第20部分(第4/7 頁)

the　kitchen；　worn　wood　floorboards；　and　crown　molding。

Serena　flung　open　the　fridge　door。　Inside　were　a　few　cans　of　Diet　Coke；　a　box　of　clementines；　a　few　containers　of　yogurt；　and　a　bottle　of　champagne　left　over　from　a　gift　basket。　The　only　packages　Serena　ever　received　these　days　were　gift　baskets；　the　only　mail；　invitations　to　parties　and　events；　the　only　phone　calls；　from　her　agent　or　publicist。　Mostly；　she　ignored　all　of　it。

She　pulled　out　a　bottled　water　and　brought　it　back　to　the　bedroom。　Nate　was　sitting　up；　her　Frette　Egyptian　cotton　sheets　strewn　across　his　torso。　His　chest　was　muscular　and　tan。　Serena　climbed　back　into　bed　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　him。

“You　feel　nice；”　Serena　murmured；　nuzzling　her　head　against　his　shoulder。

“How　long　have　you　lived　here？”　Nate　asked；　taking　in　the　gauzy　white　curtains　and　Serena’s　familiar　old　canopy　bed。　It　was　warm　and　inviting；　and　all　hers。　Just　thinking　about　the　fact　that　they　had　the　whole　place　to　themselves　made　him　horny。

“A　year。　I　don’t　spend　too　much　time　here。”　Serena　shrugged。　“I　get　lonely；　so　a　lot　of　times　I　head　up　to　my　parents’　place。”

“Are　you　lonely　now？”　Nate　gently　bit　her　shoulder。

Serena　squealed　and　fell　back　against　the　pillows。　For　the　first　time　in　the　year　that　she’d　been　living　in　the　apartment；　she　appreciated　all　its　possibilities。　She　could　do　whatever　she　wanted。

With　whomever　she　wanted。

Nate　grabbed　the　bottle　of　water　from　the　nightstand　and　unscrewed　the　cap。　His　eyes　landed　on　a　silver　Tiffany　frame。　Inside　was　a　picture　of　him；　Blair；　and　Serena。　It　was　a　photo　from　Blair’s　party　at　the　Met　the　summer　after　senior　year；　the　night　before　he　left　with　Chips　on　the　Belinda。　Nate　was　standing　in　the　center；　looking　straig