"Asaro, Catherine - Quantum Rose" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asaro Catherine)

"Ah." His gaze wandered over her body. Mortified, Kamoj realized she was wearing nothing but stockings and a translucent underdress. Then again, given his "clothes," she was overdressed.

Vyrl grinned. "You look beautiful." He slid out of his chair, and she jumped back, losing her balance as she put her weight on her injured foot. Teetering on the edge of the pool, she flailed her arms.

With unexpected grace, Vyrl slid out of the chair and caught her around the waist. Holding her bent over his arm, he leaned down to kiss her. Startled, Kamoj just stared up at him.

He stopped, then straightened up, bringing her with him. "DonТt you ever smile?"

"WellЦyes. Of course."

Vyrl stepped away from the pool. "Maybe we shouldЦah!" He lifted his foot and pulled a shard of glass out of his heel. Blood welled up from the cut. With a grimace, he stuck his foot in the water and swirled it around until the blood washed away. His graceful way of moving made her think of a greenglass stag.

He smiled. "Either thatТs a compliment to me or an insult to the greenglass, IТm not sure which."

"How do you do that?" she asked.

"Do what?"

"Know my thoughts."

"I donТt." He took her hand. "Come on. LetТs go somewhere with less glass."

They picked their way through the shards and went into the main bedroom. Although he walked reasonably well, several times he put one foot down on the other and stumbled. When they reached the dais with his bed, he stopped, said, "We should do this right," and hefted her up into his arms.

Hai! The last thing Kamoj wanted was a half-drunk man carrying her up stairs. "ItТs all right," she said. "I can walk."

He started up the dais. "You hardly weigh anything."

They made it to the top with no mishaps, but then he tripped. He took a huge step forward, lunging for the bed, and tossed her across it as he lost his balance. She hit the mattress with a thud, pillows tumbling around her head, and Vyrl landed on top her. Her breath wumped out with a muffled "oomph."

"Ai," Vyrl muttered, rolling off her. "My sorry, Chamois."

This time she was too flustered even to think of correcting the name. When he pulled her into his arms, she stuttered, "Maybe you should, uh, call a healer." She knew she was talking too fast, but she couldnТt stop. "For yourЦfor your, you know. Your foot."

"My foot?" He smiled at her. "Why?"

"ItТs just, mine swelledЦVyrl! What are you doing?"

"Looking at my beautiful wife." As his hands moved, he slid lower along her body. Then he closed his mouth around her breast and suckled her through the glimsilk of her underdress.

Kamoj flushed, blinked, said, "Oh, my," cleared her throat, and coughed. Then she sighed and put her hands in his hair, tangling her fingers in his curls.

Some time later she murmured, "YouТre different than I expected."

He came back up, cradling her in his arms. "How is that?"

Too late, she realized how her answer would sound: I thought you would be cruel. She tried to hide the thought, imagining a blanket to cover it. "YouТre younger."

Vyrl grinned. "Such sweet words." He fingered the garter that held up her stocking. Then he sat up and tugged the lacy ring off her leg. Setting it on his palm, he squinted at it as if it were another life form. "ItТs pretty," he said. "But whoТd ever think to make such a thing?"