第6部分(第3/7 頁)

headed　down　the

stairs　to　his　own　room；　she　felt　disappointed。　Part　of　her　wondered　if

flirting　with　danger　could　end　on　a　happy　note　this　time。

The　night　manager　hadn't　only　left　extra　towels；　but　he'd　also　left　a

package　of　goodies　tailor…made　for　the　stranded　motorist。　There　was　a

toothbrush；　toothpaste；　a　b；　soap；　and；　luxury　of　luxuries；　an

envelope　of　bubble…bath　powder。

Chloe　smiled。　She'd　had　her　share　of　tension　today；　now　she　would

release　it。　The　devil　could　take　the　hour；　she　would　take　a　long；　hot

bath！

Several　deft　flicks　of　her　wrist　sent　a　full　stream　of　hot　water　into

the　long　porcelain　tub；　which　stood；　in　keeping　with　the　vintage　aura　of

the　inn　itself；　on　four　clawed　feet。　Feeling　scandalous；　she　sprinkled

the　entire　contents　of　the　envelope　beneath　the　steaming　flow。

Moments　later　she　was　immersed　to　her　neck　in　bubbles。　Draping　her　hair

over　the　lip　of　the　tub；　she　closed　her　eyes　and　gave　in　to　pleasure。

Was　it　true　what　they　said　about　the　subconscious　urge　to　return　to　the

womb？　Was　this　all…enveloping　warmth；　this　light　floating　what　it　had

been　like？

The　womb；　however；　was　not　where　she　wished　most　to　be　at　that　moment。

Rather；　she　thought　of　the　arms　that　had　held　her　earlier；　the　lips　that

had　kissed　her；　the　strong　body　that　had　supported　her。　Buoyed　by　a

sense　of　euphoria；　she　allowed　herself　to　think　back　on　the　full　story

of　that　night　eleven　years　ago。

It　had　been　the　holiday　recess。　She　and　Crystal　had　returned　from　their

first　semester　at　the　university　to　spend　Thanksgiving　with　the　family。

The　boys　were　gathered：　AJLAN　from　Denver；　Chris　from　Chicago；　Ti