Silver Linings, стр. 30
“Look, no hard feelings or anything, okay? It was all a mistake, see.” Rosey started to edge backward to the door.
“A big mistake. What were you after?”
“Just a few bucks. I know she's got a wad in that fancy purse of hers. You can always tell by the purse and the shoes, y'know? Real leather. High-quality stuff.”
Hugh relaxed slightly, aware of the ring of truth in Rosey's whining voice. His initial annoyance had been generated by the certainty that Rosey must have seen Mattie in the red sarong earlier this evening and had come to her room with something more reprehensible in mind than simple motel theft. “You're lucky I'm feeling in a good mood tonight, Rosey. I'm not going to blow your head off. At least not right at the moment.”
“You wouldn't do it anyway,” Rosey declared with rash insight. “She wouldn't like it. Just like she didn't approve of you threatenin' to cut me and Gibbs' throats on Purgatory. Like she wouldn't let you leave us behind.”
“She might not approve, but she couldn't stop me. Get me mad enough, Rosey, and I won't give a damn what she thinks. Keep that in mind and we'll get along just fine.”
Mattie sighed softly and her hand moved lower, her fingers sliding inside the opening of Hugh's briefs and tangling lightly in the thick, curling hair there. A distinct bulge appeared in the sheet that covered his thighs. Hugh stifled another groan and through monumental willpower managed to keep most of his attention on Rosey.
The wiry little man had sidled back to the door and was starting to open it.
“Hold it,” Hugh ordered quietly just as Mattie's thumb gently trailed across the base of his heavy erection. He realized his manhood had come free of the briefs. His muscles were all violently taut, and the hand that held the gun trembled faintly.
With great care, Hugh uncocked the revolver. No sense accidentally spraying Rosey's few brains against the wall in a moment of uncontrollable passion. “I want to talk to you for a second, Rosey.”
“Look, I told you, it was all a mistake. I wasn't gonna hurt her. Just needed a few bucks. Me and Gibbs didn't have much with us when you stole our boat, y'know. We're kinda short.”
“Something tells me it wasn't the first time you've had to leave town in a hurry. Rosey, before you go, I want to make certain we have an understanding. First, come anywhere near Miss Sharpe again and I'll be very, very annoyed. Clear?”
“Yeah, yeah. Clear. Now, don't get up or nothin'. I'll see myself out.”
“One more thing.”
“Sheesh. Don't you ever stop givin' orders?”
“Not until I get what I want.”
Rosey hovered near the door. “What the hell do you want?”
“A name. A friend of mine died on Purgatory.”
“Yeah? Who?” Rosey sounded vaguely interested now.
“Paul Cormier.”
There was a small pause. “I knew Cormier. He was okay, him and his white shoes and all. Made me a couple of loans when I needed 'em bad to pay off some folks. Bought the farm, huh? I'm sorry to hear that.”
“Somebody shot him and left him to die. If you ever hear a name, Rosey, I want it. I want it very badly.”
“I don't know who killed him,” Rosey said hastily.
“There's money in it, Rosey. A lot of money. Come up with a name and the money's all yours. Contact me or a guy named Silk Taggert over on St. Gabe. Got that?”
“Yeah, sure. I got it. I'm leavin' now, if that's okay with you. Got things to do, people to see, places to go. Say good-bye to the little lady for me.”
“I'll do that.” Hugh sucked in another deep breath as Mattie's fingers slipped between his thighs. “And lock the door behind you.”
“Anything you say.” The wedge of pale light from the hall widened briefly once more as Rosey hurried out of the room, and then there was darkness again. Hugh waited until he heard the lock click.
Mattie's leg slid over his thigh and she stirred gently, nestling closer.
Hugh shoved the revolver under the bed where it would be within easy reach. Then he reached beneath the sheet and found Mattie's hand. It was resting alongside his upthrust shaft, her fingertips just touching the full globes underneath.
“Oh, Christ.”
He thought he would lose it all right then and there.
Holding his breath, Hugh pushed his briefs down over his hips and fumbled free of them. Every inch of the way he feared he would wake Mattie and bring his own dream to an abrupt end. But she just wiggled a bit and snuggled closer.
When he had stripped off the underwear, Hugh carefully folded Mattie's fingers around himself. He moved experimentally, lifting his hips slightly. Her hand tightened briefly.
“Damn.” Hugh squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled deeply.
For a moment or two Hugh seriously considered torturing himself to death in that position until morning. But he did not think he had the stamina for it. He was already too close to exploding.
Mattie stirred again and her lips brushed against his shoulder. He looked down and in the pale light from the window he saw that one soft, sweetly rounded breast had escaped the bodice of the red dress.
Fascinated, Hugh touched Mattie's nipple with his thumb and felt it grow as hard as a berry. The soft fingers clinging delicately to his manhood tightened again for an excruciating instant.
Hugh caught hold of the top of the red sarong and eased it down so that Mattie's other breast came free. For a long moment he simply lay there feasting on the beautiful sight spread out in front of him.
Then, deciding to push his luck, he moved one hand down to her thigh and slid his palm up under the short red skirt of the sarong.
Mattie released him and rolled onto her back, her eyes