rekindled(英文版)-第21章

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he　had　studied　the　violin　during　one　of　his　mother's　culture　binges；　and
that　he　had　been　expelled　from　school　for　a　day　after　tossing　a　water
bomb　from　a　second…story　building　and　soaking　kids　in　the　playground。

〃A　water　bomb？　Ross；　how　could　you？　That's　the　type　of　thing　the　girls
always　hated！〃

〃That's　why　I　did　it。〃

〃e　on；〃　she　chided；　her　eyes　half　closed；　〃a　ladies'　man　like　you？〃

〃Sure。　I　was　eight　at　the　time。　It　satisfied　my　need　for　machismo。〃

Chloe　laughed　at　the　idea　of　an　eight…year…old　Ross　striving　for
machismo。　He　certainly　didn't　need　to　strive　now。

〃You　have　three　brothers；　don't　you？〃　Ross　picked　the　perfect　time　to
turn　the　conversation。　She　was　in　a　more　relaxed；　more　open　mood　than
earlier。　It　didn't　occur　to　her　not　to　answer。

〃Uh…huh。　Allan；　Chris；　and　Tim。　They've　gone　into　Daddy's　business。〃

She　frowned。　〃I　haven't　seen　them　in　a　while。〃

〃Will　you　be　going　down　for　Thanksgiving　next　month？〃

November　was　the　last　time　of　year　she　ever　went　to　visit。　〃No。　I　think
Tim　will　be　in　New　York　then。　I　may　meet　him　there。　I'm　not　sure。　I
haven't　heard　from　him　in　a　while。〃

〃Do　you　call　them？〃

This　time；　she　did　smell　the　trap。　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't；　Ross　Stephenson。
I'm　not　so　tipsy　that　I　can't　see　what　you're　doing。　It　won't　work。〃

〃You　won't　tell　me　about　you？〃　he　asked　with　such　honest　disappointment
that　she　almost　gave　in。　Almost；　but　not　quite。　There　was　too　much　she
didn't　want　to　face　tonight。　This　was　a　night　for　the　present。　She　shook
her　head　in　silent　insistence。

〃Then　sit　closer。〃　Before　she　could　protest　he　had　shifted　so　that　she
leaned　against　him　as　he　leaned　against　the　sofa。　〃There。〃　His　voice　was
pleasantly　husky。　〃fortable？〃

〃Ummm。〃　She　was　extremely　so。　In　fact；　she　couldn't　think　of　a　place
where　she　would　have　been　more　fortable。　Ross's　chest　was　broad　under
her　cheek；　his　arms　were　gentle　around　her；　his　heartbeat　a　pacifying
tattoo　through　her。

Time　became　an　expendable　entity；　there　was　no　need　to　move。　They　sat
quietly　in　one　another's　arms；　lulled　by　the　music　that　continued　to
play。　Debussy　had　long　since　given　way　to　Grieg　and　Tehaikovsky。

Given　the　wine；　the　song；　and　the　man；　Chloe　was　mellow。　So　she　had　no
problem　when　Ross　said；　〃You　and　Crystal　were　identical；　weren't　you？〃

〃Technically；　but　there　were　differences　we　could　see。〃

His　breath　rustied　the　hair　at　her　temple。　〃Were　you　inseparable　as
kids？〃

〃Pretty　much。　Since　the　guys　were　a　lot　older　than　we　were；　there　were
only　the　two　of　us　around　the　house。〃

〃You　had　a　built…in　playmate。〃

〃Uh…huh。　It　was　fun。　She　was　the　more　adventurous。　I　was　the　more
conservative。〃

〃But　you　were　the　one　who　approached　me　that　night；　not　Crystal。　I
always　wondered　why。〃

Chloe　tipped　her　head　back　to　look　at　him。　〃We　argued　about　who　you　were
looking　at。　I　thought　it　was　me。　Crystal　said　you　wouldn't　see　the
difference。〃　She　paused。　〃Who　were　you　looking　at；　Ross？　Me；　or
Crystal？〃

His　lips　curved　gently；　tickling　her　nose　for　an　instant。　〃You　both
looked　the　same。〃

〃We　did　not。　e　on；　which　one　was　it？〃　Her　teasing　was　gentle；　but　she
needed　to　know。

Ross　raised　his　eyes。　〃Ah；　let　me　think。　There　was　one　with　dark　hair
curled　to　the　left；　and　one　with　dark　hair　curled　to…〃

She　pinched　his　ribs。　〃I'm　serious！　Or　were　you　just　interested　in　any
pretty　girl？〃

He　sobered　then。　〃I　wanted　you；　Chloe。　I　saw　the　difference。　Your　sister
was　just　as　lovely；　but　you　had　something　more。　I　can't　quite　explain
it。〃

He　didn't　have　to。　Knowing　that　he　had　chosen　her　was　enough　to　ease
part　of　that　guilt　she　had　felt　over　the　years。

He　tightened　his　arms。　〃Okay；　princess。　Now　you　tell　me。　Why　were　you
the　one　who　came　forward？〃

〃I　wanted　you　more。〃

When　he　sucked　in　a　breath　Chloe's　hand　slid　lower　on　his　abdomen。　On
dangerous　ground；　she　raised　it　to　the　point　where　his　tie　lay　in　a
loose　knot；　where　the　top　two　buttons　of　his　shirt　were　released。　His
chest　beckoned。　She　touched　it　and　found　it　wonderfully　warm。

Ross's　voice　grew　thicker。　〃You　argued？〃

〃Not　exactly。〃

〃If　Crystal　was　the　more　impulsive　of　the　two；　I　can't　believe　she　gave
up　without　a　fight。〃

〃I　wouldn't　call　it　a　fight。〃

〃Then　what？　What　settled　it？〃

Chloe　was　suddenly　unsure。　What　they　had　done　sounded　crass。　But　she　had
e　this　far。　〃We；　uh；　we　tossed　a　coin。〃

〃Excuse　me？〃

〃We　tossed　a　coin。〃

〃To　see　which　one　of　you　would　get　me？〃　At　her　nod　he　burst　into　a
laugh。　〃Chloe　Macdaniel！　I'm　appalled！　You　mean　to　tell　me　that　you　let
the　toss　of　a　coin　decide　whether　you　or　your　sister　would　seduce　me？

That's　awful！〃

She　leaned　closer；　whispered；　〃It　wasn't　a　fair　toss。〃　Tempted　headily
by　the　male　tang　of　his　skin；　she　kissed　his　chest。

〃Excuse　me？〃

She　cleared　her　throat。　〃I　knew　I　would　win。〃

Ross　held　her　back；　staring　in　bemusement。　〃Explain；　please。〃

〃Crystal　and　I　used　to　play　tricks　on　one　another。　We　each　had　our
strong　points。　She　always　beat　me　when　it　came　to　motivating　herself。
She　was　the　first　to　get　behind　the　wheel　of　the　car；　the　first　to
choose　the　prettiest　dress　in　the　boutique；　the　first　to　snag　the
telephone　caller。　I　prided　myself　on　being　the　clever　one。〃

〃And　this　coin　toss？〃

Chloe　begged　forgiveness　with　her　eyes。　〃It　was　my　coin。　I　called
heads。〃

Understanding　slowly　dawned　on　Ross's　face。　His　grin　was　appreciative。
〃And　the　coin　had　two　heads？〃

〃It　did。〃

Whatever　he　might　have　thought　of　her　for　having　cheated；　he　was
undoubtedly　pleased　that　〃winning〃　him　had　meant　so　much　to　her。　〃That
deserves　a　kiss；〃　he　said　and　lowered　his　head。

Chloe　met　his　lips　without　hesitation。　She　had　waited　for　this　all
evening。　They　had　been　building　toward　it　from　the　second　she　had　agreed
to　dress　up　and　go　out　to　dinner　with　him。　〃Just　this　once；〃　she　had
told　him　then。　Now　the　words　echoed　through　her。　Just　this　once　she
would　relax　in　Ross's　arms。　Just　this　once　she　would　taste　his　love。
Just　this　once　she　would　be　free　of　the　past。

She'd　had　too　much　wine。　No　doubt　about　that。　Would　she　want　this　if　her
head　were　clear？　Maybe　yes；　maybe　no；　but　it　made　no　difference。　Right
here；　right　now；　she　was　where　she　wanted　to　be。

Ross　appeared　equally　content；　if　the　leisure　of　his　kiss　meant
anything。　He　tasted　her　again　and　again；　seeming　to　find　something　new
each　time。　She　sure　did。　Once　it　was　the　sweetness　of　wine　on　his　lips；
another　time　the　firmness　of　his　mouth；　another　the　heat。　His　kiss　was　a
heady　brew；　warm；　moist；　and　intoxicating。

Seeking　more；　she　spread　her　hands　over　his　chest　and　discovered　a
textured　surface　beneath　the　smoothness　of　his　shirt。　He　was　a　man　of
many　layers　to　be　explored；　one　by　one。　She　was　the　explorer；　on　an
ocean　of　desire；　clinging　to　him　as　to　a　raft　on　a　rising　sea　of
sensation。

His　tongue　sought　and　caressed；　sucking　hers　deeper；　sparking　greater
response；　and　she　gave　it　unconditionally；　opening　to　him　in　delight。
Soft　sighs　were　breathed　and　swallowed；　one　mouth　to　the　other。

The　urgency　built。　Just　when　she　needed　it；　he　deepened　the　kiss。　His
lips　controlled　hers　now；　as　did　the　hands　that　framed　her　face。

His　voice　was　thick　against　her　mouth。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　you　do
to　me？〃

Her　answer　was　a　breathy；　〃I　know　what　you　do　to　me。　It　happens　every
time。〃

〃Does　it？　It's　been　a　long　time　since　you　were　with　a　man。〃

〃By　choice。　By　choice。〃　Tipping　her　head　back　on　his　shoulder；　she
studied　his　strong　jaw；　straight　nose；　amber　eyes。　〃It　was　never　a　trial
for　me　before。　I've　never　really　wanted　another　man。〃

〃Is　it　a　trial　now？〃　he　whispered；　momentarily　cautious。　〃What　do　you
want；　Chloe？　Do　you　know？〃

She　answered　by　dipping　her　head　and　putting　her　lips　to　his　throat。
Intoxicated　by　its　musky　scent；　she　freed　the　knot　of　his　tie　and
released　the　front　buttons　of　his　shirt。　Her　sigh　warmed　him　when　her
hands　slid　over　his　flesh；　but　his　moan　prevented　her　from　going　on。

He　pushed　his　hands　into　her　hair。　〃Look　at　me！〃　His　eyes　were　hot　with
desire。　〃Do　you　know　what　I　want；　Chloe？　I　want　to　feel　you。　I　want　to
know　every　inch　of　your　body。　Half　measures　never　worked　for　me