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.