Alexandra Koch

“Now I am going to explain how things are,” said Dominika.
“No you’re not,” said Nate. “You’re going to listen to your handling officer, and follow instructions.” Dominika put her hands on his shoulders.
“What instructions?” said Dominika. Nate pulled on the lapels of her coat to bring their mouths together.”
― Jason Matthews, Palace of Treason

“Do Boga vysoko, do Tsarya daleko, God is high up, and the tsar is far away,” she whispered. Anything can happen, and there’s no remedy.”
― Jason Matthews, Palace of Treason

“They looked at each other across the little plastic table, half of their faces faintly illuminated by the light behind the bar. They didn’t touch; they didn’t speak. Dominika could feel the electrons jumping the gap between them, could feel them in her heightened heartbeat. Her eyes darted over his face—his mouth, his eyes, the lock of hair on his forehead. He was looking at her, and she imagined the feel of his skin against her. She told herself she would not start anything—she would not—even though she needed him. She needed him to ease the burden that came with her new life as a mole, a betrayer of her country, living one step from the execution chambers. But she would not.
Nate looked at her, saw her lips trembling. In Helsinki he would have gathered her up and taken her to bed. Not now. She had reemerged from Moscow, was willing to resume work as their—his—penetration agent. Nate would not jeopardize it, would not disrespect MARBLE’s memory. As he looked at Dominika’s backlit hair, Nate thought of what had to be done.”
― Jason Matthews, Palace of Treason

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray