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He muttered against her lips, ‘Open your mouth,’ and in a flash she saw her salvation. Pliantly she obeyed. She felt his sigh of satisfaction, was aware of his clasp slackening slightly so that he could turn her in his arms, to hold her more easily against his body, and as he relaxed she bit him hard, sinking her teeth into his lower lip.
Cal jerked his head away, swearing, lifting a hand almost unbelievingly to his bleeding mouth.
‘You little shrew!’
‘Try explaining that to your latest woman!’ Joa
He took a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the blood. To her fury he was gri
‘Not now I’ve had a taste of delights to come, sweetheart.’
‘You’ll get nothing more from me as long as you live! You might have been able to take advantage of the situation today, but I’ll make sure it never happens again.’
‘Ah, but it will,’ he said softly. ‘I may have lost the first skirmish, Joa
She drew a swift, blazing breath, glaring at him. ‘You’re nothing but an animal, Cal Blackstone!’
He held out the bloodstained handkerchief, staring grimly back at her. ‘Then I’ve certainly picked the right mate.’
‘You’ve picked nothing and no one. From now on, keep out of my way!’ She turned to wrestle with the door-handle, and to her chagrin it worked instantly.
‘Our paths were made to cross.’ His voice followed her as she stumbled out of the car. ‘If you didn’t know it before, you know it now. So drive carefully, my hot-tempered vixen. When I finally get to unwrap my gift, I want it to be perfect.’
She got to her car somehow, and sat, shaking, in the driving seat, waiting until the Jaguar slid past, and was swallowed up in the mist and rain.
She put up a cautious finger and touched the swollen contours of her mouth. Her lips felt bruised, but the greatest wound she’d suffered was humiliation.
She stared at the grey-soaked landscape, and thought, I’m afraid of him.
Now, in the drawing-room of Chalfont House, Joa
She shook herself irritably. That was what came of letting herself remember—relive things best banished from her mind for good. But oh, God, it had been so real. She could swear she’d almost felt the pressure of Cal’s mouth ravaging hers once more, tasted his blood …
Two years ago she had escaped him, but at what a price. She couldn’t run away again. This time she had to stand her ground and fight him. She squared her shoulders, glancing up again at her grandfather’s portrait.
‘The war’s on again, Grandpa,’ she said. ‘And this time I mean to win—for all our sakes.’
She had to. Because surrender on Cal Blackstone’s terms was unthinkable.
CHAPTER TWO
THE MIST SWIRLED thickly above the high road. Joa
Yet she had to move—to run, because somewhere in the fog Cal Blackstone was waiting, his predator’s hands reaching to stop her—to take her. She took one sluggish step, then another—and screamed aloud as a hand closed purposefully on her shoulder.
‘Why, Miss Joa
Perspiring, Joa
She managed a weak smile. ‘Sorry, Nan, I must have been dreaming. Did I startle you?’
‘It looks more as if you startled yourself, lass.’ Na
A cup of tea, Joa
‘Well, make the most of it. It won’t happen so soon again,’ Na
‘Let me guess.’ Joa
Na
‘You mean Fiona’s started labour?’ Joa
‘Don’t waste your sympathy,’ Na
‘Oh, is that all?’ Joa
‘Anyway, Mr Simon said to tell you if he’s not back in time for the meeting this afternoon, you’ve to hold the fort. He said you’d understand.’
Joa
‘You’re not deaf. And don’t spill that tea on your quilt.’
‘But he can’t do this,’ Joa
Na
Na
‘After all,’ Fiona had often pouted to him, ‘it’s your fault I’m feeling so ghastly. It’s your baby.’
Joa
I could always ask him to postpone his visit, she thought, but dismissed the idea almost as soon as it had formed. The last thing she wanted, after all, was Cal Blackstone to guess her deep reluctance to face him. And at a wider, less personal level, any attempt to put him off might be unwise at this juncture.
If Simon doesn’t come back in time, I’ll talk to him myself, she decided grimly. And I’ll let him know that though he may have co
‘Why, Miss Jo, you look really fierce. Whatever are you thinking about?’ queried Na
‘Getting up.’ Joa
‘He’s taking an interest in the cricket, according to Gresham.’ Na
Joa
Na
Joa
‘A Blackstone crossing this doorstep?’ Na