He kissed her. It was the only thing he could think to do when she was slipping away from him. When she looked so alluring, a temptress of the rain forest. The moment his mouth fastened onto hers, she circled his neck with her arms, pressed her body into his so that they simply melted together. In the heat of the forest her skin felt like hot velvet, sliding and rubbing against his so that the friction brought its own heat and excitement. His fingers tunneled in her hair, fisted there to hold her to him while he kissed her voraciously. Ravenously. Forgetting everything but the feel and taste of her.

Rachael felt she’d gone from one dream to another. The wildness subsided into her to be replaced by another kind. Untamed, unbridled passion welled up and spilled over for this one man. The only man. She had thought to let him go. She thought to protect him and leave him behind. It would never happen. He was as much a part of her as her own head was. When they were together there was magic, laughter—love. It was a silly, simplistic ideal, but it worked with Rio.

Rachael lifted her head to look at him, to take in his face, feature by feature. Tears swam in her eyes and she had to blink them away. “You’re so beautiful, Rio.” Her throat ached and her eyes burned with love welling up like a fountain.

“You always tell me I’m beautiful. Men aren’t supposed to be beautiful.”

“Maybe you aren’t supposed to be, but you are. I’ve never been around a man like you before.” Her fingertips traced the lines in his face, smoothed over his mouth. She looked into his eyes, and smiled. “It isn’t just your body that’s so perfect, Rio, you’re such a good man.”

How could a woman tear a man up with a few simple words? Maybe it was the honesty in her expression, the love in her eyes. “Rachael.” Her name came out in a husky whisper. He couldn’t control his own voice.

The radio crackled to life. The sound of gunfire could be heard in short bursts. Someone screamed. Pandemonium rang out. “Joshua’s hit. Conner’s trying to cover Drake and the vics. Damn it. Damn it.” More static.

Rachael was watching Rio’s face carefully. His expression disappeared and he wore a grim mask. “How far away are they? How many miles away?”

He looked down at her, blinked, kissed her mouth hard and turned to catch up his rifle. Rachael handed him the two knives lying side by side on the counter.

“Rachael.” He hesitated at the door, radio in hand.

“Just go. Hurry. It’s what you do. I’ll be fine here with Fritz.”