Candidate For Love Page 11

  He led her inside the house and into the living room. The walls were rustic, strong and sturdy like JT. A black leather couch faced a river-stone fireplace, and a brightly colored Southwestern-style rug covered the hardwood floors. A wide sliding glass door looked out into the darkness, no curtains adorning it.

  JT sat down on the couch, and she remained standing in front of him.

  “Now,” he said as his hands grazed the outside of her knees, winding a trail of desire up to her hips, “there’s something else I’ve been dying to do.”

  Sliding his hands under her dress, he pulled the soft material up above her hips. He pulled her hips forward, guiding her closer to him, and lowered his head to nibble at her through her black lace panties.

  Hot pleasure shot through Christine. She rested her hands on his shoulders, bracing herself for the onslaught of pleasure she knew would follow.

  JT placed one arm around her waist, bracing her balance. He slid his other hand underneath her panties, his palm warm against her skin. Moving his hand back and forth underneath her triangle of hair, he gently rocked her, starting a steady wave of pleasurable sensations.

  “JT,” she whispered, her lips catching in his hair. Bowing her head against his, she admitted, “You make me feel so alive, so desired.”

  “Oh, baby, you test my endurance. I love to please you like this,” he said with a groan, “but I want to be inside you more.”

  “Then fill me, JT.”

  He raised his face to hers and the dim lighting highlighted its strong contours, revealing the naked desire there. Their lips met. She closed her eyes as his hand continued rubbing between her legs, and then inhaled sharply as he slid his fingers inside. Her hotness encircled him, and she rocked gently in time with his strokes until her breath came in gasps. Moaning, she released her climax, bearing down on him, the solid contact keeping the ripples of pleasure alive.

  When her body had stopped shuddering, he stood. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she luxuriated in his hardness against her.

  Supporting her with his arms wrapped around her waist, JT carried her to the kitchen. “Remember what we started the last time we were in here?” His grin was like a cat that just caught his prey. “Now we’re gonna finish it,” he growled.

  She smiled at the memory. “But I don’t smell any marinara sauce cooking.”

  “Honey, I’ve got something better simmering right between my legs.”

  Surprising her, he lifted her and placed her on the cool granite countertop. He stood between her legs and with his hands, pressed open her thighs. He slid her underwear down, and they fell to the floor. With one hand, he captured her wrists behind her while with his free hand, unclasped her bra and let it fall to her waist. The sound of him quickly inhaling a breath made her want him even more.

  Gently, he kissed each of her nipples and then lathed them with his tongue, creating hardened peaks. His mouth captured one breast while his hand found the other, massaging it. Soft, gasping moans escaped her as the sensations of pleasure swirled within her.

  “That’s it, baby. Moan for me.” Keeping her wrists pinned behind her, he adjusted her hips forward with his other hand. Then he boldly entered her.

  The act of penetration caused her to moan again. “JT . . . this is like beautiful torture.” Each slow, smooth thrust rocked her. A glorious, sweet torturous rapture filled her, and her emotions short-circuited. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  His mouth recaptured her breast, continuing the assault. She leaned into him, trying to find release. As his movements sped up, Christine relaxed into a state of bliss. Her eyes closed, and her head lolled slowly from side to side. Sweat glistened on both their bodies.

  She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, urging him closer, deeper into her womanly depths. When she arched into him and cried out first, JT followed close behind. He shuddered, and his grip on her arms weakened, and she wrapped them around his neck. Bending her head down, she rained kisses on his face while he regained his breath.

  “I never . . .” She paused, once again at a loss for words. “I never knew it could be like this.”

  “I never knew either.” His mouth found hers, kissing her with a steely determination as if claiming her.

  He slid her gently from the countertop until her feet were on the floor, and then led her to his bedroom. Throwing off the down comforter, he slid into bed and pulled her on top of him. “You have a little more time, don’t you, before you have to leave?”

  She could hear the shakiness in his voice. Apparently the intensity of their lovemaking had surprised him as well. Their passion together was more than just two adults having a good time; it was something deep, primal. If it scared her, she could only imagine how a man like JT might feel.

  “I wish I didn’t have to leave at all.”

  “Me neither, baby, me neither.”

  He trailed his fingertips up and down her spine, sending additional shivers to her already electrified body. They lay in silence together until their heart rates returned to normal.

  Eventually, Christine forced herself to look at her watch. “JT,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Hmm,” he replied sleepily, tightening his hold on her.

  “I’ve got to get home and get Sammy. I’ll let myself out.” She stood up and picked up her trail of clothes as she made her way through the house.

  As she tried to raise the dress’s back zipper, JT strode naked into the room. Moonlight highlighted every muscled ridge of his lean body, and her mouth went dry. A gentle ache remained between her thighs from their lovemaking, and the sight of him seemed to intensify it.

  “Let me get that for you.”

  She turned around, knowing if she got a close look at his face and fiery eyes, she wouldn’t be able to leave.

  He zipped her up and turned her around. His eyes on hers, he combed his fingers through her tangled hair. Kissing her first gently and then deeply, he whispered, “I’ll be seeing you soon.”

  Her throat tight, she answered, “Yeah,” but she knew she could never stay away from him. Not now.

  JT had left a mark on her heart. She’d never felt like this before. Branded. He had ravished her like no man ever had. And she wanted more.

  He let go of her, and Christine walked backward to the door. Opening it, she took a deep breath and went into the chilly night air, suddenly feeling like a part of her was missing.

  • • •

  Humming, Christine fixed breakfast for her and Sammy. At the memory of making love with JT last night, she smiled. He had stirred an awakening in her that signaled she was alive again. Reborn.

  And now it might be possible for her to trust a man, to be intimate again. When she had caught Tad cheating on her, she’d been devastated. Never in a million years did she think she’d be able to trust so soon again, but JT made her feel cherished, special, and safe. He made her believe. In men. In love.

  As she set out the platter of scrambled eggs and bacon, she heard the gentle thump of the morning paper hitting the porch. Retrieving it, she came back in and glanced through it.

  “Sammy,” she called upstairs. “Breakfast.”

  Footsteps creaked above her as he got out of bed. Christine selected the local section and was surprised to see a picture of her and JT from the fundraiser. JT’s head was angled, his strong jaw in profile as he whispered in her ear, and she was smiling. Christine smiled back at the image of them together, at the memory of last night.

  The caption below the picture read, “Who’s got this mayoral candidate’s ear?”

  Her smile quickly faded. She read the article, frowning, as it didn’t so much implicate JT or her in any way, just discussed lobbying and fundraisers, and how anyone could buy a vote. But the caption and the picture together made for provocative innuendo, as if Christine had done something wrong. Crossed a line.

  Closing the newspaper, she sipped her coffee and waited for Brad’s phone call and questions. How much damage this
photo might have done was still unknown.

  • • •

  JT awakened as the morning sun streamed into his bedroom window. Stretching, he smiled, remembering the evening before, and Christine, so giving, so passionate in their lovemaking. He couldn’t wait to see her again.

  Still groggy, he stumbled into the kitchen and started the coffeemaker. He began his tai chi moves in front of the large living room window while the smell of brewing coffee filled the air. The sun felt good on his skin. In moments, his mind cleared. Serenity enveloped him as he pushed his body through the fluid movements, stretching and toning muscles.

  The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his routine. He strode to the kitchen counter and looked at the number. Christine.

  “Hey, Chris.”

  “I’m glad I got ahold of you.”

  The concern in her voice immediately woke him up. “What’s wrong?”

  “I had a few of those calls . . .” Her voice trailed off.

  “Did you get a number?” he prompted her.

  “No. Both times the caller ID showed up as ‘private.’”

  “Did they say anything?”

  The seconds it took for her to answer felt like an eternity.

  “They mentioned Sammy by name again.” She paused. “I’m worried. I have to go to a candidate event at the Chamber of Commerce, and won’t be out in time to pick Sammy up from school. Would you do it?” she continued in a rush. “He always has a key on him for emergencies, and he can let you in. I hope this isn’t imposing on you too much. I didn’t know, but you said call anytime if I needed you.”

  She needs me.

  “No problem, babe. I’ll handle it. Are you okay to get to your event?”

  “I’m ready to walk out the door as soon as I hang up. I just needed someone I can trust to get Sammy home safely when school lets out.”

  “It’s handled. If you want, we could pick up some pizza for dinner.”

  “That sounds great, JT. Thanks, I really appreciate this.”

  “Anything for you, Chris.”

  “Thanks again.”

  When she disconnected the call, JT replaced the receiver and ran his hands through his hair. He’d hoped this was nothing but a paranoid fear on the senator’s part, but apparently Tad was right. Someone was threatening Sammy’s safety.

  He swore under his breath. There was no way in hell anyone would harm Sammy while he was around. They would have to go through him first.

  • • •

  Christine felt her answers during the chamber event had gone pretty well. As she stepped down from the stage, she made her way with the other candidates to the press area, where more questions could be asked of them individually.

  The first several questions posed to her were basic, mostly regarding her family upbringing, her civic contributions through fundraising, and her relationship with her ex-husband, the US senator.

  “Ms. Yeager, recently several photographs have appeared in the Charleston Valley Reporter. Can you tell us the name of the man in the picture with you and the nature of your relationship?”

  Christine expected someone might bring that up and responded easily. “Yes. His name is JT Morris. He’s a local who’s done work on my campaign.”

  She felt like she was skimming the surface about her involvement with JT, but she needed to be careful of what she said about him, especially in the context of a relationship.

  “Isn’t it unusual for a candidate to socialize with their campaign workers?”

  “Not really.” The dogged line of questioning from this reporter was annoying. “We have a lot of the same things in common. One photo you’re referring to was a fundraiser for a child with severe burns here in Charleston. One of JT’s friends brought this worthy cause to my attention, and I helped generate some press for that benefit. As you’re aware, I’ve done a lot of fundraising for the hospital, especially for children.”

  Another reporter chimed in, “I don’t mean to imply anything, but from the looks of the picture, you have more in common than your campaign and a benefit for a sick kid. The way you two were looking at each other, you appear to be more than casual acquaintances.”

  Christine gripped the pad of paper in front of her. “He’s a campaign worker and a good friend.”

  Friend. That really was an understatement. His heated kisses could leave her senseless, make her forget what day it is. And his touch, just a fingertip could start a smoldering fire in her. She could hardly say what JT really meant to her.

  “As I stated earlier, he’s a good friend and a valuable member of my campaign staff.” The half truth left a bitterness on her tongue. She was lying about JT, about what he meant to her and how he made her feel.

  The questions made her realize just how important a part of her and Sammy’s lives JT had become. She hadn’t planned that; it had just evolved into more. She was always cautious and very goal oriented in what she did with her life. But JT was an unexpected detour, and quite possibly a danger to her heart.

  After the divorce, Christine had vowed she wouldn’t get involved with a man for a long time. Yet here she was in the middle of achieving her career goal of political aspirations, and she was spending time with a man who turned her on instantly anytime he was near. He made her feel alive and free like she had when she was younger. More than that, he made her feel she could move out of the shadow of her family’s name and the reputation of her ex-husband, and just be Christine.

  Finally, the reporter moved on to another topic, and she breathed a sigh of relief. But what if this snippet got on the news and JT saw it? How would it make him feel? Would he believe that she’d lied about him or that she was ashamed of him?

  At the thought, Christine winced inwardly. She would never want him to feel any of those things. Maybe it was time the two of them had an honest discussion about their relationship and its impact on her campaign, about the reality of politics.

  JT deserved to know the pressures she was under that concerned him. Hopefully he would understand. Because the last thing she wanted was to lose him.

  Chapter 12

  Christine returned home that evening and was greeted by the sight of JT sitting at the kitchen snack bar with Sammy, helping him with his homework. Relief flooded through her, knowing that everything was fine with Sammy. Surely this meant the calls she had received were simply some perverted kook trying to get his kicks.

  They both turned when they heard her enter.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey,” JT said. His gaze traveled down the length of her body, sending a shiver of female satisfaction through her.

  “Hi, guys.” That was a new phrase for her. Her guys.

  “It was so cool, Mom. JT picked me up at school, and all the boys came to check out his motorcycle.”

  “That’s great, sweetie.” Christine was amazed. Not only did JT make her feel good—really good—but he also made her son feel good too.

  Guilt nagged at her. Here he was helping Sammy with homework and picking him up at school for her, and all she could reply to the reporter was that they were “just friends.”

  “The pizza’s on its way,” JT said and glanced at his watch. “It’s almost time for the six o’clock news. Why don’t we go into the family room and watch?”

  “Yeah. Mom might be a celebrity!”

  Christine wanted to laugh at Sammy’s exuberant comment.

  Settling down on the couch, Sammy took the remote control and turned the TV on. JT sat next to him, stretching his long legs in front of him. Christine sat next to JT, snuggling into the crook of his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

  Hoping for the best, she watched the newscast with trepidation. Near the end of the half-hour broadcast, the segment on mayoral candidates ran.

  Christine found herself holding her breath as she watched the liberal and independent candidates answer questions. Then she was on the screen.

  The question they used in the edited story was indeed the
one about JT. She exhaled her disappointment.

  “Cool, Mom. And they even asked about you, JT. Now you’re famous!”

  Concerned that he understood clearly their relationship, Christine asked, “You know JT and I are friends, right, Sammy?”

  “Yep, and I’m friends with him too. We all like JT.”

  “And I like you guys.” JT tightened his arm around her.

  The doorbell rang, and Sammy jumped up and yelled, “Pizza!”

  Before she could get up from the couch to prevent Sammy from answering, JT followed him and paid for the pizza. She was in the kitchen getting the paper plates, napkins, and their drinks when JT placed the hot cardboard boxes on the snack bar.

  She took a deep inhale and grinned. “Smells great.”

  “It sure does.” Sammy nodded enthusiastically.

  Lifting the box lid, JT took a piece, and a strand of cheese hung from it. He angled the pizza so the stringy cheese hovered above his mouth, stuck out his tongue, and pulled it in.

  She closed her eyes, thinking about the pleasure his tongue and lips brought her. She seated herself on the bar stool next to JT on the snack bar, and Sammy scooted himself up onto the one on the other side of her.

  They enjoyed their dinner in a companionable silence. They were comfortable together and behaving like a family. The thought made her happy, but a worry still niggled at the back of her mind.

  When would JT leave them?

  “Nickel for your thoughts.” JT was looking at her, searching her face.

  “What? Oh, nothing.” She shrugged. “Just thinking about the day’s events, that’s all.”

  “Looked like it might be something more than that.”

  She gave him a wry look. “Oh boy, I’ll never win the election if I’m that transparent.”

  He laughed. “I doubt your constituents have looked at your face and seen your many expressions like I have.” There was a heat to his words.

  “What did you think about my news clip?” She shifted the subject, dying to know. He didn’t appear to be acting like he was upset, so he must not have been bothered by it.