“There was pain and then there was agony. Hello, agony. I’d been waiting for you. Finish me off. Please.”

“Eden, angel. Please. Please forgive me. Please give me another chance. Please give me a reason to keep fighting, to be a better man. Redeem me. Only you can.”

“Kiddo, I’d let you brand me with a hot iron if you wanted to.”“Still a sucker for punishment?”He grinned. “Something like that.”

“If he truly wanted me to let everything go, I’d flip over and ride him right there on the range. Screw golf, I’d screw him instead.”

“Please, angel. Make me your home.”

“Revenge has been my lover for too long," he said, breath hot on my neck. He began sliding down my body, toward the floor, arms around me. "Power, my savior. I need to learn how to put you first, above those things. I need you to help me, to teach me. I don’t want to love anything more than you, Eden, so please, I’m begging you, show me how. You need to be my everything.”

“You know,” he began, voice low and full, “if you were to ever leave me, I’d come looking for you, on every street.” “You promise?” “Always.” And I knew he kept his promises.”