青帝小说

第12部分（第2页）

her　own　game。　By　denying　the　past；　she　was　responding　to　him　in　the

present　alone。　Her　return　kiss　was　gentle；　sampling。　She　played　with

being　free　of　all　memory；　all　guilt。　Her　lips　opened　to　his。　She　gave　of

herself　as　she　hadnt　done　in　years。

〃That　was　nice；〃　he　whispered　against　her　mouth；　then　pulled　away　and

set　her　back　before　she　could　do　it　herself。　He　trailed　a　long　thumb

across　her　cheek　to　the　lips　hed　just　left。　〃Well　do　it　again　soon。〃

It　was　said　so　gently　and　carried　such　lightness　that　Chloe　couldnt

help　but　smile。　A　warm　flush　painted　her　cheeks　a　ely　pink；

plementing　the　gray　of　her　eyes；　which　held　a　hint　of　apology。　〃You

have　a　way　of　sneaking　up　when　a　girl　least　expects　it；　Ross。　What　am　I

going　to　do　with　you？〃

His　gaze　told　her　first；　and　there　was　something　heady　about　it；　until

he　added；　〃Youre　going　to　love　me　one　day。　Thats　what　youre　going　to

do。〃

She　stiffened；　but　he　went　on。　〃Right　now；　youre　going　for　a　ride　with

me。〃

〃I　have　errands　to　do；〃　she　protested。

〃Like？　〃

〃Like　marketing；　for　starters。　In　one　meal　youve　nearly　wiped　me　out。〃

〃So　well　go　to　the　market。　What　else？〃

She　adlibbed。　〃I　need　new　house　plants　for　the　living　room。　With　winter

ing　on…〃

〃Winter？　Its　creeping　up　toward　seventy　again　today。　How　can　you　think

of　winter？〃

〃Itll　be　here。　And　anyway；　the　sooner　the　plants　get　used　to　the　house；

the　easier　it　will　be　for　them　to　adapt　to　the　cooler　weather。〃

His　gaze　narrowed。　〃I　bet　you　talk　to　your　plants。〃

〃No。　If　I　did　that；　they　might　think　I　was　flaky。　I　want　my　plants　to

respect　me。〃

She　doubted　Ross　heard　her。　He　was　focusing　on　her　mouth；　looking

entranced。　Suddenly　he　slid　the　fingers　of　both　hands　through　the　hair

on　either　side　of　her　face；　brought　his　own　head　down；　and　kissed　her

again。　This　time　there　was　a　hunger　there　hadnt　been　before；　a　new

urgency。　This　time　Chloe　was　frightened。　How　not　to　lose　herself　in　that

hunger？

〃Ross；〃　she　cried；　〃dont；　please；　dont。〃

He　released　her。　His　voice　remained　husky；　but　his　eyes　held　a　promise。

〃I　wont　push　you　now。　But　you　will　love　me　one　day。　One　day　soon。〃