第17部分(第4/7 頁)

over　his　mouth；　not　ready　for　that；　but　he　caught　her

hand　and　pinned　it　to　the　pillow。　Leaning　down；　he　gave　her　a　long；

silencing　kiss。　When　his　mouth　left　hers　again；　he　said；　〃I　love　you　and

want　to　marry　you。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　do；〃　he　insisted。

Her　heart　ached。　She　wasn't　ready；　wasn't　ready　at　all。　〃Last　night　we

made　love。　Saying　'i　love　you'　is　something　else　entirely。〃

Ross　didn't　budge。　〃Argue　as　much　as　you　want；　but　you　won't　change

this。　I　love　you。　I　wish　I　could　say　that　I　loved　you　eleven　years

ago…it　would　all　sound　romantic。　I　wanted　you　then。　I　knew　that　there

was　something　in　you…deep　in　you…that　intrigued　me。　But　I　didn't　get　to

know　you。　A　few　hours　is　too　short　a　time。〃

〃It's　hardly　been　much　more　than　that　now；〃　she　protested。

〃It's　been　more　than　two　weeks。〃

〃It's　been　less　than　two　days。〃

〃Tell　me　you　didn't　think　of　me。〃

She　recalled　those　long　hours　after　New　Hampshire。　〃I　can't。　I　thought

of　you。　But　in　order　to　love　a　person　you　have　to　spend　time　with　that

person。〃

〃You're　clutching　at　straws。　I　love　you。　If　you　were　honest　with

yourself；　you'd　tell　me　that　you　love　me；　too。〃

That　was　what　she　feared　most。　There　was　no　place　in　her　life　for　that

kind　of　love。　〃You　don't　know　what　I　feel。〃

〃I　know　what　I　felt　last　night。　You　couldn't　have　faked　your　reactions。

Sorry；　Chloe；　but　you　responded　out　of　love。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。〃

〃No。　Not　all。〃　She　needed　time。　She　knew　what　she　had　to　say。

〃'responded　to　you　out　of　need。　Call　it　lust　or　physical　desire；　but

don't　call　it　love。〃

〃You're　afraid；〃　he　announced。

There　was　a　death