He made the attempt anyway. He slowed his thrusts, drawing out the pleasure in long waves that swirled and ebbed like the rushing river. But Mandy’s body was having none of it. She bowed back. Shuddering around him, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him even deeper. Bliss shimmered like sunlight. And that was it for him. He followed her over, helpless in the wake of her pleasure.

He fell forward, supporting his greater weight on his elbows. Her eyes were closed, her expression contented. A healthy flush colored her skin. Joy coursed through his heart. For the first time since he’d returned from Iraq, he felt healed, whole. No more ruined man.

Mandy’s eyes opened wide and turned horrified in one blink.

“I can’t believe we just did that.” Mandy looked around. The treetops waved at her. They were outside. Naked and outside. Naked and in a more-than-compromising position outside. She thought of the other things Danny had done to her in the great wide open.

“We’re outside.” She squirmed, but he pressed his hips against hers, pinning her down.

“Mmm. I know.” Danny pressed his lips to her collarbone. “It’s beautiful.”

“Someone could see.” She gripped the firm muscles of his shoulders with tense fingers.

He grinned down at her. “Like who?”

“Like anybody.”

“Honey, I doubt there’s another soul for miles. Relax. Enjoy.” Danny brought his mouth to her shoulder. The rasp of his chin brought a fresh round of delicious shivers to her belly. “You just made the great outdoors a whole lot more appealing.”

She craned her head over his shoulder. No one in sight. Probably no one anywhere nearby. Probably. “We have to get up and put clothes on.”

His traced the underside of her jaw with his tongue, bringing to mind other things he’d done with it. “Are you sure? Because I’d rather do it all over again.”

Something fluttered inside her. Not now. She tapped him on the back. “Danny.”

A sigh rolled through his body.

“All right, but I was really getting into this back-to-nature thing.” Danny levered his body off of her. She instantly missed the contact with his warm skin. Without the weight of him anchoring her, she felt adrift.

Clearly comfortable with his nudity, he stood and stretched. Muscles shifted. Mandy’s gaze swept up his strong legs to narrow hips and—oh—he wasn’t kidding. He was ready to make love again. Desire gathered fresh.

She lifted her eyes, past the broad chest and equally delicious shoulders to his face. His sparkling turquoise eyes and wicked grin said he knew what she was thinking.

“Are you sure you want to go back?” He lowered his voice and waggled his eyebrows. “I have another condom.”