lhamilton.thekillingdance-第72章

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s。　The　bulge　under　Harley's　T…shirt　had　been　throwing　knives；　the　real　McCoy；　slender　and　innocent　looking　until　you　saw　them　used。
　There　was　a　leather　belt　around　the　top　of　the　shorts　that　my　Browning's　shoulder　holster　fit　on　nicely。　Edward　had　bought　me　a　new　Browning。　It　wasn't　my　very　own　gun；　but　it　was　still　nice　to　have。　Harley　had　fished　a　clip…on　holster　for　the　Firestar　out　of　his　duffel。　The　small　clip…on　rode　to　one　side　of　my　waist　for　a　cross　draw。
　The　straps　down　my　legs　had　small　silver　loops；　sheaths；　two　more　knives；　one　on　each　thigh。　No　knife　sheaths　below　the　knees　because　boots　came　with　the　outfit。　Jean…Claude　had　finally　gotten　me　out　of　my　Nikes。　The　boots　were　soft　black　suede　with　heels　only　a　touch　higher　than　I　would　have　liked。　A　tiny　stoppered　vial　fit　in　small　loops　just　below　the　top　of　each　boot。　I　held　one　up　to　the　light；　and　knew　what　it　was。　Holy　water。　A　nice　gift　from　my　vampire　boyfriend；　heh？
　I　stared　at　myself　in　the　mirror。　〃How　long　has　Jean…Claude　been　planning　this　outfit？〃
　〃A　little　while；〃　Stephen　said。　He　was　kneeling　by　me；　tugging　the　straps　into　place。　〃We　all　had　a　running　bet　that　he'd　never　get　you　to　wear　it。〃
　〃Who's　we？〃
　〃His　flunkies。〃　Stephen　stood　up；　stepped　back；　and　nodded。　〃You　look　amazing。〃
　〃I　look　like　a　biker　slut　from　hell　meets　soldier　of　fortune　pinup。〃
　〃That；　too；〃　Stephen　said。
　I　turned　to　Cassandra。　〃Be　honest。〃
　〃You　look　dangerous；　Anita。　Like　somebody's　weapon。〃
　I　stared　in　the　mirror；　shaking　my　head。　〃Somebody's　sex　toy；　you　mean。〃
　〃A　dominatrix　maybe；　but　nobody's　toy；〃　Cassandra　said。
　Why　didn't　that　make　me　feel　better？
　Cassandra　had　insisted　on　helping　me　with　my　makeup。　She　was　a　great　deal　more　skilled　at　it　than　I。　Years　of　practice；　she'd　said。　My　hair　was　tight　and　curling；　falling　just　below　my　shoulders　now。　It　needed　a　cut。　But　for　tonight；　the　hair　was　perfect。　The　face　was　still　pretty。　Makeup　is　a　wonderful　thing。　But　the　outfit　stripped　away　the　pretense。　I　looked　like　what　I　was：　something　that　would　kill　you　before　it　would　kiss　you。
　We　walked　out　of　the　bathroom　and　found　Edward　and　Harley　waiting　for　us。　They　had　brought　two　straight…backed　chairs　to　sit　on　the　white　carpet；　facing　the　bathroom　door。　I　froze　as　Edward　stared　at　me。　He　didn't　say　a　word；　just　sat　there　with　a　sort　of　half…smile　on　his　face。
　〃Well；　say　something；　dammit。〃
　〃I　would　say　it　isn't　you；　but　in　a　way；　it　is。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Yeah。〃
　Harley　stared　at　me　with　vacant　eyes。　He　was　smiling；　but　not　at　the　outfit。　Smiling　at　some　internal　music　or　vision　that　only　he　could　perceive。
　There　was　a　long　leather　coat　on　the　bed。　〃One　of　the　vampires　dropped　it　off；〃　Edward　said。　〃Thought　you　might　want　something　to　cover　up　with　until　the　big　unveiling。〃
　〃You're　enjoying　this；　aren't　you？〃
　〃I'd　feel　better　if　I　could　guard　your　back。〃
　〃You're　going　to　do　that　with　a　rifle　from　the　closest　hill；　remember。〃
　〃Night　vision　and　scope；　fine；　but　I　can't　kill　them　all　from　a　distance。〃
　〃You　couldn't　kill　them　all　if　you　were　johnny　on　the　spot；　either；〃　I　said。
　〃No；　but　I'd　feel　better。〃
　〃Worried　about　me？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃I'm　your　bodyguard。　If　you　die　under　my　protection；　the　other　bodyguards　will　make　fun　of　me。〃
　It　took　me　a　second　to　realize　he　was　making　a　joke。　Harley　looked　back　at　him　with　an　almost　surprised　look。　I　don't　think　either　of　us　heard　humor　from　Edward　much。
　I　walked　towards　Edward。　The　leather　made　that　little　creaking　sound　it　makes。　I　stopped　in　front　of　him；　legs　a　little　apart；　staring　down　at　him。
　He　widened　his　eyes　a　little。　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　can't　imagine　anyone　making　fun　of　you；　Edward。〃
　He　touched　one　of　the　leather　straps。　〃If　I　went　around　dressed　like　this；　they　might。〃
　I　had　to　smile。　〃You　probably　would　be　dressed　like　this　if　you　were　going　to　be　down　in　the　clearing　with　us　tonight。〃
　He　turned　pale　blue　eyes　to　me。　〃I've　worn　worse　than　this；　Anita。　I'm　a　fine　actor　when　I　have　to　be。〃　The　humor　drained　away　from　his　face；　leaving　something　feral　and　determined　behind。　Edward　would　still　do　things　that　I　wouldn't；　still　had　fewer　rules　than　I　did；　but　in　some　ways；　Edward　was　a　mirror　for　me。　A　warning　of　what　I　was　being；　or　maybe　a　preview。
　Richard　would　have　said　it　was　a　warning。　I　hadn't　made　up　my　mind　yet。
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　Richard　came　in　without　waiting　for　an　invitation。　He　was　scowling；　but　the　grumpy　look　faded　when　he　got　a　good　look　at　me。　His　eyes　widened。　〃I　was　going　to　e　in　and　plain　about　my　outfit。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃If　I　plain；　will　you　just　shoot　me？〃　A　smile　spread　across　his　face。
　〃No　laughing；〃　I　said。
　The　smile　got　wider。　His　voice　was　a　little　choked；　but　he　managed；　〃Wonderful。　You　look　wonderful。〃
　There　are　only　two　things　you　can　do　when　you're　dressed　like　Barbie　Does　Bondage；　you　can　be　embarrassed　or　you　can　be　aggressive。　Guess　what　my　choice　was。
　I　stalked　towards　him；　putting　a　little　extra　sway　into　my　walk。　The　boots　made　it　easier；　somehow；　giving　just　the　right　roll。　I　put　into　my　eyes；　my　face；　what　the　outfit　promised：　sex；　violence；　heat。
　The　humor　faded　from　Richard's　face；　replaced　by　an　answering　heat　and　a　hesitation；　like　he　wasn't　exactly　sure　we　should　be　doing　this　in　public。
　He　was　wearing　black　leather　pants　with　soft　suede　boots　that　were　almost　a　match　to　my　own。　His　hair　had　been　slicked　back；　tied　off　with　a　black　ribbon。　His　shirt　was　silk　and　a　vibrant　blue；　somewhere　between　turquoise　and　royal。　It　looked　splendid　against　his　tanned　skin。
　I　stopped　just　in　front　of　him；　legs　apart。　I　stared　up　at　him；　defying　him　to　think　it　was　funny。　I　put　a　finger　to　his　lips；　trailing　my　fingertip　down　his　cheek；　his　neck；　caressing　the　edge　of　his　collarbone；　tracing　the　skin　until　it　vanished　down　the　buttoned　front　of　his　shirt。
　I　stalked　to　the　bed；　fetching　the　leather　coat。　I　threw　it　over　one　shoulder　so　that　it　trailed　down　like　a　limp　body；　not　hiding　much　of　the　outfit。　I　opened　the　door　and　stood　for　just　a　moment　framed　in　it。　〃ing？〃　I　said。　I　walked　away　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　The　look　on　his　face　was　enough。　He　looked　like　I'd　hit　him　between　the　eyes　with　a　sledgehammer。
　Great。　Now　all　I　had　to　do　was　try　the　outfit　out　on　Jean…Claude；　and　we　could　go。
　
　
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　The　May　woods　were　a　warm；　close　darkness。　Richard　and　I　stood　outside　the　barn　where　Raina　shot　dirty　pictures。　The　pack　meeting　place　was　among　the　trees　around　the　farmhouse。　There　were　so　many　cars　that　they　were　parked　on　every　bit　of　spare　ground；　some　so　close　to　the　woods　that　they　touched　the　trees。
　There　may　have　been　a　full　moon　up　there　somewhere；　but　the　clouds　were　so　thick；　the　darkness　so　plete；　that　it　was　like　standing　inside　a　cave。　Except　this　cave　had　movement。　A　small　oozing　wind　trailed　through　the　thick；　night…darkened　leaves。　It　was　like　some　invisible　giant　trailed　fingertips　through　the　trees；　bending　them；　rattling　the　leaves；　giving　movement　to　the　night　that　made　my　shoulders　tight。　It　was　like　the　night　itself　was　alive　in　a　way　that　I'd　never　seen　before。
　Richard's　hand　was　warm　and　slightly　moist。　He'd　dampened　that　creeping　energy　so　that　it　wasn't　unfortable　to　touch　him。　I　appreciated　the　effort。　His　leather　cloak　whispered　as　he　moved　closer。　It　was　tied　across　his　chest；　covering　only　one　shoulder。　The　cloak；　bined　with　the　full　sleeves　of　the　brilliant　blue　shirt；　made　the　whole　outfit　seem　antique。
　Richard　pulled　on　my　hand；　bringing　me　against　his　body；　into　the　circle　of　his　arms；　the　brush　of　the　leather　cloak。　The　clouds　slid　apart　and　suddenly　we　were　bathed　in　a　thick；　silver　glow。　Richard　was　staring　outward。　He　seemed　to　be　listening　to　something　that　I　couldn't　hear。　His　hands　convulsed　around　my　hands；　an　almost　painful　squeeze。　He　stared　down　at　me　as　if　just　remembering　I　was　there。
　He　smiled。　〃Can　you　feel　it？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃The　night？〃
　I　started　to　answer；　no；　then　stopped。　I　looked　around　at　the　hurrying　woods；　the　feeling　of　movement。　〃The　woods　seem　more　alive　tonight。〃
　His　smile　widened；　a　brief　flash　of　teeth；　almost　a　snarl。　〃Yes。〃
　I　tried　to　pull　away；　but　his　hands　tighte