Showered and dressed, Rafe sat on the edge of the bed to tell Lani goodbye. He’d called the dispatcher earlier and wasn’t expected at the station. But he felt restless and decided to head to his office to read through the day’s reports, anyway.

As he ruffled her hair, he smiled. She didn’t stir. Her head was buried between the pillows, and the sheets were tangled around her legs. He’d exhausted her—worn down her resistance, too.

Feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks, he let himself think about their future. Babies, white picket fences, a lifetime of waking with her head on the pillow next to his.

They still hadn’t had their conversation—the one where he’d learn the secrets that had kept them apart for so long, but he didn’t doubt it would happen soon. Lani loved him. He’d seen the truth shining in her eyes.

He bent and pressed a kiss to her shoulder then grabbed his holster and strapped it to his waist. He’d call her later. Maybe he’d surprise her with dinner.

Setting the latch to lock behind him, Rafe quietly closed the front door and headed to his cruiser. Gravel crunched beneath his boots, and he reached into his pocket to hit the remote to unlock the doors.

The familiar soft snick of the lock was followed by an eerie growl.

Rafe stopped dead in his tracks and slowly reached for the gun strapped to his side. The creature that had been on Lani’s porch that morning hadn’t moved very far, and if his guess was right, it was a puma—a second in as many days?

With his weapon held in front of him, Rafe carefully skirted the front of his sedan. The large cat sat on its haunches next to the driver’s door.

In addition to the low growl coming from its throat, the mountain lion’s tail twitched, a certain sign of its agitation. Rafe swore under his breath. He ought to shoot it. An animal unafraid of human contact was more than a nuisance, but he’d never seen a mountain lion outside a zoo’s cage. Perhaps, he could warn it away, and then he’d notify the fish and wildlife boys, so they could set traps to relocate it.

He raised his weapon and fired off a shot into the air.

The cat didn’t so much as flinch at the loud explosion. With an arrogant twitch of its long, tufted tail, it turned and ran, seeming to melt into the bushes and tall grass just beyond the border of Lani’s yard.

Rafe let out a sigh.

“What the hell was that all about?”

He glanced over his shoulder. Lani stood on the porch, dressed in a silky robe, the edges held together in one fist with the ties dangling. Her pale hair was tangled, her lips still blurred and red from his kisses. Her long legs tempted his gaze to roam lower. Damn, if his body wasn’t responding already.

“Sorry about that,” he said, giving her a lopsided smile. “Did you see him?”

“See what?”

“The mountain lion.”

Her face blanched white. “There was a lion here?”

“Right next to the cruiser. And I think he was on your porch earlier this morning.” He slid his gun back into his holster and walked over to her. He climbed the first step, and then slid his arms around her waist. “Don’t worry. I chased him off.”

Lani stood stiffly inside his arms. “It’s too damn weird. First, the one inside the cave, then this…and I had a dream.”

He pulled away and looked down into her face. Her eyes were wide, her mouth pinched. “Look, I know we’re both rattled by what happened yesterday. Hell, I dreamt about a mountain lion, too. “

“I bet your dream wasn’t anything like mine,” she murmured, her gaze sliding from his. Color flooded her cheeks.

The rosy glow intrigued him. “Oh? My cat ripped the throat out of a man hiding in the cave. What did yours do?”

Her face twisted in disgust. “Nothing so gory.” The color deepened.

“Hmm.” Amused by her embarrassment, his hands slid down her back to cup her buttocks. “Maybe you should stay indoors today—or I might get jealous of that ole tomcat.”

She shoved half-heartedly at his chest. “You’re impossible. Is everything about sex?”

“I’m a guy. But judging from your blushes, I’d guess I scored a hit.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “I’m not telling.”

“You don’t have to. Your body’s melting all over me.”

“You’re…” she sputtered, “…impossible. And I’m still not telling.” Her lips curved into a sly grin. “Besides, the Indian in my dream was pretty damn sexy, too.”

Rafe held himself perfectly still. She’d dreamt of an Indian? “Baby, it’s been a strange couple of days. Do me a favor, will you?”

Her arms came around him. “What?” She nudged the open collar of his shirt with her nose and pressed a soft kiss against his neck.

Spontaneous affection from Lani was a rare treat. He tightened his hold. An uneasy premonition crackled in the air around him. “Stay inside today and lock your doors.”

Lani leaned back to stare into his face. “Lock my doors? That’s not what you wanted yesterday. Besides, I’m in the boonies here. I’m safe.”

“From the two-legged critters, maybe. Just humor me.”

“And if I need to go to the fire station?”

“Then don’t linger getting to your truck. It wouldn’t hurt to put some bullets in that shotgun gathering dust in your broom closet either.”

Her expression grew wary. “You’re scaring me.”

He sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. “Just humor me, huh?”

“All right. I’ll keep an eye out.” Her hands traveled up his back, drawing her chest flush with his. “And I’ll clean the shotgun. I’ll also find the bullets—but I’d really rather not load it unless I have to.”

“Fair enough.” His own hands stroked and kneaded the muscles of her lower back. “I’ll see you at dinner?”

Her eyelids swept down before rising to give him a coy look. “You think you can go another round?”

He squeezed her lush bottom. “Baby, with you I think I’m Superman.”

“You are.” She groaned, and her expression tightened. “Last night…”

“Yeah, it was like that for me, too.” He kissed her hard. “Don’t look at me like that, or I’ll remember you aren’t wearing a thing under that scrap of silk.”

“You mean, you could be tempted?” Her voice dropped to a sexy drawl that curled his toes inside his boots.

“You know damn well all you have to do is crook your little finger—”

“Like this?” she said, scraping her finger along the underside of his chin. She gave him another sexy look from under her lashes. “Wanna frisk me, Sheriff?”

His cock filled instantly, pressing hard against the placket of his uniform pants. No way could he sit in a cruiser now. “Ever done it on your porch?”

Her mouth opened, but her eyes widened—the little vixen was intrigued.

He narrowed his eyes in challenge and unbuckled his gun belt. “Take off the robe.”

Lani stared at Rafe. With his dark, leanly muscled good looks, standing there in his sheriff’s uniform—crisp tan and black, knife-edged creases, shiny badge and buckle—he was any woman’s wet dream. And all hers to play with.

Wondering at her temerity, she took a step backward and shrugged out of her robe, letting it pool on the porch, and then waited for him to make the next move.

His hands were already opening his pants and sliding down his zipper. “Turn around and hold onto the rail,” he said, his voice a scratchy purr.

Moisture pooled between her legs. She turned and grabbed the wooden rail.

When his hands closed on the top of her hips, she jumped and let out a nervous laugh. He was going to do her right here in broad daylight. Never mind the graveled driveway was off the road with trees and bushes to hide the view of the porch.

Anyone could come across them. The mailman could deliver a package to her door. One of the guys from the station house could drop by to say hello.

But here she was, naked as a newborn, the hot sun kissing her breasts—hell, all her parts.

His hands smoothed over her buttocks and squeezed. Then a finger slid down the crease separating them.

She grew rigid with alarm and tried to pull away.

“Has anyone ever kissed you here?”

She almost said, “You did—last night.” Had last night only been a dream? But if that dream was anything approaching reality she wanted more. “Nuh-uh,” she denied, suddenly breathless.

He pressed his mouth to one cheek of her ass and gave her a wet, open-mouthed kiss. Then his tongue slid below and traced the line where her thigh and buttock met.

Lani couldn’t help herself. She leaned forward, groaning.

Rafe gave a dry chuckle. “Like that, do you?” He caressed her bottom, providing her all the approval and encouragement she needed to raise her bottom higher to accept the next caress.

She wished she could tell him she wanted more than a kiss. But how could she tell him the man in her dream had done a lot more without sounding like a liar or an idiot?

Thankfully, Rafe was far from finished. He pushed at her shoulders until she leaned far over the railing then he gently nudged apart her legs. “I’m gonna know every secret you’ve got, baby. There won’t be a part of your body that doesn’t know what it feels like to be claimed by me.” Then his tongue swept between her legs, glancing over her juicy pussy to sweep higher over her asshole.

Lani rose on her tiptoes, bent as far as she could to give him free access to every aching part of her.

His wicked tongue lingered over her anus, fluttering at the opening, poking at it, teasing her until she squirmed. Smooth, not raspy like the Indian’s, nonetheless his wet caress drove her crazy.

His hands closed around each cheek and held them apart. “I’m gonna fuck this, Lani.”

“Please,” she gasped, so hot for it, her pleasure ran down her thighs.

“No one’s been inside your pretty little hole?”

“No one’s fucked it,” she said truthfully, liking the nasty words.

He rose behind her, and his cock slid between her legs. “You’re so wet,” he whispered in her ear. “Let’s not waste this honey.” Then he pushed inside her cunt, stroking side-to-side, gliding deep twice before pulling out.

Lani pushed back to take him inside again, but he bit her shoulder. So like the cat—but not. She moaned.

Then his hands spread her buttocks again, and the thick round head of his cock nudged her asshole.

Lani whimpered. The crown was too thick—he’d never fit. He continued to push, and the pressure grew unbearable. “No! Stop!”

Her breath coming in shallow sobs, she felt moisture fall into the crease, and his fingers smoothed it around her entrance. Then something considerably smaller in circumference, pressed into her ass.

His finger glided inside without resistance, twisting in and out. There was discomfort, but no real pain. Still, her asshole burned.

“How’s that? Not too much?”

“Better,” she whispered, feeling like a coward she was so relieved he’d stopped trying to push his cock in that particular hole.

“Don’t get too comfortable there. We’re not done.” His cock came up between her legs again and slid between the folds of her pussy. At the same time, another finger pressed into her ass.

Lani lurched, her mouth opening around a loud moan.

“Is it too much?” he whispered.

She was so overcome, all she could do was shake her head.

“Good, girl. Ride me, baby.”

Lani began shallow backward thrusts. Her cunt squeezed around his cock, needing him deeper, but her ass burned so she limited the depth of her movements. Soon, she grew frustrated. “Rafe, take out your fingers. Fuck my pussy with your cock.”

Instead of giving her what she craved, he pulled his cock all the way out.

“No, Rafe. I can’t take any more. Fuck me, please.”

To her relief, his fingers withdrew, only to be replaced by the familiar pressure of his much thicker cock.

Her sphincter tightened in resistance.

“Trust me,” he said, his voice tight with strain. “And relax. Let me come inside.”

More spit dropped between her cheeks. His finger smoothed it over her small opening, soothing her.

Then his cock pressed against her again. “Relax. Let it happen. I promise you’ll like this.”

Lani drew in a deep breath and tried to relax her muscles. His cock pressed and pressed until the pressure had her gasping. Then suddenly, the head crowded past her opening. He paused, sliding no further.

Lani reached behind her to keep him from driving deeper. The sensation his thick cock produced, lodged in her ass, was pain mixed with the most intense pleasure she’d ever felt.

But she wasn’t sure she could take more. Her asshole burned and squeezed around him. Her pussy oozed, making her inner thighs slick and sticky. He kissed her shoulder, and then licked a path up to her ear and nibbled at her lobe.

Her body quivered, tension building in her belly. She stopped pushing back on his hip and reached between her legs. She rubbed her clitoris, which was as hard as a small, round pebble between her legs. Then her fingers dug into her cunt, trying to assuage the need that had her hips jerking now. “Now, Rafe. Give it to me, now!”

Rafe’s hands held her buttocks in a bruising grip, and then he drove his cock deep inside her ass.

Lani screamed and writhed. Not quite seeking a deeper penetration, but unwilling to ask him to stop. Her asshole gloved his cock a little less tightly as her body clamored for release.

While her fingers fucked her sopping cunt, his cock glided in and out her ass. His belly slapped her bottom with the force of his thrusts. His groans were so loud, Lani had the whimsical thought that anyone driving by with their windows down would hear them—and it only made her hotter.

With one hand braced against the rail, the other inside herself—and her ass filled with Rafe’s hot cock—she let herself be swept along with the tide of an orgasm that threatened to make the top of her head explode.

Rafe hammered at her ass, his strokes shorter, harder, lifting her off her toes—then he shouted, and a stream of liquid fire jetted into her.

That’s all it took to push her over the edge, and she was falling, her body shattering like glass.

A long, keening sound ripped from her throat. The only reason she still stood was the railing biting into her belly and the strength of the cock still lodged deep inside her body.

“Are you okay?” he murmured against her shoulder.

She drew in a jagged breath. “Sure, but I think I have splinters.”

“Sorry.” He slowly withdrew and pulled her up against his chest, his hands closing around her breasts as he hugged her. “This is all your fault, you know. I really did intend to give you a bit of rest.”

Lani rested her head against his chest, gratified his breaths were just as labored as hers. “I’m gonna be bowlegged for a week.”

His mouth glided along the side of her neck. “You’re a little sassy when you’ve had some.”

“I’m just starting to realize the possibilities—I mean, there’s the porch, the swing,” she whispered. “There’s this oak tree with a bent trunk that would be just about the right height…”

He pinched her nipple. “You’re talking geography now—I’m thinking acts.”

“Acts?”

“I’ve sucked you to orgasm—I’m dying to know what that nasty mouth of yours will do to my dick.”

She grinned and lazily caressed the backs of his hands. “I didn’t know you were such a sweet-talker. I like it when you get…specific.”

“Baby, I can get downright explicit,” he growled, and then bit her earlobe.

“I bet you can.”

He nuzzled her neck while his voice rumbled in her ear. “Any bad moments there?”

Lani hoped he wasn’t asking her what she thought he might be and was very glad she wasn’t facing him, or her cheeks would be even hotter.

He plucked her nipple. “Did I hurt you?”

“At first,” she said, in a tiny voice. “But I liked it.” Then she had a thought about “acts”. “Is that something you might like, too?”

“No.”

Intrigued by his flat denial, she teased. “Hmmm. Doesn’t seem fair.”

“Nothing to do with fair.”

“We’ll see.”

“No, we won’t.”

Lani turned in his arms and looked down his body. On any other man the sight of his pants shoved down to his knees might be comical, but on Rafe…

His muscled thighs and tight, washboard abdomen were sigh-worthy.

Rafe looked down too and grinned. “Guess I’d better go clean up again.”

“Want some help?”

“No. I’ll never get out of here if you do.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Spoilsport.”

He bent and drew his pants partway up and nodded toward the door. “After you.”

Lani picked up her robe, and then his gun belt from where he’d tossed it on the railing. “All right. I think I like that you want to protect me. But don’t get carried away.”

“I know. You can take care of yourself.”

She headed toward the bathroom.

Rafe cleared his throat.

“Just testing your resolve.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Want breakfast before you go?”

“I’ll grab lunch in town.”

She raised one eyebrow. “Afraid of a little more geography?”

He blew out a breath. “I’ve created a monster. Where’s the sweetly inhibited woman I thought I knew?”

Lani’s smile stretched. “She left her last inhibitions on the front porch.”

Still clutching his pants, Rafe strode toward the bathroom, muttering beneath his breath.

With a spring in her step, Lani headed to the guest bathroom.