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threat. He was like an animal being led into a surrealistic arena. It would be barbarian and ritualistic, and yet he was anticipating it hungrily. |
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In her apartment, she stripped herself, then undressed him, and they consummated her uncontrolled passion time and time again until she finally rolled over on her back and huskily described in dehumanizing detail how inadequate his attempts at fulfilling her needs had been. Then she cried. |
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Through it all Charlie was aware that even the emotional heights and physical depths they had already explored would not be enough. Kristen was not finished with him. |
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When the crying stopped, she got up and walked naked through the darkened apartment into the bathroom. She would return, as she had before, with a warm, damp cloth, and she would bathe him, tenderly entreating him to forgive her and to love her. And that's how it would continue until the passion flared again and the whole scene was repeated. That's how it would be throughout the long night. |
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Charlie was aware of the first dim evidence of a new dawn when it was finally over. She lay beside him, her tousled head nestled in the protection of his arm. She moaned quietly in her troubled sleep. He ran the tip of his tongue over his tortured lips and tasted the bitter, salty taste of his own crusted blood. |
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