第29部分(第6/7 頁)

　your　hair　and　put　a　red　ribbon　in　it。〃

〃I　don't　have　a　red　ribbon。〃

〃Anything　bright　will　do。〃

〃Am　I　that　depressing　to　be　with？〃

He　left　his　seat　then　and　circled　the　table。　〃No；　Annie。　I've　never

found　you　depressing。〃　He　began　removing　the　hairpins　and　didn't　stop

until　he　had　her　hair　spread　over　her　shoulders。　Then　he　hunkered　down

so　that　he　was　closer　to　eye　level。　〃But　I　think　you　overdo　the

starkness。　You　don't　have　to　punish　yourself　for　your　husband's　death。

Losing　him　is　ample　punishment　all　by　itself。〃

She　had　to　hand　it　to　him。　He　was　perceptive　enough；　but　she　assumed

that　he　spoke　from　experience。　So　what　was　his　punishment？　His　arm？

Those　other　obligations　he　mentioned？

But　he　didn't　appear　to　be　thinking　of　other　obligations　just　then。　He

was　fingering　her　hair；　seeming　entranced　by　its　sheen。　〃You　look　so

pretty　with　your　hair　down；　Anne。〃

When　his　eyes　rose；　her　stomach　flipped　over。　They　could　talk　all　they

wanted　about　not　being　ready　for　this；　but　when　they　were　close；　it　just

happened。　His　eyes　fell　to　her　lips。　He　rubbed　them　with　a　thumb；　then

leaned　forward　and　touched　them　with　his　tongue。　The　tip　of　his　tongue。

'tracing　her　mouth　from　corner　to　corner　with　devastating　leisure。

Anne　liked　what　he　did。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　sighed；　enjoying　each

small　touch　for　the　pleasure　it　brought。　When　she　began　to　tremble；　she

clutched　Mitch's　shoulders。　They　were　made　for　that；　for　clutching。　They

were　large；　solid；　and　warm。

But　part　of　being　pleasured　was　pleasuring　back。　It　was　instinctive；　and

no　hardship　at　all；　because　she　was　hungry。　What　he　did　satisfied　her