“At his slow smile, she gathered him into a gentle hug again. Will I ever be able to stop touching him?”

“...with the most infinite tenderness I have ever known in my life, he put his arms around me, gently, gently, and I embraced him around the neck, and we touched...”

“She smiles and hugs him goodbye, her hand lingering on the small of his back. They are definitely going to have sex.”

“With his back to Neferet, Kalona buried his face in his hands. How could I have ever thought she, or any other woman, could supplant Nyx's place in my heart? I have spent centuries as a broken shell of myself, attempting to fill what was missing within me through violence and lust and power. Nothing! Nothing has worked! He felt her hands on his shoulders. They were soft and warm and seemed to radiate kindness. Gently, ever so gently, she turned him, coaxing Kalona to face her. When he lifted his head his body went very still. Neferet had not followed him. She had not moved. She could not have touched him. Neferet had never touched him with such kindness.But Nyx had.”

“(She grabbed him for a bear hug.)Stop sexually harassing me, Mom. (Nick)”

“She held her breath as it stopped ringing and connected.“Hello, beautiful Livia,” Blake answered.“How did you know it was me?” Livia saw her wide smile in the rear view mirror.“The phone looked sexier when it rang.”She could hear a matching smile in his voice and sighed. Livia hugged herself with her free arm. Just the sound of him made her skin beg to be touched.”