第27部分(第3/9 頁)

　His　tone　was　gentle；　his　touch

even　more　so；　and　when　he　raised　his　eyes；　they　were　the　gentlest　yet。

Her　breath　faltered。

He　curved　a　hand　to　her　neck。　His　thumb　feather…touched　the　soft　swell

of　her　lips。　For　an　instant　he　hesitated；　and　Anne's　breath　held。

With　eternal　slowness；　he　raised　his　mouth　to　hers　in　a　kiss　that　was

little　more　than　the　tantalizingly　light　movement　of　his　lips。　When　she

made　no　protest；　he　deepened　it；　coaxing　her　mouth　open　with　a

gentleness　that　was　worlds　away　from　the　first　night's　force。

Anne　was　entranced。　She　couldn't　think；　because　this　wasn't　part　of　her

plan。　But　she　could　feel；　and　what　she　felt　was　overwhelming；　the　purest

pleasure　in　a　meeting　of　mouths；　a　touching　of　tongues。

Abruptly　he　pulled　away；　and　sanity　returned。

With　a　gasp　she　bolted　from　the　chair　and；　ignoring　a　twinge　in　her

knee；　went　to　the　far　side　of　the　room。　Mitch　stood；　keeping　his　back　to

her　as　his　breathing　steadied。　When　he　finally　faced　her；　he　had　his

passion　in　check。

By　that　time；　she　was　trying　to　understand　herself。　Because　she

couldn't；　she　lashed　out　at　him。　〃You　had　no　business　doing　that。〃

His　lips　thinned。　〃I　don't　seem　to　recall　your　objecting。〃

〃You　didn't　give　me　much　of　a　chance。〃

He　approached；　studying　her　eyes；　the　heat　on　her　cheeks；　the　tiny

quiver　of　her　lips。　He　frowned。　〃It's　been　a　lo