rekindled(英文版)-第23章

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her　own　torment；　he　touched　her　cheek　with　a　tenderness　that　made　her
want　to　weep。　She　couldn't　pull　away。　She　was　desperate　for　his　love。

If　there　were　germs　of　reason　floating　around；　they　vanished　with　his
first　kiss。　What　remained　was　a　hunger　that　had　been　days　in　building。
Chloe　gave　herself　up　to　it　without　a　thought。

Ross　touched　her　everywhere；　caressing　her　through　the　thin　lavender
gown；　and　she　touched　him　right　back。　But　his　robe　was　thick；　and　she
grew　impatient。　The　robe　was　easily　opened　and　his　body　bared。　She
touched　him　then；　bringing　low　sounds　from　his　throat；　and　the　feeling
of　power　was　heady。　He　began　to　shake　under　her　stroking。　His　penis　grew
thick　and　engorged。

Moments　later；　her　gown　fell　to　the　ground　with　his　robe。　His　mouth　ate
at　hers；　as　he　lifted　her　and　carried　her　to　the　bed。　The　weight　of　his
body　pinned　her　to　the　sheets；　but　there　was　no　pain　in　it　for　Chloe。
She　weled　his　force；　wanting　even　more。

〃Yes！〃　she　cried；　clutching　at　his　hips　to　pull　him　closer。

But　Ross　tensed　at　the　sound　of　her　voice。　He　was　breathing　hard；
pressing　his　forehead　to　the　pillow　by　her　ear。　She　felt　him　rock　hard
and　large　against　her；　but　he　didn't　enter。

〃I　swore　I　wouldn't　do　this；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely；　〃swore　I'd　keep　my
hands　off　you。　I've　tried。　God　knows；　I've　tried！〃

When　he　raised　himself　to　look　at　her；　his　expression　shocked　her　into
awareness。　〃Don't　go！〃　she　cried。

〃I　have　to。　For　this　one　release；　I'd　be　buying　a　huge　packet　of　pain。〃

〃No！〃　Her　fingers　tightened　on　his　shoulders　until　her　knuckles　turned
white。　She　was　close　to　panic。　〃Please；　Ross。　I've　never　asked　you　for
anything　else。　But　please　。。。　now　。。。　I　can't　bear　it！〃

The　impetus　was　hers；　lips　and　arms　and　hips　all　working　against　him
until　he　surrendered　with　a　moan。　Falling　to　the　bed　and　rolling　to　his
back；　he　drew　her　over　him；　and　she　loved　him　that　way。　She　couldn't　say
the　words　he　wanted　to　hear；　but　her　body　could　show　him　what　she　felt。

It　did　that；　and　quite　well。　By　the　time　the　sun's　golden　rays　breached
the　windowsill　and　glistened　on　their　sweat；　they　were　totally　spent。

Rasping　breaths　broke　the　air；　but　otherething
was　wrong。　Chloe　felt　it　the　instant　her　pulse　began　to　slow。　There　was
no　talk。　No　closeness。　The　satisfaction　that　usually　kept　them　warm　and
entwined　faded　fast。

Ross　rose　from　the　bed；　retrieved　his　robe；　and　left　the　room。　Alone
again；　Chloe　curled　into　a　tight　ball　with　the　covers　pulled　to　her
ears。

Apparently；　it　was　time　to　put　up　or　shut　up。　Ross　couldn't　live　with
half…measures…but　then；　had　she　really　thought　he　would？　Her　body　might
love　him　to　bits；　but　if　she　couldn't　love　the　rest　with　her　head　and
her　heart；　there　was　no　hope。

She　heard　the　front　door　slam　shortly　after　he　left　her　room。　She　didn't
know　where　he　went；　and　he　was　back　in　time　to　take　her　to　the　train
station；　but　even　the　short　ride　there　was　awkward。　It　wasn't　until　she
was　about　to　board　the　train　that　he　said　more　than　a　full　sentence；　and
then　his　voice　was　quiet。

〃I'd　like　to　follow　through　with　the　liaison　between　Hansen　and　ESE；　but
I　think　Lee　should　handle　the　account。　You're　right。　It'll　be　too
difficult　any　other　way；　at　least　for　now。〃

Chloe　wanted　to　argue；　but　no　words　came　out。

His　eyes　held　defeat　when　he　looked　at　her　a　final　time。　〃I'll　be　here；
Chloe。　When　you're　free；　let　me　know。〃

On　the　Saturday　after　Thanksgiving；　Chloe　boarded　a　plane。　It　taxied　and
took　off；　then　climbed　into　the　sky　and　headed　north。　New　Orleans　fell
behind。　New　York　was　ahead。　She　was　going　back　to　Ross。

She　tried　to　sleep；　but　was　too　excited。　She　ate　dinner；　she　read　a
magazine；　she　looked　out　the　window　and　smiled。　Where　a　haunted　woman
had　been　just　a　few　days　before；　was　one　with　a　newborn　peace。

She　had　e　a　very　long　way　in　a　very　short　time；　but　it　hadn't　been
easy。　There　were　dozens　of　doubts　and　second　thoughts　dogging　her
through　Mobile；　and　added　days　spent　wavering　there；　then　fear　and
unsureness　when　she　arrived　at　her　parents'　home　in　New　Orleans　on
Thanksgiving　morning。

Now；　as　the　plane　began　its　descent；　she　shook　her　head　in　amazement。　So
many　years　lost　over　a　misunderstanding。　But　it　was　cleared　up　now。　It
was　better。　She　would　call　Ross　the　minute　she　landed。　He　would　be
totally　surprised。

But　she　was　the　one　in　for　the　surprise。　Ross　was　at　the　airport　to　meet
her；　standing　tall　and　dark　and　vibrant。　In　a　moment　of　ddji　vu；　their
eyes　met　over　the　crowd。　Chloe　stopped　in　awe；　knowing　that　her　next
steps　would　be　as　momentous　as　the　ones　she　had　taken　eleven　years　ago。
But　she　was　a　woman　now　and　finally　free　to　love。　Breathing　deeply；　she
ran　forward；　Ross　met　her　halfway　and　crushed　her　in　his　arms；　holding
her　tightly　enough；　long　enough　to　say　what　he　felt　without　words。

Chloe　owed　him　the　words；　though。　When　she　drew　back　to　look　up　at　him；
her　throat　was　constricted　by　the　same　emotion　that　brought　tears　to　her
eyes。　A　mouthed　〃I　love　you〃　was　the　best　she　could　do。　It　was　enough。

His　face　lightened。　His　eyes　glowed。　〃Let's　go　home；〃　he　said；　and；　arm
in　arm；　they　did　just　that。

A　short　time　later；　they　were　in　Ross's　living　room；　sitting　on　the
sofa；　facing　one　another。　He　held　her　hand　tightly；　while　she　tried　to
put　into　words　everything　she　had　learned　in　New　Orleans。

〃It　was　a　tragic　edy　of　errors；〃　she　began。　〃I　had　blamed　myself　for
going　with　you　and　upsetting　Crystal；　even　for　tossing　that　coin；　and　I
felt　so　guilty　when　she　died　that　I　withdrew　into　myself。　When　my
parents　couldn't　get　through　to　me；　they　sent　me　to　stay　with　friends　in
Newport　in　the　hope　that　the　change　of　scenery　would　do　me　good。　I
thought　that　they　just　didn't　want　me　around　to　remind　them　of　what　had
happened；　so　I　stayed　away。　One　misunderstanding　after　another。〃

〃But　it's　over？〃　he　asked；　so　obviously　needing　reassurance　that　she
lifted　a　hand　to　his　cheek　and　kissed　him。

〃Yes；〃　she　breathed。　〃It's　over。　I　was　really　worried　about　my　mother
for　a　while　there。　When　she　learned　what　I'd　thought　all　these　years；
she　was　beside　herself　with　grief。　We　spent　that　whole　first　night
talking；　just　the　two　of　us。〃　She　grew　pensive。　〃I'd　never　had　her　all
to　myself　before。　There　were　always　the　three　of　us。　But　Mom　was　great；
even　as　upset　as　she　was。　She　explained　so　many　things　to　me。　It
helped。〃

She　looked　again　at　Ross。　His　eyes　were　warm　with　understanding；　urging
her　on。

〃She　talked　about　having　twins；　about　watching　them　grow；　about　knowing
their　similarities　and　their　differences。　She　pointed　out　that　if　the
tables　had　been　turned；　and　Crystal　had　had　the　affair；　I'd　have　reacted
differently。　In　other　words；〃　she　sighed；　sad　but　hopeful；　〃Crystal's
reaction　was　part　of　her　personality；　just　as　the　guilt　I've　lived　with
all　these　years　is　part　of　mine。〃

〃Is？〃　Ross　asked　softly。

〃Was；〃　she　corrected　herself；　looking　directly　at　him。　He　couldn't　miss
the　pleading　in　her　gaze。　〃I'd　like　to　put　it　behind　me　now。　Will　you
help？〃

Her　pulse　tripped　for　a　minute　until　Ross's　wide　smile　sent　it　racing
on。　〃That's　why　I'm　here。〃

She　frowned。　〃Why　are　you　here？　I　mean；　how　did　you　know　to　be　at　the
airport？〃

〃Your　parents。〃

〃You　talked　with　them？〃

〃Yesterday。〃　He　looked　pleased　with　himself。　〃You　were　overdue　in　Little
pton。　Lee　called　me；　we　plotted　your　course；　and　put　two　and　two
together。　When　I　realized　you'd　gone　home　I　knew　why。　It　was　all　I　could
do　not　to　join　you　there。　But　it　was　something　you　had　to　do；　wasn't
it？〃

She　nodded。　〃I　told　them　about　you。〃

〃Lucky　you　did。　It　made　the　explanations　simpler。〃　He　paused；　vaguely
playful；　vaguely　curious。　〃What；　uh；　exactly；　did　you　tell　them？〃

〃That　you　loved　me；　that　I　loved　you；　that　you'd　asked　me　to　marry　you。
But　I　also　told　them　that　I　had　to　work　things　out　there　with　them；　to
finally　accept　Crystal's　death；　if　I　ever　hoped　to　be　as　much　of　a　woman
as　you　deserve。〃

At　the　last；　all　playfulness　drained　from　Ross's　face；　leaving　a
vulnerability　that　was　the　flip　side　of　his　usual　strength。　His　hand
trembled　slightly　when　it　cupped　her　face。　〃Have　I　told　you　how　much　I
love　you？〃　he　whispered；　kissing　her　eyes；　nose；　and　mouth　in　turn。

〃You'll　have　forever　to　tell　me；〃　she　whispered　back。

〃Then　you'll　marry　me？〃

〃Uh…huh。〃

〃Ahhhhh。〃　With　the　long　sigh；　he　hugged　her　again。　His　breath　was　warm
against　her　ear。

〃Tired？〃

His　neck　smelled　of　him。　She　shook　her　head　against　it。　〃Nope。〃

〃You're　sure？〃　He　tightened　an　arm　around　her　waist。　〃It　was　a　long
flight。〃

〃I'm　not　tired。〃　She　grinned。　〃I　don't　think　I'll　sleep　for　hours。〃

Ross　rose　from　the　sofa　and　held　out　a　hand。　Chloe　put　hers　in　it　and
let　him　draw　her　up　and　into　his　arms。

〃I　love　you；　Ross。　You　know　that；　don't　you？〃

〃I　have　for　a　long　time。　I'm　only　glad　you　can　finally　say　it。　You're
free；　aren't　you；　princess？〃　She　sighed；　then　smiled　and　said　with　a
touch；　just　a　touch　of　New　Orleans；　〃I　do　believe　I　am。〃

He　laughed　out　loud　and　rolled　his　eyes。　Keeping　an　arm　around　her　to
hold　her　close；　he　walked　her　to　the　stairs　and　up。


Lilac　Awakening

In　memory　of　my　father；　who　gave　me　an　eye　for　detail。

Nightfall　was　nature's　last　resort　in　a　bid　to　blot　out　her　own
splendor。　For　much　of　the　afternoon　across　the　upper　Vermont
countryside；　ominous　dark　clouds　had　hung　over　the　forested　peaks；
swarming；　breaking；　and　regrouping　in　a　macabre　arabesque。　Rather　than
stifling　beauty；　they　enhanced　it　with　a　muted　gray　softness；　sifted
over　the　deep　greens　of　the　hillside。　The　power　of　the　land　was　an
awesome　one；　embodied　in　the　proud　posture　of　the　pines　on　the　hill；　the
free　flow　of　the　river　winding　through　the　valley；　the　gaiety　of　the
orange　Indian　paintbrush　swaying　with　meadow　grass　in　the　breeze。
Darkness　was　only　a　thin　veil　over　this　primal　beauty。　Seeing　through
it；　Anne　Boulton　felt　blessed；　and　doubly　grateful　that　she　had　left　the
city。

The　summer　had　been　an　oppressive　one　in　New　York。　Heat　and　humidity　had
rivaled　each　other；　stubbornly　clinging　to　highs　that　beaded　foreheads
and　furniture　with　sweat；　and　made　everyone　and　everything　sticky。　As
t