第21部分(第2/7 頁)

asked　you　for

anything　else。　But　please　。。。　now　。。。　I　can't　bear　it！〃

The　impetus　was　hers；　lips　and　arms　and　hips　all　working　against　him

until　he　surrendered　with　a　moan。　Falling　to　the　bed　and　rolling　to　his

back；　he　drew　her　over　him；　and　she　loved　him　that　way。　She　couldn't　say

the　words　he　wanted　to　hear；　but　her　body　could　show　him　what　she　felt。

It　did　that；　and　quite　well。　By　the　time　the　sun's　golden　rays　breached

the　windowsill　and　glistened　on　their　sweat；　they　were　totally　spent。

Rasping　breaths　broke　the　air；　but　otherething

was　wrong。　Chloe　felt　it　the　instant　her　pulse　began　to　slow。　There　was

no　talk。　No　closeness。　The　satisfaction　that　usually　kept　them　warm　and

entwined　faded　fast。

Ross　rose　from　the　bed；　retrieved　his　robe；　and　left　the　room。　Alone

again；　Chloe　curled　into　a　tight　ball　with　the　covers　pulled　to　her

ears。

Apparently；　it　was　time　to　put　up　or　shut　up。　Ross　couldn't　live　with

half…measures…but　then；　had　she　really　thought　he　would？　Her　body　might

love　him　to　bits；　but　if　she　couldn't　love　the　rest　with　her　head　and

her　heart；　there　was　no　hope。

She　heard　the　front　door　slam　shortly　after　he　left　her　room。　She　didn't

know　where　he　went；　and　he　was　back　in　time　to　take　her　to　the　train

station；　but　even　the　short　ride　there　was　awkward。　It　wasn't　until　she

was　about　to　board　the　train　that　he　said　more　than　a　full　sentence；　and

then　his　voice　was　quiet。

〃I'd　like　to　follow　through　with　the　liaison　between　Hansen　and　ESE；　but

I　think　Lee　should　handle　the　account。　You're　right。　It'll　be　too

difficult　any　other　way；　at　least　for　now。〃

Chloe　wanted　to　argu