CHAPTER SEVEN


"Fine." Knot backed off. "You guys can take her. We'll…we didn't know so…now
we know."


They were pissed.


Rafe couldn't contain a small grin, but she did look at the ground.


Kip had effectively cut out their legs, but—the grin disappeared—Rafe had a
sneaking suspicion why he'd done it and she didn't know how she felt about
that.


The four Red Valley Panthers grumbled, but they walked back to their bikes
and roared out of there.


"Ah, food." One of the skinny Pedlam guys proclaimed and he immediately
jetted back inside the Musket House.


Rafe glanced at the front door and saw Lila there with a concerned expression
on her face. Rafe's eyes skipped a second, but she swung her gaze back and swore
she saw a pintsized pistol in Lila's hands, tucked underneath her white apron.
It was gone the next instant and Rafe wasn't sure if it had actually been there
or if her eyes had played a trick.


It didn't matter.


The rest of the Pedlam Panthers headed inside, but Cole and Kip stayed
back.


Rafe drew in a breath and regarded both with different emotions.


She felt her lust slam against her insides, but her suspicion and caution
over rode it. She was content to wait them out—they could start their own
interrogation first.


"Well…have a good day." Kip surprised her and threw a knowing look towards
Cole before he turned and joined his men inside.


"What?" Rafe could normally roll with whatever was thrown her way, but Kip's
reaction—not what she'd expected. Her instant reaction was a gaping mouth before
she remembered that she hated people reading her and she quickly closed it.


'Fucking…what the hell?' Rafe thought for a second before Cole eyed
her up and down.


'Oh.' Now it made sense.


She let loose with a relieved laugh, "Really? Am I supposed to fuck you in
gratitude?"


Cole was startled, but amusement quickly flashed in his eyes. He chuckled and
shook his head, "Well…it couldn't hurt, could it?"


"Depends on the ride." Rafe let loose.


Cole barked out a shocked laugh before he composed himself.


Rafe understood Sophie's obsession. His eyes alone could draw a girl in. They
were mesmerizing and when they danced in amusement, as they did now, Rafe felt
her legs buckle—just slightly—and that said a lot.


No guy had made her knees buckle—not in the sexual sense anyway.


"That's why he said what he said?" Rafe jerked a thumb towards the Musket
House. "He did that because of…"


Cole stepped close and murmured, the amusement was gone and he wasn't shy, "I
staked my claim. My guys all know it so… yeah. Can you deal with it?"


Rafe moved back a step and taunted as she tried to regain control of her
legs, "Really? Those are my choices? I'm either raped by that Lodo guy or I get
you instead."


"Most girls would jump at the chance." Cole smiled seductively.


'Oh hell. Sophie's not going to like me…'


Rafe threw back, "It's kind of barbarian, isn't it?"


Cole laughed again and eased back a step. He shook his head, "Like you don't
respond to it. I saw you throw down with those guys. You loved it. You reveled
in it and right now, you and me—you're wet already."


Her breath caught in her throat.


She felt the tickle between her legs and she felt herself being drawn in. Her
eyes flirted between the promise in his eyes and the tempting tilt of his
lips.


They were perfectly sculpted lips…


His fingers traced her shoulder and skimmed down her arm.


Rafe hadn't seen him move, but he was suddenly a mere inch from her. Her arm
tingled from the contact and when his hand took a sensual hold on her waist and
drew her against him, Rafe nearly groaned when she felt him against the inside
of her thigh.


Cole dipped and kissed beneath her ear. He murmured, huskily, "You got a
place around here?"


He held her hips against him and he kissed her collarbone, "Or we could go to
my place…?" He left the invitation hanging in the air.


Rafe held her breath. She'd known this was coming. She responded to him and
he responded to her, but…why the hell was she even debating it?


Rafe grabbed hold of a loop on his belt and pulled even closer. She slid a
hand up his chest and marveled at the sculpted ridges that she felt through his
jacket and shirt before she said, throatily, "I've got a motel room three miles
down."


"Sold." Cole flashed perfect white teeth before he took her mouth in a
scorching kiss.


He staked his claim all over again and Rafe enjoyed it, every last lick and
nibble before he pulled away and started to lead her towards his motorcycle.


"Uh, wait." Rafe dug her heels in.


Cole looked back, surprised.


"I—" She gestured, a little weak, to her car behind and said, "I'll meet you
there."


"Oh…okay." Cole threw another grin towards her and leaned close for a last
kiss before they parted.


Rafe was a little unsteady as she got into her car, but she turned and
watched as he set off first on his bike and groaned at the jolt of heat that ran
through her.


"Fuck…" She muttered, but she leaned forward and started the car. Rafe pulled
the car onto the highway and quickly sped to catch up with Cole.


When her phone rang, it took a debated breath before Rafe cursed and answered
it.


"What?" She snarled, a little breathless.


"What do you mean, 'what'? Are you okay?" Carl asked concerned.


Rafe bit back another curse and let loose a deep breath.


She calmed down, just slightly, and managed out, "Now's not a good time."


"Rafe. What happened?"


Carl wasn't going anywhere.


"Can we talk about this later? I'm…in the middle of something."


"No. What happened?"


"Can I—" Rafe groaned in frustration. Carl wasn't going to be put off and she
closed her eyes as she desperately struggled for politeness. "Okay—I'm fine. I
got jumped by some guys, but I'm fine. It worked out."


"What are you doing in Pedlam? Coolay said you're there on a case or
something? What's going on, Rafe?"


"It's—" Rafe bit off her words when the motel came into sight. Cole had
already parked and waited in the parking lot. She said, rushed, "I have to go.
I'll talk to you later."


"No—Rafe!"


She hung up and tossed the phone in the seat beside her as she swung into the
parking lot and stopped beside Cole. He grinned in anticipation as she grabbed
her keys, kicked the door shut with her heel, and swept ahead to lead the
way.


The horny teenager still manned the frontdesk. His eyes bulged when he saw
who followed behind her and as they moved down the hall, he let loose with a
slow wolf whistle.


Rafe took out the keycard, but Cole deftly plucked it out of her fingers and
opened the door. He held the door open and Rafe remarked as she ducked
underneath his arm, "A gentleman now? Thought you were a barbarian before."


Cole heeled the door shut and then caught her elbow. He grinned as he tugged
her close and ran a hand down her back to lift her thigh, "I can be both."


"Really?" Rafe tilted her head back and closed her eyes as he ran his fingers
through her hair.


"I love your hair." Cole murmured huskily. He bent his head and kissed her
collarbone.


"You like more than my hair." Rafe laughed. She hooked her other leg and
hoisted herself up.


Cole caught her and used one arm underneath her legs to hold her in
place.


They were face to face now.


Rafe grinned, met his eyes. Both of them were waiting in heart pounding
excitement—and then she touched her lips to his.


The first touch was gentle and then Cole took control and deepened the kiss.
After that, the hunger took control and it wasn't long before Rafe straddled him
on the bed. Her shirt was peeled off. Her two guns were tossed on the bed next
to them and Cole watched through lust-glazed eyes as she moved up to unhook her
jeans.


She started to push them off, but his hands caught hers.


She stilled and waited.


Cole lifted up and pressed a kiss to both hipbones. He eased the jeans down
slowly and kissed at the lacy edges of her underwear.


"I like these." Cole grinned wolfishly.


Rafe laughed and said huskily, "I would've worn a thong if I'd known this was
going to happen."


"God." Cole groaned and pressed another kiss on the inside of her thigh.
"Next time. Please."


Rafe didn't answer, but slid her hands sensually over his broad
shoulders.


Cole moved a hand underneath her hip and flipped her onto her back. He loomed
above her and slowly peeled her jeans the rest of the way. When he was done, he
took his time and looked at her.


"Like what you see?" Rafe asked with a hoarse voice as she watched from the
pillow.


"God—what do you do for a living? Your body is…I didn't know girls could be
as ripped as you and still drive me crazy." Cole shook his head, ruefully, but
he moved forward and kissed just underneath her stomach.


Rafe sucked in her breath. He wasn't expecting an answer and she wasn't
capable of making one.


His head dipped between her legs and Rafe's back arched off the bed the next
moment. His hands kneaded into her sides and arched her up to deepen his touch.
Rafe laid back and gasped at the sensations, but it wasn't long before she
couldn't withstand anymore and jumped up to shove him down on the bed.


They'd reversed positions and now Rafe grinned in delight as Cole watched,
eager and restrained at the same time.


Instead of working at his belt, Rafe slid her hands underneath his shirt and
slowly pushed it upwards.


She ducked and kissed each stomach ridge that was uncovered. When the shirt
reached his upper chest, Cole sat up and flung the shirt off. It landed along
side her guns, but Rafe turned back and crawled to straddle him once more. She
wound her lean legs around his back and sat back to absorb every detail of him
that she could.


A large black K was tattooed on his right shoulder. A small black cross was
right beside it and a white dove flew underneath.


Rafe traced it with her fingers. She looked to ask what it meant, but saw
that Cole's darkened eyes were running up and down her body. His hand was raised
and he caressed from her shoulder, down her arm, to her waist, and cupped her
breast. His thumb grazed over her nipple and he bent down to take its peak in
his mouth.


Rafe gasped and surged upwards. She cupped the back of his head and held him
close as he teased with his teeth.


Helpless and reeling from the sensations, Rafe hung her head over his and
skimmed his back with her hand. She felt every contour, every muscle that
shifted as he bent and took her other breast. Her fingers rubbed and enjoyed
every inch of his skin. She didn't even mind the panther that stood boldly on
his back, ready to strike out.


The black coloring and the fierce eyes seemed to move as Cole lifted Rafe
higher and then she was moved back onto the bed. She caught sight of the panther
watching her as Cole stood and turned around. He made quick work of his jeans
and grabbed a condom from one of his pockets. He stood at the foot of the
bed.


Rafe watched in heated anticipation and then the condom was in place and Cole
moved to loom above her again.


The heat shimmered off both of them.


They didn't touch, but watched each other. Neither looked away and Rafe could
taste the salt from his skin.


The spell was broken as she reached for him and he eagerly pressed down over
her.


She lifted her hips slightly and he slid inside. He sheathed himself deep and
Rafe gasped at the feeling. It coursed through her and her legs entwined around
his waist. Cole paused, just slightly, as she adapted to the feel of him and
then he thrust.


Rafe clung to his shoulders and her head fell back on the pillow.


Cole found her lips and thrust again. They clung to each other and both
panted silently until they felt the pinnacle coming.


It slammed through both of them and Rafe wrenched her lips away to take a
desperate breath.


Cole grunted and thrust a final time before he collapsed onto her.


She reveled in the feeling of his weight on her and laid there as the ripples
coursed through her. As the last one faded, Rafe remarked, throatily, "Is that
what's it like, to ride a Panther?"


Cole barked out a laugh.


Rafe felt each laugh reverberate through her as he remarked, his voice husky,
"Only me, baby. Only me."


Her eyes went flat. Rafe hated being called 'baby.' She'd always hated it,
but she never wondered why.


Unaware to her reaction, Cole caressed a hand down her side and cupped
underneath her hip. He moved his head lazily and pressed a kiss to her skin. He
murmured intimately, "Give me some time and I'll be ready for a second go."


Rafe was set to deliver an acid dismissal when someone pounded loudly on her
door.


"What the—" Cole asked. He jumped up in reflex and then stopped at the end of
the bed. He glanced at Rafe and asked, "Are you expecting someone?"


Silent, Rafe lifted herself up and waited with a hand poised on the bed.


They knocked again. They were impatient.


"Should I?" Cole gestured to the door, but Rafe shook her head and stood
gracefully. She slipped his shirt on and felt the end graze against her thighs
as she reached for her 9mm. She motioned for Cole to move behind the corner and
as he did, she approached from the side with her gun poised beside her head.


Rafe flattened herself against the closet wall and bent slightly as she flung
open the door and stopped short at the sight.


Pissed, in a wrinkled polo shirt, and his brunette hair haphazard, Carl
glared his current emotion at the bedded look of his old teammate and someone he
considered as a sister.


"What are you doing here?" Rafe straightened in surprise and blinked, dazed,
as he stormed passed her.


Carl stopped short when he saw Cole, who now stood alert and watchful.


A rueful laugh slipped from Carl as he shook his head, "Rafe. You…you don't
change."


He turned and watched the crass and hardly disciplined 'little sister' of the
team.


Rafe didn't disappoint.


She flicked him off and placed her gun on the counter as she retorted, "Who
asked you to come and check on me? I'm not sorry that you walked in on me having
sex. You should've called."


"I did!" Carl shouted. His patience had worn too thin by then. "You hung up
on me—both times! And then you stopped answering your phone."


At that, he produced her phone and tossed it on the rumpled bed. "Now I know
why. You were in such a rush to get screwed that you forgot your phone in your
car—and that's not even your car! What happened to your car?"


Cole opened his mouth, but Rafe beat him to it and threw back, "Stop yelling
or you're out."


Carl snapped his mouth shut and took in the sight of the two.


Cole had reached for his jeans when the first knock had sounded. He'd pulled
them on when Rafe went to answer, but he hadn't buttoned them—yet.


And Rafe stood defiant and her usual pissed off self as she glared back at
him, her arms crossed and her hair wrangled in a mess behind her.


She'd been fucked thoroughly. Carl gave that to her.


"Fine." He barked out. "Get dressed. Get rid of him and come find me
outside."


Rafe opened her mouth to protest, but Carl shut her up when he said, "You'll
do it and you'll explain everything to me or I'll call in your location to a few
certain people."


Her mouth shut.


She'd been put in her place.


At that, Carl swept back out the door and let it slam shut on his trail.


Cole sighed, "Tell me that wasn't your boyfriend, your ex, or your
husband."


"No." Rafe snapped, "Just an ass." But she turned and started to dress.


Cole watched as she reached for her clothes. Her muscles stretched lithely
and he took another second to enjoy the sight. He'd meant what he'd said
earlier. He didn't usually like his girls in shape, but this one—there was
something sensual and almost predatory about how she moved.


He felt himself harden at the thought.


"So," he distracted himself. "we go our separate ways or what?" He wasn't
stupid. He knew she'd been about to dismiss him when that guy showed up. Her
body had stiffened underneath him and he'd just sensed it.


"Probably—" Rafe stopped herself as she remembered her promise to Sophie. So
she said instead, "Let's do our numbers. I'm in town for a little while. We
could meet up again."


Cole paused at the change.


Her tone had been about to agree with him and then…something changed her
mind.


He narrowed his eyes, but murmured thoughtfully, "Sure. I'll put my number in
your phone."


Rafe handed her phone over and finished dressing as he punched his number and
called his own phone.


"Done." He tossed the phone on the bed and reached for where she'd let his
shirt drop on the bed. He pulled it over his head and saw her eyes shift
abruptly away from his chest.


A rush of adrenalin jolted through him. She wasn't going to be able to
dismiss him as easily as she thought. And Cole felt the first stirrings of a
chase. He hadn't one of those in a very long time. He'd almost forgotten how
enjoyable the challenge could be.


Annoyed with herself, Rafe turned and grabbed both of her guns. She threw her
buttoned shirt over her shoulder, but didn't bother to sheath both guns in the
small of her back. Instead, her body was loose, but strong. She felt good with
just her tight camisole tanktop that melted to her body.


"I'll walk you out." Rafe remarked and held open the door.


Cole hid a grin at her evident irritation. He couldn't be sure if it had to
do with him, her, or the guy that wanted to rip both of their heads off.


Either way, the girl wasn't as poker-faced as she thought.


And he liked that.