“He watched the aperture of the young women's lovely face close ever so slightly and felt a pang in his heart.”

“He inclined his head ever so slightly, displaying with his bearing the supreme confidence, even arrogance, that is the sole providence of cats, dragons, and certain highborn women.”

“At the simplicity of the gesture, he felt a pang: the raw nerve of his loneliness exposed.”

“I wondered if he ever thought of me, and hated the pang I felt when I told myself he didn't.”

“...Closing his eyes, he saw every smile that Rebecca had ever directed his way and knew a pang of regret. He would have liked to have held her in his arms one last time before he died.”

“He cupped my face and closed the gap between us nestling his nose next to mine. I felt my heart in my throat, beating at full speed. “No.” I restrained him, raising my right arm against his chest. David moved slightly back, staring deep into my eyes. “You’ll be the death of me. I swear it.”