In honor of the holiday season officially starting, here's an advanced New Year's themed post for this story.
I haven't been receiving alerts from FF, and even got locked out of my account for a bit. Hoping there's no more issues so that I can post the final part of Plum-o-ween, as well as other story updates.
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. Typos are my mistake.
Ranger's POV
After a potential new client called to reschedule their in person appointment due to a family emergency, I had an unexpected opening in my already altered schedule for the last day of the year.
It's New Year's Eve, a day that previously didn't really count as a holiday for me. Crime rates seem to skyrocket during the holiday season, which in turn keeps all Rangeman branches busy. Extremely. Previous years, I worked most of the day and even took last minute late night patrol shifts to give some reprieve to the men on duty. This year though, I have a whole new set of priorities incentivizing me to change up my typical holiday season routine and delegate just a tiny bit more.
There's nothing in my inbox that is urgent enough to warrant being chained to my desk on five. Having a quick bite to eat in between callbacks means that I have a nice chunk of free time before my next commitment, which isn't for several hours.
With quick movements, I reached the seventh floor in no time. Entering the penthouse only to be greeted by reigning silence was a stark reminder to be quiet. Toeing off my dress shoes, ones I don't wear very often, by the sideboard next to the closed and re-locked front door, my sock clad feet automatically pointed me in the right direction.
Coming home to Babe will never get old. After having to either leave her apartment or watch as my door closed behind her delicious backside when she left mine for years, there are no words to describe how amazing it is to be home with her. Without restraints or barriers, we can be together. And it is as good as I always imagined it would be. In fact, it's better. Way, way better than anything I could have ever dreamed would be possible. Our reality is infinitely better than any dream I ever dared to fantasize about.
Finding my wife already in bed causes all sorts of sexy reactions most of the time. Except those sexy reactions aren't all consuming right now, because she is fast asleep and it reminds me just how much Stephanie's pushed herself all week. Additionally, her beauty never fails to amaze me. The first time I broke into her apartment in the middle of the night I couldn't believe that even asleep she was gorgeous. Thinking it was a fluke didn't last long as time and time again I was faced with the same natural beauty while she slept. Unless she's having a nightmare, Babe looks so innocent and peaceful when she's asleep.
I smiled as I cataloged her sleeping form while I stealthily approached, not missing how she chose to rest on my side of the bed for her middle of the day nap. Her curly hair is splayed all over my pillow as she sleeps soundly on her left side, facing away from the floor to ceiling windows. The Ghostbusters thick throw blanket her nieces gifted her for her birthday is being used by Babe to keep warm instead of slipping under our covers. She loves that throw blanket just as much as she loves the jersey from the Christmas/Halloween convention.
With practiced stealth, I shrugged out of my suit jacket. After draping my jacket, shirt and pants on the chair that's a replica of the one she had in her old bedroom, I stashed my weapons in the safe before climbing into bed behind her.
Yes, I know that joining my wife in bed while I'm technically supposed to be working on five is quite unheard of from me. Good thing I'm the boss and can do whatever I want.
"Carlos?" Before I even attempted to slip under the tiny blanket, Babe jerked awake thanks to her enhanced senses. She swears she can pick up my scent anywhere in the building nowadays. I consider myself extremely lucky for my usual Bvlgari aroma not assaulting her nostrils negatively during this pregnancy. It'd be a shame considering how much she's enjoyed my shower gel over the years, yet I'm willing to do anything that's needed to make this journey as hassle free for my wife as possible.
Babe: my friend, the woman who risked her life to save my daughter's, my wife, the mother of my son, the woman who waltzed into that diner and unleashed a beautiful and chaotic hurricane that obliterated my ordered life as I knew it.
My family always throws a big New Year's Eve celebration that includes all of the Cuban traditions that are a must when it comes to ringing in a new year. After being hyped up by my sisters over Christmas Eve, Stephanie has been really looking forward to her first Año Nuevo celebration with the Mañoso clan. I already know that she's going to have a lot of fun following our traditions, even the silly ones. Babe doesn't want to miss a single thing, so she planned her schedule today around a middle of the day nap to recharge her batteries. To balance out her half shift, Stephanie stacked on additional hours during the week. The long workdays have definitely taken a toll, and despite me reminding Stephanie that she doesn't have anything to prove, Babe chose to juggle a busier than normal workweek nonetheless. Yes, my wife can be very stubborn at times.
"Ranger." Babe rasped, seeking me even through her sleepy haze.
"Babe." My lips brushed against soft skin when I kissed her temple, quickly murmuring reassurances that she hasn't accidentally overslept and could get comfy once again. It wasn't my intention to wake her since I know she hasn't been up here for more than an hour. I want her to get adequate rest, something she hasn't done like she should for several days in a row now.
"M'kay." The sleepy slur was said against my throat after she turned in my arms to face me, resting her head against my bare shoulder as she resumed her slumber. Without missing a beat, Stephanie was once again fast asleep. Perfect.
I held her close, well as close as I could without crushing our son between us, and simply basked in the simple moment. In the past, I would have to fight myself and hold back knowing that I didn't have the right to completely ruin her life by yanking her out of her world and pulling her into my dangerous one. Despite knowing that I should stay away, I couldn't. I tried. I really did. Sneaking into her bedroom in the dark of the night was definitely borderline creepy, but it kept me sane especially after another one of her close calls. I wanted nothing more than to be able to crawl into bed beside her, hold Babe tight and never let go. Yet I couldn't. I wasn't a free man to do that at the time, still tangled in a government contract that would whisk me away at a moment's notice. So, I kept derailing us in a futile and most importantly, ludicrous attempt to protect her. My erroneous ideology of what Stephanie deserved kept us apart, because I forced that outcome despite how much it pained us both.
Thankfully we both took the plunge that night in Sin City after baring our bodies and souls to one another, once again doing things very far from the norm. Good thing we both believe that 'normal' isn't all that great.
"That's mine, Les. You can't just eat it!" Babe's sleepy mumbling whine snapped me back to the present. Her lips brushed against my bare chest in a pout of frustration, fussing in her sleep before she once again fell silent after I promised to replace the stolen dream pastry. Earlier in the week, Santos ate the last cookie Ella delivered to the fifth floor break room, which resulted in Babe bursting out in tears upon finding no cookies in the breakroom. She'd been craving said Ella made cookie, yet due to back to back client calls she didn't get to snag one before the men absolutely demolished them. Santos and the other men in the breakroom at the time didn't know what to do, staring wide eyed as Stephanie's tears flowed freely. Babe isn't a crier. Even during the most dark encounters she's had, I can count with the fingers of one hand how many times she's broken down sobbing. In their quest to fix the situation, my men all ordered any sweet they could think of, practically burying Babe in a mountain of everything and anything sugary to get the tears to stop. In the end, it was Ramon who fully saved the day when he took Stephanie to his favorite panaderia on Broad St. Intrigued with the prospect of broadening her sweet tooth horizons, Stephanie embraced the impromptu trip to the Mexican bakery. It's safe to say that Tasty Pastry now has real competition where Babe is concerned.
Yes, Stephanie talks in her sleep sometimes. She'll say the most random things, especially when she's very tired. I find it adorable even if Babe hates it. Last week, I awoke to her whispering rapidly in my ear. For a moment I thought she was awake, and that I was the one stuck in a sleepy haze because the words sounded familiar yet I couldn't quite make out what she was saying. Turns out, she was talking in Italian and I didn't realize it until she uttered a phrase I've heard from her before.
In my musings of our recent days, I must have eventually dozed off. When I snapped my eyes open again, I found that Babe was still curled against my side. Wrapping my forefinger around the curl I brushed from being plastered to her left cheek, my mind returned to reminiscing. Regardless of how clichéd it may seem, I couldn't help but run through all that's changed this past year.
My end of year review always consists of measuring the growth of my company and if I'm on target with my professional goals. Last New Year's Eve, I picked up a night shift to help cover the gap the spread of a stomach bug left my team with. I spoke to Julie for a bit before she headed off to celebrate with Rachel's side of the family. After that, I got a call from my mother to ask if I'd be attending her house party. Telling my mother I wouldn't be able to attend since I was working wasn't an easy conversation, especially because I also missed the get-together on Noche Buena. Hanging up the call left me with very heightened emotions. Of course, Babe was at the forefront of my mind. So, I called her. Just because. Hearing her voice as soon as the call connected caused a warm feeling to spread across my chest. There's just something about Babe that never fails to calm me down, re-centering me even. Babe easily picked up that something was the matter, asking me point blank why I was calling instead of filling the space with small talk. I wished her a safe ending to her year and promised to be in touch the next day so that she could enjoy her end of year celebration with her family in the Burg. Stephanie said she wasn't out celebrating and asked what I was up to. The moment I told her I was getting ready to head out on patrol, she said she'd tag along. I ended up being thankful for her being my partner for the night as it ended up being quite the busy, nonstop shift like none had been in a while. At sunrise our shift ended when Ram and Slick took over. To show my gratitude for her help, I drove to the diner where we met so we could have a hearty breakfast. I was reluctant to part ways when I dropped her back off at her place. Thankfully, Babe was braver than me that day. She wished me a happy new year by enveloping me in a tight, tight hug and kissing me. Who'd of thought that before the year would end we'd not only be married, but also expecting a baby? Life sure did pack a beautiful surprise.
My watch alarm buzzed against my wrist, a fifteen minute reminder prior to my new client consult call.
"Mmmgrm." Babe's groaning protest as I slipped from her hold had me nearly canceling my appointment.
"Babe." Pressing my lips on her forehead, I whispered that she could continue sleeping.
"Kay." Was the mumbled reply as Babe found a new comfortable position, hugging my pillow as a replacement for my absence.
Smiling, I tucked the blanket around her form before dressing in my typical uniform of cargo pants and T-shirt. My upcoming appointment is a call because the client didn't want a video conference, so I could switch back to my usual uniform. After the call, I'll head back down to five to do one last run through, perhaps delegate a few more tasks, before Babe and I get ready to head to Newark for the Mañoso style Feliz Año Nuevo celebration.
My call with Manuel Ortiz was pretty standard. He was recommended by one of our longtime Miami clients. Ortiz wanted to speak with me personally as he was contemplating coming onboard for both personal and business accounts. Typically, this is something I'd pass off to Miami's management team, yet decided to indulge the client as it'd be a sizable addition for Rangeman Miami with the potential of an additional account for Boston if Ortiz comes onboard.
The call was nearing its end nearly an hour later when I caught movement out in the hall, a familiar figure approaching the open doorway. Flicking my gaze in the direction of the activity, a small smile escaped the instant I spotted my wife hovering in the hallway. Her eyes were squinted nearly shut as she adjusted to the light in my home office, one hand pushing her curly hair back from her face.
"Babe." I mouthed, extending the hand not holding the handset to my ear as an invitation to come in.
As Stephanie hurried towards me, I realized she wore my jersey to bed. Looking like a dress, my jersey's oversized fit was apparently ideal for Babe's nap.
"Yes, Rangeman offers cyber security in addition to…" I relayed to Ortiz just as Babe reached my side, immediately climbing onto my lap. Straddling me, Babe's hands fisted my T-shirt over my ribs as she rested her head on my left shoulder. Cuddling was never big for me in the past, yet like everything else it's yet another thing that's changed with Babe. I'll never pass up an opportunity to be affectionate with Stephanie.
Ortiz kept going, describing every aspect he needed coverage in. A quick consult call has turned into over an hour, with no sign of stopping any time soon. Naturally, I aim to close the sale before we disconnect, which is the only reason why the call is still ongoing.
As Ortiz droned on, with me engaging when necessary, I suddenly felt Stephanie's shift. The sensual feel of her lips leaving open mouthed kisses across my heated skin, marking a clear pathway up the side of my neck to my left ear, had my body on instant alert. Suppressing our feelings for years makes us freely give and accept affection in the present.
"I want you." Babe whispered in my left ear, biting my lobe as she husked that she needs me.
By some miracle my brain didn't completely fry, allowing me to continue engaging with Ortiz. I was going to have to figure out a way to cut him off before Stephanie upped the ante.
"That is correct." I bit out, closing my eyes for a brief second as a last ditch effort to keep myself restrained. Babe has and always will be irresistible to me.
"Mmmm." Babe continued her kissing attack, her hands joining the mix as they roamed across my pecs and abs under my T-shirt. Her rotating hips had our lower halves brushing together. The friction of the rubbing motion must be driving her insane with need, fueling her kisses and touch. With my guidance, Stephanie pressed her face to the side of my neck as a shuddering moan threatened to tumble past her pouting lips.
She's close. And so will I if she keeps up the torturous rubbing.
"I'll have Luciano reach out to schedule the walkthrough for next week." I said to Ortiz, beyond ready to end the call.
In shifting my hold, while listening to Ortiz drone out some more, my hand slipped under the hem of Babe's shirt. Being greeted with endless bare, soft skin had my need intensifying. Babe has upgraded to no panties now.
Dios mio.
No pants was already a nice surprise, yet Commando Babe has unleashed fantasies for years to come. Oh God.
"Have a good day." I muttered to Ortiz distractedly, ending the call before he could go off on another tangent. As is, he stretched the last part of our call close to fifteen minutes after Babe joined me. Too damn long in my opinion.
My mouth was searching for Babe's even before I returned the phone to its cradle. Crashing my lips with hers, my wife gasped while I groaned as my fingers skimmed along her already drenched folds. Swallowing her moan, I teased her swollen clit. It won't take much for Stephanie to reach climax. She's extra sensitive and so ready for sweet relief.
By the time I finally inserted a finger inside her, leisurely stroking her tight walls, Babe was already writhing against me and needing more contact.
"Too much…" Babe growled against my jaw, nibbling on my skin while dragging my T-shirt up my torso. Stephanie ran her hands over my rumbling chest and hard abs as she simultaneously pushed my shirt up so it could be out of her way. With my hands busy, she couldn't get my shirt off all the way. Grumbling in annoyance, her teeth sank roughly against my jawline. With a groan of my own, I yanked my shirt over my head and sent it sailing across my desk. Whatever Babe wants, she'll get. Plus, I'm just as turned on as she is. I need her to touch and kiss me everywhere.
I stood abruptly, bringing Babe with me while our tongues tangled amid scorching kisses. She whimpered automatically when my hands slipped away from her heated skin as I set her back on her feet momentarily. As I reached for the button on my cargo pants, her slim hands stilled my movements. My wife wants to undress me herself. Fuck, yes!
Stephanie worked on the button of my cargos, cupping me over my pants boldly as her nails teasingly scraped my already sizzling skin. I groaned as I savored her touch on my lower abs, placing my hands on her hips as a way to ground myself. Shoving my pants down, Babe initially ignored my throbbing erection, laser focused on getting me naked. As soon as I stood completely bare before her, Babe raked her impossibly blue eyes over my nude form. Biting her bottom lip, lust oozed from her captivating eyes. Babe wants very sweaty, panting sex. Now.
"Babe." A confused expression flashed across her beautiful face as she watched me sit back down on my chair. She looks so innocent peering down at me, partially leaning against the edge of my desk while wearing my shirt. Only my shirt. My wife always looks completely fuckable, and lucky for us we currently have privacy to be able to put a dent in our ever growing desire. Could be the pregnancy hormones or simply given our history of restraint, but we're at a nearly insatiable era. I'm here for whatever my Babe needs.
With my hands gripping her waist, I brought Babe closer so she could stand between my spread knees. Her eyes darted between my face, trying to decipher my impromptu plan, and my cock. Babe blushing is no longer a regular occurance, her blood too busy rushing to other, more vital areas.
Being a little impatient herself, Stephanie took care of removing the only article of clothing covering her body from my hungry gaze. Letting the jersey fall to her feet, my wife flashed me a sultry grin. Mirroring her smile, my lips left a trail of sucking kisses across her abdomen until I reached the underside of her fuller breasts.
"Ah!" Stephanie gasped when I stood, again without warning, abruptly whirling her around to face my desk. My bare chest pressed snugly against her naked back, my impossibly hard cock poking her bare bottom. The anticipation is killing us both, wanting nothing more than for me to plunge into her sweet paradise, start moving and not stop until we're screaming each other's name through our joint release.
My hands trailed up her sides, stopping to place a nipping kiss on her left ass cheek, just above her scar. Stephanie's breath hitched as she waited for my next move. In the not so distant past, Babe would have tensed immediately in reaction to such a vulnerable position. Partially bent over, facing away from me, would have unleashed a full on panic on Babe years before. Knowing that she trusts me implicitly is a reminder to never give her cause to regret that honor.
Turning Babe around after leaving a trail of open mouthed kisses along the length of her spine, my hands returned to her hips. Lifting my wife with extreme carefulness, her bare ass made contact with my pristine desk a second later. Taking a moment to burn this scene in my brain, I gave her parted lips a quick kiss before taking a step back.
Curiously, Stephanie watched me silently. With an arched eyebrow, Babe followed my movements as I sat down before I rolled my chair forward, closing the gap between us so that I could have the perfect angle to feast on her. For what I have in mind, I need her very, very wet.
Babe gripped the edge of my desk, knowing that I was headed right for her already dripping pie. Leaning back to better savor my ministrations, my wife filled the space with her reverberating moans.
I nipped, stroked and lapped hungrily. Over and over again until she broke, pleasure invading her whole being in wave after wave as I savored her essence. Mmmm.
Stephanie was still gasping for air when I started kissing my way up her torso, stopping to give her breasts special attention. Nuzzling the undersides before sucking her nipples softly, I took advantage of the fact that they're not painfully sensitive today. In appreciation, Babe threaded the fingers of her right hand through my short hair as I wrapped my arms around her waist to give her added support.
"Mmmmm…" A combined moan when our lips met was partially muffled as our tongues tangled.
"I agree." Babe grinned lazily in response to my playful wink just before I peeled her away from my desk. We stumbled back, with me safely landing on my desk chair with her on top. We laughed in unison, enveloped in our steamy bubble. It wasn't long before Babe shifted so she could straddle my lap, my cock eager to remind us both that it's ready and standing at attention. Stephanie cupped my face in her hands, gave me a quick kiss and redirected her attention to my very serious erection.
I was hard, right on the edge, so after only a few teasing licks, I hooked my hands under her arms to bring her back up to be face to face. Fisting my cock, my wife descended slowly as she took inch after inch of my length. With her hands gripping my shoulders, and after taking a moment to adjust to being full of me, Babe began to rise and fall. Allowing her to control the pace and depth gave Stephanie the rush she was seeking, yet as the tension kept building deliciously, my hands instinctively migrated from her swaying breasts to her hips.
"Carlos…Ranger…" Babe moaned, throwing her head back as she dug her nails into my flesh, silently asking for more. Groaning in pleasure, I rose from my seated position, regretfully pulling out as I once again set Babe on her feet. "No…" My wife whimpered, reaching for me to keep us from being separated.
"Babe." Joint moans tumbled past our lips once I spun her to face my desk, immediately plastering my front to her back as I entered her from behind.
"YES!" Babe cried, pushing back to meet me thrust for thrust. It's safe to say that it wasn't long before our joint orgasm shattered us, engulfing us in intense rapture that kept cresting higher and higher.
I dropped myself, ass first, on my cushioned desk chair, with my wife resting safely in my lap. With her back leaning against my front, her soft ass cheeks nested perfectly over my groin as we gasped for breath in the aftermath of our pleasure haze.
"Babe." I murmured the warning against her slick skin, kissing the curve of her right shoulder as she fully leaned back against my chest. If she keeps wiggling on my lap like that, we're not going to make it to Newark.
"Ha." Stephanie's laughter is like a balm to my soul. The breathless sound required a lot of energy, sending a familiar rumbling sensation across my chest as her laughter tumbled past her lips. "You don't need me shifting on your lap to get hard." Raising her arms over her head, she looped them around my neck as she basked in our proximity.
"No." I confirmed, kissing the side of her neck while my fingers skimmed over her sides. Having her arms raised over her head has left me with a breathtaking view of her breasts. As the opportunist that I am, my hands took advantage of the open invitation. "Sometimes simply seeing a shade of blue that matches your eyes is enough." My confession pulled a gasp from my wife.
"Really?" Babe asked in shock, turning her head to lock eyes with me. When a little devious smile immediately stretched her lips, I had the sinking suspicion that my surroundings will start having a lot more blue in them than normal.
"I like that you're going Commando to bed, Babe." I couldn't help but bring up, automatically waiting her out so I could know what caused the shift.
"My panties were digging into my skin." Stephanie said she felt uncomfortable in her Rangeman embroidered cotton panties, sharing that the elastic dug into her groin all morning while she worked on five. "I didn't want to wear a thong to take a nap, so no undies was the obvious choice." With a shrug, Babe outlined her line of thinking. Planting a kiss on my lips, Babe blew out a sigh as she pointed out that it's going to finally be time for a major wardrobe overhaul.
"Babe." I shook my head, knowing she's just trying to be funny. Stephanie is still barely showing, her baby bump highly concealable with most outfits. However, if my wife needs new undergarments in order to feel comfortable, she'll get it.
Needless to say, we arrived at my parent's house in Newark with plenty of time for Babe to fully experience every Manoso tradition. When the clock struck midnight, my wife participated in the custom of sharing a hug and kiss with those around you in honor of the new year. Taking it a step above, and inadvertently further cementing her place in every Mañoso's heart, Babe initiated a FaceTime with Julie so that she too could be part of the lively, and loud, celebration.
"Take a picture. It'll last longer." My brother whispered in my ear, laughing as he hurried towards the kitchen to snag more food before my mother created her customary to-go leftover packages for everyone to take home.
Ignoring his jab, my eyes never left Babe as she angled her phone just right so that my Abuela could see and talk to Julie from her seated position on the couch. Sensing my eyes on her, Stephanie locked eyes with me from across the room, cocking her head to the side in invitation for me to join her. Smiling at my wife, I was right by her side before she attempted to rise from her squatting position next to the couch. With my help, straightening into a standing position was no trouble for Stephanie, despite the high heels she opted to wear.
My Abuela's beaming smile when we said our goodbyes well into the wee hours of the morning told me without words how proud she is of the man I've become.