our bases. Wrong.
Stephanie spearing her fingers through my hair was a stark reminder that I'd sidetracked our plans momentarily. Even after all these months, there's times when I have to take a moment to fully appreciate how much my life has changed. If either of us had continued to hide behind our fears, we wouldn't be here right now. I've woken up many a night instinctively reaching for Babe to reassure myself that this is real.
"You give your Momma a hard time today?" I whisper to our kid just as my wife shared that today was a good day all things considered. The first trimester was rocky. Babe initially thought she'd caught a stomach bug because everything made her nauseous. Once she began her prenatal care, it was still a bit of trial and error until we found a momentum that worked. Through it all, Ella has been a godsend. She pretty much figured out our secret before we were even ready to publicly share that we've been husband and wife for the better part of the year.
Following my little one on one with our baby, I continued my seducing mission. Peppering kisses along her stomach while I divested her completely had Babe impatiently shuffling in place.
Once we were both fully naked, I stood up while trailing my fingertips along her sides on my slow ascend. Our kiss started off sensual and slow, but quickly morphed into a passionate frenzy. When the need for air became a must, her smaller palms pushed on my pecs with enough force to indicate she wanted me to tumble back onto the couch.
I did, flashing her my best playful smile once my ass was firmly planted on the cushion. Using my hands to make a 'come here' motion, I remained in place. With curiosity, I watched her stalk the short distance to me.
With her hands on the tops of my thighs, Stephanie nudged my legs as she got ready to straddle my lap. With a wicked glint in her vibrant blue eyes, Babe grinned from ear to ear as she dipped her head towards my dick. Her tongue swiping fleetingly across my shaft was just a minuscule appetizer.
"Stephanie." I moaned her name as my hands fisted the armrests, working on holding back my ferocious need for just a little longer. Even after all this time and all the uninterrupted intimacy we've shared this year alone, Babe still affects me just like if it were our first time together. The intense feelings and sensations don't seem to want to dissipate any time soon. I will never get enough of the magic we create together. A fleeting lick affects me just as much as a simple look from those ocean blue depths. It's a connection so strongly unique that I never want to sever it.
After her teasing lick, Stephanie wrapped her hand around my thick cock. A deep, guttural groan rumbled through my chest as she guided me into position. I slid easily into her wet heat thanks to her previous orgasm, making it a smooth descent for Babe as she lowered herself without pause until our bodies were flush together.
The instant she sank on my throbbing erection, my wife set an agonizingly delicious pace. It was beyond erotic watching her move slowly and carefully above me while her hands gripped my shoulders in a tight grip. Anyone who ever thought that Stephanie's a prude can't be more erroneous in their assessment. From the moment I laid eyes on her I knew that she'd allow her wildly sexy side out to play, but only in the privacy of a safe space and with the right person. As our relationship grew into what it is now, I've watched her transform into her most liberated and independent self. I'm very proud of her accomplishments, breaking down obstacles one by one.
Babe squeezed me tight, emitting rippling waves of pleasure centered around our joined bodies as she continued to move sensually above me. Being naked woman on top, as she calls it, allows her to control both depth and angle. I highly encourage her exploring quests as she discovers what works best for her changing body. I make sure to reinforce that I'll be by her side every step of the way. For the good and the bad.
As soon as Babe crushed her lips to mine long moments later, kissing me deeply and almost desperately, it was one of her cues that the promised finish line was close. Her fingers combed through my hair as her hands held my head in place during our liplock. Kissing back, my hands moved from resting on her hips to smoothing up her back.
My hands joined the feverish mix with my fingers tangling in the stubborn curls that had managed to spring forward onto her forehead during this enthusiastic session, eliciting a grin from Babe. I enjoy combing my fingers through her rebellious curls, even if Stephanie chides me for tangling her hair into a 'bird's nest'. As a compromise, I always help detangle her curly locks. It's another one of our win-win scenarios.
When she buried her face against the crook of my neck, it was her silent indication that she was about to crack. After a handful of ragged breaths it became obvious that she needed an extra push to be able to achieve her next orgasm. Not being one to let her down, I wrapped my right arm around her waist so that I could keep her cradled against me while I transferred us from the couch and onto the plush throw blanket Stephanie set up in front of the tree. She most likely wrapped more presents before adding the final ornamental touches to the tree, inadvertently setting up the scene for our sweaty activity.
Crawling around her tempting wiggling self, I flashed another grin as I repositioned our bodies. Facing the lit Christmas tree with me spooning her from behind felt like the best way to go tonight. Kissing her right shoulder was my heads up as I snaked my left arm under her left side. With that arm I kept her pressed flush to my back, using the other to shift her right leg. In one smooth stroke I was back where I belonged, tearing loud moans from us both.
"Stephanie." Craning my neck was a must for my mouth to slant down over hers as my hips picked up the pace. Our kiss was desperate as her hands roamed any part of our moving bodies she could reach, repeatedly landing on her breasts and squeezing the undersides as her thumbs swiped over her hardened nipples. I made the mental promise to deliver the slow and sweet orgasm after. Right now, I'm going to give her that fiery, explosive release she's been craving. I make sure to fulfill her every crave, whether she's craving something edible or myself.
"Ranger." Her breathy moan was a warning that she was almost about to tip over the edge. Stephanie reserves my given name for when we make slow, sensual love. Hearing her calling me Carlos never fails to warm my heart, yet there's something so deliciously primal about how I feel whenever she moans my nickname.
"Babe." I know all her cues like the back of my hand. I acknowledged her need and simultaneously promised to follow her as I kissed her creamy skin every time the lights flickered against the curve of her shoulder, arm or face.
Her cry of relief elicited a wave of electricity to course zing up my spine as she spasmed around me, her inner muscles contracting deliciously.
Despite wanting relief so bad myself, I held off for just a bit longer. Sweat gathered at the base of my spine as I continued to thrust myself into her heated flesh. I continued the fast and deep pumps until I felt myself nearing the end of my control. I kept worshiping and wanting for her to fully let go to be able to savor our combined rapture, undeterred. I latched onto the side of her neck, eagerly sucking on the flickering pulse point. I delivered a series of quick tongue swipes as I continued pumping in and out. Continuously, my movements coaxed that powerful climax she couldn't quite reach just moments before on the couch.
"BABE!" The orgasm finally shattered me, engulfing my entire body, as the thread of my control finally snapped amid the sound of my wife's ragged moans and addictive feel of her repeated full body clench. All the tension burst out of every pore in my being, leaving us a sated tangle of sweaty limbs once it was all said and done.
"Holy crap." Babe muttered what felt like hours later. Our breathing was still a bit choppy regardless of our sweaty bodies beginning to cool. "So good." Steph sighed contently as she turned to face me with minimal help needed. "It's your fault I'm a hormonal, horny mess though." She breathed against my mouth before brushing a quick peck over my parted lips. "Mary Lou and my cousin Shirley always muttered that the testerone when they were pregnant with their sons made them super wanton." Babe said, quickly adding that she always thought they were full of shit. "Guess not." She huffed out, still working on fully normalizing her breathing.
"My fault?" My chuckle rumbled out of my chest as I grabbed a fistful of blanket with each hand, immediately wrapping my arms around my wife's pliant form a second later and enveloping us in the process.
"Yeah." Stephanie nodded, causing her curls to tickle my shoulder with the movement. "My egg was just chillin', minding its business and then your superhero sperm barged in to fertilize it." I laughed a full on bark of laughter. "What?" Her scrunched up facial expression didn't detract from her beauty.
"Babe, that's not how it works." With a flash of my teeth, I told her that it was her egg that chose my sperm. "It's not a race."
"It's not?"
"Nope. Your egg used chemical signals to attract my sperm." With a whisper, I gave her the gist of how her eggs have always had the power of rejecting unwanted swimmers.
"What the…" Stephanie blinked repeatedly as she let the information sink in. "That's not how they taught it at school." Was Babe's huff before her mind quickly latched onto something else. "Wait, how do you know that?" The mastery of arching an eyebrow is rather new for Stephanie and she always seems to use it at the most apropos timing.
"My sister Celia is a doctor." I shrugged, saying it was a piece of scientific trivia that stuck in my mind.
"I thought she was a cardiologist." Babe chuckled as she shifted into a more comfortable position, instinctively swiping a hand across her stomach.
"She follows a lot of new research studies. You'll get to hear all about it during family dinners." My reminder that we're having Christmas Eve dinner with my family in Newark had my wife's previously sated body stiffening immediately. "Hey, my family already loves you, Babe."
"We're finally going to tell them that we not only got married this year but that we'll be welcoming our son in the Spring…" Before she could work herself into a nervous frenzy, I interjected.
"Steph, they'll be happy for us." I promised simply because I know my family. "They've known about you for years and despite my best attempts at hiding my true feelings, they recognized I loved you even before I admitted it to myself."
"Well, just in case I'm glad we got Julie's help to share the news." Her lips widened with another smile just before she kissed my chest, right over my heart.
"That alone will get you brownie points for sure." I assured, kissing the top of her head.
Things played out pretty much as I'd told Steph they would. There was a brief moment of utter silence while my family processed the news. It took just a handful of seconds for shouts of excitement, cheering and happy sobbing to erupt all around us. By the time my mother, sisters and grandmothers got through congratulating us and showering Steph with affection, Babe shot me a glassy eyed look from across the living room of my childhood home. Her smile was a testament to the acceptance and love she felt all around.
Since 'Watch Me Burn' was well received, I figured I could do little glimpses into S&R's unpredictable life on their new journey. They always did do things a little differently, haha.
Also, yes it was Lester who was in the room next to Stephanie's in 'Watch Me Burn'.