lh.narcissusinchains-第58部分

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　strong。　He　doesn't　flinch。〃
　〃I've　heard　enough　about　Gabriel　to　wonder　if　that's　a　pliment。〃　Micah　came　out　of　the　woods　with　a　tall　man　beside　him。　Before　Micah；　I'd　never　slept　with　a　man　that　I'd　just　met。　I'd　never　slept　with　anyone　that　didn't　make　my　heart　beat　faster；　my　skin　react　to　the　sight　of　him。　As　Micah　glided　from　the　trees；　he　was　graceful　and　handsome；　but　I　wasn't　in　love　with　him；　and　my　body　didn't　react　like　I　was。　I　was　both　relieved　and　a　little　ashamed　of　that。
　He　was　wearing　shorts　that　had　been　cut　off　and　allowed　to　go　ragged　at　the　hem。　A　white　tank　top　seemed　to　glow　in　the　dark；　making　his　tan　look　even　darker。　A　wide　leather　belt　encircled　his　slender　waist。　He'd　tied　his　hair　back　in　a　ponytail；　but　it　was　so　curly　that　it　didn't　give　the　illusion　of　short　hair；　you　knew　even　from　the　front　that　there　was　a　lot　more　hair　behind　him。　He　seemed　more　delicate　in　clothes　than　he　had　without　them。　Maybe　I　just　hadn't　been　paying　attention　to　how　small　boned　he　was。　There　was　something　graceful　in　the　way　he　was　made；　fine　bones；　smooth　skin；　very　。。。　refined；　especially　for　a　man。　Jean…Claude　was　prettier；　but　he　was　too　tall　to　ever　be　called　delicate。　Micah　was　delicate。　The　only　thing　that　saved　him　from　looking　fragile　was　the　play　of　muscles　in　his　arms；　the　way　he　walked；　like　the　world　was　his　and　everywhere　he　moved　he　was　the　center　of　the　universe。　It　wasn't　so　much　confidence　as　surety。　So　much　potential　in　such　a　small　package。　He　reminded　me　of　somebody。
　The　man　trailing　behind　Micah　was　dark　plected；　with　very　short；　close　cut　hair；　and　there　was　something　about　his　skin　tone；　even　by　starlight；　that　didn't　look　tan。　He　was　handsome　in　a　young；　almost　preppy　sort　of　way；　but　muscled　and　very　alert。　That　explained　why　Merle　hadn't　been　glued　to　Micah's　side。　We'd　had　a　change　of　guard。　Micah　introduced　him　as　Noah。
　I'd　dreaded　seeing　Micah　again　　wondered　what　I'd　say；　how　I'd　feel。　I　wasn't　nearly　as　unfortable　as　I'd　thought　I'd　be。　Maybe　I'd　have　been　more　so　if　I　hadn't　been　trying　to　defend　Nathaniel's　honor。　Maybe　because　I　didn't　give　any　sign　of　what　we'd　done；　Micah　didn't　either。　Or　maybe　he　was　as　confused　as　I　was　about　it。　Or　maybe　that's　how　casual　sex　works。　I　just　didn't　know。
　〃What　is　everyone　so　tense　about？〃　Micah　asked。
　〃Show　him；　Nathaniel。〃
　Nathaniel　never　questioned；　just　stepped　out　from　behind　me　and　showed　his　back　to　the　two　men。
　The　bodyguard　gave　a　sharp　whistle。　Micah's　eyes　widened；　and　he　looked　over　Nathaniel's　shoulder　at　me。
　〃You　did　this？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃She　didn't；〃　Elizabeth　said。
　Caleb　had　risen　as　far　as　he　could　on　his　knees　and　was　sniffing　my　stomach；　his　face　pointed　towards　other　things；　but　he　was　careful　not　to　touch　them。　I　don't　think　he　would　have　sniffed　my　groin　in　front　of　Micah。　Elizabeth　was　right　on　one　thing。　The　leopards　just　weren't　as　afraid　of　me　as　they　were　of　Micah。
　〃She　smells　of　blood；　too；〃　Caleb　said。
　〃Get　away　from　me；〃　I　said。
　He　smirked；　but　he　crawled　away。
　〃Are　you　saying　she　has　a　wound　on　her　like　what　he　has　on　his　back？〃　Elizabeth　asked。
　Caleb　nodded　as　he　crawled。
　〃Then　she's　lying。　Whoever　did　his　back；　did　her；　too。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Am　I　really　going　to　have　to　prove　this？〃
　〃I　would　take　your　word；〃　Micah　said；　〃but　apparently　your　pard　won't。〃
　〃It's　just　that　we've　wanted　you　to　take　one　of　us　like　this　for　so　long；〃　Cherry　said。　〃And　now　。。。　I　think　we'd　have　believed　sex　but　not　this。　It　just　doesn't　look　like　your　work；　and　Elizabeth's　right　about　one　thing。　Nathaniel　is　your　favorite；　and　you　do　protect　him。〃
　Great；　no　one　believed　me。　〃Fine；　just　fine；〃　I　said。　I　started　sliding　out　of　the　shoulder　holster　to　let　it　flop　at　my　back。　Pulling　my　shirt　out　of　my　jeans　wasn't　a　problem；　even　taking　it　off　and　laying　it　beside　Nathaniel's　shirt　on　the　car　hood　wasn't　a　problem。　I　was　wearing　a　very　nice　black　bra。　It　was　meant　to　be　seen。　Jean…Claude　had　been　a　very　bad　influence　on　my　wardrobe。　The　problem　was　taking　off　the　bra。　I　really　didn't　want　to　do　that。
　I　undid　the　back；　but　held　the　front　in　place。　〃What　happens　when　you　see　the　bite　mark？〃
　〃If　you　show　me　a　bite　mark　on　your　breast　that　doesn't　have　fang　marks　in　it；　I'll　believe　it　was　Nathaniel；〃　Micah　said。
　Everyone　had　crowded　close。　I　never　liked　being　the　center　of　attention；　not　for　this　kind　of　thing。　〃Give　me　a　little　breathing　space　guys。〃
　They　moved　back　a　fraction　of　a　step；　and　I　thought；　screw　it。　Everyone　here；　except　Elizabeth　and　maybe　the　new　bodyguard；　had　seen　me　naked。　Oh；　hell。　I　slipped　the　bra　off　and　laid　it　on　the　hood　with　my　shirt。　I　made　absolutely　no　eye　contact。
　A　hand　came　into　view；　and　I　grabbed　the　wrist。　It　was　Caleb。　〃Nathaniel　gets　to　take　a　bite；　and　I　can't　even　touch　it。〃
　〃No；　you　can't；〃　I　said。
　Micah　didn't　e　any　closer。　〃Why　did　you　mark　him？〃
　I　met　his　eyes；　expecting　to　see　accusation；　or　disdain；　or　something　negative。　But　his　face　was　very　still。　〃I　needed　to　sink　my　teeth　into　something。　I　needed　。。。　〃　I　shook　my　head　and　looked　away。　〃It　wasn't　sex　I　wanted。　I　wanted　to　feed。〃
　〃No。〃　Elizabeth　came　crowding　close。　〃No；　you　can't　be　Nimir…Ra　for　real；　not　for　real。〃　There　was　something　close　to　panic　on　her　face。　I　could　smell　her　fear。　She　moved　close　enough　that　our　bodies　almost　touched；　and　I　could　hear　her　heart　thundering。
　〃Be　afraid；　Elizabeth；　be　very　afraid；〃　I　said。
　She　half…turned　away　from　me；　and　Micah　said　something　at　the　same　time　which　is　my　only　excuse　for　not　seeing　her　fist　ing。　She　rocked　me　back　against　the　side　of　the　Jeep；　filling　my　mouth　with　blood　and　making　my　knees　go　weak。　Only　Cherry　catching　me　around　the　waist　kept　me　standing。　The　world　swam　in　black　and　white　streamers　for　a　second。　When　my　vision　cleared　Elizabeth　was　being　held　by　Micah　and　Noah；　the　bodyguard。
　I　pushed　myself　upright　and　stepped　away　from　Cherry。　She　kept　hold　of　my　arm；　and　I　let　her　for　a　second　while　I　let　the　last　of　the　vertigo　slip　away。　I　put　a　hand　to　my　mouth　and　came　away　with　blood。
　Merle　moved　up　to　take　Elizabeth's　arm；　and　Micah　came　to　stand　in　front　of　me。　〃Are　you　alright？〃
　〃I'll　be　okay。〃
　He　touched　my　bare　arms。　It　was　the　lightest　brush　of　fingertips；　but　it　made　me　shiver。　My　nipples　grew　hard；　and　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　to　hide　the　sudden　reaction。
　I　looked　at　him；　and　I　didn't　have　to　look　up　for　it；　not　even　an　inch。　〃I　don't　know　you；　why　。。。　〃
　His　arms　slid　behind　my　back；　pressed　our　bodies　together；　and　I　suddenly　couldn't　get　enough　air。　〃I　am　your　Nimir…Raj；　Anita。　There　is　no　shame　in　that。〃
　〃You　say　Nimir…Raj　like　other　people　say　husband。〃
　He　ran　one　hand　through　my　hair；　until　his　fingers　were　tight　to　my　scalp；　the　other　hand　at　the　small　of　my　back。　〃Our　souls　resonate　like　the　sound　of　two　perfect　bells；〃　he　whispered；　as　his　mouth　hovered　over　mine。　The　ment　was　so　romantic　it　was　stupid；　and　I　should　have　laughed　at　it；　but　I　didn't。
　He　kissed　me；　a　push　of　his　lips；　then　his　tongue　slipped　into　my　mouth。　I　knew　when　he　tasted　my　blood；　because　his　hands　tightened　on　my　body　and　his　body　reacted　against　me。　He　was　too　large　for　me　not　to　feel　him　grow　hard　between　our　bodies。
　I　ran　my　hands　over　his　arms；　his　shirt；　and　it　wasn't　enough。　I　wanted　to　touch　his　bare　skin　to　mine；　to　drink　in　every　inch　of　him；　into　every　inch　of　me。
　He　kissed　me　as　if　he　would　drink　me　in；　and　I　knew　that　part　of　the　excitement　was　the　fresh　blood。　I　pulled　his　shirt　out　of　his　pants　and　ran　my　hands　up　his　back。　But　it　wasn't　enough。
　He　drew　back　from　the　kiss；　and　I　pulled　his　shirt　over　his　head。　Just　pressing　our　bare　chests　against　each　other　was　better。　It　was　as　if　my　skin　craved　his　skin。　I'd　never　felt　anything　like　it。
　We　held　each　other；　both　breathing　too　hard；　our　arms　locked　around　each　other；　faces　pressed　to　each　other's　shoulders；　his　breath　hot　on　my　neck。
　〃We　don't　have　time　for　more；〃　he　whispered。
　I　nodded；　my　head　still　against　his　neck。　It　wasn't　like　I'd　been　planning　on　more；　but　。。。　〃I　had　to　touch　my　skin　to　yours；　why？〃
　〃I　told　you；　you　are　my　Nimir…Ra；　and　I　am　your　Nimir…Raj。〃
　I　pulled　back　enough　to　see　his　face。　〃That　doesn't　explain　it　to　me。〃
　He　held　my　face　in　his　hands；　making　very　serious　eye　contact。　〃We　are　a　mated　pair；　Anita。　It's　legend　among　the　leopards　that　you　can　find　your　perfect　mate；　and　from　the　first　moment　you　have　sex　you're　bound；　more　than　marriage；　more　than　law。　We　will　always　crave　each　other。　Our　souls　will　always　call　to　each　other。　Our　beasts　will　always　hunt　together。〃
　It　should　have　scared　me；　but　it　didn't。　It　should　have　made　me　angry；　but　it　didn't。　I　should　have　felt　a　lot　of　things；　but　all　I　really　felt　was　that　he　was　right；　and　I　didn't　even　want　to　try　and　talk　him　out　of　it。
　〃Richard's　going　to　love　this；〃　Elizabeth　said。
　Merle　and　Noah　took　her　down　to　her　knees；　in　an　abrupt　gesture　that　had　to　hurt　a　little。　I　looked　at　her。　〃Thanks　for　reminding　me　what　I　was　about　to　do；　Elizabeth。　I　got　distracted。〃　I　drew　away　from　Micah；　my　fingers　trailing　down　his　arm；　as　if　I　couldn't　quite　bear　to　let　go　of　him。
　〃Let　her　go；　boys。　She's　my　problem；　not　yours。