Cold Fire

Male or female, what did it matter, really, when the body yearned?

We dispute the arbitrary distribution of power and wealth, which is claimed as the natural order, but which is in fact not natural at all but rather artificially created and sustained by ancient privileges.

Why do you ask me questions to which you already know the answer?" She tapped me on the arm with her painted fan. "To annoy you, dearest.

I shall bury the blade in your skull, just above your right eye." "That's what I love about you. Your precision.

To withhold trust until there is no doubt is not trust.

Where do I start? Revolutions to plot. Enemies to crush. Handsome men to rescue.

She spoke in a caustic tone that would surely have burned out anyone else's tongue had they attempted it.

His brow furrowed in a way that suggested he was calculating my likely ability to be that naive.

Words flooded like the storm's surge in a wild burst of anger that took me utterly by surprise.

Then he strode toward me as if certain I was about to bolt and he must catch me before I did so.

In truth what had drawn my eye was the rear view of a young man stripped to the waist and plying an adze along a beam. I could not help but admire his muscled back.