Tired and disgusted, Rafe turned in his chair to stare out into the darkness. The sun had set an hour earlier, but he continued to run through the day’s reports and taken calls from local ranchers who’d reported sightings of the cat.

The mountain lion was quickly becoming the Bogie Man. No single cat could be responsible for all the mischief that had been laid at its feet. Folks were convinced it had a part in Matt Costello’s death and were ready to paint it a devil.

To top it off, the construction foreman at the golf course reported the theft of a case of dynamite from their warehouse. So now, ATF was getting interested in the blast that had set off the chain of events leading to Matt’s death.

The one bright spot in the past couple of days was his blossoming relationship with Lani. Oh, they’d shared sex for months before the breakup—furtive, desperate liaisons. At first, he’d been content to keep things on the surface and scratch the purely sexual itch, but his feelings for Lani had grown, deepening without his notice. Not until she’d tried to end it had he realized how deeply she’d burrowed into his heart.

Now, the future looked bright. Her smiles came more easily. The wariness he’d long thought of as part of her nature was abating as he slowly peeled away her armor. The trust she’d shown during last night’s revelations only increased his belief she was just about ready for the next step.

He’d made up his mind. He didn’t know when he’d ask—but he was sure she’d balk. She might even try to close him out again, but he wasn’t going to believe her when she said she didn’t want it—didn’t love him like that. He just had to get his skin hardened a bit for the battle to come.

One thing was certain—he was going to marry her.

His phone rang, and he turned back to his desk to answer one last call.

“Sheriff, you’ve got a call on line four,” the dispatcher said. “It’s Lani, and she sounds upset.”

His heart thudded in his chest as he pressed the flashing button. “Lani? You okay?”

“Rafe, the mountain lion’s on my porch.”

“Stay inside. I’m on the way.” He grabbed his hat and keys. As he left, he stopped at the dispatcher’s booth. “Call the game warden. Tell him the lion’s at Lani’s place.”

He drove with his blue lights strobing, his foot mashed on the accelerator. When he turned onto her driveway, he turned off his lights and crept the cruiser to about the midway point on her long drive before cutting the engine.

Popping the trunk latch, he radioed back to the dispatcher to let her know he’d arrived, and then opened the cruiser’s door quietly.

Except for the chirping of crickets, all was still, almost expectant. With only the bright lights of the porch lamps filtering through the bushes, he took out his shot gun and checked the barrel for cartridges. Then he headed to her house, keeping his ears pricked for any sound from the mountain lion.

As the porch came into view, he saw Lani in the window and waved. Then he heard a crunch in the underbrush and spun toward it, his shotgun raised.

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled and lifted, his heart slowed—all senses focused on what was hiding within the bushes. For a second, he debated whether he should go to the porch and wait for the warden or track the cat himself. If it escaped, Rafe worried it would return another day and catch Lani unaware. For whatever reason, the creature considered her property part of its territory.

He stepped off the driveway and into the trees, the stock of his weapon firmly braced on his shoulder. Ignoring the soft sounds his own feet made as he entered the thicket, he strained for a rustling or a telltale snarl. Rafe called himself every kind of a fool for tracking a lion alone in the dark. Still, he forged ahead.

The faint glow from Lani’s porch lights faded, and soon he had only moonlight filtering through the leaves, painting everything around him in shades of gray shadows.

Beside him, a twig snapped, and he crouched, trying to discern an outline despite the dim light. He waited, slowing his breaths and his heartbeats, straining to hear. Then came a rumble, low and rhythmic.

In the distance, he heard the crunch of a vehicle turning onto Lani’s gravel road. Thankful backup had arrived, he rose and retreated, choosing his steps carefully as he backed away.

“Rafe,” Lani called, her voice surprisingly distant.

He hadn’t thought he’d traveled that far from the road. Satisfied nothing stirred in the bushes before him, he lowered his weapon, still carrying it in front of him, and turned to head back.

That’s when he spotted the mountain lion standing in his path. Its head was lowered to the ground, moonlight gleaming white on its bared fangs. A harsh growl, scratchy and resonant, rattled from its chest.

Knowing a sudden movement might startle it into attacking, Rafe backed away, hoping it would sense he wasn’t a threat.

The cat matched his movement, coming forward a step.

“Rafe!” Lani called again.

But Rafe couldn’t respond. The unblinking gaze of the animal in front of him told him he couldn’t take his attention away from it for a second. But he couldn’t remain frozen and have Lani walk up on them.

“We’re at a stalemate, you and I,” he whispered. He had to take the cat out now. He swung his rifle up to his shoulder, slid his finger into the trigger housing, and pulled back.

Just as the shot went off, the cat launched itself with a screaming howl. A hundred eighty pounds of mountain lion slammed into his body, carrying him to the dirt.

Then it seemed to fall right through him like water pouring through a sieve.

Rafe lay on the ground trying to catch his breath. What the hell had just happened? He rolled to the side and came up on his knees, glancing around him for any sign of the cat. But the clearing was empty. He picked up the gun, which had been knocked from his hands.

“Rafe! Are you all right?” Lani asked, from right behind him.

Without turning toward her, Rafe yelled, “Lani, get back to the house!”

As usual, she didn’t heed his warning. She pushed past a cedar branch and rushed to his side. “Are you hurt? Why didn’t you answer? You’ve been out here so long.”

More footsteps crunched. “Sheriff, you okay?” The game warden had arrived.

Rafe dragged in deep breaths. He’d just been knocked stupid. And he’d missed the cat. “Damn!”

“What were you doing out here?” Lani asked, stepping close enough to put her arm around his shoulders. “You scared me half to death.”

Rafe returned her hug and struggled to stand. “I saw the mountain lion.”

She slipped her arm around his waist. “Well, I saw it too, but it was on my back porch just now.”

“When the lion heard your gun go off,” the warden said, “it lit out like lightning. Didn’t have time to get a dart into the son of a bitch.”

“What? But it was just here,” Rafe said, shaking his muzzy head. “I fired my gun, and it knocked me to the ground.”

“Are you hurt?” Lani skimmed her hands over his chest.

“I’m fine,” he said, looking around him, “but it got away.”

“Do we have two cats?” Lani asked, her eyes widening.

“Must be a breeding pair,” the warden said, “They’re solitary creatures, except when they’re ready to mate.”

“So, why’d they choose my place for their love fest?” Lani asked.

“Look, I don’t like you standing around out here.” Rafe grabbed her upper arms. “Let’s get you inside.”

Lani frowned. “Hey, I’m not the one who thought they could take a mountain lion on single-handed.”

He let out a gust of air. “I deserve that. I feel like a goddamn fool.”

“Well, you probably scared him to the next county,” the warden said. “I’ll head out now. I think it’s gonna be a busy night.”

Rafe let Lani lead him to her kitchen and press him into a chair.

“You’re bleeding!” she said, staring above his eyes. “I’ll take care of this.” She turned to the cabinet over the sink and pulled down a blue first aid box.

Rafe touched his forehead and found a large lump. At least he understood now why he felt so dizzy. “Don’t fuss. It’s just a bump.”

“It’s a goose egg.” She swabbed his forehead with peroxide, making him wince. “Don’t be such a baby.”

Rafe closed his hands around hers and pulled her between his legs. “I’m fine. I’m sorry I worried you.”

“You were gone so long, I couldn’t help worrying.”

That was the second time she’d said that. Rafe shook his head. “I only stepped off the road. It was five minutes at most.”

Lani leaned away and looked into his face, her eyes widening with concern. “Rafe, you were out there at least half an hour. I was so frantic I called the warden to make sure he was on the way. Then I heard growling on my porch and saw the cat outside my bedroom window. I couldn’t come after you.”

He shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense. I had only stepped off the road to follow the cat into the brush when I heard the warden arrive.”

Her fingers brushed his forehead. “You must have really taken a whack to your head.”

Rafe couldn’t make any more sense of their conversation. His head throbbed. “Well, I am feeling a little fuzzy still.”

“We should get you to a hospital. Have them check you out.”

“I’m fine.”

She pushed his face back and stared into his eyes. “Your pupils look okay. But I don’t like that you seem to have lost time. Maybe, you should get straight into bed.”

His hands settled on her hips. “Thought you’d never get down to business.”

“Oh no.” She pushed his hands away. “We’ve both had a couple of strenuous days—and I don’t like the pastiness of your skin.”

“I’m not going to the hospital,” he said flatly.

Lani’s lips thinned. “Anyone ever tell you, you’re stubborn?”

“You.” His hands slipped over her bottom. “My head is pounding. I’ll just go lie down for a while.”

“What if you’re concussed?”

“I’m fine, but if it worries you, I won’t sleep. I’d just like to get out of the light and let this headache dull a bit.” He squeezed her bottom. “Join me?”

“And you think I’m stupid?” She leaned into him and hugged his shoulders. “Later, okay? I’ll check on you. Right now, I want you to rest. I’m worried that if you don’t move soon, I’ll be carrying you to bed.”

“Think you can, little thing like you?”

Lani snorted. “You’re the only man who’d say that. And yeah, I could even manage a rock like you.”

“All right, I’ll go to bed. For a while.” The room was beginning to swim. “I hate to say this, but I think you’re right. Give me a hand?”

Lani slipped her arm beneath his shoulder, and together they made it to her bedroom. Rafe let her strip him, chagrined that her handling never raised his ardor. He was definitely feeling out of it.

Lani pulled the cover over him. “I’ll make something light. Soup, maybe. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”

Rafe nodded and closed his eyes—not to sleep—Lani would have his hide.

He leapt to the floor, following the scent of the woman through the darkened tunnel to a bright space filled with scents that reminded him of his hunger. Peering from behind the door, he watched the woman from the cave as she stood with her back to him. Her long limbs and sun-bright hair stirred a memory in him of richer, sharper scents—of sexual fervor and mating outside in the sunlight as he’d watched her with the man.

Her shoulders and arms moved accompanied by the sounds of sharp thuds. Light glinted from the thing held in her hands. Instinctually, he shied away from that shiny object and withdrew from the room. He padded away, seeking the source of a light breeze and pressed his nose against a scratchy surface that he could peer through.

Beyond the barrier, he could see the trees as they swayed in the wind, could smell the scent of deer as they moved, foraging within the thicket.

He pushed with his nose, but the barrier didn’t shift. He reached up a paw and batted at it, but only managed to tear a hole in the surface. Feeling frustrated, he opened his mouth and emitted a growl—telling the barrier of his anger.

He heard a gasp and running feet coming from the bright space, so he turned and ran down the long tunnel to the place where he’d awakened.

The cat’s growl echoed around the house, loud and angry. Lani dropped the knife she was using to chop vegetables for the soup and ran for the pantry where the shotgun stood now, propped against the shelves.

She shook bullets from a carton, letting them spill to the floor and quickly grabbed several, pushing them into a pocket in her jeans. Two, she jammed into the barrel.

The cat was inside the house. She had to get to Rafe.

Lani’s hands trembled as she held the gun in front of her and crept from the kitchen into the living room, alert for sounds of the creature’s footfalls. She toggled the switch to the light in the ceiling fan and quickly glanced around.

No sign of the cat, but the screen door was shredded. She cursed her own carelessness at leaving the oak door open when she’d led Rafe inside earlier.

A thump sounded from deeper inside the house. Rafe!

Lani sped down the darkened hallway, her heart thundering inside her chest. Please let him be okay.

The bedroom door was open wide, and her heart stopped. She’d left it open only a crack. Her grip tightened around the weapon, and she lifted it to her shoulder. Never taking her gaze from the bed, she rubbed her back on the wall to flip the light switch, illuminating the room.

Everything looked exactly as she’d left it. Rafe lay on his side beneath the covers, turned away from her. His head was buried between her fat pillows, but his back and shoulders moved with his breaths. He shouldn’t be sleeping—but right now she prayed he’d stay that way, so he wouldn’t move and startle the cat.

Thinking the cat could be on the other side of the bed, her finger slid into the trigger housing as she slowly skirted the mattress.

She expected a noise, some sort of warning from the cat—but the only sound was her own blood pumping in her ears and the creak of the floorboards beneath her feet. When she reached the corner, she found the floor empty.

“Lani, what are you doing?” Rafe sat up, the cover slithering from his chest.

“The mountain lion.” She barely spared him a glance and looked inside the bathroom. Nothing. “I think it’s in the house.”

His expression went from sleepy confusion to fully alert in a second. “Give me that.” He held out his hand.

“Dammit, are you up for this? Your head—”

“Just give me the damn gun.”

He looked steady enough. Lani was only too happy to let him have it.

Rafe walked to the door and peered around the corner. “Close the door after me and stay put,” he said over his shoulder, and then slipped out of the room.

Lani waited, listening for sounds of any trouble. Then she wondered what she’d do if she did hear anything, other than dial 911. Rafe had her only weapon. She glanced around the room. What else could she use?

Just when she’d decided to telephone for help, the door opened. Rafe strode inside, carrying the gun. “It’s all clear. No sign of it.”

Lani launched herself at his chest.

Rafe’s arms closed around her, hugging her tight. “You scared the hell out of me.”

She breathed in his spicy man-scent and relaxed. “Did you think I was going to shoot you?” she asked, her voice muffled against his skin.

“No. I figured out really quick there must be trouble for you to be holding a gun.” He kissed the top of her head. “But your hands were holding onto it so tightly, I thought you might pull that trigger by accident.”

She shuddered. “Guns scare me.”

“They scare me, too.” He hugged her again then let her go. “I looked all around. Your screen’s a mess. I’m guessing that’s where he came in.”

She nodded and wrapped her arms around her middle, missing his warmth already.

“He must have high-tailed it back out the door.” He broke open the barrel and removed the two cartridges, and then propped the gun next to the door.

Lani glanced down his body, finally realizing he was naked. When she looked up again, his gaze was smoldering.

“Anyway, I closed the door,” he said, amusement creeping into his voice. “He’s not coming back inside.”

Lani licked her lips. “How are you feeling?”

Rafe shook his head experimentally. “Better.” He spread his hands and raised an eyebrow. “Shall I get dressed and help you in the kitchen with dinner?”

“I’m thinking…no.” She stepped toward him. “You know, I never realized how phallic a gun looks on a man.”

Rafe drew Lani back into the cradle of his thighs, fitting his hips snugly to her backside. Her head nestled on his shoulder, and her hair tickled his nose. He had the whimsical thought he was happiest when only a sheen of sweat separated their skin.

As his breaths grew less labored, his mind returned to the odd chain of events that had occurred over the course of the evening. The first being the cat leaping at him and suddenly disappearing. The second, the cat arriving on Lani’s porch. Could it have been the same animal? Perhaps the blow to his head had skewed his memory of the order of events.

Then there was the mountain lion entering her house. That fact disturbed him enough. But even more unsettling was the dream he’d been having just before Lani woke him, creeping into the bedroom with the shotgun.

He’d dreamt he was the cat, and that he’d spied on her as she prepared dinner. His thoughts had been…primitive, possessive. Scents had seemed more acute—the odor of the deer foraging in the woods, the perfume and musk that was Lani’s distinct fragrance. From the cat’s perspective, Lani had been no less attractive as a mate. And the cat had definitely wanted her.

If he were a man given to superstition, he might think the dreams, the cave, the presence of the mountain lion, were all somehow related—and that tonight he’d somehow entered the mix as well.

“I can hear you thinking,” Lani said, grumpily.

He smiled. “What do my thoughts sound like?”

“Well…” She turned around, sliding an arm over his side and a silky leg between his thighs. “Your heart beats faster, and your breathing gets quieter.”

He pressed a brief kiss to the side of her neck. “I couldn’t be on the verge of falling asleep?”

“No,” she moaned and pressed her groin to his. “When you fall asleep, your breathing gets so loud, it rumbles in my ear.”

He glided his hands down her back to her buttocks and gave her a playful squeeze. “Are you saying I snore?”

“Course not. You just breathe loud…and sometimes you grind your teeth.” She hid her face on his shoulder, but her voice held an edge of laughter.

“I wonder why you put up with me. If I were you, I’d make me sleep on the couch, so I could get a good night’s rest.”

“I like the noises.” Her nose nudged his ear, and then her mouth pressed a kiss just below it. “They remind me you’re here. Besides, you’re a big guy. You should make noises proportionate to your…size.” Her knee nudged his sex.

“I like being here.” He brought one hand to her breast and cupped the fullness.

She surged into his hand, and her nipple pebbled.

“I’d like to be here all the time, Lani.”

Her breath caught and held. “What are you saying?”

“You know I love you.” He waited, hoping she’d give him a little encouragement to continue. But the longer the silence stretched between them, the more resigned he grew to the fact he still had an uphill battle to fight. He palmed the other breast.

“I love you, too.”

The words were so soft he thought he’d only imagined them. He held himself perfectly still, but his heart galloped ahead. “Say it, again.”

“I love you, Rafe.”

He wrapped both arms around her and hugged her tight.

She kissed the side of his neck and whispered, “But…I’d like to take this a step at a time.”

“Not a problem.” The question would wait for a while—but now he knew in his gut, she’d eventually say yes. “I don’t want you to feel rushed off your feet.”

She laughed. “Like you haven’t already? You’ve been Viagra-man the past few days.”

“I don’t need a drug to keep it up for you, baby.” As if on cue, his cock unfurled, filling rapidly.

“Same here. I want you so much I don’t care if I can’t walk straight for a week.” Lani’s fingers combed through the hair of his chest and tugged. Her hips undulated, her legs opening to let his cock slip in between them. “Sure you’re up for this? You got a nasty bump on your head earlier.”

Rafe rolled over, until Lani’s body was tucked beneath his. “Your pussy’s the best medicine a man can buy. I feel invincible when I slide inside you, baby.”

Lani’s hands went straight for his ass. The space between her legs widened. “And I feel like the world’s sexiest woman.”

“You are.” He flexed his hips and drove his cock upward, sliding easily between her slick folds.

Lani moaned. “You have no idea how good that feels.”

He rested his head on her shoulder, forcing himself to remain still despite the heat caressing his cock. “You okay for this? Want me to take it easy?”

“No, I want it hard…fast.” Her voice was thin and strained. Her hands squeezed his buttocks hard. “I want it now!”

Rafe groaned and pushed himself off her chest to give his hips better leverage. Then he stroked deep inside her.

Lani’s breath left her body in a rush, and she planted her feet in the mattress to add resistance to his thrusts.

They slammed their hips together, countering each other’s strokes. Soon, the sounds they made were wetter—the slaps as their flesh met—and sharper.

For Rafe, this was a claiming. He slid into her tight channel, stroking upward to pound at the entrance of her womb.

He stamped his ownership with each fierce thrust. He branded her with his heat—and at the end, he left his mark, his seed, deep inside her body.

As the last tremors shook him, he rose on his arms to lift his body off hers.

“No, don’t go,” she moaned. “Let’s sleep like this.” Her legs tightened around his hips.

“I’ll crush you.”

“I’m a big girl.” She kissed his mouth, framing his face between her palms. “I want to stay like this for a while.”

Sated and pleased because he was reluctant to break the connection, too, he slumped over her, resting his face on her shoulder. “Wake me when you need to breathe.”

Her arms slid around his back. She wasn’t letting him go.