Disclaimer: All characters belong to JE. I'm just using them for my pleasure. Mmmm, pleasure & Ranger in the same thought... *drool* This is a sequel to my stories: Anniversary Surprise and The Great Birthday Hunt. You don't have to read those to read this one, but if you don't, you'll be missing out! Warning for lemony goodness. This is the FFn-compliant version of the chapter. For all the extra lemony goodies, check my profile for a link.

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The Next Step

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Chapter 1: Decisions
Ranger's POV

It had been three weeks since my birthday and the epiphany I'd had. Stephanie and I had been officially together for nearly a year and a half, but I'd loved her almost since the minute I first saw her. I had been telling myself for years that I wasn't going to get married again, but Steph, my Babe, had completely changed my mind. She was the air I breathed and the best thing in my life. Now, I just prayed that when I ask her to be my wife, she'll say yes.

After our one year dating anniversary and my birthday scavenger hunts, I wanted to play again. It was the best way I knew to get Stephanie to accept any gifts I bought her, although I'd never tell her that was my main reason for playing in the first place! So here I was, sitting in my office on a Monday afternoon, plotting. I came up with seven places that held special memories for the two of us. My final destination was going to, hopefully, be forever.

My first step was to call Frank Plum. As I dialed Steph's parents' house, my gut clenched.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Helen. This is Carlos. Could I please speak with Frank?" I asked.

"Of course, Carlos. Hold on just a minute, please."

I began to pace as I waited.

Two minutes later, his voice came over the line. "Hello, Carlos. How are you today?"

"I'm good, thank you. I was wondering if maybe we could meet for some coffee or something. I'd like to speak with you in person."

"Sure, that would be fine. Why don't we meet at the diner near you in an hour?"

I looked at my watch. "That'd be fine. See you then." Hanging up the phone, I called Tank into my office.

He came sauntering in, thumbs in the pockets of his cargoes, looking completely relaxed and at ease. "What's up, boss?"

"Have a seat." While he sat across from my desk, I sank down into my chair. I pulled the box from my pocket, tossed it gently to him, and watched as he opened it.

Whistling, he closed the box and tossed it back to me. "When?"

"Going to talk to her father in an hour," I said. "Planning on a couple of weeks from now. I want to do another scavenger-type hunt and have her meet me at my house to ask her."

"Aww, big man is getting soft."

I growled at him. "You aren't any better about Lula."

He blinked. "Okay, okay. Got me there. What can I do?"

"I'm going to ask Ella to make sure the house is ready. I have pictures of mine and Steph's families and of Steph and me I want hung. Everything else should be okay; just any other homey touches Ella thinks the place could use. Could you work with Ella and help her with anything that needs done?"

"Sure, Carlos. Anything you need, man. Just let me know."

I gave him a nod as he got up and left the office. I read over the previous night's surveillance reports filed by Hal and Binkie until it was time to head out to meet Steph's father. At 1530, I grabbed my keys and walked down to the garage.

Ten minutes later, I pulled up at the diner and grabbed a table at the back, unconciously putting my back to the wall. Steph's father walked in five minutes after I'd sat down, looked around, and then headed toward me. I stood and offered him my hand, and he sat across from me after shaking.

"Thanks for meeting me," I said.

The waitress, an older woman with gray hair and worry lines running across her face, bustled over. "What can I get you two?" she asked, pulling out an order pad from her pocket.

"I'll just take a small black coffee," Frank told her.

I ordered a green tea with lemon. We talked about my work and Stephanie's sister Valerie and her kids until the waitress brought our drinks, and then Frank looked at me with a serious expression on his face.

"So what's going on?" he asked me.

"Sir, I love your daughter. We've been dating for over a year and a half. I would like to ask her to marry me, but I wanted to ask for your blessing first."

"Carlos, I couldn't think of a better man for my daughter. I know her mother was dead set for a long time on Joseph Morelli marrying Stephanie, but I've known for a long time that he wasn't the right one for her. He wants a 'Burg wife, and Stephanie really doesn't want that life. I often have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. You let her fly instead of trying to tie her down to a life she wasn't meant to fit in. You have my blessings, son. Just make my girl happy."

"I will, sir. Thank you."

He nodded once and then took a sip of his coffee. We made small talk for a few minutes and then stood up as we finished our drinks. I thanked him again as we walked out to our vehicles to head home.

I got back to RangeMan a few minutes later and headed up to Steph's office. She had moved into an actual office a few weeks ago as head of the new official Bond Enforcement Division of RangeMan. As usual, Steph had her back to the door as she stared out the window. I quietly closed and locked the door before walking up behind her and putting my hand on the back of her neck, bending down to whisper in her ear, "Babe."

She whirled around and shrieked, throwing her arms around my waist. "Don't scare me like that!" She laughed as I pulled her up to stand in front of me.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close to me. "Need to be—"

"More aware of my surroundings," she finished for me. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Did you ever think that I like you sneaking up on me?" She grinned.

I pulled her even tighter against me, and with one hand fisted in her hair, moved my lips to hers. I kissed her tenderly, my tongue snaking out and tracing her lips until they parted, allowing me in. She moaned against my lips, and I felt my already hard dick become steel.

I pushed her legs apart enough to slide my thigh between hers and pulled her hard against me. The hand that wasn't tangled in her curls moved down to palm her breast, massaging gently, before moving down and around to cup her ass and pull her tighter to my thigh.

I tore my mouth from hers, nipping her bottom lip once before kissing my way down her cheek, past her jaw, and down her neck. I found her pulse point and began to use my mouth to work her into a feverish state. My tongue licked the spot before my teeth found their mark as I nibbled and sucked. My hand moved around to find her clit through her cargoes. When my fingers found the hard nub, I circled it a few times before finally rubbing it once.

Steph threw her head back, exposing more of her neck, and as I began to mark her with my lips and teeth, my fingers rubbed her clit roughly once, twice, and then a third time. She screamed, her orgasm overtaking her as she came. I continued to gently rub her through her cargoes and suckle her neck until her trembling had calmed to almost nothing.

"C-Carlos," she whispered, still trying to catch her breath.

I sat down in her seat and pulled her down to my lap.

"Not that I didn't enjoy it, but what brought that on?"

"Seeing you just brings out the animal in me, Babe. I couldn't resist. Watching you come is the most beautiful, awe-inspiring sight in the world."

There was a knock on the door. "Hey, Beautiful, you available?" Lester's voice boomed through the door.

I put my finger to Steph's lips and stood her on her feet, creeping quietly to the door. As carefully as I could, I unlocked her door, turned the knob, and then pulled it open.

Lester flew into the room and slammed against my chest. "Ranger, what the hell, man?"

Stephanie was almost rolling on the floor in tears, she was laughing so hard.

I couldn't help but chuckle as I pushed Lester off my chest. "Get the fuck off me, Santos. I'm taken, and besides, I don't swing that way."

I danced out of his way as he took a friendly swing at me.

"What do you need, Les?" Steph asked, making her way to me and putting an arm around my waist.

"Just wanted to double check what time we were going to go out tomorrow to pick up the three skips from today."

"Right after the morning meeting okay with you?"

"Works for me. Okay, I'm outta here," he said, grinning. "Got a date with Heidi tonight. Will see you in the morning."

Steph and I laughed.

"See you tomorrow," Steph replied.

I gave him a nod, and he left the office, whistling all the way down the hall.

Checking my watch, I saw it was quitting time. "Ready for dinner, Babe? Ella will have dinner for us in an hour. We can head upstairs," I said, bending down to whisper the rest in her ear, "and spend some quality time on the couch before she gets there."

She didn't even respond verbally. Taking my hand, she led me over to the desk, where she quickly logged off the computer, grabbed her gun and purse from her drawer, and then walked out of the office with me hot on her heels.

We made it upstairs in record time and had our boots and accessories off within seconds of arriving inside the apartment. I swooped her up in my arms and planted myself on the sofa, settling Steph in my lap.

She was straddling my thighs, facing me, and before she could react, I whipped her shirt off over her head and had her bra undone. I pulled the straps down her arms, and tossed it to the side with her shirt. Bending my head down, my lips found a nipple, and I sucked it into my mouth, my tongue teasing it until it was a hard, pointy nub.

With one hand pressed against her lower back to hold her upright, my other hand found her other nipple and began to tweak it. Steph's hands moved to my hair and pulled the leather tie out, letting it fall around my shoulders. She fisted her hands in it, tugging gently, as I moved my head down to her breast. I began nibbling her tender flesh with my teeth. She moaned, and I moved my hand from her other nipple, sliding it down her body. I unbuttoned her cargoes and slid my hand inside, past the top of her panties, until I found her wet heat.

I plunged two fingers deep inside her as I switched to the other nipple, biting it before sucking hard.

"God, Carlos!" she cried out when I added a third finger.

I curled my fingers, stroking her front wall with every thrust. Just a few thrusts later, she came apart in my arms for the second time in ten minutes.

As soon as she could speak, Steph quietly demanded, "Fuck me, Carlos." She stood up and pulled her pants and panties off in one swoop, leaving me room to stand up and peel off my clothes, as well. I grabbed her hand and moved her to the end of the couch. I pulled her to me so my throbbing erection was trapped between us.

"Do you feel how ready I am for you, Babe?" I growled, kissing her passionately for a moment.

I spun her around and forced her to bend over the arm of the couch, thrusting into her completely, all within a few seconds.

Stephanie's third orgasm came minutes later, and when I felt my own bubbling up from inside me, I flicked her clit, bringing her over one last time as I let myself go.

We stood there for several minutes, my dick softening slowly inside her, before I finally pulled myself away from her. I led her back around to the couch and lay down, pulling her down in front of me so we were face to face.

"Te amo, Stephanie," I whispered, brushing my lips softly across her forehead.

"I love you, too, Carlos," she said, smiling.

We lay there for a few minutes until we heard a soft knock on the door. I quickly grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch and pulled it down to cover us.

Soon, Ella came walking in, pushing a cart with our dinner on it. "Hello, you two. Is now okay for dinner?"

I grinned at her over Steph's shoulder. Stephanie was a bright red, embarassed at nearly being caught completely naked. "Now is great. Thank you, Ella."

"My pleasure," she replied. "Enjoy! I'll be by in the morning to get the dishes."

"Thank you," Steph mumbled.

Ella laughed as she left the apartment.

As soon as she was gone, Steph jumped up and ran to lock the door. "Carlos! She nearly caught us!"

I chuckled. "Babe, it's okay. She didn't see anything." I stood up and began walking toward the kitchen. "Now come and eat. You need your strength for later." I winked as her eyes grew big.

"Again? You're insatiable!"

"Only when it comes to you, Babe. Only you."