She dove forward and under the covers. 'I didn't really think about it. I just decided to come.' She stiffened as she realized he was naked. 'And you have less on than I do. You were expecting me?'
'I was hoping.' His lips brushed her ear. 'But I always sleep naked.'
Dear God, she was trembling. His body was hard, hot, ready against her.
'You're shaking.' He turned her over to look down at her. 'It's so dark in here, I can't see you. Are you afraid?'
'For Pete's sake, I've never been afraid of you.' She reached down and pulled her tee shirt over her head and threw it aside. 'And I won't shatter. And, if I was among the walking wounded, it was never sexu¬ally.' She pulled him down and then arched upward with a little cry as her breasts touched his chest. 'And I won't allow Staunton to tie your hands. I want them moving over me. Get busy.'
He chuckled. 'Right. Whatever you say.' His hand moved be¬tween her legs. 'Like this?'
She inhaled sharply. 'Yes.'
'Maybe we should go to your room. I made sure this pallet was clean, but that's all it is.' He was rubbing, manipulating. 'You'd be more comfortable.'
'No.' She arched as he went deep. 'This is fine.'
'You're not cold?'
'Are you crazy?' No, the bastard was teasing, physically and ver¬bally. 'I'm not wounded. I'm not cold. I'm in lust, and you're not do¬ing anything about it.' She pushed him back and moved over him. 'So I guess I'll have to do it myself.'
'I CAN SEE WHY YOU DIDN'T want to go to your bedroom,' Gar¬rett whispered. 'Dardon would have run into your room gun drawn at the first scream.'
'It wasn't a scream.' But it had come close, Emily thought as she tried to get her breath. 'It was a prolonged, loud, exclamation.'
'I liked it. Call it anything you please.' He was curved spoonlike against her back, and his hand was rubbing her belly. 'I made you do it. You liked what I did to you.'
Liked? She had been out of her mind every time they had come together. She was still out of her mind. Just his hand rubbing her flesh was causing it to start all over again. 'You're not bad, Garrett.'
'Not bad? I'm obviously going to have to up my efforts a notch. I want to impress you.'
Oh, he had impressed her. She had tried to protect herself by mak¬ing light of it, but she had to be honest. He had given her more than she had expected, more than she had thought she needed. She was silent a moment, trying to find the words. 'You made me feel… alive again, Garrett,' she whispered. 'Thank you.'
'You're welcome,' he murmured. 'But I didn't do anything much in that direction. You're the most beautifully alive person I've ever known. It was what I saw when I first saw your picture in the newspa¬per. Full of life and character and a sort of luminous joy.' He kissed the tip of her ear. 'I think that's why I got so pissed that you'd been taken and I had to go after you.'
'There are so many little things that make us what we are. The memories, the way we face sorrow and disasters, the people we reach out to. I thought I was back, but there was still a numbness there. I couldn't make contact. I guess I haven't felt really alive since-' She stopped. 'I hadn't even realized what I'd lost. But tonight I felt alive. My body felt beautiful and clean, and you made me feel as if I was very special.'
'And so you are.'
He didn't understand. She wasn't sure she could make it clear what he'd given her. It was more than likely it had just been a great roll in the hay to him. She was probably embarrassing him. She'd had to put it into words but it would be better to back away. 'Of course, I am,' she said lightly. 'I'm glad you recognize it.'
'I couldn't help it.' He moved his hand to her throat and began lightly rubbing the hollow of her throat. 'For instance, your flesh is very sensitive. Particularly here.' He smiled as he felt the pulse leap be¬neath his touch. 'Extraordinarily sensitive. It's good to know that no matter where we are, what we're doing, all I have to do is slip my hand under your blouse and you'll be ready for me in a heartbeat.'
'Don't count on it.' But it didn't sound very sincere when she could hardly get her breath.
'I am counting on it.' He turned her over on her back. 'Because you're going to back away. You're going to be afraid you'll lose your focus. I'll just have to bring you back. I know all the ways now. You know how good we are together. Every chance I get, I'll remind you.'
'What about your focus?'
'I can keep my focus. There's no need denying ourselves this. That would give Staunton a victory.' He moved over her. 'You said you didn't want him to tie my hands.' His fingers were moving, brushing, pressing. 'I promise he's not going to do that, Emily…'
'I'VE GOT IT!'
The door of the lean-to was thrown open, letting in bright day¬light and Pauley.
He stopped short, his gaze on Emily. 'Oops.'
'Oops, indeed.' Garrett drew the blanket over Emily and raised himself on one elbow. 'You could have knocked.'
'I was excited. And I didn't know you weren't alone.' Pauley made a face. 'Sorry, Emily.'
'It's okay.' She was looking around for the tee shirt she had dis¬carded all those hours ago. 'Why are you excited?'
'Not for the same reason Garrett was excited,' he said ruefully. 'Lucky man. I wish I'd spent the night here instead of staring at that computer.'
'What have you got?' Garrett reached over and retrieved Emily's tee shirt and handed it to her. 'Why don't you go start the coffee and give us a couple minutes?'
'Right.' Pauley moved out of the doorway and headed for the house. 'And it's almost eight in the morning. It's time you got up any¬way.'
'You can go straight to your bedroom and get some clothes on, Emily.' Garrett was pulling the tee shirt over her head. 'I'll talk to Pauley.'
'No. Give me your shirt. You get another one out of your suit¬case.' She slipped the shirt over her tee shirt and buttoned it. 'That's good enough until I can hit the shower. It should only take a few min¬utes to hear what Pauley has to say.' She got up and headed for the door. 'Coming?'
'Could you wait until I get some clothes on?' He was already dressing. 'I'll be just a minute.' He smiled faintly. 'You're already in strike mode. It's going to be a harder battle than I thought. It only took Pauley with his computer wizardry to jar you away.'
'What are you talking about? Only? Why else are we here in Russia?'
'You're right, of course. Time to focus.' He was passing her as he headed for the door. 'What could I be thinking?' He gave her a glance as he passed her. 'But remember when I said I'd have it all? That didn't only apply to Staunton and his employer. I will have it all, Emily.' He didn't wait for an answer but strode toward the house.
She had to run to keep up with him. The rocks were cold and bit¬ing into her bare feet. It was the same as last night. No, not the same. Last night she wouldn't have cared if she were walking on hot coals.
He glanced back at her, then stopped to wait. 'Much as I like every part of you bare, I suggest you wear shoes from now on.' There was a faint edge to his tone. 'You may not be able to keep up with me. I in¬tend to move very fast from now on. I'm beginning to want Staunton out of our lives very badly.'
'I've never wanted anything else.'
'Yes, you did.' He opened the door for her. 'Last night you forgot all about Staunton. I made you forget him. I can do it again, but it's not a good idea. You'd end up resenting me. So it's best if I just eliminate the bastard as soon as possible.' He followed her into the room. 'But I'd appreciate it if you'd put some clothes on as soon as possible. I don't like Pauley gawking at you, and it distracts me.'
'Pauley isn't-' She stopped as she saw that Dardon and Pauley were both standing by the stove, and they were staring at her bare legs and feet. 'That's not my problem. You all can deal with it. I'm de¬cent.' She strode over to the stove and took the cup of coffee Pauley handed her. 'Thank you.'
'Talk, Pauley,' Garrett said curtly.
'I broke through to the database about two this morning.' Pauley made a face. 'Damn it was hard. I was tempted to go to bed, but I was zinging by that time, so I decided to plow through the records and come up with a
