“His embrace said all the things his lips could not or would not, they said you're safe and I will protect you maybe even some semblance of caring about me, however fucked up, but everything was fucked up. Through it all his lips only repeated, 'I made them pay'.”

“I sat up then, looking at him appraisingly, knowing that was the moment I could stop everything if I wanted to. “Maybe you should go,” I whispered, as I ran my hand through his hair slowly.“Maybe I should stay,” he said, bringing his lips to mine again.”

“That’s the funny thing about these collars … Most men put them on women they plan to regularly fuck the shit out of.”His lips twitched. “I put them on women who get off on having me fuck the shit out of them however, wherever and whenever I want.”… “But you think that isn’t me.”

“His lips met mine again, this time in a slow, soft caress, conveying everything he had just said in those beautiful words that had reached my very soul. I could have drowned in that kiss. I could have lived there for eternity. It filled me up with everything I needed to survive. He gave me life through his lips and I treasured it.”

“I never thought that this moment would come for me.   My whole life has been shaped to protect me and keep my heart safe.   I know that I’m about to change all of that and I should be terrified.   I lean forward and brush my lips across his.   The fact that the fear never comes and all I can think about is Connor and his mouth on mine gives me the courage to speak.   “Connor, make love to me.”   I say against his lips.”

“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. It's not the right word for you and what I feel for you.""Shut up. If you care about me at all, you'll just shut up and go away.""I've been loved before--by Corinne, by other women...But what the hell do they know about me? What the hell are they in love with when they don't know how fucked up I am? If that's love, it's nothing compared to what I feel for you.”