[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Great idea, I breathed, dizzy with relief. My treat.
v
The house was empty when we got back. Mrs. Standish was
calling on friends and Eric was still at the hospital. I went upstairs to
shower and change. I did not expect to find Layla lounging on my bed
in a black satin kimono when I emerged from the bathroom.
Hey, she said like it was no big deal that I was naked and had
my towel draped over my shoulder. I knocked, but I guess you didn t
hear me.
I whipped the towel down and wrapped myself in it. Determined
not to blush, I forced myself to think about the smell of gasoline and the
stress of cutting dog toenails.
You know something, Layla said as I knotted the towel
aggressively over my breasts. I m glad you re marrying Eric. I always
wanted a sister, and you ll be the next best thing.
I stage-managed a smile. I wanted a sister too.
Funny, isn t it, that we re all only children you, me, and Eric.
Yes. Was I supposed to get dressed in front of her as if we were
impassive strangers in a locker room? I took a shirt and jeans from the
closet and draped them over the back of a chair. Layla made no move
to leave.
I m sorry I was weird about everything yesterday by the pool.
She rearranged the pillows and settled back. Please tell me about you
and Eric. Her expression was one of keyed-up expectancy, as if we
were teenagers sharing secrets at a slumber party.
In my most discouraging tone, I asked, Tell you what?
Oh, you know. The romantic stuff. Was it really love at first
sight?
" 80 "
CHANCE
Pretty much. I recalled my first impression of Eric as the woman
of my dreams. I almost passed out when I saw him.
What was he wearing?
Jeans. Turtleneck. Leather jacket.
Mmn, I know that look. Eric has a certain& androgynous beauty,
wouldn t you say?
I guess. I tried to sound clueless.
Actually, you have something of that quality yourself, Chance.
She studied me more closely.
I tried to read her face. Had she figured me out? Hoping not to
convey guilt or nerves, I said, Uh-huh, and casually gathered up my
clothing, heading for the bathroom.
Wait! A laughing protest. Eric leaves out all the good bits when
we talk about this. Come on, Chance. Spill!
I hovered in the bathroom doorway, wanting to escape but weirdly
unable to put a closed door between us. Her expression was so sweet
and coaxing and the tease of her body beneath the flimsy satin had me
reduced to a state of wet, weak thrall.
I should get dressed, I said without conviction. Eric will be
home soon.
She looked perplexed, as if it hadn t crossed her mind that I might
not want to indulge in girl talk and that I might prefer to dress in privacy.
Her voice dropped to a throaty tease and her face wore a distinctly
come-hither expression. You re shy, she murmured.
No, I m not. I knew my cheeks rosily declared this to be
untrue.
I won t look, she said with a wicked little grin. In fact, if it
would make you more comfortable, I can take this off.
To my shocked delight, she sat up and unfastened the belt of her
kimono, allowing the garment to slither down her shoulders until her
breasts were uncovered. Like the rest of her, they were to die for, and
obviously not implants. Her small plum red nipples stood hard and
expectant and her eyes challenged me to react. What was she playing
at? I was her cousin s fiancée, yet she was flirting with me. It was a
test, I decided. She was trying to push my buttons, trying to find out if
androgynous meant queer in my case. Trying not to drool and give
myself away, I compelled my gaze to stay riveted to a spot slightly west
of her face.
" 81 "
Grace Lennox
With what I hoped was polite disinterest, I said, You re welcome
to wait if you want. I ll only be a few minutes. I could not draw breath.
Layla was half naked on my bed and shamelessly enticing. She slid
one foot slowly along the muscular arch of the calf it rested upon. The
invitation was so provocative I knew if I didn t escape immediately, I d
have to touch her.
Yearning made me ache and shiver. My heart deafened me. It was
all I could do not to cross the room and drop to my knees. I was ready
to beg her to do with me as she pleased, to let me please her. I d never
wanted to be anyone s sex slave, but I now understood the urge.
God, those nuns did a job on you, Layla said softly. You re
such an innocent.
No, I m not. It sounded like someone else s hoarse protest.
Really? She slid her legs over the side of the bed and stood.
Drawing the kimono into place again, she tied the narrow belt. I m
sorry. I didn t mean to embarrass you.
Rooted to the spot and alarmed by my inability to walk away, I
latched on to a mundane subject. I had a nice time at the zoo. Thanks
for coming along.
Instead of strolling out of my room, Layla crossed the floor to stand
a few inches from me. In bare feet, we were the same height, which
meant that if I didn t slouch everything was aligned. Eyes, mouths,
nipples, groins. She sized me up like she was thinking exactly the same
thing. With her face just inches from mine, I could see how perfect
her features were. She had the kind of cheekbones that got fashion
photographers worked up, and a smooth high forehead that balanced
her angular chin and jaw. Her eyes were hypnotic. Sapphire and violet
glimmered from a fine webbing of black, like gems had been crushed
to tint her irises. The pupils dilated as she gazed at me, consuming the
color around them until it seemed her irises were black with a violet
halo. She had eyelashes so ridiculously long I thought they were fake
at first, but as they swept down onto her cheeks, I could see she wasn t
even wearing mascara.
Do something for me. She lifted a hand to my cheek. Tell me
how you really feel about Eric.
Her eyes locked on mine. I knew she would see right through me
if I lied. Scrambling for a truth I could tell with complete sincerity, I
said, We really love each other.
" 82 "
CHANCE
Her palm smelled of daphne, a succulent sweet tang that made
me imagine drifting through the groves of Delphi, seeking out the
handmaidens of the Oracle. Normally, I wasn t prone to such flaky
imaginings, but Layla would bring out the dreamer in anyone.
She angled her head and her face brushed mine. Her breath was
warm against my ear, her lips so unbearably close I shuddered and
closed my eyes. Go get dressed, she murmured.
I turned my head just a fraction, my breathing out of control. I had
to kiss her.
With a wicked little smile, she drew away just as I zoomed in on
her mouth. Are you okay? You re shaking.
Spared from totally blowing it, I stumbled back a step. Had she
been merciful or was this just another level of teasing? I m cold, I
said. That s all.
She lifted a hand and trailed her fingertips slowly down my arm.
Mmn. You have goose bumps. Like she had no idea how that could
have come about.
I took several guilty backward steps into the haven of the bathroom,
and we stared at one another as if on opposite sides of a no-man s land
we would cross at our peril.
I can see you re all wet and uncomfortable& from your shower,
she said. I m sorry to have kept you talking so long.
It s okay. I reached for the door handle, signaling that the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
Great idea, I breathed, dizzy with relief. My treat.
v
The house was empty when we got back. Mrs. Standish was
calling on friends and Eric was still at the hospital. I went upstairs to
shower and change. I did not expect to find Layla lounging on my bed
in a black satin kimono when I emerged from the bathroom.
Hey, she said like it was no big deal that I was naked and had
my towel draped over my shoulder. I knocked, but I guess you didn t
hear me.
I whipped the towel down and wrapped myself in it. Determined
not to blush, I forced myself to think about the smell of gasoline and the
stress of cutting dog toenails.
You know something, Layla said as I knotted the towel
aggressively over my breasts. I m glad you re marrying Eric. I always
wanted a sister, and you ll be the next best thing.
I stage-managed a smile. I wanted a sister too.
Funny, isn t it, that we re all only children you, me, and Eric.
Yes. Was I supposed to get dressed in front of her as if we were
impassive strangers in a locker room? I took a shirt and jeans from the
closet and draped them over the back of a chair. Layla made no move
to leave.
I m sorry I was weird about everything yesterday by the pool.
She rearranged the pillows and settled back. Please tell me about you
and Eric. Her expression was one of keyed-up expectancy, as if we
were teenagers sharing secrets at a slumber party.
In my most discouraging tone, I asked, Tell you what?
Oh, you know. The romantic stuff. Was it really love at first
sight?
" 80 "
CHANCE
Pretty much. I recalled my first impression of Eric as the woman
of my dreams. I almost passed out when I saw him.
What was he wearing?
Jeans. Turtleneck. Leather jacket.
Mmn, I know that look. Eric has a certain& androgynous beauty,
wouldn t you say?
I guess. I tried to sound clueless.
Actually, you have something of that quality yourself, Chance.
She studied me more closely.
I tried to read her face. Had she figured me out? Hoping not to
convey guilt or nerves, I said, Uh-huh, and casually gathered up my
clothing, heading for the bathroom.
Wait! A laughing protest. Eric leaves out all the good bits when
we talk about this. Come on, Chance. Spill!
I hovered in the bathroom doorway, wanting to escape but weirdly
unable to put a closed door between us. Her expression was so sweet
and coaxing and the tease of her body beneath the flimsy satin had me
reduced to a state of wet, weak thrall.
I should get dressed, I said without conviction. Eric will be
home soon.
She looked perplexed, as if it hadn t crossed her mind that I might
not want to indulge in girl talk and that I might prefer to dress in privacy.
Her voice dropped to a throaty tease and her face wore a distinctly
come-hither expression. You re shy, she murmured.
No, I m not. I knew my cheeks rosily declared this to be
untrue.
I won t look, she said with a wicked little grin. In fact, if it
would make you more comfortable, I can take this off.
To my shocked delight, she sat up and unfastened the belt of her
kimono, allowing the garment to slither down her shoulders until her
breasts were uncovered. Like the rest of her, they were to die for, and
obviously not implants. Her small plum red nipples stood hard and
expectant and her eyes challenged me to react. What was she playing
at? I was her cousin s fiancée, yet she was flirting with me. It was a
test, I decided. She was trying to push my buttons, trying to find out if
androgynous meant queer in my case. Trying not to drool and give
myself away, I compelled my gaze to stay riveted to a spot slightly west
of her face.
" 81 "
Grace Lennox
With what I hoped was polite disinterest, I said, You re welcome
to wait if you want. I ll only be a few minutes. I could not draw breath.
Layla was half naked on my bed and shamelessly enticing. She slid
one foot slowly along the muscular arch of the calf it rested upon. The
invitation was so provocative I knew if I didn t escape immediately, I d
have to touch her.
Yearning made me ache and shiver. My heart deafened me. It was
all I could do not to cross the room and drop to my knees. I was ready
to beg her to do with me as she pleased, to let me please her. I d never
wanted to be anyone s sex slave, but I now understood the urge.
God, those nuns did a job on you, Layla said softly. You re
such an innocent.
No, I m not. It sounded like someone else s hoarse protest.
Really? She slid her legs over the side of the bed and stood.
Drawing the kimono into place again, she tied the narrow belt. I m
sorry. I didn t mean to embarrass you.
Rooted to the spot and alarmed by my inability to walk away, I
latched on to a mundane subject. I had a nice time at the zoo. Thanks
for coming along.
Instead of strolling out of my room, Layla crossed the floor to stand
a few inches from me. In bare feet, we were the same height, which
meant that if I didn t slouch everything was aligned. Eyes, mouths,
nipples, groins. She sized me up like she was thinking exactly the same
thing. With her face just inches from mine, I could see how perfect
her features were. She had the kind of cheekbones that got fashion
photographers worked up, and a smooth high forehead that balanced
her angular chin and jaw. Her eyes were hypnotic. Sapphire and violet
glimmered from a fine webbing of black, like gems had been crushed
to tint her irises. The pupils dilated as she gazed at me, consuming the
color around them until it seemed her irises were black with a violet
halo. She had eyelashes so ridiculously long I thought they were fake
at first, but as they swept down onto her cheeks, I could see she wasn t
even wearing mascara.
Do something for me. She lifted a hand to my cheek. Tell me
how you really feel about Eric.
Her eyes locked on mine. I knew she would see right through me
if I lied. Scrambling for a truth I could tell with complete sincerity, I
said, We really love each other.
" 82 "
CHANCE
Her palm smelled of daphne, a succulent sweet tang that made
me imagine drifting through the groves of Delphi, seeking out the
handmaidens of the Oracle. Normally, I wasn t prone to such flaky
imaginings, but Layla would bring out the dreamer in anyone.
She angled her head and her face brushed mine. Her breath was
warm against my ear, her lips so unbearably close I shuddered and
closed my eyes. Go get dressed, she murmured.
I turned my head just a fraction, my breathing out of control. I had
to kiss her.
With a wicked little smile, she drew away just as I zoomed in on
her mouth. Are you okay? You re shaking.
Spared from totally blowing it, I stumbled back a step. Had she
been merciful or was this just another level of teasing? I m cold, I
said. That s all.
She lifted a hand and trailed her fingertips slowly down my arm.
Mmn. You have goose bumps. Like she had no idea how that could
have come about.
I took several guilty backward steps into the haven of the bathroom,
and we stared at one another as if on opposite sides of a no-man s land
we would cross at our peril.
I can see you re all wet and uncomfortable& from your shower,
she said. I m sorry to have kept you talking so long.
It s okay. I reached for the door handle, signaling that the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]