Jane Harvey-Berrick

“Well, Nicole, I was planning on taking her to bed and using her in ways that aren’t even mentioned in the Kama Sutra, but now you’ve told me that, I think I should go take a cold shower instead.”

“Something making you smile, Hunter?”“Yeah! I never got a round of applause before.”“Maybe she was applauding me.”“Nah, she thinks I’m a stud, I can tell.”

“I was thinking about eating you, Chief, but as you’re such a stubborn, annoying man, who makes me pissed with everything other sentence he utters from between his beautiful, badly-behaved likps, I thought I’d better tie you up first. What do you say?”

“Why didn’t you come back?” he sobbed.“I waited and waited for you, like I said I would, but you never came back! Why? Why didn’t you come back? I love you I love you I love you.”

“I love you, too," I whispered so softly I didn't know if he'd heard me. "Ti amo tanto, Sebastian, sempre e per sempre.”

“But he interrupted me."None of that matters. And I think you're wrong anyway — I can't imagine not wanting you — note ever. You're smart and funny and I enjoy being with you even when we don't... when we're not... making love. When I was eight years old, I used to imagine that you were my girlfriend and that we'd run away together. And then you left and I'd lost my best friend, too. I used to dream about you coming back. As I got older, I... I began to understand the... the nature of my feelings for you better. I didn't think dreams could come true — but they have for me, Caro. Why are you so scared? I mean, forget all that legal bullshit... why do you keep trying to... I don't know, make me change my mind? What do you think I've got here that I wouldn't give up in a heartbeat to be with you? There's nothing to keep me here: I'll go anywhere, do anything to be with you." He sighed. "I know you have more to lose and I hate, hate that I'm responsible for that, but... Do you want to be with me? Forever. Sempre.”

“We wasted ten years and you're worried about a few thousand miles? Hell, we've got airplanes, we've got email, they've invented fucking cell phones. Jesus, if it comes down to it, I'll even write you a fucking letter.”

“I can’t, Caro, it’s out of my hands now. But I promise it’s temporary. I just… after all this time… I wanted us to be able to spend more than a few hours together.” He stared at his hands. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again,” he mumbled. “I’ve already waited ten years.”

“They say there are no atheists in foxholes. I say there are no atheists when you're begging God to keep alive the person you love.”

“And, at last, I could hold him. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tightly, willing the darkness away, trying to heal him with my body, with my touch.“I love you, Sebastian, please don't push me away. I love you.""Oh God, Caro. I just don't know what I'm doing anymore; I'm so fucked up - I feel like I can't fucking breathe. Don't give up on me, Caro. Please don't give up on me. I need you, baby. I love you so much. I'm so sorry.”I could forgive anything now that he'd let me touch him.”

“There were so many things Sebastian and I had to work out: we'd both been single for so long that blending our lives together wasn't going to be easy.I'd promised Sebastian we'd find a way. He deserved to be loved for everything he was. And for whatever crazy reason he had, he loved me, too.”

“Jesus, if it comes down to it, I'll even write you a f*cking letter!""I'll write you on both sides of the f*cking paper, Caro.”

“Thank God for you, Caro.”

“My beautiful boy, my lover, my friend. The man I thought I'd never see again. Sebastian.”

“Every man in this room wants you, Caro. I’m so fucking proud, I can’t stop smiling.”

“Be happy, Caro, because that’s what you deserve.I love you, I have always loved you, and where I go after this world, I will always love you.Sempre e per sempre.”

“I’m going to make you so hard, I’m going to get you so wound up, I’m going to turn you on so much, that all I’ll have to do is touch you with one finger to make you come.”“Fuck!”

“He’d asked me once if I was brave enough to take a chance on love. I finally knew the answer.“I love you, too, Sebastian. More than you’ll ever know.”

“Caro… I don’t understand – why do you love me?”“Just because… because the sky is blue and the sea is green.”

“I reminded myself that according to the consensus of opinion, a forty-year-old woman was in her sexual prime, while a man’s was at the age of 19. Which meant Sebastian was already past his prime: although there was no evidence that anyone had told him that.”

“Perhaps life is what happens when you least expect it.”

“Sebastian, women like sex just as much as men... if it's good."He tried to smile but still looked uncertain, his forehead creasing with worry."Am I...?"He bit his lip.I knew what he was trying to ask me."Yes, you're good. In fact I'd say you're amazing: in so many ways.”

“The matter, Sebastian, is that you're a minor. What we've just done... what I've just done... it's against the law. It's a felony, for God's sake!”

“Contemplating leaving everything I had ever known of one ill-advised hour of passionate lunacy.”

“I chose love over law. And I didn't care.”

“What do you think I've got here that I wouldn't give up in a heartbeat to be with you? There's nothing to keep me here: I'll go anywhere, do anything to be with you.”

“It's always been you, Caro. The first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl that I'd ever seen. I thought you must be a princess like Cinderella. It's only ever been you.”