Penny Moss > Quotes

“I’ve had a wonderful time, he wanted to say. Hoping Darach would catch the hint, that he wanted to continue, but elsewhere. Preferably in the privacy of their home.
“This wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” Folke blurted instead.
Thank goodness his lover had a sense of humour, expelling it against his mouth in short bursts.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“Finlay snorted. "Fuck, if you keep on being so precious I'm really going to fall for you."
Folke froze in the midst of moving away to shrug off his chore coat. Both his lovers had grown silent and the air taut with uncertainty. Maybe even regret.
He wanted to ask, did you mean to say that?
More urgently, do you mean it?
Blurted, "Then my plan is falling into place.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“That was a risky thing ye did, Folke.”
He swallowed harshly, sliding his rebuttals back into the chamber. Ready and willing to fire.
“You’re the one who left a mark.”
“Aye.” A scrape of Darach’s chair. “An’ I’ll do it again.” His footsteps rounded the table, drawing close. “And again.” Folke’s heartbeat reared inside his rib cage. “As many times as it takes.” Breath hot over his ear. Teeth sharp on the shell. “Until it’s permanent.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“This is the prettiest fabric I’ve ever seen,” he whispered as Tau drew near, and muttered things about softness and durability. “I’ve never wanted to skin a settee before.”
Skin?
Tau could skin.
His hands were made for it.
“How many Sentinels are—Tau! What the hell?”
Although he saw Lucetta throw her arms about, he did not look up from digging his nails through the fabric, the surrounding hush broken by threads yielding under swift precision. He pinched the nigh perfect rectangle between his fingers and held it out. Oliver’s expression flitted from stunned to enthralled.
“Thank you,” he breathed, soft lips losing a battle against smiling. He took care in the way he folded and cradled the rectangle against his chest.
Although the others were a little more horror-struck.
Tau wondered if he’d done something wrong.”
― Penny Moss, Miners of the Tempest

“Finlay murmured, “We’ll have you begging for both of us in no time,” into his hair.
Words that had Folke gripping more fiercely at Darach’s shoulders, thoughts turning hysterical with the idea of both men inside him.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“While Oliver sat, slender legs spread and curious green eyes–his favourite, favourite colour–peering up at him. Tau always had a moment to spare for him, everyone else could wait.
Favourite.”
― Penny Moss, Miners of the Mystics

“There was more he wanted to say, but his mouth quickly ran dry as Tau’s hand drifted up to his neck, stroking a thumb across the skin. Once, twice. Three times. It didn’t occur to Oliver that they had stopped moving, that he’d stopped breathing. Sharp tips scraped his nape, ran further up and grabbed him by the hair to tug his head back, exposing his throat. He shuddered, lips parting around a heated gasp. Aching desire ran straight down to his groin, he pressed against the firm body behind him. Tau lowered, mask a scrape away from his face, hand still in his hair, the other coming round to stroke down his chest, to his stomach.”
― Penny Moss, Miners of the Mystics

“They were so very close to each other, something Oliver seemed to realise a moment later. His eyes held that shine of surprise. His pulse quickened, Tau could hear it, feel it through the fingers still curled against his sternum. Those pink lips parted. Hot air brushed across his face with each heavy breath. In, out. Chest swelling, falling. Heartbeat unsteady. Fast.
Tau reached out, and that heartbeat stuttered.”
― Penny Moss, Miners of the Mystics

“Burning eyes regarded him. OUR DEAL.
"Doesn't extend as far as you've been reaching."
A TREE ONLY KNOWS TO GROW.
Ryurikov's lips vibrated with a puff. "You're being very evasive—"
A furry and heavily toned leg curled around him, eased him forward, careful enough that should he put up any resistance, it would stop.
Ryurikov's heart did a thing, a thing he didn't like. It lurched and stuttered at the same time. His hands connected with Awimak's torso, fingers splayed against the muscular chest to catch himself. The scent of earth and stone greeted him, drifting into his very soul with a deep, nervous inhale.”
― Penny Moss, Coil of Boughs

“An odd noise left Oliver. Tau didn't have the faintest idea what he meant, but it amused him all the same. The scant yet sometimes mighty human watched him with those eyes. Like moss turned vibrant with dwimmer in an otherwise impenetrable darkness. Oliver's hair, an undulation of gold. That skin, alabaster tinged pink. And his mouth.
Soft.
Tau knew it was because, in a moment of daring, he had touched those lips. What if he were to touch them again, right now? What if he were to touch other parts? Just being here, sitting so close, thrilled him in ways he had no hope of explaining. All Tau knew was that he wanted to touch.
Touch.”
― Penny Moss, Miners of the Mystics

“I like the way you murder," he said, affectionately.
ONLY FOR YOU, MY DRURY.
"I'm sure you say that to everyone you court." All the same, he couldn't help the smile.”
― Penny Moss, Coil of Boughs

“Folke sat in the car.
Alone, with Darach.
Thomas was out to shop for supplies, and Finlay. . . He didn’t know where Finlay had gone. So it was just him and Darach and very little space between them. The excuse Folke had come up with, quietly to himself, was that he expected Finlay to squeeze in any moment now.
Yet those moments ticked by. The rain pattered the rooftop.
And Darach smelled of wilderness, and he was warm. His breaths serene while Folke’s rabid heart threatened to give away…
What?
Between the throbbing of his skull and longing to return to the cottage, Folke burned with a need to reach out. Discover all the indentations Darach’s hand featured. How pronounced his knuckles were. If there were any scars.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“Better not close them,” he said in a murmur so low, Folke wouldn’t have heard him if he weren’t right by his ear. “I want to look into those baby blues when I fuck you.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“He had plenty of books. There was no need to get more.
Footfalls came up behind him.
Rereading never hurt anyone, in fact it was fun. It let him pick up details previously missed. No need to go all the way to town and be around people.”
― Penny Moss, Rainsquall

“YOUR INADEQUACIES ANGER YOU.
Ryurikov glared up in affront. He opened his mouth to retort, but a sturdy finger pressed against his lips. The very gall of Awimak shushing him—
THERE IS NO SHAME IN HAVING LIMITATIONS, RYURIKOV. ONLY IN ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR LIMITATIONS CAN YOU GROW.
"I'm not a fucking tree."
TREES, HUMANS. THERE IS LITTLE DIFFERENCE. YOU COME FROM THE EARTH, YOU BLEED. YOU DO WHAT YOUR NATURE TELLS YOU TO. Awimak cupped Ryurikov's face and gently stroked his cheek with a thumb. A REFUSAL TO GROW IS ALL THAT WARRANTS SHAME.”
― Penny Moss, Coil of Boughs

“He held on tight when Awimak nearly toppled over loose stone before they reached level ground.
"Steady on," he murmured, patting the skull.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO WORRY, MY DRURY. I WON'T EVER DROP YOU.”
― Penny Moss, Coil of Boughs