《rekindled(英文版)》第57章

at　his　nape。　It　brought　him　in　for　a　kiss　that　held　all　the　passion
missing　from　the　earlier　hug。　She　shivered　when　his　tongue　slid　into　her
mouth　and　their　breath　mingled。　With　his　shoulders　flexing　under　her
palms；　her　head　began　to　spin。　He　intoxicated　her。　But　she　didn"t　want
him　leaving　her；　and　said　so　with　a　cry　when　he　angled　his　body　off；
then　cried　out　again；　differently　now；　when　his　hand　found　her　breast。
He　trailed　kisses　from　her　eyes；　down　her　cheeks　to　her　neck；　while　she
unbuttoned　his　shirt。　His　bare　chest　was　an　Eden　of　sinew　and　fuzz；　a
potent　aphrodisiac。　She　was　ready　to　burst　when　his　hand　left　her　breast
and　held　her　neck　so　that　he　could　kiss　her　harder。　She　weled　it；
needed　it。　〃Annie；　Annie；　Annie；〃　he　groaned；　ragged　against　her　lips；
〃what　am　I　going　to　do　with　you？〃
She　held　his　head；　then　dropped　her　fingers　down　his　throat　and；　again；
into　the　tawny　hair　on　his　chest。　〃Look　who　started　it；〃　she　whispered
but　she　was　fascinated　by　the　bunch　of　muscles　under　her　hand。　She　moved
her　palms　around；　then　over　his　nipples。
He　made　a　frustrated　sound　and　sat　up；　hauling　her　along　with　him。
Abruptly　he　released　her　and　leaned　forward。　He　put　his　elbows　on　his
knees　and　his　head　in　his　palms。
Everything　about　him　cried　of　sudden　distress。　Anne　rubbed　the　taut
muscles　at　the　back　of　his　neck。　〃What　is　it？〃
He　gave　her　a　sidelong　glance。　〃You　don"t　know？〃　When　she　didn"t　answer；
he　shrugged　off　her　hand　and　pushed　himself　into　a　far　corner　of　the
sofa。　〃I　thought　I"d　be　able　to　chalk　what　we　have　here　up　to　a　vacation
thing；　but　each　time　I　go　home；　I　can"t　put　you　out　of　my　mind。　I　want
you；　Anne。　Want　you　bad。〃
She　was　dizzy　with　pleasure。　〃Why　does　that　upset　you？〃
He　stared；　then　came　forward。　〃Do　you　know　what　I"m　talking　about　here？〃
〃Yes。　I"m　not　stupid。　You"re　asking　yourself　the　same　questions　I"ve
spent　hours　asking　myself。　What　am　I　doing　here？　Why　did　I　e？　What　do
I　want　to　happen？　Where"s　my　sense　of　propriety？　The　list　goes　on　and
on。〃　She　caught　a　breath。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　say？　I　know　what
you"re　saying；　but　I　don"t　know　what　to　do　either！〃
Mitch　sighed　and　drew　her　back　to　his　chest。　〃It"s　gone　past　that；　Anne。
I"m　asking　myself　whether　I"m　ready　to　see　you　in　public；　in　New　York；
and　whether　you"re　ready　for　that。　I"m　asking　whether　I"m　ready　for　more
of　a　mitment　than　just　a　physical　one；　and　whether　you"re　ready　for
that。〃　He　tipped　up　her　face。　〃I　want　to　sleep　with　you；　Anne；　but　I
can"t　do　that　and　then　walk　away　when　it"s　done。　For　the　first　time　in
so　long　it"s　not　just　a　physical　need。〃
He　had　echoed　her　thoughts。　Anne　was　more　interested　in　him　than　in
anyone　else　since　Jeff"s　death；　but　she　wasn"t　ready　for　a　full…time；
open　relationship。　There　was　still　that　loose　end　to　tie　up　in　court；
still　that　emotional　barrier。
He　pressed　her　cheek　to　the　beat　of　his　heart。　〃I　wouldn"t　want　to　hurt
you　for　the　world；　Annie。　You　deserve　the　best。　You　need　a　guy"s　full
attention　and　devotion。　I　have　too　many　other　responsibilities　right
now。〃
It　was　the　right　answer；　still　she　felt　discouragement　and　loss。　She
held　on；　and　was　held　for　long　seconds。　When　she　looked　up；　he　brushed　a
tear　from　her　cheek。
〃I　won"t　ask　much；〃　she　whispered　falteringly。　〃I"m　not　sure　what　I　want
any　more　than　you　are。　The　only　thing　I　ask　is　that　you　be　here　for　me
to　e　to　every　once　in　a　while。〃
He　tightened　his　arms　around　her。　〃I　will；　honey；　I　will。〃
The　New　Year　arrived　with　a　surge　of　high　spirit　that　neither　of　them；
weeks　before；　would　have　imagined　possible。　They　ate　at　a　small　inn
where　the　restaurant　was　elegant；　intimate；　and　quaint。　For　Anne　it　was
like　a　first　date。　She　wore　her　favorite　navy　knit；　which　she　had　packed
for　the　occasion。　Its　softness　offset　her　darkness；　its　gentle　wrap
showed　curves　that　had　begun　to　return。　She　wanted　to　look
sophisticated；　and　to　that　end；　wore　makeup　for　the　first　time　here。
Mitch　rewarded　her　with　a　glow　in　his　eyes。　He　looked　gorgeous　in　his
fine　wool　slacks　and　tailored　blazer。　They　made　a　stunning　duo；　drawing
the　attention　of　more　than　one　pair　of　curious　eyes。
He　avoided　intimacy　beyond　a　light　hand　on　her　waist　when　he　escorted
her　to　their　table。　Later；　back　at　the　cabin；　they　rang　in　the　midnight
hour　with　champagne　toasts。
And　the　light…hearted　tone　held　through　the　week。　They　took　daily　walks
in　the　crisp；　cold　air。　The　woods　were　an　enchanted　place　in　winter；　a
safe　harbor　from　winds　that　whipped　across　the　meadow　but　couldn"t
perate　the　evergreens。　Bundled　in　woolen　and　down；　they　hiked　over
ponds　of　solid　ice　and　followed　the　crusty　line　of　the　brook　from
mountaintop　to　valley。　The　snow　squeaked　under　their　boots；　but；　aside
from　their　voices；　it　was　the　only　noise　in　the　forest。
Shielded　by　spruce；　pine；　and　cedar；　they　walked　for　hours　through　the
blue…shadowed　land；　returning　to　the　cabin　only　when　their　hands　and
feet　were　numb。　More　often　than　not　then；　they　settled　in　at　the　kitchen
window　to　watch　chickadees　at　the　feeder　that　Mitch　had　staked　into　the
ground。
It　was　a　time　of　quiet　serenity。　Anne　did　little　reading　and　even　less
work。　Rather；　she　spent　hours　in　calm　reverie　before　the　fire；　a　triumph
in　and　of　itself。　She　was　happy。　She　wasn"t　brooding　or　mourning。　She
didn"t　want　to　be　anywhere　else；　with　anyone　else　in　the　world。
During　one　of　these　relaxing　moments；　on　the　last　evening　of　their　stay；
Mitch　suddenly　went　to　his　bedroom　and　returned　with　a　small　box。　It　was
wrapped　in　white　and　had　a　pale　blue　ribbon。
〃What"s　this？〃　she　asked　in　surprise。
〃Open　it。〃
She　pulled　at　the　bow　with　unsteady　fingers。　〃When　did　you　get　this？〃
She　hadn"t　expected　a　gift。　His　presence　was　enough。
〃I　was　in　Brazil　right　after　Thanksgiving。　It　was　made　by　one　of　the
local　artisans　in　a　small　village　in　the　interior。〃
The　top　of　the　box　fell　back　to　reveal　a　ring；　a　rectangular　piece　of
enamelware　framed　in　gold　and　mounted　on　a　fine　gold　band。　Anne　gasped
at　the　beauty　of　the　intricately　painted　design；　a　semiabstract　por
trait　of　sand；　sea；　and　sun；　all　woven　together　in　blues；　greens；
yellows；　and