hr.thecarpetbaggers-第53章

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　Rina's　voice　came　down　to　him。　〃They　drove　down　to　Hyannis　Port　to　have　dinner　with　some　people。〃
　〃Oh；〃　he　said。　He　went　back　into　the　kitchen　and　opened　the　icebox。　He　took　out　a　bottle　of　milk　and　a　piece　of　chocolate　cake　and　put　them　on　the　table。　He　drank　the　milk　from　the　bottle　and　ate　the　cake　with　his　fingers。　It　wasn't　until　after　he　had　finished　that　he　remembered　he'd　promised　himself　he　wouldn't　touch　any　sweets　in　hopes　that　his　skin　would　clear　up。
　He　sat　there　in　a　kind　of　lethargy。　He　heard　the　bathroom　door　slam　and　footsteps　leading　back　to　Rina's　room。　Idly　he　wondered　what　she　was　doing　home　at　this　time　of　the　afternoon。　Usually　she　was　down　at　the　beach　already　with　her　giggling　bunch　of　silly　girl　friends。
　Maybe　Tommy　was　right。　She　was　growing　up。　Certainly　the　way　she　brazenly　sat　there　on　the　raft　with　her　boobs　half　hanging　out　and　letting　them　goggle　at　her　didn't　make　her　seem　like　a　kid。　Tommy　was　right　about　one　thing；　though。　They　were　bigger　than　his　cousin's。
　A　picture　of　Rina　sitting　on　the　raft　flashed　through　his　mind：　the　way　she　looked　at　them　while　they　looked　at　her；　her　hair　falling　wet　and　straight　to　her　shoulders；　her　lower　lip　pouting　and　kind　of　heavy。
　He　felt　a　familiar　heat　surge　through　him。　He　half　groaned　aloud。　Oh；　no；　not　again。　He'd　promised　himself　after　the　last　time；　he'd　stop。　He　got　to　his　feet　abruptly。　He　wouldn't　do　it　this　time。　He　picked　up　the　empty　plate　and　put　it　in　the　sink；　then　walked　out　of　the　kitchen　and　started　up　the　stairs。　He'd　grab　a　cold　shower　and　then　beat　it　out　to　the　beach。
　Rina's　room　was　opposite　the　head　of　the　staircase　and　the　door　was　partly　open。　He　was　almost　halfway　up　when　the　light　spilling　from　her　room　caught　his　eye。　There　was　a　movement　inside　the　room　and　he　stopped　on　the　staircase；　his　heart　pounding。　Slowly　he　sank　to　his　knees　so　that　only　his　eyes　were　above　the　top　of　the　landing。
　Rina　had　just　crossed　the　room　and　was　standing　in　front　of　the　mirror；　her　back　to　the　door；　clad　only　in　a　brassière　and　a　pair　of　bloomers。　While　he　watched；　she　reached　behind　her　and　unfastened　the　brassière；　then；　half　turning；　stepped　out　of　the　bloomers。　Holding　them　in　her　hand；　she　crossed　the　room　and　came　back　in　a　moment；　carrying　a　bathing　suit。　She　paused　again　in　front　of　the　mirror　and　stepped　into　the　suit。　Slowly　she　pulled　it　up　over　her　breasts　and　straightened　the　shoulder　straps。
　He　felt　faint　beads　of　perspiration　across　his　forehead。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　ever　seen　a　grown…up　girl　pletely　naked。　He　had　never　thought　they　could　be　so　beautiful　and　exciting。
　Walking　quietly；　he　passed　her　room　and　went　into　his　own。　He　closed　the　door　and　sank；　still　trembling；　to　the　bed。　For　a　long　moment；　he　sat　there；　the　pain　of　the　heat　surging　inside　him　bending　him　almost　double。
　Slowly　he　reasoned　with　himself。　No。　He　mustn't。　Not　again。　If　he　gave　in　to　it　now；　he　would　always　give　in　to　it。　At　last；　he　began　to　feel　better。　He　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　arm　and　got　to　his　feet。
　All　you　needed　was　a　little　self…control　and　determination。　He　began　to　feel　proud　of　himself。　What　he　had　to　do　was　remove　himself　from　all　kinds　of　temptation。　That　meant　everything。　Even　the　French　pictures　he　had　bought　from　the　candy　store　down　in　Lobstertown。
　Quickly　he　opened　a　dresser　drawer　and　burrowing　underneath　a　broken　slat；　came　out　with　the　pictures。　He　placed　them　on　the　dresser　drawer　face　down。　He　wouldn't　even　look　at　them　one　last　time。　He'd　flush　them　down　the　toilet　when　he　went　in　to　take　his　shower。
　He　undressed　rapidly　and　put　on　his　bathrobe。　He　walked　back　to　the　dresser　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　face　in　the　mirror。　It　was　filled　with　a　noble　resolve。　It　was　amazing　how　quickly　resolution　could　reflect　itself。　He　turned　and　left　the　room；　forgetting　the　pictures　that　lay　on　the　dresser。
　He　was　drying　himself　in　front　of　the　mirror　when　he　heard　her　footsteps　turn　down　the　hall　to　his　room。　Suddenly；　he　froze　as　he　remembered。　The　pictures　were　still　on　the　dresser。　He　grabbed　for　the　bathrobe　on　the　door　behind　him。
　It　was　too　late。　When　he　got　to　his　room；　she　was　standing　near　the　dresser；　the　pictures　in　her　hand。　She　looked　up　at　him　in　surprise。　〃Laddie；　where　did　you　get　these　pictures？〃　she　asked；　a　curious　excitement　in　her　voice。
　〃Give　them　to　me！〃　he　demanded；　walking　toward　her。
　〃I　will　not！〃　she　retorted；　turning　her　back　to　him。　〃I　haven't　finished　looking　at　them　yet。〃
　Lithely　she　spun　away　from　his　outstretched　hand；　across　the　room　to　the　far　side　of　the　bed。　〃Let　me　finish；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃Then　you　can　have　them　back。〃
　〃No！〃　he　shouted　hoarsely；　flinging　himself　across　the　bed　at　her。
　She　turned　to　avoid　his　grasp　but　his　hand　caught　her　shoulder。　The　pictures　flew　from　her　hand　as　she　fell　to　the　bed　beside　him。　She　reached　for　the　pictures。　His　hand　caught　at　her　shoulder　strap　to　keep　her　from　getting　them；　and　the　strap　broke　in　his　hand。　He　froze　suddenly；　staring　at　one　white　breast　that　had　escaped　the　bathing　suit。
　〃You　broke　my　strap；〃　she　said　quietly；　making　no　move　to　cover　herself；　her　eyes　watching　his　face。　
　He　didn't　answer。
　She　smiled　slowly　and　raised　her　hand　to　her　breast；　rubbing　her　palm　gently　across　the　nipple。　〃I'm　just　as　pretty　as　any　of　the　girls　in　those　pictures；　aren't　I？〃
　He　was　fascinated；　unable　to　speak；　his　eyes　following　the　deliberate　movement　of　her　hand。　〃Aren't　I？〃　she　asked　again。　〃You　can　tell　me。　I　won't　tell　anyone。　Why　do　you　think　I　let　you　watch　while　I　was　undressing？〃　
　〃You　knew　I　was　watching？〃　he　asked　in　surprise。　
　She　laughed。　〃Of　course；　stupid。　I　could　see　you　in　the　mirror。　I　almost　burst　out　laughing。　I　thought　your　eyes　would　pop　out　of　your　head。〃
　He　could　feel　the　tension　begin　to　build　up　inside　him。　〃I　don't　think　that's　funny。〃
　〃Look　at　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　like　you　to　look　at　me。　I　wish　everybody　could。〃　
　〃That's　not　right；〃　he　said。
　〃Why　isn't　it？〃　she　demanded。　〃What's　wrong　with　it？　I　like　to　look　at　you；　why　shouldn't　you　look　at　me？〃　
　〃But　you　never　did；〃　he　said　quickly。　
　A　secret　smile　came　to　her　lips。　〃Oh；　yes　I　did。〃
　〃You　did？　When？〃
　〃The　other　afternoon　when　you　came　back　from　the　beach。　There　was　no　one　home　and　I　watched　you　through　the　bathroom　window。　I　saw　everything　you　did。〃
　〃Everything？〃　The　word　escaped　from　him　in　a　groan　of　dismay。
　〃Everything；〃　she　said　smugly。　〃You　were　exercising　your　muscle。〃　Her　eyes　looked　into　his。　〃I　never　knew　it　could　get　so　big。　I　always　thought　it　was　little　and　kind　of　droopy　like　it　was　when　you　were　a　little　boy。〃
　There　was　a　tightness　in　his　throat　and　he　could　hardly　speak。　He　began　to　get　up　from　the　bed。　〃I　think　you　better　get　out　of　here；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　She　looked　up　at　him；　still　smiling。　〃Would　you　like　to　look　at　me　again？〃
　He　didn't　answer。
　Her　hand　reached　up　and　took　down　the　other　shoulder　strap。　She　wriggled　out　of　her　bathing　suit。　He　stared　down　at　her　naked　body；　feeling　his　legs　begin　to　tremble。　He　saw　her　eyes　move　down　over　him。　His　bathrobe　hung　open。　He　looked　at　her　again。
　〃Now　take　off　your　bathrobe　and　let　me　see　all　of　you；〃　she　said。
　As　if　in　a　daze；　he　let　the　bathrobe　slip　to　the　floor。　With　a　groan；　he　sank　to　his　knees　beside　the　bed；　holding　himself。
　Quickly　she　rolled　across　the　bed　and　looked　down　at　him。　A　faint　sound　of　triumph　came　into　her　voice。　〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃you　can　do　it　for　me。〃
　His　hand　reached　up　to　touch　her　breast。　She　let　it　rest　there　for　a　moment；　then　suddenly　moved　away　from　him。　〃No！〃　she　said　sharply。　〃Don't　touch　me！〃
　He　stared　at　her　dumbly；　the　agony　pouring　through　him　in　waves。
　Her　heavy…lidded　eyes　watched　him。
　〃Do　it　for　me；〃　she　said　in　a　husky　voice。　〃And　I'll　do　it　for　you。　But　don't　touch　me！〃
　
　6
　
　ALL　THROUGH　THE　MOVIE；　LADDIE　COULD　HEAR　THEM　giggling　and　whispering。　He　could　imagine　what　they　were　doing　in　the　darkened　theater；　even　though　he　couldn't　see。　His　mind　flamed　with　visions。
　Now　Tommy　was　offering　Rina　a　gumdrop。　He　could　see　him　casually　holding　the　bag　toward　her；　the　back　of　his　hand　seemingly　accidentally　pressing　against　her　breast。　Laddie　shi