“I wanted to wipe the grin off his face with a fist. I resisted the urge. Who says I have no self-control?”

“Tell that to the BTK killer,” I said. “He was a churchgoer, raised two kids, married, and resisted the urge to kill for decades. He was a person, but he was a monster, too”

“I didn't like having my inhibitions lowered. If i was going to cut loose, i wanted to be in control of just how loose i got.”

“His parting shot to me had been, "I don't want to love someone who is more at home with the monsters than I am." What do you say to that? What can you say? Damned if I know. They say love conquers everything. They lie.”

“I didn’t know what to say to that. I just stared at him. He was right, of course he was right, but… “I can’t do my job like this.” “No,” he said, “you can’t.” Then suddenly I felt the first tear slide down my face. “No crying,” he said. Another tear joined the first. I fought not to wipe at them. His hand dropped to his side and he took a deep breath. “That’s not fair. Don’t cry.” “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to, but you’re right, I think. I’m pregnant, damn it, not crippled.”

“He balled his hand into a fist. "You are such a bitch." "Woof, woof," I said.”

“You lie like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth, Edward."He smiled. "I don't lie to you.""Really," I said.The smile became a grin. "Okay, not most of the time, anymore." His face sobered. "I'm not lying now.”