"Manny, I think it's time for me to find a new place to live. I can't keep living here and having everyone break in. I've been saving most of my paychecks from Rangeman, so I have a nice savings fund. Would you help me look?"
Manny was thrilled that she was ready to move, "Absolutely! Bring your laptop over here."
Stephanie found her laptop and sat back down on the couch in what she had come to think of as their comfortable position ... Manny's back against the arm rest and Steph between his legs leaning back against him.
Stephanie started looking for apartments for rent and felt Manny's hands circle her, his right hand resting on her stomach under her shirt. She tried to keep her mind on the computer, but his thumb moving up and down on her skin was making it hard.
"I know I want a secure apartment, having a pool would be nice, someplace that accepts packages for you so they aren't sitting outside my apartment for everyone would be great. What else do you think?" she asked as his right hand started sliding farther up her shirt.
"I like the sound of that, maybe some security ... you know, provided by Rangeman?" Manny heard her breath hitch as his hand grazed over her ribs. "Hey, it's been what, five weeks since you were pierced?" He felt her nod. "Are you sore anymore?" She shook her head and he smiled. His hand slid up to her breast and under her bra. He lightly ran his fingers over the barbell he found there.
Stephanie forgot about the apartment search and let her head fall back on Manny's shoulder as she moaned while he played with her. Seeing the opportunity, Manny's lips found the sweet spot on her shoulder, and he kissed her there while turning the barbell. Her moans were louder and longer, and he knew exactly what she was feeling.
"So much pleasure, so many sensations, so much fun," Manny whispered in her ear.
With no warning, Stephanie sat up, put her laptop on the table, turned around, and straddled Manny's lap. His hands reached and tugged her shirt off; as she sat there in front of him, he looked in her eyes and unclasped her bra. When it fell down her arms, his eyes dilated, and his mouth went dry. His lips were drawn to her nipples and his tongue started playing with the barbell.
Stephanie threw her head back as her hands fisted in his hair, holding his head to her chest. "Oh God, so good," she murmured. While his teeth scraped down her nipple lightly before he tugged slightly on the barbell, his left hand played with her other breast. Stephanie screamed his name as she came undone in his lap. After her breathing returned to normal, she buried her head in his shoulder. "Oh God, that was ... I've never ... shit, so embarrassed," he heard her saying as he ran his hands up and down her bare back.
"Steph, no reason to be embarrassed. I knew exactly what I was doing and what was likely to happen. I promised you I'd show you the pleasure from having piercings and I felt it was time to make good on my promise," he told her as he kissed her head.
"Yeah, but ... holy shit, I didn't expect that to happen to me. I mean, you've never, you know, when I've played with your rings."
"Gorgeous, you have no idea how many times I've been so close to blowing, and it's only because I would picture torture techniques to keep from coming that I was able to control it."
After getting something to drink, they sat back on the couch, next to each other, his arm around her shoulders. "Steph, I think we need to talk."
She tensed up and pulled away, "That doesn't sound good. Are you leaving me?"
Pulling her back to him, he kissed her temple, "No, I'm not going anywhere. I want a relationship with you. I've always had feelings for you, but since I've allowed myself to, I've fallen in love with you. I want you in my life as more than a friend and more than my partner at work. I want to share experiences with you, the ups and downs, the joy and heartache of life." He took a deep breath and finally asked, "What do you want?"
Stephanie sat there, listening to what he was saying and couldn't believe her ears. "What about my inquisitive nature? What if I ask you too many questions?"
"You can ask me anything and, as long as it isn't classified, I'll answer it honestly. I love your inquisitive nature; it was one of the first things I fell in love with."
"Okay, but you have to promise that if i do something that pisses you off, you'll talk to me, not just leave."
"I promise," he said as he turned toward her, "Now, we need to discuss work. You know, if we try a relationship, we have to let management know and get new partners."
"I don't want a new partner, but I understand. However, you can't go all macho on the guys and skips when I do a distraction."
Manny nodded, "I know, and I promise I won't unless they deserve it. So, does that mean you'll be my woman?"
"Only if you'll be my man ... and understand I don't share."
/\/\/\/\
Stephanie was walking on the treadmill when Lester hopped on the one next to her. "Good morning," she said but got nothing in return. Figuring he already had his earbuds in, she didn't try again.
About thirty minutes later she knew something was bothering Les as he hadn't gone up to a run yet. She powered down her machine and stood in front of his. "Les?"
He seemed in a trance, so she placed her hand over his and his eyes snapped to her. "Hey, Steph," he said without the usual spark in his eyes.
"What's going on? You are never lost in your own world."
"Nothing. I'm fine," he replied.
"If you don't want to talk about it, then that is fine. Just say that but don't lie to me," Steph told him as she turned away from his treadmill.
Les knew she hated when people lied to her, but he just wasn't sure how to tell her what was really going on. "Steph, wait." He got off the treadmill and walked up to her. "Can we go somewhere and talk?"
"Lead the way."
Les walked down the stairs to his 2-bedroom apartment and unlocked the door. They walked in and sat on his couch. "So, what's going on Les?"
Struggling with what to tell her, he finally decided to go with the truth. "I've not been sleeping lately, and I guess it's wearing on me."
"How long has it been?"
He looked up at the ceiling and then at her, "Three weeks."
Steph thought about it and finally asked, "What happened three weeks ago? Is that when some of the guys left for a short mission."
She saw him nod.
"Okay. Do you think you should have gone with them? Is that why you aren't sleeping?" She saw him shake his head. "Then what?"
Les looked at his feet, he knew he was going to tell her but couldn't look at her as he did. He didn't want to see the look in her face. "How do you sleep when someone you've slept next to for two years isn't there?"
Steph took a moment to look at Les, "Look at me; please?"
Les looked up and only saw love in her eyes; not the judgement he was waiting for.
"Have you tried taking something to help you sleep?"
"No, I don't want to ask for something and have to explain why I can't sleep."
"No one knows?" Another shake of Les' head.
"Do you think differently of me now?"
"Lester Santos! How can you ask that? You know I don't care about stuff like that. You can't help who you fall in love with." She put her arm around him and pulled him close. "So, how long have you two been together?"
"Officially, two years. Unofficially, three. We met in Miami the night before his interview with Rangeman. He didn't know I worked for, and was part owner of, Rangeman and I didn't know he had applied. We met at the bar and just never mentioned anything. Hooked up for the night and then the next day … man, you should have seen his face when he walked in and saw me at the table. I'm sure my face wasn't any better.
"Neither of us said anything, we did the interview, and well, he got the job. I walked him to the entrance after the interview and he asked if he got the job because of me. I was honest and told him no … that if it had been solely up to me, he wouldn't have the job."
"Why not? He seems good at what he does."
"He's great but I didn't want any backlash of me being his boss. We really hit it off and I knew after one night I wanted to see more of him. There was just something about being with him; i wasn't sure what hit was at first, so I just didn't want work to interfere. So, we've not told anyone.
"We did the long distance for a year and then he put in a transfer for here. Said he was tired of the warm weather all the time and wanted a change of scenery and to be able to go skiing.
"When he moved up here, he needed an apartment on site and all that was available was my two-bedroom, so he moved in."
"And how many people did you move around so that your apartment was the only available spot?" Steph asked with a smile.
"Lost track. I was shuffling people around like crazy for two months before he got here."
Les looked up at Steph, "I don't know how long he's going to be gone, how the hell do I get sleep? I miss him."
"You go ask Bobby for something to help you sleep. Or you go to the store and get some melatonin or something."