Lulled by his light caresses, she closed her eyes and gave herself over to his touch and to the soothing hot water.

His touch grew bolder, lowering to the juncture of her thighs, teasing the curls at the apex. Her breath drew in painfully and she held it in anticipation as her body quivered—wanting and needing him to touch her more intimately.

He was patient, drawing lazy circles, dipping down to run his fingers over the closed seam between her legs. She sighed and parted her thighs, wanting him to have easier access. Slowly he worked one finger between her folds and rubbed lightly over her clit.

She gasped and tensed as pleasure shot through her body, tingling and burning its way through her veins and to all her pleasure points. Her breasts tightened and ached, wanting equal attention.

“Lay your head back on my shoulder,” he whispered. “I want to see your face when I make you come.”

Her head drooped back and she turned her face away as he nuzzled her neck. His fingers were magic, taking her up so close to her peak and then slowing and bringing her down until she was boneless in his arms.

His middle finger slipped lower, circling her entrance before entering the barest of inches, teasing and stroking. When her breaths were coming fast and shallow, he went back to her clit, exerting just the right amount of pressure as he found her sweet spot.

He licked her pulse point at her neck and then nipped lightly, his teeth grazing as goose bumps erupted over her flesh. “Come for me, Sarah. Right here. Right now in my arms. Let go for me, baby.”

She twisted against him, arching into his hand as his fingers grew more insistent. He knew just how to touch her, just how hard to exert pressure and when to let off. As his mouth melted against her neck again, her orgasm flashed, quick and hard, exploding through her body. Wave after wave of intense, mind-bending pleasure curled through her pelvis and spread through her limbs until she was mindless and limp.

Slowly she came back to awareness as he rained a trail of kisses over the curve of her shoulder.

“That was amazing,” she murmured. She yawned broadly and floated in the sweet aftermath as he stroked her body with gentle hands.

His erection was rigid against her back. Hot like a branding iron. Thick and large.

“You’re amazing,” he said sincerely. “What you did back there, Sarah. I’m humbled. I’m furious with you for putting yourself between me and danger like that, and if you ever do it again, I’ll spank your ass. But I’m so goddamn amazed at the courage it took for you to face him down like that.”

“I was scared,” she admitted. “But I figured whatever they did, it couldn’t be as bad as what you’d suffered. I’d survive. I did it once. I can do it again.”

He gathered her close and held on to her as he kissed the side of her face. “Thank you. I’m furious. I’m amazed. But thank you.”

They soaked awhile longer, Sarah limp against his chest, content in the aftermath of his lovemaking. Finally, with the water cooling around them, she stirred and pushed herself upward. She turned to help Garrett, but he gripped the sides of the tub with bloodless fingers and strained to rise from the tub.

His face went pale and his lips formed a paper-thin line. His breaths spurted out raggedly as he stood a moment catching his breath. She hurried out of the tub and jerked a towel from the rack. She was there to help him as he stepped from the tub, not that she did him any good. But she was determined to take as good care of him as he had of her.

Gently she worked the towel over his body, wiping the wetness away. He was hugely aroused, and his cock strained upward toward his belly. Despite serious effort not to look, her gaze wandered to it more than once as she continued to towel him off.

Finally he seemed to be able to take no more. With a stifled groan, he gripped her wrist. “Finish drying yourself off. I’ll be in the bedroom.”

He walked stiffly from the bathroom, leaving her standing naked and still dripping. She wrapped the towel around her and hugged the material close.

She wasn’t afraid. She knew what was going to happen. More than that, she knew what she wanted to do. She didn’t want to wait for Garrett to act. She didn’t want to be a passive participant.

Hurriedly, she dried her hair and combed through it until the tangles were gone. There was a robe hanging from a hook on the back of the door, and as large as it was, it had to belong to Rio.

She pulled it on and tied the belt before walking out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Garrett was lying on the bed, a towel still wrapped around his hips. His eyes were closed and she frowned at the vivid bruising over his midsection.

Even battered and bruised, he was a beautiful man. Drawn to the vulnerable picture he posed, she crawled onto the bed beside him. His eyes opened and he focused on her as she knelt beside him.

He started to speak, but she lowered her mouth to his to hush him.

Just as she had while they were locked in the cell, she worked to soothe his hurts. Only this time there was no fear of discovery. No uncertainty of their fate. No reason for her to hold anything back.

Garrett watched the series of emotions that flickered across her face as she drew away. Her hand slipped up and down his chest, pausing low on his belly. Her fingers trembled against him, part nervousness and part excitement, if he had to guess.

A little shyly, she pulled at the towel until the ends fell away, baring him completely to her gaze. His cock shot upward as a surge of lust blew through his system. Every muscle in his body screamed its protest but at the moment he didn’t give a damn.

There was a purposeful look in her eyes that had him hopeful and breathless all at the same time. Then she cocked her head and bit at her bottom lip as if she were unsure of what to do next. It was almost like she was looking to him for guidance. Or permission. Was she afraid of hurting him?

“Make love to me, Sarah,” he whispered. “Touch me. You feel so damn good. Do what you want. You won’t hurt me.”

He could be lying or maybe he was hoping like hell he spoke the truth. All he knew was that he wanted her mouth on him like he wanted his next breath.

She kissed him again, this time in the center of his chest. As she kissed a delicate path down his midsection, her hand slid lower and her fingers circled his erection.

Ah shit.

He groaned and stirred restlessly, ignoring the pain he felt every time he so much as twitched.

Then she released him and slid her hand back up again as she kissed each area of his bruised ribs. Little butterfly kisses, each one bringing such pleasure that he was dizzy with it.

She loved every part of his ache, coaxed and caressed until the pain slid quietly away, replaced by warm euphoria. Her mouth crept lower until her tongue circled a wet path around his navel and to the sensitive skin underneath.

She hesitated when she licked down to his groin, and his breath caught in his chest and held until finally she grasped his erection. He exhaled in jerky puffs as her fingers circled him once again and she gently moved her hand up and down.

Again she lowered her mouth and brushed her lips just above the base of his cock. He was crazy with anticipation. Each breath was shallower than the last and every nerve ending in his body was screaming. He moved restlessly, ignoring the protest of his body. His skin was itchy and alive like he was about to turn inside out.

And finally she slipped her mouth over the crown of his erection and did a warm, wet slide down to her knuckles. He was already hard but the moment her tongue brushed over his length, he hardened to stone, his dick so rigid that it was as much pain as pleasure, and God, he wanted more.

She glided upward again, tasting every inch. Her mouth was the sweetest pleasure he’d ever known in his life. She took away the pain and replaced it with warmth he felt all the way to his soul.

He had to touch her. His hands curled and itched like crazy. He raised one to rest on her head and then delved into her hair, rubbing and moving down to her nape as he urged her on. He was careful not to push even though his mind and body were screaming to surge more fully into her.

She’d shared every part of herself. He knew how difficult it must have been for her to initiate this. He savored it, tasted it. His hand gentled, squeezing softly at her nape before sliding through her hair once more to the back of her head. He loved the feel of her hair around his fingers. He wanted her skin more.

As she sucked him deeper, he closed his eyes again and skimmed down to the side of her neck. She shivered when he caressed the skin just below her ear. He lingered there a moment and when she dipped again to take him deep, he traced a line around the hollow of her throat and then to her collarbone.

Her breasts swayed just underneath his reach. Her robe had come open and he could see the tempting swells. He wanted to cup the soft flesh and run his thumb over her nipple, feel it pucker and harden against the pad. But he didn’t want to take more from her than she was willing to give, and so he contented himself with stroking the flesh of her neck and watching her throat work up and down as she swallowed against his erection.

His release was building and as much as he wanted satisfaction, he wanted to live in the moment. He didn’t want it to end so soon.

He touched her jaw and she instantly went still. She turned, releasing him from her mouth and faced him, her eyes glowing softly.

“Should I stop?”

“Hell no.” He couldn’t contain the explosive denial and he worked to amend his statement. “Only for a moment. It’s too soon. It’s too good to end so quickly.”

Her lips curved upward into a sensual smile of a female who knew she was pleasing her man. She stroked him with her hand, working up and down in slow, rhythmic motions as she continued to watch him.

“Lower,” he said in a husky voice. “Touch me lower. Wrap your fingers around me, honey. I want you everywhere.”

He moaned when she slid her hand all the way down to the base and then let go to cup his balls. She measured the weight in her hand squeezing gently and running her fingers over the sac.

“With your mouth,” he whispered. “Do it while you use your mouth.”

Her hair fell like a curtain as she lowered her head again. He pushed it aside, wanting to see her mouth as she closed it around his cock. As she massaged and rolled his balls in her hand, she sucked wetly down his length, exerting firm pressure with her mouth.

His breath escaped in a long hiss and every muscle in his body tightened. The pressure was painful as his bruised and aching muscles protested, but he urged her on, the pleasure of her mouth too much to deny.

“I’m close,” he warned. “You can use your hand if you don’t want me to come in your mouth.”

She made a low purring sound in the back of her throat and then took him whole. He bumped against the back of her mouth and felt her swallow—an invitation—against the head. Oh God, he wasn’t going to last.

Like silk, she glided sensuously over his cock, her tongue rubbing erotically along the underside. She increased the pace and tightened the pressure until he was nearly insane with the mounting frenzy.

“Sarah.”

Her name tore from his lips just as his release boiled up and over. Fire shot through his groin and raced through his veins like quicksilver. He spurted against the back of her throat and then his release coated warm liquid in her mouth and over his cock. She swallowed and continued her downward motion, taking him and holding him like she savored every inch.

Nothing had ever been so good. He floated, free of pain, free of everything but her.

Gently, she coaxed the last of his release from him with soft sucking motions. Then she carefully pulled him from her mouth and then facing him, she laid her cheek on his thighs and slid her hand up his hip and to his belly.

She smiled up at him, her eyes soft and contented. He trailed fingers through her hair, stroking over and over.

“That was amazing,” he murmured.

“I didn’t hurt you?”

There was worry in her voice and even as she asked, she slid her hand over the bruises as if she could wipe them away with her touch.

“I promise you I felt nothing but pleasure after I got inside your mouth.”

She smiled again. “I’m glad. I wanted to take away the pain for a little while.”

“You did more than that,” he said softly. “You gave me something very special. Don’t think I’ll forget.”

Her cheeks colored prettily and he brushed his fingers over her temple.

“Let’s go eat,” he suggested. “I imagine you’re starving, and I promised you caramel num nums.”

She laced her fingers with his and squeezed. “You’ve kept all your promises, Garrett.”

CHAPTER 32

DINNER was fun. Sarah wasn’t sure if it was due to her relief at being alive and safe or if she just enjoyed Garrett’s company that much. He put her in charge of the three-meat dinner course while he worked on caramel num nums.

“I think you got the better work detail,” she said as she sniffed at the caramel he was stirring.

“This is delicate work,” he defended.