A/N: ok yea so we have a little smut in this chapter. So be warned.

Shadow-in-the-dark: I think they will both wear the pants (might be a tight fit) Ren's a bold girl but I don't think Tommy will let her have too much control (*wink*)

disneyylandacidtrip: Yea I figured as many run ins in the law Ren has had sooner or later she had to piss off the wrong person.

SurferGirl711: I did mean Philly but I just was having a brain fart day. As soon as I get this finished (probably 6 or more chapters) I'm going back to fix all the stuff I missed. I'm dyslexic so I knew I would miss a lot and have to go back and fix it.

* This is an actual place! Check out mott's gallery here: .us/site100_riverside_hospital_north_brother_

Chapter 7

Ren got up at noon. She was relieved that she had gotten a solid night's sleep with out any nightmares that she could remember. When she got up and padded her way to the bathroom she noticed Colt was still in bed.

She smiled leaning against the door frame, looking in on him. He was sprawled out on his bed in his boxers, half of the blankets off the bed and his arm thrown over his eyes. She assumed either he was taking the day off or he was going in late. Pushing off the door frame she continued down the short hallway and ran a bath. She undressed and looked at her shoulder in the mirror. She still had a rather large area of new skin but she didn't feel like she needed to hide it. She knew that it would probably fade but never go away and she was OK with that. It was a badge of honor (or stupidity depending on how you look at it) to her.

She slid into the bath sighing happily and just soaked for a while before scrubbing herself down with her new 'Japanese cherry blossom' body wash. She bought the matching lotion and shower gel the day before and was completely in love with the sent. She took her time shaving and washing her hair. When she was almost done she heard a soft knock at the door.

"Yea?" she asked washing her face and dunking her head one last time.

"I need to piss. You coming out today?" Colt's tired voiced asked through the door.

"Give me a minute. I'm getting out." She said pulling the plug and stood reaching for a towel, wrapping it tightly around her and taking another to dry her hair. She opened the door and smiled as Colt stepped to the side letter her past.

"Damn that stuff smells good." he muttered going into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

She smiled as she sat on the edge of the couch towel drying her hair. She pulled out a new pair of microfiber 'seamless' black boy-shorts. She slipped them on under the towel as Colt came out of the bathroom freshly trimmed and shaved. He whistled at her and she flipped him off smiling gently as she walked back past him to the bathroom to dry her hair and apply some make up.

When she reappeared her hair was bone straight and shiny and her eyes were brushed with mossy greens and browns. She held the towel to her chest and she dug in her purse pulling out her pale pink lip stain and gloss and applying it quickly before reaching for the box with her dress in it. Opening the box she pulled off her towel and stepped into the soft emerald green silk-jersey fabric pulling it up her legs and over her hips. She slipped her arms in and adjusted the straps. It was a simple cut that hit her just below mid-thigh with a low v-cut neck and and even deeper v in the back with a empire waist.

Colt watched her dress with a smile. He picked up her black leather portfolio and casually flipped through the pages of photographs. Some were artistic photos while others where photos of her paintings. He noticed that her style had gotten slightly more abstract in the last few years.

She sat on the couch and slipped on her simple black shiny heels with a red sole and when she stood she looked at Colt, holding her arms out doing a little turn.

"You look truly amazing Ren." He smiled at her looking her over one good time. "Don't wear that wrist brace though. I'm sure it will be OK to go without it for one day." She nodded already thinking that it would look really tacky.

"Are you sure my boobs don't look saggy with out a bra?" She asked adjusting the dress making sure she was covered and Colt took the opportunity to study her full chest.

"I don't see a problem. Yea your boobs are big but not so big that you can't go free with the right outfit." He said honestly. He secretly wished he could see Tommy's face the first time a cool breeze hits her.

"OK." She sat down nervously and rubbed lotion on her elbows and knees. About 15 minutes later there was a quite knock at the door and Ren's heart jumped in her throat. Colt smirked at her and nodded towards the door, quirking and eyebrow, expecting her to get it. Her hands shook a little as she fumbled with the locks and opened the door.

She nearly gasped at the sight of Tommy and her stomach fluttered settling a little lower. He looked gorgeous. His hair was slightly messy, he work a nice fitting pair of dark jeans, a un-tucked light blue pinstriped button up shirt, and a black leather jacket that looked soft to touch.

They both eyed each other for a moment her cheeks flushing as she heard Colt clear his throat behind her..

"Hi." she said stepping aside, leaning against the door frame, to let him in.

-A-

Tommy noticed Colt quickly slipping on some air walks and his jacket making himself scares shooting a wink over his shoulder at Tommy as he passed by.

Ren bit her lip nervously before smiling up at him "You clean up quite nicely Mr. Riordan." she put on he best southern belle accent as she gave him a hug.

He wrapped his arm around her waist holding her against him. She smelled incredibly good and looked like a knock out. The red patch on her shoulder couldn't detract from how beautiful she looked right then: the green dress was clinging in all the right places showing off her tiny waist and rounded hips. He tried not to stare at the good amount of cleavage the dress showed but he knew there was no way she was wearing a bra in that.

"You look amazing Mrs. Wright." He whispered against her hair. He let her go after a moment and she moved away slipping on her tailored black leather jacket and picking up her portfolio and shoving her cell in her pocket, checking that her phone was inside and pulling out her keys.

"You ready?" she asked.

He nodded having a hard time finding words at the moment. She smiled following him out the door.

-A-

She had nearly melted in his arms when he held her and now as they walked the few blocks to the lot her car was parked in her legs still felt like jelly. She lead him to her maroon Santa Fe and they both slid in on the gray leather seats.

"Nice car. What year is it?" he asked looking around

"Thanks. It's a 2003. I bought it used a few years back and just got it paid off back in August. Old Bessie has been good to me." She patted the dash lovingly.

"Old Bessie?"

"Yep. That's her name." She joined him in chuckling as she turned the car on and pulled out of the lot.

-A-

They made small talk as she headed downtown towards one of the larger art galleries in the area. She almost got them lost a few times before they pulled in a metered area across the street. She was grateful for Tommy's keen sense of direction.

She took a deep breath looking at the chic looking gallery across the street. 'Gallery Downtown' she read. She felt a bad case of nerves sneaking up on her and she gripped the steering wheel tightly with shaking hands.

She felt the weight of Tommy's hand on her shoulder and she turned to him leaning her cheek against the steering wheel and smiled at him weakly. "I'm a little nervous." She whispered weakly. "The galleries I sell to in NY are either owned by some of my old teachers or owned by friends of my old teachers. I don't know if I'm good enough for this." His hand slipped down her arm and she released her white knuckled grip on the wheel to let him take her hand, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

"You'll do fine." He stated back. On the ride he had looked through her portfolio and even though he didn't get art he was impressed. Especially by her Photographs of old abandoned buildings. She was lost in his eyes for a moment, her blue eyes searching his gray-green. She watched as he leaned closer and she let out a breathy sigh as she felt his lips brush hers, her eyes slipping closed. His hands found there way to her face pulling her gently to him and she shifted a little the intense warmth of his incredibly soft lips seemed to steal the heat from her body. Her heart raced, blood rushing in her ears as she tangled her fingers in his jacket and she made a small moan against his lips. His fingers traced her cheeks and caressed her neck and she broke out with goose bumps. When he started to pull away and she tried to follow him, leaning over the console. She hesitated before releasing his lips and sitting back in her chair, licking her bottom lip, tasting him there.

He gave her a coy grin and scratched the back of his head and she smiled at him, loving when he was unintentionally adorable. "Thanks." she whispered stroking his fingers with hers before she leaned over to take her portfolio from next to his leg. She took a deep breath and opened the car door and he followed her as she crossed the street and he watched the flash of red from her heels as the clicked the pavement.

-A-

Tommy wondered around the gallery occasionally glancing at Ren, who was seated in a glass walled office with a nice looking older lady, talking animatedly and smiling as the woman flipped through her leather portfolio. He turned back to the large abstract painting in front of him, still trying to figure it out. He didn't really understand art but that didn't mean he couldn't like it. He kept studying the painting in front of him, deciding that he liked the colors and the different shapes even if he didn't know what it was supposed to be. He looked for a title seeing if that would help. "'untitled 43' Of course."

He heard the sound of Ren's heels clicking on the floor moving closer and he turned an knew immediately it had gone well. He could hear he with out her having to say a word. It was in the set of her shoulders, in the gate of her steps, and it was writing all over the smile she shot him as she walked up to him. "Things go well?" He asked turning his back on the confusing painting and turning to the smaller woman that was beaming.

"She wants 5 of my photographs and 3 of my paintings!" She whispered excitedly. "Now granted most of those are on consignment but 3 of them she wants for herself so it's cash on delivery!" she gripped his arm and smiled even brighter trying to keep her excitement under control.

"Congratulations. But before we leave you have to tell me what is this damn painting of? I've been staring at it for a half an hour." Tommy asked a little embarrassed.

Ren chuckled and tilted her head glancing at the painting. She furrowed her brow and to a few steps back. "Not a clue. But it's interesting." She looked at the title cared. "Leaving a painting untitled it's post modernist bullshit."She muttered to herself.

Tommy looked mildly annoyed and he could hear Ren chuckling. "Just because I make art doesn't mean I understand every other artist's work. Some people don't want their work understood." He wrapped his arm around her waist and lead the nearly buzzing woman to the door. As soon as they were out the door she jumped up and hugged him.

"Thanks." She whispered in his ear.

"For what?" He asked letting her slip from his hands.

"For being here. For being you." She smiled at him and turned to call who he assumed was Colt and he let his eyes follow her from the tip of a red soled heel, up her shapely legs, stopping only when she turned to glance at him as if she could feel him looking her over. She smiled chattering to Colt about when she needed to have the stuff ready for the woman and that if everything sold she'd make around $7,000. But she was for sure getting $3,500 for the paintings the gallery owner wanted for herself. He raised a brow at that not realizing that she could make that much in such a short amount of time. After hanging up the phone he watched as she threw her arms out dancing a little as she moved down the sidewalk and Tommy couldn't help but smile. She was being entirely too adorable.

"Oh Tommy, I can't believe this! It's scary knowing that I have to find a way to get at least 6 6x4 frames and two 3x2s from NY here but hell I'll figure it out. If the other things sale it'll so awesome because she said she wants more when those are gone. Oh I'm so excited!" He chuckled at her excitement feeling proud of her and deep down excited himself knowing that it was a step towards permanence for her.

"Well then, let's go celebrate." he suggested.

"Where ever you take me I'm there. Just pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming." When she reached to hug him again something in the corner of his eye caught his attention: there was someone down the street watching them. Staring at them was a better way to put it. He tensed for a moment before realizing Ren was making a little of a scene and it probably was nothing and he shrugged it off. Though when the crossed the street and he looked back the person was still there and it didn't sit well with him.

He finally got her back the the car and he gave her directions to a quite little Italian place a short distance from downtown.

On the way he watched with thinly veiled amusement as she sang loudly, but surprisingly in tune, with the radio. He was glad she was so happy knowing about the worry she's had over the last week or so. But right now that seemed to be the last thing on her mind.

-A-

She was still giddy when Tommy opened the door for her and she slipped into a fairly upscale restaurant. She smiled at him wanting to hug him again but this time she cut him some slack for putting up with her excited singing for 15 minutes.

Tommy helped her remover her jacket before he held out her chair for her when they were escorted to a small table near the front widow. She thanked him quietly and she felt his knee brush hers under the tablecloth when he sat down across from her and he quirked an eyebrow at him playfully. She knew she was probably blushing but she hoped the low light helped hide it. No one had ever been this much a gentleman to her before and the contradiction was thoroughly amusing. Someone who could knock a guy out in one blow holds the door for her. She covered her mouth to hide the snort that bubbled up and turned her attention to the menu.

"Am I supposed to stick to my "cram protein down my throat" diet?" she asked grinning at him over the menu.

"Have whatever you want. And at least your just high protein. When it gets close to a fight end up eating nothing but chicken and broccoli. I'm going to have whatever I want tonight." He eyed her for a moment and the way he said it she had the feeling he meant something different from food and it made her stomach clench with anticipation.

She studied him with a smile on her face as they ordered and she decided on a seafood gnocchi and he got a sea food carbonara. They made small talk for a while, sipping on red wine, she told him some of the highlight stories of her friendship with Colt. Tommy laughed freely when she told him the story when they rented a boat and infiltrated the abandoned Riverside Hospital on South Brother Island* and got busted about three hours after getting on the island and how Colt had tried to run and got tangled in the thick underbrush and had to be cut loose before being arrested.

"We should have hidden the boat better. Hell the island is right next to Riker's in the East river. We spent 3 days in jail for that one. But it was totally worth it. That lady, Ms. Manning, wants 3 photos I took there." Tommy chuckled and took a sip of his wine and she was glad to see him so relaxed.

"Well that is an interesting hobby. How many abandoned places have you been in exactly?" He asked before glancing up at the waiter who brought their food and a new bottle of wine. He thanked him and turned his attention back to her.

"A lot. I started when I was living in Memphis and I got obsessed after getting into a old hospital by the river that I spotted while visiting the metals museum there. I had never really done photography before I think it helps when your inspired by what's around you." She absently slipped her heels off under the table and he watched her face as she flexed her sore toes sighing inwardly with relief.

Before long both of their plates where clean and they were sitting watching the dark streets outside sipping on wine. As the conversation lulled for a moment she smiled at him as she rubbed her bare foot over his foot and up his calf. She loved how surprise flashed across his eyes before they darkened with something else.

Setting his wine glass down he shifted in his chair and she felt his hands gently grasps her ankle, pulling it into his lap, then pressing his thumbs firmly as he moved them up from the arch to the ball of her foot. She covered her mouth the stifle a pleasurable moan as his fingers slowly worked over each toe, rubbing between them before moving to the next one. His eyes held hers captive in an electrified silence. She bit her lip and nearly knocked her wine glass over as his hands traveled around her ankle and up her calf. He gave her calf a gentle pat and she reluctantly moved it away and his foot nudged the other and she offered it to him with a heated grin. He began to work on her other foot and she took a slow seductive sip of her wine watching him through hooded eyes.

He made a low sound and she felt a twist of want somewhere lower than her stomach. There eyes stayed locked on each others as his hand drifted up her calf again grazing the rough tips against the back of her knee before ghosting over the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. She bite the tip of her finger, finally breaking the eye contact and closing her eyes. She felt him slowly let her leg drop and she pouted a little at the loss of contact. Before she could open her eyes she felt him take the hand away from her face stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. She intertwined her fingers in his and she met his eyes again. He must have saw something burning in them because she saw it echoed in his eyes and she felt a direct connection from the heat of his hand to between her legs. He watched her as she shifted in her chair rubbing her thighs together and his lips turned into a teasing grin.

She heard someone close by clear their throat and she jumped a little turning towards the noise to see the waiter standing there and her face started burning furiously. Tommy shot the waiter a glare and the poor guy nearly threw the check on the table before scurrying away.

She giggled softly taking the last sip of her wine feeling it's affects slightly as she slipped her shoes back on. He shifted and pulled out his wallet and quickly throwing some bills on the table. He quirked and eyebrow at her and watched her mouth as she finished the last of her wine.

"You ready to go?" His voice was low and husky and made her feel weak in the knees.

She could only nod when he came around the table to help her up from her chair and into her jacket his fingers brushing the back of her neck as he gently pulled her long hair out from the collar. He was close enough for her to smell the slightly woody smell of him and she wanted so badly to lean into him and feel him wrap his arms around her but she fought the urge not wanting to make a second, or third, scene today.

He rested his hand against her lower back as he lead her from the restaurant towards her car about a block away. When they rounded the back of her SUV she gasped as she was suddenly shoved against the back of the car, the bumper bumping into the back of her thighs and his lips crushed against hers.

She moaned softly against his mouth as she felt the press of muscles against her and she ran her hands over his soft shirts feeling the muscles of his chest and shoulders flex under her fingers as she ran them up his neck and into his soft hair, holding him to her. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue and she parted her lips granting him access to explore her mouth. His hands grasps her hips pulling them away from the vehicle and tighter against his body and she felt the evidence of his arousal. She felt weak in the knees as he gave her bottom lip a firm nip before tracing those sinful lips over her jaw and down on her sensitive throat.

She let out a gasp as he nipped and sucked on the tender skin below her ear. His smell was driving her crazy, he smelled clean and musky with a hint of evergreen, and it was so very much Tommy. She rubbed her cheek against his brushing her lips against the shell of his ear.

Suddenly they heard a low buzzing noise and it took her a moment to realize it was her phone in her jacket pocket. Tommy stifled a groan against her neck before pulling away to let her dig out the offending piece of technology.

"What?" She answered a little more gruffly than she wanted. She rolled her eyes and mouthed that it was Colt.

"If the can opener isn't in the draw look in the dishwasher." Her voice was full of aggravation and Tommy couldn't help but chuckle as he looked up and down the dark street. She watched him as she half listened to Colt fumbling around his kitchen and noticed his eyes narrow as he watched something down the block to his right. She heard Colt find what he was looking for and quickly hung up the phone.

"What is it?" She asked a slight tingle of fear tracing up her spine when she saw his posture stiffen.

"Nothing." he said after a moment, his shoulder relaxing a little. "let's get you home before Colt burns the house down."

She nodded nervously and glanced to where Tommy's eyes had been but she saw nothing but dark streets. She shook her head and headed to the drivers side and climbing in.

Tommy was quite the rest of the way back but he reached for her hand, tracing it with his fingers, watching her closely, his jaw tight. He seemed worried and she glanced at him nervously and he gave her a small grin.

When she pulled into the small lot behind Colt's apartment Tommy shifted in his seat. "Let me walk you to the door?" he asked smiling mischievously at her.

She nodded softly opening the door. He met her at the back of the vehicle and he took her hand in his much larger one. She leaned against his arm as they walked, resting her head against his shoulder as the walked around the block to Colt's apartment. The streets were quite and deserted as they rounded the corner.

Outside the apartment she stood up on her toes and brushed her lips against his and he returned the kiss with a little more force wrapping his arms around her. Her heart hammered against her chest as he deepened the kiss pressing her against the brick wall next to the door.

"There is something I've wanted to do to you all day and I want to do it before you go in." he whispered against her lips and she trembled against him moaning softly as his hands traveled up her waist his hands coming up to cup her breasts through the clinging fabric, feeling her nipples that were already hard. His hands traveled back down her sides and over her backside lifting her up off her feet pressing his body against hers holding her against the wall. She had no choice but the wrap her legs around him, one hand supported her around her back and the other made it's way under the hem of her dress teasing the soft skin of her inner thigh. She felt his heat seeping into her body and it seemed to travel directly between her legs.

His tongue found it's way into her mouth again as his fingers traced the smooth edge of her panties as the hand around her back moved to grip her bottom. She gasped against his mouth as his thumb ran over her panties between her spread thighs. He grinned feeling the moisture already seeping through there.

He ran his thumb over her again with a little more pressure and he felt her suck in a shaky breath and shiver against him. He claimed her lips more forcefully as he slipped his fingers under the edge of her panties exploring her slowly. Her legs went weak and she wrapped her hands around his shoulders clinging to him. His rough thumb grasped over her sensitive nub wringing a low cry from her and his lips released hers moving down onto her neck searching out the spot that made her gasp and bit down firmly before sucking at the spot making her cry out, her fingers biting into his shoulders. He ran his tongue over the reddened spot before slipping a finger into her moving it in and out of her slick heat making her whisper his name and roll her hips against his fingers. She moved a hand down his chest eventually running her hand over the top of his jeans and he caught her wrist moving her hand away. "Let me do this for you." He whispered and she pouted but reluctantly placed her arm back around his shoulder and he wiped the pout off her lips with another kiss. He pressed his hips tighter against hers letting her know that he was enjoying himself. When he slipped in a second fingers she whimpered and her hands were clenching in his jackets. He curled his fingers inward as he moved them and started rubbing her clit in short strokes and she knew she was embarrassingly close. She vaguely worried if someone would see them doing this but she couldn't find the strength to care.

Her legs started to shake around him and she couldn't stop the small noises coming from her throat but she stifled them by running her lips over his neck, tracing his jaw before finding his mouth sucking on his bottom lip.

He broke the kiss resting his forehead against hers "I want you to come for me. I want to feel it." he whispered, his voice deep with lust. He leaned in and sucked her earlobe before taking it in his teeth. The hand on her bottom was squeezing gently as her hips ground against his hand.

She let out a breathy cry as his fingers picked up the pace the knot inside her starting to come undone. His lips trailed over her jaw taking her lips and swallowing her cries as her insides clenched around his fingers her back arching off the wall as waves of pleasure crashed over her. He withdrew his fingers after a moment and rubbed them against her oversensitive nub for a while delighting in how she would whimper and twitch as she rode out her orgasm,

She slumped against the wall trying to remember how to breath her, head buzzing, and she watched as he removed his hand from her underwear and brought his fingers to his lips sucking first one then the others. She nearly melted at the sight and pulled him in for another kiss tasting herself on his lips.

He slowly pulled away letting her legs slip down and settled her on shaky legs before running his hands over her hips adjusting her skirt for her.

"Good night." he whispered kissing her, before he turned and headed down the stairs and down the block. He winked her when he glanced back to see her watching him walk away.

She stood there for a moment stunned, not really believing what had just happened. And finally gathered her thoughts enough to dig out her keys and going in the apartment.

Colt was sitting on the couch looking over the back at her and she groaned knowing he most likely heard everything through the door. "Is that a hickey?" He asked pointing to her neck.

Ren blushed furiously, no answering him as she went to her bag and pulled out a large t-shirt and almost ran to the bathroom.

"I told you it was just a matter of time." he called through the bathroom door. She could hear the smirk in his voice.