“His voice sounded like molten metal. As if he had something thick at the back of his throat and it was making him sound deeper and richer than he actually was.”

“Just that one wordsoundsent a strong answering pulse through her body. His tongue curled around syllables that werent there, like a promise. This is what youll get, if you just let me hear.”

“He suggested devils, skulls, harsh masculine drawings. This thing washeart poundingly good. She wanted to pluck it, and bury her face in it, and keep it in a vase by her bedside.”

“You know it feels good. I can hardly getaI dont evenThere was something amusing about watching him trying to form a coherent sen-tence. Amusing, but arousing at the sametime.”

“I would never forbid you. I cant forbid you. Its not in my power to, and it never should be.”

“Just that one word—sound—sent a strong answering pulse through her body. His tongue curled around syllables that weren’t there, like a promise. This is what you’ll get, if you just let me hear.”

“Don't get your panties in such a twist... and give me back mine.”

“Listen, I'm bossy. I can't help it. It's who I am and what I do. I'm pushy and I like to take over. But I'm going to work really hard not to do so much and your going to try and accept me the way I...”

“Possess. Have. Hold. Enjoy. Control. Dominate. Pick your verb, Ms. Fairchild. I intend to explore so very many of them.”

“Every great love starts with a great story...”

“I knew, in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late: again, I might have missed my chance. But I would at least know I tried, that I took my heart and extend...”

“You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.”