Jennifer L. Armentrout

“I nodded, wondering how one person could single-handedly ruin everything within a minute. It was a talent.”

“You always blush when you lie.”“I do not.” I felt the flush spread down my neck.“If you keep lying, I think I will have to leave,” he threatened halfheartedly. “I don’t feel like my virtue is safe.”“You’re virtue?” I huffed. “Whatever.”“I know how you get.” His eyes closed.”

“I came over to apologize.”“What?” I was shocked, awed, and shocked some more”

“What was that?” he whispered, eyes narrowed. There was no mistaking the amusement in the tilt to his lips, though. “Very bad kitty…”

“What? I’m not suppose to date or hang out with anyone now?”Daemon smiled. “Anyone human, yes.”“Whatever.” I shook my head, standing. “This is a stupid conversation. I’m not dating anyone anyway, but if I were, I wouldn’t stop just because you said so.”“You wouldn’t?” His hand shot out, tucking back a strand of hair behind my ear. “We’ll just have to see about that.”I stepped sideways, keeping distance between us. “There’s nothing to see.”Challenge filled his eyes. “If you say so, Kitten.”Folding my arms, I sighed. “This isn’t a game.”“I know, but if it were, I’d win.”

“You’re not dying,” he said.“How do you know?”His eyes latched onto mine. “Because I’d never let that happen.”

“We’re still going to be seeing each other,” he murmured. “And don’t even lie. I know that makes you happy, You told me you wanted me.”Hold your horses. “When?”“At the lake.” He slanted his headm and I should’ve pulled back. His lips curved knowingly against mine, and he let go of my wrist. “You said you wanted me.”Both of my hand were on his chest. They had a mind of their own. I claimed no responsibility for them. “I had a fever. Lost my mind.”“Whatever, Kitten.” Daemon gripped my hips, lifting me onto the edge of he desk with an ease that was disturbing. “I know better.”

“Whoa. It was hard to stick to my resolve of not caving to the ridiculous notion of us being together when he was actually…nice, and when he stared at me like I was the last piece of chocolate in the whole world.Which made me think of that damn chocolate chip cookie in his mouth.”

“Damon Laughed. “I’m only at the service of one person in particular.”My cheeks flamed as I scooted my chair over. “You are not servicing me in any way.”He leaned in, closing my newly gained distance. “Not yet.”

“Is this what you do with your spare time?” he asked me, ignoring his sister.“What—are you deciding to talk to me now?” Smiling tightly, I grabbed a handful of mulch and dumped it. Rinse and repeat. “Yeah, it’s kind of a hobby. What’s yours? Kicking puppies?”

“Your mail could've waited." Daemon followed me into the kitchen. "What is it? Just books?"Grabbing the OJ from the fridge, I sighed. People who didn't heart books didn't understand.”

“I understood books. I did not understand boys—especially alien boys.”

“Daemon pressed his forehead against mine. "Oh, I still want to strangle you. But I'm insane. You're crazy. Maybe that's why. We just make crazy together.”

“Okay, you're prone to moments of great dickdom, but you're not that bad.”

“Memories, even bittersweet ones, are better than nothing.”

“Dogeared pages were Antichrist of book lovers everywhere.”

“Look at the time." I tipped my chin toward the clock. "It's past midnight. It's January second. You lost."For several moments he stared at the clock like it was an Arum he was about to blast into the next county and then his eyes found mine. Daemon smiled. "No. I didn't lose. I still won.”

“Say it.""Say what?""Tell me what you told me earlier.""I love you.""That's all I ever need to hear.""Those three words?""Always those three words.”

“Cookie?" he offered, holding a cookie full of chocolate chips.Upset tummy or not, there was no way I could refuse that. "Sure."His lips tipped up one side and he leaned toward me, his mouth inches from mine. "Come and get it."Come and get...? Daemon placed half the cookie between those full, totally kissable lips.Oh, holy alien babies everywhere...”

“God, she was two seconds from jumping on his back like a monkey and strangling him.”

“Yeah,it’s kind of a hobby. What’s yours? Kicking puppies?”

“Well hello, honey, I've been out boozing and whoring. I know, my priorities are pretty off.”

“Sus ojos buscaron los míos.—Gracias.—¿Por qué? —Me encantó la sensación de sus brazos alrededor de mí y cómo encajé contra él, duro contra blando.Pasó sus dedos sobre mi brazo, y quedé impresionada con la forma en que podía hacerme temblar.—Por todo —dijo.Regocijo aumentó dentro de mi pecho, y mientras estábamos en los brazos del otro, nuestras respiraciones salían entrecortadas, nuestros cuerpos entrelazados, todavía no podíamos conseguir lo suficiente el uno del otro. Nos besamos. Hablamos. Vivimos.”

“Él me bajó y alzó la mano, metiendo el pelo detrás de mi oreja. Su mano se detuvo. —Me gusta cuando eres feliz, y si puedo hacer algo pequeño para que lo seas, entonces lo haré.”

“—Sonreíste. —Sus dedos se arrastraron a lo largo de mi mejilla, luego bajaron a mi garganta. Abotonó mi suéter rápidamente—. No has estado sonriendo mucho. Extraño eso, así que decidí premiarte por hacerlo.—¿Premiarme? —Reí—. Dios, sólo tú pensarías que besar a alguien es un premio.—Sabes que lo es. Mis labios cambian vidas, nena.”

“Dawson se movió, dejando caer su cabeza entre sus manos.—¿Alguna vez paras de hablar?—Cuando estoy durmiendo —replicó Blake. —Y cuando estés muerto —agregó Daemon—. Tú pararás de hablar cuando estés muerto.”

“Please come back to me, Alex. Please. I love you too much to lose you.”

“El colocó un dedo sobre mis labios. -Tomé decisiones terribles. Puedo ser un imbécil y hacerlo a propósito. Tiendo a intimidar a la gente para que haga lo que quiero. Y dejé que todo lo que ha pasado con Dawson amplifique aquellos…uh, rasgos de mi personalidad. Pero —quitó su dedo, y su mueca se extendió en una sonrisa. —Pero tú…me haces querer ser diferente. Eso es por lo que no maté a Blake. Es por eso, por lo que no te quiero tomando esas decisiones o tenerte cerca si yo debo tomarlas. Abrumada por lo que había admitido, no supe que decir.Pero él bajó su cabeza y me besó, y había aprendido que a veces cuando alguien dice algo tan devastadoramente perfecto, no hay necesidad de una respuesta. Las palabras lo decían todo.”

“Me tomó alrededor de una hora y media escabullirme para alejar a Daemon de mi mama.Tal vez no debería preocuparme sobre ella y Will. A lo mejor necesitaba preocuparme sobre ella y Daemon.Una puma.”

“Because I love you, we share each other’s problems. When we fight, we fight together. I’m going to be by your side no matter what, whether you like it or not. That’s what love is, Alex. You never have to face anything alone again. And I get what you’re saying. I don’t agree with it, but I will support you in any way I can.”

“I can’t keep pretending that I don’t want this – that I don’t want you. I can’t. Not after what happened to you. It thought… I thought I’d lost you, Alex, forever. And I would’ve lost everything. You are my everything.”

“You’ll have a piece of my heart – all of it, really. Forever.”

“Oh, dear gods, this was turning into a boy fight.”

“Aiden… I can’t see anything.”“That’s the point.”“Well, thanks, Captain Obvious.” I reached out blindly, but only felt air. “What do you expect me to do in here?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I was assaulted with totally inappropriate images of all the things we could do in here.“We fight.”Well that blew.”

“I swore to you that I wouldn't let that happen, and I know I've failed you, but I'm not going to just give up, Alex. I'll never give up on you.”

“It must be cool, having a twin, though.”“Ah, not sure if cool is the right word.” He flashed a grin. “But we’re not twins.”Out in the crowded hallway, Bethany frowned. “You’re not? Could’ve fooled me and the world.”His laugh was husky, deep, and really nice to hear. “We’re triplets.”Her eyes popped wide. “Holy crap, there’re three of you?”“We have a sister.” He walked close to her, so their shoulders bumped every few steps. She found that deliciously distracting. “She’s fraternal and a lot prettier than us.”

“I shot him a look. "That bouncer was really big."His lips quirked. "Oh, Kitten, see, I try not to say bad things.""What?"The grin spread. "I would say size doesn't matter but it does. I would know." he winked, and I let out a disgusted groan. He laughed.”

“But why is it still there? Why is it there at all?" I flipped my palm over several times, shook it, but the faint blue tattoo was still there. "You can see it, right? Like right now, you can see it?""Yes. It hasn't faded." Seth leaned forward, catching my hand. "Stop shaking it like it's a damn Etch-A-Sketch. That doesn't make them disappear.”

“Yeah, I'm great. Nothing like witnessing a death match between gods when I'm trying to get some Cheetos. -Deacon”

“In that moment, I wanted to punch myself in the face.”

“Come on.” He dropped a heavy hand on my back, between my shoulder blades, and my breath stalled.I was effectively silenced by his touch. Perhaps that was why he did it. Not many people would blame him and probably wished they wielded that kind of power over me.”

“He doesn't really know, Alex. He thinks he's in control, but he's not. Don't... don't believe everything you hear. There's still hope.”

“Sometimes you have to know when to let hope go.”

“You smell so good. They should bottle you up and sell you. Make millions.”

“Don't look at me like I've kicked a baby pegasus into the street.”

“I know what's happened," Apollo said after a few seconds. My brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?" He nodded at the board. My gaze dropped to the game and I nearly passed out. He'd spelled SEX and AIDEN with those stupid little squares.”

“I couldn't be dead. I hadn't even brushed my teeth, for crying out loud”

“There was something soul-burningly about being on the brink of losing control, tumbling over into the unknown, and I wanted to fall and never resurface.—Jennifer L. Armentrout”

“I feel it in here," she said, placing her hand against her chest and then against her stomach, "and here. It’s like there’s not enough air or room inside me. That I may… burst out of my skin or drown in it, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I always have… and will." She tipped her chin up and her entire face was a rosy color. "It’s you. I… I love you.”

“Apollo had changed Hyacinth into a flower to protect him. I would give Alex back control so she could protect herself instead of making the decision for her. That's how we were different from the gods.”