青帝小说

第5部分（第2页）

feelings　from　everyone　around　her。　They　were　locked　in　tight。　He　could

prod　all　he　wanted；　but　they　werent　getting　out。

He　spoke　more　gently。　〃Here。　Sit　down。　Ill　make　us　some　coffee。　You　can

talk。〃

〃I　dont　want　to　talk。　Some　things　are　best　left　dead　and　buried。〃　She

shuddered　at　her　own　choice　of　words。

〃Sit。〃　He　nudged　her　into　the　chair　she　had　left；　and　she　sat；　if　only

because　her　legs　were　unsteady。　He　proceeded　to　clear　the　table；　rinse

everything；　and　perk　a　small　pot　of　coffee。　She　watched　almost

incidentally；　her　thoughts　far　off　in　a　world　of　what…its。　What　if

Crystal　had　won　that　toss　of　the　coin？　What　if　Crystal　had　set　out　to

seduce　Ross　and　been　seduced　herself。？　What　if　Crystal　had　died　anyway？

Would　Chloe　feel　the　same　guilt　now？

〃How　do　you　take　it？〃　Ross　asked；　placing　a　steaming　mug　before　her。

〃Black。　Thank　you。〃

After　lacing　his　own　with　milk　and　sugar；　he　returned　to　his　seat。

Chloe　tried　to　control　her　thoughts　by　speaking　first。　〃Youve　e　a

long　way　in　the　business　world　since　I　saw　you　last；　Ross。　How　did　you

manage　it？〃

He　smiled。　〃You　mean；　how　did　I　manage　the　transformation　fromfar　out

to　far　in？　The　fact　is；　I　never　was　all　that　far　out。　I　went　my　own

way　for　a　while。　I　avoided　money。　I　grew　a　beard　because　there　wasnt

modern　plumbing　where　I　was　in　Africa；　and　I　didnt　want　to　have　to

shave　at　dawn　by　the　riverside。　I　wore　jeans　because　they　were

fortable；　same　with　loose　shirts。　Id　grown　up　in　a　world　of　rigid

discipline。　I　wanted　my　freedom。〃

〃〃Rigid　discipline？〃　She　realized　again　how　little　she　knew　of　Ross。

He　eyed　her　with　something　akin　to　amusement。　〃Yknow；　considering　you

slept　with　the　man　the　first　time　you　met　him　。。　。〃

〃Thats　not　fair；〃　she　argued。　〃When　we　were　together；　I　couldnt　think

straight。〃

〃History　repeats　itself；〃　he　drawled；　referring　to　what　had　happened

moments　earlier　with　a　mischievous　grin。

Chloe　didnt　like　being　ribbed。　〃You　didnt　know　any　more　about　me　that

night。〃　But　rather　than　turning　the　tables；　she　was　more　deeply

incriminated。

〃Neither　of　us　did　much　talking；　did　we？〃　Ross　asked；　clearly　enjoying

himself　She　shook　her　head。　The　only　talking　theyd　done　had　been　in

soft　moans　and　caresses。　The　attraction　between　them　had　been