“I love you, Roza." He kissed me again. "I'll always be here for you. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." The words were wonderful and dangerous. He shouldn't have said anything like that to me. He shouldn't have been promising he'd protect me, not when he was supposed to dedicate his life to protecting Moroi like Lissa. I couldn't be first in his heart, just like he couldn't be first in mine. That was why I shouldn't have said what I said next-but I did anyway. "And I won't let anything happen to you," I promised. "I love you." He kissed me again, swallowing off any other words I might have added.”

“For the first time X the truth is, I also couldn't bear to share you. I couldn't watch that happening,watch you with another man.I have gone too deep.Too deep with you. He kisses me again I love you, I love you more than I have ever loved any woman in my time on this earth.”

“How grateful are you?" he whispered, his mouth hovering over mine. His eyes were very alert now, and his gaze was boring into mine."That kind of ruins it, when you say something like that," I said, trying to keep my voice gentle. "You shouldn't want me to have sex with you just because I owe you.""I don't really care why you have sex with me, as long as you do it," he said, equally gently.”

“I would have been embarrassed to have been caught in such a compromising situation. Promise me you won’t ever kiss me like that again.” He tittered.”

“I don't like seeing you cry. You will stop."I'll give you a promise," he said gruffly. "And then you will cease your worrying."You will have confidence in my ability to protect you," he ordered.You will have faith in me. I command it.”

“I've barely been able to think about anything else.''Other than...' He waited for me to finish.'Kissing you, dummy,' I said.'Really?''You shouldn't be that surprised,' I said.He grinned. 'I'm just glad to know we're on the same page.”