J.R. Ward

“You hurt,too?" When the female nodded, Marissa was stunned. Then a little relieved. "It wasn't all painful. I mean, what led up to it was ... is amazing. Butch makes me... he's just so... the way he touches me, I get... Oh, God, I can't believe I'm talking like this. And I can't explain what it's like with him."Beth chuckled. "That's all right. I know what you mean.""Really?""Oh, yeah." The queen's dark blue eyes glowed. "I know exactly what you mean.”

“She frowned. Then blurted, "Do you have other females?"As if anyone could measure up to her? "No! Why do you ask?""We haven't layed together and you are a male with obvious... needs. Even now, your body has changed, hardening, growing big."Crap. He'd tried to hide the erection, he really had. "Marissa-""Surely you need to be eased regularly. Your body is phearsom."That didn't sound good. "What?""Potent and powerful. Worthy of entering a female."Butch closed his eye, thinking Mr. Worthy was really rising to the occasion now.”

“I want to be with you, too,” he said. “I’ll come to your room after dawn.”Qhuinn didn’t want to ask. Had to. “What about Saxton?” “He’s gone on vacation.” Reaaaaaaaaaaaaaally. “For how long?” “Just a couple of days.” Too bad. Any chance of an extension…for like a year or two? Maybe forever? “Okay, it’s a—” Qhuinn stopped himself before he finished that with date. There was no sense kidding himself. Saxton was away. Blay wanted to get laid. And Qhuinn was more than willing to supply the male with what he wanted.”

“The trees were like black skeletons reaching to the sky, pleading with their bony arms for the sun to get stronger.”

“V?""What?""I will die rather than hurt you."~Vutch moments~”

“As he stepped forward, it dawned on her that this was a bad idea. If he wanted to talk she should meet him downstairs. After all, he was very male. And she was very naked. And they were now... yup, shut in a bedroom together.Good planning. Excellent work. Maybe she should jump out a window next.”

“Fear of change was a weakness”

“She pulled back the sheet. Good God, his sex was... "It's gotten so...huge"Butch barked out a laugh. "You say the nicest things.”

“You know you were with the lessers, true?"Butch lifted one of his busted-up hands. "And here I thought I'd been to Elizabeth Arden.”

“Can we screw the 'sorry' part and let me hit you back instead?"Vishous to Butch”

“He needs to die." When everybody looked at Rehvenge, the guy shrugged. "Plain and simple. Let's not bullshit around with protocol and meetings. Let's just take him out.""Don't you think that's a little bloodthirsty, sin-eater?" Wrath drawled. "From one king to another, know that I'm giving you the middle finger right now." And he was, with a smile.”

“She shook her head. "I'm not leaving him. And I'm out here waiting only because I was making him crazy. The sight of me... isn't good for his mental health at this moment. I'm hoping that's no longer true after he breaks this second treadmill.""Second?""I'm pretty damn sure that flapping and the smell of smoke about fifteen minutes ago meant he ran one of them into the ground.""Damn.""Yup.”

“With a sudden flash of anger, she blurted, "Lash wasn't impotent, all right? He wasn't ... impotent-"The temperature in the room plummeted so fast and so far, her breath came out in clouds.And what she saw in the mirror made her swing around and take a step back from John: His blue eyes glowed with an unholy light and his upper lip curled up to reveal fangs that were sharp and so long they looked like daggers.Objects all around the room began to vibrate: the lamps on the bed stands, the clothes on their hangers, the mirror on the wall. The collective rattling crescendoed to a dull roar and she had to steady herself on the bureau or run the risk of being knocked on her ass.The air was alive. Supercharged. Electric.Dangerous.And John was the center of the raging energy, his hands cranking into fists so tight his forearms trembled, his thighs grabbing onto his bones as he sank down into fighting stance.John's mouth stretched wide as his head shot forward on his spine... and he let out a war cry-Sound exploded all around her, so loud she had to cover her ears, so powerful she felt the blast against her face.For a moment, she thought he'd found his voice- except it wasn't vocal cords making that bellowing noise.The glass in the sliders blew out behind him, the sheets shattering into thousands of shards that blasted free of the house, the fragments bouncing on the slate and catching the light like raindrops...Or like tears.”

“Cuz it sure as hell appeared that his library card was getting stamped tonight.”

“Butch, let me help you."He cursed. "What if-""What ifs don't cut it." She took a deep breath. "I won't lie. I'm scared. But I don't want to turn my back on you and you're a fool to try and make me."He shook his head, respect in his eyes. "You always been this courageous?""No. But it appears that for you, I guess I am. So are you going to let me in?""I want to. I feel like I need to.”

“V grabbed him by the lapels and yanked him up against his body. The brother was trembling from head to foot, his eyes glowing like crystals in the night. "You are not my enemy."Instantly pissed off, Butch gripped V's shoulders, bunching up the leather jacket in his fists. "How do we know for sure."V bared his fangs and hissed, his black eyebrows cranking down hard. Butch gave the aggression right back, hoping, praying, ready for them to start clocking each other. He was jonesing to hit and get hit back; he wanted blood all over the both of them.For long moments, they stayed locked together, muscles straining, sweat blooming, right on the edge.Then Vishous's voice came out into space between their faces, the cracked tone riding a panting, desperate breath and getting bucked off. "You are my only friend. Never my enemy."No telling who embraced who first, but the urge to beat the living shit out of the other guy bled from their bodies, leaving only the bond between them. They wound up tight together and stood for a time in the cold wind. When they stepped back, it was awkwardly and with embarrassment.”

“I'm going to stay here and see if he comes back," Wrath said as the double doors opened and V strode in. "I want the rest of you out searching for him in the city, but before you go, first let's get an update from our very own Katie Couric." He nodded at Vishous. "Katie?"V's glare was the ocular version of a fully extended middle finger”

“Panting, he looked into a face he couldn't see. "What the fuck is your problem?""I'm bored." With that, she head-butted him right in the goddamn nose.”

“It was a good death. A very good death. She closed her eyes, and an hour later she gasped twice and let out one long exhale, as if her body were sighing in relief as her soul flew free of its corporeal cage. And it was strange... Nalla woke up at that moment and the young focused not on her granhmen, but above the bed. Her little chubby hands reached high, and she smiled and cooed as if someone had just stroked her cheek.Rehv stared down at the body. His mother had always believed she would be reborn unto the Fade, the roots of her faith planted in the rich soil of her Chosen upbringing. He hoped that was true. He wanted to believe she lived on somewhere.It was the only thing that eased the pain in his chest even slightly.”

“A few minutes later, John got up, put his clothes back on, palmed his liquor bottle, and left.As the door clicked shut, Xhex pulled the duvet over herself.She did nothing to try to control the shakes that rattled her body, and didn't attempt to stop herself from crying. Tears left both of her eyes at the far corners, slipping out and flowing over her temples. Some landed in her ears. Some eased down her neck and were absorbed by the pillow. Others clouded her vision, as if they didn't want to leave home.Feeling ridiculous, she put her hands to her face and captured them as best she could, wiping them on the duvet.She cried for hours.Alone.”

“Trust me, true?"Butch barked a laugh. "Last time you said that i ended up with a vampire cocktail, remember?”

“The Brother's eyes narrowed. "But here's something to keep in mind. You ever hurt him on purpose and I will consider you my enemy.”

“She slapped him so fast and so hard,his head actually kicked back on his spine.His first instinct was to bare his fangs and bite her,to punish her,to tantalize himself-because there was no better spice to pleasure than a little pain.Or a lot of it.He righted his head and lowered his lids."That felt good.Do you want to do it again?”

“On the backs of her lids,all she saw were the bare-naked breasts laid out before him,his dark head descending,his tongue flicking free of his mouth...and then his eyes lifting and meeting hers.”

“When I lie this close to you, when I smell your scent, when I hear your voice, I know everything that matters."She looked down the length of him."You are the male I want to mate with. That's who you are.”

“Humans are threatened by anything different, and their response is to fight. They're bullies, picking on the weak, cowering from the strong.”

“In the oh-my-God-this-has-to-be-Christmas silence that followed, he struggled to reorder the last six months, to catch up with this reality they'd somehow missed. He wanted her. She wanted him. Was it true?”

“What... are you?" she choked out."No sunlight. Funky choppers." he inhaled raggedly. "Take a guess.”

“Butch, I got sick and needed some time to regroup. But I wanted to see you. That's why I asked you to come calling when I ran into you back in December. When you said no, I thought... well, you'd lost interest."She'd wanted to see him? Had she said that?"Butch, I wanted to see you."Yeah, she had. Twice.Well, now... didn't that perk a guy up.”

“As she took a deep breath, all she smelled was him, the scent going in her nose and blooming all over her body.Bastard, she thought. Irresistible bastard”

“Qhuinn took a step forward, with the intention of stepping in, in the event the Brother locked hands on the SOB’s skinny neck: Someone should probably catch the head before it bounced all over their hosts’ rugs. And the deadweight of the body. Seemed only hospitable.”

“I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very low standard for communication.”

“Our boy looks impressed.” “Should be,” Rhage muttered as he jacked the belt on his robe. “We are awesome.” Multiple groans at that point. Rolled eyes. “At least he didn’t pull out the ‘totes amazeballs,’” somebody muttered. “That’s Lassiter,” came an answer. “Man, that son of a bitch has got to stop watching Nickel-fucking-odeon.”

“Butch sighed in relief. "Listen, man, do me a favor. Warn me before you pull another stunt like that. I'd rather choose." Then he smiled a little. "And we still ain't dating."V laughed in a short burst. "Go to sleep, roomie. You can kick my ass for this later.""I will”

“Is he Catholic?" her grandmother asked on the way out.He's a drug dealer -- so if he is religious, he's got incredible powers of reconciliation."He looks like a good boy," her vovo said over her shoulder. "A good Catholic boy." And that was that -- for now.”

“And it was kind of funny to see all these professional fighters unwilling to get within a mile of the female. Then again, if you wanted to survive doing the work they did, accurate risk assessment was something you developed early -- and even Qhuinn, who was the object of the protective instinct the Chosen was rocking, wouldn't have dared touch her.”

“Saxton shifted exhausted eyes over. "Must we do this?""What happened --""I think you and he need to talk. And once you do, I won't have to worry about being jumped like a felon again."Blay frowned. "He and I have nothing to say to each other --""with all due respect, the ligature marks on my neck would suggest otherwise.”

“Lassiter skidded in from the billiards room, the fallen angel glowing from his black-and-blond hair and white eyes, all the way down to his shitkickers. Then again, maybe the illumination wasn’t his nature, but that gold he insisted on wearing. He looked like a living, breathing jewelry tree. “I’m here. Where’s my chauffeur hat?” “Here, use mine,” Butch said, outing a B Sox cap and throwing it over. “It’ll help that hair of yours.” The angel caught the thing on the fly and stared at the red S. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” “Do not tell me you’re a Yankees fan,” V drawled. “I’ll have to kill you, and frankly, tonight we need all the wingmen we’ve got.” Lassiter tossed the cap back. Whistled. Looked casual. “Are you serious?” Butch said. Like the guy had maybe volunteered for a lobotomy. Or a limb amputation. Or a pedicure. “No fucking way,” V echoed. “When and where did you become a friend of the enemy—” The angel held up his palms. “It’s not my fault you guys suck—” Tohr actually stepped in front of Lassiter, like he was worried that something a lot more than smack talk was going to start flying. And the sad thing was, he was right to be concerned. Apart from their shellans, V and Butch loved the Sox above almost everything else—including sanity.”

“Qhuinn got down on one knee. Just dropped right on to the depiction of an apple tree in full bloom. “I don’t have a ring. I don’t have anything fancy in my mind or on my tongue.” Qhuinn swallowed hard. “I know this is too early, and that it’s out of the blue, but I love you and I want us to—” For once in his life, Blay had to agree with the guy—enough with the fucking talking. With a decisive shift of his body, he leaned down and kissed all that conversation right into silence. Then he pulled back and nodded. “Yes. Yes, absolutely, yes…”

“Qhuinn’s head cranked around, leaving its cage of the hand that had remained, his blue and green eyes red rimmed and watery. “I have loved you for years. I have been in love with you for years and years and years… throughout school and training… before transitions and afterward… when you approached me and yes, even now that you’re with Saxton and you hate me. And that… shit… in my fucking head locked me down, locked everything down… and it cost me you.”

“Blay said yet again, that old, familiar voice cutting through all of those years of rejection and judgment, giving him not just a rope of acceptance to hang on to, but a flesh-and-blood hand to lead him out of the darkness of his past… And into a future that didn’t require lies or excuses, because what he was, and what they were, was both extraordinary—and not hing out of the ordinary. Love, after all, was universal.”

“That is a beautiful tuxedo,” Phury announced as he and Z pushed the door wide. “I have one just like it .”“Fritz has the candles lit,” Rehv said from behind the twins. “Hey, nice tux. I haveone just like it.”“Me, too,” Phury agreed. “The fit is fantastic, isn’t it.”“The shoulders, right? Tom Ford is the best—”

“Hey, it’s a party already,” Trez called out as he and iAm arrived. “Oh, nice tux. Isn’t that Tom Ford?”“Or was it Dick Chrysler,” Rhage interjected. “Harry GM—wait, that sounds dirty….”

“He didn’t even know what it was, Vishous.” “The tux?” V lit a hand-rolled. “Of course he didn’t. He’s a real male.”

“Bye-bye, Elan. P.S., Next time you implicate someone falsely, try to pick a pacifist.”

“What.” Oh, for God’s sake. “Fine. Why wouldn’t it ever work out?”“Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally… in love with you.” Qhuinn’s mouth dropped open.”

“Qhuinn gave in immediately, as he was categorically incapable of denying the female anything — most certainly not one of her hugs. They were even better than her lasagna.”

“Rhage exhaled slowly, air easing out of his nose. As he sank into his skin, he reveled in the perfection of peace. The heavenly silence. The great roaring absence.”

“You don't go after what's mine. Now be a good boy and gut yourself." -Xhex, Lover Mine.”

“In the context of the English language, there were many more important words than “in.” There were fancy words, historic words, words that meant life or death. There were multi-syllabic tongue-twisters that required a sort out before speaking, and mission-critical pivotals that started wars or ended wars…and even poetic nonsensicals that were like a symphony as they left the lips. Generally speaking, “in” did not play with the big boys. In fact, it barely had much of a definition at all, and, in the course of its working life, was usually nothing but a bridge, a conduit for the heavy lifters in any given sentence. There was, however, one context in which that humble little two-letter, one-syllable jobbie was a BFD. Love. The difference between someone “loving” somebody versus being “in love” was a curb to the Grand Canyon. The head of a pin to the entire Midwest. An exhale to a hurricane.”