“You need to find yourself a new eye doctor. Trenton just happens to have one."Her eyes moved to him,then back to the cup she'd managed to get hold of. "There's nothing wrong with my vision," she replied indignantly."You're as blind as a bat.""What an unkind thing to say," she said with a humph."You get top honors on unkind remarks, Missy. I'm just stating the obvious.""Which isn't the least bit true.""Isn't it? How many fingers am I holding up?" When she said nothing, he added, "Uh-huh,I rest my case."She lowered her head a bit,conceding, he thought, until she replied triumphantly, "Three."He mumbled under his breath. "You were guessing.""And you have trouble admitting when you're wrong,don't you?”

“She thought I should woo you into removing the mask I told her you were wearing."She'd managed to surprise him yet again, to go by his expression and the lambent look that entered his eyes. "That sounds entirely too interesting. You have my rapt attention. Woo away.""I wouldn't know how," she admitted, lowering her head and suddenly feeling embarrassed."Move a little closer,m'dear. I promise I'll get the message."Her head shot back up. "You're entirely too bold,Rupert St. John.""I know.It's wonderful,isn't it?"She rolled her eyes. She supposed this Rupert was much preferable to the dangerous one she'd briefly met in Nigel's room.But which was the real St. John?Aware that the dance was going to end at any moment,she said, "Now it's my turn.Are you really a spy?""Good God,do you really think I'd say so if I was?" he replied,aghast, which was obviously feigned."I thought we were being honest.""No,you are being honest. I'm merely being delighted by it."Rebecca gritted her teeth. He'd finally managed to provoke her ire with his evasiveness. She stopped dancing, pulled away from his hands,and walked away.But she heard him call softly after her, "Wait! You haven't heard my dire warnings!""Keep them," she shot back. "I wouldn't believe them anyway."DId he have to laugh at that?”

“What are you smiling about?" Benedict demanded.She didn't bother to glance up as she replied, "I'm plotting your demise."He grinned-not that she was looking at him, but it was one of those smiles she could hear in the way he breathed.She hated that she as that sensitive to his every nuance. Especially since she had a sneaking suspicion that he was the same way about her."At least it sounds entertaining,"he said."What does?" she asked, finally moving her eyes from the lower hem of the curtain, which she'd been staring at for what seemed like hours."My demise," he said, his smile crooked and amused. "If you're going to kill me, you might as well enjoy yourself while you're at it, because Lord knows, I won't."Her jaw dropped a good inch. "You're mad," she said.”

“ Mr. Beck, I'm Detective Reynolds," she said, holding out her hand. Sebastian eyed it warily. " You going to actually break my finger this time?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her. She rolled her eyes at him. " Not if I don't have to.”

“I can pick up the city feeds on my antenna. It said they were going to change you all. Turn you into something less dangerous. Are you still...?"She gazed at him. "What do you think, David?"He peered into her eyes for a long moment, then sighed and shook his head. "You just look like Tally to me."She looked down, her vision blurring.What's the matter?"Nothing, David." She shook her head. "You just took on five million years of evolution again."I what? Did I say something wrong?"No." She smiled. "You said something right.”

“When you've lived as long as I have," he said, eyes heavy-lidded but definitely on her, "you learn to appreciate new sensations. They are rare in an immortal's life."She found she'd moved toward him. He hooked her arm around her waist, pulling her closer until she straddled him as he sat on a ledge below the waterline, her legs wrapped around his waist.He settled her firmly against him.Sucking in a breath, she said, "Sex isn't new to you," and rocked her heat over the exquisite hardness of him. Good didn't begin to describe how it felt. How he felt."No. But you are.""Never had a hunter before?" She grinned, nibbling on his lower lip.But he didn't smile. "I've never had Elena before." The words were husky, his eyes so intent she felt owned.”