Сумерки

           Then,asthesecondspassed,theydimmed.Hisexpressionslowlyfoldedintoamaskofancientsadness.

           "Don’tbeafraid,"hemurmured,hisvelvetvoiceunintentionallyseductive."Ipromise..."Hehesitated."Iswearnottohurtyou."Heseemedmoreconcernedwithconvincinghimselfthanme.

           "Don’tbeafraid,"hewhisperedagainashesteppedcloser,withexaggeratedslowness.Hesatsinuously,withdeliberatelyunhurriedmovements,tillourfaceswereonthesamelevel,justafootapart.

           "Pleaseforgiveme,"hesaidformally."Icancontrolmyself.Youcaughtmeoffguard.ButI’monmybestbehaviornow."

           Hewaited,butIstillcouldn’tspeak.

           "I’mnotthirstytoday,honestly."Hewinked.

           AtthatIhadtolaugh,thoughthesoundwasshakyandbreathless.

           "Areyouallright?"heaskedtenderly,reachingoutslowly,carefully,toplacehismarblehandbackinmine.

           Ilookedathissmooth,coldhand,andthenathiseyes.Theyweresoft,repentant.Ilookedbackathishand,andthendeliberatelyreturnedtotracingthelinesinhishandwithmyfingertip.Ilookedupandsmiledtimidly.

           Hisansweringsmilewasdazzling.

           "Sowherewerewe,beforeIbehavedsorudely?"heaskedinthegentlecadencesofanearliercentury.

           "Ihonestlycan’tremember."

           Hesmiled,buthisfacewasashamed."Ithinkweweretalkingaboutwhyyouwereafraid,besidestheobviousreason."

           "Oh,right."

           "Well?"

           Ilookeddownathishandanddoodledaimlesslyacrosshissmooth,iridescentpalm.Thesecondstickedby.

           "HoweasilyfrustratedIam,"hesighed.