“but remember, nothing comes without a price. Our paths are not mapped; they’re made.”

“The last declaration he'd made to me hung between us. The L word. The one that had nothing to do with like.”

“Rough palms cradled my face while my fingers gripped the pillow on either side of his. Lips, teeth, tongue, mingled together. I ate him up and didn’t let go until I had to come up for air.”

“Plus, I happened to be a history nerd. Why else would I be interested in a guy born in the year 519?”

“The combination of razor-sharp wit (completely real) and his credentials (completely fake) had won them over in the end.”

“Well, can you tell her that?"He looked down at his feet. "I will. I will."Guy-speak for, "I plan to keep avoiding her until she gives up.”

“You'll get fired if anyone finds out about us!""So many rules in this century," Vane muttered.”