lhamilton.thekillingdance-第77章

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ed　the　perfection　of　his　chest。　He　held　his　boots　in　one　hand；　a　towel　as　scarlet　as　the　sheets　in　the　other。
　〃I　washed　up　in　the　sink　while　the　tub　filled。〃　He　walked　barefoot　across　the　white　carpeting。　〃I'm　afraid　I　used　the　last　clean　towel。　I　will　fetch　you　more。〃
　I　took　my　hand　away　from　my　mouth　and　nodded。　I　finally　managed　to　say；　〃Fine。〃
　I　stood　before　he　could　offer　to　help　me　up。　I　didn't　need　any　help。
　Jean…Claude　moved　to　one　side。　His　black　hair　lay　in　nearly　tight　curls　across　his　pale　shoulders；　curled　from　the　humidity　of　the　bathroom。　I　ignored　him　as　much　as　it　was　humanly　possible　and　walked　inside。
　The　room　was　warm　and　misty；　the　black　marble　tub　full　of　bubbles。　He　offered　me　a　black　lacquer　tray　from　the　vanity　top。　Shampoos；　soap；　bath　crystals；　and　what　looked　like　oils　were　grouped　on　the　tray。
　〃Get　out　so　I　can　undress。〃
　〃It　took　two　people　to　dress　you　tonight；　ma　petite。　Won't　you　need　help　getting　undressed？〃　His　voice　was　utterly　bland。　His　face　so　still；　his　eyes　so　innocent；　it　made　me　smile。
　I　sighed。　〃If　you　get　the　two　straps　in　back；　I　think　I　can　manage　the　rest。　But　no　monkey　business。〃　I　held　my　hands　over　the　bra　because　one　strap　would　loosen　it。　The　other　strap；　as　far　as　I　could　tell；　was　the　pivot　point　for　the　rest　of　the　outfit。
　His　fingers　moved　to　the　top　strap。　I　watched　him　in　the　fogged　mirror。　The　strap　came　unbuckled；　and　the　leather　gave　with　a　small　sigh。　He　moved　to　the　second　strap　without　so　much　as　an　extra　caress。　He　undid　it　and　took　a　step　back。　〃No　monkey　business；　ma　petite。〃　He　backed　out　of　the　room；　and　I　watched　him　go　like　a　phantom　in　the　mist…covered　mirrors。　When　the　door　was　shut；　I　started　on　the　rest　of　the　straps。　It　was　like　peeling　myself　to　get　the　goo…soaked　leather　off。
　I　put　the　tray　of　bath　accessories　on　the　tub　edge　and　slipped　into　the　water。　The　water　was　hot；　just　this　side　of　too　hot。　I　sank　into　it　up　to　my　chin；　but　I　couldn't　relax。　The　gunk　clung　to　my　body　in　patches。　I　had　to　get　it　off　me。　I　sat　up　in　the　tub　and　started　scrubbing。　The　soap　smelled　like　gardenia。　The　shampoos　smelled　like　herbs。　Trust　Jean…Claude　not　to　buy　a　name　brand　from　the　grocery　store。
　I　washed　my　hair　twice；　sinking　under　the　water　and　ing　up　for　air。　I　was　scrubbed　and　virtuous；　or　at　least　clean。　The　mirrors　had　cleared　and　I　had　only　myself　to　stare　at。　I'd　washed　off　all　the　careful　makeup。　I　smoothed　my　thick；　black　hair　back　from　my　face。　My　eyes　were　enormous　and　nearly　black。　My　skin　so　pale；　it　was　almost　white。　I　looked　shocked；　ethereal；　unreal。
　There　was　a　soft　knock　on　the　door。　〃Ma　petite；　may　I　e　in？〃
　I　glanced　down　at　myself。　The　bubbles　were　still　holding。　I　drew　a　pile　of　them　a　little　closer　to　my　chest　and　said；　〃e　in。〃　It　took　a　lot　of　effort　not　to　hunch　down　in　the　water。　I　sat　up　straight；　trusting　in　the　bubbles。　Besides；　I　would　not　huddle。　So　I　was　naked　in　a　tub　of　bubble　bath。　So　what。　No　one　can　embarrass　you　unless　you　let　them。
　Jean…Claude　came　in　with　two　thick；　red　towels。　He　closed　the　door　behind　him　with　a　small　smile。　〃We　wouldn't　want　to　let　the　hot　air　out。〃
　I　narrowed　my　eyes　but　said；　〃I　guess　not。〃
　〃Where　do　you　want　the　towels？　Here？〃　He　started　to　lay　them　on　the　vanity。
　〃I　can't　reach　them　there；〃　I　said。
　〃Here？〃　He　laid　them　on　top　of　the　stool。　He　stood　there；　staring　down　at　me；　still　wearing　nothing　but　the　black　jeans。　His　feet　were　startlingly　pale　against　the　black　carpet。
　〃Still　too　far　away。〃
　He　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　tub；　placing　the　towels　on　the　floor。　He　stared　down　at　me　as　if　he　could　will　the　bubbles　away。　〃Is　this　close　enough？〃
　〃Maybe　a　little　too　close；〃　I　said。
　He　trailed　fingertips　over　the　bubbles　at　the　edge　of　the　tub。　〃Do　you　feel　better　now；　ma　petite？〃
　〃I　said　no　sexual　innuendo；　remember。〃
　〃As　I　remember；　you　said　no　sexual　innuendo　until　after　you　were　clean。〃　He　smiled　at　me。　〃You're　clean。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Trust　you　to　be　literal。〃
　He　trailed　his　fingers　in　the　water。　He　turned　his　shoulder　enough　that　I　could　see　the　whip　scars　on　his　back。　They　were　slick　and　white；　and　I　suddenly　had　an　urge　to　trace　them　with　my　fingers。
　He　turned　back　to　face　me。　He　wiped　his　wet　fingers　across　his　chest；　trailing　shining　lines　of　moisture　across　the　flat　slickness　of　the　burn　scar；　down　along　his　belly。　His　fingers　played　with　the　line　of　dark　hair　that　vanished　into　his　pants。
　I　closed　my　eyes　and　let　out　a　sigh。
　〃What　is　the　matter；　ma　petite？〃　I　felt　him　leaning　over　me。　〃Are　you　faint？〃
　I　opened　my　eyes。　He　had　leaned　his　entire　upper　body　across　the　tub；　right　arm　on　the　far　rim；　the　left　near　my　shoulder。　His　hip　was　so　far　over　the　water　that　if　I'd　touched　his　chest；　he'd　have　fallen　in。
　〃I　don't　faint；〃　I　said。
　His　face　leaned　down　over　mine。　〃So　glad　to　hear　it。〃　He　kissed　me　lightly；　a　brush　of　lips；　but　even　that　small　movement　made　my　stomach　jerk。
　I　gasped　and　pushed　him　away。　He　fell　into　the　tub；　going　pletely　under；　only　his　feet　sticking　out。　He　landed　on　my　naked　body；　and　I　screamed。
　He　came　up　for　air；　his　long；　black　hair　streaming　around　his　face；　across　his　shoulders。　He　looked　as　surprised　as　I'd　ever　seen　him。　He　crawled　off　me；　mainly　because　I　was　shoving　at　him。　He　struggled　to　his　feet。　Water　streamed　down　his　body。　He　stared　down　at　me。　I　was　huddled　against　the　side；　staring　up　at　him；　pissed。
　He　shook　his　head　and　laughed。　The　sound　filled　the　room；　played　along　my　skin　like　a　hand。　〃I　have　been　a　lady's　man　for　nearly　three　hundred　years；　Anita。　Why　is　it　only　with　you　that　I　am　awkward？〃
　〃Maybe　it's　a　hint；〃　I　said。
　〃Perhaps。〃
　I　stared　up　at　him。　He　stood　there；　knee　deep　in　bubble　bath。　He　was　soaking　wet　and　should　have　been　ridiculous；　but　he　wasn't。　He　was　beautiful。
　〃How　can　you　be　so　damn　beautiful　when　I　know　what　you　are？〃
　He　knelt　in　the　water。　The　bubbles　covered　his　waist；　so　he　looked　naked。　Water　trailed　down　his　chest　in　fine　beads。　I　wanted　to　run　my　hands　over　him。　I　wanted　to　lick　the　water　off　his　skin。　I　drew　my　legs　to　my　chest　and　locked　my　arms　around　them；　not　trusting　myself。
　He　moved　towards　me。　The　water　sloshed　and　curled　around　my　naked　body。　He　stayed　kneeling；　so　close　that　his　jeans　brushed　my　huddled　legs。　The　feel　of　him　in　the　water；　that　close；　made　me　hide　my　face　against　my　knees。　The　pounding　of　my　heart　gave　me　away。　I　knew　he　could　taste　my　need　on　the　air。
　〃Tell　me　to　go；　ma　petite；　and　I　will　go。〃　I　felt　him　lean　over　me；　his　face　just　above　my　wet　hair。
　Slowly；　I　raised　my　face。
　He　placed　a　hand　on　the　tub　edge；　one　arm　on　either　side　of　me；　bringing　his　chest　dangerously　close　to　my　face。　I　watched　the　water　bead　on　his　skin；　the　way　that　he　sometimes　watched　blood　on　mine：　a　need　almost　too　overwhelming　to　deny；　an　urge　so　plete　that　I　didn't　want　to　say　no。
　I　unclenched　my　arms　from　my　knees　and　leaned　forward。　I　whispered；　〃Don't　go。〃　I　touched　hands　to　his　waist；　tentative；　as　if　it　should　burn；　but　his　skin　was　cool　under　the　slickness　of　water。　Cool　and　smooth　to　the　touch。　I　glanced　up　at　his　face　and　knew　that　there　was　something　close　to　fear　on　my　own　face。
　His　face　was　lovely；　and　uncertain；　as　if　he　didn't　know　what　to　do　next。　It　was　a　look　I　never　thought　to　see　on　Jean…Claude's　face　when　I　was　naked　in　his　arms。
　I　kept　my　eyes　on　his　face　as　I　moved　my　mouth　towards　his　stomach。　I　ran　my　tongue　over　his　skin；　a　quick；　tentative　movement。
　He　sighed；　eyes　fluttering　shut；　body　almost　sagging。　I　pressed　my　mouth　against　his　skin；　drinking　the　water　off　of　him。　I　couldn't　reach　his　chest。　I　moved　to　my　knees；　hands　steadying　me　against　his　slender　waist。
　The　air　was　cool　against　my　naked　breasts。　Kneeling　had　bared　them。　I　froze；　suddenly　unsure。　I　wanted　desperately　to　see　his　face　and　was　afraid　to　look　up。
　His　fingertips　brushed　my　shoulders；　sliding　down　the　wet　skin。　I　shivered　and　glanced　up。　The　look　on　his　face　caught　my　breath　in　my　throat。　Tenderness；　need；　amazement。
　〃You　are　so　beautiful；　ma　petite。〃　He　put　his　fingertips　to　my　lips　before　I　could　protest。　〃You　are　beautiful。　On　this　I　do　not　lie。〃
　His　fingers　moved　across　my　lips；　down　my　chin