Joanne

“My people believe bathing weakens you,” Gerrard said. “But my people are well known to be uncivilized.” “Your people don’t believe in drinking coffee. That’s a fair definition of uncivilized.”
― Melissa McShane, Emissary

“I was about to reach in the basket to take one when a horse that had been grazing nearby suddenly charged at another horse. Kaden grabbed me and pulled me out of its path. We stumbled back, unable to regain our footing, and both tumbled to the ground. He rolled over me in a protective motion, hovering in case the horse came closer, but it was already gone.
The world snapped to silence. The tall grass waved above us, hiding us from view. He gazed down at me, his elbows straddling my sides, his chest brushing mine, his face inches away.
I saw the look in his eyes. My heart pounded against my ribs.
“Are you all right?” His voice was low and husky.
“Yes,” I whispered.
His face hovered closer to mine. I was going to push away, look away, do something, but I didn’t, and before I knew what was happening, the space between us disappeared. His lips were warm and gentle against mine, and his breath thrummed in my ears. Heat raced through me. It was just as I had imagined that night with Pauline back in Terravin so long ago. Before—
I pushed him away.
“Lia—”
I got to my feet, my chest heaving, busying myself with a loose button on my shirt. “Let’s forget that happened, Kaden.”
He had jumped to his feet too. He grabbed my hand so I had to look at him. “You wanted to kiss me.”
I shook my head, denying it, but it was true. I had wanted to kiss him.”
― Mary E. Pearson, The Kiss of Deception

“If I could only reach out and touch the stars, I would know everything. I would understand.”
― Mary E. Pearson, The Kiss of Deception

“Taking another life, she had whispered, even a guilty one, should never be easy. If it were, we'd be little more than animals.”
― Mary E. Pearson, The Kiss of Deception