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He Bowed Is Head Into My Throat, Groaning Softly. "i Loved You Long Before You Loved Me. Its The Only Thing I Have You Beat At, And Ill Bring It Up Every Chance I Get." His Mouth Pressed To My Skin, Took On A Devilish Curve. "lets Get Out Of Here. I'm Taking You Back To My Place, This Time For Good. We Have Unfinished Business, And I Think Its Time We Do Something About It.

-Becca Fitzpatrick

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He Bowed Is Head

Becca Fitzpatrick

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He Bowed Is Head Into My Throat, Groaning Softly. "i Loved You Long Before You Loved Me. Its The Only Thing I Have You Beat At, And Ill Bring It Up Every Chance I Get." His Mouth Pressed To My Skin, Took On A Devilish Curve. "lets Get Out Of Here. I'm Taking You Back To My Place, This Time For Good. We Have Unfinished Business, And I Think Its Time We Do Something About It.

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Unfinished Business

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I Saw You, And I Wanted To Be Close To You. I Wanted You To Let Me In. I Wanted To Know You In A Way No One Else Did. I Wanted You, All Of You. That Wanting Nearly Drove Me Mad.” Patch Paused, Inhaling Softly, As Though Breathing Me In. “and Now That I Have You, The Only Thing That Terrifies Me Is Having To Go Back To That Place. Having To Want You All Over Again, With No Hope Of My Desire Ever Being Fulfilled. You’re Mine, Angel. Every Last Piece Of You. I Won’t Let Anything Change That.

You Keep Life On A Short Leash.” “what’s That Supposed To Mean?” “you’re Scared Of What You Can’t Control.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

I Have A Free Couple Of Hours," I Told Him, Walking Toward My Car, Which Was Parked On The Next Block. "there's A Very Private, Very Secluded Barn In Lookout Hill Park Behind The Carousel. I Could Be There In Fifteen Minutes." I Heard The Smile In His Voice. "you Want Me Bad.

Hank Had Left Me His Doomed Army, And He’d Left Marcie His Inheritance. Unfair Didn’t Begin To Cover It.

His Eyes Made A Slow Scan Of My Closet Doors, Which Were Cracked. “i Thought I Heard Something.” “yeah, Well, Guess What? I’m A Living, Breathing Person, And Every Now And Then I Make Noise!

If I Missed Out On Some Really Big Action, I’m Going To Be Royally Pissed Off!

I Study Her,” Patch Said. “i Figure Out What She’s Thinking And Feeling. She’s Not Going To Come Right Out And Tell Me, Which Is Why I Have To Pay Attention. Does She Turn Her Body Toward Mine? Does She Hold My Eyes, Then Look Away? Does She Bite Her Lip And Play With Her Hair, The Way Nora Is Doing Right Now?” Laughter Rose In The Room. I Dropped My Hands To My Lap. “she’s Game,” Said Patch, Bumping My Leg Again. Of All Things, I Blushed.

I'm Yours, If You'll Have Me.

I'm Not Leaving Until You Tell Me Why You Followed Me. I Know I'm A Fascinating Guy, But This Is Starting To Feel Like An Unhealthy Obsession.

The Antique, Almost Primitive Band He Held Between His Fingers Caught The Sunlight, Glinting Silver. “i Found This Ring Shortly After I Was Banished From Heaven. I Kept It To Remind Myself Of How Endless My Sentence Was, How Eternal One Small Choice Can Be. I’ve Kept It A Long Time. I Want You To Have It. You Broke My Suffering. You’ve Given Me A New Eternity. Be My Girl, Nora. Be My Everything."

I Needed Him Like I'd Never Needed Anyone.

Keep In Mind That People Change, But The Past Doesn't.

If I Had Known Things Would Turn Out This Way, I Would Have Trained Harder. I Would Have Learned To Take Care Of Myself. But I Guess That's The Point, Isn't It? You Never Know What You're Going To Have To Face, So You'd Better Be Prepared.

If You Can't Feel, Why Did You Kiss Me?" Patch Traced A Finger Along My Collarbone, Then Headed South Stopping At My Heart. I Felt It Pounding Through My Skin. "because I Feel It Here, In My Heart," He Said Quietly.

If You Can't Feel Then Why Did You Kiss Me? Because I Can Feel It Here, In My Heart.

It Was A Smile That Spelled Trouble. With A Promise.

He Nuzzles My Neck Affectionately. "i Love You. I'm Happier Right Now Than I Ever Remember Being.

You Didn’t Tell Me She Was So Soft On The Eyes,” He Said To Patch, Wiping His Mouth With The Back Of His Hand. He Spoke With A Heavy Irish Accent. “i Didn’t Tell Her How Hard You Are On Them Either,” Patch Returned, His Mouth At The Relaxed Stage Just Before A Grin.

Here It Comes," She Said With An Expression Of Pure Bliss. "drug Rush ... Any Moment Now ... The Surge Of Warmth ... Bye-bye, Mr. Pain..." "vee-" "knock, Knock." "this Is Really Important-" "knock, Knock." "it's About Elliot-" "knock, Knoooock," She Said In A Singsong Voice. I Sighed. "who's There?" "boo." "boo Who?" "boo-hoo, Somebody's Crying, And It's Not Me!" She Broke Into Hysterical Laughter.

Cooking Isn’t Taught,” Patch Said. “it’s Inherent. Either You’ve Got It Or You Don’t. Like Chemistry. You Think You’re Ready For Chemistry?” I Pressed The Knife Down Through The Tomato; It Split In Two, Each Half Rocking Gently On The Cutting Board. “you Tell Me. Am I Ready For Chemistry?” Patch Made A Deep Sound I Couldn’t Decipher And Grinned.

My Most Noticeable Physical Trait Is, Hands Down, My Hair. It's Big, Unruly And Curly, And You Can Spot It From A Mile Away... Literally.

It Makes No Difference To Me Whether I Shoot You Or You Fall To Your Death.” “it Does Make A Difference,” I Said, My Voice Small But Confident. “you And I Share The Same Blood.” I Lifted My Hand Precariously, Showing Him My Birthmark. “i’m Your Descendant. If I Sacrifice My Blood, Patch Will Become Human And You’ll Die. It’s Written In The Book Of Enoch.

You're Mine, Angel. And I'm Yours. Nothing Can Change That.

Did You Hear Something, Nora?” Vee Asked. “i Thought I Heard Something.” “you Definitely Heard Something,” I Agreed. “could That Be … A Dog Fart I Heard?” Vee Asked Me.

I’m Not Going Anywhere Near A Motel With You.

Every Time You Strip My Sword, I Owe You A Kiss. How's That Sound?" I Bit My Lip To Keep From Giggling. "that Sounds Really Dirty." Patch Waggled His Brows. "look Whose Mind Just Rolled Into The Gutter.

I Trailed Off.patch Leaned Lazily Against The Counter. Dark Hair Flipped Out From Under His Ball Cap. A Smile Tugged At His Mouth. My Thoughts Dissolved And Just Like That, A New Thought Broke The Surface Of My Mind. I Wanted To Kiss Him. Right Now.

Too Bad. There's A Party On The Coast. I Thought We Could Go." He Actually Sounded Sincere. ( A Bit After) I Affected A Yawn. "well, Like I Said, It's A School Night." In Hopes Of Convincing Myself More Than Him, I Added, " If This Party Is Something You'd Be Interested In, I Can Almost Guarantee I Won't Be." There, I Though. Case Closed- Page 77

Tell Me What's Going On Here. Why Can I Hear Your Voice Inside My Head And Why Did You Say You Came To School For Me?" "i Was Tired Of Admiring Your Legs From A Distance.

He's Got The Whole Bad-boy-in-need-of-redemption Thing Going On, But The Catch Is, Most Bad Boys Don't Want Redemption. They Like Being Bad. They Like The Power They Get From Striking Fear And Panic Into The Hearts Of Mothers Everywhere

Based On Past Experience, I Hope Not.

Past Experiences

I Learned That I Was Either Crazy In Love With You, Or Putting On The Best Performance Of My Life.' -nora (pg 263)

In The End, The Only Thing Between Us Was Silence.

You Possess Other People's...bodies." He Accepted That Statement With A Nod. "do You Want To Possess My Body?" "i Want To Do A Lot Of Things To Your Body, But That's Not One Of Them.

...i Need A Boyfriend. And To Get A Boyfriend, You Have To Look Good. Doesn’t Hurt To Smell Good Too.

Before I Forget, Here's Your Homework. Where Do You Want Me To Put It?" She Pointed At The Trash Can. "right There Would Be Fine.

If You Need One More Reason, I Love You.

If We're Doing This For Ten Hours, I'm Going To Need A Little Incentive To Stay Motivated." Patch Hooked His Elbow Around My Neck And Dragged Me Into A Kiss. "every Time You Strip My Sword, I Owe You A Kiss. How's That Sound?" I Bit My Lip To Keep From Giggling. "that Sounds Really Dirty." Patch Waggled His Eyebrows. "look Whose Mind Just Rolled Into The Gutter. Two Kisses Per Strip. Any Objections?" I Pulled On An Innocent Face. "none Whatsoever.

I Shouldn't Have Been Looking At Lingerie. It Naturally Made Me Think About Sexy Things. Like Kissing. Like Patch.

You Picked The Seats You Did For A Reason, Right? Familiarity. Too Bad The Best Sleuths Avoid Familiarity. It Dulls The Investigative Instinct.

I’m Not Going To Kill You, Nora. I Don’t Kill People Who Are Important To Me. And You Top The List.

I Loved You Long Before You Loved Me. It's The Only Thing I Have You Beat At, And I'll Bring It Up Every Chance I Get.

Quit Calling Me Grey. It Makes Me Sound Like I’m A Boy. Like Dorian Gray.” “dorian Who?” I Sighed. “just Think Up Something Else. Plain Old Nora Works Too, You Know.” “sure Thing, Gumdrop.” I Grimaced. “i Take That Back. Let’s Stick With Grey.

Because I Thought I Was In Love. And When You Think You're In Love, You Are Willing To Stick It Out And Make It Work Until It Is Love.

Busted. I'm A Monster. Jev Is My Deceptively Harmless-and Shockingly Handsome-alter Ego.

Vee Said," I'm Trying To Read The Title He's Holding…hang On…how To Be A Stalker." "he Is Not Checking Out A Book With That Title." But I Wasn't So Sure. "it's Either That Of How To Radiate Sexy Without Trying.

You’re Crowding Me. I Need— Room.”... What I Needed Were Boundaries. I Needed Willpower. I Needed To Be Caged Up, Since Yet Again I Was Proving I Couldn’t Be Trusted In Patch’s Presence. I Should Have Been Bolting For The Door, And Yet … I Wasn’t.

You’ve Never Been To School, Ever? If That’s True—and You’re Right, I Don’t Think It Is—what Made You Decide To Come This Year?” “you.

I Didn’t Accept Your Sacrifice. I Turned It Down.” I Felt A Small Oh Form At My Mouth, But It Never Quite Made It Past My Lips. “are You Saying You Gave Up Getting A Human Body For Me?

I Undress To Impress - Patch

You’re A Guardian Angel Now.”.... I’m Your Guardian Angel,” He Said. “i Get My Very Own Guardian Angel? What, Exactly, Is Your Job Description?” “guard Your Body.” His Smile Tipped Higher. “i Take My Job Seriously, Which Means I’m Going To Need To Get Acquainted With The Subject Matter On A Personal Level.

I'm Telling You This Because I Want You To Know That I Know Something About You Isn't Right. You Haven't Fooled Everybody. I'm Going To Find Out What You're Up To. I'm Going To Expose You." "looking Forward To It.

Looking Forward

My Legs Are Falling Asleep,” I Blurted. It Wasn’t A Total Lie. I Was Experiencing Tingling Sensations All Through My Body, Legs Included. “i Could Solve That.” Patch’s Hands Closed On My Hips.

You Want Me To Come Clean, I Will. I'll Tell You Everything. Who I Am And What I've Done. Every Last Detail. I'll Dig It All Up, But You Have To Ask. You Have To Want It. You Can See Who I Was, Or You Can See Who I Am Now. I'm Not Good," He Said, Piercing Me With Eyes That Absorbed All Light But Reflected None, "but I Was Worse.

I Couldn't Stand Here, Hanging On, When The Very Thing I Held Disappeared More With Each Passing Day.

I Was Just About To Ask You The Same Thing. I Know You Followed Me. Don't Look So Suprised. It's Called A Rearview Mirror. Are You Stalking Me For A Specific Reason?

If We Hooked Up, He Could Write Me Ballads And Stuff. You Gotta Admit, Nothing's Sexier Than A Guy Who Writes Music.

See, When You Lie To Me It Hurts," Rixon Said, Swiping An Imaginary Tear. "i Thought We Had Something Special. I Thought Our Joint Eternal Sentences Of Damnation Were Our Bond.

I Love You.” His Voice Was Straightforward, Affectionate. “you Make Me Remember Who I Used To Be. You Make Me Want To Be That Man Again. Right Now, Holding You, I Feel Like We Have A Shot At Beating All Odds And Making It Together. I’m Yours, If You’ll Have Me.

You Can Call Me Patch. No Really. Call Me.

How Warm I Feel. How Icredibly Alive And Vibrant And Heedless Every Last Inch Of Me Feels Next To You.

A Girl Could Lather Up In Soap Like That.

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

I Could Get You To Smile Like That, And Without Sales Tax." I Whirled Around To Find The Real Patch Standing In The Fitting Room Behind Me. He Was Wearing Jeans And A Snug White Tee. His Arms Were Folded Loosely Over His Chest, And His Black Eyes Smiled Down At Me. Heat That Wasn't Entirely Uncomfortable Flushed Through My Body. "i Could Make All Kinds Of Pervert Jokes Right Now," I Quipped.

Citizen's Arrest," He Said. "well, That, And Patch Told Me To.

Why Did Everyone Think I Needed A New Boyfriend? I Didn't Need A New Boyfriend. I'd Had Enough Of Boyfriends To Last A Lifetime. The Only Thing A Boyfriend Was Good For Was A Shattered Heart.

She Shrieked. "nora! What Happened To The Banister!" Good Thing She Hadn't Seen Her Bedroom Yet.

Tell Me What's Going On Here. Why Can I Hear Your Voice Inside My Head And Why Did You Say You Came To School For Me?" "i Was Tired Of Admiring Your Legs From A Distance.

His Smile Was Sexy And Warned Of Trouble, But I'd Made Up My Mind That Not All Trouble Was Bad.

With You, What You See Is What You Get. And I See Cheap.

I Cared About Us. But The Cold Hard Truth Was, Nothing I Said Or Did Could Realign The Stars.

Humans Are Vulnerable, Because They’re Capable Of Being Hurt.

Patch Wasn't The Kind Of Guy Mothers Smiled On. He Was The Kind Of Guy They Changed The House Locks For.

This Ring Belongs To The Black Hand. He Killed Your Dad.

Maggots Squirming In Your Eyeholes...and Your Other Orifices, Might Be Carrying Things A Bit Too Far." "this Is Why I Keep You Around, Rixon. Always Seeing Things From The Bright Side.

Girl, I'm Going To Show You The Bear In Hug.

I Already Know My Size. I Don't Need Reminding.

What Is It With You And Girls’ Bathrooms?

Your Mom Isn’t Going To Let Me Step Foot Inside This Place. I’ve Seen The Gun She Keeps On The Top Shelf Of The Pantry.

Vee Never Needed A Reason To Do Something Stupid. Sad Thing Was, Most Of The Time I Didn't Either.

It Didn't Escape Me That He Couldn't Seem To Stop Finding Reasons To Touch Me. Nor Did I Miss That I Didn't Want Him To Stop.

You Smell Good, Too,” Said Patch It’s Called A Shower.” I Was Staring Straight Ahead. When He Didn’t Answer, I Turned Sideways. “soap. Shampoo. Hot Water.” Naked. I Know The Drill.

I Couldn't Picture Myself With A Boyfriend, But If I Had To, I Envisioned A Nice Normal Guy Who Turned In His Math Homework On Time And Maybe Even Played Rec Baseball.

I Had To Lull Mom And Hank Into Believing I Was In The Right Frame Of Mind To Be Taken Into Public. If I Exited My Bedroom Foaming At The Mouth And Dressed In Black Love Sucks Tee, My Plan Would Never Get Off The Ground.

I Know You Followed Me. Don't Look So Surprised. It's Called A Rearview Mirror.

Rear View Mirror

I Wasn´t Expecting To Come Home To You, But Now That You´re Here, I Have No Intention Of Letting You Leave." Patch :d (p. 295)

I'm A Private Contractor Now. I Choose My Clients, Not The Other Way Around.

When It Comes To Reflexes, I'm Like A Cat. I'm Catwoman. I'm Invulnerable. The Only Reason He Got A Piece Of Me Is Because Of The Rain. Cats Don't Like Water. It Impairs Us. It's Our Kryptonite.

I Swear To You, Nora Grey, On This Day, From Now And Forever, To Give Myself To You. I Am Yours. My Love, My Body, My Soul—i Place In Your Possession And Protection.” He Held Out The Ring, A Single Offering, A Binding Promise. ~ Patch + Nora

Anything Was Better Than Nothing. Half-full Was Better Than Empty. Ignorance Was The Lowest Form Of Humiliation And Suffering.

All I Can Think About Is Bed.” “we’re Sharing The Same Thought.” “you’re Thinking About Bed Too?” “i’m Thinking About You In My Bed.

Thinking About You

The Trouble Was, My Feelings For Patch Weren't Harmless.

I Can't Imagine Why You're So Interested." He Shook His Head. "interested? We're Talking About You. I'm Fascinated.

Are You Gloating Inside? That's What This Is About, Isn't It? Getting Me To Trust You So You Could Blow It Up In My Face!" [...] "i Get That You're Angry—," Said Patch. "i Am Ripped Apart!" I Shouted.

I’d Like To. Problem Is, I’m Not Stupid.” “you Act Stupid.” “right. Thanks For That. For Your Information, There’s A Difference Between Acting Stupid And Being Stupid.” “it’s A Fine Line, But Someone Has To Draw It.

Wouldn't Have Pegged You For A Dancer," He Spoke To My Mind "funny, I Would Have Pegged You For A Stalker," I Shot Back.

Vee Lowered Her Lashes And Smiled Wickedly. "this Class Isn't Going To Teach Me Anything I Don't Already Know." "vee? As In Virgin?" "not So Loud." She Winked Just As The Bell Rang, Sending Us Both To Our Seats, Which Were Side By Side At Our Shared Table.

Have You Finished Your Column For Tomorrow's Headline?" It Was Vee. She Came Up Beside Me, Jotting Notes On The Notepad She Carried Everywhere. "i'm Thinking Of Writing Mine On The Injustice Of Seating Charts. I Got Paired With A Girl Who Said She Just Finished Lice Treatment This Morning.

Or, If You Decide You Want To Sleep At My Place, On Opposite Sides Of My Bedroom With A Do Not Cross Line Drawn Down The Middle, I'll Do It. I Won't Like It, But I'll Do It.

The More Time I Spent With Him, The More I Knew The Feelings Weren't Going Away.

You're A Liar!" He Turned Around, His Black Eyes Snapping. "i'm Also A Thief, A Gambler, A Cheat, And A Murdered. But This Happens To Be One Of The Rare Times When I'm Telling The Truth. Go Home. Consider Yourself Lucky. You've Got A Chance To Start Fresh. Not Everyone Can Say The Same.

He Bowed Is Head Into My Throat, Groaning Softly. "i Loved You Long Before You Loved Me. Its The Only Thing I Have You Beat At, And Ill Bring It Up Every Chance I Get." His Mouth Pressed To My Skin, Took On A Devilish Curve. "lets Get Out Of Here. I'm Taking You Back To My Place, This Time For Good. We Have Unfinished Business, And I Think Its Time We Do Something About It.

Unfinished Business

I Missed You, Angel. Not One Day Went By That I Didn't Feel You Missing From My Life.

I’m Really Starting To Like All This Spy Work,” Vee Said. “when My Normal Life Gets Boring, All I Have To Do Is Sidle Up Next To You.

Your Mine, Angel. And I Won't Let Anything Change That.

I Wrinkled My Nose, Trying To Figure Out What He Smelled Like. Not Cigarettes. Something Richer, Fouler. Cigars.

Boys Everywhere Take Note: That Was A Kiss.

Don't Make Me Regret This", I Said Breathless. "you Haven't Regretted Me Once.

How Did You Get In?" "i Move In Mysterious Ways." "god Moves In Mysterious Ways. You Move Like Lightening-here One Moment, Gone The Next.

The Truth Is Scary, But Knowing Nothing Is Crippling.

Knowing Nothing

Ready?" Despite The Grim Mood, I Smiled And Cracked My Knuckles. "ready To Wrestle With My Gorgeous Boyfriend? Oh, I'd Say I'm Ready For That." Amusement Softened His Eyes. "i'll Try To Control Where I Put My Hands, But In The Heat Of Things, Who Knows What Could Happen?" I Added. Patch Grinned. "sounds Promising.

Being With You Never Felt Wrong. It's The One Thing I Did Right. You're The One Thing I Did Right.

Patch Was Dressed In The Usual: Black Shirt, Black Jeans And A Thin Silver Necklace That Flashed Against His Dark Complexion. His Sleeves Were Pushed Up His Forearms, And I Could See His Muscles Working As He Punched Buttons. He Was Tall And Lean And Hard, And I Wouldn't Have Been Surprised If Under His Clothes He Bore Several Scars, Souvenirs From Street Fights And Other Reckless Behavior. Not That I Wanted A Look Under His Clothes.

I Take That Back. If Hank Wants To Shoot Scott, He Has My Blessing.

That Was A Good Fight Back In The Gym,” He Said. “but I Think You Could Benefit From A Few More Boxing Lessons.

No, Hear Me Out. The Long Answer To That Question Is That Everything About Me Has Changed Since Meeting You. What I Wanted Five Months Ago Is Different From What I Want Today. Did I Want A Human Body? Yes, Very Much. Is It My Top Priority Now? No." He Looked At Me With Serious Eyes."i Gave Up Something I Wanted For Something I Need. And I Need You, Angel. More Than I Think You'll Ever Know. ~patch

My First Job Entailed Spending A Summer Working In A Cornfield In Nebraska.

I'm Touched, Rixon. A Bomb. How Elaborate. Why Didn't You Keep Things Simple And Just March Inside My Bedroom One Night And Put A Bullet Between My Eyes?" Nora, Crescendo

Patch? Whatever Happens, I Love You." I Wanted To Say More, Those Three Words Painfully Inadequate For The Way I Felt About Him. And At The Same Time, So Simple And Accurate, Nothing Else Would Do.

Chase Him Down And Stall For Time. I Need Two More Minutes. ” “chase Him Down? How? The Neon Has A Flat.” “with Your Own Two Feet!” “you Mean Exercise?

Any Happiness, No Matter How Brief, Seemed Better Than The Long, Simmering Torture Of Waking Up Day After Day, Knowing I Could Never Have Him.

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.

Let Me Show You,” He Said In My Ear. “like This. Feel That? Relax. Now Pivot Your Hips—it’s All In The Hips.

I Shook My Head. “i Don’t Think So. This Isn’t A Good Idea. This Isn’t Right.” “there’s All Kinds Of Right,” He Murmured. “on The Spectrum, We’re Still In The Safe Zone.” ... “definitely Right. Usually Right,” Patch Continued. “mostly Right. Maybe Right.

I Don’t See Any Police Cars.” “they Probably Had To Park A Couple Blocks Over. Anyway, As I Was Saying, I Noticed Illegal Substances In The Hands Of A Few Guests.” “so?” She Snapped. “it’s A Party.” “alcohol Is Illegal Under The Age Of Twenty-one.” “great!” Marcie Shouted. “what Am I Going To Do?” She Paused, Then Raised Her Voice Again. “you Probably Called Them!” “who, Me?” Vee Said. “and Lose The Free Food? No Way.

I'm Not Good," He Said, Piercing Me With Eyes That Absorbed All Light But Reflected None, "but I Was Worse.

Light Had A Way Of Keeping The Monsters Of My Imagination At Bay.

Nora: I Have Questions. Patch: I Should Have Known You've Only Been Keeping Me Around For Answers. Nora: Well, That And Your Kisses. Anyone Ever Tell You You're An Incredible Kisser?

My Life Sucks When I’m Only Half-aware Of It. If I Quit Drinking And Saw What It’s Really Like, I’d Probably Jump Off A Bridge.

I Missed You, Angel. Not One Day Went By That I Didn't Feel You Missing From My Life. You Haunted Me To The Point That I Began To Believe Hank Had Gone Back On His Oath And Killed You. I Couldn't Escape You And I Didn't Want To. You Tortured Me, But It Was Better Than Losing You.

Sure Thing, Gumdrop. -scott

Nora: This Is Crazy. Patch: I'm Crazy. About You.

If I Were Thinking Straight, I'd Take You Home Right Now.

You’ve Never Been To School, Ever? If That’s True— And You’re Right, I Don’t Think It Is—what Made You Decide To Come This Year?” “you....your Eyes, Nora. Those Cold, Pale Gray Eyes Are Surprisingly Irresistible.” He Tipped His Head Sideways, As If To Study Me From A New Angle. “and That Killer Curvy Mouth

Normal And I Parted Ways When Pateir1ch Strolled Into My Life. Patch Has Seven Inches On Me, Operates On Cold, Hard Logic, Moves Like Smoke, And Lives Alone In A Supersecret, Superswanky Studio Beneath Delphic Amusement Park. The Sound Of His Voice, Low And Sexy, Can Melt My Heart In Three Seconds Flat. He’s Also A Fallen Angel, Kicked Out Of Heaven For His Flexibility When It Comes To Following Rules. I Personally Believe Patch Scared The Pants Off Normal, And It Took Off Running For The Far Side Of The World.

Men Are Attracted To Beauty Because It Indicates Health And Youth—no Point Mating With A Sickly Woman Who Won’t Be Around To Raise The Children.

Nice Costume," He Said. "ditto. I Can Tell You Put Alot Of Though Into Yours." Amusement Curled His Mouth. "if You Don't Like It, I Can Take It Off." I Tapped My Chin Thoughtfully. "that Just Might Be The Best Proposal I've Had All Night." "my Offers Are Always The Best, Angel.

But Instead Of Taking The Cue To Leave, Patch Crossed To Scott In Three Steps. He Flung Him Around To Face The Wall. Scott Tried To Get His Bearings, But Patch Slammed Him Against The Wall Again, Disorienting Him Further. “touch Her,” He Said In Scott’s Ear, His Voice Low And Threatening, “and It’ll Be The Biggest Regret Of Your Life.” Before Leaving, Patch Flicked His Eyes Once In My Direction. “he’s Not Worth It.” He Paused. “and Neither Am I.

You Dress To Impress," I Said Approvingly. "no, Angel." He Leaned In, His Teeth Softly Grazing My Ear. "i Undress To Impress.

I'd Fallen In Love With The Devil.

I Got A New Job.” Patch Locked Eyes With Me, And I Warmed In A Lot Of Places. In Fact, I Was Dangerously Close To Feverish.

Are We Going To Have To Teach You To Fight, Angel?

They Said The Moment I Fell In Love With You Was The Moment You'd Leave.

I Fell In Love With You

You Don't Happen To Have A Thousand Dollars I Can Borrow?" "i Don't Have Five You Can Borrow. My Piggy Bank Is Officialy Anorexic.

You Sound Worked Up. Really Worked Up. No, That's Not It. You Sound Agitated...flustered...aroused." I Could Feel Her Eyes Widen. "he Kissed You, Didn't He?" No Answer. "he Did! I Knew It! I've Seen The Way He Looks At You. I Knew This Was Coming. I Saw It From A Mile Away." I Didn't Want To Think About It. "what Was It Like?" Vee Pressed. "a Peach Kiss? A Plum Kiss? Or An Al-fal-fa Kiss?" "what?" "was It A Peck, Did Mouths Part, Or Was There Tongue? Never Mind. You Don't Have To Answer That. Patch Isn't The Kind Of Guy To Deal With Preliminaries. There Was Tongue Involved. Guaranteed.

Don't Make Me Regret This" I Said, Breathless. " You Haven't Regretted Me Once". He Kissed Me, And I Answered So Hungrily I Thought My Lips Would Bruise. Patch&nora ( P. 180)

You Never Know What You're Going To Have To Face, So You'd Better Be Prepared.

I Couldn't Look At You And Breath At The Same Time.

Sometimes Bad Things Have To Happen Before Good Things Can.

Patch Smiled. “you Come By Your Red Hair Naturally?” I Stared At Him. “i Don’t Have Red Hair.” “i Hate To Break It To You, But It’s Red. I Could Light It On Fire And It Wouldn’t Turn Any Redder.

Patch: “let’s Get Out Of Here.” – Nora: “where Are We Going?” – Patch: “you’ll See.

Patch Backed Me Into A Tree And Kissed Me, Hard. I Regained My Breath. "boys Take Not Everywhere: That Was A Kiss.

I Don't Have A Car." His Eyes Sliced Into Mine. "i Walked Here," I Explained. "i'm On Foot." "angel," He Said In A Way That Sounded Like He Sincerely Hoped I Was Joking.

My History Is Long, And Not Much Of It Is Good. I Can't Erase It, But I'm Determined Not To Make Another Mistake. Not When The Stakes Are High, Not When It Comes To You.

Go Ahead. You're Not Going To Walk In On Anyone. I'm Home Alone." "the Whole Night?" Immediately, I Realized It Might Not Have Been The Smartest Thing To Say. "dorothea Will Be Coming Soon." That Was A Lie. Dorothea Was Long Gone. It Was Close To Midnight. "dorothea?" "our Housekeeper. She's Old- But Strong. Very Strong." I Tried To Squeeze Past Him. Unsuccessfully. "sounds Frightening," He Said, Retrieving The Key From The Lock. He Held It Out For Me. "she Can Clean A Toilet Inside And Out In Under A Minute. More Like Terrifying.

Nothing Makes Me Happy Quite Like A Boatload Of Freshly Fried Fast Food, Smothered In Good Old Msg.

All This Time I've Hated Myself For It. I Thought I'd Given It Up For Nothing. But If I Hadn't Fallen, I Wouldn't Have Met You.

Did They Look Like Anyone We Know? For Example… A Cross Between Pippi Longstocking And The Wicked Witch Of The West Would Obviously Give Us Marcie Millar

Killer Skirt, Deadly Legs.

After A Long Day, My Favorite Way To Unwind Is By Going Running. Not Exactly The Most Relaxing Activity, Granted, But I Always Imagine I'm Sweating Out All The Things Weighing On My Mind.

You’re Not Going To Drive Me Home?” I Asked. A Waste Of Breath, Since I Knew Her Answer. “there’s Fog.” “patchy Fog.” Vee Grinned. “oh, Boy. He Is So On Your Mind. Not That I Blame You. Personally, I’m Hoping I Dream About Him Tonight.

It’s Brown.” So Maybe I Had The Teeniest, Tiniest, Most Infinitesimal Amount Of Auburn In My Hair. I Was Still A Brunette. “it’s The Lighting,” I Said. “yeah, Maybe It’s The Lightbulbs.” His Smile Brought Up Both Sides Of His Mouth, And A Dimple Surfaced.

When I'm Wasted, I Can Almost Forget Who I Am," He Said, His Smile Fading Slightly. "i Know I'm Still There, But Only Barely. It's A Good Place To Be." He Tipped Back The Thermos, Eyes On The Dark Sea Straight Ahead

For The First Time All Day I Felt Safe. Except That Patch Had Cornered Me In A Dark Tunnel And Was Possibly Stalking Me. Maybe Not So Safe.

I Was Tired Of Admiring Your Legs From A Distance.

There's Nothing Special About Losing Your Virginity Over A Toilet.

Are You Keeping Anything Else From Me?” “i’m Keeping A Lot Of Things From You.” “like?” “like The Way I Feel About Being Locked Up In Here With You. You Have No Idea What You Do To Me.

I’m Going To Grab A Cheeseburger,” I Told Patch. “want Anything?” “nothing On The Menu.” I Smiled. “why, Patch, Are You Flirting With Me?

He Grinned. “busted. I’m A Monster. Jev Is My Deceptively Harmless — And Shockingly Handsome — Alter Ego.” “and I’m On Top Of It,” She Announced With Witty Triumph. “is That A Freudian Slip?” His Bluntness Caught Her Off Guard. A Self-conscious Blush Rose In Her Face.

Wow. Nice Bike,” I Said. Which Was A Lie. It Looked Like A Glossy Black Death Trap.

I Forced A Smile. It Was The One I'd Been Practicing All Morning. It Felt Tight At The Edges And Brittle Everywhere In Between.

The Sensible Part Of Me Wanted To Dissect My Emotions, Overthinking And Overcomplicating My Reaction To Jev.

Patch Was In My Life For A Reason. I Needed Him. We Were Two Halves Of The Same Whole.

I Wondered Why Life Had To Suck So Hard Sometimes.

I Had Fun Last Night," I Told Patch, Flicking Off My Chin Strap And Handing Over My Helmet. "i'm Officially On Love With Your Sheets." "that The Only Thing You're In Love With?" "nope. Your Mattress, Too." Some Smile Crept Into Patch's Eyes. "my Bed's An Open Invitation.

It Would Be Like A Cleansing Diet. The Problem Was, The Only Diet I'd Ever Been On Backfired. Once I Tried To Go An Entire Month Without Chocolate. Not One Bite. At The End Of Two Weeks, I Broke Down And Binged On More Chocolate That I Would Have Eaten In Three Months. I Hoped My Chocolate-free Diet Didn't Foreshadow What Would Happen If I Tried To Avoid Patch.

I Would Lay Down Everything I Possess, Even My Soul, For You. If That Isn't Love, It's The Best I Have.

That's Really Eco-friendly Of You," Vee Told Marcie. "recycling Nora's Old Trash.

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.

She Looked Up, Her Face Pink As A Christmas Ham. “you Ever Try Chasing Down A Car?” She Gasped. “i’ll One-up You. I Gave Scott My Hot Dog And Asked If He’d Go To Summer Solstice With Me.” “what Does The Hot Dog Have To Do With Anything?” “i Said He’d Be A Wiener If He Didn’t Go With Me.” Vee Wheezed Laughter. “i’d Have Run Harder Had I Known I’d Get To See You Call Him A Wiener.

I Wanted To Imprint His Touch, His Taste, Even The Scent Of Him So Solidly Inside Me That No One Could Take Them Away From Me.

Since We're Keeping It Primal, You Smell Good," He Observed. "it's Called A Shower...," I Began Automatically, Then Trailed Off. My Memory Snagged, Taken Aback By A Compelling And Forceful Sense Of Undue Familiarity. "soap, Shampoo, Hot Water," I Added, Almost As An Afterthought. "naked. I Know The Drill," Jev Said, Something Unreadeble Passing Over His Eyes.

I Swear To You, Patch, To Take Your Love And Cherish It. And In Return, To Give You My Body And My Heart—everything I Possess, I Give To You. I Am Yours. Wholly And Completely. Love Me. Protect Me. Fulfill Me. And I Promise To Do The Same.” ~ Nora + Patch

Vee Is My Un-twin. She's Green-eyed, Milky Blond, And A Few Pounds Over Curvy. I'm A Smoky-eyed Brunette With Volumes Of Curly Hair That Holds Its Own Against Even The Best Flatiron. And I'm All Legs, Like A Bar Stool. But There Is An Invisible Thread The Ties Us Together; Both Of Us Swear That Tie Began Long Before Birth. Both Of Us Swear It Will Continue To Hold For The Rest Of Our Lives.

What Is It With Girls?” Elliot Said, Splitting A Smile Between Us. “i Swear, I’ve Never Known A Girl Who Could Go To The Bathroom Alone.” He Leaned Forward And Grinned Conspiratorially. “let Me In On The Secret. Seriously. I’ll Pay You Five Bucks Each.” He Reached For His Back Pocket. “ten, If I Can Come Along And See What The Big Deal Is.

Right Now, Vee Was The Only Person I Could Count On. She Could Be Obnoxious,annoying, And Lazy, But She Never Lied To Me.

Arrogance Can Be Deadly.” The Corners Of His Mouth Crept Up. “but You Didn’t Hear Me Say That.

There Was Nothing Wrong With Fire … As Long As You Didn’t Stand Too Close. Something To Keep In Mind.

Don’t Start. I Saw Marcie Climb Inside Your Jeep.” “she Needed A Ride.” I Adopted A Hands-on-hips Pose. “what Kind Of Ride?” “not That Kind Of Ride,” He Said Slowly.

Gosh, It Was Nice Talking To You, But I’ve Got A Lot Of Things I’d Rather Be Doing. Like Sticking My Hand In The Garbage Disposal.

Whoa, Who Peed In Your Cheerios?

You Should Go," I Breathed. "you Should Definitely Go." "go Here?" His Mouth Was On My Shoulder. "or Here?" It Moved Up My Neck.

They Say That When You're About To Die, Your Life Flashes Before Your Eyes. They Never Tell You That When You Watch Someone You Once Loved Dying, Hovering Between This Life And The Next, It's Twice As Painful, Because You're Reliving Two Lives That Traveled One Road Together.

I Took Three Steps Back; He Nudged The Door Closed With His Foot. “you Like Mexican?” He Asked. “i—” I’d Like To Know What You’re Doing Inside My House! “tacos?” “tacos?” I Echoed. This Seemed To Amuse Him. “tomatoes, Lettuce, Cheese.” “i Know What A Taco Is!

He Cracked A Slight Smile, But It Didn’t Look Amused. “i’m Not Letting You Out Of My Sight. You’re Looking A Little Deranged, Angel. We’ll Go Together.

Shouldn’t You Be Working Instead Of Fraternizing With Customers?” I Choked. He Smiled. “what Are You Doing Sunday Night?” I Snorted. By Accident. “are You Asking Me Out?” “you’re Getting Cocky. I Like That, Angel.” “i Don’t Care What You Like. I’m Not Going Out With You. Not On A Date. Not Alone.

The Subject’s Pulse Increased On Contact,” He Said. “don’t Write That.

Fine! I'll Throw On Some Clothes. Turn Around. I'm In My Pj's" "i'm A Guy. That's Like Asking A Kid Not To Glance At The Candy Counter.

There's A Disconnect Between My Mind And My Heart, But I Feel The Truth. They Say When People Lose Their Vision, Their Hearing Comes Sharper. I've Lost Part Of My Memory But Maybe My Intuition Is Stronger.

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George A. Smith

Nicolas Berggruen

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