rekindled(英文版)-第23章

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Pressing　her　cheek　against　Ross's　drumming　heart；　she　began　to　cry。　In　a
frightened　voice；　he　asked；　〃What；　princess？〃

〃Just　hold　me。　Hold　me　tight。〃

He　gathered　her　to　him　as　though　she　were　the　most　precious　thing　in　the
world；　and　held　her　while　she　cried。　She　couldn't　explain　why　she　did
it；　and　he　didn't　ask。　He　simply　held　her；　stroked　her　back；　whispered
sweet　nothings　of　fort　and　support　against　the　top　of　her　head。

Gradually　her　eyes　dried　and　her　pulse　grew　steadier。　〃I'm　sorry。　I
don't　know　what　came　over　me。〃

〃How　do　you　feel　now？〃

〃Better。〃　She　took　a　last　jagged　breath　and　rubbed　her　cheek　against　his
chest。　〃Satisfied。〃　She　thought　about　that　and　finally　tipped　up　her
head。　〃I　actually　feel　great。　That　was　the　most　beautifull…〃　Her　words
died　when　her　throat　constricted　again。

Ross　turned　them　so　that　they　lay　on　their　sides；　facing　one　another。　He
traced　the　slim　lines　of　her　cheek　and　jaw；　then　ran　the　tips　of　his
fingers　down　her　neck　to　her　collarbone。

Chloe　felt　a　stirring　inside。　She　must　have　looked　startled；　because　he
laughed。

〃Didn't　think　you　could　feel　it　again　so　soon？〃　When　he　slid　a　leg
between　hers；　she　moved　against　it；　but　he　didn't　tease　her。　He　was
suddenly　serious。　〃It　was　beautiful；　princess。　Even　more　so　than　before。
I've　lived　all　these　years　wondering　whether　I　had　imagined　it。　I　tried
for　it　over　and　over。　And　here；　in　one　shot；　you've　done　it　again；　and
more。〃

〃Not　me。　Us。〃　She　touched　him　lower。

He　gasped。　〃You're　gonna　do　it　again；〃　he　said　and　kissed　her。

This　time　was　slower；　more　leisurely。　Ross　was　the　connoisseur；　showing
Chloe　how　to　tease　and　withhold；　playing　the　martyr　when　she　did。　She
took　delight　in　learning　the　nuances　of　holding；　caressing；　leading　him
to　the　brink；　staying　there；　and；　incredibly；　the　force　of　the　passion
was　even　greater。　This　time；　when　it　was　done；　there　were　no　tears。　Eyes
closed；　she　nestled　against　him；　replete　and　happy。　She　didn't　have　a
care　in　the　world。

Oblivious　to　the　steady　rain　that　beat　down　on　the　roof　of　the　house；
they　slept。　Their　twined　bodies　offered　warmth；　the　soft　rug　offered
fort。　It　was　nearly　four　in　the　morning　when　Ross　gently　woke　her。

〃Let's　go　upstairs；〃　he　whispered；　kissing　her　ear。

Groggy　and　disoriented；　she　reached　for　him。　〃What　is　it？〃

He　was　on　his　knees；　gathering　her　into　his　arms。　〃Nothing。　I　just　want
to　take　you　to　bed。〃

〃You're　not　leaving？〃　Her　arms　tightened　around　his　neck；　but　he
chuckled。

〃I　want　to　take　you　in　bed…〃

〃Are　you　。。。　again？〃

〃Shhh。　I　want　to　be　able　to　remember　what　your　bed　feels　like；　for　all
those　long　lonely　nights　ahead；〃　he　drawled。　He　crossed　the　living　room
and　took　the　stairs　with　her　in　his　arms　and　a　minimum　of　effort。　〃I
want　you　to　be　haunted　the　same　way；〃　he　added；　less　humorous　now。
〃You'll　lie　in　your　bed　and　remember　the　feel　of　me　until　you're　ready
to　burst。〃

Fully　awakened；　Chloe　was　warm　all　over。　Her　breast　was　snug　to　his
chest；　her　hip　nestled　against　his　naked　belly。　It　was　still　night。
Under　cover　of　darkness；　she　could　do　anything。　Her　lips　turned
recklessly　to　his　shoulder；　her　tongue　moistening　a　spot；　her　teeth
leaving　a　mark。

〃Heeeey！　Watch　that！〃　He　put　her　down；　letting　her　slide　slowly　over　the
length　of　him。　His　hand　stayed　at　the　small　of　her　back；　pressing　her
against　a　full　erection。　To　Chloe's　amazement；　she　was　just　as　aroused。

Their　lips　met；　open　now　and　sure。　There　was　no　limit　to　this　pleasure；
only　the　need　for　more　and　more。

〃The　bed；〃　she　croaked　in　haste；　tearing　herself　away　to　pull　back　the
quilt。　She　fell　onto　the　sheets　with　him；　and　there　was　a　fury　to　this
union；　a　blend　of　yearning；　fear；　and　unbridled　greed。　Morning　was
ing。　They　couldn't　get　enough　of　each　other。　When　they　finally
climaxed　and　collapsed；　their　bodies　were　slick　and　exhausted。　Again
they　slept。

When　Chloe　opened　her　eyes　next；　it　was　to　the　gray　light　of　a　soggy
morning　and；　more　brightly；　to　Ross。　His　dark　hair　was　disheveled。　He
was　staring　down　at　her。

Breaking　into　a　smile；　he　said；　〃I　wanted　to　see　if　it　would　work。〃

〃See　if　what　would　work？〃

〃If　I　could　wake　you　up　by　willing　it。　I've　been　sending　brain　waves。〃

〃Brain　waves　didn't　wake　me。〃　She　yawned。　〃I'd　have　woken　anyway。〃

He　stretched　and　grimaced。　〃I　feel　well　used。〃

〃That's　one　way　to　put　it；〃　she　said；　but　she　was　thinking　ahead。　How
not　to？　Morning　was　here。

She　rolled　away；　but　he　rolled　her　right　back　and　held　her　in　place　with
an　arm　on　either　side。　〃Don't。　After　last　night　you　can't　turn　away。〃

〃Can't？〃

〃Won't。　Let's　talk；〃　he　said　gently　and　sat　up。　His　eyes　wandered　to　her
hair；　which　was　spread　on　the　pillow；　then　the　sheets；　which　bunched　at
her　navel。　He　looked　at　everything　in　between　as　though　it　were
priceless。　At　last；　in　a　deep　voice；　he　said；　〃I　love　you；　Chloe。〃

She　reached　to　cover　his　mouth；　not　ready　for　that；　but　he　caught　her
hand　and　pinned　it　to　the　pillow。　Leaning　down；　he　gave　her　a　long；
silencing　kiss。　When　his　mouth　left　hers　again；　he　said；　〃I　love　you　and
want　to　marry　you。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　do；〃　he　insisted。

Her　heart　ached。　She　wasn't　ready；　wasn't　ready　at　all。　〃Last　night　we
made　love。　Saying　'i　love　you'　is　something　else　entirely。〃

Ross　didn't　budge。　〃Argue　as　much　as　you　want；　but　you　won't　change
this。　I　love　you。　I　wish　I　could　say　that　I　loved　you　eleven　years
ago…it　would　all　sound　romantic。　I　wanted　you　then。　I　knew　that　there
was　something　in　you…deep　in　you…that　intrigued　me。　But　I　didn't　get　to
know　you。　A　few　hours　is　too　short　a　time。〃

〃It's　hardly　been　much　more　than　that　now；〃　she　protested。

〃It's　been　more　than　two　weeks。〃

〃It's　been　less　than　two　days。〃

〃Tell　me　you　didn't　think　of　me。〃

She　recalled　those　long　hours　after　New　Hampshire。　〃I　can't。　I　thought
of　you。　But　in　order　to　love　a　person　you　have　to　spend　time　with　that
person。〃

〃You're　clutching　at　straws。　I　love　you。　If　you　were　honest　with
yourself；　you'd　tell　me　that　you　love　me；　too。〃

That　was　what　she　feared　most。　There　was　no　place　in　her　life　for　that
kind　of　love。　〃You　don't　know　what　I　feel。〃

〃I　know　what　I　felt　last　night。　You　couldn't　have　faked　your　reactions。
Sorry；　Chloe；　but　you　responded　out　of　love。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。〃

〃No。　Not　all。〃　She　needed　time。　She　knew　what　she　had　to　say。
〃'responded　to　you　out　of　need。　Call　it　lust　or　physical　desire；　but
don't　call　it　love。〃

〃You're　afraid；〃　he　announced。

There　was　a　deathly　silence。　The　air　pulsed　between　them。

〃You're　afraid　to　let　go　of　the　past；〃　he　went　on。　〃It's　so　much　a　part
of　you　that　you're　terrified　to　live　without　it。〃

〃That's　not　true；〃　she　cried。

〃Then　why　don't　you　try？　You　did　it　for　a　night…why　not　for　a　week？

A　month？　A　year？〃　He　softened。　〃I'm　not　asking　you　to　renounce　your
past；　just　to　accept　it　and　move　on。〃　He　paused；　suddenly　a　shade
unsure。　〃You　did　enjoy　last　night；　didn't　you？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　breathed　so　quickly　that　her　words　stopped　dead　for　lack
of　a　follow…up。

His　smile　filled　the　gap。　It　was　a　full；　warm　curve　of　the　firm　lips
that　had　given　her　such　pleasure　through　the　night。　His　gaze　dropped　to
her　breasts；　then　her　bare　middle。　When　he　bent　to　kiss　her　navel；　she
clutched　his　hair。　But　to　push　him　away？　Or　to　hold　him　there？　Lord；　she
didn't　know。

After　a　night　of　beauty；　the　morning　was　dreary　and　dark。　After　a　night
of　clear…cut　emotions；　the　new　day's　emotions　were　muddy　and　dense。　She
needed　time；　needed　space。　Turning　her　face　into　the　pillow；　she　let　her
hands　slowly　slide　from　his　hair。

〃I　want　you　to　work　for　me；　Chloe。〃

Her　eyes　shot　back　to　his。　〃Work　for　you？　How　can　I　do　that？　I　have　my
own　business。〃

He　brushed　a　tendril　of　hair　from　her　cheek。　〃I　mean；　I　want　to　retain
your　firm。〃

She　was　startled。　She　hadn't　considered　this　twist。　〃For　what？〃

〃They　cater　our　board　meetings；〃　he　drawled　facetiously。　〃e　on；　you
know　what　you　do。　I'd　like　to　hire　ESE　as　a　geological　consultant；
starting　with　a　set　of　revised　plans　for　the　Rye　Beach　plex。〃

Business；　then？　Suddenly　self…conscious；　Chloe　drew　the　sheet　to　her
armpits　and