喘息着，她又把它脱了下来，几分钟后她身着闪耀着金属光泽的红色紧身衣大喊“看我”，声音之大让克里斯蒂安双腿一颤。
“Turn,” he growled.
“转身。”他高声说。
Fiona turned.
菲奥娜转了过来。
The back fell in a long slippery cowl that left her spine exposed to below waist level. He stepped closer and traced a warm finger down the tempting ridge of bones, bumping softly from one to the next.
身后长长的帽子垂坠下来，使她的背部一直裸露到了腰部。他走近了一些，温暖的手指划过她诱人的背脊，一节、一节地向下。
He felt the shudder of shock run through her, but she held her ground and let him progress the whole way—almost as though she was challenging him to continue.
他感到她一阵战栗，但她又弯下腰去，让他得以完完整整地探索一番——她几乎是在鼓励他这么做。
“No, you can't wear that one here.” His voice sounded hoarse, even to his own ears. If the boutique assistant hadn't been present, he'd have followed his finger with a line of hot kisses down her smooth back, despite any objections Fiona might have had.
“不，你不能穿这件。”他的声音自己听起来都很是沙哑。要不是店员在场，在抚摸之后，他会往她光滑的背上献上一串热吻，她怎么抵抗都不行。
His blood fizzed and prickled; his heart slammed in his chest.
他的血液沸腾了起来；心脏猛烈地撞击着心脏。
“So the turquoise with the feather embroidery and that soft cinnamon one with the beaded bands?” She turned once again to face his ravenous eyes.
“那么就要松石绿配羽毛刺绣的那件跟浅棕色带珠子的那件？”她又一次转过身来，望着他渴望的眼神。
He nodded, nearly blind from wanting her. “Wear the turquoise tonight?”
他点点头，对她的渴望已经占据了他的理性。“今晚穿松石绿那件？”
“Okay,” she murmured and returned to the fitting room.
“好的。”她低声答道，又回到了更衣室。
Christian thumped a fist softly and repeatedly against the top of the leather armchair. The blatant red dress had blasted his self-control half way to Mars.
克里斯蒂安握起了拳头，轻轻地，反复地敲打着皮椅。那件诱惑的红裙使他的思绪飘上了火星。
If she said she wasn't interested, then right now she wasn't interested. But opinions could be softened, minds could be changed, miracles could be caressed into being with patience and persistence. Christian had plenty of persistence. He hoped he'd have enough patience as well.
如果说她都说了自己不感兴趣，那她就是真的不感兴趣。但是意见可以软化，内心可以转变，只要有耐心跟毅力，奇迹就会发生。克里斯蒂安有的是毅力。他希望自己也同样有耐心。
He was in way too deep. He'd loved Jan and lost her. He might lose her sister the same damned way. But if he had the chance, he'd take it, and let fate do its worst.
他实在陷得太深了。他爱过简，随后又失去了她。他可能会因为同样的原因失去她的妹妹。但如果他有机会，他一定会抓住的。其余的，都交给命运。
“Wrap the red one separately and I'll collect it later,” he instructed the sales assistant, hoping Fiona was out of earshot.
“把红色那件分开装好，我随后来取。”他吩咐店员，希望菲奥娜没有察觉到。
*
They returned to the cottage with her purchases, and while Fiona unpacked and hung her extravagant dresses, Christian searched out a bottle of chilled champagne and two flutes. Without Nicky's chirpy presence, and with the sun sliding close to the horizon, the atmosphere crackled.
他们带着衣服回到住处，趁菲奥娜挂起她华丽的裙装，克里斯蒂安取来了一瓶冰镇香槟和两个杯子。顽皮的妮基不在身旁，夕阳也快要沉入地平线，氛围热烈了起来。
As Fiona walked back into the luxurious living area, Christian's hungry gaze immediately claimed her. She wandered aimlessly—touching a piece of Jan's pottery, stroking a finger along the back of the big leather sofa, peering at the titles of the books and glossy magazines available for guests to read. Then she opened one of the wide glass sliders onto the terrace—anything to put some distance between them—and stepped outside.
菲奥娜又走回了奢华的起居室，克里斯蒂安渴望的视线立即攫住了她。她漫无目的地闲逛——摸摸简的陶器，或者在皮质沙发上摩挲，看看供客人们阅读的书籍与杂志。之后她又打开了通往阳台的玻璃门——任何可以增加他们距离的东西——然后便走了出去。
A gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of the ocean up from the coast, but it was summer-warm. So why was she covered in shivery gooseflesh?
一阵清风从岸边带来了海洋清新的气味，但又充满着夏日的温暖。那么她为什么会浑身起鸡皮疙瘩呢？
“What shall we drink to?” Christian asked a minute or two later, far too close behind her. He set an opened champagne bottle down on the outdoor table and started to pour the hissing wine.
“我们这杯酒要敬给谁？”一两分钟后，克里斯蒂安在距离她很近的地方开口问道。他把打开的酒瓶放在了室外的桌上，倒起了嘶嘶作响的香槟。
“To the house renovations going well?” she suggested over her shoulder. She returned her eyes to the view, conscious of the hint of desperation in her voice.
“敬房子翻修进展良好？”她耸了耸肩。她又转头去看风景，知道自己的声音里透露着绝望。
Christian let out a small puff of mirth. “We can do better than that, surely? To an enjoyable dinner? A relaxing few days in the lap of luxury? Or…?” His breath was on her nape, and then his lips were there—and gone again. The soft aftershock of his kiss rippled right down her spine. To her dismay, a breathy little grunt of pleasure escaped from between her lips.
克里斯蒂安有些小欣喜。“我们可以说得更好些吧？致一顿美味的晚餐？一段奢华时光？或者……”她感受到了脖子周围他的呼吸，他的嘴唇又落在了那里——然后又离开了。她的背脊因着他的轻吻而微微震颤。令她吃惊的是，自己忍不住发出了愉悦的呻吟。
“Unfair,” she gasped.
“不公平。”她粗重地喘息。
He picked up both glasses and offered her one. She held it in front of her, an inadequate shield.
他拿起杯子，递给了她一只。她把它端在面前，权当是一块盾牌。
“Life is,”he agreed,lifting his glass and touching it to hers in an ironic toast.
“生活就是这样。”他赞同道，举起手中的杯子与她的顽皮地碰了一下。
“To an enjoyable dinner, then.” She sipped, barely registering the taste of the superb wine.
“那就敬我们美味的晚餐。”她抿了一口，几乎没有尝出这瓶好酒的滋味。
“And absent wives and sisters.”
“还有不在场的妻子与姐姐。”
“To Jan,” Fiona whispered, throat constricting.
“敬简。”菲奥娜喃喃地说，喉头一紧。
To Jan, who is always with us, and is always going to be with us, however much I might want us to be alone.
敬简，那个无论现在还是未来，永远如影随形的简，哪怕我只想与他单独相处。
She bit her bottom lip and sipped again. “I came here to be useful to you,” she reminded him. “To look after Nicky. Not to get taken out to fancy dinners and so on.”
她咬了咬自己的下嘴唇，又抿了一口。“我来这里是为了帮你。”她提醒道，“来找看妮基。而不是去吃豪华晚宴或者别的。”
“And so on?”
“别的？”
She deliberately ignored him and lifted the hissing flute to her nose, inhaling the yeasty fruitiness.
她故意忽略了。他举起杯子闻了闻四溢的果香。
“I suppose this is something special?” she asked, feigning interest in the rising bubbles.
“我猜这东西一定很特别？”她问，饶有兴致地打量着上浮的气泡。
“Only the best for you, Blondie. Only the best of everything, if I had my way.”
“最好的才给你，美人儿。所有的所有，最好的都给你，只要我有。”
She stared up at him, lips wet from the wine. Desire swept through her, swift as lightning.
她望着她，酒水染湿了她的双唇。欲望如闪电般席卷了她。
“It's lovely,” she croaked, turning away and making a dash for the wide-open doors. “I'm going to run a big hot bath and enjoy my drink there.”
“谢谢你的好意。”她哑着嗓子说，转身走向大开着的门。“我泡个热水澡，在那里好好享用美酒。”
His soft laugh followed her across the terrace.
他轻轻笑了，随着她走出了阳台。
*
Fiona ran the water very deep. The heavy glass shelf over the vanity unit displayed extravagant toiletries in Pounamu Lodge packaging. She ran a thoughtful finger over the green and gold label of the bath gel. Pounamu—the Maori word for the precious dark green jade sometimes found in the fast flowing mountain rivers of New Zealand.
菲奥娜把水开到了最大。浮华的单间里，沉重的玻璃架子彰显着普纳姆酒店的奢华浴室。她谨慎地点了沐浴乳罐子上的绿色与金色按钮。普纳姆——一个毛利语单词，指一种偶尔能在新西兰高山河流间发现的珍贵的深绿色宝石。
She unscrewed the lid and inhaled the exotic fragrance, then tipped some into the rapidly filling bath. The bubbles foamed up as she sipped her champagne, set the flute down, and began to undress.
她拧开了盖子，闻见了一阵异域芬芳，然后取了一些放进快要满了的浴缸。她喝一口酒的功夫，泡泡就冒了起来。她把杯子放到一边，开始脱衣服。
“Decent?” Christian enquired, tapping on the door some time later. Fiona lay well submerged, but uneasy at the prospect of him invading her privacy.
“不错吧？”没一会儿，克里斯蒂安就敲门问道。菲奥娜沉在水中，但还是对他侵犯自己的隐私十分不悦。
“Still in the bath,” she called back, hoping she'd achieved the right tone to keep him away.
“还在洗呢。”她喊道，希望自己的声音可以把他驱走。
He opened the door anyway, and a long tanned arm dangled the champagne bottle through the gap.
但他还是开了门，一条晒得刚好的手臂带着一瓶酒从缝隙中伸了进来。
“Top-up?” he invited, waiting a few seconds before pushing the door any further ajar.
“再来点？”他邀请道，在继续推门前等了几秒。
Fiona's eyes blazed open. Christian had already showered. His hair was damp, his eyes possessive, and he'd wrapped a forest-green towel low around his hips. He'd tucked one end in to secure it. Fiona felt it could unravel at any second, and then wished it would so she could enjoy the sight of his whole long, taut, lean-hipped body.
菲奥娜看直了。克里斯蒂安已经洗好了澡。他的头发湿了，而眼神还是很有侵略性。他的腰间围了一块森林绿的毛巾，将一段塞了进去。一时间，菲奥娜有些慌乱，但马上又想看看他整个修长、健壮、倒三角的身体。
She held up her nearly empty flute. “Just another half, thanks.” Could he hear the tremor in her voice? “I'd better leave some room for dinner.”
她举起快要空了的杯子。“一半就好，谢谢。”他会不会听见自己声音里的颤抖？“我得给晚餐留点胃口。”
Christian sank down onto the marble bath surround. The towel parted enough to reveal a hard muscular thigh, but otherwise remained secure. He took the glass from her unsteady hand and set it beside him to pour the wine.Fiona sensed the bath water growing suddenly hotter around her very bothered body.
克里斯蒂安坐到了大理石浴缸的边缘。毛巾间透露出他紧实的大腿，不过别的部位都包得严严实实的。他晃了晃手中的杯子，往里头倒酒。菲奥娜感到自己身体周围沐浴的水刹那间烫了起来。
“Look at you,” he whispered, setting the bottle aside so he could touch a fingertip to her lips. “So beautiful, so female, such a turn-on.” His dark eyes found hers and he shook his head slightly. “Ah, Blondie,” he breathed as he bent his mouth to hers for one small hard stinging kiss before he tore himself away. “Put your pretty dress on. Come to dinner with me.”
“看看你。”他呢喃道，把瓶子放到一边，手指触上了她的嘴唇。“如此美丽、如此妩媚，令人神往。”他深邃的目光盯着她，然后又摇了摇头。“呃，美人儿，”他的呼吸伴随着他小小的一吻落在她的唇上，之后就起身离开了。“穿上你的裙子。我们去用晚餐吧。”
Fiona sat still as stone in the fragrant water and watched him leave. Several minutes crept by before she dared test if her legs were strong enough to support her.
菲奥娜像石头一样静静坐在芬芳四溢的水中，看着他离开。几分钟过去了，她才敢看看自己是否有力气站起来。
*
It feels like a date,she thought.And she didn't want it to feel like that.
这感觉像是一场约会，她想。但她不想有这种感觉。
But, as she blotted her skin with the huge towel, she could imagine his hands were tenderly caressing her as they had once before.
但是，当她用浴巾轻轻擦拭着自己的皮肤，又不由感到这仿佛是他的爱抚，就好像他们曾经有过的那样。
When she picked up her hair drier she remembered him in the sunny bedroom as he stood, drying her newly washed hair. She'd watched the stretch and flex of his lithe body in the big mirror; enjoyed the play of smooth skin over long muscles.
当她拿起吹风机，又回忆起他在阳光充盈的房间里为她吹干刚洗完的头发时的情景。她欣赏着大镜子里他身体优美的线条；静静享受细滑皮肤与纤长肌肉的美。
As she patted on moisturizer she could once again feel his gentle touch on her bruised face; see his brown eyes dancing as he joked about the makeup task she'd given him.
当她往脸上拍打润肤乳的时候，她又一次地感到他的手指在自己瘀青的脸上的触感；看见他为自己上妆时闪光的棕色眼睛。
And all the time, Jan had watched, smiling from her wedding photo on the bedroom wall.
而这一切，简都尽收眼底。她在墙上那张婚礼照片上微笑着洞悉一切。
Fiona stretched to push away the vivid recollections. She drew a deep breath and turned to blast a stern stare at herself in the mirror of the cottage bedroom.
菲奥娜努力地从回忆中抽身。她深深吸了一口气，坚毅地看了看卧室大镜子里的自己。
No Jan—he's yours.
不，简——他是你的。
At least this room lacked a happy wedding photo to taunt her. She shook her head, swamped with guilt for allowing Christian to kiss her again. She'd almost passed out from the pleasure of it. How was she ever going to turn back the clock now?
至少这间房间没有那张幸福的结婚照来奚落她。她摇了摇头，想到自己竟允许克里斯蒂安吻自己，便被一阵愧疚淹没。她甚至差点因此高兴得晕过去。她怎么可能拨回时钟，假装什么都没有发生？
She deliberately chose a pair of unremarkable up-to-the-waist thin white silk panties, knowing they'd leave no tell-tale line through the bias-cut cling of her dress. She was pleased they looked so un-sexy—a further deterrent to undressing for Christian. For she knew without doubt she'd need every tiny wisp of determination to resist him tonight.
她特意选了条纯白色高腰丝质内裤，好不要在斜裁的裙子边露出痕迹。她很高兴它看起来一点儿都不性感——警告自己不要为了克里斯蒂安宽衣解带。她直达自己需要用尽全力在今晚抵抗他。
She opted for no perfume, only her most neutral lipstick, and the lightest of eye makeup.
她没喷香水，只涂了最低调的口红，画了极浅的眼妆。
She drew the sophisticated turquoise dress up past her hips, slid her arms under the shoulder straps, positioned the bodice with its cascade of vivid peacock feather embroidery, and pulled the zipper closed. She had no strapless bra with her. The soft glossy fabric clung to her curves, and she folded her arms as she heard Christian jogging downstairs, jingling keys, calling “Ready, Blondie?”
她把华丽的绿松石色长裙提了起来，胳膊穿过肩带，摆好上身栩栩如生的孔雀羽毛刺绣，把拉链拉了起来。她没有带裹胸。柔软光泽的缎子紧贴着她的曲线。她听见克里斯蒂安跑下楼，晃动着钥匙，喊着：“好了吗，美人儿？”，赶紧把双臂挡在胸前。
“With you in a minute, Christian. Meet you in the car.”
“马上，克里斯蒂安。在车里等我。”
But she found him lounging against the hand-wrought iron banisters.
但她发现他靠在手工锻造的铁质扶手上。
“No hurry.” His eyes slid all over her, making her feel even more like a casual girlfriend being collected for an evening out.
“不着急。”他目光迎向她，好像她是他等着出门约会的女朋友。
She dashed in front of him to the welcome semi-darkness of the summer evening, hoping the short car ride would calm her down. She pulled the seat belt across her body, and it closed with a loud click in the country quietness.
在这个迷人的昏暗的夏夜，她在他前面冲向了车子，希望短短的车程可以使自己冷静下来。她系好了安全带，咔嗒声打破了乡间的宁静。
“You'll hardly need that,” Christian said. “We're only going a couple of hundred yards, and not on a public road.”
“你不必系。”克里斯蒂安说，“我们只是开个几百米，不需要上路。”
Fiona murmured agreement, but kept her arms clasped around herself.
菲奥娜低声表示同意，但还是一直把胳膊抱在胸前。
“This feels all wrong,” she said, made braver by the darkness. “It's strange me being with you when it should be Jan sitting here.” She glanced over at Christian's profile. “Sorry,” she added. “But I'm no sort of replacement for her, if that's what the champagne kiss in the bath was about.”
“这感觉一点都不好。”她说，黑夜令她变得勇敢了些。“坐在你身边的人不是简，却是我，这实在太奇怪了。”她扫了克里斯蒂安一眼。“对不起。”她补充道，“但我绝不是她的替代品。如果在浴室里那个香槟之吻是因为这个的话。”
She sensed, rather than saw, his breath draw in…his lips compress…his whole body become tense.
她看不到，却感觉到，他的呼吸急促了……紧紧地抿起嘴唇……他全身都紧张了起来。
“The champagne kiss was because I got carried away,” he said in a flat voice. “You're not Jan Mark Two—you're Fiona Mark One.” His tone flayed her.
“香槟之吻是因为我情不自禁。”他淡淡地说，“你不是第二个简·马克，——你是第一个菲奥娜·马克。”他的音调惊到了她。
Fiona bowed her head and fought for a better explanation.
她低下了头，想要更好地解释。
“No, I didn't mean that exactly. Just—it feels weird to be all dressed up and dining out alone with my brother-in-law. Like a date,” she finished lamely. Her cheeks flamed with unease and embarrassment. Why ever had she said those last three words?
“不，我不是那个意思。只是——盛装打扮跟姐夫一起出去吃饭真的很奇怪。好像约会一样。”她越说声音越小。她的双颊因为不安与尴尬而红了起来。她为什么要说最后几个字呢？
*
“Some date,” Christian scoffed. “My wife's been dead barely a month. We'll have a couple of dozen other diners keeping an eye on us, and my daughter in the house.” Then he couldn't resist adding, “And we'll be in separate bedrooms. I'd manage something better if I was setting up a seduction.”
“好像约会。”克里斯蒂安嘲弄地说。“我妻子才去世一个月。我们还有几十顿饭要吃，我女儿也在家里。”他忍不住补充说：“我们睡在分开的卧室里。如果我打什么鬼主意的话，会有更好的安排。”
“Good,” she muttered. “If you're not thinking of it that way, I mean.”
“那就好。”她嘟哝道。“我是说，你没那么想真是太好了。”
His mouth quirked. So she thought it felt almost like a date? He hadn't imagined it as such, yet was perversely pleased she had. It was years since he'd dated, but he still remembered the anticipation, the jubilation when things turned out well.
他撇撇嘴。所以她觉得这几乎是场约会？他没这么想过，不过知道她有这样的想法，自己竟有些开心。他已经很多年没有约会过了，但他仍记得那些期待之情，以及一切进展顺利时的愉悦。
Fiona, he thought somewhat bitterly, must be well used to the company of a variety of men. Did she flirt with the passengers? The officers? Did she have shipboard romances? Onshore liaisons he knew nothing about?
菲奥娜，他不由苦涩地想道，一定很习惯于受各式各样男人的陪伴。她会不会和乘客调情？或者海员？她不晓得有没有一段海上情缘？或者又有哪个秘密的陆地情人？
The amusement died away and the slight smile faded from his lips as he eased the big car around a bend and onto the crunching gravel that fronted Pounamu Lodge.
愉悦的心情一下子就逝去了，他收敛起嘴角的微笑，将车停在了普拉姆酒店前面粗粝的石子路上。
He drew up level with the impressive entrance and braked.
他开上了华丽的入口处，踩下刹车。
“Go on in—I'll park,” he said, watching as she slid out and walked slowly up the shallow marble steps in the only pair of really smart shoes he'd seen her in—the high-heeled black Italian pumps she'd worn to Jan's funeral.
“你先进去吧——我去停车。”他说，看着她走出车外，一点点登上矮矮的大理石台阶。她穿着他见过的唯一一双漂亮鞋子——她穿着这双意大利高跟舞鞋去了简的葬礼。
His speculative gaze followed the graceful sway of her hips under the shining fabric…her long legs above the tall heels. She entered the glittering reception area, still visible through the long windows. The chandeliers blazed down, highlighting her pale hair and the vivid turquoise dress moving fluidly with her body.
他凝视着她闪亮裙装下绰约的身姿……她的一双长腿在高跟鞋的映衬下更显修长。透过长窗口，可以看见她走进了等候区。枝形吊灯的投影下，她的长发与身后摇曳的绿松石裙尾更显迷人。
Cursing under his breath, he pulled away. He knew he'd lost the long-fought battle with his conscience and his caution. Jan had gone forever. Fiona was here, and almost receptive. However apprehensive he was she might carry the same seeds of disease as Jan, she was now more beautiful and desirable than ever to him. His body burned. Even sitting in the darkened parking lot, he had no control over the heated pumping of his blood and his yearning flesh.
他咬紧牙关，发动了车子。他知道自己已经彻底输掉了这场与自己的良心、谨慎之间的拉锯战。简永远地走了。而菲奥娜在这里，自己几乎可以得到她。然而他知道菲奥娜可能也有和简一样的致病基因，可哪怕这样，他还是觉得她愈发美丽，而自己也愈发地渴望她。他的身体仿佛在燃烧。哪怕是坐在昏暗的停车场里，他也无法抑制住自己血液的沸腾与身体的渴求。
*
Fiona tried to lose herself in the foyer's works of art while she waited for him. The atmosphere in the car had turned so strange in the last few minutes.
菲奥娜试图在等他的时候好好欣赏门厅里的画作。在车里的最后几分钟，气氛变得诡异。
I shouldn't have mentioned dates, she thought as she inspected a huge brooding landscape.Of course we're not on a date;I'm being made use of as a surrogate nanny. End of story. I'll be gone in a very few days and that'll be the finish of things between us.
我不该提约会这个词的，她边想边仔细打量着一幅忧伤的风景画。这当然不是约会；我来这儿是当代理保姆的。就是这样。再过几天我就走了，我们之间的一切也将随之结束。
Not that anything's begun,she reminded herself severely.
绝非一切即将开始，她严肃地提醒自己。
She moved on to a trio of small exquisite watercolors of native birds. Their feathers look so soft and touchable…as soft as Nicky's skin…as touchable as Christian's hair.
她接着又看起了一组漂亮的水粉画花鸟画。鸟儿的羽毛看起来非常柔软、栩栩如生……像是妮基的皮肤……像是克里斯蒂安的头发。
She shook that thought away and turned to the next piece—a sculpture of gleaming silvery fish amongst strands of waving titanium seaweed. They're safe in their watery haven. So much safer than me.
她摇了摇头，驱走了脑海中的想法，走向了下一件作品——一个闪闪发光的银色游鱼雕像，它们畅游在海草之间。在这个水下天堂，他们很安全。至少比我安全多了。
She'd somehow found the strength to walk away from him a month ago when he'd reached out in his grief and loneliness. She could do it again. Would have to do it again.
一个月前，她曾有离开他的勇气，那时候他沉浸在悲伤与孤独中不可自拔。她可以再一次这么做。她不得不再次这么做。
At least now, it should be easier. They'd had more time to accustom themselves to losing Jan, time to blunt the sharp and appalling pain her death had caused them both, time to start living without her.
至少比现在更容易些。他们有更多的时间来适应失去简这件事，磨平她去世给他们带来的尖锐又磨人的痛苦，学着生活在一个没有她的世界上。
Except—the champagne kiss in the bathroom…
除了——在浴室里的那个香槟之吻。
Sure, he'd started it, but had she slapped him away with indignation? Had she acted outraged?
是的，他先起的头，但她愤怒地拒绝了他吗？她表现出自己的愤怒了吗？
No, she'd gone right along with it, tilted her lips up toward his. No way to behave when you were trying to get rid of someone!
不，她反倒很享受这个吻，将自己的唇覆上了他的。当你想要摆脱某人时，绝不会这么做的！
She moved on to the next set of treasures—hand blown glass bowls in wall niches. A shadow appeared on the shining surface of one, then stopped. All her reactions screamed ‘Christian'. How could she become so acutely aware of him when he was still only at the door? She knew it had to be him the moment he entered the Lodge. A shadow was enough. Her skin prickled, the fine golden hairs on her arms rose up, her lips parted on a gasp.
她又步向下一个作品——笼龛里的手作玻璃碗。一个阴影出现在了其中一个碗上，然后就停止了移动。她的每一个细胞都在高喊“克里斯蒂安”。她怎么会那么敏锐地察觉到他，哪怕他才刚刚进门？他刚踏进来，她便知道是他。一个剪影就够了。她的皮肤起了鸡皮疙瘩，胳膊上的金色毛发都竖了起来，她的嘴唇微微张了开来。
He strode up behind her and pressed a possessive hand against the small of her back to guide her toward the dining room.
他迈向了他，一只手占有性地搭着她的背，引她走向餐厅。
‘Stop touching me, ' her conscience pleaded as she turned to him and smiled.
“别碰我。”她的良心苦苦哀求，但她只是微笑着转向他。
“Hungry?” he asked.
“饿了吧？”他问道。
‘Hungry for you, 'her brain instantly supplied.
“饿到想吃了你。”她的大脑立马回应道。
“Not too bad,” she answered, guilty for enjoying the sensual warmth of his long fingers through the thin fabric of her dress. They walked step for step across the travertine floor, past other beautifully dressed diners. Soft classical guitar music caressed the air, and the aromas of wonderful food drifted by as the maître'd showed them to a private table in a window nook.
“不太饿。”她回答说，感受着他修长的手指拂过自己裙子薄薄的布料，留下温暖的触感，一阵愧疚感油然而生。他们一步、一步走过石灰石地板，经过其他衣着华丽的食客。轻柔的古典吉他曲飘荡在空气中。侍者领着他们在食物的香味中穿行，最终来到窗边一个僻静的私人座位。
Fiona found they were partly screened from the other diners by spectacular tall black taffeta curtains looped aside with tasseled ivory ropes. The snowy damask tablecloth set with crystal and silverware glowed under candlelight and chandeliers. It was undoubtedly special, but she'd hoped for a less discreet table. Here she'd be the sole focus of Christian's attention, with the power of his intense eyes and charm totally devoted to her.
透过高悬着的华丽黑色塔夫绸幕布与将其挽起的象牙色流苏绳，菲奥娜发觉其他食客在打量着他们。水晶与银质餐具放置在白色锦缎的桌布上，在烛光与吊灯的映衬下熠熠生辉。这一切毫无疑问非常特别，可她却希望能坐在更低调些的桌子上。这样她就是唯一吸引克里斯蒂安注意的人，他深情的眼眸与魅力都将属于她。
He dismissed the maitre'd with an easy smile and held the chair for her himself. Once he'd seated her, he bent and laid another soft kiss on her nape.
他微微一笑，遣走了侍者，为她拉开了椅子。她刚落座，他便弯下腰去，在她的脖子上落下浅浅一吻。
Shivers shot down to her toes.
她浑身都开始震颤。
*
He registered her tiny moan of anguish. Joyful satisfaction flooded through him. Maybe she felt as frustrated as he did? He moved to take the chair opposite. “Problem, Blondie?”
他注意到了她轻微的叹息，顿时满意了起来。或许她同他一样失望？他坐到了对面的椅子上。“有什么问题吗，美人儿？”
“Don't touch me like that.”
“别那样碰我。”
“Like what? Like I want you?”
“哪样？好像我想要你一样？”
She gazed at him across the table; her agonized eyes beseeching him to stop. He had no doubt his expression would be as transparent as hers. His hunger to possess her had to be written all over his face.
她的目光越过桌子凝视着她，痛苦的眼神哀求着他别再说下去了。他知道自己的表情和她一样，一眼就能让人洞穿。他的脸上写满了对她的渴望。
“Yes—like you want me,” she murmured.
“是的——就好像你想要我一样。”她喃喃道。
“I'm finding it harder and harder to hide the truth,” he said, knowing he was really on the road to destruction now.
“要掩藏住真相实在是太难了。”他说，感觉自己正在一点点滑向毁灭。
He leaned across the intimate space and dropped his voice to a husky drawl. “So here's where I stand; I've wanted you for years. You're like a gift I'm not allowed to unwrap. Or a delicious meal I've been forbidden to eat.”He set his teeth together to stifle any further admissions. But his eyes devoured her across the small table, and his hand reached across to enfold hers. He refused to relinquish it when she tried to pull away.
他倾身越过本已非常亲密的距离，用沙哑低沉的声音说：“告诉你我是怎么想的；这么多年来，我一直想要你。你仿佛是一件不被允许拆开的礼物，是一顿我无法举箸的大餐。”他咬紧牙关，防止自己继续说下去。但他的眼神仿佛要越过小小的餐桌吞噬他，他的双手伸过去握住了她。他死死抓住她的手，不让她抽走。
Fiona shook her head in denial. “And Jan?” she demanded, sudden fierce fire in her eyes. “You loved her—of course you did. Not me.”
菲奥娜不赞同地摇了摇头。“那么简呢？”她质问道，眼里仿佛冒着炽烈的火光。“你爱的是她——你当然爱她。而不是我。”
“Yes, I loved her. I was thrilled when she agreed to marry me. I'd never met anyone I wanted more.”
“是的，我爱过她。她答应嫁给我时，我是那么兴奋。我再也不会遇见一个更想携手共度一生的人了。”
She nodded with apparent satisfaction at that.
她点点头，对这个回答很满意。
“Never met anyone I wanted more until I met you,”he added.
“我不想再同他人共度一生，直到我遇见了你。”他补充道。
“No!” she protested. “I didn't try to steal you, or impress you, or anything. I was just my sister's bridesmaid. You were marrying Jan.” She shrugged as though truly puzzled.
“不！”她不相信。“我从来没有试图要偷走你、打动你或者别的什么。我只是我姐姐的伴娘。而你要娶的是简。”她迷惑地耸了耸肩。
Christian enjoyed the lift of her smooth shoulders and the annoyed pout that accompanied her comment.
克里斯蒂安玩味地看着她耸起的香肩，以及一边讲话一边撅起的小嘴。
“Of course I was. And happy to be. But you're a far more vivid version of her. Everything about you is wound up a notch or two. If I wanted Jan, how could I not want you? The other sister? The special one?”
“我当然要娶，而且为此高兴。可你比简更楚楚动人。你举手投足都要比简更迷人些。如果我想要简，又怎么可能不想要你？她的妹妹？更出众的那一位？”
He watched as her breasts rose and fell in a furious frustrated sigh. Her green eyes snapped up to meet his again, challenging and serious.
他看着她的胸脯随着一声愤怒、失望的叹息而上下起伏。她碧绿的眼睛愤怒地注视着他，透着严厉的质询。
“You mustn't think like that, Christian.”
“你绝不可以这么想，克里斯蒂安。”
“That's the way it is, Blondie. You simply captivate me.”
“就是这样，美人儿。你令我着迷。”
“Not possible,” she said, making another attempt to retrieve her hand from his grasp.
“不可能。”她说着再次试图抽走自己的手。
He shook his head, refusing to let her go. “End of guilty confession. Yes, I wanted your sister. And I want you even more.”
他摇了摇头，依旧抓得死死的。“我此番忏悔结束了。是的，我想要你的姐姐，但我更想要你。”
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