“A solitary eyebrow inched up Perry’s forehead. “Your lust for meat never ceases to amaze me.”“Don’t judge,” Dita said around a mouthful of bacon.”

“Your ability to remain alive never ceases to amaze me.”

“Nick’s body covered Perry’s, and he could feel Perry’s fast and frantic heartbeats against his chest. Fast as the frightened pound of something small and gentle ‑‑ a rabbit or a fawn. But when he pulled back to study Perry’s face, he could see the shine of Perry’s eyes and the gleam of his teeth, and he was smiling, not scared, just excited. Nick’s mouth covered Perry’s, and Perry’s lips were warm and soft and welcoming. His breath was light and fast, and it seemed suddenly, strangely precious to Nick.A surge of unexpected emotion tempered his ‑‑ considerable ‑‑ lust.”

“Thank you sensei,” I crossed my arms over my chest as she locked up the door. Gram chuckled and said, “Oh Sophie, your sarcasm never ceases to amaze me.”

“But it never ceases to amaze me how difficult the things that are supposed to be instinctive really are.”

“It never ceases to amaze me that in times of amazing human suffering somebody says something that can be so utterly stupid.”