第41部分(第6/7 頁)

Mitch　and　the　wall；　between　a　rock　and　a　hard　place。　She　was　wondering

where　to　go；　when　he　flattened　his　hands　on　the　wall　by　either　shoulder。

〃This　has　gone　on　long　enough。　I'm　going　to　talk　now；　and　you're　going

to　listen。　My　patience　is　wearing　thin。〃

〃Your　patience？〃　she　cried；　raising　her　eyes　to　his。　〃What　about　mine？

And　what　about　my　feelings？　But　then；　you　never　were　all　that　concerned

about　what　would　happen　to　me　after　you'd　taken　everything　you　wanted！

You　are　the　most　selfish；　arrogant；　ruthless…〃

The　list　of　scathing　expletives　would　have　gone　on　if　he　hadn't　stopped

them　with　his　mouth。　She　tried　to　pull　back；　to　twist　her　head　away；　to

push　him　off。　But　he　was　bigger；　stronger；　and　determined。

He　drew　her　from　the　wall　and　into　his　arms；　kissing　her　so　vehemently

that　her　breath　was　cut　off。　At　the　instant　she　would　have　collapsed；　he

eased　his　grip；　breathing　raggedly　for　a　moment　before　capturing　her

lips　again。

This　time　was　different。　His　mouth　was　more　persuasive　now；　moving　with

gentleness　and　sensual　sureness。　Anne　might　have　been　able　to　resist

force；　but　a　caring　kiss　was　something　else。　Her　body　was　weak；　her　mind

muddled。　While　her　arms　continued　to　apply　a　token　pressure　against　his

chest；　her　lips　betrayed　her。　Gradually　they　softened；　then　opened；　then

drank　helplessly　of　his　kiss。

When　he　finally　raised　his　head；　she　bowed　hers　and　dissolved　into

helpless　tears。

〃Don't　cry；　Annie。　Please。〃　Sounding　tormented；　he　held　her　tightly

until　she　gradually　quieted。　〃I　won't　hurt　you。　Please　believe　me；

honey。　I've　never　meant　to　hurt　you。　I　just　want　you　to　listen　to　what