jherbert.sepulchre-第30部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


iac　hasn't　touched　yet。　I　don't　know　how　he's　managed　to　bring　you　to　this　point；　but　I　do　know　you've　kept　a　part　of　yourself　away　from　him。　You　were　different　the　first　time　I　saw　you；　and　I　think　it　was　because　I　was　seeing　you　the　way　you　used　to　be；　the　way　you　can　still　be。'
　　'There's　nothing　left　for　…'　He　touched　his　fingers　to　her　lips。　'You're　wrong。'　His　own　lips　replaced　his　hand　and　she　tried　to　turn　away。　He　held　her　firm　and　kissed　her；　hurting　her。
　　Cora　sank　into　the　sofa　and　pushed　at　his　chest。　She　didn't　want　this。　He　wasn't　the　man　to　take　her　from　Felix。　They　were　alike；　Felix　and　Liam。　Cruel　men。　Vicious　men。　That　was　why　Felix　was　fascinated　by　him。　They　were　akin。
　　He　was　hurting　her；　and　there　was　pleasure　in　that。　But　she　mustn't　let　him；　she　couldn't　let　him　。　。　。
　　Halloran　grabbed　her　wrist　and　pulled　it　aside。　She　was　lying　on　the　sofa　now；　the　robe　open　beneath　the　belt；　exposing　her　thighs。　He　continued　to　kiss　her；　his　mouth　hard　against　hers；　and　when　she　finally　wrenched　her　head　away；　his　lips　sank　to　her　neck　and　he　bit；　but　used　no　strength。　Cora　moaned；　partly　out　of　self…pity　and　partly　out　of　self…disgust；　for　feelings　were　being　aroused　in　her。
　　'Please　don't；'　she　tried　to　say；　but　Halloran　had　pulled　the　robe　away　from　her　breasts。　He　lowered　his　head　to　them。　'I　don't　want　this！'　she　hissed；　but　his　hand　was　on　her　thigh；　pressing　firmly；　then　gliding　down　to　her　knee；　reaching　behind；　touching　delicate　nerve…points。　His　weight　was　on　her；　pinning　her；　and　he　used　his　body　to　part　her　legs。　Still　she　protested；　squirming　against　him；　her　fingers　clenched　on　his　shoulders。　She　could　have　clawed　him；　or　pulled　his　hair；　or　bit　him。　But　she　didn't。
　　He　sank　to　the　floor；　kneeling　before　her；　keeping　his　body　between　her　legs。　Her　robe　had　fallen　open　pletely；　the　belt　loose　around　her　waist；　and　Halloran　deftly　undid　his　own　clothing。　He　entered　her；　the　movement　hard　and　quick；　causing　her　to　cry　out　even　though　she　was　moist；　ready　for　him　despite　her　resistance。　His　lips　found　hers　once　more　and　this　time　she　did　not　refuse　him；　the　force　of　her　kiss　matched　his。
　　Her　arms　reached　around　him；　drawing　him　tight；　and　now　Halloran　groaned；　a　soft　murmur　that　excited　her。　Cora's　legs　were　rigid　against　his　hips　and　she　thrust　herself　forward；　letting　him　fill　her；　wanting　more；　crying　for　more；　her　breathing　tight　and　her　arms　trembling。　Cora's　cries　turned　into　gasps　and　Halloran's　hands　went　under　and　around　her　shoulders　so　that　he　could　pull　her　down　onto　him；　his　own　thrusts　controlled　and　rhythmic。　But　that　restraint　was　soon　overwhelmed　and　he　twisted　his　face　into　Cora's　wet　hair　and　she　arched　her　neck；　pushing　her　head　back　into　the　cushions；　her　hips　almost　rising　off　the　sofa；　clutching　at　him　as　their　juices　surged　to　mix　inside　her　body。　Her　cry　was　sharp；　trailing　to　a　whimper；　their　bodies　shuddering　together；　slowly　calming　to　a　trembling；　eventually　relaxing　to　a　stillness。　They　lay　there；　neither　one　willing　to　separate。
　　Halloran　felt　the　wetness　on　his　cheek　and　lifted　his　head　to　look　at　Cora。　She　was　weeping　and　when　he　tried　to　speak　she　pulled　him　down　against　her。　His　arm　slid　beneath　her　neck　and　he　held　her　tightly。
　　They　stayed　that　way　until　her　weeping　stopped；　neither　one　saying　anything；　feeling　no　need　to；　content　to　rest　with　each　other。　Cora　loved　the　feel　of　him　inside　her；　even　though　he　was　soft　now；　and　she　ran　her　fingers　beneath　his　shirt；　caressing　his　spine。　Halloran　raised　himself　without　withdrawing　and　lifted　her　legs　onto　the　sofa。　He　lay　on　top；　brushing　his　mouth　across　her　face；　kissing　her　eyes；　her　temples；　her　cheeks；　passion　subdued；　replaced　by　tenderness。
　　'You　don't　know　what　he's　done　to　me；'　she　said。
　　'None　of　that　matters；'　he　soothed。
　　She　sighed；　a　sweet　sound；　when　she　felt　him　being　hard　again。　They　made　love　slowly　this　time；　their　movement　sensuous；　almost　languid；　sensing　each　other　in　a　different；　more　perfect；　way。　Their　passion　grew　but　was　unleashed　easily；　a　flowing　then　gently　ebbing　release。
　　As　before；　they　remained　locked　together　for　some　time　and；　when　at　last　Halloran　withdrew；　it　was　with　reluctance。　He　adjusted　his　clothing；　then　sat　on　the　floor；　an　elbow　resting　on　the　sofa　where　Cora　was　still　stretched。　He　leaned　forward　to　kiss　her　lips；　his　hand　smoothing　away　the　damp　hair　from　her　face。
　　'Liam　。　。　。'　she　began　to　say；　but　he　shook　his　head　and　smiled。
　　'No　need；　Cora。　We'll　talk　tomorrow。　Tonight　just　think　about　what's　happened　between　us。'　He　stroked　her　body；　fingertips　tracing　a　line　over　her　breasts　down　to　her　stomach；　running　into　the　cleft　between　her　thighs。
　　Her　arms　went　around　his　shoulders　and　she　studied　his　eyes；　her　expression　grave。　'I　need　to　know　more　about　you；　can't　you　see　that？'
　　'In　time；'　he　said。
　　'Is　it　possible　for　me　to　trust　you？　There's　something　。　'　she　frowned；　struggling　to　find　the　word　'。　。　。　dark　about　you；　Liam。　and　I　can't　understand　what　it　is。　There's　a　remoteness　in　you　that's　frightening。　I　felt　it　the　first　time　we　met。'　He　began　to　rise；　but　Cora　held　on　to　him。
　　'I　told　you　yesterday；'　he　said。　'I'm　what　you　see；　no；　more　than　that。'
　　'It's　what　I　feel　in　you　that　scares　me。'
　　'I　often　deal　with　violent　people；　Cora。　It　can't　help　but　have　an　effect　on　me。'
　　'You've　bee　the　same　as　them？　Is　that　what　you're　saying？'　He　shook　his　head。　'It　isn't　that　simple。'
　　'Then　try　to　explain。'　There　was　exasperation　in　her　demand。
　　He　began　to　rise　again　and　this　time　her　arms　dropped　away。　'In　my　trade　violence　usually　has　to　be　met　with　violence；'　he　said；　looking　down　at　her。　'It's　sometimes　the　only　way。'
　　'Doesn't　that　corrupt　you？　Doesn't　that　make　you　the　same　as　them？'
　　'Maybe；'　he　replied。
　　She　pulled　at　her　robe；　covering　her　nakedness。
　　Halloran　walked　to　the　door　and　paused　there。　'It's　when　you　start　to　enjoy　the　corruption　that　you　know　you're　in　trouble。'　He　went　out；　quietly　closing　the　door　after　him。
　　Leaving　Cora　to　weep　alone。
　　Halloran　washed　himself　in　a　bathroom　along　the　hall　before　returning　to　his　room。　Once　there；　he　hung　his　jacket　over　a　bedpost　and　took　the　gun　from　its　holster；　placing　it　on　the　bedside　cabinet。　He　removed　his　shoes　this　time；　set　the　small　alarm　clock；　and　lay　on　the　bed。　The　curtains　were　apart；　but　moonlight　was　feeble　again　that　night　and　barely　lit　the　room。　Despite　the　fact　that　there　was　an　extra　bodyguard　on　duty　inside　the　house；　Halloran　would　only　allow　himself　four　hours'　rest；　intending　to　check　on　Monk　and　Palusinski　during　their　individual　watches；　scouting　Neath　and　the　immediate　outside　area　in　between。　Cora　had　taken　up　nearly　an　hour　of　his　rest　period。　And　a　lot　of　energy。
　　He　shut　his　eyes　and　remembered　the　hurt　on　her　face　as　he'd　left　the　room。
　　A　brightness　flashed　beyond　his　eyelids。
　　Halloran　opened　his　eyes　again。　The　room　was　in　darkness。　Had　he　imagined　the　sudden　flare？
　　It　came　once　more；　filling　the　room　like　a　lightning　flash。　Yet　no　rumble　of　thunder　followed。
　　He　quickly　moved　from　the　bed；　going　to　the　window。　He　peered　out　into　the　night。　A　muted　white　glow　marked　the　moon's　presence　behind　a　bank　of　clouds；　the　ragged…edged；　mountainous　shapes　barely　moving；　the　landscape　below　blurred　and　ill…defined。　The　lake　was　a　huge　flat　greyness　that　appeared　solid；　as　if　its　depths　were　of　concrete。
　　Halloran　blinked　as　the　light　flared　again。　The　source　was　the　lake　itself；　an　emanation　from　its　surface。　And　in　that　brief　light　he　had　seen　forms　on　the　water；　black　silhouettes　that　were　human。　Or　so　he　assumed。
　　He　rolled　back　over　the　bed；　pulled　on　his　shoes；　and　grabbed　his　gun。　Halloran　headed　for　the　stairs。
　　　
　　　
　　　25　LAKE　LIGHT
　　
　　Monk　should　have　been　on　guard　duty。　But　the　main　hall　was　empty。
　　Halloran　wasted　no　time　searching　for　him；　he　switched　off　the　hall　lights；　then　opened　one　side　of　the　frontdoors　just　enough　to　slip　through。　He　was　disturbed　that　the　door　had　been　left　unlocked。　His　steps　were　barely　audible　as　he　hurried　through　the　stone…floored　porch；　and　he　stopped　only　briefly　once　out　in　the　open。
　　The　lake　was　nothing　more　than　a　broad　expanse；　slightly　lighter　than　its　surrounds。
　　Halloran　holstered　the　Browning　and　moved　off；　quickly　edging　along　the　frontage　of　the　house；　using　it　as　a　dark　backdrop　against　which　it　would　be　difficult　to　be　seen；　his　intention　being　to　approach　the　lake　from　an　angle　rather　than　in　a　direct　line　from　the　main　door。　Once　at　the　corner　he　made　a　crouching　dash　towards　the　lawn。　Instinctively　he　dropped　to　the　ground　when　light　flared　from　the　lake　again。　He　blinked　his　eyes　rapidly；　feeling　conspicuous　and　vulnerable　lying　there　on　the　damp　grass。　But　imprinted　on　his　mind　was　the　image　the　sudden　brightness　had　exposed。
　　There　was　a　boat　out　there；　three　or　four　figures　huddled　together　in　its　confined　space。　They　were　watching　something　that　was　outside　the　boat；　on　the　lake　itself。　Something　that　was　not　in　the　water　but　on　the　surface。
　　The　vision　dissolved　as　his　eyes　adjusted　to　the　darkness　once　more。　He　stiffened　when　a　howling　came　from　the　shoreline　to　his　right；　an　eerie；　desolate　cry　in　the　night。　It　was　followed　by　a　collective　ululation；　the　baying　of　wolves…or　jackals…a　fearful　sound　wending　across　the　water。　He　narrowed　his　eyes；　hoping　to　see　them　among　the　indistinct　shapes　of　trees　and　shrubbery　that　edged　the　side　of　the　lake。
　　He　thought　he　could　make　out　the　jackals；　although　it　might　only　have　been　a　clump　of　low　foliage；　for　there　was　no　movement。　Halloran　rose　to　one　knee。
　　And　again　was　temporarily　blinded　by　a　fulguration　from　the　lake。
　　It　had　e　from　below　the　water；　expanding　across　the　surface；　a　silvery…white　luminance　swiftly　expanding　across　the　flat　surface；　its　extremities　shading　to　indigo　and　the　deepest　mauve。　The　illumination　lasted　only　a　second　or　so；　but　there　was　time　for　Halloran　to　observe　the　jackals　gathered　there　at　the　water's　edge。　The　glare　had　frozen　them。　Their　heads；　with　long　pointed　muzzles　and　erect　ears；　stood　high　from　their　shoulders；　cocked　in　alertness　and　perhaps　puzzlement。　At　least　a　doz