J.R. Ward

“You left the door open.““Fritz is bringing me some smokes.”“You’re not lighting up around my dog”(…)V looked over at the dog. George’s big boxy head was down on his paws, his kind brown eyes seeming to apologize for the shutdown on the whole light-up routine.Vishous stroked the bag of Turkish delicious like a pathetic loser. “Mind if I just rolled up a couple?”“One flick on the flint and I’ll pound you into the carpet.”

“It felt odd to realize she was frightened more by what he might know, and not of what he might be.”

“He thinks I love him. As in… in love with him. Yeah. Go fig. Me in love with Qhuinn… a guy who, when he’s not moody, is a slut and smart-ass. Except you want to know what the most fucked-up thing is, though? He’s right.”

“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.”

“...Jim finished his beer and wondered how in the hell he'd found himself in the role of Cupid. Man, if those four lads even thought about getting him to wear the wings and a diaper while he nocked his arrow, he was so renegotiating his employee contract. And not with words.”

“Am I going to have to die first before I come here every time? Because no offense, but for fuck's sake, I can just give you a cell phone to call.”

“I don't think we're fit for visual consumption."Adrian reached up and cranked the rearview mirror his way. "Whatever, I'm gorgeous...wow. I...""Look like shit.”

“Last fight I had with the bitch ended way too soon."Eddie rolled his eyes and glanced at Jim. "It was in the Middle Ages and he still hasn't gotten over it.”

“Don't be an asshole," the guy snapped as he cracked a freshie."Oh, right, because two in this group would be overkill.”

“That's the problem with white horses. You have to pay for them yourself or you'll always be using someone else's reins.”

“Carving?""Your name. My back. I can't fucking wait." Jane whistled under her breath. "Do I get to do it?" He barked a laugh. "No!" "Come on. I'm a surgeon, I'm good with knives.”

“After a moment the king said, "So be it." Zsadist cursed. Butch whistled low. Rhage bit into a Tootsie Pop.”

“Every night I went into Hannah's room and sat with her stuff. The thing I couldn't get was how her clothes and her books and her drawings were still there, but she wasn't. It just didn't compute. Her room was a like a car without an engine, everything where it should be, except all it was was potential. None of it was going to get used again.”

“I am barren of words my female. For no sounds from my mouth are worthy of your hearing.”

“I'm going to love you so good and so long you're gonna be convinced no earthly thing could have brought us together”

“As she stood down below him on the street,it seemed impossible that she'd connected with him as she had,but then,the phone was virtual relating,one step up from being online.Both people were in their own environments,invisible to each other,only their voices mixing.It was false intimacy.”

“I was living with this sense that there was something going on, something important, but I didn't know what it was. It was like...I knew the secret was there, and it was a dark one, but I just couldn't reach it. Nearly drove me mad.”

“None of them knew that it wasn't because he was a nice guy; it was because he was one of them. The hard reality was that life had put them all where they didn't want to be, namely on their backs for people they didn't want to be fucking.”

“Ehlena: Look, the reason I called was --Rehv: Because you needed an excuse. You shut me down in the exam room, but really wanted to talk to me. So you called me on the phone. And now you have me. (That voice dropped even lower) Do I get to pick what you do with me?”

“But every once in a while, from out of the blue, someone reaches the quiet place where you spend your private time and changes the way you see yourself”

“Sorry, you're on the ride now, and there's no getting off in the middle.”

“Besides, you don't look a thing like him. I mean… hello? You're this beefy Irish white boy. He's like… bus exhaust or some shit.”

“The collision was impending and electric, but the moment was soft and sweet: She positively glowed as she looked up at him."What," she whispered, palming his face.Vin took a moment to memorize her features and the way she felt beneath him, seeing her not just through his eyes, but feeling her with his skin and his heart. "Hello, lovely lady...hello.”

“I thought symphaths didn't have a conscience." "I'm half my mother's boy, too. So I have a little." "Aren't you lucky." The Reverend's chin dipped down, and his eyes flashed pure, purple evil for a split second. Then he smiled. "No… all the rest of you are fortunate.”

“Phury?""No, I'm not gay.""Don't feel like you need to hide it or anything.""I wouldn't. I'm just not." "You bi, then?”

“Oh… God. What was a male supposed to do in this situation? "I'm sorry," he muttered. "If I… uh, hurt your feelings or something." She glared at him. "I'm not hurt. I'm pissed off and sexually frustrated.”

“He stopped when he heard Wellsie's voice coming out of the study. "… some kind of nightmare. I mean, Tohr, he was terrified… No, he fudged when I asked him what it was, and I didn't press. I think it's time he sees Havers. Yes… UAH-Hugh. He should meet Wrath first. Okay. I love you, myhellren . What? God, Tohr, I feel the same way. I don't know how we ever lived without him. He is such a blessing.”

“The Reverend grinned, his fangs flashing. "You know, I've heard this rumor… about a member of the Brotherhood who's celibate. Yeah, go figure, a warrior who abstains. And I've heard a few other things about this male. He's down to one leg. Has a scarred sociopath for a twin. You wouldn't by any chance know of such a Brother?" Phury shook his head. "Nope.”

“He knew then that there are many ways for a heart to break. Sometimes it’s from the crowding of life, the compression of responsibility and birth right and burden that just squeezed you until you couldn’t breathe anymore. Even though your lungs were working just fine. And sometimes it’s from the casual cruelty of a fate that took you far from where you had thought you would end up. And sometimes it’s age in the face of youth. Or sickness in the face of health. But sometimes it’s just because you’re looking into the eyes of your lover and your gratitude for having them in your life overflows... because you showed them what was on the inside and they didn’t run scared or turn away, they accepted you and loved you and held you in the midst of your passion or your fear... or your combination of both.”

“Straight up, Mels, the only reason I haven't completely jumped you is because I can't. I...can't." He threw up his free hand and let it fall back down to the bedspread. "And you know what sucks? I've been with a lot of women."Annnnnnnd that made her chest hurt. "Before you were injured..."He nodded. "Of all the things for my memory to come back on, right?"Cue another kick in the solar plexus. "You remember them?""I hate it– because I would trade every single random fuck for just one night with you." He brushed her face with his fingertips and then brought his thumb to her mouth. With the same gentle pressure he'd put against her wrist, he caressed her lower lip. "I'd give up every one of them. Matter of fact, it feels like...a curse to have finally found someone like you, only to have it be too late. And that's where it's at. It's too late for me, Mels, and that's how you're killing me. When I look at you, when I see you move, when you smile or take a deep breath, I just... I die a little. Every time.”

“With the supplies gathered, he went over to the stainless-steel sink and pressed the foot pedal to get the water running. While he washed his hands, he said quietly, "If I could, I would." "Excuse me?"Qhuinn pumped some suds into his palms and scrubbed all the way up his forearms. Which was overkill, but if Blay wanted him superclean, then that was what he was going to be. "If I could love a guy like that, it would be you.”

“Wrath what do you say""Fuck' came the reply"Appropriate word choice, my lord, but not really an answer".”

“In the silence that followed, violent anger hit Blay from out ofnowhere.Now his hands shook for a different reason.“So,” Saxton said hoarsely. “How was your night?”“What the hell happened down there?”Saxton loosened his tie. Unbuttoned his collar. Took yet anotherdeep breath. “Family tiff, as it were.”“Bullsh*t.”Saxton shifted exhausted eyes over. “Must we do this?”“What happened—”“I think you and Qhuinn 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 around my neck wouldsuggest otherwise.”-Lover at Last, pg. 188 of the galleys”

“The door to Blay's room opened wide without a knock, a hello, a hey-are-you-decent.Qhuinn stood in between the jambs, breathing hard, like he’d run down the hall of statues.Sh**, had Layla lost the pregnancy after all?Those mismatched eyes searched around. “You by yourself?”Why the hell would— Oh, Saxton. Right. “Yes—”The male took three strides forward, reached up . . . and kissed the ever-loving crap out of Blay.The kiss was the kind that you remembered all your life, the connection forged with such totality that everything from the feel of the body against your own, to the warm slid of another’s lips on yours, to the power as well as the control, was etched into your mind...Lover at Last, MS pg. 449”

“People going in the wrong direction will get like that. Round pegs just don't fit in square holes.”

“The thing was, the places of your life, like the clothes you wore and the car you drove and the friends and associates you had, were a product of the way you lived.”

“You have what I call a "male brow." Which is a frown brought on when you're thinking about your male and you either want to boot him in the ass or wrap your arms around him and hold him 'til he can't breathe.”

“Marissa in a long creamy gown. The cop in front of her, stroking her face, evidently poleaxed. All around them, the delicious scent of sex in the air.”

“Next time say my name. You'll come more”

“United by their clasped hands, they became again the two halves, the light and the dark. The Destroyer and the Savior. A whole.”

“Butch was quiet for a time. Then he said, "I think that's why I like Jane.""huh?""When you look at her? You actually see her, and when's the last time that's happened for you?"V geared himself up, then stared hard into Butch's eyes. "I saw you. even though it was wrong. I saw you."Shit, he sounded sad. Sad and...lonely. Which made him want to change the subject.”

“This was the gift of recovery, he thought. The ability to be here in this moment with the female he loved and be fully aware, fully awake, fully present. Undiluted.”

“You told me I could beat him. You promised." ~Vishous”

“Look upon me, Mistress. Watch as I wither!”

“Phury nodded. "And if she lives with us, we get to keep the cat.”

“Please, if you would," the butler said, "no throwing the linens. Peaches, anyone?" -Fritz”

“Good? No, that didn't go far enough. She'd made him feel… alive. Awakened.”

“You've always been there for me. Always. Even when I…" V"Even when you what?" B"You know." V"What?" B"Fuck. Even when I was in love with you. Or some shit." VButch clasped his hands to his chest. "Was? Was? I can't believe you've lost interest." He threw one arm over his eyes, all Sarah Bernhardt. "My dreams of our future are shattered—" B"Shut it, cop." VButch looked out from under his arm. "Are you kidding me? The reality show I had planned was fantastic. Was going to pitch it to VH1. Two Bites Are Better Than One. We were going to make millions ." B"Oh, for the love.”

“Straightening up so the full force of that cold blast hit him square in the face, Qhuinn glared into the rush, picturing those pines ahead that he couldn’t see because his eyes were watering from the wind. Opening his mouth, he screamed bloody murder, adding his voice to the maelstrom.Godd*mn it, he wasn’t going down like a pussy. No ducking, no pathetic oh-please-God-no-saaaaaave-me. F**k that. He was going to meet death with his fangs bared and his body braced and his heart pounding not from fear, but from a whole boatload of . . .“Blow me, Grim Reaper!”

“The Maker was a genius, he thought. Infinity resulted in insolence. But transience was the way one treasured what one had been given.”