Tender is the night / Ночь нежна. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“Take me.”

“Take you where?”

Astonishment froze him rigid.[131 - Astonishment froze him rigid. – Он застыл от изумления.]

“Go on,” she whispered. “Oh, please go on, whatever they do. I don’t care if I don’t like it – I never expected to – I’ve always hated to think about it but now I don’t. I want you to.”

She was astonished at herself – she had never imagined she could talk like that. She was calling on things she had read, seen, dreamed through a decade of convent hours.

“This is not as it should be,” Dick deliberated. “Isn’t it just the champagne? Let’s more or less forget it.”

“Oh, no, now. I want you to do it now, take me, show me, I’m absolutely yours and I want to be.”

“For one thing, have you thought how much it would hurt Nicole?”

“She won’t know – this won’t have anything to do with her.

He continued kindly:

“Then there’s the fact that I love Nicole.”

“But you can love more than just one person, can’t you? Like I love Mother and I love you – more. I love you more now.”

“ – the fourth place you’re not in love with me but you might be afterwards, and that would begin your life with a terrible mess.”

“No, I promise I’ll never see you again. I’ll get mother and go to America right away.”

He dismissed this. He was remembering too vividly the youth and freshness of her lips.

“You’re just in that mood.”

“Oh, please, I don’t care even if I had a baby. I could go into Mexico like a girl at the studio. Oh, this is so different from anything I ever thought – I used to hate it when they kissed me seriously.” He saw she was still under the impression that it must happen. “Some of them had great big teeth, but you’re all different and beautiful. I want you to do it.

“I believe you think people just kiss some way and you want me to kiss you.”

“Oh, don’t tease me – I’m not a baby. I know you’re not in love with me.” She was suddenly humble and quiet. “I didn’t expect that much. I know I must seem just nothing to you.”

“Nonsense. But you seem young to me.” His thoughts added[132 - His thoughts added – Мысленно добавил он], “ – there’d be so much to teach you.