Blackwood's Woman (13 page)

He reached around and grabbed the back of her head in one hand, threading his fingers through her hair. She dotted kisses all over his chest, moving steadily downward until her mouth reached his belt buckle.

Grasping her shoulders, he pulled her upward until her breasts scraped over his chest. He took her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside. Her breathing quickened and she responded with a fervor that astonished her.

He drew away from her, and whispered against her lips, "Would you like to unbuckle my belt, honey?"

Nodding her head, she smiled, then sat up on top of him, resting her hips on his legs. She clutched her hands into fists, trying to stop the trembling. Taking her hands into his, he lowered them slowly to his belt. He helped her undo the heavy silver-and-turquoise belt buckle, then released her hands and waited for her to make the next move. She touched the zipper tab, then jerked her hand away.

"I—I can't," she said.

"Then don't," he told her. "It's your call, Jo."

Clasping the zipper tab between her thumb and index finger, she eased the zipper down and laid her hand over his throbbing sex. Only his thin cotton briefs separated her hand from his naked flesh. J.T. groaned deep in his throat. Heaven help him, he was about to lose it. She had no idea what she was doing to him, what torment she was putting him through.

Cupping her hips, he pressed her downward, positioning the apex of her thighs directly on his arousal. He pushed upward gently, allowing her to become accustomed to the feel of him. Her whole body trembled, then instinctively undulated against him.

He couldn't take much more. Her innocent explorations were driving him crazy. "I want you, Jo. I want to make love to you." He kissed her hard, hot and hungrily.

She quivered beneath his touch, responding fervently, but when he eased his fingers inside her warm, damp body, she tensed. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she pulled away from him.

"I can't. Please. I can't." Tears filled her eyes. She knew she had disappointed him, that he was on the verge of losing control.

He shoved her up, lifting himself into a sitting position at the same time. Settling her in his lap, he put his arms around her and hugged her close to him. "It's all right, honey." He nuzzled her neck with his nose and kissed the side of her face. He pulled her nightshirt together, then buttoned the three middle buttons, just enough to hold the material in place.

"I'm sorry." She choked back the tears.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," he said, holding her with a gentle protectiveness. "What we gave each other was enough for now. We both needed some loving. When you're ready for more, you'll let me know."

"Oh, J.T." Covering her mouth with her fist, she took several deep breaths and F:/…/Beverly Barton - Blackwood's Wo…

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"O

10/31/2009 h, J.T." Covering her mouth with her fist, Blackwood's Womanshe took several deep breaths and gulped down her sobs.

He sat on the sofa and held her in his arms while she cried. He ached unbearably.

He had never wanted a woman the way he wanted Joanna. But he didn't want to hurt her, in fact, he would do anything to make sure she was never hurt again, especially not by him.

Was this the way Benjamin Greymountain had felt about Annabelle? Had he wanted her with a desperate, all-consuming passion? If so, J.T. understood why his great-grandfather had taken another man's wife. What he didn't understand was how Benjamin could ever have let her go.

* * *

Elena Gregory squirmed on the stool where she sat perched, her waist-length black hair swaying softly with her movements. "I need a break, Jo. I'm sore from sitting in one position for so long."

Sighing, Joanna laid her brush aside. Elena had a difficult time sitting still for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. Joanna was beginning to wonder if she'd be able to complete Elena's portrait in time for Alex's birthday.

"Okay, we'll take a break. I could use some iced tea." Joanna wiped her hands on her jeans and walked around the easel. Glancing down at her watch, she realized it was after one o'clock. "Hey, we might as well take a lunch break. I didn't know it was so late."

"There's no need for me to go back up to the house for lunch," Elena said. "Alex started on a new sculpture yesterday, and you know how he is when he starts a new project. I'll be lucky if he comes out of his studio for dinner."

"Then stay and have lunch with me. We can fix sandwiches."

"I'll help you." Elena glanced down at her clothes. "Maybe you'd better get me an apron. I didn't bring a change and I don't want to get anything on my outfit."

Elena had chosen an ankle-length gathered skirt and a long-sleeved blouse made of the same red cotton material—simple in design, but a striking contrast to her dark coloring. She wore an abundance of silver-and-turquoise jewelry; several rings and bracelets as well as dangling earrings. She had chosen a squash-blossom necklace with
naja
pendant because it had been crafted by Benjamin Greymountain and given to Elena by her mother.

Elena followed Joanna into the kitchen. She took the bread and baked chicken breasts out of the refrigerator while Joanna set the table.

"How are things going between you and J.T.?" Elena asked.

"Things are fine." Joanna tossed Elena a large tan apron trimmed in ecru crocheted lace. "I feel much safer knowing he's handling the security around me. I guess you saw Tim Rawlins outside when you came in, didn't you?"

"Yes. J.T. told Alex and me last night that he planned to put a man on guard duty around the clock." Elena sliced the cold chicken into strips and prepared their sandwiches. "J.T. took over guard duty bright and early this morning, didn't he?"

Joanna dropped the bag of potato chips on the table. "Yes. Fairly early." She cast her gaze downward, not wanting to face Elena, who was sure to suspect something if she could see Joanna's eyes.

"He was in an odd mood when he came back up to the house for breakfast." Elena returned to the refrigerator for ice, then filled their glasses. "He was just about as talkative as you are now when I asked him about it."

"About what?" Joanna asked.

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"A

10/31/2009bout what?" Joanna asked.

Blackwood's Woman

Elena poured the tea into their glasses and brought them to the table. "Something must have happened between you and J.T. to make you both so secretive."

Joanna forced a quick laugh. "Just because you've had this plan to get your brother and me together for several years, doesn't mean J.T. and I have any intention of going along with your plans."

"Something did happen! I knew it. Confess. Did he kiss you?"

Someone knocked on the front door. Joanna jumped and Elena gasped. Both women turned around and faced the living room.

"Boy, we're as nervous as a couple of cats in a room full of rocking chairs," Elena said. "I'll go see who it is."

"No, you finish getting lunch ready and I'll go to the door." Joanna crossed the room, opened the front door and sighed with relief when she saw Cliff Lansdell standing on her front porch.

"Afternoon." Cliff removed his hat. "I just wanted to stop by and see how you're doing. I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all, Cliff." Joanna stepped back to allow him entrance. "Come on in. Elena and I were just about to have lunch. Would you care to join us?"

"Done had mine, but thanks."

Joanna had liked Cliff since they'd first met, but despite his rugged good looks and gentlemanly manners, she had called a halt to their budding relationship after half-a-dozen dates. Cliff's feelings for her had been much deeper and far more sexual than hers had been for him.

"How about a glass of tea?" Elena called out from the kitchen.

"Don't go to any trouble, Elena. I can't stay long. I just dropped by to say … well, to let you know, Joanna, that I—" he transferred his hat from one hand to the other and then back again "—I'll do anything I can to help J.T. keep you safe and not let that Plott fellow get anywhere near you."

Joanna reached out, laid her hand over Cliff's and gave it an affectionate squeeze.

"Thank you. I appreciate your concern and—"

The telephone rang. Joanna tensed. Dammit, she had to stop this! Every time someone knocked at the door or the telephone rang or she heard an unusual sound, she overreacted.

"Want me to get it?" Elena asked.

Joanna nodded. Cliff placed his hand on her shoulder. She glanced at him and felt somewhat comforted by his friendly, caring smile.

"Hello," Elena answered the telephone. "Oh, hi there, Mrs. Beaumont. Yes, Joanna's right here." Elena held out the phone.

Hesitantly, Joanna walked over and took the phone out of Elena's hand. "Hello, Mother. How are you?"

"How am I?" Helene asked. "I'm worried sick about you, that's how I am."

"I'm perfectly all right," Joanna said. "There's no need for you to worry."

"My dearest girl, how can you say that? I know Lenny Plott has already discovered where Claire Andrews lives and has called and threatened her. It's only a matter of time until he finds out where Libby Felton is and where you are."

"I realize that's a possibility, Mother, but we can't be certain."

"Of course, we can be certain." Helene sighed. "Lenny didn't become a pauper when he went to jail. His family has millions, and that idiot mother of his will make sure he can put his hands on however much money he needs. Money can always buy F:/…/Beverly Barton - Blackwood's Wo…

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sure

10/31/2009 he can put his hands on however much mone Blackwood's Woman y he needs. Money can always buy

information, Joanna. You know that as well as I do."

"I'm well guarded here at the ranch. J.T. has posted ranch hands outside my house day and night."

"A wise decision on Mr. Blackwood's part, I'm sure, but I'd feel much better if you came home to Virginia. Mr. Blackwood could escort you home, if you'd like, or I could send a bodyguard to get you. We'll hire around-the-clock guards here. Please, Joanna, come home."

"Mother, I am home." Joanna bit her bottom lip, then rolled her eyes heavenward.

"I plan to spend the rest of my life here in New Mexico. I'm not ever going to move back to Virginia."

"But surely, someday—"

"Not now. Not ever."

"You'll change your mind," Helene said. "When you decide to marry and have children, you'll come back to Virginia to find a suitable husband."

"What makes you think I couldn't find a suitable husband out here in New Mexico?"

"Joanna, there isn't anything going on between you and this Blackwood man, is there?"

Joanna gripped the telephone with white-knuckled strength. "Why would you ask such a question?"

Joanna noticed Elena staring at her, questioning her silently with her eyes. She glanced over at Cliff, who seemed equally puzzled.

"I know how totally enamored you were with that diary of your great-grandmother's. I told myself when you decided to move all the way to New Mexico that it was a temporary move. You needed to get away from … after the … after what happened to you. I understood. And I even went along with your romantic notions about Annabelle Beaumont and that illicit love affair she had with some Indian. But I never thought you'd stay out there or that you'd actually become involved with …

well, with one of those people."

"One of those people? Native Americans? Is that what you mean, Mother?"

"I've had that Blackwood fellow thoroughly checked out," Helene said.

"You did what? How dare you!"

"When it comes to your safety, I'd dare almost anything. Besides, the man seems to be the very best at what he does and the firm in which he's a partner is considered one of the top private security firms in the nation."

"Then you have no reason to worry about me or want me to come back to Virginia, do you?"

"You didn't answer my question about you and Mr. Blackwood. Have you become personally involved with him? I know that he is Benjamin Greymountain's great-grandson."

"My God, Mother, when you said you had J.T. thoroughly checked out, you weren't kidding. You must have spent quite a bundle on private investigators." Joanna glanced back and forth between Elena and Cliff, and wished she wasn't having this conversation in front of an audience. Especially not Elena.

"If you won't come home to Virginia, I'm coming out there," Helene said.

"No, Mother, don't do that!"

"I'll fly out tomorrow and see if I can't talk sense to you, face-to-face. At a time like this, you should be at home."

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this,

10/31/2009 you should be at home."

Blackwood's Woman

"What are you so worried about, Mother?" Turning her back toward Elena and Cliff, Joanna lowered her voice. "What has you the most upset, the fact that Lenny Plott might find me and try to kill me, or that I might fall in love with J.T. Blackwood and ask him to marry me?"

"You're being irrational. There's no point in our discussing this anymore. You can expect me tomorrow."

"No, Mother, don't come out—" The dial tone hummed in Joanna's ear.

Cliff Lansdell walked across the room and placed his hand on Joanna's back.

When she turned toward him, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. She rested against him, glad to have someone to lean on.

"I take it that we can expect a visit from Senator Helene Beaumont," Elena said.

Joanna nodded her head. "She'll be here sometime tomorrow."

"Are you all right, Joanna?" Cliff asked.

Slipping her arm around his waist, she hugged him. "I'll be fine as soon as I cool off and calm down. I love my mother dearly, but she has always tried to run my life."

Elena untied the apron she wore, folded it and laid it on the back of the sofa. "You never told me your mother was a bigot."

Joanna laughed. "She certainly doesn't consider herself one, but she is. She's horrified at the idea I might—"

"Who's horrified at what?" J.T. Blackwood stood in the arched opening leading into the kitchen.