第21部分(第2/9 頁)

　her；　his　expression　shocked　her　into

awareness。　〃Don't　go！〃　she　cried。

〃I　have　to。　For　this　one　release；　I'd　be　buying　a　huge　packet　of　pain。〃

〃No！〃　Her　fingers　tightened　on　his　shoulders　until　her　knuckles　turned

white。　She　was　close　to　panic。　〃Please；　Ross。　I've　never　asked　you　for

anything　else。　But　please　。。。　now　。。。　I　can't　bear　it！〃

The　impetus　was　hers；　lips　and　arms　and　hips　all　working　against　him

until　he　surrendered　with　a　moan。　Falling　to　the　bed　and　rolling　to　his

back；　he　drew　her　over　him；　and　she　loved　him　that　way。　She　couldn't　say

the　words　he　wanted　to　hear；　but　her　body　could　show　him　what　she　felt。

It　did　that；　and　quite　well。　By　the　time　the　sun's　golden　rays　breached

the　windowsill　and　glistened　on　their　sweat；　they　were　totally　spent。

Rasping　breaths　broke　the　air；　but　otherething

was　wrong。　Chloe　felt　it　the　instant　her　pulse　began　to　slow。　There　was

no　talk。　No　closeness。　The　satisfaction　that　usually　kept　them　warm　and

entwined　faded　fast。

Ross　rose　from　the　bed；　retrieved　his　robe；　and　left　the　room。　Alone

again；　Chloe　curled　into　a　tight　ball　with　the　covers　pulled　to　her

ears。

Apparently；　it　was　time　to　put　up　or　shut　up。　Ross　couldn't　live　with

half…measures…but　then；　had　she　really　thought　he　would？　Her　body　might

love　him　to　bits；　but　if　she　couldn't　love　the　rest　with　her　head　and

her　heart