lhamilton.thekillingdance-第65部分

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　His　mouth　bruised　against　my　lips；　forcing　my　mouth　open。　The　moment　I　felt　his　tongue；　I　jerked　my　head　back。
　Richard　put　a　hand　on　the　back　of　my　head　like　he'd　force　me　to　kiss　him。　The　rage　in　his　face　was　frightening。
　〃Not　good　enough　to　kiss　now？〃
　〃I　saw　you　eat　Marcus　last　night。〃
　He　let　me　go　so　suddenly　I　fell　to　the　floor；　stumbling　over　the　sheet。　I　tried　to　get　to　my　knees；　but　my　legs　had　tangled。　The　sheet　slipped　over　one　breast。　I　struggled　to　cover　myself。　Embarrassed　at　last。
　〃Two　nights　ago；　you　let　me　touch　them；　suck　them。　Now　I　can't　even　see　them。〃
　〃Don't　do　this；　Richard。〃
　He　went　to　all　fours　in　front　of　me；　so　we'd　be　on　eye　level。　〃Don't　do　what？　Don't　be　mad　that　you　let　the　vampire　fuck　you？〃　He　crawled　forward　until　our　faces　were　almost　touching。　〃You　fucked　a　corpse　last　night；　Anita。　Did　it　feel　good？〃
　I　stared　at　him　from　inches　away；　not　embarrassed　anymore。　Instead；　I　was　getting　pissed。　〃Yeah；　it　did。〃
　He　jerked　back　from　me　like　I'd　hit　him。　His　face　crumpled；　and　his　eyes　searched　the　room　frantically。　〃I　love　you。〃　He　looked　up　suddenly；　eyes　wide　and　pain…filled。　〃I　love　you。〃
　I　kept　my　eyes　very　wide　so　the　tears　in　them　wouldn't　fall　out　and　run　down　my　cheeks。　〃I　know；　and　I'm　sorry。〃
　He　turned　away　from　me；　still　kneeling。　He　slapped　his　hands　against　the　floor。　He　pounded　his　hands　into　the　floor　over　and　over　until　blood　smeared　on　the　white　carpet。
　I　got　to　my　feet。　I　hovered　over　him；　afraid　to　touch　him。　〃Richard；　Richard；　don't；　please　don't。〃　The　tears　fell　and　I　couldn't　stop　them。
　I　knelt　beside　him。　〃You're　hurting　yourself。　Stop　it！〃　I　grabbed　his　wrists；　held　his　bleeding　hands　in　mine。　He　stared　at　me；　and　the　look　on　his　face　was　raw；　human。
　I　touched　his　face；　gently　tracing　the　claw　marks。　He　leaned　into　me；　tears　spilling　down　his　cheeks。　The　look　in　his　eyes　held　me　immobile。　His　lips　brushed　mine；　soft。　I　didn't　flinch；　but　I　didn't　kiss　him　back；　either。
　He　moved　back　from　me；　just　enough　to　see　my　face　clearly。　〃Good…bye；　Anita。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。
　I　wanted　to　say　so　much；　but　none　of　it　would　help。　Nothing　would　make　it　better。　Nothing　would　erase　what　I'd　seen　last　night　or　how　it　had　made　me　feel。　〃Richard　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃So　am　I。〃　He　walked　to　the　door。　He　hesitated　with　his　hand　on　the　doorknob。　〃I'll　always　love　you。〃
　I　opened　my　mouth；　but　no　sound　came。　There　was　nothing　left　to　say　but；　〃I　love　you；　Richard；　and　I　am　sorrier　than　I　know　how　to　say。〃
　He　opened　the　door　and　stepped　through　it　without　looking　back。　When　the　door　closed　behind　him；　I　sat　on　the　floor；　huddled　in　the　silk　sheet。　I　could　smell　Jean…Claude's　cologne　on　the　silk；　but　I　could　smell　Richard　now；　too。　His　aftershave　clung　to　the　sheets；　to　my　mouth。
　How　could　I　let　him　go　like　this？　How　could　I　call　him　back？　I　sat　on　the　floor　and　did　nothing；　because　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。
　
　
　41
　
　I　called　Edward's　answering　service　and　left　a　message。　I　couldn't　stay　where　I　was。　I　couldn't　stay　here　staring　at　the　wrecked　bedroom　and　remembering　Richard's　wounded　eyes。　I　had　to　get　out。　I　had　to　call　Dominic　and　tell　him　I　wasn't　ing。　The　triad　of　power　didn't　work　without　at　least　two　of　us　on　the　spot。　Jean…Claude　was　in　his　coffin　and　Richard　was　out　of　the　picture。　I　wasn't　sure　what　would　happen　with　our　little　triumvirate　now。　I　didn't　see　Richard　standing　around　watching　me　grope　Jean…Claude；　if　I　wasn't　groping　him；　too。　I　couldn't　blame　him　on　that。
　Strangely；　the　thought　of　him　sleeping　with　Raina　still　made　me　see　green。　I　had　no　right　to　be　jealous　of　him　now；　but　I　was。　Go　figure。
　I　dressed　in　black　jeans；　a　black；　short…sleeved　blouse；　and　a　black　blazer。　I　had　to　work　tonight；　and　Bert　would　kick　a　fit　about　me　wearing　black。　He　thought　it　gave　the　wrong　image。　Screw　him。　Tonight；　black　fit　my　mood。
　The　Browning　in　its　shoulder　holster；　Firestar　in　the　Uncle　Mike's　sidekick　holster；　a　knife　on　each　arm；　and　a　knife　down　my　spine。　I　was　ready　for　work。
　I　was　going　to　give　Edward　ten　more　minutes；　and　then　I　was　out　of　there。　If　there　was　still　an　assassin　lurking　around；　I'd　almost　have　weled　him　or　her。
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　I　sighed。　〃Who　is　it？〃
　〃Cassandra。〃
　〃e　in。〃
　She　opened　the　door；　caught　one　sight　of　the　wrecked　bed；　and　grinned。　〃I've　heard　of　rough　sex；　but　this　is　ridiculous。〃　She　was　wearing　a　long；　white　dress　that　fell　nearly　to　her　ankles。　White　hose　and　white　canvas　flats　pleted　the　outfit。　She　looked　light　and　summery　with　her　long　hair　trailing　down　her　back。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Richard　did　it。〃
　The　smile　left　her　face。　〃He　found　out　you　slept　with　Jean…Claude？〃
　〃Does　everyone　know？〃　I　asked。
　〃Not　everyone。〃　She　walked　into　the　room；　shutting　the　door　behind　her。　She　shook　her　head。　〃Did　he　hurt　you？〃
　〃He　didn't　hit　me；　if　that's　what　you　mean；　but　I　feel　pretty　shitty。〃
　Cassandra　walked　to　the　bed；　staring　up　at　it。　She　grabbed　the　edge　of　the　frame。　She　pulled　with　one　hand　and　steadied　with　the　other。　She　pulled　several　hundred　pounds　of　wood　and　metal　around　like　it　was　nothing。　She　settled　the　bed　gently　to　the　carpet。
　I　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃That　was　impressive。〃
　She　smiled；　almost　shyly。　〃One　of　the　fringe　benefits　of　being　a　lycanthrope　is　that　you　can　pretty　much　lift　anything　you　want。〃
　〃I　see　the　appeal　of　that。〃
　〃I　knew　you　would；〃　she　said。　She　started　picking　up　the　pillows　and　ripped　sheets。　I　joined　her。　〃We　should　probably　put　the　mattress　back　first；〃　she　said。
　〃Okay。　You　need　help？〃
　She　laughed。　〃I　can　lift　it；　but　it's　awkward。〃
　〃Sure。〃　I　grabbed　the　other　side　of　the　mattress。
　Cassandra　came　up　beside　me；　lifting　the　mattress　with　her　left　hand。　A　look　passed　over　her　face。　〃I　am　sorry。〃
　〃I　meant　what　I　said　about　you　and　Richard　earlier。　I　want　him　to　be　happy；〃　I　said。
　〃That's　very　flattering。　I　like　you；　Anita。　I　like　you　a　lot。　I　wish　I　didn't。〃
　I　had　time　to　frown　at　her；　then　her　delicate　fist　came　out　of　nowhere；　a　blur　of　speed　that　smashed　into　my　face。　I　felt　myself　fall　backwards。　I　smashed　into　the　floor　and　couldn't　save　my　head　from　that　extra　smack　against　the　carpet。　It　didn't　hurt。　I　didn't　feel　a　damn　thing　when　blackness　closed　over　me。
　
　
　42
　
　I　rose　out　of　the　darkness　slowly；　dragging　upwards　like　being　awakened　from　deep　sleep。　I　wasn't　sure　what　woke　me。　I　couldn't　remember　going　to　sleep。　I　tried　to　roll　over　and　couldn't。　I　was　suddenly　very　awake；　eyes　wide；　body　straining。　I'd　been　tied　up　before；　it　was　one　of　my　least　favorite　things。　I　had　a　few　moments　of　pure　panic。　I　bucked　against　the　ropes　that　tied　me　at　the　wrists　and　ankles。　I　fought；　pulling　until　I　realized　that　the　knots　were　getting　tighter　as　I　struggled。
　I　forced　myself　to　lie　very　still。　My　heart　pounded　in　my　ears　so　loudly　that　I　couldn't　hear　anything　else。　My　wrists　were　tied　over　my　head　at　an　angle　sharp　enough　to　squeeze　my　shoulder　blades　and　put　strain　all　the　way　down　to　my　wrists。　Even　raising　my　head　the　little　bit　I　needed　to　see　my　ankles　was　painful。　My　ankles　were　tied　together　to　the　foot　of　an　unfamiliar　bed。　I　rolled　my　head　back　and　saw　the　rope　that　tied　my　wrists　to　the　head　of　the　bed。　The　rope　was　black　and　soft；　and　if　I　had　to　guess；　I'd　say　it　was　woven　silk。　It　looked　like　something　Jean…Claude　might　have　lying　around　in　a　closet　somewhere。　I　considered　it　for　only　a　split　second；　then　reality　stepped　into　the　room；　and　my　heart　stopped　for　just　a　second。
　Gabriel　came　to　the　foot　of　the　bed。　He　was　wearing　black　leather　pants　so　tight　they　looked　poured　on；　and　high　black　boots　that　rode　his　thighs　all　the　way　up；　with　straps　at　the　top　to　hold　the　soft　leather　in　place。　He　was　naked　from　the　waist　up；　a　silver　ring　through　his　left　nipple　and　another　through　the　edge　of　his　belly　button。　More　silver　marched　up　his　ears　to　the　curve；　glittering　as　he　walked　around　the　bed。　His　long；　thick　black　hair　fell　across　his　face；　framing　his　pale；　storm　grey　eyes。　He　walked　around　behind　the　headboard；　out　of　sight；　then　slowly　back　into　frame。
　My　heart　had　started　beating　again。　It　was　beating　so　hard　I　was　going　to　choke　on　it。　They'd　taken　the　Browning　and　Firestar；　holsters　and　all。　The　wrist　sheaths　were　gone。　I　tensed　my　back　and　could　still　feel　the　back　sheath。　When　I　put　my　head　back；　I　didn't　feel　the　knife's　handle。　I　guess　I　was　grateful　they　hadn't　stripped　me　to　get　the　sheath。　The　way　Gabriel　was　circling　the　bed；　I　was　betting　we'd　get　to　that。
　I　tried　to　talk；　couldn't；　swallowed；　and　tried　again。　〃What's　going　on？〃　My　voice　sounded　amazingly　calm。　Even　to　me。
　A　woman's　laugh；　high　and　rich；　filled　the　room。　But　of　course；　it　wasn't　a　room。　We　were　at　the　farm　where　they　made　dirty　movies。　The　room　I　was　tied　in　had　only　three　walls。　The　lights　hung　above　me　were　dead；　not　on　yet。
　Raina　stalked　into　sight　on　high；　spiked　heels　the　color　of　blood。　She　was　wearing　what　looked　like　a　red　leather　teddy　that　left　most　of　her　long　legs　and　hips　bare。　〃Hello；　Anita；　you're　looking　well。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath　in　through　my　nose　and　let　it　out　slowly。　My　heart　slowed　a　bit。　Good。　〃You　should　talk　to　Richard　before　you　do　anything　drastic。　The　position　of　lupa　just　opened　up　today。〃
　She　cocked　her　head　to　one　side；　puzzled。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃She　slept　with　Jean…Claude。〃　Cassandra　came　to　stand　on　the　edge　of　the　fake　room；　back　to　the　wall。　She　looked　like　she'd　always　looked。　If　she　felt　unfortable　having　betrayed　me　to　Raina；　it　didn't　show。　I　hated　her　a　lot　for　that。
　〃Aren't　you　going　to　sleep　with　both　of　them？〃　Raina　asked。
　〃Hadn't　planned　on　it；〃　I　said。　Every　time　I　opened　my　mouth　and　nobody　touched　me；　I　got　a　little　calmer。　If　Raina　had　done　this　to　get　me　out　of　the　way；　then　she　didn't　need　to　go　any　further。　If　it　was　revenge　for　Marcus；　I　was　in　deep　shit。
　Raina　sat　down　on　the　end　of　the　bed　near　my　feet。　I　tensed　when　she　did　it；　I　couldn't　help　myself。　She　noticed　and　laughed。　〃Oh；　you　are　going　to　be　a　lot　of　fun。〃
　〃You　can　be　alpha　female。　I　don't　want　the　job；〃　I　said。
　Raina　sighed；　running　her　hand　along　my　leg；　massaging　the　muscle　in　my　upper　thigh；　almost　absently　like　you'd　pe