Rio liked his privacy—obviously—but he damn sure wasn’t suffering in some hovel.

“Can’t wait to see this,” he muttered as they piled out of the van.

A high-security fence circled the house in addition to the barrier provided by the trees. The house was modern and sleek and spread out over at least three thousand square feet. When they entered, Garrett was struck by how clean and efficient the house looked, but what immediately took over his notice was the high-tech surveillance gear, the computer system and the weapons locker located just inside the door.

“Van would cream himself,” Garrett said.

Rio laughed. “That he would. I’d have to kick his ass because he’d be touching my stuff.”

He guided Sarah and Garrett into a kitchen that looked like something out of a catalog. All the modern appliances, granite countertops and a professional-grade stove with six gas burners.

“The kitchen is fully stocked. If it’s edible I probably have it. Freezer and fridge have all the necessary foodstuffs. Staples in the pantry. Plenty of bottled water. Don’t drink out of the tap. We don’t have the best water.”

They carried on into a sprawling living room, which Garrett immediately approved of. He cast a sideways glance at Sarah, wondering if she was noting the differences.

“This is the type of place you hole up in when you’re hiding,” he said. “There aren’t any open areas for anyone to see into the living room or take a shot at you from a distance. All the windows are high to allow light to enter but this is a completely safe room.”

“Oh yeah?” she muttered. “What if they have a grenade?”

Rio laughed. “Well then it’s KYAG time.”

At Sarah’s raised eyebrow, Garrett supplied, “Kiss your ass goodbye time.”

“Ah, very succinct.”

“The bedrooms are through here,” Rio said as he led them down a long hallway. “Each has its own bathroom and the master suite has a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower. Take your pick and make yourself at home.”

“This is your home, isn’t it?” Sarah asked softly. “Not just a safe house. I mean it’s your safe place.”

Rio was silent for a minute. “Yeah, it is. It’s the place I go when I want to be alone, but hey, a guy likes his creature comforts too.”

Sarah grimaced. “I’m sorry we’re intruding then. But thank you for sharing your private getaway with us.”

He smiled at her then and leaned over to ruffle her hair affectionately. “Well, if it was only Garrett I would have stashed him in some hovel somewhere. Much more in keeping with his winning personality. But I couldn’t very well treat a lady like that.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. I’m going to puke over here,” Garrett grumbled. “Don’t you have something better to be doing?”

Rio grinned again and gave a snappy two-finger salute before he sauntered back down the hall to round up his men.

Garrett and Sarah were standing in the doorway to the master suite and Garrett waited for her to venture in. “It’s beautiful,” she said as she turned in a circle in the middle of the room.

Garrett dropped their bags on the floor, startling her. She looked at the bags, looked at Garrett and then color rose in her cheeks.

“I’ll take one of the other bedrooms,” she said as she started toward her bag. “You can have this one. I don’t need much room.”

He caught her wrist before she could bend to retrieve her bag and then he pulled her up close until they were flush against each other. “You’re staying in here with me.”

She trembled and her eyes took on a slightly glazed, hungry look that brought his body to immediate attention.

“In that bed. With me,” he said as he nodded toward the big king-sized bed in the middle of the room. “Your legs wrapped around me, me inside you. I’ve thought of little else for the past few days. It’s what got me through the two days in captivity.”

She sucked in her breath and licked her lips nervously, leaving them plump and shiny and so damn irresistible. Then she put a hand on his chest and gave him a doubtful look.

“We can’t make love, you idiot. What you need is a bath and food and rest. You should climb in the tub and soak while I go fix us something to eat. I thought I’d make your favorite. Meat, meat and more meat.”

“Mmmm, that sounds good. But here’s what I think. I think you should take that bath with me and then we’ll both figure out something to fix.”

She stared at him for a minute and then past him toward the bathroom. He could see she was tempted. He pulled her in closer and murmured in her ear. “You, me, lots of hot water. I’ll wash your back. And your front. And all parts in between.”

She shivered delicately just as he sank his teeth into her lobe, nipping with just enough force to excite her.

“And just so you know, Sarah, I’m going to make love to you. I don’t give a damn if it kills me in the process. I’m going to have you. You’re going to sleep in my bed, in my arms, your skin against mine. I want the last thing you feel before you go to sleep is me inside you, and the first thing you know when you wake up.”

She made a soft, breathy, utterly feminine sound as she leaned into him, and he went painfully hard. God, but he wanted to touch her. He wanted to run his tongue from the tip of her nose to her toes and taste every delectable inch of her.

God, he had to quit or he was going to come in his pants.

“I’ll go run the water,” she said. “You sit down and rest while you wait.”

He grinned at her bossiness. “Yes, ma’am.”

Sarah pushed at him to get him to sit on the bed. When she was satisfied that he was comfortable and off his feet, she went into the bathroom. Her eyes widened when she took in the huge tub on an elevated platform. It was the centerpiece of the entire bathroom and would easily fit more than two people. Maybe Rio went in for more than one when it came to female companionship.

She laughed softly at the idea of the dark-eyed, quiet man being more frolicsome when it came to his private life.

On impulse, she searched the drawers for matches or a lighter and was delighted to find a long-stemmed candle lighter. She started the water running and then went around to light the candles placed at random spots around the bathroom. It seemed a girly thing to do but then a man owned this entire house, and the candles weren’t girly smelling. The scent was more earthy and masculine. It reminded her of the outdoors.

She stood back to survey her handiwork and then let out a groan. It looked like she was bent on seduction. Then she chuckled. She could hardly be accused of seduction when Garrett had made it abundantly clear that he had every intention of making love to her.

She rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she watched the water grow deeper in the tub. She wasn’t sure what had her on edge more. The idea of making love to Garrett or the fact that she wasn’t more wary of giving herself completely and wholly to a man. Of trusting him.

She shrugged. The fact was, she wasn’t afraid of Garrett. He’d been achingly tender and up front with her. He hadn’t hidden from the mutual attraction that flared like a brush fire between them. She cherished the honesty between them, and she trusted him—in a way she’d never thought to trust another man.

After putting out towels and arranging the soaps and shampoo just so, she turned the water off and went back for Garrett.

She found him flat on his back, eyes closed, and for a moment she stood there, watching him. Absorbing everything about him. His broad chest rose up and down with his breaths and he looked oddly vulnerable, a fact she found extremely endearing.

She eased onto the bed and leaned over him, letting her hair fall to his shoulder. She rubbed one finger down his jawline, and his eyelids slitted open. He watched her with lazy regard as she ran her finger over his lips.

“Bath’s ready,” she murmured. “Need help up?”

“I could use help undressing,” he said, an unholy gleam in his eyes.

“Of course you do,” she muttered, but a smile hovered at the corners of her mouth.

She backed off the bed and watched as he rolled to the edge and put his feet down. Unsure of whether to help him or not, she waited and let him walk ahead of her.

“This is nice,” he said as he looked around.

“Not too girly?”

He turned to look at her. “Nope, not too girly at all. As long as you like it, I like it.”

He wasted no time stripping off his shirt. She winced when she saw the multitude of bruises that colored his abdomen. He looked like an Easter egg. When he started to shimmy out of his pants, she turned away and then shook her head at the absurdity of the action. She glanced back to see a prime view of his backside as he climbed over the edge into the water.

Damn but the man was built like a brick house. All hard lines, lean at the waist and hips, broad at the shoulders and a muscled back that made her mouth water. When he turned to lower himself in the water, she saw the rippled, discolored tight abdomen and the dark hair at his groin. And even at a state of semi erection, the man was impressive.

Even as large as the tub was, he seemed to fill every inch. He sank into water and stretched out with an appreciative groan. “Damn but this feels good.”

Steam rose from the water—she’d been sure to make it hot—and he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Unsure of what she was supposed to do—okay so she knew, but she felt damn awkward—she piddled with her shirt.

Finally she turned away and walked toward the far corner so she could undress. She hoped she didn’t lose the nerve because she wanted that hot bath more than she wanted anything right now.

“Sarah.”

She turned at the sound of his voice to see him watching her through half-lidded eyes.

“Come here.”

Her head cocked to the side in question, she returned to the bathtub.

“Want to know what my fantasy is right now?” he asked. Her eyebrow went up and she nodded.

“I want you to undress right there where I can watch.”

She swallowed nervously. “You might not think it’s such a fantasy when I get my clothes off.”

His velvet gaze stroked over her body, touching fire to every nerve ending. “You have a beautiful body, honey. Perfect. I’ve had some pretty sweaty fantasies about it since meeting you. And that day on the beach when you wore that little suit. It was so modest but it made me even crazier because I kept imagining what was underneath.”

Mesmerized by the low pitch of his voice and warmed to her toes by the stark truth in his eyes, she reached down to unbutton her shorts. His gaze followed her every movement as she unfastened and then slid the material down over her hips.

She gripped the hem of her T-shirt and pulled up and over her head, leaving her in just her bra and panties. She stood for a moment, gauging his reaction, but all she saw was pure, unadulterated male appreciation.

She wasn’t sure which should go next, bra or panties, so she mentally flipped a coin and the bra won. She reached behind her to grapple with the clasp, because was there anything less sexy than taking the straps down and then twisting it around to undo from the front?

The band popped free and the cups loosened, but she held them over her breasts for the barest of moments before allowing the straps to tumble down over her shoulders. Then she let it fall to the floor as she lowered her arms.

She couldn’t meet his stare now and instead looked down as she hooked her thumbs in the lacy band of her panties. With a little wiggle, she worked the underwear down her legs and let it fall.

“Come here,” he said in a sexy, husky voice.

When she looked up there was a predatory gleam in Garrett’s eyes. A look that told her she was his and he planned to lay claim. Oh but she loved that look. No one had ever looked at her with such intensity. Like he dared anyone to take what was his away. Like he wanted to devour her in a single bite and savor the taste.

He held up his hand to help her over the edge of the tub. She slid her fingers through his and stepped into the steaming water. As soon as it sluiced over her ankles, she moaned with the sheer pleasure of it.

He tugged her forward, closer to him and then downward until she knelt, facing him, in the water between his thighs. He reached around to cup her neck and then pulled her down into his kiss. His other found the swell of her breast, cupped one and ran his thumb over her nipple. It hardened instantly, becoming a rigid, sensitive point.

When he pulled away, they were both breathing hard. Arousal glazed his eyes, and the pupils were flared, making his eyes more black than blue.

“Turn around,” he directed.

She complied and he pulled her into the V of his legs until her back was melded to his chest and she was surrounded by him, enveloped by his touch and smell.

“Relax,” he murmured. “We can use this for a while.”

She leaned farther into his embrace until they were both reclined, water lapping to their necks. His hands wandered lazily up and down her body, down her waist and then back up again, where he’d cup her breasts and bring her nipples to erect nubs.