Secrets and Shadows

Yes. Da,' I corrected. 'Say it again.' 'What?"' His voice grew husky as he repeated his request. 'Say yes—in Russian—again.' I blushed. 'Da,' I whispered. 'Will you teach me more Russian, Pietr?' 'Mmm, only the important words,' he promised. I bit back my request for the three most important words to me. 'What words would you teach me?' 'Pocelujte menyah.' 'What's that mean?' He groaned. 'Repeat it tonight and perhaps I will show you.

Max,' I said, looking up at him, 'I love the Russian heritage you guys are so willing to share, but I'm not so thrilled with the French.' 'What?' His brows lowered. 'We're not French.' 'Great. So the next time you feel the need to kiss me, keep your tongue out of my mouth!

Now, though, I must rent a movie." "You're going to do that?" "Of course. I'm a werewolf, not a cretin. We have Blockbuster cards." It blew my mind. Werewolfs rented DVDs. At my local Blockbuster.

They're monsters." "That's what Edward thought." "Oh, yeah? He a friend of yours?" "No, Miss Librarian. Just a main character in a wildly popular vampire series.

There is so little time. We need to make every moment count.

Some moments I believed Max could've easily been Red Riding Hood's wolf. But she probably would have liked it.

... I don't think we get too many choices in life.... I like knowing - and I like you knowing - I chose you.

Imprinting." I heard the smile disappear from Cat's face. "Next." I repeated myself. "Are you referring to Stephenie Meyer's books?" "Yes," I said. A little unwillingly. Cat chuckled. "There's no shame in reading enjoyable books. But this topic is better discussed later." "Got it.

And what do you leave behind? .... Who do you leave with only memories of you? How many hearts do you break when you risk too much and die too young?

Time was short, as Pietr so frequently reminded me. Maybe we all needed to live fiercely. And love courageously.

Sometimes we do not know what role we play until it is thrust upon us and we can only then do our best to carry it off.

I'm a werewolf, not a cretin. We have Blockbuster cards.

I sighed, sinking back, head filling with pleasant images; pictures Pietr floated to the surface. Kisses scorched along my face and neck. "Pietr...." There was a growl, and I felt fingers at the waistband of my jeans. The button opened and a hand traced along the top of my underpants. "No," I said. The kissing resumed, harder. "Jessica." The word rumbled in someone's throat. Not Pietr's. To him, I was Jess. "No," I insisted, trying to pry my eyes open. Something was wrong....Not Pietr... I pushed at the chest above me, my eyelids stinging as I willed them apart. "Relax..." a voice said, lips dragging along the cornerof my jaw, filling my head with honey, sticky and sweet....

Do you want to hurt yourself?' 'No. I'm trying to get a grip. Have a more normal life.' Scribble, scribble. 'The number of suicides in the area has recently escalated,' she commented. 'The train track suicides. Yes, I know. And yet, here I am. Thrilled to be in counseling. Weren't we supposed to be focusing on a healthy expression of my grief?' Scribble. 'You seem disoriented. Have you been drinking?' 'I have too few brain cells naturally to waste any on a temporary buzz.' Scribble. 'Drugs?' 'Just write See Above-the same philosophy applies. Look, I had a really lousy lunch. Food poisoning of epic proportions. Its messed me up.' 'I'd like to get a urine sample.' 'Give me your coffee cup.' Scribble, scribble, scribble.

Great party, Max!' Amy congratulated. Marvin hung back, watching their exchange. 'Anything for Jessie,' Max muttered, but his eyes were completely on Amy. Amy dressed as... 'Little Red Riding Hood?' I gulped. Uh-oh. 'The same.' She laughed, doing a little spin so her head fell back, her short cape ruffled and her brilliant red hair whipped loose. A low cut blouse did double duty, exposing the thinnest hint of both cleavage and midriff. Max gaped. 'You even have'—he stuttered—'a—an amazingly well-packed basket of goodies.' Ohhh...I looked. Thank God. Amy was actually carrying a basket.