第4部分(第6/7 頁)

　her

hair　with　infinite　gentleness。

〃I　know　that；〃　he　whispered。　His　eyes　held　the　same　tenderness　they　had

on　that　night；　when　he　had　first　introduced　her　to　the　art　of　love。

Then；　the　world　had　been　hers　on　a　string。　It　certainly　wasn't　now；

still　her　heart　pounded　in　her　chest　the　very　same　way。　Now；　as　then；

she　was　being　held　by　the　most　appealing　man　she　had　ever　known。　He　was

a　leader；　a　freethinker。　He　was　boldly　gentle；　gently　bold。　He　had

confidence　without　arrogance；　success　without　acclaim。　He　was　a　man　who

didn't　mince　words。　She　felt　an　instinctive　respect　for　him。

Much　of　this　same　appeal　had　beckoned　to　her　on　that　night。　Other

details　might　be　forgotten；　but　not　Ross　and　the　force　that　bound　them。

It　was　an　unfathomable　force；　but　frightfully　powerful。　Eleven　years

ago；　it　had　driven　the　fact　of　her　innocence　from　her　mind。　Now　it

obliterated　all　remembrance　of　what　had　happened　so　soon　after　that

night　to　irrevocably　change　Chloe's　life　and　outlook。

As　Ross's　large　hands　framed　her　face；　she　felt　a　special　warmth　steal

through　her；　awakening　senses　from　hibernation　like　the　ing　of

spring。　Her　cheeks　flushed　with　the　heat。　Her　lips　parted。　She　was

entranced　all　over　again。

He　moved　closer；　his　face　lowering。　When　she　closed　her　eyes　it　was　to

savor　the　feather　touch　of　his　mouth　on　hers。　It　seemed　she　had　waited

forever　to　know　its　sweetness　again。　And　guilt？　Guilt　was　light…years

away；　beyond　a　far　horizon　she　hoped　never　to　reach。　It　had　been

pervasive　over　the　years；　but　was　out　of　place　now。　She　wanted　more　of

Ross；　if　only　to　keep　the　past　safely　blotted　from　her　mind。