lhamilton.thekillingdance-第46节

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　That　particular　monster　was　gliding　up　the　hallway　ahead　of　me。　And　he　still　had　the　cutest　butt　I'd　ever　seen　on　a　dead　man。
　
　
　22
　
　Jean…Claude　leaned　one　shoulder　against　the　wall。　He'd　already　opened　the　door。　He　motioned　me　inside　with　a　graceful　sweep　of　his　hand。
　My　high　heels　sank　into　the　deep；　white　carpet。　White　wallpaper　with　tiny　silver　designs　graced　the　walls。　There　was　a　white　door　in　the　left…hand　wall　near　the　bed。　The　bed　had　white　satin　sheets。　A　dozen　black　and　white　pillows　were　grouped　at　the　head　of　the　bed。　A　fan　of　black　and　white　drapes　fell　from　the　ceiling；　forming　a　partial　canopy　over　the　bed。　The　black　lacquer　vanity　and　chest　of　drawers　still　sat　in　opposite　corners。　The　wallpaper　and　the　door　were　new。　Guess　which　bothered　me　more。
　〃Where　does　the　door　go？〃
　〃The　bathroom。〃　He　closed　the　outer　door　and　walked　past　me　to　sit　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　There　were　no　chairs。
　〃A　bathroom。　That　wasn't　here　last　time；〃　I　said。
　〃Not　in　its　present　form；　but　it　was　here　just　the　same。〃
　He　leaned　back　on　his　elbows。　The　movement　strained　the　cloth　of　his　shirt；　exposing　as　much　skin　as　the　shirt　would　allow。　The　line　of　dark　hair　that　started　low　on　his　belly　peeked　just　above　the　cloth。
　The　room　was　getting　warmer。　I　undid　the　velcro　fastenings　on　the　bulletproof　vest　and　slid　it　over　my　head。　〃Where　do　you　want　me　to　put　this？〃
　〃Anywhere　you　like；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　soft　and　more　intimate　than　the　words　themselves。
　I　walked　around　to　the　far　side　of　the　bed；　away　from　him；　and　laid　the　vest　across　the　satin　sheets。
　He　lay　back　against　the　sheets；　his　black　hair　framing　his　pale　face　to　perfection。　Warmer；　it　was　definitely　getting　warmer　in　here。
　〃Mind　if　I　freshen　up？〃
　〃Whatever　I　have　is　yours；　ma　petite。　You　should　know　that　by　now。〃
　I　backed　into　the　door　and　opened　it　with　a　feeling　of　relief。　I　closed　the　door　without　really　looking　at　the　bathroom。　When　I　looked　up；　I　let　out　a　silent　wow。
　The　room　was　long　and　narrow。　It　had　a　double　sink　and　mirrors　with　round　white　lightbulbs　edging　it。　The　sinks　were　black　marble　with　white　veins　running　through。　Every　faucet；　every　metal　edge；　gleamed　silver。　The　floor　was　black　carpeting。　A　half　wall　of　silver　and　mirrored　panels　hid　the　black　stool　against　a　black　wall。　Another　half　wall　graced　the　other　side。　Then　there　was　the　bathtub。　Three　marble　steps　led　up　to　a　black　bathtub；　big　enough　for　four　people。　The　faucet　was　a　silver　swan　with　outspread　wings。　There　was　no　way　to　take　a　shower；　which　was　my　preferred　method；　and　the　swan　was　a　bit　much；　but　other　than　that；　it　was　lovely。
　I　sat　down　on　the　cool　marble　edging。　It　was　nearly　five　in　the　morning。　My　eyes　burned　from　lack　of　sleep。　The　adrenaline　rush　of　nearly　getting　killed　had　long　since　faded。　What　I　wanted　was　to　be　forted；　held；　yes；　sex　was　in　there　somewhere；　but　that　wasn't　my　highest　priority　tonight。　I　think　both　Richard　and　Jean…Claude　would　say　it　was　never　my　highest　priority；　but　that　was　their　problem。　Okay；　it　was　our　problem。
　If　it　had　been　Richard　stretched　out　on　the　bed　in　the　next　room；　I　would　have　jumped　him　tonight。　But　it　wasn't　Richard；　and　once　Richard　got　here；　we'd　be　sleeping　in　Jean…Claude's　bed。　Seemed　pretty　tacky　to　have　sex　for　the　first　time　in　your　other　boyfriend's　bed。　But　it　wasn't　just　the　boys　suffering　from　sexual　tension；　I　was　drowning；　too。
　Was　Richard　right？　Was　the　fact　that　Jean…Claude　wasn't　human　the　only　thing　keeping　me　out　of　his　bed？　No。　Or　at　least　I　didn't　think　so。　Out　of　Richard's　bed？　The　answer；　sadly；　was　yes；　maybe。
　I　freshened　up　and　couldn't　help　checking　myself　in　the　mirror。　The　makeup　had　faded　a　little；　but　the　liner　still　made　my　large；　dark　eyes　stand　out　in　dramatic　contrast。　The　blush　was　almost　gone；　and　the　lipstick　had　long　ago　vanished。　I　had　lipstick　in　my　purse。　I　could　freshen　that　at　least。　But　freshening　my　lipstick　was　like　admitting　I　cared　what　Jean…Claude　thought　of　me。　I　did　care。　That　was　the　truly　scary　part。　I　did　not　put　on　more　lipstick。　I　walked　back　into　the　bedroom　as　is；　let　him　make　of　it　what　he　would。
　He　was　leaning　on　one　elbow；　watching　me　as　I　came　through　the　door。　〃Ma　petite；　you　are　beautiful。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Pretty；　I'll　give　you；　but　not　beautiful。〃
　He　cocked　his　head　to　one　side；　sending　a　wave　of　hair　over　one　shoulder。　〃Who　told　you　you　were　not　beautiful？〃
　I　leaned　against　the　door。　〃When　I　was　a　little　girl；　my　father　would　e　up　behind　my　mother。　He　would　wrap　his　arms　around　her　waist；　bury　his　face　in　her　hair；　and　say；　'How　is　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world　today？'　He　said　it　at　least　once　a　day。　She　would　laugh　and　tell　him　not　to　be　silly；　but　I　agreed　with　him。　To　me；　she　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world。〃
　〃She　was　your　mother。　All　little　girls　think　that　of　their　mother。〃
　〃Maybe；　but　two　years　after　she　died；　Dad　remarried。　He　married　Judith；　who　was　tall　and　blond　and　blue…eyed；　and　nothing　like　my　mother。　If　he　had　really　believed　my　mother　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world；　why　did　he　marry　some　Nordic　ice　princess？　Why　didn't　he　marry　someone　small　and　dark　like　my　mother？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　ma　petite；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃Judith　had　a　daughter　only　a　couple　of　years　younger　than　me。　Then　they　had　Josh　together　and　he　was　as　blond　and　blue…eyed　as　the　rest　of　them。　I　looked　like　a　small　dark　mistake　in　the　family　photos。〃
　〃Your　skin　is　almost　as　pale　as　mine；　ma　petite。〃
　〃But　I　have　my　mother's　eyes　and　hair。　My　hair　isn't　brunette；　it's　black。　A　woman　asked　Judith　once　in　front　of　me　if　I　was　adopted。　Judith　said；　no；　I　was　from　her　husband's　first　marriage。〃
　Jean…Claude　slid　off　the　bed。　He　moved　towards　me；　and　I　had　to　look　at　the　floor。　I　wanted　badly　to　be　held；　to　be　forted。　If　it　had　been　Richard；　I'd　have　gone　to　him。　But　it　wasn't　Richard。
　Jean…Claude　touched　my　cheek　and　raised　my　face　until　I　had　to　look　at　him。　〃I　have　lived　for　over　three　hundred　years。　In　that　time；　the　ideal　of　beauty　has　changed　many　times。　Large　breasts；　small；　thin；　curved；　tall；　short；　they　have　all　been　the　height　of　beauty　at　one　time　or　another。　But　in　all　that　time；　ma　petite；　I　have　never　desired　anyone　the　way　I　desire　you。〃　He　leaned　towards　me；　and　I　didn't　move　away。　His　lips　brushed　mine　in　a　gentle　kiss。
　He　took　that　one　last　step　to　press　our　bodies　together；　and　I　stopped　him；　one　hand　on　his　chest；　but　all　I　met　was　bare　skin。　The　slickness　of　his　cross…shaped　burn　scar　met　my　fingertips。　I　moved　my　hand　and　found　his　heart　beating　against　my　palm。　Not　an　improvement。
　He　drew　back；　a　breath；　and　whispered　into　my　mouth；　〃Tell　me　no；　ma　petite；　and　I　will　stop。〃
　I　had　to　swallow　twice　before　I　could　speak。　〃No。〃
　Jean…Claude　stepped　away　from　me。　He　lay　back　on　the　bed　as　he　had　earlier；　propped　on　his　elbows；　his　legs　from　the　knees　hung　off　the　bed。　He　stared　at　me；　daring　me　to　e　join　him；　I　think。
　I　wasn't　that　stupid。　There　was　some　dark　part　of　me　that　was　tempted。　Lust　has　less　logic　than　love；　sometimes；　but　it's　easier　to　fight。
　〃I　have　played　the　mortal　for　you　these　many　months。　I　thought　in　March　when　you　held　my　naked　body；　when　you　shared　blood　with　me；　that　it　would　be　a　changing　point　for　us。　That　you　would　give　in　to　your　desire　and　admit　your　feelings　for　me。〃
　A　burning　wash　of　color　crept　up　my　face。　I　had　no　good　excuse　for　the　foreplay　that　got　out　of　hand。　I　was　weak；　so　sue　me。　〃I　gave　you　blood　because　you　were　dying。　I'd　have　never　done　it　otherwise。　You　know　that。〃
　He　stared　at　me。　It　wasn't　vampire　tricks　that　made　me　want　to　look　away。　It　was　a　raw　honesty　that　I'd　never　seen　in　his　face　before。　〃I　know　that　now；　ma　petite。　When　we　returned　from　Branson；　you　threw　yourself　into　Richard's　arms　as　though　he　were　a　lifeline。　We　continued　to　date；　but　you　drew　away。　I　felt　it　and　did　not　know　how　to　stop　it。〃
　He　sat　up　on　the　bed；　hands　clasped　in　his　lap。　A　look　of　frustration　and　confusion　passed　over　his　face。　〃I　have　never　had　another　woman　deny　me；　ma　petite。〃
　I　laughed。　〃Oh；　your　ego　isn't　big。〃
　〃It　is　not　ego；　ma　petite；　it　is　the　truth。〃
　I　leaned　against　the　bathroom　door　and　thought　about　that　one。　〃No　one　in　almost　three　hundred　years　has　ever　said　no　to　you？〃
　〃You　find　that　so　hard　to　believe？〃
　〃If　I　can　do　it；　so　can　they。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃You　do　not　appreciate　how　very　harsh　your　strength　of　will　is；　ma　petite。　It　is　impressive。　You　have　no　idea　how　impressive。〃
　〃If　I'd　fallen　into　your　arms　the　first　time　we　met；　or　even　the　dozenth　time　we　met；　you'd　have　bedded　me；　bled　me；　and　dumped　me。〃
　I　watched　the　truth　of　my　words　fill　his　face。　I　hadn't　realized　until　this　moment　how　much　control　he　kept　over　his　facial　expressions；　how　it　was　the　lack　of　reaction　that　made　him　seem　more　otherworldly　than　he　was。
　〃You　are　right；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　had　giggled　and　fawned　over　me；　I　would　not　have　given　you　a　second　glance。　Your　partial　immunity　to　my　powers　was　the　first　attraction。　But　it　was　your　stubbornness　that　intrigued　me。　Your　flat　refusal　of　me。〃
　〃I　was　a　challenge。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　I　stared　into　his　suddenly　open　face。　For　the　first　time；　I　thought　I　might　see　t