Janet Romano

“For eighty thousand dollars there had to be more he expected. Since he wouldn’t spell it out, I tiptoed around the topic myself. “This pretend relationship—to what extent would I be expected to perform?” “Don’t pussy foot about it. You’re asking about sex.” His eyes darkened again. “I never pay for sex, Alayna. When I fuck you, it will be for free.”
― Laurelin Paige, The Fixed Trilogy

“I lost my heart to you the first time I saw you,” Cashol admits to me. “You did not learn my name for many nights after that, but it did not matter. You have always held it in your hands.” He strokes my thigh, and I have to admit, that feels pretty good. Not quite as good as oral, but right now I just like being touched. I didn’t know how much I craved it, actually. “But I want a mate who smiles at me with her eyes and tells me her thoughts, not a mate who tells me that she is fine and her eyes are full of worry.”
― Ruby Dixon, Barbarian's Treasure

“Troy rose from the bed and walked to his chest of drawers. He pulled a pair of black boxer briefs from the top drawer and handed them to her, watching her warily for some type of reaction to what they had just done, before turning his back. She shimmied out of her underwear and slipped on his, glad for the warmth they provided. After a minute, he climbed into bed and pulled her back against his chest to plant a kiss on her shoulder. Ruby automatically stiffened at the tender gesture. He laughed under his breath. “Now you’re shy? What happened to the girl who walked out of my bathroom naked?” When Ruby didn’t answer, Troy sighed. “Sleep now, hustler. You can go back to being your difficult self in the morning. I’ll even let you run your mouth as much as you need to. All day long. But when the time comes where I take you to bed, that’s when I put a stop to it. Can you live with that?” “I’ll tell you in the morning,” she whispered, grateful for the darkness. “Fine. Good night, Ruby.” “’Night.”
― Tessa Bailey, His Risk to Take

“True love makes a person reckless, makes them take risks and make sacrifices. True love tests the boundaries of our person, makes us yearn to be better and fight for the ground we stand on. I will fight for this love. Lie for it. Steal for it. It is worthy of that.”
― Alessandra Torre, Black Lies