“A feeling of violation swayed inside me, making me feel as if id been shoved off a high platform without warning. I was falling, and i feared the sensation far more than hitting bottom. There was no end; just a constantsense of gravity having its way with me.”

She’ll kill me if she finds you in here. Can you climb trees? Tell me you can climb a tree!” patch grinned, “i can fly.

Hey now, none of that. You know i don’t have one evil bone in my body. Only two hundred and six of them?

I couldn’t escape him, now or ever. He’d always be there, consuming my every thought, my heart locked in his hands. I was drawn to him by forces i couldn’t control, let alone escape.

There was no sign of jules. Bad news, said elliot. The man is sick. Youre going to have to settle for me. Sick? Vee demanded. How sick? What kind of excuse is sick? Sick as in its coming out both ends. Vee scrunched her nose. Too much information.

Patch’s eyes were slate black, darker than a million secrets stacked on top of each other. He dropped his gaze to the ring in his hand, turning it over slowly. “swear you’ll never stop loving me,” i whispered. Ever so slightly, he nodded.

Does patch have a restraining order against him?’ he read. ‘is patch a felon?’ ‘give-me-that!’ i hissed furiously. Patch gave a soft laugh, and i knew he’d seen the next question. ‘does patch have a girlfriend?

I love you,nora. Whatever happens, promise me you’ll remember that. I don’t care why you came into my life,only that you did. I don’t remember all the things i did wrong. I remember what i did right, i remember you. You made my life meaningful. You made my life special.

This was it. Together. Forever. As we left it all behind, the sun warmed my back, lighting the way before us. I knew of no better omen.

Inwardly, i gouged my eyes out.

His words filled my heart to the brim. I loved him in a way id never be able to express in words. He was part of me. And i was part of him. Tethered together for the rest of eternity.

Do you think the bible is accurate? I mean, do you think it’s real?” ” i think pastor calvin is hot. In a fortysomething way. That pretty much sums up my religious conviction

Touch her, he said in scotts ear, his voice low and threatening, and itll be the biggest regret of your life.

In the end, the only thing between us was silence.

Pac-man? Or is it donkey kong? In truth, it looked a little more violent and military. A slow grin spread over his face. Baseball. Think maybe you could stand behind me and give me a few pointers?

I would lay down everything i possess, even my soul, for you. If that isn’t love, it’s the best i have.

Men are attracted to beauty because it indicates health and youthno point mating with a sickly woman who wont be around to raise the children.