第37部分(第6/7 頁)

　keep　me　waiting　much　longer；　I　may　attack　you。〃

The　waiting　ended。　He　possessed　her　as　the　pale　purple　of　early　evening

bathed　them　in　its　glow；　and　it　was　good　from　the　very　first。　Good　。。。

better　。。。　all…consuming　。。。　exhausting　。。。　absolutely；　positively

mind…blowing。

Arms　and　legs　entwined；　they　slept；　the　deep　and　satisfied　sleep　of　two

who　were　spent　and　content。　Long　forgotten　was　the　maple　syrup　on　the

stove；　cooling　to　a　thick　amber　perfection；　and　the　French　toast　that

was　to　have　showcased　it。　They　were　oblivious　when　dusk　faded　to　a　dark

and　moonlit　night。

When　Anne　awoke　some　time　later；　the　only　things　she　cared　about　were

the　warm　chest　pillowing　her　head　and　the　lean　hip　under　her　palm。　Her

first　movement　brought　a　tightening　of　the　arm　across　her　back　and　the

reverent　caress　of　a　hand。　Smiling；　she　kissed　the　matted　hair　on　his

chest；　then　tipped　her　head　to　see　him。　His　chin　was　strong　but　relaxed；

the　angled　jaw　likewise。　His　hair　fell　in　waves　over　his　forehead；

lending　a　boyish　charm。　But　his　eyes…his　eyes　held　hers；　speaking　of

love。

〃How　are　you？〃　he　asked　gently。

She　traced　the　line　of　his　jaw。　〃I've　never　been　better。〃

〃I　love　you。　You　know　that　now；　don't　you？〃

She　nodded。　He　could　never　have　made　love　to　her　the　way　he　had　if　it

hadn't　e　from　the　heart。　But　he　repeated　the　words　as　the　night

passed；　reassuring　her　again　and　again；　and　Anne　had　never　known　such　a

night。　She　would　collapse；　breathless；　weary　of　limb　and　shuddering　in

the　aftermath　of　passion；　only　to　discover　before　long　that　Mitch　had　a

new　way　to　say　it。

The　sun　was　high　in　the　late…morning