lhamilton.thekillingdance-第68节

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　Jean…Claude　looked　at　me。　〃Richard　lives。　Marcus　is　dead。　Correct？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Then　why　the　tears；　ma　petite？　I　do　not　think　I　have　ever　seen　you　cry。〃
　〃I　am　not　crying。〃
　He　touched　my　cheek　with　one　fingertip　and　came　away　with　a　single　tear　trembling　on　the　end　of　his　finger。　He　raised　it　to　his　lips；　the　tip　of　his　tongue　licked　it　off　his　skin。　〃You　taste　like　your　heart　has　broken；　ma　petite。〃
　My　throat　choked　tight。　I　couldn't　breathe　past　the　tears。　The　harder　I　tried　not　to　cry；　the　faster　the　tears　flowed。　I　hugged　myself；　and　my　hands　touched　the　sticky　gunk　that　covered　me。　I　held　my　hands　away　from　my　body　like　I'd　touched　something　unclean。　I　stared　at　Jean…Claude　with　my　hands　held　out　in　front　of　me。
　〃Mon　Dieu；　what　has　happened？〃　He　tried　to　hug　me；　but　I　pushed　him　away。
　〃You'll　get　it　all　over　you。〃
　He　stared　at　the　thick；　clear　gunk　on　his　hand。　〃How　did　you　get　this　close　to　a　shapeshifting　werewolf？〃　An　idea　flowed　across　his　face。　〃It's　Richard。　You　saw　him　change。〃
　I　nodded。　〃He　changed　on　top　of　me。　It　was　。　。　。　Oh；　God；　oh；　God；　oh；　God。〃
　Jean…Claude　pulled　me　into　his　arms。　I　pushed　at　him。　〃You'll　ruin　your　clothes。〃
　〃Ma　petite；　ma　petite；　it's　all　right。　It　is　all　right。〃
　〃No；　it's　not。〃　I　sagged　against　him。　I　let　him　wrap　me　in　his　arms。　I　clutched　at　him；　hands　digging　into　the　silk　of　his　shirt。　I　buried　my　face　against　his　chest　and　whispered；　〃He　ate　Marcus。　He　ate　him。〃
　〃He's　a　werewolf；　ma　petite。　That's　what　they　do。〃
　It　was　such　an　odd　thing　to　say；　and　so　terribly　true；　that　I　laughed…an　abrupt；　almost　angry　sound。　The　laughter　died　in　choking；　and　the　choking　became　sobs。
　I　held　onto　Jean…Claude　like　he　was　the　last　sane　thing　in　the　world。　I　buried　myself　against　him　and　wept。　It　was　like　something　deep　inside　me　had　broken；　and　I　was　crying　out　bits　of　myself　onto　his　body。
　His　voice　came　to　me　dimly；　as　if　he　had　been　speaking　for　a　long　time；　but　I　hadn't　heard。　He　was　speaking　French；　softly；　whispering　it　into　my　hair；　stroking　my　back；　rocking　me　gently。
　I　lay　in　his　arms；　quiet。　I　had　no　more　tears　left。　I　felt　empty　and　light；　numb。
　Jean…Claude　smoothed　my　hair　back　from　my　forehead。　He　brushed　his　lips　across　my　skin；　like　Richard　had　done　earlier　tonight。　Even　that　thought　couldn't　make　me　cry　again。　It　was　too　soon。
　〃Can　you　stand；　ma　petite？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃　My　voice　sounded　distant；　strange。　I　stood；　still　in　the　circle　of　his　arms；　leaning　against　him。　I　pushed　away　from　him　gently。　I　stood　on　my　own；　a　little　shaky；　but　better　than　nothing。
　His　dark　blue　shirt　was　plastered　to　his　chest；　covered　with　werewolf　goop　and　tears。　〃Now　we　both　need　a　bath；〃　I　said。
　〃That　can　be　arranged。〃
　〃Please；　Jean…Claude；　no　sexual　innuendo　until　after　I'm　clean。〃
　〃Of　course；　ma　petite。　It　was　crude　of　me　tonight。　My　apologies。〃
　I　stared　at　him。　He　was　being　far　too　nice。　Jean…Claude　was　a　lot　of　things；　but　nice　wasn't　one　of　them。
　〃If　you're　up　to　something；　I　don't　want　to　know　about　it。　I　can't　handle　any　deep；　dark　plots　tonight；　okay？〃
　He　smiled　and　gave　a　low；　sweeping　bow；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　me。　The　way　you　bow　on　the　judo　mat　when　you're　afraid　the　person　may　pound　you　if　you　look　away。
　I　shook　my　head。　He　was　up　to　something。　Nice　to　know　that　not　everyone　had　suddenly　bee　something　else。　One　thing　I　could　always　depend　on　was　Jean…Claude。　Pain　in　the　ass　that　he　was；　he　always　seemed　to　be　there。　Dependable　in　his　own　twisted　way。　Jean…Claude　dependable？　I　must　have　been　more　tired　than　I　thought。
　
　
　39
　
　Jean…Claude　opened　the　bedroom　door　and　stepped　inside；　ushering　me　through　with　a　sweep　of　graceful　hands。　The　bed　stopped　me。　There'd　been　a　change　of　bedding。　Red　sheets　covered　the　bed。　Crimson　drapes　formed　a　half　canopy　over　the　nearly　black　wood。　There　were　still　a　dozen　pillows　on　the　bed　and　they　were　all　screaming；　brilliant　red。　Even　after　the　night　I'd　had；　it　was　eye…catching。
　〃I　like　the　new　decor；　I　guess。〃
　〃The　linens　needed　to　be　changed。　You　are　always　plaining　that　I　should　use　more　color。〃
　I　stared　at　the　bed。　〃I'll　stop　plaining。〃
　〃I　will　run　your　bath。〃　He　went　into　the　bathroom　without　a　single　joke　or　risqué　ment。　It　was　almost　unnerving。
　Whoever　had　changed　the　sheets　had　also　removed　the　chairs　that　Edward　and　Harley　had　used。　I　didn't　want　to　sit　on　the　clean　sheets　still　covered　in　whatever　the　hell　I　was　covered　in。　I　sat　down　on　the　white　carpet　and　tried　not　to　think。　Not　thinking　is　a　lot　harder　than　it　sounds。　My　thoughts　kept　chasing　each　other；　like　a　werewolf　chasing　its　tail。　The　image　tore　a　laugh　from　my　throat；　and　on　the　end　of　it　a　sound　like　a　sob　or　a　moan。　I　put　the　back　of　my　hand　against　my　mouth。　I　didn't　like　that　sound　ing　out　of　me。　It　sounded　hopeless；　beaten。
　I　was　not　beaten；　dammit；　but　I　was　hurt。　If　what　I　felt　had　been　an　actual　wound；　I'd　have　been　bleeding　to　death。
　The　bathroom　door　opened　at　long　last。　A　puff　of　warm；　moist　air　flowed　around　Jean…Claude。　He　had　taken　off　his　shirt；　and　the　cross…shaped　burn　scar　marred　the　perfection　of　his　chest。　He　held　his　boots　in　one　hand；　a　towel　as　scarlet　as　the　sheets　in　the　other。
　〃I　washed　up　in　the　sink　while　the　tub　filled。〃　He　walked　barefoot　across　the　white　carpeting。　〃I'm　afraid　I　used　the　last　clean　towel。　I　will　fetch　you　more。〃
　I　took　my　hand　away　from　my　mouth　and　nodded。　I　finally　managed　to　say；　〃Fine。〃
　I　stood　before　he　could　offer　to　help　me　up。　I　didn't　need　any　help。
　Jean…Claude　moved　to　one　side。　His　black　hair　lay　in　nearly　tight　curls　across　his　pale　shoulders；　curled　from　the　humidity　of　the　bathroom。　I　ignored　him　as　much　as　it　was　humanly　possible　and　walked　inside。
　The　room　was　warm　and　misty；　the　black　marble　tub　full　of　bubbles。　He　offered　me　a　black　lacquer　tray　from　the　vanity　top。　Shampoos；　soap；　bath　crystals；　and　what　looked　like　oils　were　grouped　on　the　tray。
　〃Get　out　so　I　can　undress。〃
　〃It　took　two　people　to　dress　you　tonight；　ma　petite。　Won't　you　need　help　getting　undressed？〃　His　voice　was　utterly　bland。　His　face　so　still；　his　eyes　so　innocent；　it　made　me　smile。
　I　sighed。　〃If　you　get　the　two　straps　in　back；　I　think　I　can　manage　the　rest。　But　no　monkey　business。〃　I　held　my　hands　over　the　bra　because　one　strap　would　loosen　it。　The　other　strap；　as　far　as　I　could　tell；　was　the　pivot　point　for　the　rest　of　the　outfit。
　His　fingers　moved　to　the　top　strap。　I　watched　him　in　the　fogged　mirror。　The　strap　came　unbuckled；　and　the　leather　gave　with　a　small　sigh。　He　moved　to　the　second　strap　without　so　much　as　an　extra　caress。　He　undid　it　and　took　a　step　back。　〃No　monkey　business；　ma　petite。〃　He　backed　out　of　the　room；　and　I　watched　him　go　like　a　phantom　in　the　mist…covered　mirrors。　When　the　door　was　shut；　I　started　on　the　rest　of　the　straps。　It　was　like　peeling　myself　to　get　the　goo…soaked　leather　off。
　I　put　the　tray　of　bath　accessories　on　the　tub　edge　and　slipped　into　the　water。　The　water　was　hot；　just　this　side　of　too　hot。　I　sank　into　it　up　to　my　chin；　but　I　couldn't　relax。　The　gunk　clung　to　my　body　in　patches。　I　had　to　get　it　off　me。　I　sat　up　in　the　tub　and　started　scrubbing。　The　soap　smelled　like　gardenia。　The　shampoos　smelled　like　herbs。　Trust　Jean…Claude　not　to　buy　a　name　brand　from　the　grocery　store。
　I　washed　my　hair　twice；　sinking　under　the　water　and　ing　up　for　air。　I　was　scrubbed　and　virtuous；　or　at　least　clean。　The　mirrors　had　cleared　and　I　had　only　myself　to　stare　at。　I'd　washed　off　all　the　careful　makeup。　I　smoothed　my　thick；　black　hair　back　from　my　face。　My　eyes　were　enormous　and　nearly　black。　My　skin　so　pale；　it　was　almost　white。　I　looked　shocked；　ethereal；　unreal。
　There　was　a　soft　knock　on　the　door。　〃Ma　petite；　may　I　e　in？〃
　I　glanced　down　at　myself。　The　bubbles　were　still　holding。　I　drew　a　pile　of　them　a　little　closer　to　my　chest　and　said；　〃e　in。〃　It　took　a　lot　of　effort　not　to　hunch　down　in　the　water。　I　sat　up　straight；　trusting　in　the　bubbles。　Besides；　I　would　not　huddle。　So　I　was　naked　in　a　tub　of　bubble　bath。　So　what。　No　one　can　embarrass　you　unless　you　let　them。
　Jean…Claude　came　in　with　two　thick；　red　towels。　He　closed　the　door　behind　him　with　a　small　smile。　〃We　wouldn't　want　to　let　the　hot　air　out。〃
　I　narrowed　my　eyes　but　said；　〃I　guess　not。〃
　〃Where　do　you　want　the　towels？　Here？〃　He　started　to　lay　them　on　the　vanity。
　〃I　can't　reach　them　there；〃　I　said。
　〃Here？〃　He　laid　them　on　top　of　the　stool。　He　stood　there；　staring　down　at　me；　still　wearing　nothing　but　the　black　jeans。　His　feet　were　startlingly　pale　against　the　black　carpet。
　〃Still　too　far　away。〃
　He　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　tub；　placing　the　towels　on　the　floor。　He　stared　down　at　me　as　if　he　could　will　the　bubbles　away。　〃Is　this　close　enough？〃
　〃Maybe　a　little　too　close；〃　I　said。
　He　trailed　fingertips　over　the　bubbles　at　the　edge　of　the　tub。　〃Do　you　feel　better　now；　ma　petite？〃
　〃I　said　no　sexual　innuendo；　remember。〃
　〃As　I　remember；　you　said　no　sexual　innuendo　until　after　you　were　clean。〃　He　smiled　at　me。　〃You're　clean。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Trust　you　to　be　literal。〃
　He　trailed　his　fingers　in　the　water。　He　turned　his　shoulder　enough　that　I　could　see　the　whip　scars　on　his　back。　They　were　slick　and　white；