Victoria Dahl

“Can we go inside, Eve?"She inhaled quietly at the way his voice wrapped around her name. One deep syllable that had always made her wish she was called something longer and more complicated. Genevieve or Isabella. Something that would take him full seconds to say so she could feel it rumble over her skin.”

“Buddies didn't have touchable breasts or intriguing vaginas. Buddies were people you burped around and bragged to about other women.”

“Merry started and shook her head. No, even if the man were naked and in her shower right now, she could never just climb in there and start manhandling him. Not even in a fantasy. Because what she'd really do is screw up the courage to slip into the shower naked, and then she'd stand there awkwardly while he soaped himself. She'd probably crack a joke. Then make an excuse about how crowded it was and just slip away.”

“You know that's not what I mean! I just...I don't know what to do with men. I get nervous. I make too many jokes. I act like a kid sister instead of their fantasy sex machine.”

“Pictures of the corners of life that no one else saw.”

“He pushed up a little, raising his head to look into her eyes. After a moment, weariness settled into his features. "It's too late regardless. I'm yours now."I'm yours. The beautiful opposite of what Peter White had said to her. You're mine now, he'd crowed, as if she were a purchased treat. The difference, it seemed, between a boy and a man. Just as Jude had promised.”

“I think he could handle being used. It would be good for him. He's having trouble sleeping.”

“That werewolf fantasy would be a hard one to pull off. She'd have to troll through the forest in high heels, just praying one of the scruffy campers was actually a raving beast.”

“Don't even try to make this into something weird, Lori. We grew up in the same place, so get over your complex. Unless, of course, this is part of your fantasy. The asshole rich boy and the noble girl from the poor family.""F*ck off," she growled.”

“Apparently falling slowly is a scientific impossibility. Falling means that you’re not in control, doesn’t it? I should’ve considered that.”

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“She reached to give him an awkward hug, and when he hugged her back, his hand accidentallytouched her belly. It was surprisingly hard and something shifted beneath the surface.“Oh, shit!” he yelped, jerking back.“What’s wrong?”“It, uh, moved.”“Feels like an alien, doesn’t it? I swear to God, I have nightmares that it’s going to burst out of my stomach like a monster. But I think it’s prettyharmless.”

“You’re looking for a man who can fix you?”“No! I don’t expect a man to fix me! I’m not an idiot. I just want a man I can hide behind.”Chase’s eyebrows flew high. His mouth twitched up, and Jane felt her mouth twitch, too.“Jane, I’m no Dr. Phil, but I’m pretty sure you’re certifiably fucked-up.”“Shut up!”“It’s true. Man, if I wasn’t already in love with you, I’d be out of here.”

“I’ve had a rough six months, okay?” she cried. “Little Blue was my last friend,and frankly the last time his batteries ran out I had a fleeting moment of panicthat he’d been compromised!”

“I like you, Miss York, because you are wicked, and there can be no finer blessing for a man than a good and wicked wife. Wouldn't you agree?”

“It wasn't funny.""Oh, mon coeur. It was the funniest thing I've ever heard.""Jude!" she cried, stomping her foot before she realized she'd done it."I'd kiss you now if I wasn't sure that you'd bit me."She would. She'd nip that obnoxious smile right off his face."Now I know why you're so good at it. Kissing. You've had loads of practice.”

“Of course not," she snapped. "I'm only thirsty. Would you play the gallant and find me a glass of lemonade?""I assume 'lemonade' is code for wine?”

“On the contrary, I like men. They are polite and helpful and necessary for dancing. And men are so handsome and different, aren't they?""Not all of us, clearly, but I'll let that go.”

“He tilted his head in such gracious acknowledgment that she felt churlish. 'I can assure you I've not yet squished a lady. Not even once.”

“Edward, it will take time to find a willing and acceptable match, won't it? Decent men do not hang about at crossroads just waiting for ruined women to take them home.”

“You're walking around here with a smile on your face, Asher. It's freaking everybody out.”

“Aw, hell, Tessa. I was in ninth grade. By the time I got to the part where I imagined a girl without panties on, it was all over.”

“We just went out for dinner. We didn't participate in a Roman orgy, I swear.”

“I think I'd better plead the fifth.""Isn't that an admission of guilt, Detective?""Legally, it's a neutral position.""Oh, but it's morally damning, isn't it?""Morally?" His deep brown eyes sparkled and the weight in Tessa's belly melted all over her insides. "Oh, yeah," he said softly. "Morally, it's a big problem.”

“I'll need hot water for washing." Hart barked.Wellford murmured, "Immediately sir," as he bowed back out the door. He did not say, "Of course, sir. I bring you hot water every single morning, even when you haven't debased yourself for a woman.”

“You take control, Emma," he whispered. The words tickled her ear, he spoke them so close. Shivers raced down her neck, down her chest and her belly. "Take control of me. Come to me." Her neck arched, wanting his mouth to bite her. "If you do Emma, I may give you what you want. Or I may offer more than you can handle. Risk. That's what you like, isn't it? So play with fire. Play with me.”

“Emma snapped from her daze. She sat forward and slid to ground so quickly that Hart was forced to scoot back.He fell to his backside, suddenly struck with the image of how he must look: sprawled on the floor with a cockstand, a pair of pink drawers in his fist. Utterly ridiculous. Corrupt. Depraved. Hart couldn't help but grin.”

“Really, Your Grace. Crooking your little finger again? At least buy me a bauble before you try to tup me in the carriage.”

“Yes," she spat. "I am quite picky. Often I like my seductions to consist of more than 'Hallo there. are to spread your knees for a duke?' Silly miss that I am.”

“Yes, she was imperfect. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t also spectacular.”

“This is so weird. I feel like bambi just morphed into a raging nymphomaniac.”

“Jane Morgan had ruined him. Ridden him hard and put him up wet. He might never recover.Mentally he was even worse off. Who was this girl?”

“Yeah, I'm kind of proud of myself, too. I was a fucking sex ninja.”

“I wouldn't yell 'fire' at that slimeball if his ass was in flames.”

“Lori sat way back in her chair and gave him the once-over. "What in the world's gotten into Ben Lawson? jokes? Flirting? Maybe I should sleep with Molly. I think she's got a magic hooha.”