| 7th page of BOUND. It was one word, barely audible, but it sounded in her head like the shriek of an alarm. Was this truly what she had come to Florence hoping for? Had the last five, unhappy years of her life simply been killing time until she could have this... have him? The truth of it awed her. Special Agent Clarice Starling of the F-B-I. It had defined her, and it had been a lie. Section 6 �I don�t believe I have your full attention, Agent Starling.� She smiled. How did he always know what she was thinking? �Agent Starling?� She leaned back, turning her head to look at him over her shoulder and offering him a mischievous smile. �This is hardly the time for formalities, Hannibal... particularly one so ill chosen.� �It was your choice, I believe.� Amusement danced in his eyes. �Have you come to regret it, perhaps?� �Perhaps.� A beat. �It does seem lacking in the face of...� she paused again, searching for the proper phrasing, �... more recent opportunities.� He smiled and pulled her closer. �You should explore all of your options thoroughly, Clarice.� There was a glint in those maroon eyes that undercut her confidence. �You want to be certain you know what you�re getting yourself into.� His lips brushed across her jaw. �Is this the place to start, do you think?� She tried to keep her tone light, but somehow fell short of her mark. The rich sound of his laugh washed over her in the shadows. �I can�t think of a better place, Clarice. What more appropriate setting for a fall from grace?� Doubt flashed in her eyes and her body stiffened against him. �And you were doing so well,� he sighed. �This vacillation is becoming tedious, My Dear.� His hand moved from her waist to slip down across the light fabric of her skirt, grasping the hem and sliding it up along her thigh. His mouth moved to her ear. �It�s time you accept what you want, Clarice.� �I want you,� she whispered. And then determined not to concede so easily she added, �I should think that�s obvious.� �So it is,� he growled, fingers brushing over the wet cotton of her panties. �Yet you seem baffled by it, nonetheless.� �I don�t...� She stopped, surprised to find that he was suddenly holding a knife in his free hand. She felt the back side of the thick blade against the base of her neck, felt the cold steel as it trailed down between her breasts. �Do you understand exactly what it is you�re asking for, Clarice?� She drew in a sharp breath. �I think so.� The tip of the blade slipped into her panties. �And is it what you want?� She hesitated. The knife�s edge was pointed away from her body, smooth steel rubbing against her. She felt him pressing into her from behind, heard the impatience in his whisper. �Tell me.� �Yes.� She heard the fabric tear as the blade ripped through it and felt it fall around her ankles. A frantic need for him eclipsed all other thought. Turn page to next part of fic.... |