“When he kisses me again, the last part of me that could stand myself dies.”

“Ben kissed me like he could kiss me forever, like he had to kiss me forever and he wanted to, he wanted me, and when he felt my surprise at that, I could feel again how beautiful I was to him, how I was beautiful beyond words.”

“The kiss. Oh, the kiss. What a perfect, unnerving, luscious kiss. He made me feel unhinged . . . like he could take me apart and put me back together again and again.”

“He frames my face with his hands as he says, "Tess. Only you could be brave enough to die with me. But I want you to live for me."We kiss, as desperate as though we were drowning. When our lips part, Alec says, "Forgive me.”

“...he whispered "I've been dying to do that for ages," before leaning in and gently kissing me again...”

“I was born when he kissed me, I died when he left me, I lived a few weeks while he loved me”