“You sound as if you don't mind what happens to it," said Tessa. "Won't you miss it here? This place has been your home."His fingers stroked her wrist lightly, making her shiver."You are home for me now.”

“Tyler caught her wrist. "You can't walk home now. It's raining.""Believe me, it won't bother me a bit.""Now, Carlie, don't be obstinate.""Tyler, I'm dangerously close to laying you low." She had to get away from him. Now. "Violence? My, my, your cold is making you surly."She tugged, but he didn't release her. "Tyler, what did you intend to do today, before you came here and decided to harass me?""I was going to harass Brenda, but you'll do better.”

“You are home for me now." --Jem to Tessa”

“He'd kissed her, and she'd been poleaxed, frozen in place, because his mouth had felt like coming home. The taste of him, the smell of him, the sound of his breath-the slow slide of his tongue over and around and down the lenght of hers, it had all said, "Here's your place,girl,here with me.”

“Say something in Mandarin,” said Tessa, with a smile.Jem said something that sounded like a lot of breathy vowels andconsonants run together, his voice rising and falling melodically: “Nihen piao liang.”“What did you say?” Tessa was curious.“I said your hair is coming undone — here,” he said, and reached outand tucked an escaping curl back behind her ear. Tessa felt the bloodspill hot up into her face, and was glad for the dimness of thecarriage. “You have to be careful with it,” he said, taking his handback, slowly, his fingers lingering against her cheek.”

“Tessa touched his wrist lightly with her hand. "Be brave," she said. "It's not a duck, is it?”