cacb.thefarkingdoms-第6节
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in her own； dear hand： e early； my love。 So we might steal a few precious moments alone。 Hope burned blight in my breast and my loins； then dimmed as I realized I had nothing of value to sell for her giftprice。 I thought of rushing to the river and throwing myself to the demon of the currents。
I seriously considered creeping into my father's strong room and stealing the gold that would be required。 Then I was appalled for even thinking such a thing。 To steal from my father？ What devil has possessed you； Amalric？ How could you have allowed events to e to such a pass？ This must stop。 This must end。 Besides； what if she spurns me once more； after I steal from the man who gave me life and was so generous and understanding of such a useless son？ It would be impossible to bear。
But I must have her； I thought。 I must make her mine； Yes 。。。 but； how？ An evil plan rose。 It disgusted me to even think it and I hurled it away and flung myself onto the bed where I buried my head from the betraying light that streamed in from the balcony。
A bird cried outside； and I swore it called； 〃Melina ；。 。 Me…lina 。。。 Melina。〃 The evil idea crept in again。 If I could borrow enough money； I knew of dark places in Orissa where it was reputed that certain potions and spells could be purchased； with no questions asked and without the chit of permission from an Evocator。 I would buy a love spell。
I understood this was not only evil but illegal； as well。 I knew very well it was strictly forbidden to give a love potion to a he…taera。 The whole courtesans' guild system might collapse； making a mockery of the sanctity of Butala。 The penalties prescribed by the Council of Evocators started with dismemberment and grew quickly worse。 And you will shame your family； I thought。 Think of the terrible shadow your family akeady suffers under for angering the Evocators once before。 Think of the awful disappointment for your father。
I tried。 I really did。 But all I could think of was Melina's lips and breasts and thighs that had been denied me so long。 These hot thoughts were further fueled by the vow I had taken after our first meeting。 I had been with no other woman since that time。
Lust won the toss。 Risking life and my family's honor； I rushed out to put my plan into action。
CHAPTER TWO
Janos Greycloak
BY DUSK I was pacing back and forth outside Melina's door。 I had a bottle of spirits in my pocket； spiked with a black…market love potion； its guaranteed enchantment was fixed in my mind。 I was waiting for dark 。。。 and courage。 The moon was a sliver over the tenement when I saw Leego exit the building and stroll off； whistling a merry tune。 I knew he'd be ensconced in his favorite tavern for some hours。 A few moments later I was up the stairs； pulling on the bell chain； and then a servant was leading me to Melina's bedchamber。
〃It is your redheaded slave； my fair Melina；〃 I sang out as I entered； my voice as bold as you please； despite the frantic beating of my heart。
〃Oh； my dear； dear Amalric；〃 she said when she spied me。 Her face was so dazzling when she greeted me； I thought perhaps I had been a fool to think I needed a potion。 〃I have been so bored；〃 she said； sprawling across a mighty bed that seemed to have been built to pillow a legion。 〃I am sick of potbellied old men with skinny legs。〃
I plumped down。 She was dressed only in a rough； carelessly draped half robe。 She was direct from her tub and looked like a fresh…scrubbed milkmaid with knowing eyes。 As she raised her head to pillow it on an arm； the robe fell open。 I saw the flash of a tender breast； pink…tipped nipple； and as she lazily tugged the robe closed； the vee of softness between her thighs； the paradise I so longed for that I was willing to risk all。
〃Then let me take you away from all this； Melina my love；〃 I said； in false lightness。
〃You would make me your wife？〃 she said。 Her voice was mocking。 But only a little。
Now I was all seriousness。 〃I would pledge anything to make it so；〃 I said fervently。
〃I don't think you'd wele a hetaera as the mother of your children；〃 she laughed。
〃Then you don't know me； Melina；〃 I answered。 〃For I love you more than any man has a right to love。 I fear the gods will grow jealous if they realize just how great my feelings are for you。〃
Melina sighed。 〃You are very sweet and very kind；〃 she said。 〃But you will e to your senses some day； and find some deserving woman of your own class。〃
〃Never；〃 I said； as hotly earnest as only the very young can be。 〃Besides；〃 Melina said； 〃you are too young to afford me。 Now； don't pout。 Because you know what I am saying is true。〃 She patted my hand。 〃Please don't spoil these few hours we have together。 My back is so tired and I need those strong young hands of yours to soothe it。〃 Melina gave me a naughty wink。 〃And 。。。 afterward 。。。 if there's time 。。。 Who knows？ Possibly this will be the night I learn if you are truly a redheaded man。〃
My heart sank。 Despite the tease； actually because of the tease； I understood for the first time that night would never e。 I know now that I did intrigue； possibly even arouse her。 Curiosity is a powerful aphrodisiac； and Melina was honestly wondering about the exotic color of my hair。 I know it also excited her to have such a young man a willing slave to her slightest whim； sexual or otherwise。 But it would never go beyond that。 She would take me for everything I owned； including my honor。 Then she'd cast me aside。
I forced cheer。 〃First； I have a small gift for you；〃 I said。 Melina squealed。 〃Oh； how lovely。 I do hope it's unusual。 Please。 Please。 Let me see。〃 I drew the bottle out of my pocket。 Her face fell。 〃What's that？'
〃Oh； this is nothing。 Just some old brandy from my father's cellar。 I thought we might sample it。。。 and then I can show you my gift。 It is a very rare thing 。。。 I promise。〃
Melina became excited again； acting like a girl。 She sat up in the bed； legs so carelessly crossed I almost lost my nerve。 I fetched two goblets from the tray and poured。 Melina took a goblet from my hand。 She sniffed at it； curling those exquisite nostrils。 〃Mmmm。 Delicious；〃 she said。 She drank it down in one swallow。 Then she lounged back on her pillows； flinging those perfect legs wide； as if by accident。 〃Now； show me my present；〃 she said。
〃Do you want more brandy？〃 I asked。
〃No。 That's enough。 There's nothing more disgusting than a hetaera who enslaves herself to drink。〃
〃How do you feel？〃 I asked； anxious。
〃I feel fine。 Why do you ask？〃 Her voice was sharp； irritated。
〃Oh 。。。 nothing。〃 What in the name of the gods had gone wrong？ Had the back…street witch defrauded me？ Then I remembered I was supposed to chant the rhyme the witch had given me。 But in my anxiety； the words had fled my memory。
〃Well？ Where is that present you promised？〃 Melina pressed。
My memory returned。 〃My heart is thy heart；〃 I intoned； mimicking the deep drone of an Evocator's voice。 〃My image fills thine eyes。 In darkest night； I am the candle to light thy womb。〃
Melina frowned。 〃What prattling is that？ Some silly love doggerel from the taverns？〃
Before I could stumble a lie for an answer； Melina gasped。 Those green eyes were staring at me。 Her pupils were wide and possessed。 She licked her lips。 〃Butala； praise thy name；〃 Melina moaned。 〃Amalric； you are so handsome and young you make my heart break。 I'll warrant you can pleasure a woman like a great stallion。 Plunging and plunging all the night long。〃
〃Uh 。。。 uh 。。。 uh；〃 was my eloquent response。
〃Oh； by the gods 。。。 take me now！ Take me！〃 She flung off the robe and hurled herself into my arms； ripping at my clothes with sharp…nailed fingers。 〃I'll do anything to please you；〃 she groaned。 〃Take me。 Any way you want it。 My lover。 My handsome； redheaded Amalric man。〃
Passion gripped me as if I had swallowed the potion； as well。 I ripped away my clothing and flung it carelessly to the floor。 A small voice tried to shame me； but a cock has no honor； so I swatted the voice away like a river gnat。 Melina sprawled back； lust flush coursing up her chest and reddening her slender throat； legs splayed wantonly； the shaved slit of pleasure begging my entrance。
〃Oh； quickly 。。。 quickly； please；〃 she groaned； grinding her hips as if she had gone mad under the moon。
I fell on her like a victorious soldier； grasping the soft white mound of her bottom； then thrust into the hot； silky place I had dreamed of for so long。 Imagining myself that stallion she'd spoken of； I reared back to thrust again。 A bellow of pure； hot rage rang from behind me。 〃Get off her； you son of a lizard bitch！〃
Hands encircled my throat； and with a heave； I was torn from the gates of paradise and flung across the room。 Even in the throes of interrupted passion； my gymnast training took over in midflight。 I twisted as I hit the floor and sprang to my feet。 I stood； chest heaving； in shameful nakedness； red pubic hair finally answering Melina's question； but hardly in the manner I had dreamed。
〃Don't hurt him； Leego；〃 Melina begged。 The Procurer stood there； dirk drawn； pale lips a rictus through the spider mask。
〃I love him so；〃 Melina continued。 〃Don't let him leave。 I must be with him。 Always with him。〃
