“I never thought I’d see the day you retreated from anything, least of all a mere slip of a woman. (Simon)And never did I think I would find a woman I wanted so badly. Beauty, you’re a treacherous lure with a deadly hook, and this fish has no choice except to flee before it gets caught. (Draven)”

“She smiled at him. “How did you know just what I’d want to see?”“How could I not?” he said. “When I think of you, and you are not there, I see you in my mind’s eye always with a book in your hand.” He looked away from her as he said it, but not before she caught the slight flush on his cheekbones. He was so pale, he could never hide even the least blush, she thought — and was surprised how affectionate the thought was.”

“Yeah, right. I don’t believe that one for a minute. What do you think? I fell off a turnip truck? (Simone)Honestly? All I was thinking about was how beautiful you are. How much I wanted to feel your skin against mine and how I’ve never been this attracted to a woman before. (Xypher)”

“I’ve had worse. (Draven)Such as? (Simon)The day my heart was ripped out of me. I assure you the king’s executioner could never equal the pain I felt the day I saw our mother die. (Draven)”

“I just want to be able to look at Blair and see the woman I fell in love with. Not the woman who did what she did. And it’s getting harder every day.”

“I figure I’d find my way to beauty eventually. And I’d find absolution because I’d know, I earned the love of that woman, a woman who’s got so much to her it’ll take years to dig down and find the heart of her, that would be my reward.” Ohmigod. Ohmigod! Ohmigod!”