Cindy Foreman

“We won’t let them take us,” he vowed.

Ava cupped his face in her hands. “I love you, Jak’ri.”

Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against hers in a tender caress. “I love you, too. More with every breath I take.”

Desire flared to life as she drew him down for another kiss, this one deeper, hotter, and pulse-poundingly arousing. “Make me forget,” she pleaded, between teasing strokes of her tongue. “Make me forget everything but us and the way I feel when I’m in your arms.”
― Dianne Duvall, The Purveli

“Surely it would be easier for a small escape pod to zip through asteroids than it would be for a hulking warship. “Let’s lose them in the asteroids!”
“Unlikely,” the computer said calmly as the pod swerved again. “Asteroid Belt 116749 is far enough away that we will probably be—”
“Just try, damn it!” Ava gritted.
The harness dug into Ava’s shoulders as she was jerked from side to side. She thought about asking Evie to turn off the artificial gravity but honestly didn’t know if that would make things better or worse.
“Asteroid Belt 116749 is now in sight.”
“Yes!” Ava cried triumphantly. “We can do this!”
“Unlikely,” the ever-unflappable Evie replied. “Though the pod can change direction faster than the Gathendien ship and I have eluded its acquisition beam, the ship is still pursuing us and—”
“Evie,” Ava gritted, “you’re killing me.”
“Negative. Killing you is counter to my programming.”
“I don’t mean literally!” She grunted as the pod changed directions again. Thank goodness motion sickness never plagued her. “I’m trying to be optimistic!”
“Optimism at this juncture is inadvisable.”
“Oh, for crap’s sake!”
― Dianne Duvall, The Purveli

“Jak’ri stared at her. “There are no Gathendiens on Purvel, Ava.” The Lasarans and their Aldebarian Alliance allies had decimated the Gathendien military and driven whatever remained to the outer reaches of the galaxy a long time ago.
His heart clenched when a tear spilled over her lashes and trailed down one cheek.
Her throat worked in a swallow. “That’s why I don’t think I’m on Purvel.”
Jak’ri just stared at her, uncomprehending.
She motioned to the vast blue ocean beyond the cliff. “I don’t think this is real.” Another tear slipped down her cheek. “And I really want this to be real, Jak’ri.” Easing forward, she slid her arms around him, pressed her face to his neck, and hugged him tight. “I wish this were real,” she said brokenly. “I wish you were real.”
Sliding an arm around her, he cradled her close as he kept them afloat. “I am real, Ava. I’m right here, holding you.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “It’ll be all right. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
Squeezing him tighter, she whispered, “I wish this were real.”
And the despair in her sweet voice made him want to weep, too.”
― Dianne Duvall, The Purveli

“You’re thinking about her breasts now, aren’t you? Ziv’ri asked.
Ava grinned. Yes, he is, she answered telepathically.
Jak’ri gasped.
Oh ho! Ziv’ri crowed on a laugh. You’ve made my brother blush, Ava. I haven’t seen his face this red since Mother caught him—
Do not finish that sentence! Jak’ri ordered.”
― Dianne Duvall, The Purveli