More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“I’ve met monsters. You’re not one of them.”
People can perfect whatever façade they want, but everyone holds their sins close to their skin.”
I’m very selective in my lovers.” “Because you’re so special?” I couldn’t help but ask with open sarcasm. That grin faded and his expression became serious. “Because at points in my life, I’ve lost everything. This house, my other homes, the cars, planes . . . they’re my possessions, but anyone could own them. My body is the only thing that’s truly mine, so I don’t give it away as though it’s worthless.”
I was getting drunk. Rip-roaring, stinking, worshipping-at-the-porcelain-altar drunk. Damn Maximus for his big mouth, and damn Vlad for his incomprehensible arrogance.
“Right back at you,” I said, matching his unyielding stare. “Is that all?” His lips twisted. “No. I can give you honesty, monogamy, and more passion than you can stand, but not love. That emotion died in me long ago, as I suspect you already know.”
Maybe he would’ve warned you earlier if you hadn’t avoided him all day, an insidious little voice taunted. Up yours, I snapped back at it.
He stalked closer. “Aside from last night, there hasn’t been a single instance. You’ve seen the scars on my body, but not all are from battles. Many were from when I was imprisoned as a boy and repeatedly beaten. In the centuries since, I’ve let few people touch me in friendship, fewer still as a lover, but none in anger without extracting my vengeance . . . yet you struck me, and I did nothing.” His voice deepened. “If you don’t find sufficient apology in that, then you don’t know me at all.”
“Leila.” Maximus’s voice was unrecognizable from the silver harpoon still embedded in his throat, and he was so covered in dried blood that it took me a moment to realize that was all he had on. “What are you doing here?” I let out a harsh imitation of a laugh. “Oh, you know. I was in the neighborhood.”
I didn’t say any of the cliché things that sprang to my mind, like You don’t want to do this (yes he did), or We can talk (we were way past the talking stage).
