"P. N. Elrod - Jonathan Barrett 03 - Death Masque" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

how the candlelight caught and gilded the sheen of sweat clinging to her sk
in, and suddenly wanted her all over again. The need swept into me, playing
over and through my body like a swift red tide.
"La, but I wish it were cooler," she murmured, lifting her thick hair from t
he back of her neck. "I've half a mind to sneak down to the stream for a qui
ck wash before I sleep. Want to come along?"
The sight of Molly Audy splashing away like some woodland nymph was not s
omething I was going to deny myself. On past occasions when we'd stolen o
ff for such adventures, the outcome had ever proved to be a happy one for
both of us. "I should be most delighted to provide you with safe escort,
Miss Audy."
She turned and saw how I was looking at her. "Oh, you're a wicked 'un, all r
ight, Johnny boy. Goin' to make an old woman of me before the night's done,
is that it?"
She danced out of my reach and pulled on a light wrapper and some shoes; I
left my coat, hat, and neck cloth, knowing I'd be back for them, and didn't
bother fastening up my shirt. My breeches and boots I'd left on throughout
our recent lovemaking. Perhaps it was not really gentlemanly, but Molly ha
d often expressed to me that she sometimes found their retention on my pers
on to be rather stimulating to her when she was in the mood for it. Being n
o fool, I was only too happy to comply with her preferences.
The street that her house faced was silent at this late hour, but we still l
eft by her back door rather than the front. Besides being the quickest route
to the little stream that flowed through this part of Glenbriar, it spared
us from any unexpected observers who might also be wakeful from the warmth o
f the night. Witnesses for what we had in mind would have been an utterly un
welcome inconvenience.
There was enough of a moon showing to allow Molly to pick her way without m
uch effort or noise. I could see perfectly well. As long as some bit of the
sky was visible, the night was as day to me, and I kept an eye out for unw
anted attention. The locals did not worry me so much as the Hessians. There
had been many terrible incidents involving the army sent to protect us and
put down the
Rebellion, but many of those troops had left our little portion of the isla
nd for other places by now, so perhaps I was being overly cautious. Then ag
ain, how could one be overly cautious during these turbulent times? Not onl
y Hessians, but packs of booty-seeking rebels from across the Sound might b
e lurking about. My past experiences had taught me that avoidance was far p
referable to encounter when it came to dealing with either of them.
We reached the stream without trouble, though, and walked upon its bank unt
il coming to a spot lending itself to an easy descent. Giggling, Molly stri
pped off her thin garment and shoes and gingerly stepped into the shallows.
"It's just right!" she gasped. "Oh, do come in!"
I laughed, shaking my head. "You know it doesn't like me much." She was ve
ry well aware of my singular problem with free-flowing water, but chose to
ignore it as part of her game with me.
"Coward," she called and bent to sweep her hand in the stream to splash me.

"Right you are," I called back. I made no move to dodge, but waved and tea
sed her on, getting a good soaking before she tired from the play. My hair