“Suggestions?" I asked [...]Marc never took his gaze from the cage. "Get the hose.”

“They took turns kissing necks and ears and stubbled chins. He had never found or expected gentleness from Tucker, but here it was, his for the asking. His even if he didn't know how to ask.”

“Marc had grown up, gotten away from the partying lifestyle that made him feel as if his mere presence was a gift to those around him and knew himself for what he'd truly been back then. A fool. Hopelessly in love with a friend who'd never wanted more from him than he'd already given. This weekend, Marc hoped to change that.”

“I didn't ask my mother to buy me a trumpet or a violin, I started right on the water hose.”

“My dearest Lucy,” he said, his gaze never wavering from hers, “I would die for you.”

“It took both of them to force her to feed from other than Mikhail. She resisted for a moment. For our child, little one, Mikhail whispered softly, lovingly, bending her will to his. You must do this for our child.Gregori added his own reinforcement. I have never asked anything of you, Raven, of our friendship. This I ask.”