“Princess,” he whispered against her ear. “My beautiful, beautiful princess. I want to spoil you. Pamper you. Indulge you.”

“Cease the bickering! I am indulging the exotic whims of a beautiful princess and must not be distracted.”

“I throw my head back and laugh long and hard. Then I lean in and whisper in her ear, "You don't know who you're fucking with, princess. Ain't no one do bad like I do.”

“I'm going to teach you to ride Princess." "Princess?" "My motorcycle." I laugh. "You named your motorcycle Princess?" "What can I say?" he teases. "I call all my favorite things princess.”

“And you must be Princess Mia? I've heard about you."Her lips pucker and she leans out just a bit further from Storm's cover. "You have?!He nods. "Well, I heard about a Princess Mia who likes ice cream. That must be you, right?"She nods slowly and whispers, "Did you hear that, Mommy? People know I'm a princess!”

“I hate you," I say, the sentiment muffled against his heart, hoping to make it true."And I love you," he answers without hesitation, voice resolved and raw as he holds me tighter so I can't break away and react. "A crossroads, my beautiful princess, that was unavoidable—given our situations.”