Shayla Black

“Stay where I can taste you. Take the pleasure I give you.”

“I do care, goddamn it! Have you been listening? I. Love. You. I never really knew what that meant until you.”

“You know how people are, always wanting the one thing they can't have.”

“Sometimes, life just sucked."Bite me," she muttered."Okay, where?" Deke asked, then went on. "Never mind. I've got some enticing ideas of my own.”

“Here's the deal. You eat some lunch, at least something light that will help you keep your energy up, then we'll talk.""About what? We've already conversed today-twice-in the language you're fluent in: Fuckese."Deke fought a smile. "You probably meant that as a slur, but somehow I'm complemented.""You would be," she muttered.”

“It's that...what I want isn't what I need.”

“Just because you don't believe me doesn't make me a liar.”

“You haven't touched me, and I'm already unfocused.:”

“What I want, isn't what I need...”

“He was clearly used to sucking in the universe, examining it, then bending it to his will.”

“She frowned. “I did nothing to arouse you.”He clenched his jaw, his stare growing more aggressive. “You breathed.”

“Familiar words chanted through his mind, demanding he speak them. He tried to bite his tongue. Now was hardly the time, and she'd likely laugh. Once spoken, the words would bind him to her for the rest of his life, even if she refused him, which was likely. And once she did, he could never touch another... not that he'd want to, since he hadn't almost from the moment he clapped eyes on her. Unless... what if she spoke the Binding?Whatever she decided, the Mating Call was forever.Despite that, he could not stop. "Become a part of me, as I become a part of you. And ever after—""Oh my God." She gasped. "Ice, I—""I promise myself to thee."Sabelle might not want him to finish this Call, and saying it might doom him, but the taste of her still rolled around on his tongue like ambrosia. Instinct reeled, roared. No way would she stop him from trying to stake his claim and make her his."Ice," she implored. "My brother—""Is not involved here." He felt his eyes burning into her. "This is between you and me.""But... I—I don't... He won't approve."Bram wouldn't. That went without question. And right now, he could give a shit. But he noticed that she hadn't said she didn't want him. "What do you want? Because I know I want you, princess. Any and every way you'll let me have you."God, her lips were right beneath his, and he needed another taste of her so badly, every cell in his body craved it. Damning caution, he layered his mouth over hers again. She was like sinking into sugar, sweet, light, tempting... addictive. He nibbled at her lips, then prowled deeper, engaging her tongue. Then deeper still, consuming as much of her as he could with a single taste. Again, the urge to claim, to mate, scraped down his instincts, clear, loud, strong. He lifted his mouth, panting over her lips. "Each day we share, I shall be honest, good and true. If this you seek, heed my call. From—""Stop!" She grabbed him by the sleeves of his robe. "Ice, think. If you say the rest, it's done. Even if I refuse, as long as I live, you'll be bound to me.""I want nothing else." He stared deep into her eyes, as a feeling of rightness, inevitability settled into his gut. "From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.”

“He will not take her.”Sabelle turned toward the booming declaration. Ice. His protective gaze was as tangible as a caress. She swallowed.“Of course not,” Duke assured. “Sabelle is too important to our cause.”Ice stormed around the table until he hovered beside her, mere inches away, his body heat pouring over her. “If there is a breath left in my body, he will not take her.”

“Lush, evocative, inventive... Livia Dare delights. Fans of Dara Joy will love [ In the Flesh ]!”

“It’s just...” She scrubbed a hand across her face. “I keep looking for someone to share life with, someone patient. Not afraid of a mop or use the stove. Even-tempered, understanding, not allergic to emotion.” She closed her eyes momentarily. “Someone sweet.”Hunter stifled a grimace. She was describing a female with a penis.”

“God, listen to him. Fucking pathetic, going on about the girl like he was Keats or something.”

“He just wasn't good at being a cross between a teddy bear and just a friend.”

“Watch that mouth, cher. I own a ball gag. I know how to use it, he growled.”

“One-way ticket to Las Vegas: three hundred fifty dollars. A week's stay at theBellagio while he convinced Nicki to give him this crazy job: eighteen hundred dollars.Cost of pizza to bribe his way into her apartment: fifteen bucks. Seeing her reaction to hisclaim that she didn't particularly affect him sexually: absolutely priceless.”

“If you were expecting Prince Charming, I'm sorry. He's with his boyfriend.”