“Do you know how Rexes fuck, troublemaker?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “King showed me.”
It was entirely the wrong thing to say, or perhaps it was the right thing. Boone paused, all movement coming to a halt, and Ro opened her eyes and met the animal reflecting her image back at her.
“You dare say his name while I’m inside you?” he snarled.
He didn’t wait for an answer. Maybe he didn’t want one. Boone slipped free and just when Ro worried she’d ruined everything, he scooped her up and set her on her knees on the bed. Then he shoved her chest down, angling her how he wanted, before he slammed inside again. Ro screamed and her instinct told her to lift up, but his hand kept her where she was. Normally, she would have fought the hold, feeling caged, but she didn’t feel trapped at all. If she’d protested, Boone would have let her up. That was the kind of man he was. Instead, Ro let him power inside of her, punish her for speaking the name of another Rex.
Boone didn’t have a chance now of going slow and gentle. He gave it his all, slamming inside of her over and over again until her orgasm violently crashed down on her, but Boone didn’t stop. He continued to thrust inside of her, going so far as to lift one of her legs and hook it around his waist so she was forced to balance on one knee. The angle forced his cock deeper inside of her and she swore she saw stars as he took her over and over again, growling and snarling nonsense that she could no longer understand. Claws tipped his fingers, his beast coming out to play, but he never pierced her skin, never went too far. Those claws threaded into her hair and wrenched her up and back, bending her spine and thrusting her breasts out. The position should have been uncomfortable, but he didn’t pull so hard to make it so with her leg still wrapped backwards around his waist.
“Say his name again,” Boone dared. If he thought she would refuse, he was sorely mistaken.
“King,” she cried out, and he slammed inside of her as punishment.
“Who’s fucking you?”
It was a wonder Ro knew what he said at all, the words so garbled by his beast, but she realized that he might be speaking inside her mind like they could do while in dino form. She was too far gone to study it closer.
“You are!”
“And what’s my name?”
“Sheriff,” Ro screamed. “Boone,” she corrected, but he’d already started to fuck her harder as payback.
Another orgasm crashed through her, threatening to make her body go limp, but Boone supported her weight. He released her hair, letting her chest slide back to the bed, before his free hand snaked between her legs and started to rub her clit. Ro cried out again, the sensations of him fucking her hard and rubbing her almost too much, but she rode just as hard as he gave.
Ro turned her head so she could see Boone pumping inside her, see the sweat dripping down his chest as he powered inside her, as he tore her world apart. When he saw her looking, his eyes flashed and green scales trailed along his skin, chased away before he was in danger of shifting. When he bared his teeth at her, they were as sharp as the predator he was. Ro bared her own teeth, clamping them together, the sound only setting him off more. She should know not to bait a predator, but at the moment she could care less if he ate her. She’d die happy.
Boone was every inch as wild as his beast as he slammed home. Sweat coated Ro’s skin as he worked her over and over again, drawing cries of pleasure from her lips. She assumed he’d finish that way, taking her from behind, baring his teeth at her as if she was the threat. But the sheriff was always surprising her.
When she sensed him getting close, he dropped her leg and flipped her onto her back again, the motion so fast it nearly made her head swim. He didn’t give her a moment to adjust. Instead, he picked her up by her ass and slammed back inside again, not slowing down, but meeting her eyes. It didn’t satisfy his beast however, and he ended up lifting her until she wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands still under her ass, his pace never slowing.
“What are you doing to me?” he snarled before claiming her lips. He was careful not to nick her with his teeth, and even though Ro was tempted to run her tongue over them, she restrained herself. They were already in a frenzy, there was no need to add blood to the mix.
Ro didn’t answer him. She didn’t think she could, even if he hadn’t savagely taken her mouth with his, even if he wasn’t slamming inside her in bursts of pleasure filled pain. Boone’s rhythm grew erratic, but he didn’t go any softer. If anything, he started to pump harder, his fingers clenching her ass hard enough to bruise. And then he did something Ro never expected.
He released her lips to kiss her neck, his teeth scraping against her skin, and when he bit down hard enough to draw little pinpricks of blood, Ro screamed and shattered around him, his hips hitting, hitting, hitting before he followed her over the edge, rolling his hips until she saw stars and darkness crept at the edges of her vision.
Both panting hard, Boone released her skin, running his tongue over the small punctures, cleaning up the drops of blood he’d left behind. It should have turned Ro off, but instead it only seemed to turn her on. Later, she’d wondered what was wrong with her.
“Fuck,” Boone growled against her shoulder, still holding her up, but she was beginning to shake after the intense sex, her thighs like jelly. Sensing her exhaustion, he gently laid her back on the bed, keeping his weight off so as not to crush her. “You fucking made me lose control, you witch.”
Ro hummed, her eyes meeting his, a lazy smile curling the corner of her lips.
“I could have hurt you.” His eyes went to the mark on her shoulder. “I did hurt you.”
“Sheriff,” she purred, “if this was hurting me, then I’m the predator here and not you.”
Boone shook his head but chuckled, pressing a soft kiss against her lips that made Ro’s heart speed up again.
There were no more words after that as they held each other. When Boone’s breathing grew deep and even, Ro carefully wiggled out from beneath his arm and started to pull her clothes on. She was sore in the best way, but she would pay for it later when she had to ride Clem into the desert.
She was as quiet as possible, but Boone shifted in his sleep at one point, turning his head toward her, looking so relaxed in his sleep. His hair was as wild as hers probably was. She attempted to comb her fingers through it only to realize it was hopeless.
Ro moved toward the door, but something made her turn and look back at the sheriff, passed out on his bed, his muscles on display. He’d destroyed her world alright, and then he’d put it back together.
For the first time, Ro wished she wasn’t an outlaw and that this man wouldn’t arrest her if he knew who she was.
But life works in funny ways, and so she slipped out of the cabin quietly and back to town. Maybe outlaws weren’t meant to be happy, but she could have seen herself with both Boone and King.
In a different life, she could have been happy in Embertown.
But that wasn’t her fate. It never was.
Seventeen
“Where have you been?” Clem demanded when Ro walked inside the hotel room. She took one sniff and wrinkled her nose. “Oh.”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“That bad?” Clem raised her brow, studying her. “Oh, that good!” Ro leveled a stare at Clem, and she held up her hands. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave it alone. For now.” Clem wiggled her eyebrows and Ro chuckled, shaking her head.
“Is everything ready to go?”
“Depends. Did you leave the sheriff passed out from sex?”
“Dammit, Clem!”
Clem sniffed. “You’re no fun. Yes, everything is ready. The supplies are packed in some saddlebags you’ll be able to throw over my back. “You sure you’re up for this ride?” she asked pointedly.
“No choice. We’re riding either way.”
“If you say so.”
“Remember that we’re going against the clock, Clem. The Croc is headed this way. He’l
l be here the day after tomorrow at the earliest. We need to be long gone before he gets close.” Ro started packing her things before she realized with a start that she’d forgotten her hat at the sheriff’s house. She cursed and ran her hand through her hair. “I left my hat there.”
“Well, you can borrow another. If you rode in with a red hat, they would have known exactly who you are.”
Ro nodded and though she didn’t want to leave her hat, she knew it was for the best. She’d come back and get it when the dust settled, when they could purchase some land. “Okay. Let’s go. We gotta make it to the camp fast, tell everyone the plan, and get to the bank.” She rolled up the plans they’d sketched and the layout of the bank. “Jiminy is gonna tan my hide for not coming sooner.”
“That old man worries too much.”
“He has a reason to,” Ro replied, but she didn’t elaborate. Jiminy’s story was his own and no one else’s.
Under the cover of darkness with the stars as their witness, Clem and Ro slipped from their room and made their way to the back of the hotel where the supplies waited. Clem’s shift went smoothly, and then Ro was loading the bags onto Clem’s back, making sure they were tied comfortably for her friend. There was nothing worse than rope chafing, except maybe thighs chafing after a long ride.
“You ready, partner?” Ro asked, running her hand along Clem’s back.
“As I’ll ever be.” Clem’s voice rang true in her mind, and Ro smiled in response.
“Let’s go give ‘em hell.”
“They gave you something alright,” Clem teased.
Ro grinned but she didn’t answer because the comment rang too close to truth. Hopefully, King and Boone stayed out of the way when the time came. Ro wasn’t sure she could draw her revolver on either of them, or that she could even consider it. She knew she couldn’t pull the trigger.
Those two Rexes will the death of me, Ro thought, shaking her head. She climbed onto Clem’s back, tightening her hold before she patted her friend’s neck. Lowering her goggles, Ro looked into the distance.
“I’m ready.” But was she really?
Going at a normal pace, it would have taken Clem and Ro at least eight hours to reach their crew’s camp, but they didn’t have time to take a normal pace. Clem ran a little faster, speeding past stone and cacti. She startled a few coyotes who were still chowing down on a jackrabbit, but otherwise, they didn’t run into any trouble. Thanks to Clem, they made it to camp just as the first rays of sunlight broke the horizon, right as the camp was waking up and preparing breakfast.
Someone sent up the call when they spotted Clem and Ro, the hoot spreading through the large camp faster than any whistle. If someone were to hear it, they’d only think that there was a colony of owls somewhere close by. They’d never know it was the Free Outlaws.
“Listen up!” Ro yelled, as some of them gathered around them. She leapt from Clem’s back, wincing at the soreness she sported as some of the men started to unload the bags and release Clem. The moment she was able to, Clem shifted back to her human form and started to dust her trousers off. “The plan has changed. Once everyone wakes up and gets food in your bellies, meet me in the center of camp. Prepare yourselves. We’re moving today!”
Grumbles went up from the camp, but no one complained, not really. They were prepared for the moment they would march on Embertown.
Ro waited until everyone had time to chow down and get some food. In the meantime, she went to her own tent and sorted through her weapons, making sure she was stocked up. She’d have knives hidden all over her body, as well as her revolver and pistol. She buckled a belt with extra bullets around her hips, making sure she would have plenty for her largest gun. She didn’t plan to use them, not on Embertown, but it never hurt to be prepared. When she was satisfied, Ro left the tent and headed toward the center of camp where the grub wagon was set up. Normally it was beans for breakfast, but some of the items Ro had brought back with her were enough eggs to feed the camp for a few days. So today, everyone got to taste the new meal.
“Rowena,” someone called behind her, and she turned with a smile on her face when she saw who it was.
“Delilah. I’m glad to see you’re still here.”
“Of course I’m still here.” Her face turned red and Ro instantly knew why she stayed.
“How’s Theo?”
“How would I know?”
Ro laughed and shook her head. “Call it a hunch.”
“I’m still married.” Delilah’s face grew solemn and she glanced toward Theo. “Even though it was a loveless marriage, with the way I ran off, there’s no way I could get divorce papers signed by my fool of a husband.”
“It’s a piece of paper.” Ro shrugged. “If Theo doesn’t care, then you shouldn’t. Be happy. That’s all that matters.”
Delilah smiled. “You’re right. He doesn’t mind. It just doesn’t feel proper.”
“We ain’t worried about proper here.” Ro bit her lip. “And actually, Embertown is the perfect place for you to live with your daughter and Theo if you want. You talked about how dinosaurs weren’t welcomed in your last town, but in Embertown they are. You and Theo wouldn’t have to worry about anyone judging you, and no one would care if you’re not married. When I was there, no one ever once judged me. The only trouble I had were two drunks the first night, and the general store owner because he didn’t want to sell me so much.”
“Is it really what they claim?” Delilah whispered.
Ro nodded and tilted her head up as the sun rose higher in the sky. “It’s everything they claim and more.”
The woman smiled, and touched Ro’s shoulder gently before curtseying and moving away, leaving Ro to do her work. Ro appreciated her sense for such things and realized that Delilah might be more suited to outlaw life than she knew. That didn’t mean she would choose the life, however, and Ro had a feeling this would be Theo’s last hit. Hopefully, it would be the last hit period for the Free Outlaws.
Ro waited until everyone was gathered before she stood on top of the grub wagon and called for everyone’s attention. The camp grew silent fast, every eye fixing on Ro as she addressed them.
“There’s been a development. As we speak, the Band of Misfits are traveling toward Embertown from the opposite side of town.”
A murmur went through the camp at the news, everyone recognizing the name.
“When will they arrive?” Theo asked, taking off his hat.
“Best guess is tomorrow night. So we have to go ahead with our plan early and hope for the best. That’s not the only complication.”
“There are two Rexes in town,” Clem added, leaning against the wagon Ro stood on. “The sheriff and the bank owner.”
Everyone started talking at once, surprise and worry crossing over every face.
“How can we contend with two Rexes?”
“Won’t they overpower us?”
“They’re too big. We should call Embertown a bust and move on.”
“They’re vicious carnivores.”
“Everyone calm down!” Ro called, bringing their attention back to her. “I understand you’re worried, but there’s a reason we stayed in town to make the plans. Yes, the bank owner and the sheriff are Rexes. Yes, it makes it more complicated, but we think we’ve figured out a way to get past them.”
“Plus, they’re both smitten with Ro,” Clem interjected, grinning up at Ro. “She’s got both their tails in a twist.”
Ro fought the blush that rose on her cheeks. There was no need to be embarrassed about it. It didn’t matter anyways.
“The plan is to ride in near sunset. The jail is about three minutes away for a human from the bank, so that’s about one minute for Sheriff Bennett. The bank owner, Virgil King, typically closes the bank at sunset. We want to get there before he closes, so he can open the vault.”
“Can’t we blow the lock?”
Ro shook her head. “It’s a big one, the door massive. It takes a key and a combination that
I don’t have. Dynamite won’t do any good and we’d blow ourselves to smithereens trying. The goal is to threaten King enough to open it.”
“Won’t they recognize you two?” Jiminy asked, from where he stood on the outskirts of the group. “If they’re Rexes, they’ll know your smell too.”
“We have plans for that. Both Clem and I will mask our sent with something else. My red hat got left behind in town and that would give me away. All faces of those going on the hit must be covered, your identity concealed.”
“And why is that?” Jiminy again, his eyes far too wise. If anyone could see a flaw in their plan, it would be him.
“Many of y’all have heard the rumors of Embertown, that it’s a paradise for outcasts and dinosaurs, those that never fit in or weren’t accepted elsewhere.” Ro paused and took a deep breath. “It’s all true.” Another mumble went through the camp. “On top of that, women can own land as well as dinosaurs. Once we hit the bank and wait it out, we can return to the town, purchase land, and we can settle down if that’s what everyone wants. Embertown is more than capable of taking us all, and I’ve already discussed purchasing the land with King. It’s affordable and can fit us all if we want.”
“What if we don’t want to settle down? What if that isn’t for us?” someone queried.
“Then that’s your choice,” Ro reassured. “This is an option for those who are tired of running, or those who couldn’t live anywhere else. The choice is y’alls.”
“We need to ready the camp,” Clem chimed in. “Once we finish the hit and come out, the camp needs to be ready to move. Embertown might send people after us. The sheriff could pursue us. The camp needs to be moving the moment we pop up on the horizon.”
“That’s correct. We’re going in with a smaller crew this time. Too big and someone would be tipped off to our presence. My hope is to be in and out before the whole town knows what happened.”
Rexes & Robbers Page 13