Thank you for the awesome support to this crazy idea. I almost didn't upload it. I mean, Stephanie luring Ranger in for the best treat of his life? Like, who'd want to read that?*snickers*

The consensus in the reviews is that Babe has really pulled the Tiger's tail and should definitely escalate the teasing. She's got 30 days left, with big days like her birthday and Halloween thrown in there, haha.

I've had half of Day two sitting on my computer for about three weeks now. I just couldn't decide if the below was too soon for day 2 or not. In the end, I've decided to stick with my original day 2 idea.

Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. The rusty writing is mine.

Day 2- October 2nd

It was exactly 0500 when I screeched to a halt in the underground garage at Rangeman.

I spent all night tossing and turning, unable to conceive sleep. At around midnight, I swapped my flannel jammies with spandex shorts and a tank top. It didn't feel like October in my bedroom. Nope! It felt like scorching August.

An advantage of working here is that I know everyone's schedules. The Merry Men like to be up and at 'em quite early, starting with a 5am gym session. Ranger likes to get a head start, enjoying his workout bliss in solitary.

I put purpose to my steps as I breezed towards the gym. My money was on Ranger being in the showers while the guys slowly trickled into the gym for their session.

As I waltzed into the room, I grinned with triumph. Some men were slowly starting their religious routine, while others were likely on their way down to do the same.

I kept my head low, trying to avoid any chance of someone intercepting my path, and turned my brisk walk to a near jog. Luckily, I reached the locker room without incident.

I took a deep breath, wishing and hoping I wasn't wrong and inadvertently walked in on the wrong Rangeman. That'd certainly be very weird, not to mention disciplinary meeting worthy.

As I moved past the rows of lockers, I worked on regulating my breathing. I don't know what I'll do once I see him, but what I do know is that I just need to see him.

I let out my final whoosh of air when I finally made it to the showers. Sure enough, my suspicion was correct: only one man currently occupied the vast room.

Just my luck would have it that it was my Rangeman.

S&R- Ranger's POV

I couldn't conceive sleep. Not after the events of last night.

All throughout dinner Babe chatted, laughed and smiled with the men. She was genuinely having a good time and so were the guys. Every time our gazes met, albeit briefly, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest. She was finally with us, working alongside us and complementing our team in a way no one else could. So yeah, I've been a little hesitant to resume my insistent persuasion where she's concerned. For that reason, I've let her be these past several weeks.

But last night changed everything.

I am not a Saint and after last night's events it seems us will have to be a matter of discussion. And soon.

A little after 0300 I gave up trying to sleep and ventured down to the gym. Cardio, weights, and the heavy bag were my training of choice this early morning. I called it quits right before the men started filing down for their 0500 workout.

I'd been in the shower for about 5 minutes, allowing hot water to cascade over my sore body, when my thoughts took over again. The memory of me driving Babe home, followed by me escorting her to her apartment on the second floor has replayed vividly in my mind this early morning. When Babe unlocked her front door, with me standing close behind in hopes of an invitation inside, she surprised me by taking advantage of the proximity to brush her tempting ass against my crotch. Once her door was finally unlocked, she turned around to focus those deep blues on me and leaned in closer. I was both disappointed and excited when her lips kissed me again, twice in the same day is a bonus, except those luscious lips pressed softly against the side of my mouth. While I was trying to decipher what her plan was, she swung her door open and walked in only to slam the door closed in my face! True, I could have picked my way inside, and she knew it, but where's the fun in that?

A tingle in the back of my neck alerted me of a presence. Automatically, my hand moved to my nape as I whirled around. My lips twitched at the sight of her. "Babe." A full blown grin spread across my face as she padded my way. She was wearing a tank and stretchy spandex shorts. Her hair was in a messy ponytail. She looked like a wet dream barreling my way.

Unlike a dream, the spell didn't break when she crushed her body against mine. Our lips met once again, igniting a desire so vast that it scorched my body wherever our skin touched.

While tongues tangled, her hands touched me seemingly everywhere except the one place where I really needed her to touch, grip, tug, lick, lap, or something! Anything!

"Are you finally going to tell me what's gotten into you?" I breathed my question against her lips when we parted for air. Taking advantage of the moment, I pressed her against the side wall. The new position caused the water to splatter against my right side, meanwhile our fronts pressed flush together.

"Ranger." She said my name on a whine. "You really wanna talk right now?" Her fingers outlined the groves of my abs before following the v of my torso to splay torturously low on my abdomen. Shaking my head in the negative, I leaned forward to reclaim her lips in a hungry kiss.

As our tongues tangled, our hands continued their exploration. It has been so long since we've been this close that my greedy hands can't seem to decide on one place. Since I couldn't choose, I resorted to roaming freely.

Babe did the same, allowing her hands to move from my torso to my back and finally my ass. With her hands out of the way, our bodies rubbed insistently. When the motion didn't fully fulfill our needs, I gripped her thighs in an effort to get her to wrap her long legs around my waist. It only took a bit of coaxing before she did just that.

Babe jerked her head back suddenly, severing our kiss in the process, and moaned. Her breathing grew shallower and her hands gripped my shoulders as I felt a very familiar fluttering against my erection.

"Babe." I watched her chest rise and fall in tandem with mine as she slowly came down from the high.

"Ranger, I..." Her eyes were wide, obviously shocked that the orgasm had seemingly sneaked up on her. By the looks of it, she was disappointed by the quick, fleeting pleasure. Good, because I want in on the rapture.

S&R- Steph's POV

I was still trying to catch my breath from the unexpected climax, meanwhile staring at Ranger's handsome face, when the sound of footsteps reached my ears. Looking over my shoulder, I caught sight of none other than Cal entering the showers.

Panic threatened to skyrocket my heartbeat once again. Thinking fast, I slid down the small shower wall. Man, was I thankful I'd untangled myself from Ranger in my post orgasmic bliss.

Breathing heavy, I pondered my options: make a break for it or stay.

Looking up, I was greeted with a very aroused piece of Ranger's anatomy. Forcing myself to continue my ascend, I caught a peek at Ranger's very unhappy face. Who could blame him? I'd be unhappy too if he got some extra pleasure and I didn't.

This was a really bad idea, Stephanie.

What was I thinking? Well, I guess that's the problem. I wasn't thinking.

Risking getting caught and never being able to live this down with the Merry Men, I chanced another peek. I really don't want to see the guys in this context, so I was thankful when I saw Cal's right foot join the rest of his body in the shower three stalls down. This was my shot. I waited for the water to turn on before I crawled out of Ranger's space. Crouching low I moved past the empty stalls on the opposite end and prayed no one else decided to cut their exercise short today.

Someone must have heard my prayer, because the the locker room was still empty. The men were still in their zone, working out in happy bliss to notice me hauling ass out of the gym.

Just when I thought I could finally catch my breath I found myself with a new dilemma. My shift starts in about an hour, give or take based on my calculations, and I'm currently standing in the underground garage soaking wet and barefoot. I blew out a sigh.

The way I see it I've got three options.

Option 1: drive back to my apartment.

Pro: I'll have some distance from Ranger.

Con: I'm wet and barefoot.

Option 2: go up to seven and use the shower in Ranger's Penthouse.

Pro: Ranger's shower is heavenly.

Con: Ranger would join me in the shower to finish what we started.

Wait. I'm not sure that's really a con. Hmmm...

Guess I'll have to go with option number three.

I loaded the elevator on the garage level and waved at the camera. I held out six fingers and waited for the guy on duty to get the message and send me up to the sixth floor. A few seconds later the doors closed and the elevator whirled in motion.

I waved my thanks before unloading on Ella's haven. Suddenly losing my bravado, I shyly rapped on Ella's apartment door. Three knocks later the door opened and Ella's motherly face came into view.

"Oh, dear. You're soaking wet." Ella's brow furrowed.

"Yes." In more ways than the obvious. "Could I use your shower?" I fibbed, saying I didn't want to keep the guys from using the gym showers while I showered after my 'workout'.

"Of course." Ella waved me in and I was finally able to relax a bit.

"Shoot. I, uhm, forgot my uniform." I grimaced. I really wasn't thinking when I jumped out of bed in search of Ranger.

"No worries, dear. I actually have new uniforms for you." Well, isn't that convenient?

After thanking Ella and assuring that she is in fact a lifesaver, I took a speedy shower and dressed in record time. I didn't want to give myself enough time to really ponder what happened with Ranger. I've got a full day of work ahead and need to keep my head in the game. Tonight, once I'm alone, I'll be able to afford thinking about the repercussions of tempting Ranger.

As a token of my appreciation, I helped Ella stock the break room with breakfast goodies and got the coffee going before the official start of our morning shift.

I was scarfing down an everything bagel with cream cheese when Lester joined me in the break room.

"Good morning, Beautiful." He selected a toasted wheat bagel and filled his travel mug with coffee.

"Good morning, Les." I said once I gulped my coffee to wash down the remnants of my bagel.

"You ready?"

"For?"

"Patrol duty." Les flashed me his best grin. "You're with me today, Beautiful."

"Cool." I said I was ready to roll. Best to be out of the building this morning. That should give Ranger some time to cool off.

"Where's your utility belt?" Les gave me a quick scan from head to toe. "Or your weapon?"

"They're in my car." I have no idea where I left my keys after the shower incident, but I'm betting I left my car unlocked.

"I figured." Les dug into a side pocket of his cargo pants and handed me my car keys. "I found these on the gym floor." He said he was proud of me getting more exercise time in, but reminded me to be aware of my surroundings.

"Yep. Got it." I assured, not wanting to shine more attention to my early morning gym incident.

S&R

I closed my front door and locked it, before paying a quick visit to Rex.

"Hey Rex, I'm sorry about my abrupt departure this morning." I said to Rex as I dropped some food pellets into his cage. "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow before work, because I'm beat." Rex filled his cheek pouches with food before disappearing inside his soup can. Good chat, buddy.

My nightly routine was completed on autopilot. I was exhausted after deliberately taking back to back patrol shifts. Patrol rounds kept me on the streets of Trenton and out of the Rangeman building. Sadly, my ass cramped halfway through my second shift. The last twenty minutes of my second shift were true torture once lack of sleep and exhaustion finally caught up with me.

I swapped my Rangeman uniform for fresh cotton panties and an oversized T-shirt I commandeered from Ranger a long time ago. It no longer smells like his unique Bulgari scent, but it's comfy sleepwear.

By the time I finally crawled into bed, I was ready for a dreamless sleep. My head all but hit the pillow as slumber finally called my name.

I awoke with a start some time later. Breathing hard, I lay still in the darkness of my bedroom as I tried to figure out why I was startled awake despite being exhausted. I can usually sleep like a rock after a busy and exhausting day.

A slight rustle of clothing along with a very familiar scent alerted me of a presence. I wasn't alone.

"Ranger?" I called out into the darkness just before my hand made contact with the bedside lamp. Blindly, I fidgeted until light bathed the room. I was both relieved and nervous to discover that my night intruder was in fact Ranger.

A grin caused his lips to twitch as he stalked closer to my bed. "Babe."

Oh boy.