Chapter 41: Unbelievable
Steph’s POV
I’m furious and frantic to get back to Miami and find Hector. Ranger is looking at me, concerned, and he keeps stroking my hands, but I won’t be OK until I see Hector.
He cannot die. Hector is a legend. He will not die on me. I can’t call Nikki and tell her this. I can’t tell Hector Manuel that his Tío is dead.
The drive that seemed so leisurely four days ago is now torture. No one has called us since the first call.
“That’s a good thing, Babe,” Ranger says.
I stare at him.
“If Hector were critical, I would have gotten multiple updates by now. He’s fine.”
“What happened? How did Hector get shot?”
I feel Ranger sigh. “Hector’s been running intel for me during this trip. He called tonight to say he felt someone was after him, that he might be shot.” Ranger kisses my hand, but I’m not comforted. “He expected this, Babe, so he was prepared. He had on his vest. The guys were with him. I expect we’ll get back to RangeMan and find him sitting up with a large bruise somewhere on his chest.”
“So you knew this was going to happen?” Now I’m furious at Ranger. How dare he keep this from me?
Ranger sighs. “I knew this was a possibility, but I also knew Hector would take precautions. I didn’t see the need to worry you about a possibility.”
That’s the same thing. You knew! “Why has he been running intel and why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Hector is a legend on the streets. The very threat of him forces people to talk. Between Hector’s ability to pull info from the streets and Manny’s ability to work the official channels, I can get info three times faster than anyone else.”
“So Manny’s involved too?” My God, who isn’t involved in this? I can’t take Manny getting shot again.
“Yes, Manny’s tapped back into the feeb network for me. The two of them are working very well together. Hector and Manny were there when I explained the op to everyone. Remember? All the XOs are involved too, Babe, you know that. Their job is to respond to calls from me, Manny, or Hector in regards to this case. Remember one weekend you were down 10 men in Trenton and had a bunch of contract workers in?”
I think back. Yes, that was about two weeks ago. Hal’s only comment was that it was “CCO” and I nodded because I knew that must mean Chief Commanding Officer, i.e. Ranger, op-related.
“So why didn’t you tell me Hector was involved? Why didn’t anyone tell me Hector was involved?”
“Babe, this is related to my op. In this case, the less you know, the better.” I’m ready to go rhino on him when he kisses my wrist. “Babe, can you fool a polygraph exam?”
I think about it. “Never had one.”
“Could you hold up under intense questioning without a lawyer?”
I slump. Yes, but I’d be pissed. “How many times am I allowed to plead the 5th?”
Ranger chuckles. “Exactly. Hector’s dealt with both those situations time and time again. He passes flawlessly. Manny’s been trained on interrogation techniques by the FBI. He won’t break either. The XOs could probably all pass. Well, Javier and Hal might squeak by if they can avoid coloring.”
I snort at that. Hal colors at almost everything unless he’s angry. Javier is excitable when upset.
“One thing I’ve learned this past week is that there are elements in this case who are gunning for me. They were going to try to do it using the company, but with you in charge, it threw them. They know you aren’t involved in my ops, Babe, and I want to keep it that way. You’re helping my op just by being in charge.”
Ranger passes me his handkerchief, but I can’t cry. Not yet. My partner cannot die. He cannot. Who else will send me flowers every Wednesday? Teach me how to do a blank face? Salsa and tango with me in the clubs? Hector has cooked meals for me and shown me how to make some simple things. He teases me about makeup and holds my hand in public.
I love Hector. I love my partner. He cannot die on me. I didn’t have a chance to have his back for him. And I’m furious at Ranger. I don’t care that it was merely a possibility. He should have told me. He should’ve let me know that my partner was expecting to be shot. There’s no excuse for this.
This drive is taking forever, so Ranger starts singing low and soft in the car. It’s a lullaby, that much I can tell, and it calms me. We need to get back and soon.
“Babe?”
I sit up, startled. Ranger smiles at me. How long—
“Five minutes, Babe. Max.”
I can see RangeMan Miami ahead. We pull into the garage and I’m out of the car before Ranger has even parked. I run through the doors directly to the stairwell, where Armando meets me, smiling. He won’t move; I can’t get past him.
“He had on his vest, CO. He’s fine. Sitting in his apartment, wondering why Ella keeps dabbing cream on him.”
I don’t care. MOVE! I need to see him. Ranger comes up behind me and gently pulls me away from Armando. I was nearly climbing him in an effort to enter the stairwell. Ranger grasps me around the waist and moves me toward the elevator.
“Ella is here?”
“Yes,” Ranger replies. “I’ll explain later.” Armando nods and we move into the elevator. We hit the 7th floor and I head to the room with all the guys trailing in and out.
I freeze in the doorway. Hector is sitting on the couch, frowning, with Ella dabbing a strong cream on him. I can’t move. I’m scanning Hector, head to toe, to make sure he’s alive. Hector spots me and smiles, but his smile dims as he looks at me. He reaches for a T-Shirt, pulls it on slowly, and walks toward me. His walk is stiff.
A/N: Just a guide for understanding. When the conversation is Spanish with an English translation, it means Hector and Steph are keeping up the ruse of Hector only speaking Spanish and Steph not understanding. Conversations in italics are when Hector is with someone who speaks Spanish openly (i.e. not Steph)!
“Estoy vivo, Angelita. ¿Ven?” (I’m alive, Angelita. See?) Ranger translates while Hector runs my hands over his body, including where I saw that huge bruise. I start running my hands all over him and I’m just barely aware of the RangeMen leaving. His eyes are completely bloodshot. Sith Lord Hector. I sob and squeeze my partner in a big hug.
Hector winces and smiles. “Yo estoy bien, Angelita,” he croons, attempting to calm me. “Me lo esperaba. Yo estaba preparado. Los hombres se prepararon para cubrirme. Estoy bien. Ven, siéntate conmigo.” (I’m OK, Angelita. I expected it. I was prepared. The men were prepared to cover me. I’m fine. Here, sit with me.)
He pulls me down on the couch with him and I continue to check him. He has a bit of gravel near his ear, which I brush off. Ranger sits on my other side. The room empties except for me, Ranger, Hector and Ella.
“What happened?” I lean back against Ranger and get comfortable. I’m not leaving until I have all the information.
Hector glances at Ella, who smiles and rolls her eyes. “Make sure he puts this cream on. He’s being a man right now, pretending those gunshot bruises don’t hurt. Jackson left him something for pain relief already, but I stashed some arnica pills in his medicine cabinet just in case. Homeopathic and he has eye drops for those eyes.” She turns and looks at him. “Pareces un personaje de Star Wars. Use las gotas para que se vea la normalidad cuanto antes.” (You look like a Star Wars character. Use the eye drops so you look normal again sooner.)
She leaves and I motion for Hector to lose the shirt. He sighs and pulls off the shirt carefully. Three distinct bruises. All of them are deadly and all to the upper back.
Ram would nod in approval.
I begin dabbing the cream on as Hector explains, in English, that our trip to Amina was calculated to put his name out there. Being the man that he is, it would make someone’s name to be known as the guy who took down the Asesino, so he used it to get info, but it also opened him up to a hit. He was surprised that they waited until Thursday night to act, but he knew it would happen. He preferred it happen here instead of in New Jersey, where I might have been in the crossfire.
He’s not interested in swallowing the pills. “I’m not in pain.”
“I don’t care. Swallow.” He swallows a long white pill (I remember those!) and follows it with water. Gingerly. Even lifting a water bottle is painful, and I’m set to help when Ranger shakes his head once. No. This is ESP I clearly understand. Leave Hector his pride.
I’m furious.
“How could you!? How could you put yourself in danger like that? For information? Was there any other way to get this information? It was dangerous, foolish—”
“Calculated and successful, Angelita. I got the information I needed. The word will go out that I survived the attack without a single bullet wound and it will strengthen my name, my ‘legend’.” Hector does the finger quotes, and I’m furious with him. I’m ready to hit him when Ranger grasps me around the waist and pulls me into his lap.
All the frustration and fear of the past hour erupts and I soak Ranger’s shirt. I was beyond frightened and both Ranger and Hector murmur soothing words to me as I cry. Finally, I’m done. I have a headache and my eyes are puffy. Hector smiles.
“Looking scary, partner.”
I growl at him, which makes him blink then laugh. He disappears to the bathroom and returns with cream. Preparation H. He makes dabbing motions under his eyes and grins at me. How is he still awake? Those pills put me out.
Ranger looks like he’s thinking about smiling. “Thanks, Hec. My cover is blown. The men know I’m here.”
Hector smiles. “I just survived three to the back. I think the men will keep quiet if they know what’s good for them.”
I glare at the both of them then sigh. Men. “Have you eaten, Hector? Are you hungry?” I’m keyed up. I need something to do. Hector was just shot and I’m still not over it. I’d like to wring his neck right now.
“I could manage something. Check the fridge.”
Ranger looks perplexed by this. I move to the kitchen and find a rotisserie chicken, some salad fixings, and two potatoes. Looks like a dinner. “Ranger, are you hungry?”
Ranger appears in the doorway and raises an eyebrow.
“I’m not cooking. I’m microwaving. I’m good at that.”
Ranger looks like he’s thinking of smiling then nods. I begin cooking potatoes in the microwave and throw together a quick salad. Once the potatoes are done, Hector and Ranger appear. Ranger dresses their potatoes while I reheat the chicken. Finally, it’s done. Meal for three. I’ve officially become my mother in times of stress; I microwaved. I pour glasses of water while Ranger pulls the silverware and we sit down to enjoy the meal.
“Nice job, Babe,” Ranger grins.
I stick my tongue out at him. Hector laughs.
We eat in silence. I’m still eyeing Hector’s bruises and Hector’s smile is getting bigger and bigger. Finally, he pushes his plate away and begins to laugh. I hear a chuckle on my right, and I’m surprised to see Ranger’s face is red and he’s shaking his head. He, too, looks like he’s about to laugh. Finally, he starts to chuckle.
“Told you,” he tells Hector, who nods.
“Sí, but I was guessing the other way around.”
“Not with you at her back. You were going to get shot first.”
Oh. Now I get it. Ha ha.
Hector looks over at me. “No, Angelita, we didn’t have a bet going. You know I don’t allow that. Ranger and I simply wondered which of us would be a target first. I assumed you, he assumed me. He’s right, as always.”
Ranger nodded. “Hate to say I’m glad I was right.”
Hector nods. “So am I.”
I can’t believe this. Ranger is glad Hector got shot? Of all the stupid, insensitive things I’ve heard tonight, this takes the cake. I’m done with dinner, so I leave the room and head to the apartment. Ranger can sleep with Hector for all I care. I can’t believe him. That’s my partner. I never want to experience that again.
Ranger’s POV
I look at Hector and sigh. “I’m going to pay for that, I know.”
“Yes, we both will. I’ll get the silent treatment for a few days.”
“Can she stay quiet that long?”
“When she really wants to, yes. Why is Ella here?”
“Attitude adjustment before Steph arrives. Maria is already in Trenton.”
Hector nods. “Good idea. I’ve been popping up randomly, scaring them shitless all week. They aren’t ready for her review.”
“What does she do in these reviews?” I ask, curious.
Hector shrugs then winces. Something’s wrong with his left shoulder. “I’m not entirely sure of everything she’s looking at, but Atlanta’s went really well. They love her and they felt it was a good experience.” He grins evilly. “The rest of the company is now shaking in their boots over what she’ll find and so are your partners. Apparently, NYC was sinking fast.”
I’m shocked. I knew Javier was having trouble, but I didn’t realize it was that bad. Hector nods.
“Yeah, it was really bad. Shocked Lester to the point of tears, says Tank. He blamed himself.”
Now I know it was bad. For Lester to shed a tear over anything it had to be catastrophic. Lester only cries when he blames himself for something. I’m quiet, wondering what else could possibly be happening in the company.
“But she’s got something going in NYC. She sent Manny and Diego there and sent Shane here. Something about a Trojan Horse operation?” Hector raises an eyebrow and I nod. “We’re headed there in two weeks. Ask Manny for the details.”
Hmm . . . if Babe is doing what I think she’s doing, then that is a good plan. I hope it works. I smile. My Babe is shaking things up. Good for her. I know she’ll make me proud.
“So, no one is challenging her authority? She’s happy in the job?”
“Yeah. Mark straightened up, although Hal’s nervous about this about-face. We’ve refrained from telling him about your ‘visit’. You know how he feels about Angelita.”
I nod. Hal adores her, even after she stunned him. He thinks of her as his little sister. Amusing. Steph is three years older than him. He’ll never tell her though; he keeps an eye out for her stun gun.
“She seems to have settled into the job well. Company’s grown 3½%.” Outstanding! “I plan to start getting her out more on weekends, getting her away from the men. She needs that time away.”
I’m smiling. My Babe. I knew she’d do a great job.
I clear the dishes, stacking them in the dishwasher while Hector dresses for bed, although I have to help him with his shirt. The pill finally hit. I take a quick look at the bruises and call ahead to Hal and ask him to tell Zero to get Hector examined the moment he hits Jersey and pay careful attention to his shoulder. I leave, locking Hector in, and head down the stairwell to the 4th floor. I check on Mario, who was bullet-grazed in the incident. He’s been bandaged and given pain meds, so I nod at him in approval. He nods back, smiling slightly. Armando is present and I quietly order him to give Mario a few days off to rest and relax. Mando says he’s already done that. Good.
I head back up the stairwell. I’m sure I’ll have to use my wits to get into the apartment so I’m surprised to find that I have unobstructed entry. Now I’m on my guard; what could Steph be up to?
She’s packing. Shit.
Steph is pacing around the apartment throwing her clothes into the suitcases. I’m simply watching her. Nothing I say will calm her right now. She’s angry and every so often I get furious glares from her. This is our last night together and I’d planned on amazing, curl-your-toes sex, so I need to cut this off.
Now I bet she understands how I feel when she goes out into the field half-cocked and ends up in trouble. Hurts, doesn’t it, Babe? The irony of this is staggering, but I’ll bet she misses it entirely.
“Babe.”
She whirls around. “Don’t you dare Babe me! You knew Hector was going to be shot! That’s unforgivable.”
“I didn’t know Hector was going to be shot. I knew he thought he might be shot. Operative word, Babe. Might.”
“And he was shot! He was! My partner took three to the chest and someone tried to detonate a bomb on him, just in case the gunshots didn’t kill him!”
I refrain from pointing out that this happens to her with a terrifying regularity. “And yet I’m calm. Want to know why?”
Steph stares at me, furious, but finally she nods.
“Because I have four years of practice being calm in these kinds of situations. No, actually, I have 14 years of practice at this, but the past four have perfected my response.”
I strip and climb into the bed naked. I stretch and fold my arms behind my head. Good, anger temporarily diverted. I pull the sheet up to my waist and smile mentally at the naked lust on Steph’s face. She’ll never know what she does for my ego. I work to maintain this body just to keep that look on her face.
“For the past four years, I’ve watched you get into scrapes I couldn’t even imagine. Your cars are constantly blown up, so bombs mean very little to me anymore. You’ve been kidnapped and shot at so many times that every man in Trenton has his response down to an art. We have SOPs for everything that’s happened to you so far.
Hector used his instincts. He thought he might be attacked, so he prepped. He wore a vest, one with ceramic plates, just in case. He had two guns and four knives. He didn’t let his pride, which is considerable, get in the way of accepting backup and protection. He even texted me in advance! He was better prepared to be shot than you ever are, Babe. So I can remain calm learning Hector was shot because I’m certain Hector will be OK. You get shot, I panic. I’m certain you weren’t armed, have no backup, and weren’t protected. I know you weren’t prepared.”
All the fight has gone out of Steph with this cool recitation of facts. She looks angry, thoughtful, and a little ashamed right now. Good. I’ve wanted to make this point for years and it only took Hector getting shot for her to see her actions for what they are: maddening.
“I’m not happy Hector was shot. I’m happy he was prepared in case he was shot. Have you ever looked in the ‘Bomber’ file, Babe?”
She shakes her head.
“Well, if you ever do, what you’ll realize is this: Your file of enemies, threats, stalkers, kidnappers, and potential ‘unfriendlies’ is as large as mine.” She looks at me, shocked. “After Con Stiva, we added all family members and associates of known enemies to the list. The guys spend more time in your file than mine because all of your threats are domestic. Mine are more dangerous, but they’re foreign.” I grin. “Together, we are one hell of a dangerous couple.”
“That still doesn’t excuse the fact that you didn’t tell me. You could have warned me.”
“So you could do what, Babe? Come back here? Plead with Hector to stay here? He was looking forward to a night in the clubs. He earned it, Babe. I have hours of intel from him to sift through. So, were you going to try to hold his back at the club? He would’ve been distracted trying to ensure he had your back instead of scanning for a threat.” I shrug. “It was better that he went out and had fun with the Miami guys and drew the threat out. Otherwise, it might have followed you two back home to New Jersey.”
Steph is finally calm enough to strip down to her panties and climb in with me. I pull her over to me and hug her close.
“Besides, until the call came in, you and I were having a wonderful time at home. What if tonight’s call had never come? We would have come back here and you would have paced until Hector arrived all for nothing. Hector has the reputation he has for a reason. It’s why the guys placed him as your partner. Tonight will make him even more of a legend than he is already, which means the very threat of Hector is excellent protection for you. This was the best possible outcome, Babe. Trust me.”
She finally snuggles in close to me and I can stroke the side of her breast. Ah, anger almost gone. I like angry sex, but I want her to be angry at me, not scared and upset over Hector. I watch her nipple pebble and smile mentally. Come on Babe, ask me about Ella so we can make love before I leave. I glance at the clock. 0420. OK, before you leave.
Sigh. “Why is Ella here?”
Yes! Just in time. She’s stroking me, and I need my wits for this explanation. “Because the men of Miami need an attitude adjustment. They don’t respect Maria and this office has serious gender issues. Armando has attempted to run an attitude adjustment in the past, but it failed. I’m calling in serious ammunition for this.”
The stroking stops. Whew! I need my wits with me.
“Is she staying permanently?”
“Nope. Ella will return to Trenton when she feels the Miami men have learned their lesson from her. Ella is the head housekeeper for RangeMan. She has the authority to move the other housekeepers around as she pleases, and she’s decided to get all of them involved. She’ll start the plan, then move the others in as needed.”
Babe looks at me, confused. “I don’t get it.”
I smile mentally. “The men don’t respect or appreciate Maria, but she’s part of the problem. I want her to see how the other housekeepers are treated so she knows how she should be treated. The men here will spend their time trying to manipulate you because you’re a woman. In their eyes, you should answer to them, not the other way around. Lester did tell you about this office, right?” She nods. “Then you understand that this situation cannot continue. Armando is surrounded by women in his life, so he’ll treat you right, but the rest of this office doesn’t quite get the idea.”
“Attitudes like that start at the top.”
Whoa. What the hell does that mean? “Babe? Explain.”
Now she won’t look me in the eyes, but she’s going to explain that sentence. I roll on top of her and brace myself on my arms, locking her into place. It takes a while for her to look at me, but finally she opens her eyes. Her entire face suggests she wishes she’d kept her mouth shut. I raise an eyebrow.
Steph looks at me and I can’t quite decipher the look in her eyes. “None of the Leadership is married, in a long term relationship, or even dating anyone. Lester said the men in this office worship you, so the men have taken their cues from you, Tank, Lester, and Bobby. Why should they respect women when none of you are in any kind of relationship? You’re all playboys.”
No, Lester and Bobby are playboys. Tank and I are in weird-ass relationships with women who won’t commit. Don’t go there, Babe. We could fight about this all night.
The look in Steph’s eyes shift. “I don’t want to go there, do I?”
“No.” My voice is ice-cold. Steph winces. “You think the men have learned how to treat women from us?”
“Lester’s a hound dog. Bobby’s better, but he’s still love ’em and leave ’em. Tank and Lula are on and off, but he dropped her for his cats. I’m your entertainment, a line item in your budget. Tell me how any of that shows respect for women.”
I literally have nothing to say. That hurt and it’s unfair as hell. Well, maybe not to me, but to the guys, definitely.
“Lester and Bobby are still looking for the right one, so they’re on the prowl. Just because they date widely doesn’t mean that they’re assholes to the women they date. Tank and Lula have issues related to trust to work on, but they are in a relationship which could be permanent if Lula is willing to take allergy shots. You and I didn’t have anything more than a friendship with two nights of sex and a weird mentor/mentee thing going on until three months ago. So your real problem is that none of us is married, right Babe?”
Silence. Come on Babe, you started this. And again, I’m struck by the irony of this conversation.
“I just think it had to come from somewhere.”
Cop out Babe. I’m attacking your faulty logic head on and you don’t have a backup argument for this. But I want our last moments to be good, so I’m not going to push this argument. This will be added to the list of things to talk about when this op is over.
“That’s why I’m sending Ella here. I want her to make the men appreciate that I hire housekeepers who are willing to cook and clean for them. This is a bonus of working here that I can remove at any time. But Maria needs to see how the Trenton men treat Ella, how the NYC men treat Lucia. She needs to see that what’s happening to her is an outlier and she should not stand for it. I’d break anyone in Trenton who treated Ella the way the men here treat Maria.”
Babe is quiet. “Oh.”
I look deep in her eyes. “Understand?”
She gives me a small smile. “HUA,” she says softly.
I smile. “Smart ass.” This feels like the perfect segue to sex. I slide down the bed and capture that very willing nipple in my mouth. Steph sighs and wiggles. I’m lavishing attention on her breasts to get her words out of my head.
Does she really think I haven’t wanted a relationship with her? I have, but I want a relationship with a woman who gives a damn! About me, about herself, about the people around her. My life is dangerous and she’s already my best known weakness. I need her to care about her safety but I can’t force her to do that. Besides, I’m not the fucking backup choice. I wanted her to choose me and she finally has. We finally have a fucking relationship. And if she really thinks I haven’t shown her respect over the last four years, we have a very serious problem already.
The more I think about this, the angrier I get. I push these thoughts away before I’m tempted to have very very angry sex.
I strip her panties and slide her legs apart, grabbing the condoms as I slide down on top of her. Once I’m ready, I stop and look at her eyes, at her face. No fear present, just anticipation and excitement. Good. I slide inside her, no gentleness, no prep, and set a fast pace. I’m slamming in and out of her body and this is edging toward rough sex. I have to get my anger and irritation under control. I slow up to a slow steady pump and glide my hands gently up and down her body. Steph wraps her legs around my waist and moans, locking me in place and squeezing her muscles tighter around me. The sound does wonders for my ego and my anger. I take her hands and lift them above her head, pinning them down. I want her open to me. I’m riding this moment out, moaning on every thrust.
“I can’t . . . fucking . . . believe . . . you said that . . . I love you . . . I’ve loved you . . .for a long . . . fucking time . . . shit . . . come on, Babe . . . come with me . . . I love you . . . I love you . . . oh god, how I’ve loved you . . . yes . . . that’s it . . .Oh God yes . . .”
Finally! I feel Steph come around me and I can’t hold back. Two more thrusts have me collapsed on her trying to catch my breath. Thank God we switched back to condoms. I have my old stamina back. I use my Ranger training to shove away all thoughts except those related to making love to my Babe. Making love, not the anger-laced sex we just had. I’m ashamed I didn’t do that sooner. I should not have forced myself on my Babe while I was angry with her. I need her to love me, not fear me.
I kiss Steph’s lips and taste her tears. Mierda! Fucked up. I know it. I was too rough at first. “Babe?” I kiss her gently. “Babe, I’m sorry.” She looks at me with tears in those beautiful blue eyes and I feel like an ass. Maybe Morelli was a better choice. I’m sure he never did that shit to her. “Sore?”
She shakes her head and sighs. “No. That was wonderful. Just hard enough.”
Whew! Still, I feel guilty. I pick her up and take her to the bathroom, where I run a bath in the Jacuzzi. I know she loves the shower, but when I want to pamper her, I prefer the bathtub. I settle Babe into the water and hold her close. I grab the sponge and load it up with Bvlgari and begin washing every inch of her beautiful body.
The water, the Bvlgari, and the gentle touch I’m now giving her are doing what I haven’t been able to do all night: calm Steph down. She cuddles up to me and sighs, then moans as I pass a finger over her clit. I feel her tug my hand back between her legs and I smile mentally and thank God that she’s really not angry at me. I slowly run my finger over her clit, tapping it and drawing circles in a random pattern. I feel her smile and open her legs wider. I slip two fingers inside her sweet channel and start a slow pump.
“When do you leave?” I ask.
“8 AM.”
I drain the tub and take her back to the bedroom. She rolls over on top of me and reaches for the condoms. Reverse cowgirl. I remove my hands, place them within sight, and allow her to control this moment. I don’t relinquish control often, but this feels right. As right as the feel of Steph sliding up and down my dick, squeezing and releasing with each thrust. My head rolls back and I feel Steph take my hands and place them on her breasts. I tweak her nipples and enjoy the sight of my beautiful Babe riding her orgasm out.
Why am I getting the feeling Babe understands the words te amo? She smiles every time I say it.
OK, this isn’t quite the way I wanted this to happen, but at least it did. We checked on Hector, we had our first couples’ argument (over Hector), we had sex, and in the morning, she’ll leave me in the bed. I also have something new to add to the list of things we need to talk about when this op is over.
I don’t respect her? How did she get that idea? I’ve spent four years respecting her flimsy boundaries, not pushing my advantages, not making an actual effort to rid her of The Cop because I knew it had to be her decision. I’ve spent four years waiting for her to decide she cares about her life, that she wants more. I’ve spent four years resisting the urge to force her to change, to get training, to carry her gun, because it had to be her choice. It had to be her decision.
I don’t want a Jeanne Ellen clone. I want Stephanie, with all her amusing innocence and loving belief in me. I want the woman who ignores the rumors and trusts my word. I want the woman who sees the man behind the myth, even while she’s teasing me about being Batman.
I want the woman who still held out hope, even when I gave her absolutely no reason to.
I love and respect her. I’m just not a glutton for punishment. I’ll keep tonight’s argument in mind the next time I get a quiet moment in this op.
A/N: Yeah, right. Like I was really going to kill off Hector. Sniffs.
