第42部分(第4/5 頁)

elf。　Maybe　I　was　feeling　guilty　for　finding　happiness

with　you。〃　Her　voice　broke。

His　eyes　met　hers；　then；　and　they　were　filled　with　the　same

vulnerability　she　felt。　It　gave　her　the　strength　to　finish。

〃My　God；　Mitch；　haven't　we　both　suffered　enough？　Isn't　it　time　to　end

the　punishment？　I　love　you。〃

〃Do　you；　Anne？〃　he　asked　unsurely；　huskily；　hopefully。　〃Do　you　love　me

enough　to　want　to　wake　up　in　my　arms　every　day；　knowing　that　I　make

mistakes？〃

〃Knowing　that　you're　human？　It's　a　relief；　y'know？〃

A　sound　came　from　his　throat；　no；　from　his　soul；　it　was　that　deep；　and

he　pulled　her　around　and　crushed　her　in　his　arms。　〃I　love　you；　Annie；〃

he　whispered　with　a　rush　of　feeling。　〃Don't　ever；　ever　turn　away　from　me

again。　Don't　shut　me　out。　I　can't　survive　it。〃

He　kissed　her；　then　pulled　back　and　made　a　show　of　licking　his　lips。

〃Salt？〃

She　smiled　through　her　tears。　〃That's　happiness。　You'll　have　to　bear

with　me。〃

〃I　think　I　can　manage　it；〃　he　said　with　infinite　tenderness　and　brushed

the　tears　from　her　cheeks。　〃I　do　love　you。〃

He　showed　her　how　much　right　there　under　the　sun；　worshipping　her　first

with　clothes；　then　without；　making　love　to　her　on　the　soft　carpet　of　new

grass　and　dandelion　puffs。　It　was　hotter；　harder；　sweeter　than　it　had

ever　been　before；　a　preview　of　what　it　might　be　in　twenty　or　thirty

years'　time。

When　later　they　lay　still　and　let　the　sun　stroke　their　naked　bodies；　she

nuzzled　his　neck。　〃This　is　heaven。〃

He　patted　her　bottom。　〃Let's　hope　there's　no　poison　ivy　around　here。〃

When　she　bolted　upright；　he　burst　out　laughing。

〃Is　there？〃　she　asked。

He　pull