Love Under Two Gunslingers by Cara Covington Page A

from the Ranger’s office could possibly still be watching him. That was the sign of a guilty conscience, which was laughable because Maddox didn’t have a conscience, guilty or otherwise.
    He could only hope, as he headed for home, that his latest thoughts didn’t prove, in the end, to be his epitaph.
     
    * * * *
     
    Sarah came awake to the sensation of being lifted by strong masculine arms. Eyes closed, she snuggled against the naked male chest and inhaled deeply. Joshua . She wondered then if every woman could recognize the scent of her lover, or just those who, like her, were fortunate enough to have more than one of them.
    “Where are you taking me?” She kept her eyes closed, but the brightness of daylight and the warmth of the sun on her flesh told her morning had broken.
    “The stream.”
    “Again? Fancy water a great deal, don’t you?”
    “Well, I do, but that’s not why we’re going there.”
    Sarah heard the smile in his voice and felt her lips spread in response. Memories of the night before, of being held on Joshua’s lap as water eddied past them flooded her memory. He’d cleansed her between her legs, his touch so soft and arousing that he’d had her writhing in no time. When he’d lifted her, spread her legs so that she’d straddled him, she’d been shocked. That sensation had only lasted a few seconds. Once he showed her how to take him into her body, to move in such a way as to pleasure them both, Sarah had found great joy in bringing them both to release.
      “Caleb’s waiting for us there,” Joshua said, interrupting her reverie. “He’s found a spot that’s a bit deeper than what we used last night.”
    “Why do we want deeper water?” She opened her eyes and watched as the trees gave way to the babbling stream.
    He kissed the top of her head, and Sarah snuggled deeper into his embrace. “We were greedy with you last night, love. You’ve got to be sore this morning.”
    Sarah had noticed an insistent ache between her legs and deeper, up inside her, where her two virile lovers had spent so much time the night before.
    “Mmm. I am.” She thought she should protest being carried, but the very fact she felt sore made her stay mum. She enjoyed being carted around. It made her feel cherished.
    “We were careful after the first time, so there’s no more blood on you. I checked. But still, we really should have let you alone after we’d each had you once.”
    “You aren’t solely responsible for the tenderness I feel. It seems to me I awoke in the middle of the night and made some demands of my own.”
    “For which we shall be eternally grateful.”
    Caleb came into view and his statement, along with Joshua’s personal commentary, made her blush.
    “I shouldn’t be embarrassed after last night,” she mumbled. Both men laughed at her discomfiture, but she sensed nothing unkind in their amusement.
    “This is just our first morning as lovers,” Caleb said as he lifted her from Joshua’s arms. He held her as easily as his brother had. “It will probably take you until at least tomorrow to rid yourself completely of your embarrassment.”
      “Rid myself of my embarrassment? It’s called modesty, I’ll have you know. Even virtue, by some.” Sarah sighed. “Though I guess we took care of getting rid of my virtue last night.”
    “Not in our eyes,” Joshua said. There was an edge to his tone that brooked no argument. His attitude made her feel good. She knew they held affection for her because of the tender and caring way they treated her. It was good to know they respected her, too. Still, she felt a bit ill at ease with all the personal privilege these twins claimed.
    “I can walk,” she said. Sarah had no idea why she felt compelled to protest.
    “We know. And we’ll let you start doing things for yourself tomorrow. For the rest of today, why not let us pamper you? All right?”
    The water felt colder in this deeper part than where she’d bathed, and been