“She laid her head against his collarbone, and he kissed her temple. To her shock, she felt a shudder roll through his body about the same time she registered wetness against her skin. Tears. His tears.
She started to turn around, but he tightened his grip.
“Stay,” he said in a choked voice. “Just let me hold you, baby. Just let me hold you.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Never be afraid to tell me anything,” he whispered against her hair. “No matter how ashamed you might feel. I’ll never judge you, Rachel. I love you.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Trying to drown me woman?"
'You can't drown a SEAL,' she said. 'How embarrassing would that be?'
'God yes. Shoot me, hang me, let me die of infection from a hangnail, but don't let me die in the water. They'd send me to hell on principle.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Is there something wrong?” he asked.
She gave a short negative motion with her head. And then words, so sweet, like a cool northern breeze blowing off the lake. “You could hold me now.”
It was almost his undoing.
“Ah baby.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“But a woman will only go so long putting her heart on the line without getting anything in return.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Bastard had the bad manners to die before we were through talking to him.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“I won’t let it happen again. I protect what’s mine.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Sometimes second chances are the very best chances,” she whispered. “Because this time we’ll get it right.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Everything okay, sweet pea?” Garret asked as he walked over.
“Yep. Just talking to Sean and getting some fresh air.”
Garret shoved his hands into his pockets. “You mean you’re hiding out here with this pussy who’s here for the same reason.”
Sean grunted. “Yeah, the exact same reason you’ve run outside like a damn girl.”
Garret grinned. “Too many damned people. Ma eats that shit up, but I swear it makes the rest of us crazy.”
“So at what point is she going to figure out we’ve fled the premises?” Rachel asked. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Marlene’s feelings.
“Not to worry. Mom is well used to having to round us up. She usually gives us ten minutes or so to get the crazed look from our eyes, and then she’ll come out all sweet-like but with a glint in her eyes you know better than to ignore.”
“And at that point, she drags us back inside by our ears,” Sean finished.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“First rule of seduction. At least one of us has to get naked. Preferably you,” he murmured.
Nervous apprehension replaced some of the excitement. It was silly. He’d seen her naked. Many times. They’d made love before. But for her it was like the first time all over again.
“Hey,” he said softly. He drew away and tucked a finger under her chin, prompting her to look up at him. “We’ll take this as slow as you need. If I could make love to you with you fully clothed, I’d do it, but I think we both know that’s not an option.”
She giggled and felt some of her unease leave her.
“Let’s not take it too slow or we’ll both be old and decrepit before we ever make love.”
“Mmm, I plan to make love to you until they put me in the grave. That’s what they make Viagra for.”
She leaned into him and hugged him fiercely as another laugh escaped.
“Make you a deal. We undress together. Last one naked is a rotten egg.”
She yanked away as she said the last and immediately began peeling her clothes off.
“Oh hell no,” he sputtered. “Maybe you don’t remember what a competitive family you married into.”
“While you’re talking, I’m getting naked,” she taunted.
A wicked glint sparked in his eyes. “I fail to see how I lose either way.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“If I interrupted violence, by all means I'll step back. Always nice to see bloodshed first thing in the a.m.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
“Hey, have you guys seen Rachel?”
“I’m looking at her,” Sam said.
Ethan stepped out, and relief settled over his face. He stopped beside Garret and glanced between Rachel and Sean and then at the others.
“You okay?” he asked.
She smiled, not wanting him to worry. “I’m fine. I stepped out for some fresh air not realizing this was a time-honored tradition of escaping Marlene’s get-togethers.”
Ethan relaxed and stuck his thumbs in his belt loops. “Yeah, it’s become something that rivals war games. He who survives the longest without being hauled back in by Mom wins.”
― Maya Banks, quote from The Darkest Hour
Maya Banks
Born place: in The United States
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“I love going out of my way, beyond what I know, and finding my way back a few extra miles, by another trail, with a compass that argues with the map…nights alone in motels in remote western towns where I know no one and no one I know knows where I am, nights with strange paintings and floral spreads and cable television that furnish a reprieve from my own biography, when in Benjamin’s terms, I have lost myself though I know where I am. Moments when I say to myself as feet or car clear a crest or round a bend, I have never seen this place before. Times when some architectural detail on vista that has escaped me these many years says to me that I never did know where I was, even when I was home.”
― Rebecca Solnit, quote from A Field Guide to Getting Lost
“Since then she had changed so much in her thoughts, in her ways, even in her looks, that she might wonder she knew herself--except that the changes were all in the direction of becoming more and more herself.”
― Willa Cather, quote from Lucy Gayheart
“All I want is to love you, Rory, I want so much more than our friendship." -Fenn”
― Candace Knoebel, quote from Born in Flames
“As we were about to cross the road, Davin suddenly grabbed my wrist and held me back a moment; a car peeled out of the driveway and roared past us. “Geez,” I gasped, and then, glancing at him curiously, I added, “Thanks.” He didn’t say anything, but slowly released my wrist. Before he completely withdrew, I took his hand and interlaced my fingers through his. He looked at me, his lips parted in surprise, but then he smiled shyly and gave my hand a squeeze as we kept walking. It gave me a feeling of nervous flutters in the best way. As we walked up to the doors, Jill and Laurel came bursting out the exit.”
― J.M. Richards, quote from Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning
“From my chair, I looked out my window, over these dreadful streets.
The baby asked,
'Is there not one righteous among them?”
― James Baldwin, quote from If Beale Street Could Talk
A New Earth: Awakeni...
Don't Judge a Girl b...
The Life and Opinion...
The Winter of Our Di...
Cheaper by the Dozen
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