Wicked at Heart Quotes

“He feared her, desired her, thought he'd very well kill any man who dared look twice at her, and here she was, expecting him to walk her home, as though he were a — a goddamned gentleman or something.  Didn't she know the only one from whom she needed protection was him?”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“This cannot be happening, Damon.  Someone, somewhere, made a mistake, you cannot be the Black Wolf!" "Gwyneth."  His hand was stroking her hair, calming her as he might a frightened young child.  "Dear, loyal Gwyneth.  Do you not remember what creatures guard the Marquesses of Morninghall as they sleep?  Do you not remember what creatures stand watch from the very gates of Morninghall Abbey?"  His voice was patient, resolute, resigned.  "Think, dearest wife — and then think upon my surname." "Wolves," she whispered brokenly.  "Oh, dear God . . .”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“What has my husband done to have such terrible charges brought upon him?" Whymark looked at her in disbelief — a disbelief that quickly turned to pity as he realized that she truly was ignorant of her husband's treasonous doings.  "Did you not know?" he murmured, his eyes softening in sudden understanding.  "Your husband was caught last night, engaged in the very act for which he has been charged.  I am sorry to inform you, my lady, but the Marquess of Morninghall is the elusive Black Wolf.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Eventually, the marquess raised his head and looked down at her, his iridescent eyes burning with a love so fierce it pierced right through to her heart. "That surprise I have for you," he murmured, and stretching, reached for the lunch basket. Still clinging to him, she turned her head on the blanket and watched as he withdrew a small, silk-wrapped bundle.  And as the wrappings fell away, he held up a magnificent ring, a ruby framed in diamonds which winked in the sun and shot prisms of fire into her eyes. "For you," he said simply.  "The future Marchioness of Morninghall.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“He stared down at her, slowly shaking his head.  "How can any man look upon you and not want to possess you, wholly and fully?" "You're looking upon me," she said softly, invitingly, "and I have yet to see you begin the process of possessing me wholly and fully." Lowering his head until his forehead touched hers, he gazed deeply into her eyes.  "I know I've been a brute in the past, but I swear to you, Gwyneth, I shall be as gentle, as considerate as you deserve to have me be.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Well?" "Is that — a proposal?" "It is trying to be a proposal.  I can rephrase it, if you wish." She could only stare at him.  "Oh, Damon!" "Shall I rephrase it?  I can bow over your hand like a gallant young buck and say, 'My dear Lady Simms, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?'  That is the traditional approach. Or — " She giggled, drinking him up with her eyes, loving every inch of him. " — I can do it as a pirate might, by sweeping you off your feet and carrying you straight to the nearest clergyman without giving you a chance to deny me —" She laughed, and reached out to swat playfully at his shoulder.  "And how might the Black Wolf do it?" He stared at her, momentarily taken aback.  Then, swiftly recovering, he smiled and murmured, "I suppose he would kidnap you and wrap you in his black cape, and adopt much the same method as would our pirate." "And how do you know he has a black cape?" "Well, if I were the Black Wolf, I'd certainly wear a black cape." "Oh, Damon.  I do so wish you'd ravish me." "Consent to be my marchioness, and I shall consider it.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“You were right, you know." "About what?" "About me.  About the things I've kept locked within myself, about my dread of getting close to anyone, about everything.  I thought you were talking a load of rubbish, but somewhere, somehow, I ended up looking deep inside myself and found that you spoke the truth.  You saw something I didn't.  Something I didn't want to see.  And you've made me realize that allowing one’s self to love and be loved isn't so frightening, after all.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“She looked up and her face immediately brightened. "Good afternoon, my lord." "Greetings, madam." "You should be in bed, resting." "You're absolutely correct.  I should be in bed."  He plucked a stray piece of grass and chewed absently on the stem, his gaze never leaving hers.  "But not resting." She snapped to her full height and tried to glare at him, but laughter played in her eyes and around her mouth. "You are a very wicked man, Damon." "Yes, wicked at heart.  Tell me you would have me any other way." "I would not.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“She is correct.  And where is the lady, Robin?" "Waiting for you in the Yellow Room, my lord." "Leave me now and go fetch her." "But I am here to assist you —" Damon smiled.  "You can assist me best by fetching the lady.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“He cocked an eyebrow at her.  "Would you confess your thoughts, my dear Gwyneth?" "I would, my lord, but they are too wicked for words." "But not, perhaps, for actions?" he murmured, slanting her a heated look. "Such actions shall ensue when you are sufficiently recovered." "I do think I shall be the judge of my recovery, dear nurse." She blushed, but boldly held his gaze.  His stared back, his blood heating.  Didn't she know he felt as strong as Atlas?  Didn't she know the very sight of her was making him mad with desire for her? "We shall see," she conceded at last. "Yes . . . so we shall," he murmured,”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“That which I wish to tell you, Damon . . . is that I love you." He drew her to him, unable to contain himself any longer. "I love you too, Gwyneth.  God help me, I do." He felt her arms go around him, pulling him up and into her embrace, and as he leaned his forehead against her shoulder and the great, hitching sobs claimed him, the light shone upon him at last.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“But Gwyneth was determined that this dark angel, this remote but magnificent man she loved, would not die. ”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Lady Simms?" he whispered. "Yes?" He swallowed hard, gathering the courage to say what he must.  "You . . . you won't leave me, will you?”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“He wondered if she knew how much he needed her.  He wondered if the lilacs were still in bloom, and what she would have done if he really had broken one off that day in her garden and given it to her, and suddenly wished with all his heart that he had.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“I'm sorry," he whispered against the pillow, and meant it. "I know." "I never . . . wanted to hurt you." "I know that too.  Rest now.  Get better.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Ah — but am I worth loving?”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Sir Graham looked directly at Gwyneth.  "Lord Morninghall is semiconscious and out of his head."  Then, softly:  "But it is your name that he's calling." Gwyneth's mouth fell open and she felt a direct stab of pain to her heart.  In confusion she looked from the admiral to the chaplain.  "My name?" "Yes. Over and over again.  He will not stop.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“He didn't even have a chance . . . no, he had only one chance, and he gave it to me.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Really, my dear, you should count your blessings that I didn't show up.  How horrified your gently-bred friends would've been to have Satan himself darkening their charming affair!  But never mind that.  I'm more intrigued by your calling card."  He faded into the gloom for a moment and reappeared with the damp oar, which he casually handed down to the grinning fisherman.  "Quite an unusual one for a — ahem — lady, is it not?”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Morninghall was not such an evil man after all.  A baffling one, yes.  A potentially violent one, yes.  An arrogant, intimidating, enigmatic, moody one, yes.  But not evil.  No man who took pity on a suffering child was evil.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Damon sank back down into the chair and raked his hands down over his face.  Lady Simms sat quietly across from him, not saying a word.  Unable to stand it any longer, he looked up and impaled her with a stare hot enough to melt rock.  "I suppose you think me a raving madman now, don't you?”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Kindly remove your hand from mine, Lady Simms, or I will not be responsible for what I shall do to you." She only looked at him — and did not let go.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“She could not see, could not feel, his darkness!  She did not live in his devil's body with its charred, black heart, its constant yearnings for something to which he could not put a name, its paralyzing sense of despair, envy, fury, and self-hatred.  She was light and he was dark.  She was good and he was evil.  The dark hated the light, hid from it, and there was nothing she could do to change that . . . nothing!  Stupid female, she ought to flee, run as far and fast as she damn well could before it was too late for her!”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Yes, and Satan was able to charm Eve before he brought about man's downfall, too." "Satan was once an angel of God." "I am no angel.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Do I intimidate you?" "I am not going to answer that." He merely smiled, knowingly, and let his gaze slide heatedly down her throat . . . over her collarbone . . . to her breasts, tingling with fire beneath their bombazine shield. "I mean it, Morninghall." "Really, Lady Simms.  Do you think I'm going to leap out of this chair and —" he lifted one wicked eyebrow — "ravish you?”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“I would like to say the yellow suits her and she looks quite charming.  I would like to say she looks gentle and sweet, fairer than any of these flowers that surround her in this garden, but since her fingers are tightening around her spoon, and I already know what damage she can do with flying projectiles, I think I shall refrain from making any comment whatsoever.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Her skittishness was starting to irritate him.  But then, it was typical.  Women found him frightening, and he'd long since given up trying to be anything but what the world thought him to be: a devil.  A monster.  After all, his own mother had taught him he was something to be feared and loathed.  She'd been terrified of him.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“Oh, no, ma'm, 'e's Lucifer himself, he is.  Those eyes, they're colder than a January frost, they burn right through a body, they do.  Beggin' yer pardon, ma'm, I don't think 'e ought to be allowed into the 'ouse, 'e's the very devil, 'e is!”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“You shouldn't let yourself get all hot and bothered just because he took it upon himself to steal a simple kiss.  Why, I think it's all rather romantic, don't you?  Besides, if His Lordship were to learn he's upset you so, he would no doubt consider it a great victory.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart

“There he stood, tall, lethal, and silhouetted in the doorway.  He was holding a pistol and it was leveled directly at Ralph. In his eyes Gwyneth saw only darkness and a total absence of soul.  In his eyes, Gwyneth saw the devil incarnate.”
― Danelle Harmon, Wicked At Heart