lh.narcissusinchains-第51部分

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　me；　was　a　woman　who　needed　one。
　Caleb　was　wearing　a　pair　of　bell…bottom　jeans；　no　shoes；　no　shirt。　The　jeans　were　cut　low　enough　to　show　off　his　belly…button　ring。　I　was　too　young　to　remember　wearing　bell…bottoms　personally；　but　I　did　remember　my　older　cousins　peting　to　see　who　could　get　the　widest　bell。　Even　as　a　child　I'd　thought　the　pants　were　ugly。　Time　had　not　changed　my　opinion。
　Caleb　looked　pretty　satisfied　himself。　I　was　betting　they'd　had　sex　together；　but　it　wasn't　any　of　my　business　who　they　fucked。　Honest　it　wasn't。
　〃I'm　glad　you've　had　a　good　night；　Elizabeth。〃
　She　squeezed　Caleb's　arm。　〃Oh；　it's　been　a　very；　very　good　night。〃
　〃I'm　glad；　because　it's　about　to　get　very；　very　bad；〃　I　said。
　She　fake…pouted　at　me。　〃Oh；　did　our　little　Nimir…Ra　get　her　feelings　hurt　because　I　wouldn't　e　and　sleep　naked　beside　her？〃
　I　had　to　laugh。
　〃What's　so　funny？〃　she　asked。　Caleb　started　moving　away　from　her；　pulling　free。
　〃Why　is　it　that　you　don't　think　I'll　kill　you；　Elizabeth？〃
　〃For　what？〃　she　asked。
　〃Oh；　maybe　for　deserting　Nathaniel　at　the　club　and　letting　the　bad　guys　get　him；　which　led　to　me　nearly　getting　killed；　and　maybe　being　Nimir…Ra　for　real。〃
　〃I'm　tired　of　baby…sitting　him；〃　she　said。　〃He　used　to　be　a　lot　of　fun；　but　not　anymore。　He's　got　standards　now。〃
　〃Meaning　that　he　won't　fuck　you　anymore；〃　I　said。
　The　first　touch　of　real　anger　slid　across　her　face。　〃We　used　to　have　some　real　good　times；　Nathaniel　and　me。〃
　〃Not　good　enough；　apparently；〃　I　said。
　She　strode　up　to　stand　beside　Cherry；　which　put　her　very　close　to　me。　She　wasn't　afraid　of　me；　and　I　knew　why　　or　thought　I　did。　She'd　been　insulting；　arrogant；　and　a　downright　pain　in　the　ass　since　I　took　over　the　pard　and　I　hadn't　hurt　her。　I'd　let　it　all　slide；　because；　as　she　was　so　happy　to　point　out；　I　could　shoot　her；　but　I　couldn't　really　punish　her。　Punish　to　a　shapeshifter　means　either　beat　the　shit　out　of　them　or　do　some　mystical　crap　that　scares　the　shit　out　of　them。　She　was　right。　I　couldn't　do　the　shapeshifter　stuff。　It　had　taken　me　a　while　to　realize　why　I　let　Elizabeth　slide　so　much。　I'd　killed　her　sweetie；　the　man　she　loved。　It　made　me　feel　bad。　Gabriel　had　earned　death；　but　she　had　loved　him；　and　I　sympathized。　But　she'd　used　up　the　last　of　my　sympathy　when　I　saw　Nathaniel　hanging　from　those　chains　with　the　swords　grown　into　his　flesh。　The　rules　had　changed；　and　Elizabeth　didn't　know　it。　Yet。
　The　other　wereleopards　glided　out　of　the　trees；　trailed　down　the　road。　Merle's　hair　gleamed　white　in　the　darkness；　his　beard　and　mustache　silvered。　He　was　wearing　straight…legged　jeans　and　cowboy　boots　with　silver…tipped　toes。　An　open　leather　jacket　did　more　to　frame　his　chest　than　cover　it。　He　had　a　woman　with　him。
　She　was　tall　　six　feet　or　maybe　a　little　over。　She　was　wearing　jogging　shoes；　jeans；　and　a　baggy　T…shirt　that　hung　to　mid…thigh。　The　baggy　T…shirt　couldn't　hide　the　fact　that　she　was　leggy　and　well　built。　Her　hair　was　almost　black；　straight；　thick；　cut　just　above　her　shoulders。　She　wore　no　makeup；　and　the　bones　of　her　face　made　her　look　sculpted　　almost　harsh。　Her　eyes　were　pale；　her　lips；　thin。　She　had　one　of　those　faces　that　would　have　been　beautiful　with　a　little　makeup；　but　was　still　striking。　It　was　a　face　you　wouldn't　forget　or　grow　tired　of。　Merle　was　holding　her　hand；　but　not　like　they　were　a　couple；　more　like　a　father　holds　a　daughter's　hand　　a　forting　gesture。
　She　vibrated　with　that　otherworldly　energy　that　all　the　leopards　had　to　some　degree。　But　this　one　made　my　skin　dance　from　yards　away。　When　they　got　close　enough　for　me　to　see　that　her　eyes　were　pale；　I　could　also　see　that　she　was　afraid。　Her　eyes　had　that　wincing　look　of　a　person　who's　been　abused　once　too　often。
　Merle　introduced　her；　〃This　is　Gina。〃
　〃Hi；　Gina；〃　I　said。
　She　looked　at　me；　and　the　fear　in　her　eyes　was　replaced　by　disdain。　〃She's　a　little　short　for　a　Nimir…Ra。〃
　〃Micah　and　I　are　the　same　height；〃　I　said。
　She　shrugged。　〃Like　I　said。〃　But　her　bravado　didn't　ring　true。　It　was　more　like　someone　whistling　in　the　dark。　But　I　let　it　go。　Gina　wasn't　my　problem　tonight。
　Vivian　was　the　last　of　my　leopards；　and　she　came　alone　down　the　street。　She　was　one　of　the　few　women　who　made　me　feel　protective　and　made　me　think　of　adjectives　like　doll…like　and　delicate。　She　was　simply　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　I'd　ever　seen；　and　the　casual　shorts　and　striped　tank　top　with　sandals　couldn't　hide　that。　She　was　African…American　by　way　of　Ireland；　and　her　skin　was　that　flawless　pale　cocoa　shade　that　you　only　get　with　that　particular　mixture。　She　looked　sort　of　lost；　and　I　realized　why。　I　hadn't　seen　her　without　Stephen　at　her　side　in　over　a　year。　Stephen　was　Gregory's　identical　twin；　also　a　stripper　at　Guilty　Pleasures。　Stephen　and　Vivian　were　living　together　and　seemed　very　happy　doing　it。　But　Stephen　was　at　the　lupanar　tonight　like　all　good　werewolves；　and　she　was　here　with　the　leopards。　Poor　Vivian。　Poor　Stephen。　I　hadn't　really　thought　until　that　moment　that　Stephen　might　lose　a　brother　tonight。　Shit。
　Vivian　dropped　to　her　knees　in　front　of　me；　and　I　offered　her　my　hands。　She　took　them　in　her　hands；　then　rubbed　her　face　against　them；　as　Cherry　and　Zane　had　done。　Elizabeth　hadn't　offered　a　greeting；　and　it　was　an　insult。　The　others　weren't　my　leopards；　but　she　was。　And　she'd　deliberately　snubbed　me。　It　was　the　first　time　in　front　of　pany。　I　didn't　usually　insist　on　it；　because　I　didn't　like　Elizabeth　touching　me；　but　I　watched　Caleb's　face　as　Vivian　rose　from　her　greeting。　He'd　noticed　the　oversight。
　〃How　you　doing；　Vivian？〃
　〃A　real　Nimir…Ra　wouldn't　have　to　ask；〃　Elizabeth　said。
　I　squeezed　Vivian's　hands　and　helped　her　stand。　〃Are　you　going　to　help　us　rescue　Gregory；　or　just　be　a　big　pain　in　the　ass？〃　I　asked　Elizabeth。
　〃I　want　Gregory　safe；〃　she　said。
　〃Then　shut　the　fuck　up。〃
　She　started　to　say　something；　and　Cherry　gripped　her　arm。　〃That's　enough；　Elizabeth。〃
　〃You're　not　dominant　to　me；〃　Elizabeth　said。
　〃I'm　trying　to　be　your　friend；〃　Cherry　said。
　〃You　want　me　to　leave　her　alone？〃
　〃Please；〃　Cherry　said。
　〃Fine；〃　Elizabeth　said。　She　turned　back　to　Nathaniel。　〃I　can　smell　fresh　blood　on　you；　Nathaniel。〃　She　put　her　arms　on　either　side　of　his　neck；　hands　clasped　together；　her　body　pressed　the　length　of　his；　moving　Cherry　back。　〃You　finally　find　someone　to　top　you？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　〃Who？〃　Cherry　asked。
　〃We　really　don't　have　time　for　this；〃　I　said。　〃We　need　to　get　to　the　lupanar。〃
　Merle　had　to　add　his　two　cents　worth。　〃The　only　reason　that　Elizabeth　treats　you　the　way　she　does　is　that　you　let　her。　Disobedience　must　be　punished　immediately；　or　the　power　structure　cannot　survive　　much　like　your　local　Ulfric　and　his　pack。〃
　〃I　control　my　leopards；〃　I　said。
　Elizabeth　laughed；　planting　a　big　kiss　on　Nathaniel's　forehead　and　leaving　a　red　lipstick　print　behind。　〃He　fucked　someone　tonight；　when　he'd　been　forbidden　to　be　with　anyone　without　pard　approval。　And　you're　going　to　let　that　slide；　too。　You　are　so　weak。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out。　〃He　didn't　fuck　anyone　tonight。〃
　Caleb　had　joined　the　others　crawling　around　Nathaniel。　He　plunged　his　face　into　Nathaniel's　groin。　Elizabeth　moved　back　so　he　could　do　it。　〃I　smell　sperm；　but　not　pussy。〃　This　after　I　knew　that　Nathaniel　had　washed　thoroughly。　Caleb　stood；　and　Elizabeth　moved　back。　He　put　his　hand　behind　Nathaniel's　neck　and　moved　their　faces　together　as　if　they　were　going　to　kiss；　but　he　stopped　just　short　of　their　lips　touching。　〃I　don't　smell　pussy　here　either。　I　don't　think　he　had　sex。〃
　Zane　raised　Nathaniel's　shirt　as　far　as　he　could　reach　from　his　knees；　then　stood　pushing　the　shirt　up　to　Nathaniel's　neck。　The　bite　marks　were　almost　black　in　the　starlight。　There　was　a　bite　mark　on　almost　every　inch　of　his　back；　the　edges　didn't　touch；　but　I　hadn't　missed　much。　It　made　me　blush。
　Vivian　looked　at　me；　and　I　realized　that　she　could　probably　smell　the　blood　rushing　to　my　cheeks。
　Zane　said；　〃He　might　not　have　had　sex；　but　he　had　something。〃
　Caleb　came　around　to　gaze　at　Nathaniel's　naked　back。　〃Someone　had　fun。〃
　〃Look　at　this；〃　Elizabeth　said。　She　drew　them　around　to　the　front　and　the　bite　mark　around　his　nipple。　They　ran　their　fingers　over　it；　and　Zane　pulled　Nathaniel's　shirt　off　and　threw　it　on　the　hood　of　the　nearest　car。　Everyone　but　Merle；　Gina；　and　Vivian　swarmed　Nathaniel；　touching　the　wounds　with　fingers；　hands；　and　tongues。　Nathaniel's　head　went　back；　eyes　closed；　and　I　knew　he　wasn't　exactly　having　a　bad　time；　but　。。。
　〃That's　enough；〃　I　said。
　Elizabeth　pulled　Nathaniel's　shorts　down；　and　I　got　a　glimpse　of　just　how　not…unhappy　he　was。
　I　yelled；　〃That's　enough！〃
　Elizabeth　turned　on　her　knees；　her　hands　on　his　butt。　〃Whoever　did　this　could　have　just　as　easily　done　more　damage。　They　could　have　cut　him　up　bad；　and　he　would　have　let　them　do　it。　Wouldn't　you　have；　Nathaniel？〃
　〃I　would　have　let　her　do　anything　she　wanted；〃　he　said。
　Shit。
　〃You　can't　let　him　do　this；〃　Cherry　said；　standing　and　ing　to　me。　〃You　can't　let　him　skate　on　this；　Anita。　Or　the　next　time　whoever　she　is　might　just　kill　him。〃
　〃She　won't　kill　him；〃　I　said。
　〃You　know　who　it　is？〃　she　asked。
　I　nodded。
　〃Why　didn't　you　say　so？〃　Merle　asked。
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　blew　it　out。　〃Because　I'm　not　fortable　with　it　yet。　But　that's　my　problem　not　Nathaniel's。〃　I　held　my　hand　out　to　him。　〃Nathaniel。〃
　He　pulled　his　shorts　up　so　he　could　walk　and　came　to　me；　squeezing　my　hand　as　he　took　it。　I　put　him　behind　me；　the　line　of　our　bodies　touching。　Physical　contact　was　a　way　of　saying　he　was　under　my　protection。　〃I　marked　him。〃
　Elizabeth　laughed　still　on　her　knees。　〃I　know　he's　your　favorite；　but　I　never　thought　you'd　outright　lie　for　him。〃
　〃At　least　some　of　you　can　smell　it　if　I　lie。　I　marked　his　body；　my　teeth　marks。〃
　〃Your　anxiety　level　has　been　high　since　we　got　here。　I　can't　tell　if　you're　lying；〃　Merle　said。　〃And　if　I　can't　tell；　then　no　one　else　here　is　alpha　enough　to　be　sure。〃
　〃It's　gotten　so　that　your　scent　doesn't　change　when　you　lie；〃　Cherry　said。
　I'd　heard　of　lying　with　your　eyes；　but　never　with　your　scent。　〃I　didn't　know　you　could　do　that；　lie　with　your　smell。〃
　〃I　think　lying　just　doesn't　mak