lh.narcissusinchains-第35章

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ittle　too　fast。
　I　should　have　been　embarrassed；　but　the　ardeur　was　sated；　and　my　beast　lay　curled　inside　me　like　a　contented　cat。　I　was　too　well…pleased　with　myself　to　be　embarrassed。　〃How　long　have　you　been　watching？〃　Even　my　voice　sounded　lazy；　content。
　He　had　to　clear　his　throat　twice　before　he　could　say；　〃Long　enough。〃
　I　climbed　back　up　Nathaniel's　body；　until　I　was　pressed　against　the　length　of　him。　I　laid　my　cheek　against　his　face；　and　whispered；　〃Are　you　alright？〃
　〃Yes。〃　It　was　a　whisper。
　〃I　didn't　hurt　you？〃
　〃It　was　。。。　wonderful。　Oh；　God；　it　was　。。。　better　than　I'd　imagined　it。〃
　I　raised　up；　stroking　his　hair；　turning　back　to　look　at　Jason；　still　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。　〃Why　didn't　you　try　and　stop　me？〃
　〃Jean…Claude　was　afraid　you'd　tear　out　Nathaniel's　throat　or　something　messy　like　that。〃　Jason's　voice　was　returning　to　normal；　only　the　slightest　edge　of　uncertainty　in　it。　〃But　I　watched　you。　Every　time　I　thought　I'd　have　to　intervene；　you　drew　back。　Every　time　I　thought　you　were　going　to　lose　control；　you　didn't。　You　rode　the　hunger；　you　tamed　it。〃
　I　felt　Jean…Claude　waken；　felt　him　take　his　first　breath　of　the　day。　He　sensed　me；　too；　felt　me　still　lying　naked　on　Nathaniel's　body；　smelled　the　scent　of　fresh　blood；　felt　that　I　had　fed；　and　fed　well。　I　felt　him　ing　towards　me；　hurrying　towards　me；　attracted　to　the　scent　of　blood；　and　warm　flesh；　and　sex；　and　me。
　
　16
　
　〃JEAN…CLAUDE'S　ING；〃　JASON　said。
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。
　Jason　walked　to　the　foot　of　the　bed　and　gazed　down　at　us；　at　me。　His　eyes　lingered　on　me。　Most　of　my　body　was　hidden　beside　Nathaniel；　but　he　looked　at　what　was　revealed。　If　I　hadn't　had　that　glimpse　into　his　heart；　I'd　have　been　mad；　or　told　him　to　stop；　but　I　didn't　know　what　to　say　now。　He　wanted　me；　just　me　for　me；　not　forever；　but　just　for　a　night；　a　day；　a　week；　just　for　sometimes。　Jason's　feelings　for　me　might　be　the　most　unplicated　of　all　the　men　in　my　life。　Unplicated　had　its　attractions；　even　with　the　ardeur　gone。　The　moment　I　thought　gone；　I　realized　that　wasn't　true。　The　hunger　was　just　below　the　surface；　like　something　simmering　in　a　pot；　you　have　to　keep　the　heat　low；　or　it　boils　over。　I'd　had　enough　heat　for　one　day。
　Jason　and　I　looked　at　each　other。　I　don't　know　what　we　would　have　said；　but　just　then　the　door　opened。　It　was　Asher。　His　room　was　closer　than　the　coffin　room；　but　I　hadn't　expected　him。　His　golden　hair　lay　in　perfect　waves　around　the　shoulders　of　his　robe。　Vampires　didn't　move　in　their　〃sleep〃　so　no　morning　hair　problems。　The　robe　was　a　rich；　deep　brown；　open　over　matching　pajama　bottoms。　His　chest　was　bare；　and　the　robe　flared　around　him　like　a　cape　as　he　strode　into　the　room。
　He　came　to　stand　beside　the　bed；　but　his　gaze　went　to　Nathaniel's　body；　to　the　blood。　〃I　felt　。。。　〃　He　raised　his　eyes　to　my　face；　and　I　peered　at　him　over　Nathaniel's　body。　〃I　felt　the　call。〃
　〃I　didn't　call　you；〃　I　said。
　〃The　power　did。〃　He　dropped　to　his　knees　beside　the　bed。　〃You　did　this？〃
　I　nodded。
　He　reached　out　towards　me；　as　if　to　touch　my　face；　then　jerked　back。　It　was　like　he'd　touched　something　in　the　air　in　front　of　me　that　had　startled　him。　He　raised　his　hand　to　his　face　and　sniffed　it；　then　licked　it；　as　though　there　was　something　there　to　taste。
　〃May　I　taste　your　pomme　de　sang？〃　It　was　French　for　apple　of　blood；　and　it　was　a　nickname　for　a　person　that　was　a　regular　donor　to　a　particular　vampire。　Part　of　me　wanted　to　argue　with　the　phrase；　but　I　had　fed　off　of　Nathaniel；　even　tasted　his　blood。　To　demand　a　different　phrase　was　splitting　hairs　a　little　too　finely　for　my　conscience。　We'd　call　a　spade　a　spade。
　〃Define　taste。〃　I　said。
　〃Lick　the　wounds。〃
　The　suggestion　should　have　bothered　me；　but　it　didn't。　I　lowered　my　face　enough　to　see　Nathaniel's　eyes。　〃Is　it　okay　with　you；　Nathaniel？〃
　He　nodded；　face　still　pressed　to　the　bed。
　〃Help　yourself。〃
　Asher　lowered　his　mouth　to　Nathaniel's　back；　to　a　wound　just　above　his　waist。　He　kept　those　ice　blue　eyes　rolled　up　towards　me；　the　way　you　would　watch　someone　on　a　judo　mat　　afraid　that　if　you　look　away；　they'll　hurt　you。　It　reminded　me　of　watching　lions　drink　from　pools；　with　their　eyes　rolled　up；　watching　for　danger　while　they　drank。
　Nathaniel　made　a　small　sound　as　Asher　licked　the　wound。　It　had　stopped　bleeding；　but　as　the　vampire　traced　the　wound　with　his　tongue；　I　saw　blood　well　to　the　surface　again。　Vampires　have　an　anticoagulant　in　their　saliva；　but　I'd　never　seen　its　use　demonstrated　quite　so　well　before。
　It　made　me　wonder。　I　curled　closer　to　Nathaniel's　body；　one　leg　entwining　over　his。　I　didn't　ask　permission；　because　he　was　mine；　and　I　knew　him　well　enough　to　know　he　would　not　only　not　mind；　but　he　would　wele　it。　I　lowered　my　mouth　to　another　of　the　wounds　that　had　nearly　stopped　bleeding　and　licked。　There　was　the　sweet　copper　taste　of　blood；　and　the　thick；　rich　taste　of　his　skin；　and　a　taste　of　。。。　meat。　As　if　I　could　tell　what　he　would　taste　like　if　I　ate　him　one　bite　at　a　time。
　The　beast　flared　over　my　skin　like　something　trembling　and　alive。　Nathaniel's　beast　responded　to　it；　flaring；　rolling；　as　if　I　could　see　it　just　below　his　skin；　just　below　his　ribs；　as　if　I　could　feel　where　it　lay　in　the　heart　of　his　body。　In　that　moment　I　knew　I　could　call　his　beast；　could　coax　him　to　change　when　the　moon　was　far　from　full。　I　was　his　Nimir…Ra；　and　that　meant　so　much　more　than　merely　being　his　dominant。
　Asher's　eyes　had　drowned　in　pale　blue　fire；　so　he　looked　blind　as　he　licked　at　the　wound。　He　gazed　into　my　face；　directly　across　Nathaniel's　body；　our　eyes　at　the　same　level　as　we　tasted　the　wounds。　My　wound　bled　a　little　bit　more；　but　not　as　much　as　Asher's　did。　I　was　not　truly　a　blood　drinker　　I　fed　on　other　things　　and　staring　across　Nathaniel's　body；　feeling　his　breathing　quicken　as　the　two　of　us　touched　him；　I　knew　that　those　other　things　were　here　for　the　taking。
　Asher's　hand　slid　over　Nathaniel's　body；　until　he　touched　my　thigh　where　it　curved　over　Nathaniel's　leg。　The　moment　he　touched　me　something　rushed　between　us。　It　was　as　if　the　ardeur　recognized　him；　as　if　it　had　touched　him　before。
　It　made　me　raise　up　from　the　wound；　drew　me　back　into　myself；　a　little。　Something　on　my　face　made　Asher　take　his　hand　back。
　Jean…Claude　entered　then。　He　was　wearing　a　black　robe　with　black　fur　at　collar；　lapel；　and　sleeves。　His　black　hair　melted　into　the　fur；　so　you　couldn't　tell　where　one　blackness　stopped　and　the　other　began。　The　last　time　I'd　seen　him　in　the　robe；　I'd　told　him　there　better　be　something　under　the　robe　besides　skin。　Now；　I　hoped　there　wasn't。
　Seeing　him　brought　the　ardeur　boiling　over　me　again。　It　made　me　catch　my　breath；　things　lower　than　my　stomach　clenching　tight　enough　to　draw　a　sound　from　my　throat。
　〃She　holds　your　incubus；〃　Asher　said；　and　his　voice　tore　my　gaze　from　Jean…Claude　to　him。
　〃Oui。〃　Jean…Claude　glided　around　the　room　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　bed　from　where　Asher　knelt。
　〃She　tastes　of　you；　and　of　Belle　Morte。〃
　〃Oui；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　He　walked　around　the　bed　to　the　other　side；　and　I　rolled　away　from　Nathaniel　so　I　could　see　Jean…Claude　move。　The　movement　exposed　the　front　of　my　body；　and　I　had　enough　of　myself　left　to　roll　onto　my　stomach。
　Jason　said；　〃A〃
　I　ignored　him。
　Jean…Claude　lifted　the　robe　so　he　could　crawl　onto　the　bed。　The　movement　revealed　a　long；　pale　line　of　skin　from　his　shoulders　to　his　stomach。　The　glimpse　of　that　white　flesh　caught　between　the　blackness　of　the　fur　made　me　want　to　untie　the　sash　and　expose　his　entire　body。　But　I　stayed　where　I　was；　half…leaning　against　Nathaniel；　because　I　was　afraid　to　move。　Afraid　to　go　to　Jean…Claude；　because　I　didn't　trust　myself。
　There　was　just　enough　of　me　left　not　to　want　to　make　love　to　Jean…Claude　in　front　of　the　other　men。　But　it　was　a　razor…thin　part；　something　that　glittered　in　the　darkness　but　didn't　quite　believe　itself　anymore。
　〃The　hunger　recognizes　Asher。　Is　it　because　it's　yours；　or　because　it's　hers？〃　I　asked。
　〃Hers？〃　he　asked。
　〃Belle　Morte。〃
　〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　said。　And　he　was　close　enough　now　that　the　edge　of　the　robe　brushed　my　body。　I　could　see　a　thin　line　of　pale　skin　below　the　waist　where　the　robe　gaped。　A　thin；　thin　line　of　white；　but　it　was　enough　to　let　me　know　that　there　was　nothing　under　the　robe　but　Jean…Claude。
　I　wanted　to　open　the　robe；　to　see　all　of　him。　I　said　it　without　thinking；　as　if　I　hadn't　meant　to　say　it　out　loud。　〃Open　the　robe。〃　It　startled　me　as　if　I　didn't　know　my　own　voice。
　I　closed　my　eyes；　tried　to　think。
　〃It　is　alright；　ma　petite。　Once　taken；　blood　fills　your　stomach；　but　lust　。。。　〃　Fur　brushed　in　a　teasing　line　down　my　arm。　〃Lust　is　always　there；　never　vanquished　pletely；　never　satisfied。〃　He　brushed　the　edge　of　his　furred　cuff　down　my　waist；　my　hip；　my　thigh；　my　calf。　When　he　brushed　it　along　my　foot；　he　started　back　up；　but　this　time　on　the　back　of　my　body；　so　that　the　teasing　brush　touched　my　buttocks；　my　back；　my　shoulder。
　I　lay　wordless；　breathless；　under　his　touch。　When　he　curved　the　fur　around　my　face；　I　grabbed　the　edge　of　the　robe　and　held　him　away　from　me。　〃Make　everyone　leave。〃　My　voice　was　barely　above　a　whisper。
　〃I　can　do　nothing　until　I　have　fed；　ma　petite；　you　know　that。〃
　〃I　know。　Blood　pressure。〃　I　was　having　a　hard　time　thinking。　〃Then　do　it；　but　。。。　〃
　〃Hurry；〃　he　said　softly。
　I　nodded。
　He　drew　his　sleeve　out　of　my　grip　and　looked　down　the　bed　to　Jason；　who　was　still　standing　there；　watching　the　show。　〃e；　pomme　de　sang；　e　and　enjoy　the　rewards　of　your　sacrifice。〃
　The　phrase　was　oddly　formal；　and　I'd　never　heard　it　put　that　way　before。　I　expected　Jason　to　go　around　the　bed　to　the　same　side　as　Jean…Claude；　but　he　didn't。　He　rolled　over　the　foot　of　the　bed　in　a　movement　so　liquid　it　was　like　watching　water　flow；　as　if　his　skin　barely　contained　some　elemental　energy　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　flesh　and　bone　body　I　was　seeing。　He　ended　on　his　knees　on　the　opposite　side　from　Jean…Claude。　I　could　taste　the　movement　of　his　body　in　my　mouth；　not　just　his　heart；　but　as　if　every　throb　and　beat　of　him　was　trying　to　slide　over　my　tongue　and　down　my　throat。　I　could　feel　his　eagerness；　not　for　me；　but　for　what　Jean…Claude　had　to　offer。　He　came　eagerly　to　the　vampire；　in　that　breathless　rush　that　you　usually　save　for　sex。　They　mirrored　each　other；　both　on　their　knees；　gazing　at　each　other　across　my　body。
　〃I　will　leave　you　alone　with　your　pommes　de　sang　and　each　other。〃　Asher　was　standing　next　to　the　bed；　belting　the　sash　at　his　waist；　securing　the　robe　around　him。　He　stood　very　straight　with　that　perfect　posture　that　all　the　old　nobles　seemed　to　have；　but　still　he　huddled　inside　the　robe。
　I　rolled　onto　my　stomach；　gazing　at　him；　trying　to　read　his　face；　his　body。　The　disfort　I　could　read；　and　even　pain。　And　it　must　have　shown　on　my　face；　because　Asher　dropped　his　gaze；　that　wonderful　golden　hair　sliding　over　the　scarred　side　of　his　face；　so　that　when　he　looked　up；　you　could　see　nothing　but　the　perfect　half　of　him；　that　one　ice…blue　eye。
　I　had　a　sudden　memory　of　lying　in　a　different　bed　in　a　huge　dark　room　surrounded　by　dozens　of　candles　until　the　shadows　moved　and　rippled　with　every　small　breath　of　air；　every　movement　of　a　pale　arm。　I　lay　i