第29部分(第7/7 頁)

for　only　a　short　time。　She　moved　her　mouth　and　found　more；　moved　her

tongue　and　found　even　more；　and　above　it　all　were　the　throaty　sounds

Mitch　made；　telling　her　that　he　was　getting　hotter。

When　he　murmured；　〃Christ；〃　there　was　awe　in　his　tone。　Incredibly；

though；　he　backed　up。　He　sat　down　hard　on　the　floor；　draped　his　forearms

over　bent　knees；　and　his　forehead　on　his　wrists。　〃Christ；　〃　he

whispered；　then　raised　his　head。　His　eyes　were　filled　with　amusement　and

sex。

It　was　a　minute　before　the　sex　part　faded。　Then　he　threw　back　his　head；

dragged　in　a　long　breath；　and　hauled　himself　to　his　feel。　From　a　safe

distance；　he　said；　〃About　your　hair。　You'll　need　to　wear　something　red

or　orange　if　you're　going　to　hike　with　me　tomorrow　morning。　It's

deer…hunting　season。〃

They　spent　the　better　part　of　the　next　morning　in　the　woods。　It　was

cold；　but　Mitch　kept　her　moving；　leading　her　over　trails　she　had　never

explored；　through　gullies　she　had　never　seen。　A　red　wool　cap　kept　her

head　warm；　mittens　warmed　her　hands。

With　the　trees　bare　of　leaves；　vistas　were　open　as　they　hadn't　been　in

September。　Mitch　led　her　from　hilltop　to　hilltop；　one　view　more

far…reaching　than　the　next。　The　land　was　quiet。　Forest　creatures　were

hidden　away。　The　doe　that　had　stood　on　her　hind　legs　to　chomp　on　a　crisp

apple　now　hid　from　the　hunter。　Chipmunks　and　squirrels　were　burrowed　in

their　dens。　There　was　the　rustle　of　evergreen　boughs　in　the　wind；　t