lh.narcissusinchains-第17部分

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upils　in　a　frosted　gleam。　He　looked　blind。　〃Have　I　not　earned　the　right　to　be　petty；　Richard？〃
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃Just　tell　him　the　truth。〃
　〃There　are　three　people　in　his　power　that　I　would　strip　for；　that　I　would　allow　to　touch　me；　and　answer　that　so　important　question。〃　He　stood　in　one　graceful　movement；　like　a　liquid　puppet　on　strings。　He　stepped　close　enough　for　the　power　to　spill　around　him；　bringing　his　breath　shuddering　from　his　lips。　The　power　recognized　him；　flared　stronger；　as　if　he　could　act　as　our　third；　if　we　weren't　careful。　Did　the　power　just　need　a　vampire；　and　not　specifically　Jean…Claude？　Richard　shut　down　his　side　of　the　power；　clanging　a　shield　in　place　that　made　me　think　of　metal；　strong　and　solid；　unpromising。
　Asher　caressed　the　air　just　above　Richard's　arm　and　had　to　step　away；　rubbing　his　hands　on　his　arms。　〃The　power　fades。〃　He　shook　himself　like　a　dog　ing　out　of　water。　〃If　you　would　say　yes；　his　torment　could　end。〃
　I　frowned　at　them　both；　not　sure　I　was　following　the　conversation；　not　sure　I　wanted　to。
　Asher　turned　those　pale；　drowning　eyes　to　me。　〃Or；　our　fair　Anita。〃　He　was　already　shaking　his　head。　〃But　no；　I　know　better　than　to　ask。　I　have　enjoyed　shocking　our　so　heterosexual　Richard　by　my　overtures。　But　Anita　is　not　so　easily　teased。〃　He　came　to　stand　in　front　of　Jean…Claude。　〃And；　of　course；　if　he　wanted　the　answer　badly　enough　he　could　do　it　himself。〃
　Jean…Claude's　face　was　at　its　most　arrogant。　Its　most　hidden。　〃You　know　why　I　do　not。〃
　Asher　moved　back　to　stand　in　front　of　me。　〃He　refuses　my　bed；　because　he　fears　that　you　would　。。。　what　is　the　American　word　。。。　dump　him；　if　you　knew　he　were　sleeping　with　a　man。　Would　you？〃
　I　had　to　swallow　before　I　could　answer。　〃Yeah。〃
　Asher　smiled；　but　not　like　he　was　happy；　more　like　it　had　been　a　predictable　answer。　〃Then　I　will　pleasure　myself　here　with　Narcissus；　and　Jean…Claude　will　still　not　know　if　I　stay　because　I　have　bee　a　lover　of　such　things；　or　because　this　type　of　love　is　all　that　is　left　for　me。〃
　〃I　haven't　agreed　to　this；〃　Narcissus　said。　〃Before　I　take　second　　no　fourth　choice　　let　me　see　what　I'm　buying。〃
　Asher　stood；　turning　so　that　his　left　side　was　towards　the　werehyena。　He　unzipped　the　mask　and　lifted　it　over　his　head。　We　were　standing　enough　to　one　side　so　that　I　could　see　that　perfect　profile。　His　golden　hair　　and　I　mean　golden　　was　braided　along　the　back　of　his　head　so　that　nothing　interfered　with　the　view。　I　was　used　to　looking　at　Asher　through　a　film　of　hair。　Without　it；　the　lines　of　his　face　were　like　sculpture；　something　so　smooth　and　lovely　that　you　wanted　to　touch　it；　trace　the　movement　of　it　with　your　hands；　layer　it　with　kisses。　Even　after　the　little　show　he'd　put　on；　he　was　still　beautiful。　Nothing　seemed　to　change　that　when　I　looked　at　Asher。
　〃Very　nice；〃　Narcissus　said；　〃very；　very　nice；　but　I　have　many　beautiful　men　at　my　beck　and　call。　Perhaps　not　as　beautiful；　but　still　。。。　〃
　Asher　turned　to　face　the　man。　Whatever　Narcissus　was　about　to　say　died　in　his　throat。　The　right　side　of　Asher's　face　looked　like　melted　candle　wax。　The　scars　didn't　start　until　well　away　from　the　midline　of　his　face。　It　was　as　if　his　torturers　all　those　centuries　ago　had　wanted　him　to　have　enough　left　to　remember　the　perfection　he'd　once　been。　His　eyes　were　still　golden…lashed；　his　nose　perfect；　his　mouth　full　and　kissable；　but　the　rest　。。。　The　rest　was　scarred。　Not　ruined；　not　spoiled；　but　scarred。
　I　remembered　Asher's　smooth　perfection；　the　feel　of　that　perfect　body　rubbing　against　mine。　Not　my　memories。　I　had　never　seen　Asher　nude。　I　had　never　touched　him　that　way。　But　Jean…Claude　had　about　two　hundred　years　ago。　It　made　it　impossible　for　me　to　look　at　Asher　with　unprejudiced　eyes；　because　I　remembered　being　in　love　with　him；　in　fact；　was　still　a　little　in　love　with　him。　Which　meant　that　Jean…Claude　was　still　a　little　in　love　with　him。　My　personal　life　just　can't　get　more　plicated。
　Narcissus　drew　a　shuddering　breath　and　said　in　a　voice　gone　hoarse；　eyes　wide；　〃Oh；　my。〃
　Asher　threw　the　hood　on　the　bed　and　began　to　unzip　the　front　of　the　leather　shirt；　very　slowly。　I'd　seen　his　chest　before　and　knew　that　it　was　much　worse　than　his　face。　The　right　side　of　his　chest　was　carved　with　deep　runnels；　the　skin　hard　to　the　touch。　The　left　side；　like　his　face；　still　had　that　angelic　beauty　that　had　attracted　the　vampires　to　him　long　ago。
　When　the　zipper　was　halfway　down　his　body；　baring　his　chest　and　upper　stomach；　Narcissus　had　to　sit　down　on　the　bed　as　if　his　legs　wouldn't　hold　him。
　〃I　think；　Narcissus；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　〃that　after　tonight　you　will　owe　us　a　favor。〃　His　voice　was　empty　when　he　said　it；　devoid　of　anything。　It　was　the　voice　he　used　when　he　was　at　his　most　careful；　or　his　most　pained。
　Asher　asked　in　a　careful　voice　that　didn't　quite　match　the　striptease　he　was　doing；　〃What　level　of　pain　does　Narcissus　enjoy　straight　　how　do　you　say　　out　of　the　box？〃
　〃Rough；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　〃He　can　control　his　desire　and　not　step　outside　the　bounds　of　his　submissive；　but　if　he　is　to　be　topped；　then　rough；　very　rough。　You　do　not　need　a　warming　up　period　for　this　one。〃　Jean…Claude's　voice　was　still　empty。
　Asher　looked　down　at　Narcissus。　〃Is　that　true？　Do　you　like　to　start　out　with　a　。。。　bang？〃　That　last　word　was　slow；　seductive。　One　word；　and　it　held　worlds　of　promise　within　it。
　Narcissus　nodded　slowly。　〃You　can　start　with　blood；　if　you've　the　balls　for　it。〃
　〃Most　people　have　to　work　up　to　that　for　it　to　be　pleasurable；〃　Asher　said。
　〃I　don't；〃　Narcissus　said。
　Asher　finished　unzipping　and　lowered　the　shirt　off　his　arms；　held　it　in　his　hands　for　a　moment；　then　struck　out　with　a　movement　so　quick　it　was　only　an　after…image　blur。　He　slapped　Narcissus　across　the　face　with　the　heavy　zipper　once；　twice；　three　times；　until　blood　showed　at　the　corner　of　his　mouth　and　his　eyes　looked　unfocused。
　I　was　so　startled　by　all　of　it　that　I　think　I　forgot　to　breathe。　All　I　could　do　was　stare。　Jean…Claude　had　gone　very　still　between　Richard　and　me。　It　wasn't　the　utter　stillness　that　he　was　capable　of；　that　all　the　old　masters　were　capable　of；　and　I　realized　why。　He　couldn't　sink　into　that　black　stillness　of　death　with　the　lingering　touch　of　the　〃life〃　we'd　pumped　through　him。
　Narcissus　used　the　tip　of　his　tongue　to　taste　the　blood　on　his　mouth。　〃I　am　an　acplished　liar；　but　I　always　give　fair　trade。〃　He　was　suddenly　more　serious　than　he　had　been；　as　if　the　flippant　tease　was　just　a　mask　and　underneath　was　a　more　solemn；　thinking　person。　When　he　looked　up；　there　was　a　person　in　his　eyes　that　I　knew　was　dangerous。　The　flirt　was　real；　too；　but　it　was　partially　camouflage　to　make　everyone　underestimate　him。　Looking　into　his　eyes；　I　knew　that　to　underestimate　him　would　be　a　very　bad　thing。
　He　turned　those　newly　serious　eyes　to　Asher。　〃For　this；　I　will　owe　you　a　favor；　but　only　one　favor；　not　three。〃
　Asher　reached　up　and　undid　his　hair；　letting　the　heavy　sparkling　waves　fall　around　his　face。　He　stared　down　at　the　smaller　man；　and　I　couldn't　see　the　look　he　gave；　but　whatever　it　was；　it　made　Narcissus　look　like　a　drowning　man。　〃I　am　only　worth　one　favor？〃　Asher　said。　〃I　think　not。〃
　Narcissus　had　to　swallow　twice　before　he　could　speak。　〃Perhaps　more。〃　He　turned　and　looked　at　us；　and　his　eyes　were　still　raw；　real。　〃Go；　save　your　wereleopards；　whoever　they　belong　to。　But　know　this；　the　ones　inside　are　new　to　our　munity。　They　do　not　know　our　rules；　and　their　own　rules　seem　harsh　by　parison。〃
　〃You　warn　us；　Narcissus；　thank　you；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃I　think　that　this　one　would　not　like　it　if　you　were　hurt；　no　matter　how　angry　he　is　with　you；　Jean…Claude。　I　am　about　to　let　him　bind　me　to　this　bed；　or　the　wall；　and　do　to　me　whatever　he　wishes。〃
　〃Whatever　I　wish？〃　Asher　asked。
　Narcissus's　gaze　flicked　back　to　him。　〃No；　not　whatever；　but　until　I　use　the　safety　word；　yes。〃　There　was　something　almost　childlike　in　the　way　he　said　the　last；　as　if　he　were　already　thinking　of　what　was　to　e；　and　not　really　concentrating　on　us。
　〃Safety　word？〃　I　asked。
　Narcissus　gazed　at　me。　〃If　the　pain　grows　too　much；　or　if　something　is　proposed　that　the　slave　does　not　want　to　do；　you　use　the　word　agreed　upon。　Once　the　word　is　spoken　the　master　must　stop。〃
　〃But　you'll　be　tied　up；　you　won't　be　able　to　make　him　stop。〃
　Narcissus's　eyes　were　drowning；　drowning　in　things　that　I　didn't　understand；　and　didn't　want　to。　〃It　is　both　the　trust　and　the　element　of　uncertainty　that　makes　the　event；　Anita。〃
　〃You　trust　that　he'll　stop　when　you　say　stop；　but　you　like　the　thought　that　he　might　not　stop；　that　he　might　just　keep　going；〃　Richard　said。
　It　made　me　stare　at　him；　but　I　caught　Narcissus's　nod。
　〃Am　I　the　only　one　in　this　room　that　doesn't　understand　how　this　game　is　played？〃
　〃Remember；　Anita；〃　Richard　said；　〃I　was　a　virgin　until　Raina　got　me。　She　was　my　first　lover；　and　her　tastes　ran　。。。　to　the　exotic。〃
　Narcissus　laughed　then。　〃A　virgin　in　Raina's　hands；　what　a　frightening　image。　Even　I　wouldn't　let　her　top　me；　because　you　could　see　it　in　her　eyes。〃
　〃See　what？〃　I　asked。
　〃That　she　had　no　stopping　point。〃
　Having　almost　been　a　star　in　one　of　her　little　bedroom　dramas；　saved　only　by　the　fact　that　I'd　k