Shelly Thacker Quotes

It took Celine a

Time. She had to go home. As soon as the lunar eclipse occurred in three weeks. Because if she stayed here, she would die. Either from the bullet in her back, or from the pain that was slowly sinking talons into her.

It had seemed entirely sensible at the time. A simple way to test the truth of her claim that she had lain with de Villiers. To show her that lying to him was useless. To make a point.
Instead, he had ignited a desire that burned him like none he had ever felt before.
He had expected Lady Laurien d'Amboise to be a timid little convent mouse. Quiet and passive and pliant. Easily manageable. Instead she was outspoken and strong-willed...and stunning in a way he could not even describe.
An innocent beauty caught up in a deadly game that was none of her making....
Malcolm rose to leave, chuckling.
"And what is there to laugh about?"
Darach gave his jovial friend a dour look.
Malcolm stopped just long enough to do his best imitation of Darach. "'Simple. Kidnap one French lass, hold her for a fortnight, and return her to de Villiers after he meets our demands. Perfectly simple.

One body, one breath, one love, united against any force that would tear them apart. Defiant in the face of time, fate, death, destiny.

Ciara, there are certain things a man does not ask of a lady."
"You are not asking."
"Aye.

I would have asked you to let down your hair" turning to regard her with a grin, his teeth a slash of white in his blackened face.
"But it is not quite long enough anymore.

He watched her emerald eyes darken with need until they were the color of the Highland hills warmed by the summer sun.

Lauren closed her eyes, remembering how desperate she had been this morn in Chartres, how she had prayed for divine intervention to stop her wedding.
She had never expected that intervention to be riding a black horse and wielding a sword.

The only thing that can hurt me now is the thought of never knowing this feeling again. To never be able to touch you this way again...

At first, I did not tell you any of this because...you were not supposed to mean anything to me. And later..." His voice became rough with emotion. "Later, I did not tell you because you mean so much to me.

What are you cooking this night, wife?" One of the crepes picked that moment to dislodge itself from the ceiling. It landed at her feet with a plop as if on cue. "Crepes." She kept a straight face and tried to look like this was the normal way to make crepes.

A fierce possessiveness gripped him, a need to brand her, to make her his, now and forever. And he knew it was madness.

Beware, lion's lady, for your predator is hungry tonight. He may not wait long before devouring you." "Devouring me?" she asked, challenge gleaming in her eyes. "What if I devour him first?

Camhanach, it is a bargain as old as the world itself." He chuckled.
"Women want protection...men want a willing lass to warm their bed.

Rolling onto his side, he drew her close. "Sleep, milady. I will keep you warm tonight, and safe." He pulled the blanket over her, wrapping one arm around her waist as he settled beside her on the furs. "And for one night, at least, neither of us will be alone.

At least reindeer kisses do not cause me to take leave of my senses.

There is not a man alive who would not want you.

I would be anyone if only I could be with you.

So time, you see, is not so precise as many believe," Brynna was saying, lighting a candle. "It is not a solid thing, to be carved into days and hours at our bidding. It is fluid, liquid. It can change as easily as the sea changes, on one day calm and smooth, on another stormy and dangerous.

As he looked at her, she felt that flood of restlessness that she now knew was called desire.

He cleared his throat. "I wish I could take back what I said." He looked away. "I behaved like a thoin aiseal."
"What does that mean?"
"A donkey's arse."
She glanced down at the furs, found herself fighting a smile. "And how do you pronounce that? I somehow suspect I may have need of that phrase again.

You have not known very many men."
"I have no wish to know any others. I love this one.

That when you have something important to do, you should simply do it. Because fear is a useless emotion that doesn't change anything." She rested her cheek against his chest. "And life is too short and too precious to spend any of it being afraid.

As I have said, milady, I mean to keep you safe, not harm you. And it is not my habit to force myself on unwilling maidens."
"Aye, pilgrim?" she asked dubiously. "Next you will tell me you are as chaste as a monk." She backed toward the door.
A grin slowly eased the hard line of his mouth. "I did not say that.

He drew her into his arms, gathering her close, and dusted kisses over her cheek, her hair. Wrapped in his embrace, Laurien closed her eyes, murmuring a sigh of exquisite satisfaction. A delightful drowsiness overtook her and she gave in to it, snuggled securely against Darach's chest, lying on a stolen wolf pelt, in the hold on a ship of thieves.

I've tried to deny it even to myself...
My heart and soul are filled with you.

She clenched her fists. "I believe, milord, that I have endured my full limit of male tyranny."
"I am afraid, milady, that you will have to become accustomed to it. It is the way of things, here in the world beyond your cloister." He turned her forward and nudged her to continue down the stairs. "This world would fall into chaos if women were allowed to do whatever they wished.

Celine glanced up as she passed under an arch, at another of the chateau's decorations, her personal favorite: the entwined letters G and R, carved over every doorway. Family legend had it that one of the original owners of the chateau, a knight by the name of Sir Gaston de Varennes, was responsible for that bit of artwork. Sir Gaston, it seemed, had been quite a ladies' man - until he had met and married his wife, whom he loved so much, he had had her initial engraved with his in every castle he owned.

Mayhap it was not wise to question God's plans; mayhap he had been meant to live, to seek this justice, to serve some purpose. The past was the past. And the future...

... not within my memory."

"All 300 years of it?"

That comment earned her a frown.
"My apologies," she amended lightly. "I supposed I should not tease you about being so old."

"Nay, feel free."
His slow smile flashed in the moonlight.
"I would be happy to prove to you that I possess all the prowess and stamina of a man of 30. Mayhap I should demonstrate.