Maya Banks

“I'd be a dumbass if I didn't plan for every contingency.”

“When I wake up, I'm going to kick your ass.”

“I'm so exhausted and yet I feel like I'll never sleep again.”

“I've always considered myself a good person. I've never done anything to purposely hurt anyone. I was in shock that this happened to me, and because it did, I turned into this vengeful person. I've never truly hated anyone, but I was glad when I saw him lying there on the floor.”

“My attitude is born out of necessity. I've made mistakes. I've made decisions I regretted. I know what it's like to live with regret. I live with it everyday. But if I let it take over, I'd never get out of bed in the morning.”

“Twas such a useless thing. And so unnecessary. Many had suffered for the actions of a few. Wasn't that always the way of things? The collective suffered for the actions of an inept, ineffectual leader.”

“Holy shit,' Ash murmured.'Oh, it gets worse.'Ash lifted an eyebrow.'Yeah, apparently when I decide to be an asshole, I go all the way.”

“Jace groaned. 'Baby, you have to stop. I'm more than happy to fuck you any way you want but can we please leave Gabe and Mia out of this?'She nodded. 'Or maybe I'll fuck you.' She brightened at that idea and then her eyes narrowed fuzzily on Jace. 'Can I do that?”

“Gabe thinks I look sexy,' she announced when Jace stopped in front of them. 'And he totally said you'd fuck me in these shoes.' She stopped and frowned, her thoughts suddenly muddled. 'Or maybe it was Mia who said you'd fuck me. Either way, I wanna be fucked in these shoes.”

“She was too well acquainted with the way things work in real life. Real life sucked. But it was real. It was unapologetic. It made no excuses. It just was.”

“And you look beautiful without it, but I want you to feel just as beautiful as I see you.”

“Words are just words. The evidence is in how you act, how you react.”

“No amount of saying ‘I love you’ and ‘I trust you’ makes it true when it isn’t.”

“He kissed her as though he were starved for her. Like he'd been held away from her and had finally broken free. It was the kind of kiss that lived only in her fantasies. No one had ever made her feel so..consumed.”

“Tell me something Micah, If you found a naked woman tied to your bed what would you think? That I have been a very good boy in a pass life.”

“He did and said all the right things. Things that went straight to her heart, and worse, they inspired the one thing that she'd given up along time ago. Hope.”

“Most of all, I want you to know without a doubt that I've got your back. And your front. And your sides. I've got all of you and I'm not letting go.”

“God, you have a beautiful laugh, and your smile. Jesus, it knocks the breath out of me.""You can't talk to me like that, nobody says things like that to a woman he just met. It's insane.""I just did. And I plan to keep saying them until you believe every word.”

“You hold your head up. You submitting to me doesn't mean you're anything less...the very last thing I want is for you to be some mindless puppet.”

“Embrace the pleasure. Reach for it.”

“...I want a woman completely devoted to me and my needs. In return, I would take care of her and provide for her every need. But I would be in control.”

“You have more power, more control than you could possibly imagine. My heart is in your hands. That's not bullshit. I'm not saying stuff I think you want to hear in order to manipulate you. I can't be any more honest than this. I'm yours, baby. I'm putting it out there. My heart, my soul, it all belongs to you.”

“I love you, Bowen Montgomery. I love you so very much, and that will never change, even when we're old and gray. I thank God for you every single day, and that you came and lifted me from the depths of despair. You showed me how it can be with a man who loves me, and you've shined light on the darkest shadows of my memories.”

“Genevieve burst into laughter and hugged him fiercely, because otherwise she would cry. Not because she was unhappy but because joy crowded every inch of her heart and soul. She was about to burst with it.”

“He told me of his desire for us to reside at McInnis Keep for half the year."She glanced anxiously up at him. "Do you mind?"He stopped and turned to face her, gathering he hands in his. "Genevieve, I would agree to six months in hell if it meant being with you."Her cheeks warmed and she smiled, joy spreading like wildfire through her soul."Well, I hope you don't think six months at McInnis Keep is akin to hell," she teased."If I'm with you, anywhere is heaven.”

“He kissed her temple, nuzzling her skin, and murmured again that she was the most beautiful lass in the world. They weren't just words he offered. Platitudes he didn't mean. He cared not about the scar that marred her face. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful lass he'd ever known and nothing would change that. Not a scar. Not circumstances. She was his, and he didn't give one damn what others thought.”

“And now Genevieve had taken over. He'd move the sun if that's what it took to ensure her safety and happiness. Nothing was more important than her security. His focus was and had to be solely on her, for she had no other to champion her cause. If he didn't see to her happiness, who would?”

“Kissing her was something he'd never grow tired of. It was like drinking warm sunshine or licking the sugary sweetness of honey from a spoon.Smooth, silky-soft, and delicate and ultra feminine. She inspired possessiveness such that he all but screamed that she was his.And the hell of it was she didn't even know it.”

“He found himself playing the love-sick fool vying for a crumb of attention or approval from Genevieve. Anything to make her smile. Make her happy. He'd give her the damn moon if that was what it took.”

“By saying it aloud, he thought perhaps it might seem silly to him. That perhaps he'd been swept up in the moment with Genevieve and that maybe he wasn't quite to the point of love yet. But he was dead wrong. The words felt right on his lips. Saying them aloud only confirmed what his heart already knew. He was well and truly in love with the lass, and there was naught but contentment within him at the whole idea.”

“Taking the leap felt appropriate. Only it wasn’t just a short hop. It was a full plunge off a cliff.”

“Tell me what you need.""You," she said simply, that one word tearing to the very heart of him. "Just you.”

“As if he conveyed by actions what he could never say in words. Would never say in words.”

“Was he demanding? Hell yes, but he wasn’t selfish. He took. He was ruthless in his demands. But he gave her back so much. Not just materially but emotionally, though he’d likely deny he did any such thing.”

“Love made her patient. It made her hopeful.”

“And maybe that’s was her biggest crime of all. Making him fall in love with her.”

“He’d never get over her. He knew that without hesitation or doubt. He loved her. As deeply as it was possible to love another person. And God, he wanted her. Every day. In hit life. As much a part of him as he would be of her.”

“I want babies too," he said huskily. "Daughters as beautiful as you are.”

“He was better than any drug, any remedy for her illness.”

“Hope was such a gift and a curse all rolled into one.”

“There were worse things than death, as she'd discovered. Sometimes living took far more courage. Facing another day. Enduring. Those things took strength. Far more than dying.”

“Nothing good is ever easy. Or worth it.”

“Men love a submissive woman, Damon said simply. Even when they say the don't. There's just something about a beautiful, soft woman looking to them to protect and take care of them that inspires a man to greatness.”

“The laird wasn’t uppermost on her mindthis morning. Sleep was.Another giggle raced around the room,and Mairin realized that once again, she’dgiven voice to her thoughts.”

“You don’t kiss the correct way,” she blurted out.”

“His eyes narrowed. “First, the marriagewill take place. Just as soon as you’ve regained your senses and realize that tis the only sensible option left to you.”When she would have opened her mouthto dispute his assertion, he shocked her by clamping his hand over her mouth.“You will be silent and allow me to finish. I have doubts that you’ve ever been able to hold your silence for more than a moment in your entire lifetime,” he grumbled.She huffed but his hand tightened on hermouth.“I can only assume that my son overheardme speaking to my men of our marriage. If you would have but cautioned him to hold his tongue, he would not have repeated it beyond his question to you. But now, you’ve announced our marriage to the entire clan.Some might even consider it a proposal. In which case, I accept.”He finished with a grin and then steppedback, releasing his hold on her mouth.“Why … you …,” she sputtered. She workedher mouth up and down but nothing wouldcome out.A cheer went up from the crowdassembled.“A wedding!”

“His gaze narrowed and she could see hishands twitching again like he’d love nothing more than to throttle her. She was beginning to think it was an affliction of his. Did he go around wanting to choke the life out of everyone or was she special in that regard?“I’m afraid ’tis an urge that is entirely original to you,” the laird barked.She clamped her mouth shut and closedher eyes. Mother Serenity had vowed one day Mairin would regret her propensity to blurt out her least little thought. Today just might be that day.”

“Slow down, my lady. You’re going to injure yourself!”“Not myself,” she muttered. “Your laird,more likely.”

“I’ll cry if I want to. You will cease orderingme about!”He raised an eyebrow. “You dare to issueme orders?”She flushed, but at least she wasn’t cryingany longer.“Now tell me about this brand on yourthigh. Your father’s crest. I’d like to see it.”176/756She went crimson and she backed up astep until her back met with the ledge of thewindow. “I will not do something so indecentas to show you my leg!”“When we’re married, I’ll see more thanthat,” he said mildly.“Married? Married? I’m not marrying you,Laird. I’m not marrying anyone. Not yetanyway.”

“If I have to bar the door, I will. I can be avery accommodating man, lass, but you’vesorely tried my will. I’ve given you until tomorrowto trust me with whatever you’rehiding. After that, I can promise you won’tlike my hospitality any longer.”“I don’t like it now,” she said crossly. Shewaved her hand in his direction. “You canleave. I’ll only be going to bed now.”