I should be writing a paper for my bio lab as well as getting more done for my other ongoing stories, BUT I thought it'd be fun to have a little project in honor of October and Stephanie's birthday;)

Ever since the series began, I don't think Steph's gone past the 'early thirties' line. I think it's only fair that Stephanie hits 40 before I doXD

Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.

"We should have a party and shit." Lula's comment made me snap my head up from the file in my hands.

"For what?" I asked. It was a little too early for my liking and I'm in desperate need of coffee. Maybe after a doughnut I'll be better equipped to decipher Lula's thoughts.

"Whaddayya mean for what?" Lula huffed, instantly shooting up from her position on the faux leather couch. "To celebrate your birthday!"

"Ah, I see." I grimaced, the image of total disaster and chaos invading my mind. "It's not necessary." A small shrugged escaped me. "There's nothing to celebrate."

"What you talkin' about?" Lula scoffed, saying that it wasn't every year that I turned another age.

Connie laughed. "Yeah, it is."

I ignored their little debate. Truth be told, I've been having a bit of an issue with my upcoming birthday. The big four-o sounds pretty scary. "Gotta go. Places to be." With a little finger wave, I was gone.

By noon I had a couple of body receipts for Connie.

"You were busy this morning." Connie wrote me a check, which I pocketed before sitting down.

"They were both regulars." I let out a sigh.

"What was that all about?" Connie gave me a raised eyebrow.

"I'm just tired."

"Are you okay?" Connie gave me a funny look. "You're not…"

My eyes widened when it dawned on me what she was referring to. "No, no, no, no." I shook my head, assuring her that I'm not depressed. "I'm just a little bummed, I guess."

"Gurl, you better snap out of it." Lula's voice boomed in the otherwise silent Bonds office. She placed the bag of food on Connie's desk. "What you need is to party." Lula declared, selecting a carton of food from the bag and digging in.

"She's probably right." Connie selected another carton of food, automatically choosing for both of us.

"When's the last time you celebrated your birthday?" Lula washed down her food with a big gulp of Coke. "And I'm talking about some good ol' partying."

I brought a forkful of rice to my mouth and thought about it. "When I turned 18…" I shook my head. "No, actually, it was around 21-ish…"

Lula gasped in outrage. "That's gotta change." She said it was about time I celebrated my birthday again.

I smiled at her eagerness, thinking it couldn't hurt. "Fine." I agreed to a party. The two cheered their approval and their enthusiasm robbed me a smile.

S&R

I was sitting on my couch surfing the web for a costume idea since Connie had the bright suggestion of turning my birthday party into a costume one. Secretly, I'm starting to really get into the whole party thing. If I could only figure out my costume…

"Babe." Ranger's voice made me snap my gaze from the computer screen.

"Hey." I accepted his kiss and scooted over to make room for him.

"What are you doing?" He shot a quick glance at the screen, his right eyebrow lifting ever so slightly.

I filled him on the party plan. "I'm not sure what I'm going to dress up as."

"I thought you didn't want to make a big deal."

"I know." I shrugged, admitting that maybe a lively party will help me deal better with the notion of hitting the forties.

"Babe." The tilt of his head and his tone indicated he wasn't following.

"Forty seems like an important mark." And maybe I am feeling a little insecure about it.

"It's just a number." Ranger was clearly the voice of reason here.

"Easy for you to say." I gave him a playful swat, my hand making contact with a cargo-clad muscular thigh. "You already turned 40." And it suits him well, because he's as yummy as ever.

In a flash I found myself pinned below Ranger, our bodies stretched along the length of the couch. "What is this really about, Stephanie?" His use of my given name meant he was serious.

"I don't know." I wrapped my arms around him, holding on tight and simultaneously pressing his body that much closer to mine. Sinking into the soft cushions and having his hard body above mine felt heavenly.

"Yes, you do." Ranger's hips rotated, pressing an impressive bulge against my doodah.

A moan escaped. "I thought this was a serious conversation." My hips moved of their own volition, rubbing our covered sexes together. A groan escaped him as another moan tumbled past my lips. "You're cheating." He knows I can't concentrate on serious stuff when his tempting body is within reach.

"Saw my opportunity and took it." He flashed me his 200-watt smile, illuminating the room while simultaneously brining the fire of desire up another notch. When his hands skimmed up my sides to cup my breasts, I knew I was in deep trouble.

But when his mouth fused to mine and he did that thing with his tongue while thrusting his hips, I was done.

"Old…" I gasped when we broke apart for air.

Ranger continued working his magic, coiling me tighter and tighter… "You're not old, Babe." His lips brushed against mine when he spoke, hips picking up force. The friction combined with his voice and presence pushed me over the edge.

The orgasm was satisfying, but a little too quick and fleeting. I cupped his face in my hands and kissed him. "Ranger." It was a soft demand.

"Babe." He chuckled, a husky sound I hear often when we're in private. "Feeling better?" He asked, leaving a trail of open mouth kisses down my throat.

"Hmmm…." I snaked a hand down his back, landing a playful spank on his firm ass. It was my turn to laugh at the slight jerk of his body.

Perhaps age and experience isn't such a bad combo after all.