第23部分(第7/7 頁)

；　flattening　her　onto　the　cold　floor。

Panic　hit　then。　〃Let　go！　Get　off　me！〃　Futilely　she　pushed　against　him；

but　his　body　weight　was　awesome；　stealing　her　breath。　Gasping　for　air；

she　continued　to　push　as　his　mouth　lowered。　〃No！〃　she　cried　and　wrenched

her　head　to　the　side。

He　brought　it　back　with　a　firm　hand。　〃No　game；　you　say？　We'll　see　about

that。〃　His　lips　seized　hers　with　a　steadiness　that　held　her　head　flush

against　the　oak　planks。　Startling　in　intensity；　relentless　in　duration；

his　kiss　had　an　animalism　that　was　primitive　and　raw。

She　fought　desperately；　writhing　beneath　him　until　one　large　hand　seized

both　of　hers　and　pinned　them　to　the　floor　above　her　head。　Only　then　did

his　lips　finally　release　hers。

Fighting　tears；　she　gasped　for　breath；　and　all　the　while　he　studied　her。

When　he　finally　spoke；　he　was　calm　and　cynical。　〃Tears？　That's　not　part

of　the　game　plan。〃　In　an　effort　to　raise　himself；　his　hand　tightened　on

hers；　forcing　them　to　bear　the　brunt　of　his　weight。　She　cried　out　in

pain　when　her　wedding　band　dug　in。

He　freed　her　quickly　then；　and　sat　back　on　his　haunches。　She　recoiled；

crawling　backward　until　she　hit　a　wall；　then　jumping　to　her　feet　and

racing　to　the　hearth。　She　grabbed　the　only　weapon　in　sight；　a　heavy　iron

poker。　〃Don't　e　near　me；〃　she　warned　in　a　high…pitched　whine。

Her　threat　reached　its　mark。　He　didn't　move　a　muscle。

Silence　hung　h