Poison Princess

If you touch me like that again, Evangeline,” he began in a husky tone, dropping to his seat once more, “in the space of a heartbeat, I will have you off this bike and onto the closest horizontal surface. And I woan be picky, no.

He was staring at my lips, and before I could think better of it, I’d wetted them. “That’s it, bébé,” he said in a coaxing rasp. “Ma bonne fille.” My good girl. He wrapped one of his arms behind my back, cupping my chin with his free hand. “Evangeline, I’m goan to kiss you until your toes curl, until we’re breathing for each other.” That was the promise. . . .

Eves, on the scale from wholesome to whoresome, you're practically Amish.

When you got captured, I didn't know..." He trailed off, had to chug whiskey before he could continue. "If it'd be like..." "What?" "Like it was with Clotile." "Oh, Jackson, no. I was okay. I'm unharmed." "Didn't know if I'd get there too late," he said with a shudder. Then he crossed over to me, until we stood toe-to-toe. "Evie, if you ever get taken from me again, you better know that I'll be coming for you." He cupped my face with a bloodstained hand. "So you stay the hell alive! You don't do like Clotile, you doan take that way out. You and me can get through anything, just give me a chance."--his voice broke lower "just give me a chance to get to you." He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. "There is nothing that can happen to you that we can't get past." ... "When you say we...?" He pulled back, gazing down at me, his eyes blazing. "I'm goan to lay it all out there for you. Laugh in my face--I don't care. But I'm goan to get this off my chest." "I won't laugh. I'm listening." "Evie, I've wanted you from the first time I saw you. Even when I hated you, I wanted you." He raked his fingers through his hair. "I got it bad, me." My heart felt like it'd stopped--so that I could hear him better. "For as long as you've been looking down your nose at me, I've been craving you, an envie like I've never known." "I don't look down at you! I'm too busy looking up to you." ... "The corners of his lips curled for an instant before he grew serious again. "You asked me if I had that phone with your pictures, if I'd looked at it. Damn right, I did! I saw you playing with a dog at the beach, and doing a crazy-ass flip off a high dive, and making faces for the camera. I learned about you"- his voice grew hoarse -"and I wanted more of you. To see you every day." With a humourless laugh, he admitted, "After the Flash, I was constantly sourcing ways to charge a goddamned phone--that would never make a call." I murmured, "I didn't know...I couldn't be sure." "It's you for me, peekon.

Hey, you've still got your endangered hymen. Which means you'll make it to closing credits - I'm s.o.l.

Matthew, exactly how psychic are you? So psychic that other psychics should be called Mattics.

Remember my titles? I don't get poisoned, I do the poisoning. I'm the Princess of it

This morning Jackson had told Matthew, "You mention death one more time, and I"ll knock you into next week. Comprends?" "Already been there," Matthew had answered.

Somebody want to explain to me why those soldiers were shooting each other?' (...)'Inbreeding?

At that, the initial mrowr pfft pfft I'd felt transformed into I will cut a bitch.

Evangeline," he sighed. "It ain't ever goan to be easy with you, is it?

The corners of his lips curled. “You and your secrets. Ah, peekôn, just when I think I’ve solved one mystery about you, up comes another one. I will figure you out one day. En garde, cher. Consider yourself warned.

My looks had gone from well-kempt cheerleader to apocalyptic disasterpiece.

Evie, bed down.” Scanning the dark, he murmured, “You doan have to be scared. I’ve got you.” You do, don’t you? Here we were in the Bagmen’s lair, and I wasn’t terrified for my life. Jackson would kill any that strayed too close. In fact, they should fear him. I was with the boy that monsters should fear.

You have two choices, grasshopper. Out-slut Clotile - or go Springer on her ass. I'm down for the assist in both scenarios.

Damn, cher, you still smell like a blossom. Been so long since I've seen a flower that I'd nearly forgotten what they smelled like." He took a lock of my hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "You're dressing up and using expensive perfume? Ole Jack senses a trap. Consider me snared.

Though we were curfew-free- I'd told Mom I was spending the night at Mel's after our double date, and Mel had told Mrs. Warren that she'd be home "whenever my happy ass walks through the door"- I was nervous about tonight.

My mom could be really fierce. A regular Frau Badass.

I woan let you go back to that boy--not until you give me one bec doux." A sweet kiss. Then he reached forward, unlacing the ribbon from my hair. "What are you doing?" I murmured. "Souvenir." He put it in his pocket, and for some reason that struck me as the sexiest thing I'd ever seen.

I GOT BOURBON-FACED ON SHIT STREET!

These militiamen were what Jackson would call cou rouge. Because they were seriously red of the neck.

I was with the boy that monsters should fear.

I doubt she'll welcome you if I tell her you undressed me." "Maybe she'll only partially welcome me." Smart-ass.

Now, after my confession, I felt battered, like one of those dolls that always bounces back up when hit. But here's the thing - those silly dolls get hit all the more for it.

Mel scoffed. “Eves, on the scale from wholesome to whoresome, you’re practically Amish.

Jackson snorted. And Selena play-slapped his chest, like he was her mischievous boyfriend. At that, the inital mrowr pfft pfft I'd felt transformed into I will cut a bitch.

W-we both know your life would be so much simpler without me! I am just a thorn in your paw." He nodded easily. "And it reminds me of you - every move I make, I think of you." My lips parted. Again I realized that he was the only thing in my life that made me feel sane, made me want to fight for a future. "Evangeline, I've got to feel you with my every step." His shaking hand closed over my nape, squeezing. "Or I go a little crazy, me.

Evie, if you ever get taken from me again, you better know that I’ll be coming for you.” He cupped my face with a bloodstained hand. “So you stay the hell alive! You doan do like Clotile, you doan take that way out. You and me can get through anything, just give me a chance”—his voice broke lower—“just give me a chance to get to you.” He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. “There is nothing that can happen to you that we can’t get past.