Chapter 8

Sly was, admittedly, in rather desperate straits, but his optimism never lagged. He reviewed the cards in his hand, thankful that finally Carmelita has put her lovely legs out of his sight, allowing him to truly concentrate on his play. Not that was all that much help...the cards he has been dealt of late have left much to be desired. He still continued to wage his own psychological warfare campaign to keep poor Carmelita on her toes…well, verbally at least! "So, what's your wager, Most Scintillating of Ladies?" he asked, smiling over at Carmelita.

Carmelita shook her head, not really quite sure what the word 'scintillating' even meant. Though, she's pretty certain it was a compliment, if she knew her adversary at all. Unsure as to just what to do, she decides to cover all her bases…giving him an appreciative grin, but following that up by making a face at him too. "Okay then, Ringtail, I'll bet your gloves," she stated, laying down his gloves that she had only just won the previous hand.

Sly smiled as his own clothing was used to bet against him. Grinning to himself a moment, he decided to turn up his psy-op campaign another notch. "Aw, I just love how you use that cute little petname for me, Carmelita my sweet. Always a turn-on, mi señora del Policía," he told her, grinning at Carmelita's surprised expression when she heard him speaking her native Spanish. "Now, as to my wager...do you think you could be a lady, and turn away for just uno momento, por favor?"

Carmelita, not sure what Cooper was up to, could hardly deny him his request. She nodded to him, and then turned herself around as she was asked to. "Si," she told him. In all reality, it was probably for the best she did so, as she missed seeing Sly drag his boxers down and off. He tossed his boxers on to the pot, then sat down hastily, pulling his chair in tight to the table. "Okay, Cooper…all finished? With whatever chicanery you're undoubtedly up to?" she groused, wondering just what he was up to. "Oh, and by the way, Cooper, you should of said Señorita del Policia. You know very well that I'm not married. Señora is the proper term for a married woman." Carmelita had to admit she was most surprised…just where did Cooper learn to speak Spanish as well as he did anyway?

Sly sighed in relief as his chair finally warmed up a bit! He grinned mischievously. "Ah, I stand corrected then, O Mujer Policía de mis Sueños," he said by way of apology. He then bowed his head respectfully, his brown eyes twinkling at her.

Carmelita was further impressed, and laughed at his nicely phrased compliment. "So...policewoman of your dreams, huh?" she asked, flicking her eyes down at the table as a matter of habit. She was shocked and surprised, which was most evident as her large lovely eyes went wide the very moment they spied Sly's white boxers laying atop the pot. Unable to stop herself, she muttered softly in surprise, "Madre y Dios!" Quickly composing herself once more, she added confidently, "So…it's my turn then?"

Sly smiled rascally at her before he answered. "Si, mi querera," he announced, nodding affirmatively to her.

Carmelita found herself blushing softly at his calling her 'his love' in Spanish, but soldiered on in spite of it. "Flatterer," she accused him, though she smiled. "Hmm, let's see...I´ll see your cute boxers, and raise you your own jacket, mi canalla," she replied. She doffed and then laid Sly´s jacket down on to the pot, folding it neatly to save space.

Sly looked down at his cards, seeing that he's managed to draw a very respectable flush, thinking 'not to bad' to himself. Not that bad at all. "Well, your rascal, my dear, thinks he has got himself a winning hand. And, as such, I'm prepared to give you a chance to win these lovely jeans of yours back," he informed her as he laid Carmelita's jeans neatly on the top of the ever growing pot.

Carmelita frowned a moment at his wager. Just what did that raccoon have himself, anyway? she thinks. "Well, well, Mr. Cooper…aren't we someone who loves to take chances? Impressive. All right, I'm still in, Ringtail. I'll meet my jeans, and raise you your boots. What's your play, Cooper?" she challenged him, laying his boots down on the very top of the pile.

Sly wonders what sort of hand she's got...she's been very, very lucky of late. "Mmm. Interesting, mi bonita doncella..." he says in his most charming voice, as he laid down his cards face down, and reached up to remove his mask, tossing it jauntily atop everything else. "Tu vuelta, mi amora..."

Carmelita sits quietly, taken aback by two things really: first by the lovely things he just said to her; and by the fact that this was the first time she'd ever seen Sly without his mask on. She was quick to notice that his fur there wasn't really black, but rather a very dark grey. She felt a delicious tingle run down her spine, making her shiver with excitement. My, she thinks to herself, but isn't he one handsome devil! That moment passes though as she regained her senses finally, shaking her head to clear it. Now, she needed to get back to the game at hand. "You know…that's a totally new look for you, Cooper. I like it. But, that's neither here nor there. I'm gonna call, buster," she said, laying down her cards, face up on the table. "I've got myself a straight flush, my dear boy." She then eyed him speculatively, the barest hint of a hopeful smile on her lips. "Care to beat that, Ringtail?"

Sly sighed, shaking his head. Well, that's it…he has been beaten. Can you believe it? It just hasn't been his day! "Sorry, but the best I can seem to manage is a measly flush, I´m afraid," he admitted to her, smiling over at the triumphant Carmelita. "I expect you've won, Carmelita dear. As I've no more clothing to wager, you understand." He bowed his head to her formally, and was surprised when she graciously accepted his praise, and inclined her head to him in reply. "So...what do I have to do to get my clothing back, Most Lovely of Ladies? Perhaps kiss you, hmm?" he suggested, waggling a most suggestive eyebrow at her.

Carmelita shivered, briefly tempted at that most provocative image, but dismissed out of hand, saying to him, "Sorry, only in your dreams, Ringtail."

Sly smiled at Carmelita before canting his head a bit, replying, "Aw, how did you know?"

Carmelita rolled her eyes disparagingly, but she inwardly grinned, surprised to know he just might be dreaming of her. "Cooper, I haven't chased your sorry butt around half the world without learning something about you, you know. But whatever...now, listen up, Ringtail. I'll graciously let you have your clothes back...but, my price is a nice massage."

Sly thought to himself, 'things are looking up!', and outwardly grinned, looking the lovely Carmelita up and down until she blushed again. "You got it, cute girl! One full body massage, comin' up, my sweet."

Carmelita quivered inside, not even allowing herself to even think on that subject! She held up her hand commandingly. "Whoa there, Cooper! Don't even try to go there! Just a nice massage…where I want it, okay? Just my back, arms, and shoulders...oh, and definitely my legs too. Comprende? That's all of me that you're going to touch, got it?"

Sly bowed gallantly, grinning until Carmelita was not sure she wanted to throttle himor kiss him! "But, of course, Carme my love!" he readily agreed.

Carmelita frowned then, not liking his familiarity. "That's Carmelita. Don't call me Carme, Cooper!" she protested, giving him a glare.

Sly only grinned mischievously at her. "As you say, fairest Carmelita. So, shall I begin your massage au natural? Or, do I actually get to put my clothes back on first?" he asked, grinning wolfishly at her as she blushed yet again.

Carmelita shivered at the thought, briefly considered it, then controlled herself, hiding her true feelings by hurling his clothes back at him, stating, "Eew! Clothes on, definitely, Cooper!" Sly began to quickly dress, while she continued. "So...where did you learn to speak Spanish anyway?"

Sly had his boxers and pants on again, and was pulling his shirt over his head. He gave Carmelita a warm little smile, which she returned, though somewhat hesitantly. "I guess you could say that I've learned a thing or two over the years. Now, mind you, I'm not fluent or anything...but, I do know more than a little."

Carmelita began to dress as well, thankfully pulling her tight jeans back on. She triedwithout much success reallyto ignore Sly's rapt attention to her shapely posterior as she did so. "Stop ogling me, Cooper!" she told him heatedly. She quickly fastened her belt, and sat back down. She glowered at him at first, a part of her very angry at him for staring at her behind. While yet another part of her was rather, and unexpectedly, flattered at his undo attention to her shapely rump.

"How long have you had this remarkable talent then, Cooper? And, why the interest in Spanish? I'd figure you had more important things to do with your time, Ringtail."

Sly shrugged, thinking…although a part of him was still seeing Carmelita snuggling into her jeans. "Well, I suppose you're right about that. But, I was intrigued all those times you called me things in Spanish. So, I thought that I probably might as well know what you were calling me each time I managed to get away from you." He smiled as charmingly as he could, knowing it was a sore point with her. "There you have it, lovely lady. So...where would you like that massage of yours then, hmm?"

Carmelita paused to think it over, then replied, her cheeks flushing hotly as she did so. "Um, my room, Cooper," she told him, and seeing him open his mouth prepared to say something clever and racy, she held up a hand. "And, before you say one thing, don't get any ideas, thief." She saw him nod, but could see from the expression in his eyes that he has lots of ideas already...ones that would most likely left her blushing like some silly school girl, had she been able to read his mind. "Well? Are you going to at least try to behave like a gentleman and carry me? It's not like I'm uninjured here, you know!" she growled at him.

Sly playfully slapped his forehead in chagrin. "Oh, how thoughtless of me! You see, you are such a formidable woman, Carmelita, that I'm sometimes fooled into thinking there's nothing you cannot do!" he told her, smiling.

Carmelita grinned at his sugary compliment. "Yeah, right," she replied, pleased, but not wanting him to know it. She then allowed him to gather her up in his arms and carry her. She still can't seem to shake the feeling of contentment she has each time she was in this rascal's arms. She knew she shouldn't feel that way, she tried to tell herself, but she can't help but she did. She sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she had feelings for him...despite the fact that he's a criminal. It's just not fair, she told herself as she was carried back to her room.

Sly carried his unrequited lady love in his arms, having to resist the urge to lean over and softly kiss her cheek to cheer her up. He knew that will most likely only garner him a sharp elbow or a maybe a knuckle sandwichboth of which, he could certainly do without. I love her, Sly admit to himself at that moment. I know I shouldn't, and that it most likely will never work out between us...but, I can't help how I feel about her. He smiled down at her and talked to her. "Almost there, Inspector."

They both arrived at Carmelita's room's door in an oddly quiet, content, yet still melancholy mood. Both know they have feelings, rather strong feelings, for each other, romantic feelings...but, they are such an odd couple. Both policewoman and master thief contemplate life as it was now, and then how it might be sharing their lives with each other. While parts of such a relationship would be delightfully domestic and very fulfilling, the very fact that he was a criminal, while she was a policewoman always seems to cruelly intrude upon their dreams. Would it ever work out? Who really knew?

AN: First off, this is NOT the final chappie. Second, since there were so many Spanish words presented this chapter, I'll give you the definitions for them here:

mi señora del Policía: my lady of the Police

por favor: Please

Mujer Policía de mis Sueños: Police Woman of my Dreams

Madre y Dios: Mother of God

Si, mi querera: Yes, my love

mi canalla: my gangster, my rascal

mi bonita doncella: my pretty lady

Tu vuelta, mi amora: Your turn, my love

Comprende: understand

Okay, to all of you who are actually Spanish...please don´t kill me! My English dictionary isn't the greatest.