Chapter 6

Thus it was a most flabbergasted Bentley that hastily departed the scene of Sly and Carmelita's card game…and in doing so, collided with 'The Murray' in the hallway. Bentley rubbed his smarting nose, pausing to perch his spectacles back in place, then glared at Murray, who was, as one might expect, utterly clueless.

"Hey, Bentley! Where's Sly?" the big hippo asked.

Bentley shuddered slightly before he answered, "Trust me, Murray… you don't want to know…"

Murray was confused, and his expression showed it. "Hmm? Why not?" Murray asked.

"Why, he asks," Bentley growled in irritation. "Because, pal, he's currently playing strip poker with Inspector Fox in our living room, that's why!" Bentley shuddered again, trying hard to dispel that image in his mind.

Murray grinned upon learning that, knowing that Sly liked the pretty Inspector. "No kidding? Really? So…was he winning then?" Murray wanted to know.

Bentley, still a bit upset and more than a little displeased with Sly, answered, "Never having played the game myself, I can only guess. But, he's already won Carmelita'ser, I mean, Inspector Fox'searring, her jacket," Bentley closed his eyes momentarily, and shaking his head in obvious disbelief before he continued, "and her jeans. You do the math, chum."

Murray blinked a moment before he asked the obvious question…although he was a bit hesitant. "You mean that Inspector Fox is playing cards…in her underpants?" Murray grinned at the very thought of that.

"No, my friend…it's worse than that," Bentley replied, his expression pained. "The good Inspector is playing card in her thong." The prudish turtle shuddered one last time, before heading past Murray, to go upstairs to his room.

Murray frowned, and scratched his head, standing still a moment before yelling up after his pal, Bentley. "But, Bentley! What´s a thong?" Murray waited a moment for an answer, but sadly there wasn't one forthcoming. So, being curious, Murray decided to tip-toe over to the living room, and have a look himself. He was rewarded with the following scene: Carmelita was seated with one of her long legs propped up on the table. Even Murray had to admit that Carmelita had very nice legs.

He watched the Inspector as she leaned her chin on the back of her hand, her elbow on the table, as she grinned at Sly. "Well well, your luck seems to have turned against you, Cooper..."she observed, grinning in satisfaction as she donned her leather jacket again, having won it back from Sly.

Sly gave her his most charming grin in reply. "Oh, that. A temporary turn of events is all, my lovely Carmelita. I'm sure my skill will see me through quite handily," he responded. "Shall we start the next hand, m'dear? I've still got custody of your bewitching jeans, and I intend to make some additions to my new 'Carmelita' collection."

Carmelita, caught off-guard, laughed softly in reply. "The 'Carmelita' collection, hmm? I'm flattered, of course. But, truth be known, I much prefer my own 'Sly Cooper' line myself. And, in case you haven't noticed, Ringtail, it's growing all the time." She grinned, actually enjoying this moment of triumph.

Sly chuckled at her confidence. "As I already told you, my dear, dear Carmelita...it's no more than a temporary abberation, at best. Now, as a stake to fund my growing 'Carmelita' line, I'll bet this..." he informed her before he quickly doffed his own blue jacket, which bared his chest and arms to her eyes. "So, most lovely of ladies, what are you going to wager, hmm?"

Carmelita thought it over a moment, then hugged herself in her jacket, before she took it off, placing it on the table as her bet. "Well, my
ring-tailed friend," she began, slowly arching her foot, making her leg all that more alluring for the obviously distracted Sly. She smiled a mysterious smile as she watched Sly gulp, his eyes watching her. "Deal the cards, Cooper, this game is as good as won."

Sly blinked, distracted by Carmelita...who now sat dressed in nothing but her skimpy halter top andhe shivered at the very thought of it!her racy thong. Add to all that her lovely face, her expressive brown eyes, as well as her luxurious wavy blue-black hair, and Sly knows his concentration is going to come at a most expensive price tag. But, he tells himself confidently, isn't he Sly Cooper, Master Thief? Why, of course he is! No mere womaneven a most lovely and scantily clad Carmelita is going to throw him off his game! He confronted the exquisite vixen before him, his senses reeling at the vision seated across from him. "So…you say the game is as good as won, is it, lovely Carmelita?" he posed to her, his smile mischievous. "Well, yes, I believe you're right about that. However, the question is, I think, by whom?" he added, arching his eyebrow suggestively at her. He then eyed her alluring figure hotly, before grinning, observing, "I say, my love, aren't you feeling...well, a bit cold, dear heart? I mean, you are only wearing your 'unmentionables', after all. Though, I could continue to mention them for simply hours…"

Carmelita, much to her chagrin, suddenly become far too aware of the fact of precisely what she was not wearing! Which would be most of her clothing! She was, in fact, cold, but she was not about to let that rogue Cooper know that! "I'm just fine over here, Cooper. Now, deal!"

Sly found himself in a bit of a quandary. He was definitely winning his game of Strip Poker with his distractingly attractive, oft-time opponent, the vivacious Carmelita Fox. And, unfortunately as well as fortunately, was precisely the problem! He was finding he was having great difficulty in playing up to his usual standards. Of course, it wasn't all that difficult to attribute this difficulty in his concentration. After all, he admitted to himself, it wasn't every day one found himself across the table with the truly stunning, very scantily clad, Carmelita Fox. Despite his best efforts to the contrary, he continually found his gaze repeatedly drawn away from his cards and over to her. Her exquisite face, lovely with her full range of emotion, as well as her equally expressive light brown eyes, her wavy blue-black hair that tumbled flirtatiously over her shoulders, all fought for his attention, distracting him from the matters at hand. Sly felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of his neck. God! he moaned to himself, did she really have to be this beautiful? Such beauty should be against the law! he told himself, fighting hard to control his pounding heart and his ragged breathing.

Apparently, Sly wasn't the only one having trouble concentrating either! Carmelita was finding it very difficult as well. She had never seen Slyshe meant Cooper!without his shirt on before, and his smooth powerful chest, broad shoulders, and flat stomach made her feel slightly woozy and delightfully warm. She tried to tell herself that she'd never realized just how handsome and charming the raccoon seated across from her was...but that, she told herself, was a bald-faced lie! Oh, she knewall too well, in fact!just how attractive Sly Cooper was. A part of her mind fought a seemingly never-ending battle trying to convince the other half just why she didn't pursue him on a romantic level. Because, while he might be a thief...he was one hunky thief! Oh, my yes! the girlish part of her mind squealed. Carmelita found her pulse racing in her ears, and her hands were getting clammy feeling. She, with a wrench of will that left her reeling, managed to growl, "All right, Cooper. I'll see your gloves...and" She put her cards down, and reached up to unfasten the leather collarwith her badge attachedfrom around her graceful, slender neck. "I'll raise you my collar," she added, tossing it on to the pile before them both.

Sly decided the only defense to Carmelita's more than considerable charms was to go on the offensive! He returned her smilethe one that sent shivers up and down his spine!with one of his own. "Lovely Carmelita. Lovely, lovely Carmelita. Is there any part of you that isn't lovely?" he questioned, watching her scoff at his flattery. "No, really, dear girl. I mean it! You're so cuteeven when you're angry!" he told her, then grinned, adding, "Kind of like now."

"Cooper," Carmelita growled, feeling very unsettled. She felt herself quivering slightly, hanging on his every word, even though a part of her was ashamed that she was doing so!

Carmelita's wide lovely eyes, and expectant expression told him he had her attention all right! He laughed softly and as alluringly as possible. "And, your eyesoh, my yes, those expressive, exquisite chocolate brown eyes of yoursthe way they always seem to twinkle that special way, each and every time you think you've got me cornered," Sly continued.

Carmelita didn't say a word, her mouth slightly open in surprise. No one had ever said such lovely things about her eyes before. Most men seemed to think of them as hard and flinty…or so that was what she overheard at times. She felt like a fly in a spider's web at this moment, trapped…unable to stop him, and not really wanting to if she could!

Sly raised his eyes to hers, and looked intently into them. "Dare I go on about your smile, lovely Carmelita? So seldom seen, but so beautiful, that nearly every time I see that smile, it literally takes my breath away…"

Carmelita blushed hotly, feeling her cheeks and ears grow warm. Her heart thundered in her chest, so much so that she brought up a unknowing hand to rest at the base of her throat. Her breathing was becoming more rapid, and with a supreme force of willpower on her part, she managed to interrupt him before he can go any further. "Stop stalling, Cooper! You gonna raise your bet, or are you going to call?" she demanded. She watched him, and not even thinking about what she's doing, waves her hand before her face, trying to cool her flaming cheeks.

Sly grinned, continuing on like he hasn't heard a word she's said! "In addition, my lovely Carmelita, I must tell you that find your Spanish accent so bewitching, only surpassed by your lovely graceful neck! I'd continue further south, my stunning young woman, but you are a lady, and gentlemen don't discuss such things in the presence of a lady," Sly declared, his deep brown eyes roaming her figure a moment.

Carmelita, suddenly aware of just how much of her body is showing at this moment, blushed even more red. She continued to fan herself, while her free hand flutters about, trying to somehow find some spot to hide her near nakedness from the hot-blooded raccoon seated only mere feet away from her! Finding that a futile effort at best, she decided to try and get him back on track...before she blushed from her head on down to the bottom of her feet! "Cooper!" she bellowed, shrinking down a bit in her chair to hide a bit more of her from his view. "Stop the flirty chit-chat and play the game!" She felt herself near panting, a most persistent tingle jangling up and down her spine.

Sly saw his lady love's face flame, making her even more lovely than before! He knew he has found a point of vulnerability in Carmelita, and so he decided to exploit it. "Ah, Ms. Fox…your narrow waist is the envy of woman everywhere," he told her truthfully, then canted his head, thinking aloud. "Hmm, perhaps you should try to eat better, dearest, you're becoming skinny as a rail," he observed, then smiled when Carmelita bristled at that comment. "Now, as to the way you fill out your jeans...ooh, la la! Woo! I've nearly lost my balance on more than one occasion while sneaking a look at your glorious behind, my beautiful Carmelita! If I didn't think I'd wind up arrested, I'd of given you more than one delightful pinch upon your lovely bum, Carme dear."

Carmelita's eyes went wide upon hearing this, and she reached a hand back to subconsciously touch her cute rounded derriere. "Y-Y-You have?" she stammered, mentally kicking herself as she added, "Really?"

Sly didn't answer her inadvertent question, driving her even more crazy with his moment of silence. "Now, regrettably, that only leaves your legs. Oh, and what long, lovely legs you have too, Carmelita. Amazing, scandalously alluring legs," he admits, eyeing her legs hotly, his eyes flashing. "Girl, legs like those should definitely be considered deadly weapons!"

Carmelita couldn't help herself, and her big brown eyes shone with pleasure at his complimenting her legs, but she's wise enough to be suspicious of him. Carmelita suppressed a bout of excited quivering, focusing her attention on her frustration at the suddenly loquacious raccoon. "Cooper…for goodness sake! What do I have to do to get you play your damn cards already?" she blurted out.

Sly blinked at her, as if seeing her for the first time, and grinned very mischievously her way. "What do you have to do? Well, I suppose… we could always try kissing each other again. I can't tell you how enjoyable I found it that the last time, Carmelita my sweet. Woo! That was some kiss, girl!"

Carmelita smiled, acknowledging his compliment at her ability to kiss, but rolled her eyes at him to let him know he wasn't getting to her. "Maybe so, Cooper. But, and do correct me if I'm wrong...the last time you kissed meand it was you who kissed me, buster!you used that opportunity to cuff mewith my own handcuffs, mind you!to that railing before you scampered off. And, that humiliation was on top of what I experienced when you chose to kiss me!" she informed him with a scowl. She then narrowed her eyes, thinking, before she continued.
"Remind me add a decade to your sentence for that, whennot if!I finally arrest your sorry butt!"

Sly smiled winsomely at her, clasping his hands together then bringing them up beside his cheek imploringly. "For another kiss from you, darling, ten years would mean nothing..." he told her, blinking his eyes to impart his apparent fervor. "Oh, by the way," he then added out of the blue, laying down his cards. "I've got a straight flush, dear lady."

Carmelita blinked, caught unaware by his sneaky playing of his cards. But, after she recovered, she grinned at him evilly, laying her hand down face up. "Nice try…but, nothin' doin', Cooper! A Royal Flush, mi amigo." She laughed huskilymaking Cooper shiver with excitementthen scooped back her winnings toward herself, stopping to replace her collar back around her neck.

Sly shrugged, then laughed softly. "Eh. You win some, you lose some," he told her. He then reached over to softly rub Carmelita's hand twice. "Don't you worry though, Carme dear...I'll win it all back next hand." He raised an eyebrow at her suggestively. "Hey, who knows...and maybe even more than that, hmm?"

Carmelita's response was to draw back her hand, and glare at him. Though, she was sure that that wretch Cooper couldn't of missed the blush that suffused her cheeks…at least, if the heat she felt washing over her face was any indication.