Starflight Quotes

“Scoot over," she whispered.
The mattress shook with his movement.
"A little more," she said.
"If I get any closer to the wall," he hissed, "I'll have to buy it dinner.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“She had no idea what the future would hold for any of them, beyond possibilities as infinite as the stars.

And really, that was enough.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“When I walk into a room, you're the only person I see. My brain doesn't get a choice anymore, because there's something inside you so rare it radiates out and blocks everyone else. You have the kind of beauty that can't be manufactured - the kind that comes from in here." He tapped a finger against her chest. "I didn't know what real beauty was before I met you, but I get it now. So trust me when I say you're the most breathtaking girl in my world.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Cheating death was exhausting.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“With her back turned, she loosened each plait until her hair hung in waves that curled around her waist. Then she spun to face him and puffed a sigh.
“Fine. You caught me. I guess there’s no use pretending anymore.”
Doran settled in and waited for the punch line.
“I lured you onto this ship,” she said, “because I couldn’t get enough of your scintillating personality.”
There it was.
“Kiss me, Doran,” she cried, flopping onto the mattress with one arm slung over her eyes and the other clutched to her breast. “I burn for you, hotter than a thousand hells.”
He cocked his head to the side. “I think there’s an ointment for that.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“I like waking up in sheets that smell like you,” he said, gentler this time. “And I like the little wrinkle that shows up between your eyes every time you look at me. When I think about giving that up, I can’t breathe.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“At one point, Doran took a blow to the head so hard he saw the future.
And he wasn’t in it.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Doran set it in front of her with a grin that made her want to slap him so hard his grandkids would feel it.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“No scarf tonight?" the captain asked, pointing at Solara's neck.
"I guess you finally beat that cold virus."
"I don't believe she had a cold," Renny said thoughtfully.
"I'll bet it was the Hoover flu. You know, named after the old vacuum cleaners on Earth?"
"Oh, I've heard of that disease," Cassia chimed in. "Doesn't it cause a rash that looks like suction marks? Highly contagious when mixed with cute guys and Crystalline?”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“She’d learned that home was a fluid thing and whether on a planet, a satellite, or a rusted bucket of a ship, this crew was her home.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“She glanced at their fused bodies and told him, “The nuns would say we’re not leaving enough room for the Holy Spirit.”
It took a second for Doran to find his breath because she’d stolen it. “That’s all right. The Holy Spirit doesn’t belong here. He would just get in the way.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“I’m not sorry it happened,” she told him.
Doran turned to meet her eyes, shaking his head as he took her face in his palm. “Me neither,” he said. “I’m sorry how it happened.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Discovering your purpose and making it happen are two different things.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“What’s wrong? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed again?”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“I know what I want for a souvenir,” he said.
“Yeah?”
He took her wrist and brushed a thumb over the delicate skin there. “Let’s get matching tattoos, so we never, ever, forget this day.”
Her lips parted in a gasp of delight. “That’s a great idea!”
“Really? So you’ll come with me?”
“Of course I will,” she said. “Let’s hurry before we change our minds.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Was he your boyfriend?” Doran asked. She nodded. “He was my first boyfriend. My first love. My first kiss. And my first”—her cheeks flooded with color—“well, everything.” “Everything,” he echoed in understanding. That was a lot of firsts for one boy to take from a girl. Doran could sense where this story was headed.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Well, your last boyfriend had a nose like a weasel.” “Maybe it wasn’t his nose that made him special.” Kane made a face. “Thanks for the visual. Excuse me while I vomit to death.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Please.” He swallowed hard and begged with those big blue eyes. “Please don’t leave me here.” All the air trickled out of her lungs. “Take me to the beaches,” he said, blinking down at her. “I won’t cause any trouble.” How did he do that? A minute ago she wanted to break his jaw, and now she had to fight the urge to pat him on the head and give him a cookie. That had to be some kind of superpower. She finally understood how he got everything he wanted in life.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Let me rephrase,” he added, sharper than barbed steel. “I’m coming with you.”
“Excuse me?” Solara came to a sudden stop, forcing him to do the same. “You’ll go wherever I send you.”
“I’m not—”
“Don’t interrupt.”
He sealed his lips shut.
“Our relationship is simple,” she told him. “I say ‘Jump,’ and you say ‘Through which window, Miss Brooks?’ You don’t make demands of me. Are we clear?”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“I came to your suite in the middle of the night to bring you a glass of water when you were too lazy to walk to the bathroom. I cleaned your girlfriend’s vomit off the sofa cushions.” Solara’s voice raised a pitch. “For God’s sake, I even fetched her panties when you two left them in the elevator! I wanted to amputate my own hand after that!”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“His lips spread in a manic grin, and he filled his helmet with so much laughter that his stomach cramped. He moved his limbs one by one to test them. He’d broken his left wrist for sure, maybe a few ribs as well, but despite that, the smile never left his face. Pain could be treated and bones healed, but all the medicine in the galaxy couldn’t fix dead. And he wasn’t dead. He couldn’t wait to tell the crew.
“I’m okay,” he reported. “A little banged up, but nothing major. Kane, when this is over, I’m going to have your baby!”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Demarkus invites you to join his table.” Solara’s prideful grin faltered. She wanted nothing to do with Demarkus. Besides, nobody had told her about pirate dinner protocol. She might use the wrong fork and start a war.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“The washroom door swung open, and all thoughts of pirates vanished. A tall boy walked inside, dressed in black clothes at least two sizes too tight. His cherry-red hair stood in haphazard spikes, and his eyes were heavily lined in kohl. If a rock star had an affair with a circus clown, this guy would be the result. It took a few moments to recognize him as Doran.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Hey, slow breaths,” Cassia said.
Solara hadn’t realized she was gasping. “Right. Sorry.”
“If you faint among pirates, don’t bother waking up.”
Oh god. That was not helpful.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Ah, yes. Love—the great equalizer. It makes all of us stupid.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“I used to hate looking at my markings. But the captain taught me they don't mean anything. Because I'm more than the sum of my mistakes.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“The girl’s pilot.”
“And her lover,” Demarkus added.
“No.” The clarity of Doran’s voice surprised even himself. He glanced at Solara and said, “Her friend.” It felt strange calling himself that, but if combat with a seven-foot-tall pirate chief didn’t upgrade them to friends, nothing would.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“In that moment, he wondered how he'd ever believed she was anything less than spectacular.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“In the outer realm, settlers didn't care about supple skin or glossy pink hair. Practical skills were the real beauty in those colonies, and for once, she would be stunning.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“Come in here and take notes for me.” Solara didn’t move.
A rustling of blankets sounded from the other room, followed by a heavy sigh. “Stay there,” he grumbled. “I’ll get dressed and come to you. But for future reference, anyone who stinks like a toolshed is safe from my advances.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight