“And what of you Lady Sterling? Do you have any news?" Mrs. Tavisham asked.Yes, an impossibly gorgeous man ravished me in my carriage . Quite a most delightful afternoon. Bella resisted the urge to lick her lips and instead smiled politely."No, nothing of interest.”

“You wanted to lick my face the first time you saw me? Is that usually what you do when you’re attracted to guys?” I shake my head. “Not your face, your dimple. And no. You’re the only guy I’ve ever had the urge to lick.” He smiles at me confidently. “Good. Because you’re the only girl I’ve ever had the urge to love.”

“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.”

“Ummm…” She licked her lips. “Define fun.”“Quit doing that, jailbait. It’s distracting.”

“You didn’t introduce your little cupcake to me. How rude, especially after I’ve tasted her lips and her fright, her want.” He licked his lips again and smiled at me. “All were delicious.”

“What about the support group? What if I decide I’m not ready to leave?”“It won’t take me long to find somewhere else to go.”“You’d be willing to do that?”“To have you beneath me? To hear you scream my name? To go down on you, lick you from bottom to top and finally see if you taste as good as you smell?” He smiled when her lips parted in shock and her eyeswent wide. “I’d give up group altogether, sweetheart.”