n　hers。

She　strained　away　from　his　hands。　〃Please　stop；　I　can't　do　this。〃

Aroused　still　and　upset　with　herself；　she　trembled。

〃Can't？〃　he　challenged　hoarsely。

〃Won't；〃　she　amended　as　she　clutched　at　threads　of　posure。　Eleven

years　ago　she　hadn't　refused　him。　Her　virginity　had　never　had　a　chance。

But　things　were　different　now。　She　was　different。

〃Why　not；　Chloe？〃

She　heard　hurt；　but　it　didn't　make　her　relent。　〃I　wish　I　could　explain。〃

〃Why　can't　you？　I've　seen　that　pained　look　in　your　eyes。　At　those

moments…at　this　moment…you　do　look　unhappy。　Is　it　something　about　me？

Something　about　what　happened　eleven　years　ago？〃

For　all　of　those　eleven　long　years；　Chloe　had　hidden　a　world　of　inner

feelings　from　everyone　around　her。　They　were　locked　in　tight。　He　could

prod　all　he　wanted；　but　they　weren't　getting　out。

He　spoke　more　gently。　〃Here。　Sit　down。　I'll　make　us　some　coffee。　You　can

talk。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　talk。　Some　things　are　best　left　dead　and　buried。〃　She

shuddered　at　her　own　choice　of　words。

〃Sit。〃　He　nudged　her　into　the　chair　she　had　left；　and　she　sat；　if　only

because　her　legs　were　unsteady。　He　proceeded　to　clear　the　table；　rinse

everything；　and　perk　a　small　pot　of　coffee。　She　watched　almost

incidentally；　her　thoughts　far　off　in　a　world　of　what…it's。　What　if

Crystal　had　won　that　toss　of　the　coin？　What　if　Crystal　had　set　out　to

seduce　Ross　and　been　seduced　herself。？　What　if　Crystal　had　died　anyway？

Would　Chloe　feel　the　same　guilt　now？

〃How　do　you　take　it？〃　Ross　asked；　placing　a　steaming　mug　before　her。

〃Black。　Thank　you。〃

After　lacing　his　own　with　milk　and　sugar；　he　returned　to　his