amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第54节
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must go in。〃
He tried not to startle her； slowly guiding her steps…she couldn't see the arm he held behind her； just in case she might still bolt。 Her eyes were glazing： she wouldn't know how close the edge of the terrace was if she should suddenly feel trapped and try to escape。
Murmuring encouragement； he got her inside the weyrhold。 With equal care； he closed the door behind them； grateful that the hinges were oiled and hoping she didn't hear the slight noise as it shut。 Her fingers were slack on his； her gaze distant： she was half in rider trance。 He wanted to settle her before she was pletely submerged by Zaranth's sensuality。 That would have been frightening enough the first time it happened if no one had explained it in full detail。 Tai's reserve should have warned him； he cursed himself for insensitivity。 How long had he been a rider？
Abruptly Tai tensed。 He glanced at her eyes； pupils enlarged against the dark in the hallway。 He kept his hand relaxed while hers tightened convulsively。 He put his other hand on the small of her back； lightly； offering no threat； just guidance。
〃I'm honored you chose me； Tai；〃 he said。 She must believe that。 〃I didn't believe you would； you know。 I admired you for how calmly you got the children out at Monaco。〃 He'd better be careful what he said now。 〃Be calm now； Tai。 Be calm and let me help you now。〃
As deftly as he could； he turned her into the nearest sleeping room。 He could feel Golanth's desire mounting。 He had to control his。 He had to remain human as long as he could。 And that was being an effort。 He couldn't just push her on the bed…that would frighten her…but he also didn't want to turn dragon and have her endure rougher handling。
Gently； he put his arms around her。 〃You have chosen me； F'lessan； and I will love you well！〃
He kissed her forehead and slowly tightened his arms about her。 If she weren't pletely thralled by Zaranth。。。 but had she ever been lovingly kissed？ He bent his head； his mouth tender on hers。 Let her still be human enough to feel this！ He had not expected the flare of passion that passed between them in a kiss he had intended to be delicate。 She trembled violently。 Instinctively he tightened his embrace。
〃You chose me； Tai。 You chose me；〃 he cried but her body went stiff in his arms。 Rocking her； he kissed her face； her cheeks； her mouth； her neck。 〃Choose me； Tai！〃 he begged as he felt the rigidity that was dragon…frenzy； not human。
And he was abruptly Golanth。
She had launched herself well； and then ducked sideways； streaming away from him with unusually strong sweeps of her wings。 She was big for a green and he liked that in her。 He did prefer greens to golds。 The golds always felt as if they were conferring great honor on a bronze by permitting them to mate。 But greens could be grateful。 They were certainly lustier than queens。 Perhaps because they mated more often。 She dodged to the right and he followed lazily。 Let her wear herself out a while。 He could wait。 He would wait。 This one was worth it。 He had been so careful； not being too possessive of her pany but he had let the others know that he intended this green to be his。 He had been marshaling his strength whenever possible； knowing how tired other dragons were。 But he was Golanth！ Of Benden Weyr！ Sired by Mnementh！ Hatched of Ramoth。 Worthy of that noble pairing！
She tucked her wings along her back； diving obliquely。 He followed quickly。 Did she realize how close she was to the ground？ Oh； she did and swooped up again； proudly； head reaching for the low clouds that scudded over the foothills。
She'd play that game； would she？ With one quick glance around him to see if any challengers had entered the chase； he swept after her。 Sun sparkled off her brilliant skin between clouds and he pursued her； wondering if she knew that he could see her so clearly。
She turned on one wing tip and； knowing these skies better than she did； he did the same and soared through the narrow pass。 If she thought he'd fall for that wily trick； she hadn't his measure。 Soon she would。
She rose above the filmy cloudbank； heading toward the thinner air； then almost tumbled back down。 He followed this maneuver effortlessly。 She raced forward； rolling slowly as if caressed by the chill air。 He nearly overshot her but didn't； so she failed with that ploy。 She ducked； dodged； and fell surface…ward again； pulling up with the most graceful and powerful of movements he had yet seen in a green。 Oh； she was a prize； this one！ How he loved her！ And she had chosen him！
Clouds again and he shadowed her progress through them by the glow of her reddened eyes。 Then； just as she let him get very close； to evade him at the last moment； he gave his wings a sudden massive stroke and reached for her； making the catch； pulling her to him； connecting。 Wings entwined and beating together； they flew suspended and； because he was a bronze and cleverer than she had thought him； their flight was horizontal to the ground and he could extend this passion for a long； long time。 He did； sweeping them both carefully over the great inland sea where the thermals caressed their gleaming hides。
F'lessan was back in his body and Tai's was his。 They were both panting from the exertion of a marvelously extended flight。 He felt both triumphant and drained。 He hadn't felt such repletion in a long while。 She lay limply beneath him； eyes closed； head to one side； curls of sweaty hair concealing her face。 He hadn't the strength…nor； to be candid； the wish…to release her； to leave her body。 Considerate of her； he shifted。 For all the pleasure he had enjoyed with other women； this encounter really was different。 He couldn't think of anything appropriate to say and he had prided himself on knowing exactly the right words to use in any situation。
〃Oh； Tai； you did choose me；〃 he murmured； propping himself on his elbows； looking down at her with a feeling close to awe。 〃You did！〃
His words took him as much by surprise as they did her。 She turned her head slightly； her eyes wide and human again。 Her lips were swollen from kisses he had been unable to control； and her eyes filled with tears。
〃Please say you did？〃 The human in him needed to be reassured but he was also aware that their meeting had been incredibly intense； even for a dragon…generated mating。 That could only be achieved with the enthusiastic cooperation of both partners。 He couldn't be feeling the way he did right now if rape had been involved。
〃I didn't know it was supposed to be like that！〃 she admitted softly and she turned her head； embarrassed。
〃My very dear green；〃 he said tenderly； stroking her face with his thumbs； feeling slightly superior because he was no stranger to the 〃that。〃 〃It is assuredly the most intense emotional and sexual experience。 We know exactly what our dragons are feeling； and they mirror ours。 It can be stunning enough when humans love； but magnified by our emotional bond with our dragons。。。〃 He spread his hands； unable to quantify it and smiled tenderly at her。 〃Well； it…〃 he hesitated； 〃should have happened to you before； Tai。〃 He couldn't help making fists and driving them into the rumpled furs of the bed。 〃I'm appalled and concerned that you were so abused。 That's not the way dragonriders should behave even when the dragon's in control。 I'm。。。〃
〃Sssh；〃 she said； reaching up to lay her palm against his cheek； her face calm； the hint of a smile on her kiss…roughened lips。
He wished he could see her eyes but there was so little light filtering through from the hall。
〃I'm glad it was you I could choose；〃 she said。
〃I…〃 He started to protest； stunned that； despite his best efforts； she had somehow sensed his wile。
〃I know me well enough； F'lessan；〃 she said； putting both hands on his face now。 〃I am so very grateful to you。〃
〃Gratitude in a snake's arse；〃 he said； incensed。 He wrapped his arms around her； wanting very much to take her again； and with human lust。 〃It's not bloody gratitude I want from you； my dear Tai！〃 He loosened his hold when he felt her resist with a hint of the panic she had shown on the terrace。 He made his body relax beside hers； looked down into her eyes； wishing he could see the expression in them； the color they were right now。 〃I liked you when we first met。 In the Archives。 I know you knew who I was； that Mirrim had probably prejudiced you against me。 Had probably said I was reckless。 I'm not。 I'm a good Wingleader。 Riders trust me。 So do their dragons。 I want you to choose me； of your own free will； Tai。 I'd like to choose you； too； as a person I want to know better； not just because your green went into heat and Golanth was the only dragon available。〃
She looked up at him for a long time and then； tentatively； curled one hand around his bare shoulder。
〃How did you manage it？〃 Her voice was low； even。
〃How did I manage…？〃 His voice broke in surprise。 She meant Zaranth challenging Golanth。 〃Believe me； it is not something even I could manage！〃 A laugh burst from him。 〃Your dragon wanting mine！〃
And then he wondered。 Dragons could be very cunning。
〃Wasn't there one dragon in Monaco Zaranth liked？〃 he asked quickly
