“When everything else is gone, balls are all any of us really have left. The question is: are yours made of flesh and blood, or steel?”

“A wing or a thigh? Ah, I'm afraid we don't have any thighs left.”

“Have you ever had one of those moments when time just freezes? Youknow, when the world suddenly goes deathly still, and you could hear apin drop, and the squishing sound your heart makes is so loud in yourears you feel like youre drowning in blood, and you stand there in thatsuspended moment and die a thousand deaths, but not really, and themoment passes and dumps you out on the other side of it, with yourmouth hanging open, and an erased blackboard where your mind used tobe?”

“The two of you are getting downright chatty, aren't you, Ms. Lane? When did you last see him? what else did he tell you?I'm asking the questions tonight.If an illusion of control comforts you, Ms. Lane, by all means, cling to it.”

“I can smell you, Ms. Lane," he said, even more softly. "The only blood on you is from your veins, not your womb."My head whipped to the left and I stared at him. Ok, that was one of the more disturbing things he'd ever said to me.”

“His hand was on my throat, and he was crushing me back with his body into the cold steel beam behind me. "Yes, I have loved, Ms. Lane, and although it‘s none of your business, I have lost. Many things. And no, I am not like any other player in this game and I will never be like V‘lane, and I get a hard-on a great deal more often than occasionally." He leaned fully against me and I gasped. "Sometimes it‘s over a spoiled little girl, not a woman at all. And yes, I trashed the bookstore when I couldn‘t find you. You‘ll have to choose a new bedroom, too. And I‘m sorry your pretty little world got all screwed up, but everybody‘s does, and you go on. It‘s how you go on that defines you." His hand relaxed on my throat. "And I am going to tattoo you, Ms. Lane, however and wherever I please.”

“Cat got your tongue? And what a lovely tongue it is. I know. It licked every inch of me. Repeatedly. For months," He purred but with steel in the velvet”