lh.narcissusinchains-第87章

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w　in　my　body。　Jean…Claude　made　a　small　sound。　I　started　to　turn　towards　him；　but　it　was　too　late；　his　shields　shattered　and　the　ardeur　roared　over　me。　My　skin　ran　with　heat；　my　breath　stopped；　my　vision　was　gone　in　streamers　of　color。　Jean…Claude's　need　marched　over　me；　through　me；　inside　me。　It　screamed　in　my　head；　danced　down　my　nerves；　flowed　through　my　veins。　In　that　instant　if　he　had　asked　anything；　anything　at　all；　I　would　have　said　yes。
　My　vision　cleared　and　I　found　Jean…Claude　on　the　floor；　half…caught　in　a　spill　of　draperies　that　he'd　pulled　from　their　hangers；　so　that　he　sat　in　a　nest　of　white　and　silver。　His　face　was　almost　slack　with　need；　his　eyes　already　a　spill　of　blind　blue　fire。
　I　was　on　my　knees；　too；　and　didn't　remember　falling。　Micah　was　there；　taking　my　arm；　I　think　to　help　me　stand；　but　the　moment　he　touched　me　the　ardeur　leaped；　and　he　fell　to　the　floor　beside　me；　like　someone　had　struck　him　with　a　hammer；　his　legs　just　stopped　holding　him。　He　whispered；　〃Oh；　my　God。〃
　The　bodyguards　moved　in　then；　and　I　had　to　scream；　〃No！〃　There　must　have　been　something　in　my　voice；　because　all　three　of　them　froze　in　mid…motion。　〃No　one　touches　us；　no　one。〃　My　voice　was　high；　frantic。　There　was　a　very　real　chance　that　the　ardeur　could　spread　through　the　whole　room；　one　touch　at　a　time。　We　had　enough　problems　without　that。
　Micah　had　released　my　arm；　his　hands　nerveless　in　his　lap；　but　the　tie　had　been　made；　and　the　act　of　touching；　or　not；　didn't　change　it。
　Jean…Claude　crawled　from　the　bed　of　glittering　cloth；　slowly；　every　move　something　graceful　and　dangerous。　He'd　never　looked　more　predatory　than　he　did　at　that　moment。
　〃Jean…Claude；〃　I　whispered；　〃don't。〃　But　I　couldn't　move。　I　watched　him　like　a　tiny　bird　fascinated　as　the　serpent　glides　closer；　caught　between　terror　and　the　sheer　beauty　of　him。
　Asher　was　suddenly　there　in　the　space　between　the　cloth。　Jean…Claude　froze；　but　it　wasn't　that　stillness　that　the　old　vampires　could　fall　into；　there　was　a　thrumming　energy　to　him；　more　like　a　big　cat　about　to　pounce　than　something　cold　and　reptilian。
　〃Jean…Claude；　you　must　control　the　ardeur　better　than　this。〃　He　was　hugging　his　arms　as　if　he　felt　at　least　a　brush　of　it　himself。　He'd　noticed　the　new　faces　and　used　a　practiced　shake　of　his　head　to　spill　his　golden　hair　across　the　scars；　only　revealing　the　perfect　half。
　Jean…Claude's　voice　came　low　and　harsh。　〃I　cannot。〃
　I'd　been　afraid；　now　it　was　sheer　terror。　I　looked　up　at　Asher　and　saw　him　through　a　film　of　all　the　times　we'd　touched　him；　all　that　beauty；　all　the　beauty　that　I　still　saw。　I　whispered；　〃Help　us！〃
　Asher　was　shaking　his　head。　〃If　I　am　dragged　in　as　well；　it　will　help　no　one　〃
　〃Asher；　please！〃
　〃Once　he　feeds；　all　will　be　well；　simply　let　him　feed。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Not　here；　not　like　this。〃
　Micah　said；　〃If　it　will　help；　why　not　let　him　feed？〃
　I　looked　at　him；　and　just　turning　to　him　made　my　mouth　part；　my　breath　catch。　It　was　almost　like　the　ardeur　remembered　him；　like　a　succulent　food　that　it　wanted　to　taste　again。
　It　took　two　tries　to　say；　〃You　don't　understand。〃
　Zane　said；　〃Anita　doesn't　let　Jean…Claude　feed　off　of　her。〃　He　and　Cherry　were　sitting　on　the　far　edge　of　the　couch；　watching　with　wide　eyes；　not　ing　near　us。
　〃I　thought　she　was　his　human　servant；〃　Micah　said。
　〃She　is。〃　Jean…Claude　whispered　it。
　Something　in　those　two　words　made　me　look　at　him；　made　me　stare　into　those　glittering　blue　eyes。　He　couldn't　trap　me　with　his　gaze　anymore；　because　I　was　his　human　servant；　but　tonight　there　was　a　pull　to　those　eyes。　I　wanted　to　cradle　his　face　in　my　hands；　wanted　to　taste　those　half…parted　lips。
　〃Anita！〃　Asher's　voice　jerked　me　around；　made　me　look　at　him。
　〃Help　me。〃
　〃He　can　feed　on　me。〃　Micah　said　it；　voice　soft。　We　all　turned　and　stared　at　him。
　He　looked　a　little　less　sure。　I　think　something　he　saw　on　our　faces　made　him　hesitate；　but　he　said　it　again。　〃If　a　little　blood　will　cure　this；　then　I'm　willing。〃
　〃He　has　fed　on　blood　tonight　already；〃　Asher　said。　〃It　is　not　blood　he　needs　but　。。。　voir　les　anges。〃
　〃English；　Asher；　even　I　didn't　understand　that　one；〃　I　said。
　He　waved　his　hands　as　if　erasing　what　he'd　said。　〃He　needs　release；　a　。。。　〃　He　said　several　things　in　rapid　French；　and　I　couldn't　follow　it。　Asher　was　in　great　distress　if　his　English　had　abandoned　him。
　I　was　careful　not　to　look　at　Micah　when　I　tried　to　explain。　〃It's　the　ardeur　that　Jean…Claude　needs　fed。〃
　〃He　needs　sex；　not　blood；〃　Nathaniel　said。　His　voice　was　soft；　but　a　glance　showed　him　standing　as　far　across　the　room　as　he　could　get。　I　didn't　blame　him　a　bit。
　〃The　first　time　you　fed　on　me　it　wasn't　intercourse；　just　contact；〃　he　said。
　I　nodded；　still　trying　not　to　look　at　any　of　the　men。　〃I　remember。〃
　〃Contact　is　okay；〃　Micah　said。
　I　had　to　look　at　him；　and　the　surprise　was　great　enough　that　for　just　a　second　I　almost　fought　free　of　the　ardeur；　I　could　almost　think。　〃What　kind　of　contact？〃
　〃Sexual　contact。〃　His　face　was　very　serious；　eyes　solemn；　as　if　he；　too；　could　think　again。　〃I　said　I　would　do　anything　to　be　your　Nimir…Raj；　Anita。　What　do　I　have　to　do　to　convince　you　I　mean　it？〃
　〃What　are　you　offering；　Micah？〃
　〃Whatever　you　need。〃　He　looked　past　me　to　Jean…Claude。　〃Whatever　you　both　need。〃
　I　felt　Jean…Claude's　attention　sharpen；　almost　like　a　physical　force；　and　the　ardeur　was　back；　thick　enough　to　drown　in。　My　breath　froze　in　my　throat；　my　pulse　was　too　fast　to　swallow。　Jean…Claude's　voice　came；　I　think　in　my　head；　because　his　lips　never　moved。　〃Be　careful　what　you　offer；　mon　ami；　my　control　is　poor　tonight。〃
　Micah　answered；　as　if　he'd　heard　Jean…Claude　too。　〃You　were　a　ménage　à　trois　with　the　Ulfric。　He's　gone。　I'm　here；　and　I'm　staying。　I　will　be　Anita's　Nimir…Raj；　whatever　that　means。〃
　I　managed　to　say；　〃Who　said　that　we　were　a　ménage　à　trois？〃
　〃Everyone；〃　he　said。
　I　wondered　who　everyone　was；　because　I　knew　it　wasn't　everyone。
　Jean…Claude　was　moving　forward　again；　painfully　slow；　every　movement　so　full　of　energy；　so　full　of　potential　violence　and　grace；　that　it　almost　hurt　to　watch。　It　made　my　pulse　race；　my　breath　hard　to　take　　made　my　body　run　moist。　Oh；　shit；　oh；　shit；　oh；　shit。
　〃Jean…Claude；　no；〃　but　my　voice　was　a　whisper。
　His　mouth　hovered　over　mine；　then　his　face　turned　for　a　second　to　Micah。　I　watched　the　two　of　them　gaze　at　each　other　from　inches　away　and　felt　the　power　pulsing　in　the　air　between。　Jean…Claude　moved　so　slowly　to　close　the　distance　between　them　that　it　was　like　watching　slow　motion。　Micah　sat　there；　waiting。　He　didn't　move　in　to　him；　but　he　didn't　move　away　either。　I　thought　at　first　they'd　kissed；　then　some　trick　of　the　light　let　me　see　a　thin　line　of　space　between　their　mouths。　Not　touching；　not　yet。　I　watched　their　lips　so　tremblingly　close；　and　part　of　me　wanted　them　to　touch；　but　Jean…Claude　held　his　place；　held　his　place　until　Micah　closed　his　eyes；　as　if　he　couldn't　stand　to　meet　those　glowing　orbs；　like　looking　away　from　the　sun；　too　brilliant　to　bear。
　And　still　Jean…Claude　did　not　close　that　small　distance。　It　was　the　distance　of　a　breath；　the　flick　of　a　tongue　and　still　he　held　himself　almost　touching；　almost　there；　but　not　quite。　The　tension　grew；　grew；　grew；　until　I　wanted　to　scream。　I　didn't　realize　that　I'd　moved　in　towards　them；　until　they　both　turned　at　once　and　looked　at　me　from　inches　away。　My　eyes　flicked　from　one　to　the　other。　Eyes　like　blue　fire；　eyes　like　yellow…green　clouds。　Micah's　eyes　grew　more　green　as　I　watched；　until　they　were　pale；　pale　green；　like　spring　leaves。　He　focused　on　me。　I　couldn't　explain　it；　but　I　knew　that　this　was　the　look　he　hunted　with；　that　sharp　focus；　the　pupil　nearly　lost　in　the　color　of　his　eyes。
　I　realized　that　I'd　pushed　the　ardeur　back。　I　was　attracted　to　both；　but　I　could　think　again；　feel　something　besides　the　burn。　You　practice　one　kind　of　metaphysical　control；　and　I　guess　it　gives　you　an　edge　on　all　of　them。　The　relief　made　me　feel　weak；　as　if　I　could　have　curled　on　the　floor　and　slept。　We　weren't　going　to　fall　on　each　other　like　ravening　lust…monsters。　Yippee。
　I　eased　away；　started　to　crawl　backwards。　Jean…Claude's　gaze　followed　me；　but　he　made　no　move　to　touch　me。　There　was　something　about　the　way　he　stayed　on　all　fours　that　let　me　know　the　ardeur　was　still　riding　him。　But　if　I　could　keep　from　touching　him；　we'd　be　alright。　He　watched　me；　like　a　starving　man；　who　was　watching　his　first　meal　in　days　crawl　away。　But　he　played　fair；　he　stayed　where　he　was；　he　let　me　crawl　away。　He　knew　the　rules。　Micah　didn't。
　He　reached　for　me；　and　I　threw　myself　back　to　the　floor　in　a　blur　of　speed　that　I'd　never　had　before；　but　Micah　wasn't　human　either。　He　followed　me　in　a　movement　that　was　too　fast　for　my　eyes　to　follow；　so　that　he　was　above　me　before　my　mind　could　see　that　he'd　moved。　It　was　magical。
　He　was　frozen　just　above　me；　his　body　balanced　on　hands　and　feet；　almost　like　he　was　doing　a　push…up。　I　reached　out；　around　him；　trying　not　to　touch　him。　I　had　time　to　say；　〃No；　don't；〃　then　two　things　happened　at　once。　Micah　dropped　his　body　on　top　of　mine；　and　Jean…Claude　took　my　outreached　hand。　Maybe　he　thought　I　was　reaching　for　him；　I　don't　know。　But　the　moment　we　touched　the　heat　ran　over　us；　through　us；　and　there　was　nothing　but　the　need。
　
　50
　
　WE　KISSED；　AND　it　was　like　melting　from　the　mouth　down。　My　hands　slid　over　the　silk　of　Micah's　shirt；　and　it　wasn't　enough。　I　ripped　at　it；　tore　it　from　his　body　until　my　hands　spilled　over　the　solid　smoothness　of　his　chest；　his　skin　like　warm　satin　under　my　fingers。　Micah　was　suddenly　grinding　me　into　the　floor；　so　heavy。　I　opened　my　eyes　and　found　Jean…Claude　above　us；　over　Micah；　pressing　us　both　into　the　floor。　I　had　a　moment　of　meeting　his　eyes；　a　moment　to　see　the　rage　in　that　blind　blue　fire；　then　his　arms　were　around　Micah；　and　he　was　jerking　the　smaller　man　backwards。
　I　sat　up；　watching　them　roll　across　the　floor；　fighting。　Anger；　frustration；　and　just　sheer　tiredness　welled　up　inside　me　until　there　was　no　room　for　the　ardeur。　I　was　tired　of　fighting；　so　tired　of　it。
　I　smelled　blood　like　a　hot　spike　through　the　center　of　my　body；　the　smell　was　almost　sexual。　That　was　enough。　I　drew　the　Browning　and　sighted　around　the　room。　For　a　split　second；　I　had　the　two　of　them　at　the　end　of　the　barrel。　For　a　split　second　it　occurred　to　me。　Then　I　moved　the　gun　around　the　room；　registering　for　the　first　time　that　there　was　no　one　left　in　the　room　but　us。　Good　to　know　we　didn't　have　an　audience。　I　pointed　the　gun　at　the　overstuffed　white　couch　and　fired。　One　of　the　small　gold　and　silver　pillows　jumped　upward　with　the　impact。　The　noise　was　thunderous　in　the　stone　room；　as　if　the　heavy　drapes　caught　the　sound；　held　it　around　us。
　They　froze。　Micah's　hands　were　claws；　shredding　across　Jean…Claude's　back；　because　that　was　all　he　could　reach。　Jean…Claude's　face　was　buried　in　Micah's　neck；　his　body　wrapped　around　him；　so　that　everything　vital　was　hidden　while　he　tried　to　tear　Micah's　throat　out。
　I　sighted　on　them。　〃Stop　it；　stop　it；　both　of　you；　or　the　next　one　goes　in　one　of　you。　I　swear；　by　God；　that　I　will　shoot　you。〃
　Jean…Claude　raised　up；　blood　in　a　crimson　wash　across　his　mouth；　chin；　down　his　neck。　There　was　so　m