按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and lips were rosy with heat。
She opened her eyes wide。 〃That was a nice hello。〃
To her delight； he wasn't done。 When he reached for her again； she went
willingly。 Her hands slipped around his waist； fingers burrowing under
his sweater to brush his skin。 She was barely aware that he had pushed
off the slim straps of her nightgown； until he drew back to release her
arms and let the silky fabric fall to her waist。
His gaze caressed her breasts； which tingled and swelled。 〃How lovely
you are； Annie；〃 he said hoarsely。
〃You've seen me before。〃 She felt vaguely self…conscious。
But his eyes were deep green with passion。 〃Then； you were sick with a
fever and a hacking cough。 The beauty was there； but I hardly had time
to admire it。 Now's different。 You are lovely。 I'll say it again and
again； every time I hold you； every time we make love。〃
Her insides quivered； all the more so when he stroked her breast。 When
his fingers rubbed her nipple； she grabbed at his shoulders for support。
〃You're cruel。〃
She felt a grin by her ear。 〃You bring out the worst in me；〃 he said and
kept up the torment。
The flames in Anne burned hotter； threatening to reduce her to embers。
Small； unfamiliar sounds came from her throat when he eased her down on
the bed and took her breast in his mouth。 He sucked it in； bringing her
arching off the bed。 Clutching handfuls of his sweater； she was thinking
she couldn't bear any more； when he released her and whipped the sweater
over his head。 Her hands were all over him； then。 She couldn't touch him
enough。
He ground out her name through gritted teeth and crushed her to him to
stop her。 She gasped at the press of his chest against hers； the texture
against her softness； the rapid thunder of his heart。
〃I need you；〃 she cried； looking up at him。 This wasn't enough； just
wasn't enough。 〃Please？〃
〃Do you know what you're doing？〃 he asked huskily； and sucked in his
breath when she pulled at the snap of his jeans。 Seconds later her
fingers were inside； against his abdomen。 〃My God； Annie！〃 For long
seconds of indecision he stared down at her； and she was an open book；
she knew。 But she wasn't ashamed。 She might not be ready to say the
words aloud； but the depth of her love； her longing； brought tears to
her eyes。
Then something went wrong。 Suddenly his eyes grew hard。
〃Damn it！〃 he swore and released her abruptly。 Bolting from the bed； he
strode to the window； where he stood with his hands on his hips； his
legs apart； his head hung low； his shoulders heaving。 Then； swearing
again； he stalked past her and left the room。
Anne sat in stunned silence； unable to move； to think； to feel。 Finally
the chill in the air drove her under the quilt； but even then the
trembling hit her hard。 There was only one explanation for Mitch's
behavior； and it had to do with the 〃obligation〃 to which he had once
referred。 He wasn't free。
So again she wondered； Do I leave； or do I stay？ And again she reached
the same decision。 Self…destructive or not； she was staying。 She had to
be near Mitch。
But she wasn't being humiliated again。 She wasn't begging for love until
it was freely offered first。
Needing to make a statement to that effect； she slipped from bed； went
to the dresser； and pulled on a pair of corduroys and a turtleneck
sweater。 Then she went downstairs with her head held high。
But her show of confidence was wasted。 Mitch was nowhere in sight。 He
had eaten。 She saw dishes in the sink。 And the blue Honda was parked
outside。 Deflated； she guessed that he was out in the woods。
Resigned to spending the afternoon alone； Anne built a roaring fire and
settled before it。 She had a short essay to translate； and a new novel；
of the bestseller type； to read。 She set to it。
Late afternoon became early evening without a sign of Mitch。 More
restless than bored； more concerned than angry； she wandered into the
kitchen。 But she didn't have it in her to make dinner； so she returned
to the fireplace。
Not long after； the back door opened and shut。 Heavy boots crossed the
kitchen floor。 A slicker…clad figure appeared。
Without a word he approached； shucking the slicker along the way and
draping it over a chair。 Then he hunkered down near her and added
another log to the fire。 When it had begun to sizzle and smoke； he
swiveled to face her。
〃Angry？〃 The fire behind him threw a halo around his head； but his face
was in shadow。 Unable to tell whether he empathized or taunted； she went
with the truth。
〃No。 I have no right to be angry。〃
〃I needed to walk。 Even wet； it was good。 I needed to think。〃
About her？ About another 〃obligation〃？ 〃You sound like you have the
weight of the world on your shoulders；〃 she teased。
〃It sometimes seems that way。〃 His voice was softer； more rueful。 〃It's
been a bad week。〃
〃Work？〃 she asked with caution。
〃No。 Work's fine。 I have good backup there。 They keep things running
when I fade out。〃
Anne sat quietly； waiting for him to say more。 If his problem wasn't
business； it had to be personal。 Suddenly； she didn't want to know。
She stood with a start。 〃I'll go make dinner。〃 He caught her wrist。
Suddenly gentle； he said； 〃It's my turn。 You did it last night。 This
time I'm cooking for you。〃
His gentleness threw her； as did his eyes； which begged her to let him
do this。 It wasn't exactly the begging she wanted； but it was something。
Trying to be as nonchalant as she could； she sank back into the chair
and held up both hands。 〃It's your house。〃
He chuckled； in a suddenly lighter mood。 One agile movement brought him
to his feet； another brought him to her。 He planted a kiss on her cheek
before she had time to pull away。
〃What was that for？〃 she asked。
〃For being a saint；〃 he said and set off。 Dinner was so panionable；
that when Tuesday morning brought bright sun； Anne wasn't surprised to
see Mitch up early to join her for breakfast。
〃It's a perfect morning to set in the spouts；〃 he said； wiping the
dishes as she washed。
〃Spouts？〃
〃We've had cold nights and warm days。 The sap should be flowing like
water。〃
Anne laughed in delight。 〃Maple…sugaring？ We can do it ou