lh.narcissusinchains-第47章

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　〃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　make　you　anxious　anymore；〃　she　said。
　Oh。　〃Being　a　sociopath　does　have　its　benefits；〃　I　said。
　Caleb　crawled　towards　us；　in　that　gliding　crawl　the　leopards　could　do。　It　was　inhumanly　graceful。　He　came　close　enough　to　put　his　face　against　my　leg。　I　let　him；　because　I　figured　that　they'd　get　around　to　smelling　me　if　I　claimed　Nathaniel。　I　just　hadn't　planned　on　it　being　one　of　Micah's　cats　first。
　〃He　does　have　her　scent　on　his　skin。〃
　〃They　sleep　in　the　same　bed　most　nights；〃　Elizabeth　said。　She　was　on　her　feet；　hadn't　even　snagged　her　hose。
　Caleb　rubbed　his　face　against　my　leg。　〃She　smells　of　wolf　and　。。。　vampire。〃　He　gazed　up　at　me。　〃Did　you　do　your　Ulfric　and　your　master　last　night？　Is　that　why　Nathaniel　doesn't　smell　like　pussy；　because　there　wasn't　a　hole　left　for　him？〃
　I'd　tried　to　keep　my　version　of　an　open　mind；　but　I　decided　then　and　there　that　I　didn't　like　Caleb。　〃The　pard　has　a　right　to　question　who　Nathaniel　sleeps　with；　because　he　doesn't　have　good　judgment。　None　of　you　have　the　right　to　question　me。〃
　Caleb　moved　in　one　of　those　too…fast…to…see　motions　and　shoved　his　face　into　my　groin；　hard　enough　that　it　almost　hurt。　I　pulled　the　Browning　without　thinking　about　it　and　had　it　pressed　against　his　skull　before　I　realized　it。　Faster　than　normal　　even　for　me。
　Caleb　raised　his　head　back　so　that　his　forehead　was　pressed　against　the　end　of　the　gun。　He　stared　up　at　me。　〃You　don't　smell　like　dick。　Don't　tell　me　you　had　at　least　three　men　with　you　in　a　bed　and　nobody　got　to　fuck　you。〃
　〃Caleb；　I'm　really　beginning　not　to　like　you。〃
　He　grinned。　〃But　you　won't　shoot　me；　because　that　would　make　Micah　mad。〃
　〃You're　right；　I　shouldn't　have　pulled　the　gun。　I'm　just　not　used　to　being　able　to　draw　a　gun　before　I　have　time　to　think　about　it。〃
　〃I've　never　seen　you　move　that　fast；〃　Zane　said。
　I　shrugged。　〃Benefits　of　the　change；　I　guess。〃　I　put　the　Browning　back。　I　wasn't　going　to　shoot　him　for　just　being　obnoxious。
　Caleb　rested　his　cheek　against　my　thigh；　and　I　let　him。　My　struggling　would　just　amuse　him；　and　he　was　behaving　himself；　relatively　speaking。
　Vivian　touched　my　arm。　〃Are　you　really　going　to　be　one　of　us？〃
　〃We'll　know　in　about　two　weeks；〃　I　said。
　〃I　am　sorry；〃　she　said。
　I　smiled　at　her。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃You　didn't　top　Nathaniel；〃　Elizabeth　said。　〃You're　too　squeamish　to　use　teeth　on　him　like　that。〃
　I　looked　at　her；　and　I　let　the　darkness　fill　my　eyes　that　was　my　own　version　of　a　beast。　The　look　that　said　just　how　far　down　the　well　I'd　fallen。　〃I'm　not　as　squeamish　as　I　used　to　be；　Elizabeth。　You　might　want　to　remember　that。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃no；　you're　protecting　him。　He's　been　teacher's　pet　since　day　one。　You're　just　afraid　of　what　Micah　will　do。　Afraid　of　what　a　real　Nimir…Raj　will　do　to　him　now　that　he's　disobeyed　a　direct　order。〃　She　stalked　over　to　us。　〃And　you　should　be　afraid；　Anita；　you　should　be　very　afraid；　because　Micah's　strong；　strong　the　way　Gabriel　was　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　wa