Bouchra

“The Lords have shown me that darkness exists. That you don’t have to die in order to burn. And then you came along ...” I place both of my hands on her wet face, and she blinks, allowing the first tear to run down her cheek. “I can see you, touch you, and kiss you.” I wipe it away with my thumb. “I can love you.” My eyes drop to her plump lips, and her bottom one trembles. “You, Blakely Rae Archer, are my heaven.” Letting go of her face, I pick up her left hand and bring her knuckles to my lips, kissing her wedding ring. “I made a vow to protect you, Blake, and I’ll show anyone who tries to hurt you my version of hell.”
― Shantel Tessier, The Ritual

“There’s no need to be nervous around me. I’m the least unpredictable man you’ve ever met. What I want from you won’t change if you say the wrong thing. It won’t change if you gain weight or cut your hair or decide to go vegan. It won’t change even if you say you never want to see me again and we go our separate ways. I’d honor that request, but it wouldn’t make me stop wanting you. But you should know…”
― J.T. Geissinger, Ruthless Creatures

“You can still use my body heat to calm down.”
“You’d allow yourself to be used?”
“By you? Absolutely.” And I mean that shit. If this woman asks me to
cut my chest open and show her the organ she’s asked for, I’d rip it from its tendons and lay it at her feet.”
― Rina Kent, God of Malice

“Earlier in the shower made me realize I’ve gone fucking soft on you, Blake. Know why?” He doesn’t let me answer. “Because you cried. Because another man tried to hurt you. That’s what I’m trying to protect you from. I should be your biggest threat. But instead, I’m falling in love with you.”
― Shantel Tessier, The Ritual