Esti-Ane'

“His expression became serious, and his hand almost slipped from mine. "I've had a long time to think about it."

"This can't work!"

He looked down, then jerked his head up in frustration as his finger tightened on mine. "I'm not asking you to marry me, Rachel. I just ..."

My heart pounded, and he stepped closer, so close the scent of cinnamon and wine enveloped me.

"I like walking into a room and seeing your face light up when you see me," he said earnestly, the sun from the open window making his hair glow. "I like arguing with Quen over the wisdom of employing a demon to be my security."

My throat caught. This wasn't going to happen, but something in me was withering. I wanted more--and I knew I couldn't have it.

He touched my hair, and I twitched as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want to wake up beside you, see your curls on my pillow. I want a chance at falling in love.”

My breath came fast. That was what I wanted too, and it hurt more than I thought was possible to survive.”
― Kim Harrison, The Undead Pool

“And she realized that this is true. Pain has somehow transformed into pleasure, and that pleasure is better than any pain could ever be.”
― Julia Hoban, Willow

“My dear,
Find what you love and let it kill you.
Let it drain you of your all. Let it cling onto your back and weigh you down into eventual nothingness.
Let it kill you and let it devour your remains.
For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it’s much better to be killed by a lover.
~ Falsely yours”
― Kinky Friedman

“Kate knocked on his door and sucked in some air when he opened the door fresh from a shower. His hair was wet and he had a towel wrapped low on his hips.

"Jeez," Kate said, staring at the towel, her mind running amuck over what the towel was hiding, unable to drag her eyes to Nick's face.

"Is that a good jeez or a bad jeez?"

"It's just jeez. Don't you have a robe?"

"The room didn't come with a robe."

"Okay, so that's why you're wearing the towel. I can see that. Makes perfect sense."

A smile twitched at the corners of Nick's mouth. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"No! Gosh. Absolutely not." Kate stared at the towel. She was pretty sure she saw it move.

Nick tightened his grip on the towel. "Kate?"

"Yep?"

"You're staring."

"I know. I can't help myself."

"Cute," Nick said.

Kate squinched her eyes shut and wrinkled her nose. "Ugh! I hate being cute."

"Cute is good."

"It's not. I'm an FBI agent. There's no cute in the FBI. Cute is goofy."

"I'd grab you and kiss you, but I'd lose my towel, and I'm afraid you'd faint at the sight of me naked."

"I think I could handle it."

Nick dropped his towel”
― Janet Evanovich, The Chase