itwasenoughtoirrevocablycrossaboundary.ForSalanderitwasadisplayofstrengthbyanenemyforce—anindicationthatasidefromtheircarefullydefinedlegalrelationship,shewasatthemercyofhisdiscretionanddefenceless.Whentheireyesmetafewsecondslater,hislipswereslightlypartedandshecouldreadthelustonhisface.Salander’sownfacebetrayednoemotionsatall.
Bjurmanmovedbacktohissideofthedeskandsatonhisfortableleatherchair.
“Ican’thandoutmoneytoyouwheneveryoulike,”hesaid.“Whydoyouneedsuchanexpensiveputer?Thereareplentyofcheapermodelsthatyoucanuseforplayingputergames.”
“Iwanttohavecontrolofmyownmoneylikebefore.”
Bjurmangaveherapityinglook.
“We’llhavetoseehowthingsgo.Firstyouneedtolearntobemoresociableandgetalongwithpeople.”
Bjurman’ssmilemighthavebeenmoresubduedifhecouldhavereadherthoughtsbehindtheexpressionlesseyes.
“IthinkyouandIaregoingtobegoodfriends,”hesaid.“Wehavetobeabletotrusteachother.”
Whenshedidnotreplyhesaid:“You’reagrownwomannow,Lisbeth.”
Shenodded.
“ehere,”hesaidandheldouthishand.
Salanderfixedhergazeontheletteropenerforseveralsecondsbeforeshestoodupandwentovertohim.Consequences.Hetookherhandandpressedittohiscrotch.Shecouldfeelhisgenitalsthroughthedarkgabardirousers.
“Ifyou’renicetome,I’llbenicetoyou.”
Heputhisotherhandaroundherneckandpulledherdowntoherkneeswithherfaceinfrontofhiscrotch.
“You’vedohisbefore,haven’tyou?”hesaidasheloweredhiszip.Hesmelledasifhehadjustwashedhimselfwithsoapandwater.
Salanderturnedherfaceawayandtriedtogetup,butheheldherinatightgrip.Intermsofphysicalstrength,shewasnomatchforhim;sheweighed90poundstohis210.Heheldherheadwithbothhandsandturnedherfacesotheireyesmet.
“Ifyou’renicetome,I’llbenicetoyou,”herepeated.“Ifyoumaketrouble,Icanputyouawayinaninstitutionfortherestofyourlife.Wouldyoulikethat?”
Shesaidnothing.
“Wouldyoulikethat?”hesaidagain.
Sheshookherhead.
Hewaiteduntilsheloweredhereyes,inwhatheregardedassubmission.Thenhe