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h my legs。
Her eyes glowed above me； the flicker of her lids more a sensation than a spectacle I could see with my own eyes； and again her lips closed over mine； sucking at my mouth； teasing it； and then she drew back and pressed her cheek against me。
Her skin； which had looked so like porcelain； felt softer than a down feather against me； ah； all of her seemed a soft doll； made of luscious and magical materials far more yielding than flesh and blood yet utterly on fire with both； for a heat came out of her in a rhythmic throb； emanating right from the coolness of her fingers stroking my wrists as they held them； and then the heat of her tongue shot into my lips； against my will； with a wet； delicious and vehement force against which I could do nothing。
There formed in my crazed mind some realization that she had used my own hot desire to render me helpless； that carnal madness had made of me a body constructed about metal wires that could not help but conduct the fire she poured into my mouth。
She drew her tongue back and sucked with her lips again。 My entire face was tingling。 All my limbs were struggling both against her and to touch her； yes； embrace her yet fight her。
She lay against the very evidence of my desire。 I couldn't have hidden it。 I hated her。 〃Why？ What for！〃 I said； tearing my mouth loose。 Her hair descended on both sides as she lifted her head。 I could scarcely breathe for the unearthly pleasure。
〃Get off me；〃 I said； 〃and go back into Hell。 What is this mercy to me！ Why do this to me？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she answered in her clever； tremulous voice。 〃Maybe it's only that I don't want you to die；〃 she said； breathing against my chest。 Her words were rapid； like her heated pulse。 〃Maybe more；〃 she said； 〃I want you to go away； go south to Florence； go away and forget all that's happened； as if it were nightmares or witches' spells； as if none of it took place； leave this town； go； you must。〃
〃Stop your foul lies；〃 I said before I could stop myself。 〃You think I'll do that？ You murdered my family； you； you and yours； whatever you are！〃
Her head dipped； her hair ensnaring me。 I fought vainly to get loose。 It was out of the question。 I couldn't budge her grip。
All was blackness； and indescribable softness。 I felt a sudden tiny pain in my throat； no more than the prick of pins； and my mind was suddenly flooded with the most tranquil happiness。
It seemed I'd stumbled into a blowing meadow of flowers； quite far away from this place and from all woes； and she lay with me； fallen against silently crushed stems and unplaining irises； Ursula； with her undone ashen hair； and she smiled with the most engaging and demanding eyes； fervent； perhaps even brilliant； as if ours were a sudden and total infatuation of mind as well as body。 On my chest she climbed； and though she rode me； looking down at me with exquisite smiling lips； she parted her legs gently for me to enter her。
It seemed a delirious blending of elements； the wet contracting secretive pocket between her legs and this great abundance of silent eloquence pouring from her gaze as she looked lovingly down at me。
Abruptly it stopped。 I was dizzy。 Her lips were against my neck。 I tried with all my might to throw her off。
〃I will destroy you；〃 I said。 〃I will。 I vow it。 If I have to chase you into the mouth of Hell；〃 I whispered。 I strained against her grasp so hard that my own flesh burned against hers。 But she wouldn't relent。 I tried to clear my mind。 No； no dreams of sweetness； no。 〃Get away from me； witch。〃
〃Hush； be quiet；〃 she said sorrowfully。 〃You are so young and so stubborn； and so brave。 I was young like you。 Oh； yes； and so determined and such a fearless paragon。〃
〃Don't talk your filth to me；〃 I said。
〃Hush；〃 she said again。 〃You'll wake the house。 What good will that do？〃 How painful； earnest and enticing she sounded。 Her voice itself could have seduced me from behind a curtain。 〃I cannot make you safe forever；〃 she said； 〃or even for very long。 Vittorio； go。〃
She drew back so that I could see her sincere and large yielding eyes all the better。 She was a masterpiece。 And such beauty； the perfect simulacrum of the fiend I'd seen in the firelight of my chapel； needed no potions or spells to advance her cause。 She was flawless and intimately magnificent。
〃Oh； yes；〃 she confessed； her half…visible eyes searching my face； 〃and I do find such beauty in you it pulls on my heart；〃 she said。 〃Unfairly； unjustly。 How am I to suffer this as well as all else？〃
I struggled。 I wouldn't answer。 I wouldn't feed this enigmatic and infernal blaze。
〃Vittorio； get out of here；〃 she said； lowering her voice ever more delicately and ominously。 〃You have a few nights； maybe not even that。 If I e to you again； I may lead them to you。 Vittorio。 Don't tell anyone in Florence。 They'll laugh at you。〃 She was gone。
The bed creaked and rocked。 I was on my back； and my wrists ached from the pressure of her hands； and above me the window gaped on the gray featureless light； the wall beside the Inn rising up towards a sky I couldn't quite see from this helpless vantage point。 I was alone in the room。 She was nowhere。
All of a sudden； I willed my limbs to action； but before I could so much as move； she appeared again； above in the window； visible from the waist to the top of her bowed head； peering down at me； and with her hands she tore loose the low embroidered border of her gown and bared her naked white breasts before me … tiny； rounded； very close together and with piquant nipples visible only in their darkness。 With her right hand she scratched her left breast； just above the little nipple； made it bleed。
〃Witch！〃 I rose up to grab hold of her； to kill her； and instead felt her hand grasp my head； and there came the pressure of her left breast into my very mouth； irresistibly frail yet firm。 Once again； all that was real melted and was swept away like so much idle smoke rising from a fire； and we were together in the meadow which belonged only to us； only to our diligent and indissoluble embraces。 I sucked the milk from her； as if she was maiden and mother； virgin and queen； all the while I broke with my thrusts whatever flower remained inside of her to be torn open。
I was let go。 I fell。 Helpless； unable even to raise a hand to keep her from flying； I fell down； weak and stupid onto the bed； my face wet and my limbs trembling。
I couldn't sit up。 I could do nothing。 I saw in flashes our field of tender white irises and red irises； the loveliest flowers of Tuscany； the wild irises of our land； blowing in the greenest grass； and I saw her running away from me。 Yet all this was transparent； half…tinted； and could not mask the tiny cell of a room as it had done before； only linger； like a veil drawn across my face； to torment me with its tickling weightless silkiness。
〃Spells！〃 I whispered。 〃My God； if you have ever mitted me to guardian angels； will you spur them on now to cover me with their wings！〃 I sighed。 〃I need them。〃
Finally； shakily and with dim vision； I sat up。 I rubbed at my neck。 Chills ran up and down my spine； and the backs of my arms。 My body was still full of desire。
I squeezed my eyes s