Reckless Territory by Kate Watterson

with the primal setting of a wild river bank.
    “What do you say?” Victoria murmured against his mouth.
    “I’d die to protect you.”
    It was a startling sentiment, said in a matter-of-fact tone, but before she could respond, he began to move. First a slick glide backwards that caused her breath to catch, and then a stroke back in, his breathing harsh. Victoria closed her eyes, the muscles of his wide shoulders so tense under her hands they were rock hard, his skin carrying a sheen of perspiration. It took a few moments before she realized her hips undulated naturally as they settled into an erotic rhythm of thrust and acceptance, and while he still seemed enormous, the discomfort was mitigated by a growing sense of pleasure.
    She gave another one of those unladylike moans at his next thrust, her nails digging in a little before she knew what she was doing. Cole hissed between his teeth. “That’s it, sweetheart, fuck me back. This is so damn good.”
    Gentlemen didn’t swear in front of ladies. It just wasn’t done, but she could care less about the crudity, she found. Cole was himself, he didn’t apologize for it, and she was discovering the measure of a man wasn’t in the fashionable cut of his coat, or the lineage of his exalted family, or even his fortune. It was more in the way he cooked a simple dinner efficiently over an open fire, cared for his horse, never complained about the cold, the heat, or even handled deadly situations with calm, cool courage and a clear head.
    It was in the way he took care to introduce lovemaking to an innocent lady by assuring her pleasure first.
    His hand slid between their moving bodies, and his fingers put pressure on that certain spot that caused her to gasp and clutch at him frantically. On his next inward push he did it again and the world began to spin. He said something on a low groan but she was already too far gone to catch it. Her inner muscles tightened, ecstasy flooded through every pore, and dimly she heard herself give a low keening scream as she shuddered beneath him. In turn, Cole stiffened, and his cock pulsed deep, a rush of hot liquid flooding her. They hung there, suspended for what seemed like an eternity, but it was probably only a few moments, his face buried in her outspread hair, broad chest heaving against her breasts.
    Finally he rose up, and the slow smile that curved his mouth was self-satisfied male mixed with a little of the renegade outlaw. “Welcome to America, my lady.”

Chapter Six
    Jace stood on the riverbank, rifle in hand, not quite sure how to feel. Cole and Victoria had been gone so long he and Robert had become concerned, and when they heard a faint cry, they both agreed one of them should check. Robert had ended up staying behind with their horses and supplies at the camp, and Jace had soft-footed it through the trees along the river.
    Under no other circumstance could he sneak up on Cole. The man had the instincts of a wolf, but not now, not when he was between the pale legs of the most beautiful woman any of them had ever seen. They were an interesting contrast; brawny, bronzed male, all sinew and bulging muscle, and slender fair woman, her hair spread in the grass, her full ivory breasts quivering as she caught her breath.
    It surprised him he wasn’t jealous. Well, hell yes, he was envious he wasn’t the one inside her at the moment, but it was damned arousing to watch them.
    She’d liked it too. No secret there from the way her hand ran down Cole’s back in a lingering exploration, tracing the line of his spine. Jace saw him raise his head and whisper something in her ear, and she laughed, the light sound mingling with the music of the river.
    Yeah, she’d liked it, all right.
    This could be a problem. No getting around it, they all wanted her. Even back in Texas, where he’d grown up, Jace had never met a woman like her. He had the uncomfortable feeling he was more than half in love with her already, and he didn’t think