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In contrast to her sunny appearance, however, she radiates the kind of dark intensity usually associated with cult leaders. It’s an irresistible combination. I can’t count how many men I’ve seen fall lovestruck at her feet.
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re on the deck of the Titanic, listening to the musicians play before we sink into the freezing water and drown.”
“My father is extremely old-fashioned. He’s been married to my mother for more than forty years, and he believes marriage is the foundation of civilization. Literally. He thinks men would still be hunting with spears in the jungle if it wasn’t for women domesticating us.” Here he pauses again to look me deeply in the eyes. “Women are lion tamers, he says. Can you believe that?”
And don’t be sarcastic. There’s only room for one smartass at this table, and it’s me.”
Callum lowers his brows and proceeds to glower at me. “I won’t let that face derail me, but nice try.
His tone gently mocking, he says, “I’ve been obsessed with you for years. I’ve watched you from afar, planning, scheming, waiting for exactly the right moment to make you mine. Now all my planning has paid off, and the moment is here.” His mysterious smile grows wider. “Hello, little lamb. Welcome to the lion’s den.”
I’d better get him talking about something else other than his appetite or my vagina will seize control of the rest of my body and stage a coup. I’m liable to jump onto the table, grab his head, and grind my crotch into the poor man’s face.
“Telling a woman not to overthink something is as dangerous as telling her to calm down when she’s angry.”
“Maybe next you should march into the kitchen and spearhead an effort to unionize.” “I would, but my blood sugar is low. Where is that salad?”
“It’s a chicken salad, not a declaration of undying love.” “It might as well be! He fed you, Em. Even after you rejected him. And we both know where food sits in your hierarchy of needs.
“Awkward social skills?” He grins at me. “You burped in my dad’s face at our wedding reception.” “I’d been drinking champagne all afternoon. It makes me gassy!” Dani says, “And let’s not forget the time you laughed at your grandma’s funeral.” “I was eight. And corpses are funny!” Ryan says, “Or the time the security guard at the mall wished you a Merry Christmas and you politely answered ‘No, thank you.’ And the time our neighbor Jenny put her baby in your hands and you said the same thing and set the baby on the ground.”
“This is too close for a conversation.” “I wasn’t aware there were rules about distance.” “Haven’t you ever heard of personal space?” “Not a fan.” He looks at my mouth and licks his lips.
“Men who don’t have resting rich face, for starters.” “Resting rich face?” “The arrogant, entitled, contemptuous look certain wealthy people wear. That expression of exaggerated self-importance you have when you’re going around being billionare-y all over the place and sneering at the common folk like me.”
“You’re sensitive, but you hate that about yourself, so you try to hide it. You want to be in control of everything and take care of everyone, but the effort exhausts you. You’d never ask for help, however, because your pride won’t allow it. You’re strong, so everyone relies on you, but you’re also lonely, and you worry too much.
“You’re something much better than beautiful. And when we’re married, I’ll tell you what it is.”
In a hot, dark voice, he says, “Because my wife asked me to. And I’ll give her anything she wants.”
“No. I don’t care what other women think of me. Because they’re not you.”
“You never have to be afraid of anything again. If you have a problem, I’ll fix it. If you need something, I’ll give it to you. If anyone bothers you, I’ll make them wish they hadn’t. Whatever you want or need, you tell me, and you’ll have it. You’re mine now.”
“All I know is that I’m standing in a stranger’s closet with nothing but a signed copy of Outlander, a weird cell phone, and a black American Express card to keep me company, and I’m pretty sure I’m having a nervous breakdown. Can you please come over here and hold my hand?”
“Annoyance always gives me courage. I can’t breathe with you on top of me like this. You weigh as much as a small European car.” “That’s the strangest compliment I’ve ever been given.” “It wasn’t a compliment.”
“You haven’t been kidnapped. This is your own home, after all.” “Oh good. Then nobody should mind when I burn it to the ground.”
I’ve said it a million times, a man is nothing without the support of a good woman. We’d still be hunting with spears in the jungle if it wasn’t for the fairer sex. We’re basically wild animals who need to be tamed.”
Sabine said that when she’s buried, she wants to hire someone to stand apart from the mourners under an umbrella, looking on from a distance, so everyone would think she was involved in something mysterious,
“You okay?” “No. But I will be as soon as I’m inside you.”
“The tattoo is the first of many I’ll get with your name all over my body.”
“Because I’m yours. You’ve tattooed your name on everything inside me. The least I can do is make the outside match.”
“I know you think we should’ve gone slow. But I know nothing of slowness. I dove into you like the ocean, headfirst, not caring if I’d drown.”
“He said he saw his whole future the first time he looked into your eyes.”
“I’m the one your mother warned you about, that’s who.”
You. You’re what’s the matter with me. You have been since the first time I laid eyes on you and every day since.”
“There are a million shades of gray between good and evil, love. Am I on the darker end of the spectrum? Yes. Am I a bad man who does good things or a good man who does bad things? Both. But you made this monster your slave. All of what I am, good and bad, light and dark, belongs to you.”
“If a man tucks his tail between his legs and runs when another man threatens him, he’s a pussy. Good riddance. Count your blessings you didn’t end up with that nincompoop, girl.”
The man lied to me—to my face—about everything!” Her father-in-law cackles. “For twenty million bucks, I’d let him lie to me too.”
“He’s a man. He did what he had to do to get what he wanted. You’re just mad you found out.”
There aren’t any divorce attorneys in Vatican City.” “Why not?” “Because divorce is prohibited there by law.”
Overthinkers are tortured by unanswered questions. It’s our own personal version of hell.
You’ll probably start screaming when I give you the answer, though.” I growl again. He says, “Okay. Here’s the truth. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. My backup plan was to kidnap you and hold you hostage until you fell in love with me from Stockholm Syndrome.”
“Sometimes love doesn’t make any sense. But it doesn’t have to. When you find someone who makes your soul sing, all that matters is joining in the song.”
“You are beautiful, Emery, but that’s the least interesting thing about you. What I meant then is that you’re the only thing that’s ever made me feel alive. I was dead before I met you, but I looked into your eyes, and you brought me back to life. What you are is my reason for being. My center of gravity. The fixed point around which everything else turns. You feel like sunlight to me. You feel like a sky full of stars. I loved you before I even knew your name, when you were wearing cat ears and spitting fire at me. You ripped my heart out of my chest the first time we met, and you’ve been
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“I know I’m damaged. But all my broken pieces belong to you.”
Not all happily-ever-afters are for white knights, darling. Sometimes the villain gets the girl. And isn’t that a much more interesting ending to the story? With all my black heart, Your monster
The emotion in his eyes is overwhelming. “Because you’re everything good and true, and I trust you. With my heart, with my life, with everything I am, I trust you, Emery. And I’ve never loved anyone more.”
His touch leaves sparks in its wake. When I shiver, his smile deepens. He murmurs, “I love how responsive you are to me.
