lhamilton.thekillingdance-第41部分

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　〃Slapping　people　around　won't　keep　him　alive；〃　I　said。
　〃It　would　help。　Torture　works　well；　but　I　doubt　that　Richard　would　have　the　stomach　for　it。〃
　〃I　couldn't　stomach　it。〃
　〃But　you　litter　the　ground　with　bodies；　ma　petite。　Killing　is　the　best　deterrent　of　all。〃
　I　was　too　tired　to　be　having　this　conversation。　〃It's　4：30　in　the　morning。　I　want　to　go　to　bed。〃
　Jean…Claude　smiled。　〃Why；　ma　petite；　you　are　not　usually　so　eager。〃
　〃You　know　what　I　mean；〃　I　said。
　Jean…Claude　took　a　gliding　step　towards　me。　He　didn't　touch　me；　but　he　stood　very　close　and　looked　at　me。　〃I　know　exactly　what　you　mean；　ma　petite。〃
　That　brought　heat　in　a　rush　up　my　neck。　The　words　were　innocent。　He　made　them　sound　intimate；　obscene。
　Jason　righted　the　chair　and　stood；　licking　the　blood　off　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　He　said　nothing；　merely　watched　us　like　a　well…trained　dog；　seen　and　not　heard。
　Jean…Claude　took　a　step　back。　I　felt　him　move；　but　couldn't　follow　it　with　my　eyes。　There　had　been　a　time　only　months　ago　that　it　would　have　looked　like　magic；　like　he'd　just　appeared　a　few　feet　away。
　He　held　his　hand　out　towards　me。　〃e；　ma　petite。　Let　us　retire　for　the　day。〃
　I'd　held　his　hand　before；　so　why　was　I　left　standing；　staring；　like　he　was　offering　me　the　forbidden　fruit　that　once　tasted　would　change　everything？　He　was　nearly　four　hundred　years　old。　Jean…Claude's　face　from　all　those　long　years　ago　was　smiling　down　at　me；　and　there　he　stood　with　almost　the　same　smile。　If　I'd　ever　needed　proof；　I　had　it。　He'd　struck　Jason　down　like　a　dog　he　didn't　much　like。　And　still　he　was　so　beautiful；　it　made　my　chest　ache。
　I　wanted　to　take　his　hand。　I　wanted　to　run　my　hands　over　the　red　shirt；　explore　that　open　oval　of　flesh。　I　folded　my　hands　over　my　stomach　and　shook　my　head。
　His　smile　widened　until　a　hint　of　fang　showed。　〃You　have　held　my　hand　before；　ma　petite。　Why　is　tonight　any　different？〃　His　voice　held　an　edge　of　mockery。
　〃Just　show　me　the　room；　Jean…Claude。〃
　He　let　his　hand　drop　to　his　side；　but　he　didn't　seem　offended。　If　anything；　he　seemed　pleased；　which　irritated　me。
　〃Bring　Richard　through　when　he　arrives；　Jason；　but　announce　him　before　he　es。　I　don't　want　to　be　interrupted。〃
　〃Anything　you　say；〃　Jason　said。　He　smirked　at　us；　at　me；　a　knowing　look　on　his　face。　Did　everyone　and　their　wolf　believe　I　was　sleeping　with　Jean…Claude？　Of　course；　maybe　it　was　a　case　of　the　lady　protesting　too　much。　Maybe。
　〃Just　bring　Richard　to　the　room　when　he　es；〃　I　said。　〃You　won't　be　interrupting　anything。〃　I　glanced　at　Jean…Claude　while　I　said　the　last。
　He　laughed；　that　warm　touchable　sound　of　his　that　wove　over　my　skin　like　silk。　〃Even　your　resistance　to　temptation　grows　thin；　ma　petite。〃
　I　shrugged。　I　would　have　liked　to　argue；　but　he'd　smell　a　lie。　Even　a　run…of…the…mill　werewolf　can　smell　desire。　Jason　wasn't　run…of…the…mill。　So　everyone　in　the　room　knew　I　was　hot　for　Jean…Claude。　So　what？
　〃No　is　one　of　my　favorite　words；　Jean…Claude。　You　should　know　that　by　now。〃
　The　laughter　faded　from　his　face；　leaving　his　blue；　blue　eyes　gleaming；　but　not　with　humor。　Something　darker　and　more　sure　of　itself　looked　out　his　eyes。　〃I　survive　on　hope　alone；　ma　petite。〃
　Jean…Claude　parted　the　black　and　white　drapes　to　reveal　the　bare；　grey　stones　that　the　room　was　made　of。　A　large　hallway　stretched　deeper　into　the　labyrinth。　Torchlight　gleamed　beyond　the　electricity　of　the　living　room。　He　stood　there；　backlit　against　the　flame　and　the　soft　modern　lights。　Some　trick　of　light　and　shadow　plunged　half　his　face　into　darkness　and　brought　a　pinprick　glow　to　his　eyes。　Or　maybe　it　wasn't　a　trick　of　the　light。　Maybe　it　was　just　him。
　〃Shall　we　go；　ma　petite？〃
　I　walked　into　that　outer　darkness。　He　didn't　try　to　touch　me　as　I　moved　past　him。　I'd　have　given　him　a　brownie　point　for　resisting　the　urge；　except　I　knew　him　too　well。　He　was　just　biding　his　time。　Touching　me　now　might　piss　me　off。　Later；　it　might　not。　Even　I　couldn't　guarantee　when　the　mood　would　be　right。
　Jean…Claude　moved　ahead　of　me。　He　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃After　all；　ma　petite；　you　do　not　know　the　way　to　my　bedroom。〃
　〃I've　been　there　once；〃　I　said。
　〃Carried　unconscious　and　dying。　It　hardly　counts。〃　He　glided　down　the　hall。　He　put　a　little　extra　sway　to　his　walk；　somewhat　like　Jason　had　done　on　the　stairs；　but　where　it　had　been　funny　with　the　werewolf；　Jean…Claude　made　it　utterly　seductive。
　〃You　just　wanted　to　walk　in　front　so　I'd　have　to　stare　at　your　butt。〃
　He　spoke　without　turning　around。　〃No　one　makes　you　stare　at　me；　ma　petite；　not　even　me。〃
　And　that　was　the　truth。　The　horrible　truth。　If　in　some　dark　part　of　my　heart　I　hadn't　been　attracted　to　him　from　the　beginning；　I'd　have　killed　him　long　ago。　Or　tried　to。　I　had　more　legal　vampire　kills　than　any　other　vampire　hunter　in　the　country。　They　didn't　call　me　the　Executioner　for　nothing。　So　how　did　I　end　up　being　safer　in　the　depths　of　the　Circus　of　the　Damned　with　the　monsters　than　above　ground　with　the　humans？　Because　somewhere　along　the　line；　I　didn't　kill　the　monster　I　should　have。
　That　particular　monster　was　gliding　up　the　hallway　ahead　of　me。　And　he　still　had　the　cutest　butt　I'd　ever　seen　on　a　dead　man。
　
　
　22
　
　Jean…Claude　leaned　one　shoulder　against　the　wall。　He'd　already　opened　the　door。　He　motioned　me　inside　with　a　graceful　sweep　of　his　hand。
　My　high　heels　sank　into　the　deep；　white　carpet。　White　wallpaper　with　tiny　silver　designs　graced　the　walls。　There　was　a　white　door　in　the　left…hand　wall　near　the　bed。　The　bed　had　white　satin　sheets。　A　dozen　black　and　white　pillows　were　grouped　at　the　head　of　the　bed。　A　fan　of　black　and　white　drapes　fell　from　the　ceiling；　forming　a　partial　canopy　over　the　bed。　The　black　lacquer　vanity　and　chest　of　drawers　still　sat　in　opposite　corners。　The　wallpaper　and　the　door　were　new。　Guess　which　bothered　me　more。
　〃Where　does　the　door　go？〃
　〃The　bathroom。〃　He　closed　the　outer　door　and　walked　past　me　to　sit　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　There　were　no　chairs。
　〃A　bathroom。　That　wasn't　here　last　time；〃　I　said。
　〃Not　in　its　present　form；　but　it　was　here　just　the　same。〃
　He　leaned　back　on　his　elbows。　The　movement　strained　the　cloth　of　his　shirt；　exposing　as　much　skin　as　the　shirt　would　allow。　The　line　of　dark　hair　that　started　low　on　his　belly　peeked　just　above　the　cloth。
　The　room　was　getting　warmer。　I　undid　the　velcro　fastenings　on　the　bulletproof　vest　and　slid　it　over　my　head。　〃Where　do　you　want　me　to　put　this？〃
　〃Anywhere　you　like；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　soft　and　more　intimate　than　the　words　themselves。
　I　walked　around　to　the　far　side　of　the　bed；　away　from　him；　and　laid　the　vest　across　the　satin　sheets。
　He　lay　back　against　the　sheets；　his　black　hair　framing　his　pale　face　to　perfection。　Warmer；　it　was　definitely　getting　warmer　in　here。
　〃Mind　if　I　freshen　up？〃
　〃Whatever　I　have　is　yours；　ma　petite。　You　should　know　that　by　now。〃
　I　backed　into　the　door　and　opened　it　with　a　feeling　of　relief。　I　closed　the　door　without　really　looking　at　the　bathroom。　When　I　looked　up；　I　let　out　a　silent　wow。
　The　room　was　long　and　narrow。　It　had　a　double　sink　and　mirrors　with　round　white　lightbulbs　edging　it。　The　sinks　were　black　marble　with　white　veins　running　through。　Every　faucet；　every　metal　edge；　gleamed　silver。　The　floor　was　black　carpeting。　A　half　wall　of　silver　and　mirrored　panels　hid　the　black　stool　against　a　black　wall。　Another　half　wall　graced　the　other　side。　Then　there　was　the　bathtub。　Three　marble　steps　led　up　to　a　black　bathtub；　big　enough　for　four　people。　The　faucet　was　a　silver　swan　with　outspread　wings。　There　was　no　way　to　take　a　shower；　which　was　my　preferred　method；　and　the　swan　was　a　bit　much；　but　other　than　that；　it　was　lovely。
　I　sat　down　on　the　cool　marble　edging。　It　was　nearly　five　in　the　morning。　My　eyes　burned　from　lack　of　sleep。　The　adrenaline　rush　of　nearly　getting　killed　had　long　since　faded。　What　I　wanted　was　to　be　forted；　held；　yes；　sex　was　in　there　somewhere；　but　that　wasn't　my　highest　priority　tonight。　I　think　both　Richard　and　Jean…Claude　would　say　it　was　never　my　highest　priority；　but　that　was　their　problem。　Okay；　it　was　our　problem。
　If　it　had　been　Richard　stretched　out　on　the　bed　in　the　next　room；　I　would　have　jumped　him　tonight。　But　it　wasn't　Richard；　and　once　Richard　got　here；　we'd　be　sleeping　in　Jean…Claude's　bed。　Seemed　pretty　tacky　to　have　sex　for　the　first　time　in　your　other　boyfriend's　bed。　But　it　wasn't　just　the　boys　suffering　from　sexual　tension；　I　was　drowning；　too。
　Was　Richard　right？　Was　the　fact　that　Jean…Claude　wasn't　human　the　only　thing　keeping　me　out　of　his　bed？　No。　Or　at　least　I　didn't　think　so。　Out　of　Richard's　bed？　The　answer；　sadly；　was　yes；　maybe。
　I　freshened　up　and　couldn't　help　checking　myself　in　the　mirror。　The　makeup　had　faded　a　little；　but　the　liner　still　made　my　large；　dark　eyes　stand　out　in　dramatic　contrast。　The　blush　was　almost　gone；　and　the　lipstick　had　long　ago　vanished。　I　had　lipstick　in　my　purse。　I　could　freshen　that　at　least。　But　freshening　my　lipstick　was　like　admitting　I　cared　what　Jean…Claude　thought　of　me。　I　did　care。　That　was　the　truly　scary　part。　I　did　not　put　on　more　lipstick。　I　walked　back　into　the　bedroom　as　is；　let　him　make　of　it　what　he　would。
　He　was　leaning　on　one　elbow；　watching　me　as　I　came　through　the　door。　〃Ma　petite；　you　are　beautiful。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Pretty；　I'll　give　you；　but　not　beautiful。〃
　He　cocked　his　head　to　one　side；　sending　a　wave　of　hair　over　one　shoulder。　〃Who　told　you　you　were　not　beautiful？〃
　I　leaned　against　the　door。　〃When　I　was　a　little　girl；　my　father　would　e　up　behind　my　mother。　He　would　wrap　his　arms　around　her　waist；　bury　his　face　in　her　hair；　and　say；　'How　is　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world　today？'　He　said　it　at　least　once　a　day。　She　would　laugh　and　tell　him　not　to　be　silly；　but　I　agreed　with　him。　To　me；　she　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world。〃
　〃She　was　your　mother。　All　little　girls　think　that　of　their　mother。〃
　〃Maybe；　but　two　years　after　she　died；　Dad　remarried。　He　married　Judith；　who　was　tall　and　blond　and　blue…eyed；　and　nothing　like　my　mother。　If　he　had　really　believed　my　mother　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world；　why　did　he　marry　some　Nordic　ice　princess？　Why　didn't　he　marry　someone　small　an