“It was then Raiden Ulysses Miller scorched me a second time, but I didn't battle this blaze. There was no pain. But that didn't mean I didn't end up branded.”

“I used to sleep the sleep of someone who knew she was loved. Now, I didn't.”

“I never dreamed any fuckin' dream," he whispered, and the smile faded from her face as tears filled her eyes.She understood him."Shy-""Didn't dream it, saw it, waited my time, and then you gave it to me.”

“Raiden is a silly-@ss romance novel hero’s name my Mom came up with to torture me,” he replied. I stifled a giggle and remarked, “And Raid isn’t silly?” He smiled. “Raid’s a bad@ss’s name.”

“Best thing that ever happened to me, that shredded washer," he whispered."Too bad I didn't know what a washer was or I would have shredded it myself," I whispered back and he burst out laughing.”

“The best part of the ceremony was after Shy kissed his bride, and when we were done, he didn't let go. So I stood in his arms, my thumb stroking his jaw, my eyes gazing up at him. the world had melted away, so I didn't hear the hoots and hollers of friends and family. I only heard what he muttered in a voice that was weirdly raw but unbelievable beautiful: "Like I'm the only man on the planet." In that minute, he was but then again, for me, really, when it came down to it, he always had been.”

“You do it for me because you were the girl across the street, your hair shining in the sun, laughing, making me fall in love with you, and I didn't even goddamned fucking know you.”