I own nothing the awsome Janet Evanovich does.

A Walk In The Park

Have you ever had that feeling that everything you know is about to change. Well, I have had that feeling all day festering in the pit of my stomach. My name is Stephanie Plum "The Bombshell Bounty Hunter." If you don't know the name yet just pull out the Trenton Gazette and read on. Yep that's me, I'm the one who had the Porsche turbo, turn into the Porsche Pancake by the Dump Truck. How about the one who always seems to roll in trash but always manages to get the bad guy.

My on again off again relationship with Trenton plain clothes detective Joseph Morelli, is currently on the on position for the last 6 months. I still kept my apartment, but pretty much stay at Joe's every night. We have learned to be with each other without the usual arguments, like who drank the last of the milk, who left the peanut butter top off. Most importantly Joe has come to let's say an "understanding "about my job and no longer begs me to quit. We have come up with a comfortable routine. Dinner most of the nights is provided by Pino's ( I still can't cook, but I have mastered grilled cheese and soup). Joe cooks bout two night out of the week he is actually very good at it, since he cooks I clean Hey it's only fair, and every Sunday we still eat at my Parents house. My mother still oversteps her relationship boundaries with Joe and I, always asking when he was going to make an honest women out of me. Joe would take my had look at my mother and say "we are happy the way we are there was no need to define our relationship when what we have works and we love each other." Leaving my mother pursing her lips but nod and change the subject.

However my issue with Joe is, I am not only love with him, but also my best friend, my mentor, my protector Ricardo Carlos Manoso aka "Ranger". From the moment I walked into that cafe there was no denying the chemistry between us. You see Ranger has always been there for me no matter what the issue from a place to stay/hide, to a job when it was needed, plus to many cars of his that I have sent to car heaven. In the 3 years that we have know each other, we have only been intimate once, but that night is so ingrained in my head that; on nights that I am doing surveillance on a skip and Lula is not with me, my mind will drift to that night and every touch, every whisper, every pleasure runs through my mind and I have yet again ruined another pair of panties.

I have managed to keep my distance from those brief run ins behind the Bonds office in the alley since our last encounter, where I told Ranger that this could no longer happen.

***Flashback***

I was at the Bonds office turning in a low grade body ticketon an FTA. I was talking to Lula and Connie, when I felt that familiar tingle at the base of my neck letting me know that Ranger was nearby. I continued to talk to the girls when I felt his palm on the back of my neck.

"Ladies" Ranger said to the girls

"Ranger" they replied

"Babe" he tightened his grip on my neck "Can I talk to you...outside?" he turns us to the door before I could even respond.

Following him outside I had butterflies in the pit of my stomach, and my heart was running a 10k by the time we rounded the corner. Rangers lips descended on mine faster than I could say "yummy". He could always get me hot and bothered but as soon as I smelt his Bulguri, I melted against him like an artist playing with molding clay. His lips on mine are so soft yet so full of passion. His tongue snaked out tracing my lips causing me to gasp in pleasure. Ranger taking advantage of my open mouth started to nibble on my lower lip. I felt a gush of warm fluid pool between my thighs. I clutched his shirt collar pulling him closer to me. He pushed me against the cold rough brick, while simultaneously grabbing my now weak thighs and lifting me up causing my legs to wrap around his waist. He proceeded to kiss me hungrily while grinding his now growing erection rhythmically between the junctions of my legs. My hands moved from his chest to the button of his jeans, to his zipper sliding it down to reveal his black silk boxers containing a big surprise. I proceeded to put my hand under his waist band, and was met with a throbbing engorged cock. I ran my fingertips along the top of his penis, circling the crown and stroking his shaft. He at this time was trailing kisses down my jaw line to the soft curveof my neck. Since I had no place for my mouth to go I started to nibble on his ear, inhaling more of his Bulguri. He growled lifting me higher on his waist. Our closeness caused us to lose contact with his manhood so I run my fingers through his hair. Did I mention I was wearing a skirt with a pair of red lace thongs. Well let me tell you it was not lost on Ranger.

"Dios babe your killing me!" he says while he grabs my ass cheeks caressing them. He kisses me harder and before Iknow it I'm panting for breaths, but then I am shortly rewarded with the deep intake of air, when he inserts a finger between my legs. I gasp pulling myself closer to him. OH MY GOD this feels sooo good. He then inserts another finger, gliding in and out of my now wet, warm, sensitive folds. I am so close just a little more.

"Ranger ?"

"Yes Babe"

"P..Please" Oh god what am I doing. I can't do this , for one thing I'M OUTSIDE behind the bonds office where ANYONE CAN SEE US. For the second thing I have told Ranger over and over that I DO NOT do casual sex. And thirdly and most importantly what about Joe.. OH MY GOD JOE.

"Please what Babe?" he increased his speed turning his fingers in a come hither motion between my walls. OH WOW he just hit the spot. That wonderful, wonderful spot. So very close. Come on Steph focus.

"Ranger stop" his whole body freezes, his left hand holding my ass, his right hand between my leg, his two fingers inside me. Everything is still.

"Steph?" he arches his brow. OH SHIT, well here goes.
"Ranger just listen a sec" he nods not saying anything so I continue.

"I...uh...Ranger...I ..."SHIT SHIT SHIT ! I take a deep breath. "I really want this" he smiles giving me that 200 watt smile.

"Me to Babe" he continues to move inside me and kiss me so hard I will have permanent brick marks on my back from where my shirt has ridden up. I moan and tighten my mussels around his fingers begging for more, all the while trying to will myself to stop. Come on Steph I coach myself YOU CAN DO THIS! I manage to press my hands on his chest pushing, THAT'S IT KEEP GOING.

"Ranger please just listen" he pulls back just a little but his fingers continue a slow leisurely pace. I bite my bottom lip DAMN IT FOCUS STEPH. "What are we doing here?" he chuckles (yes Ranger chuckled)

"Well isn't it obvious" I roll my eyes

"Yes physically I know what we are doing. I'm talking figuratively or emotionally" he just looks at me. "Ranger where does this leave us" his blank mask appears. GREAT.

"What do you mean Babe"

"This; what we're doing trips behind the Bonds Office, undressing each other with our eyes. You and me what are we?" he eases his fingers out of me.

"This is all it can be, My life does not allow for relationships. I thought you understood?" his eyes saddened, but if you did not know Ranger as well as I do you would never have saw it.

"I did...I do " I hesitated. God I love him so much. Ranger began to relax as he brought his palm to my cheek holding it. His brown eyes meeting mine.

"So what's the problem?" he bends to kiss me but I pull back.

"I love you" OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE! Ranger froze his eyes widen and take on a look I have never seen before. However it is gone before I can even begin to figure it out, and his normal hard gaze is back in place.

"Steph" oh shit Steph not Babe he's going to ship me to Siberia. "My loves comes with a condom not a trip down the aisle. This we are good at" he moves his hand in a circular motion indicating the situation. "Real good at" he continues. He starts to nuzzle my neck when he gets to my jaw he abruptly stops, pulls back and takes his thumb to his lips and licks them, he looks up his eyes holding mine for what seem like a year. He then raises his hand to my face and his thumb brushes something off my cheek, it's then that a realize that I was crying.

" I do love you Steph...but in my own way. What we have together is great I could not ask for..." he paused taking a deep breath. I allowed myself to get a little hopeful, but then he continues. "a better friend." my heart drops.

"A friend" I reply looking down.

"Of course" he puts me down fixing his clothes, putting something in his pocket before he zips his pants back up. "You know so much more about me than most. I consider you one of my best friends." He finishes his sentence in an almost "duh" sort of way.

'Ranger friends don't practically have sex outside."

"There are all types of friendship." He responds.

"No there are friends and then there are lovers, not both it never works out when you keep that friend status and continue something sexual, someone always gets hurt." Like me I thought to myself. "I can't continue to do this" his face dropped, "It's not fair to anyone, I can't keep hoping that you will love me back. You shouldn't have to be something you don't want to be, but most importantly Joe deserves better. He loves me and is faithful, he's a great person which is much more than I can say for myself. Yes I may not have actually slept with you while we were to together, but there was plenty of this. I cannot continue to betray him."

Ranger just stares at me for a while after I finished, and after a while he nods. "I understand Babe, I'm sorry I can't be what you need me to be." A tear slowly fell down my face. He lifted his hand to wipe it away, cupping my face with both of his hand's, he leans in tilting it to the side and kisses my cheek. "I will always be here for you Steph, whenever you need me. I can be your friend and respect you boundaries." With that said he backs away patting his pockets, and rounds the corner without a glance back.

***End Of Flashback***

That was six months ago, and Ranger has kept his word. We see each other only at the Bonds office, or at work at Rangeman, and everything stays friendly. If I need help on a skip Lester or Tank usually is the one to help. Ranger has been "in the wind" for the last two months and it has helped with my feelings for him. Out of sight out mind right? Wrong I am still in love with him and always will be, but by making my stand for all or nothing I have been able to concentrate on my relationship with Joe. Which brings me back to today and that feeling that everything is about to change. I pull into Joe' driveway in my Jeep Cherokee (which amazingly I have had for almost 5 months) but I can't open the door to get out, I just want to stay in my car in my Land Of Denial. "Come on Steph everything will be okay." I give myself a little pep talk. Grabbing my purse I wrench the door open and trudge up the steps. As I open the front door to Joe' house all I can smell is the aroma of spaghetti sauce throughout the house, making my stomach growl. I lay my purse on the entrance table calling out "Joe I'm home" and immediately hear heavy galloping coming from the kitchen. I brace myself against the door at the sight of Bob barreling down the hall towards me. He's running so fast that he can't slow down before he runs right into me, causing us both to roll in a Steph/Bob heap in the middle of the hall. Bob of course is the first to recover and stands over me since I'm flat on my back giving my face a Bob bath. He has me laughing so hard I can't catch my breath.

"Cupcake is that you" I hear Joe ask, but I can't respond because my whole body is trembling from laughing so hard. When Joe rounds the corner his eyes widen. "Cupcake are you alright? Bob get off her you big fur ball" he runs over to me, trying to push Bob away bending over to help me up he extends his hand out , to only have Bob jump on his hind legs and places his front paws on Joe' back causing him to fall forward. Joe tries to twist his body from landing on top of me by putting his hands out almost making a shield around me. I instantly grab for him as he falls to the side, which causes me to land on top of him. Once we manage to stop rolling we look at each other, laughing so hard we are both gasping for breath. When we finally settle down, Joe leans up to kiss me, a peck at first, but when he pulls back our eyes lock and I see so much love in them that my heart melts. My hand moves to his hair running my fingers through it. I lean down to give him another kiss, when Joe meets me the rest of the way kissing me with so much ferociousness that at first I'm a little taken back, but quickly reciprocated meeting him passion for passion. My hands moved to the hem of his shirt, lifting it up over his head throwing it to the side. My eyes wonder to his chest and my hand followed, I licked my lips. God he was SEXY!

Joe began to kiss from my ear to the hollow of my neck; he then moved the collar of my shirt to gain access to my shoulder,and proceeded to take off my shirt and discard it on top of his on the floor. He pulls back just slightly giving me the famous smile.

"God you're so beautiful. I love you so much."

"I love you too Joe." As soon as the words left my mouth Joe rolled us over causing him to be on top. His mouth covered mine and his hands were all over me. WOW…how many hands does this man have? He began to undo my pants pulling them off my legs, and proceeded to trail kisses down my body stopping at my bra that magically disappears within seconds. Making sure he gives equal attention to each breast. While he would suck on one nipple with his mouth he would then caress the other with his finger. Causing me to purr in pleasure.

"OH GOD Joe Please!" Joe snickers.

"Patience Cupcake"

Continuing with his path he was recently on he gets to my lace blue thong, letting out a groan.

"You always have the sexiest panties." He places a soft kiss between the center of my leg over my panties. Moving up slightly he puts his teeth on the band of them pulling downward pulling them off. I reached down running my fingers through his hair, begging for more. As soon as his magical talented tongue touched my warm, wet, and hyper sensitive pussy I jerked up arching my hips to his mouth. I felt his tongue enter me speaking to it as it was a foreign language. His thumb reach up caressing my clit as his tongue increased speed until my vaginal walls constrict releasing my fluids, causing me to scream out as my orgasm coursed through my body.

"Yes….YES…God Joe…YES!"

"Not done yet cupcake" he gives me an evil grin while getting up and reaching for my hand to help me up. As soon as I'm on my feet I push against his chest causing him to hit the wall.

"I know" I reply giving him my best sultry voice. My hand goes to the top of his pants undo his button and his zipper. Pulling his pants down, he's wearing boxer briefs that look so sexy on him because he has the most gorgeous ass, and you could see his cock bulging in them and he is not small by any stretch of the imagination. It's like unwrapping a present on Christmas, I lick my lips and begin to pull them down as well. YUMMY, I go down on my knees in the middle of the hall and began to take his large manhood in my mouth. At first I go slow along his shaft taking him as far as I could. What wouldn't fit in my mouth I began to stroke with my hand caressing his balls with my other. He put his hands behind my head pushing it further down his length. He lets out a deep growl.

"Yes Cupcake that feels so good. I love the way your sweet lips wrap around my dick. That's it baby a little faster." Seconds later I can feel him stiffen, I know he is so very close. Going faster, harder, deeper I continue. I feel his release about to flow when I pull back releasing him from my mouth. He whimpers biting down on his lower lip.

"Not yet Joe" he looks down at me with his deep brown eyes and smiles. He nods, letting me know without words he understands my need to prolong this. I give him a sultry smile and begin to move my hand along his length. He gasps for air, I can tell he is willing himself to hold back his release. A bead of Pre cum forms on his crown, and while keeping eye contact. I start to bend down to his engorged head of his cock, still never breaking eye contact I stick out my tongue circling his crown until I make contact with his manly spices. Still looking at him I moan, he tastes so good in my mouth I am humming with pleasure. I start to move faster along him that I have lost all other train of thought and my surroundings. Joe brings me out of my fog by saying.

"OH GOD STEPH you are so good at that!" his muscles tighten and I know he is about to explode, but I don't hold back increasing my speed and depth I fondle his balls. "Cupcake I'm about to cum…If…..you …don't …..Stop" he was panting now. "I going to explode in you mouth." He tries to pull back, him being use to me never completely going through to the end, but before he can pull all the way out I increase my movements.

"Cupcake ?" I meet his eyes again and what I see there makes me moan and heat poors through my body, the look alone in his eyes cause an orgasm to course through me, making me shiver in delight. Joe stiffens I can feel the pressure building about to flow from the base of his erection. "OH GOD STEPH…OH….MY….GOD…"is the last thing I hear before he explodes into my mouth, the force is so strong it's hard to think coherent thoughts. I take all of his seed and swallow every last drop savoring it all. Joe falls to the ground on his knees and envelopes me in his arms, both of us breathing heavy. He starts to place feather light kissed all over my shoulder neck and face whispering so fast, that I can't catch what he is saying. He pulls back just slightly putting his finger under my chin and lifts up meeting my eyes and says

"That was wonderful Steph, I have never felt anything like it." Our lips met and we share a very passionate, very sweet kiss. We can both taste salt from the tears that are now falling from our eyes. He stands us up handing me my panties and his shirt. "Let's get semi dressed and finish dinner, I made my spaghetti your favorite. I wanted our last night together to be special." He gives me a small smile and kisses my lips softly. Joe puts on his pants leaving them unbuttoned and grabs my hand and takes us to the kitchen where he has the table set with flowers and candles and a basket of garlic bread. I look over at him and a stray tear escapes my eyes. Joe leans over brushing it away and gives me a sad smile. Making us both laugh sadly to follow the now gloomy mood. Squeezing his other hand I say "Come on Chef lets finish Dinner."

Did I forget to mention that Joe is moving to Boston tomorrow, He got a promotion to become Chief of Police and that I was staying here. Tonight will be the last night we get to spend together and the end of an era of the on again off again relationship. Yep the Joe and Cupcake saga has come to an end, but we are ok with this. We realized we are way better as friends. Thinking back to the night he told me who would have thought we could end it like this as friends, Best Friends and nothing more after tonight. See I told you everything is about to change.
***Flashback***
I was at Joe's cleaning the house. When he comes in calling out, "Cupcake I'm home." Things with Joe the last month has been going great, but the last week he has been so quiet. We would be eating dinner and I would look up finding him looking at me. I would smile ask him if I had something on my face and he would just smile shake his head and say "Your just so beautiful" causing me to roll my eyes. The rest of the week I would catch him finding a reason to touch me, not in an intimate way more of an "I just need to be around you way. One night I woke up to the weirdest feeling of being watched and open my eyes to find Joe just staring at me. I asked him what was wrong placing a my hand on his forearm rubbing up and down encouraging him to tell me. He went to open his mouth hesitating just briefly "Nothing I just couldn't sleep it's ok go back to bed." He reaches out to me turning my back side into his front spooning me and placing kisses into my hair, breathing in deeply, whispering so softly into my ear that I can't understand him. This same pattern has gone on all week and today it was going to stop, I have known Joe since I was in diapers I know when something is bothering him. I hear Joe calling my name again bring me out of my thoughts.

"In here Joe" I have just finished with the dishes and I wipe my hands on a dish towel placing it on the faucet. .

"Hey Cupcake, wow it looks great in here." He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"Hey how was work?" I walk over to him putting my arm around his neck giving him a welcome home kiss, which he reciprocates by matching my desire.

"It was fine" he squeezes me tighter.

"Hey listen we need…" we both start to say at the same time, pulling back just staring at each other. So I continue "to talk" and he nods his head. "You first" he says after a long pause.

'Ok…well…It's just lately you have been acting different, and it's just got my spidey senses all haywire." Joes eyes get sad. "I have tried to give you" he grabs my hands and walks us to the couch, sitting down he puts an arm around shoulder still holding one hand. "But you haven't said anything, so I'm just going to ask are you seeing someone else" my lips starts to quiver.

"Oh Cupcake... No I could never do that to you"

'Then what is it Joe do you need to take another break, because I thought things are going really great" to my astonishment I start to cry.

"Oh Honey don't cry" Joe wipes a tear from my cheek. "You make me so happy; I love you so much it hurts." I look up confused.

"Then what is it Joe?" he takes a deep breath.

"Ok here goes…I know I have been acting off this past week. It's just….I don't know…SHIT…." he gets up and paces, mumbling to himself. Then he stops and turns to me with tears in his eyes. Oh God what is wrong, walking over to me he kneels in front of me taking my hands again rubbing his thumb against the top of my hand, his eyes meet mine pleading for me to understand.

"I got a promotion, they want me to be chief of police."

"Wow that great" I start to relax, but then I still see tears in Joes eyes.

"It's in Boston" oh no.

"Oh" I say so stupid Steph oh come on.

" I've know for a week now but I just didn't know how to tell you.