| 4th page of BOUND. �Besides...� she continued, a slight tremor creeping into her voice, �there are only so many ways to detain you, given that I�m unarmed at the moment.� �Detain me? How very charming.� A pause. �And do you assume that I am unarmed as well, Clarice?� �I don�t think it makes much difference, Dr. Lecter.� She was grateful that the tremor had left her voice for the moment, but knew that the Doctor could hear the slight strain. A smile played over his features as he regarded her. �Of course. The unfortunate Dr. Chilton would have leapt at the opportunity to show you his... trophies.� It had been obvious to her that Chilton�s discussion of the incident in the infirmary � complete with visual aids � preceded any visit with Lecter as surely as flight attendants are required to discuss the safety features of an aircraft. Dr. Lecter would almost certainly know that as well. She swallowed, forcing down her fear at his reference to the nurse, and managed to hold his stare. �I�ve seen the photograph, Doctor.� A pause. �Is that what you�d like to do to me?� Her tone was surprisingly calm. He said nothing for a long moment, simply stood there staring at her with his impassive gaze, a slow smile spreading across his lips. With no warning, his arm flashed out and went around her waist, taking her own arm behind her back with it. He pulled her to him with surprising strength, his mouth coming dangerously close to hers. He spoke softly, but somehow she managed to hear the purr of his voice over the blood pounding in her ears. �I think you know what I�d like to do to you, Clarice.� She opened her mouth to speak but shut it again almost immediately. She had no idea how to respond to him even if, by some miracle, she could manage to find her voice. He continued to regard her with an amused air, but there was something else glinting in his dark eyes... Was it hunger? His gaze fell from hers, and he watched the path of his hand as it trailed slowly down the length of her free arm. He did not speak until his eyes had once again risen to hers. �I suspect we might like the same thing, My Dear.� She suddenly found it a challenge to breathe. She had thought of this - guiltily. She�d even dreamed of this, but had managed to rationalize it. She had convinced herself that she�d somehow romanticized her encounters with Lecter as time passed... that she was nothing more than an amusement to him... that if she were to come face to face with him again, all she would see was a ruthless, cruel killer � not a man that she wanted beyond all reason. Yet here they were, and she found it impossible to deny that she did want him. It seemed that he might want her as well. �Doctor...� Forming the single word was an effort. It came out with a breath she had to force from her lungs. He tightened his grip slightly, pulling her just a fraction closer. �I believe it�s time you use my name, Clarice.� She couldn�t entirely keep the smile from tugging at the corners of her mouth. �Hannibal.� How many times had she whispered that name into the darkness? How many times had she called out for him in her dreams? She found herself leaning into him, her lips seeking his. �I shouldn�t want you,� she murmured, a note of defeat in her voice... or was it surrender? �Ah, but you do.� She felt his smile rather than saw it as his mouth covered hers. Hannibal Lecter�s mouth... Shouldn�t she be terrified? She was well aware, at the very least, that she should be sickened at the mere suggestion of that mouth on hers. Yet her reaction to his kiss was far from either. Hannibal Lecter�s mouth on hers produced a hunger that she hadn�t known she was capable of. She heard herself moan as his tongue slipped between her lips, and was surprised to hear a low growl from him in response. Turn page to next part of story.... |