lh.narcissusinchains-第89章

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　〃How　can　you　both　be　so　reasonable　about　this？　You　both　nearly　just　killed　each　other！〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　around　me；　again；　and　there　was　something　in　that　look。　It　was　something　masculine　and　arcane；　as　if　the　fact　that　I　was　a　girl　meant　I　wouldn't　get　it；　and　they　couldn't　explain　it　to　me。　Which　did　explain　it　to　me。
　〃Oh；　great；　great；　you　guys　nearly　kill　each　other；　and　that　makes　you　buddies。〃
　Jean…Claude　gave　that　wonderful　Gallic　shrug；　his　face　still　covered　in　Micah's　blood。　〃Let　us　say　we　have　an　understanding。〃
　Micah　agreed。
　〃Jesus；　only　men　could　get　a　friendship　out　of　something　like　this。〃
　〃You　are　friends　with　Monsieur　Edward。　Did　you　not　both　begin　by　trying　to　kill　each　other？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃That's　different；〃　I　said。
　〃How？〃
　I　tried　to　argue；　but　stopped　because　I　would　have　looked　silly。　〃Fine；　fine；　so　what；　the　two　of　you　kiss　and　make　up？〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　and　again　there　was　weight　to　the　gaze；　but　it　was　a　different　weight。　〃Shit；〃　I　said。
　〃I　think　we　begin　by　apologizing；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　〃I　am　truly　sorry　for　my　lack　of　control。〃
　〃Me；　too；〃　Micah　said；　then　added；　〃and　I'm　sorry　that　I　had　to　try　and　kill　you。〃　It　was　interesting　phrasing；　not　I'm　sorry　I　nearly　killed　you；　but　sorry　I　had　to　try　and　kill　you。　I　was　seeing　Micah's　ruthless　streak。　It　wasn't　really　any　bigger　than　my　own；　but　it　bothered　me　anyway。　Wasn't　sure　why；　but　it　did。
　I　didn't　know　what　to　do；　so　I　decided　to　move　on；　we　had　other　business。　〃Are　you　well　enough　to　help　get　Damian　out　of　his　coffin？〃
　〃I　have　used　up　all　my　reserves；　ma　petite。　I　will　need　to　feed　again。〃　He　raised　a　hand。　〃But　not　the　ardeur；　merely　blood。〃
　Merely；　he　says。
　〃I　offered　to　let　you　feed　on　me　earlier。　The　offer　still　stands；〃　Micah　said。
　〃No；　Micah；〃　Merle　said。
　Micah　touched　the　taller　man's　arm。　〃It's　alright。〃
　〃Are　you　not　afraid　I　will　try　and　tear　your　throat　out　again？　I　would　listen　to　your　bodyguard。〃
　〃You　said　we　had　an　understanding。〃
　〃That　is　true。〃
　They　were　watching　each　other；　and　I　could　almost　feel　the　testosterone　rise。
　Micah　smiled；　or　tried　to。　In　the　half…leopard　form　it　was　a　snarl　of　white　fangs　in　black　fur。　〃Besides；　the　next　time　you　bite　me　like　that；　it　better　be　foreplay；　or　I　will　kill　you。〃
　〃If　it　pleases　you；　my　pleasure；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　He　laughed　then；　that　touchable　sound　that　caressed　my　skin；　made　me　shiver。　Micah　reacted　to　it　eyes　wide。　He'd　never　heard　Jean…Claude's　laugh　before。　If　he　thought　the　laugh　was　something　special；　well；　the　best　truly　was　yet　to　e。
　〃I　thank　you　for　your　most　generous　offer；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　〃but　I　prefer　my　food　without　fur。〃
　〃No　problem；〃　Micah　said。　Micah　released　Merle's　arm；　and　did　that　magically　quick　change。　His　tanned　skin　seemed　to　absorb　the　fur　like　rocks　sinking　into　water。　He　stood　naked　and　perfect；　no　mark　of　the　fight　on　that　smooth　skin。　Neither　his　clothing　nor　the　tie　in　his　hair　had　survived　the　change。　But　strangely　the　hair　fell　straight　around　his　face；　as　if　it　were　affected　by　the　fact　that　he'd　pulled　it　back　tight　while　it　was　still　wet。　The　hair　was　still　thick；　but　it　framed　his　face　better；　was　less　overwhelming；　so　that　you　could　still　see　the　delicate　bone　structure；　those　wondrous　eyes。
　I　heard　someone　catch　their　breath；　and　it　wasn't　me。　I　don't　think　it　was　Jean…Claude；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　Didn't　matter；　didn't　want　to　know。
　〃You　are　not　even　dizzy；　are　you？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　Micah　shook　his　head。
　Jean…Claude　raised　his　eyebrows；　lowered　his　eyes；　fought　to　control　his　face；　until　he　could　give　a　perfect　blank　expression；　but　it　took　him　a　few　seconds。　〃I　will　clean　this；〃　he　made　a　vague　motion　at　his　gore…soaked　clothes；　〃before　taking　such　a　bounty；　if　that　is　alright？〃
　Micah　gave　a　small　nod。
　〃You　are　not　taking　a　bath；〃　I　said。
　〃I　will　be　quick；　ma　petite。〃
　〃You　have　never　taken　a　quick　bath　in　your　entire　life。〃
　Asher　laughed；　then　tried　to　smother　it；　but　was　only　partially　successful。　He　spread　his　hands。　〃Mon　cheri；　she　is　right。〃
　〃Would　I　touch　that　for　the　first　time　covered　in　this？〃
　Asher's　face　sobered　instantly；　like　someone　had　thrown　a　switch。　He　turned　that　serious；　blank　face　to　stare　at　Micah；　who　stared　back。　If　he　was　unfortable　under　the　scrutiny；　it　didn't　show。
　Asher　sighed。　〃I　suppose　not。〃
　〃And　what　are　we　supposed　to　do　for　the　hour　that　it　takes　you　to　soak　in　the　tub？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　will　be　quick；　ma　petite；　my　word　on　it。〃
　I　crossed　my　arms　over　my　stomach。　〃I'll　believe　it　when　I　see　it。〃
　〃Ma　petite；　I　have　given　my　word。〃
　〃On　important　stuff；　your　word　is　great；　but　when　it　es　to　primping　you　have　no　sense　of　time。〃
　〃I　thought　that　was　the　man's　line；〃　Bobby　Lee　said。
　I　glanced　at　him　then　back　to　the　vampire。　〃Couldn't　prove　it　by　me。〃
　Bobby　Lee　laughed；　but　no　one　else　did。
　
　52
　
　I　SAT　ON　the　white　couch　with　its　brand…new　bullet　hole。　Micah　sat　down　beside　me；　and　since　he　was　naked；　that　was　。。。　interesting。　Unfortable；　and　sort　of　titillating　all　at　the　same　time。　He　kept　insisting　on　trying　to　talk　to　me；　and　I　found　it　hard　to　keep　eye　contact；　and　that　was　embarrassing。
　Bobby　Lee　and　Cris　stayed　near　me；　hovering　behind　and　to　one　side；　because　I　made　them　move　from　right　behind　me。　I　just　don't　like　armed　people　at　my　back；　not　unless　I　know　them　really　well。　The　wererats　were　there　to　protect　me。　I　believed　they'd　do　the　job；　because　Rafael　told　them　to；　but　I　still　didn't　want　them　standing　armed　at　my　back。　Merle　lounged　near　the　fireplace；　keeping　an　eye　on　Micah　and　the　other　bodyguards。　Gil　was　actually　hiding　in　the　corner；　or　nearly　　not　a　stable　guy　　the　others　milled　around　the　room。　Except　for　Asher。
　He　sat　in　the　chair　opposite　the　couch　and　watched　us。　He　had　shaken　that　glorious　hair　over　his　face　so　that　only　the　perfect　side　was　visible；　and　only　one　pale　blue　eye　looked　at　us。　His　face　showed　nothing；　but　I　could　still　feel　the　weight　of　his　gaze；　like　a　hand　pushing。　His　face　may　have　shown　nothing；　but　he　was　giving　us　way　too　much　attention。
　I　might　have　asked　why；　but　Jean…Claude　walked　back　through　the　gap　in　the　drapes。　I　had　to　check　my　watch。　Only　twenty　minutes　had　passed。　I'd　dated　him　off　and　on　for　nearly　three　years；　a　twenty…minute　cleanup　was　nothing　short　of　miraculous。　Of　course；　his　black　hair　was　still　wet　and　heavy；　he　hadn't　taken　time　to　blow…dry　it。　He　was　wearing　one　of　my　favorite　robes；　the　black　one　with　the　black　furred　edging。　The　fur　outlined　a　wonderful　expanse　of　pale　perfect　chest。　The　robe　was　open　enough　that　the　cross…shaped　burn　scar　showed；　and　as　he　glided　into　the　room　you　caught　glimpses　of　his　upper　stomach　through　the　fur。　The　robe　was　very　loosely　tied；　not　at　all　the　way　he　usually　wore　it。
　He　had　that　smile　on　his　face　that　said　he　knew　he　looked　wonderful；　and　he　knew　just　what　effect　he　had　on　me；　then　his　gaze　slid　to　Micah。　I　was　close　enough　to　see　Micah's　pulse　speed　up；　jumping　under　the　skin　of　his　neck。　He　tried　to　meet　Jean…Claude's　eyes；　but　finally　had　to　look　down；　and　he　blushed。
　His　reaction　made　my　pulse　speed　up。　I　looked　back　at　Jean…Claude　gliding　towards　us；　catching　a　glimpse　of　his　pale　feet　under　the　black　robe；　against　the　white　carpet。　The　look　on　his　face　was　all　for　Micah。　It　made　me　go　up　on　one　knee；　my　butt　against　the　arm　of　the　couch。　I　felt　oddly　possessive；　almost　jealous；　as　if　I　should　be　defending　Micah's　honor。　I'd　never　felt　like　this　with　Richard　and　Jean…Claude；　but　then；　Jean…Claude　had　never　looked　at　Richard　in　quite　that　way。　Because　Richard　would　have　hurt　him。
　Micah　had　nearly　killed　Jean…Claude　over　an　insult　that　Richard　would　not　have　fought　back　over；　yet　here　he　sat　blushing；　unfortable；　but　not　angry
　Jean…Claude　was　standing　in　front　of　us；　so　close　that　the　furred　hem　of　the　robe　brushed　Micah's　bare　leg。　〃Have　you　changed　your　mind；　mon　minet？〃
　Micah　shook　his　head；　then　raised　his　face　up　to　look　at　the　vampire。　There　was　both　vulnerability　and　warning　in　that　look。　〃I　haven't　changed　my　mind。〃
　〃Bon。〃　Jean…Claude　went　to　his　knees　in　front　of　him。　〃You　are　powerful　in　your　own　right；　and　you　are　not　my　animal　to　call。　I　may　not　be　able　to　cloud　your　mind　and　make　this　tasting　a　pleasure。　You　may　be　able　to　keep　me　out　of　your　mind。〃
　Micah　nodded；　thick　hair　falling　around　his　face。　〃I　understand。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　preference　on　where　the　blood　is　taken　from？〃
　〃The　neck　hurts　less；〃　Micah　said。
　Jean…Claude　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃You've　done　this　before？〃
　Micah　gave　a　smile　that　managed　not　to　be　happy。　〃I've　done　a　lot　of　things　before。〃
　Jean…Claude　raised　both　eyebrows　at　that　and　looked　at　me。　I　shrugged。
　〃Very　well；　mon　minet。〃　He　stood　in　one　graceful　movement；　swinging　the　robe　around　him　like　a　dress；　giving　the　slightest　glimpse　of　bare　legs　as　he　stalked　behind　the　couch。　He　stopped　just　behind　Micah；　putting　a　hand　on　either　of　his　shoulders。　He　didn't　caress；　or　squeeze；　just　rested　his　hands　on　that　smooth；　warm　flesh　for　a　moment。
　〃Get　on　with　it；〃　Merle　said。
　Micah　turned　his　head　to　look　at　the　other　wereleopard。　〃Merle。〃　One　word；　but　it　made　the　big　man　lean　back　harder　on　the　fireplace；　arms　crossed　over　his　chest；　face　sullen；　a　very　unhappy　bodyguard。　But　he　did　what　he　was　told。
　Jean…Claude　slid　one　arm　around　the　front　of　Micah's　shoulders；　across　his　very　upper　chest。　He　used　his　free　hand　to　smooth　Micah's　hair　back；　exposing　the　side　of　his　face　and　the　long　clean　line　of　his　throat。　Micah　moved　his　head　a　little　to　the　side；　giving　Jean…Claude　a　better　angle。　The　small　movement　was　like　a　woman　ing　to　her　tiptoes　for　a　kiss；　a　helpful　movement。
　〃Maybe　we　could　have　a　little　privacy；〃　I　said；　and　it　made　both　men　look　at　me。
　〃As　you　like；　ma　petite。〃　Everyone　left　except　Merle；　Bobby　Lee；　and　Asher。　They　were　the　minimum　that　might　be　needed　to　keep　us　from　killing　each　other。　After　what　had　just　happened；　I　really　couldn't　work　up　a　good　argument　for　leaving　us　pletely　alone。　When　everyone　had　settled　down；　Jean…Claude　turned　back　to　Micah。
　Jean…Claude's　fingers　stroked　Micah's　hair　so　that　it　fell　behind　his　ear；　exposing　the　entire　side　of　his　face；　the　shape　of　his　ear。　He　pressed　the　back　of　Micah's　head　gently　against　his　chest；　drawing　the　exposed　neck　in　an　even　longer　line。　Micah　was　utterly　passive；　eyes　closed；　face　peaceful；　only　the　pulse　in　his　neck　beating　like　a　trapped　thing　gave　lie　to　all　that　calmness。
　Jean…Claude　bent　over　him；　mouth　open；　lips　going　back；　but　even　this　close　I　got　only　the　barest　glimpse　of　teeth。　He　bit　down；　sharp；　sudden。　Micah　gasped；　breath　catching　in　his　throat。　Jean…Claude's　grip　tightened　at　Micah's　head；　his　shoulders；　pressing　him　in　against　his　body。　I　could　see　the　muscles　in　Jean…Claude's　jaws　working；　his　throat　swallowing　convulsively。　One　of　them　was　making　small　noises　low　in　his　throat；　and　I　wasn't　sure　who　it　was。
　Jean…Claude　reared　back；　bringing　Micah　with　him；　drawing　him　half　over　the　couch。　Micah　cried　out；　his　hands　going　to　Jean…Claude's　arm；　holding　on；　as　the　vampire　rocked　his　body　backwards。　Jean…Claude　moved　his　hand　from　Micah's　face　to　his　waist；　as　if　he　knew　the　ot