amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第44部分

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wn：　they　had　chosen　him。　With　the　state　she　was　in；　there　was　no　way　Tai　had　ever　chosen。　〃It　shouldn't　be　a　violation。　It　should　be　a　celebration　for　you　and　your　dragon。　The　most　glorious　union！〃
　　〃Union？〃　She　snarled　the　word；　the　panic　in　her　eyes　telling　him　that　mating　had　been　far　from　that。
　　How　many　times　had　Zaranth　mated？　How　many　times　had　she　been。。。　he　struggled　to　find　the　appropriate　word。。。　violated？　He　knew　hold　and　hall　girls　often　were；　it　was　one　reason　so　many　sought　sanctuary　in　a　Weyr。　Dragonriders；　except　at　this　one　time　in　their　dragon's　cycle；　were　known　to　be　considerate；　and　ardent；　lovers。　Without　conceit；　he　knew　that　he　enjoyed　a　certain　reputation。　Is　that　why　Tai　had　been　so　chary　of　his　pany？　He'd　thought　she　was　just　naturally　reticent。　Now　he　realized　she　had　been　motivated　more　by　fear　than　reserve。　He'd　have　a　few　well…chosen　words　for　Mirrim　after　this…if　he　could　only　reach　the　girl　now；　when　it　was　vital　to　soothe　her。
　　With　the　stunning　warble　of　a　lustful　green；　Zaranth　issued　her　challenge　to　Golanth　and　launched　herself；　straight　up。　Unlike　the　queens　who　needed　to　blood　a　kill　to　give　them　extra　strength　for　longer　mating　flights；　greens　required　little　preparation　beyond　the　onset　of　their　cycle。　Golanth　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment；　the　bugle　of　his　acceptance　echoing　back　to　their　riders。
　　Tai　screamed　in　anguish；　reaching　out　futilely　as　if　she　could　have　stopped　her　green。
　　〃Tai；　listen　to　me；〃　he　said；　keeping　his　voice　light。　〃Let　me　explain　how　it　should　be。〃　Carefully；　slowly；　he　held　out　one　hand　but　she　backed　away　along　the　terrace。
　　Eyeing　his　hand　as　if　even　his　touch　would　sully　her；　she　cowered　away；　her　green　eyes　frantic。
　　〃Oh；　Tai；　my　friend；　if　I　could；　I'd　stop　Golanth；〃　and　he　would　have　given　anything　to　have　been　able　to　prepare　her　more。　If　he　hadn't　been　so　callous　as　to　ignore　what　he'd　thought　was　a　natural　reserve　rather　than　sexual　fear。　〃I　can't；　not　now　when　Zaranth　wants　him　so　badly。〃
　　〃How　can　she　want　him？　I　don't　want　you！　Not　that　way！〃
　　That　admission　was　at　least　something　in　his　favor；　F'lessan　thought；　struggling　to　find　a　way　through　panionship　to　solving　the　intensely　immediate　problem　of　their　situation。　All　too　soon　the　rider　would　be　consumed　by　the　dragon　in　a　bonding　neither　could　escape。　He　had　to　reach　Tai；　the　human　being；　before　her　mind　was　locked　into　her　mating　dragon。
　　〃But　you　see；　she　does。　She　just　challenged　him；〃　he　said　softly；　infusing　as　much　gentle　persuasion　into　his　voice　as　he　could。　〃He　answered。　He　has　been　admiring　her　in　so　many　ways。　Just　as　I　admire　you；　Tai。〃
　　She　blinked；　confused。
　　That　was　good；　F'lessan　thought；　somewhat　frantic　himself。　If　he　couldn't　reach　her；　she'd　never　realize　that　it　needn't　be　rape。　He　knew　he　could　control　his　human　self；　no　matter　how　he　might　wish　to　revel　in　orgasm　with　his　Golanth。
　　〃Haven't　you　learned　anything　of　me？〃　he　cried　in　soft　desperation。　〃Have　I　offended　you？　Slighted　you　as　friend；　Tai？〃　She　blinked　again；　shaking　her　head；　more　confused　than　ever　as　the　hold　of　her　dragon　increased。　〃In　this　let　me　be　your　friend…and　lover；　too。　Challenge　me；　Tai；　as　your　dragon　challenged　mine。　Challenge　me　to　make　love　to　you；　to　you；　Tai；　not　to　Tai…rider。　Choose　me！〃　He　spread　his　hands　across　his　chest。　〃Choose　me；　Tai！〃
　　〃I　have　no　choice；〃　she　said；　whimpering。　She　collapsed　inwardly。
　　〃Oh；　Tai；　love；〃　he　pleaded；　holding　out　his　hands　but　careful　not　to　crowd　her。　She　was　so　near　the　edge　of　the　terrace。　She　was　suddenly　so　dear　to　him；　he　was　surprised　to　realize。　This　was　not　all　Golanth's　yearning：　F'lessan　the　man　was　yearning；　too。　〃Please；　Tai；　please　choose　me！〃
　　Whether　it　was　Tai　who　reached　slowly　out　to　her　friend　for　support；　or　the　dazed　rider；　he　wasn't　then　sure　but　she　did　reach。　Was　there　enough　of　the　human　there　to　have　made　a　choice？
　　〃Please；　Tai；　e　with　me　now；〃　he　said；　taking　her　hand　in　a　light　grasp　and　gently　turning　her　back；　toward　the　nearest　door。　〃My　friend；　we　must　go　in。〃
　　He　tried　not　to　startle　her；　slowly　guiding　her　steps…she　couldn't　see　the　arm　he　held　behind　her；　just　in　case　she　might　still　bolt。　Her　eyes　were　glazing：　she　wouldn't　know　how　close　the　edge　of　the　terrace　was　if　she　should　suddenly　feel　trapped　and　try　to　escape。
　　Murmuring　encouragement；　he　got　her　inside　the　weyrhold。　With　equal　care；　he　closed　the　door　behind　them；　grateful　that　the　hinges　were　oiled　and　hoping　she　didn't　hear　the　slight　noise　as　it　shut。　Her　fingers　were　slack　on　his；　her　gaze　distant：　she　was　half　in　rider　trance。　He　wanted　to　settle　her　before　she　was　pletely　submerged　by　Zaranth's　sensuality。　That　would　have　been　frightening　enough　the　first　time　it　happened　if　no　one　had　explained　it　in　full　detail。　Tai's　reserve　should　have　warned　him；　he　cursed　himself　for　insensitivity。　How　long　had　he　been　a　rider？
　　Abruptly　Tai　tensed。　He　glanced　at　her　eyes；　pupils　enlarged　against　the　dark　in　the　hallway。　He　kept　his　hand　relaxed　while　hers　tightened　convulsively。　He　put　his　other　hand　on　the　small　of　her　back；　lightly；　offering　no　threat；　just　guidance。
　　〃I'm　honored　you　chose　me；　Tai；〃　he　said。　She　must　believe　that。　〃I　didn't　believe　you　would；　you　know。　I　admired　you　for　how　calmly　you　got　the　children　out　at　Monaco。〃　He'd　better　be　careful　what　he　said　now。　〃Be　calm　now；　Tai。　Be　calm　and　let　me　help　you　now。〃
　　As　deftly　as　he　could；　he　turned　her　into　the　nearest　sleeping　room。　He　could　feel　Golanth's　desire　mounting。　He　had　to　control　his。　He　had　to　remain　human　as　long　as　he　could。　And　that　was　being　an　effort。　He　couldn't　just　push　her　on　the　bed…that　would　frighten　her…but　he　also　didn't　want　to　turn　dragon　and　have　her　endure　rougher　handling。
　　Gently；　he　put　his　arms　around　her。　〃You　have　chosen　me；　F'lessan；　and　I　will　love　you　well！〃
　　He　kissed　her　forehead　and　slowly　tightened　his　arms　about　her。　If　she　weren't　pletely　thralled　by　Zaranth。。。　but　had　she　ever　been　lovingly　kissed？　He　bent　his　head；　his　mouth　tender　on　hers。　Let　her　still　be　human　enough　to　feel　this！　He　had　not　expected　the　flare　of　passion　that　passed　between　them　in　a　kiss　he　had　intended　to　be　delicate。　She　trembled　violently。　Instinctively　he　tightened　his　embrace。
　　〃You　chose　me；　Tai。　You　chose　me；〃　he　cried　but　her　body　went　stiff　in　his　arms。　Rocking　her；　he　kissed　her　face；　her　cheeks；　her　mouth；　her　neck。　〃Choose　me；　Tai！〃　he　begged　as　he　felt　the　rigidity　that　was　dragon…frenzy；　not　human。
　　And　he　was　abruptly　Golanth。
　　She　had　launched　herself　well；　and　then　ducked　sideways；　streaming　away　from　him　with　unusually　strong　sweeps　of　her　wings。　She　was　big　for　a　green　and　he　liked　that　in　her。　He　did　prefer　greens　to　golds。　The　golds　always　felt　as　if　they　were　conferring　great　honor　on　a　bronze　by　permitting　them　to　mate。　But　greens　could　be　grateful。　They　were　certainly　lustier　than　queens。　Perhaps　because　they　mated　more　often。　She　dodged　to　the　right　and　he　followed　lazily。　Let　her　wear　herself　out　a　while。　He　could　wait。　He　would　wait。　This　one　was　worth　it。　He　had　been　so　careful；　not　being　too　possessive　of　her　pany　but　he　had　let　the　others　know　that　he　intended　this　green　to　be　his。　He　had　been　marshaling　his　strength　whenever　possible；　knowing　how　tired　other　dragons　were。　But　he　was　Golanth！　Of　Benden　Weyr！　Sired　by　Mnementh！　Hatched　of　Ramoth。　Worthy　of　that　noble　pairing！
　　She　tucked　her　wings　along　her　back；　diving　obliquely。　He　followed　quickly。　Did　she　realize　how　close　she　was　to　the　ground？　Oh；　she　did　and　swooped　up　again；　proudly；　head　reaching　for　the　low　clouds　that　scudded　over　the　foothills。
　　She'd　play　that　game；　would　she？　With　one　quick　glance　around　him　to　see　if　any　challengers　had　entered　the　chase；　he　swept　after　her。　Sun　sparkled　off　her　brilliant　skin　between　clouds　and　he　pursued　her；　wondering　if　she　knew　that　he　could　see　her　so　clearly。
　　She　turned　on　one　wing　tip　and；　knowing　these　skies　better　than　she　did；　he　did　the　same　and　soared　through　the　narrow　pass。　If　she　thought　he'd　fall　for　that　wily　trick；　she　hadn't　his　measure。　Soon　she　would。
　　She　rose　above　the　filmy　cloudbank；　heading　toward　the　thinner　air；　then　almost　tumbled　back　down。　He　followed　this　maneuver　effortlessly。　She　raced　forward；　rolling　slowly　as　if　caressed　by　the　chill　air。　He　nearly　overshot　her　but　didn't；　so　she　failed　with　that　ploy。　She　ducked；　dodged；　and　fell　surface…ward　again；　pulling　up　with　the　most　graceful　and　powerful　of　movements　he　had　yet　seen　in　a　green。　Oh；　she　was　a　prize；　this　one！　How　he　loved　her！　And　she　had　chosen　him！
　　Clouds　again　and　he　shadowed　her　progress　through　them　by　the　glow　of　her　reddened　eyes。　Then；　just　as　she　let　him　get　very　close；　to　evade　him　at　the　last　moment；　he　gave　his　wings　a　sudden　massive　stroke　and　reached　for　her；　making　the　catch；　pulling　her　to　him；　connecting。　Wings　entwined　and　beating　together；　they　flew　suspended　and；　because　he　was　a　bronze　and　cleverer　than　she　had　thought　him；　their　flight　was　horizontal　to　the　ground　and　he　could　extend　this　passion　for　a　long；　long　time。　He　did；　sweeping　them　both　carefully　over　the　great　inland　sea　where　the　thermals　caressed　their　gleaming　hides。
　　F'lessan　was　back　in　his　body　and　Tai's　was　his。　They　were　both　panting　from　the　exertion　of　a　marvelously　extended　flight。　He　felt　both　triumphant　and　drained。　He　hadn't　felt　such　repletion　in　a　long　while。　She　lay　limply　beneath　him；　eyes　closed；　head　to　one　side；　curls　of　sweaty　hair　concealing　her　face。　He　hadn't　the　strength…nor；　to　be　candid；　the　wish…to　release　her；　to　leave　her　body。　Considerate　of　her；　he　shifted。　For　all　the　pleasure　he　had　enjoyed　with　other　women；　this　encounter　really　was　different。　He　couldn't　think　of　anything　appropriate　to　say　and　he　had　prided　himself　on　knowing　exactly　the　right　words　to　use　in　any　situation。
　　〃Oh；　Tai；　you　did　choose　me；〃　he　murmured；　propping　himself　on　his　elbows；　looking　down　at　her　with　a　feeling　close　to　awe。　〃You　did！〃
　　His　words　took　him　as　much　by　surprise　as　they　did　her。　She　turned　her　head　slightly；　her　eyes　wide　and　human　again。　Her　lips　were　swollen　from　kisses　he　had　been　unable　to　control；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。
　　〃Please　say　you　did？〃　The　human　in　him　needed　to　be　reassured　but　he　was　also　aware　that　their　meeting　had　been　incredibly　intense；　even　for　a　dragon…generated　mating。　That　could　only　be　achieved　with　the　enthusiastic　cooperation　of　both　partners。　He　couldn't　be　feeling　the　way　he　did　right　now　if　rape　had　been　involved。
　　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　supposed　to　be　like　that！〃　she　admitted　softly　and　she　turned　her　head；　embarrassed。
　　〃My　very　dear　green；〃　he　said　tenderly；　stroking　her　face　with　his　thumbs；　feeling　slightly　superior　because　he　was　no　stranger　to　the　〃that。〃　〃It　is　assuredly　the　most　intense　emotional　and　sexual　experience。　We　know　exactly　what　our　dragons　are　feeling；　and　they　mirror　ours。　It　can　be　stunning　enough　when　humans　love；　but　magnified　by　our　emotional　bond　with　our　dragons。。。〃　He　spread　his　hands；　unable　to　quantify　it　and　smiled　tenderly　at　her。　〃Well；　it…〃　he　hesitated；　〃should　have　happened　to　you　before；　Tai。〃　He　couldn't　help　making　fists　and　driving　them　into　the