Livia Quotes

Goldene Haar!' he exclaims and takes one of my long braids into his hand. I am not certain I heard right. Did he say 'golden hair' about my braids?
Are you Jewish? The question startles me. 'Yes, I am Jewish.' How old are you?
I am thirteen.' 'You are tall for your age. Is this your mother?' He touches Mommy lightly on the shoulder. 'You go with your mother. ~ Livia Bitton-Jackson

Livia rubbed Blake's unresponsive hands and talking of their future. "Blake, we'll walk in the woods together. We have forever. Just wake up, okay? That's the deal we're making right here. You wake up and we get to have forever. ~ Debra Anastasia

Anna was, Livia is, Plurabelle's to be. Northmen's thing made southfolk's place but howmulty plurators made eachone in per-son? Latin me that, my trinity scholard, out of eure sanscreed into
oure eryan! Hircus Civis Eblanensis! He had buckgoat paps on him, soft ones for orphans. Ho, Lord! Twins of his bosom. Lord save us! And ho! Hey? What all men. Hot? His tittering daugh-ters of. Whawk?
Can't hear with the waters of. The chittering waters of. Flitter-ing bats, fieldmice bawk talk. Ho! Are you not gone ahome?
What Thom Malone? Can't hear with bawk of bats, all thim liffey-ing waters of. Ho, talk save us! My foos won't moos. I feel as old as yonder elm. A tale told of Shaun or Shem? All Livia's daughter-
sons. Dark hawks hear us. Night! Night! My ho head halls. I feel as heavy as yonder stone. Tell me of John or Shaun? Who wereShem and Shaun the living sons or daughters of? Night now!
Tell me, tell me, tell me, elm! Night night! Telmetale of stem or stone. Beside the rivering waters of, hitherandthithering waters of. Night! ~ James Joyce

I never want to disappoint you, Livia." Blake sounded stronger now, determined, but still anxious.
"That's not possible. Ever. ~ Debra Anastasia

Don't look at me for this. As stated I lack the necessary female equipment for wet nursery. And I once killed a cactus and Bubba's goldfish watching over them. No offense, I don't want to kill Malphas or find a toilet big enough to flush him. Come to think of it, I don't recall him eating anything around me. Ever. Last time he went down, he told me he wanted blood to heal, and I only do that for the Red Cross. Nick ~ Sherrilyn Kenyon

The momentary darkness gave way to scores of small glowing lights. Blaise stepped into a candlelit room filled with people and furniture.
'Where are we?" he asked Livia. "How can a whole other room be here? There were only two rooms on the top floor. ~ Teresa Flavin

Beckett looked Livia up and down and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Whitebread's so hot she's smokin' tonight. ~ Debra Anastasia

He wanted Livia back. Kyle probably wanted to talk her ear off all about the wedding, but he needed Livia here. He ached for her. ~ Debra Anastasia

Risk is everywhere. Only the nobles have the luxury of a long easy life. Justice, vengeance, the ability to carve out your own fate instead of being herded like an animal. Sometimes it's worth dying for. ~ Livia Blackburne

You've no idea what you're getting involved with." Cole closed his eyes. He seemed to be reaching inside to calm himself.
Livia took a step out of the pew. "Cole, I can't turn back now. My life leads to his. It's as simple as that."
"Two months." Cole looked doubtful.
"Four hundred forty-six smiles, plus two months of talking twice a day, five times a week," Livia corrected. ~ Debra Anastasia

You are all that I could ever ask for ... I Love You very much! ~ Livia

Livia, I'm going to be okay. You have to believe it."
The nape of his neck was just inches from her lips. The only things stopping her from tasting it were red lipstick and one hundred pairs of eyes.
"I've always believed it." Livia tilted her head so she could see him.
Blake held his lips close to hers. They were lost in each other. ~ Debra Anastasia

He seemed to be drinking in her face, looking at her instead of into her.
"Stop. Stop that. This isn't goodbye."
Blake pulled her left hand to his mouth and kissed her ring finger. "I'm still glad it's empty. He never deserved you. Of that, I'm very sure."
Livia saw moisture in his eyes. "You're saying goodbye. No. Here's what I'm sure of. I'll walk away from this house right now, wearing only what I have on my back and be happy. With you I can taste forever - it's right here." Livia pointed at her lips and then kissed his.
Blake allowed the kiss, but mumbled a question as well, "How many shotguns does he have?"
"Not enough to get me away from you." Livia traced his jaw.
Blake took her hand and kissed her palm, then her forehead, "Livia, go in there and let him talk to you. He's a father. I'd want to talk to my daughter at a moment like this. Let's give him that respect."
"I will not go in there. Where will you go?"
Livia felt a gentle tug on her heart. She was torn. She wanted to comfort her dad and get him to understand who Blake was, but in as little time as possible so she could get back to Blake.
"My inamorata, you know where I'll be: where I'll always be. Waiting. For you." Blake began putting the mask on.
Livia looked around wildly, feeling close to irrational. "I don't want you to go." These words were inadequate to express her need.
Blake smoothed her hair away from her face. "I've often wished I had a father. L ~ Debra Anastasia

You're so real. You have a bedroom and a brush. All the times I waited for you, I could never picture where you came from - what had made you so extraordinarily different. But you made you different." Blake ran his hand along his neck, smiling shyly in her direction.
"There are a million girls just like me." Livia almost hated to point that out.
"No. There's only you." Blake looked away from her and squinted into the sun.
Look at him looking into the sunlight! ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia wanted to get back to Blake's music. It had filled her dreams. ~ Debra Anastasia

This is going to be a long night. But Livia wasn't leaving. Tonight he'll be here. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia located her fancy jacket and stepped out of the closet. Blake took the coat from her and held it out in an old-fashioned ritual only he could get away with. He moved Livia's hair out of the way and kissed her neck as he buttoned each of her buttons from behind her. He skimmed parts of her she wished he would linger on. She turned her head to claim his lips.
They kissed until he stepped back and shook his head, as if to clear it. "I can only take so much of that with your bed so close. ~ Debra Anastasia

Do you have to use the ladies' room or something?" Livia asked.
"No. No, I don't. I just can't wait. I'm having all sorts of problems with the waiting."
Livia knew her sister's secret would bubble out of her soon.
Cole put a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "You wanted to wait, remember? Tell her if you can't stand it anymore."
At that, Kyle exploded. She waved her sparkling left hand in front of her. "Oh my God! I'm engaged! I'm marrying Cole! ~ Debra Anastasia

LIVIA DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY REMEMBER the details of the night before when she woke in her bed. Her blanket had been arranged around her. As she sat up, she noticed little paper-napkin roses tucked among her belongings. Blake.
He'd even given Teddy a spiffy bow tie. He must have taken a whole stack of napkins from The Launch Pad, and the sunlight trickling in her window explained his absence. His fancy clothes were folded neatly on the end of her bed. The prince was the one to run out of time in this Cinderella story. ~ Debra Anastasia

He locked eyes with Livia, and his face became serious. "Com'ere, Whitebread." He held out his hand and enveloped her as soon as she got close.
She started to cry softly in his chest.
"Don't cry. I'm so motherfucking proud of you. You hold your beautiful face up. Stand proud."
He rubbed her back and motioned Blake over with his head. Beckett twirled her into Blake's arms. She looked back to give him a sad smile from her warm place by Blake's heart. ~ Debra Anastasia

Me? I want you to be sure." he said.
"You," Livia whispered.
"Me." His eyes were full of intent.
"Always you." Livia gave him her biggest, heartfelt smile.
"Five hundred." Blake touched her face as if she might be a mirage and smiled back only when she didn't disappear. ~ Debra Anastasia

You don't even know me. (Adron)
Yes, I do. You try to hide what you are, but I see it. It shines through your bitterness with a brightness not even you can extinguish. (Livia) ~ Sherrilyn Kenyon

Annie, just once could you not give me a hard time?"
"Maybe someday, but not today."
"Annie, you're making Theo sad." Neither of them realized Livia had been paying attention to them. She peered around Theo's legs. "I think you should tell him your free secret."
"I don't!" She gave Livia a death glare. "And you'd better not, either."
Livia peered up at Theo. "Then you better tell your free secret."
He stiffened. "Annie doesn't want to hear my free secret."
"You have a free secret?" Annie asked.
"Yes, he does." Livia puffed up with four-year-old self-importance. "And I know it."
Now Theo was the one giving Livia the death glare. "Find some pinecones. A lot of them." He jabbed his hand toward the trees behind the gazebo. "Over there."
Annie could only stand so much. "Later," she said. "We need to get back to the cottage and see if mom's awake."
Livia's face turned into a thundercloud. "I don't want to go!"
"Don't give Annie a hard time," he said. "I'll finish the fairy house. You can see it later."
The fire had disrupted Livia's world. She hadn't had enough sleep, and she was as cranky as only an overstimulated four-your-old could be. "I'm not going!" she cried. "And if you don't let me stay, I'll tell your free secrets!"
Annie grabbed her arm. "You can't tell a free secret!"
"You absolutely can't!" Theo exclaimed.
"I can!" Livia retorted. "If they're both the same! ~ Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I have done many impious things
no great ruler can do otherwise. I have put the good of the Empire before all human considerations. To keep the Empire free from factions I have had to commit many crimes. ~ Robert Graves

Livia now saw clearly what she needed to do. She would break up with Chris this weekend. She sighed with satisfaction and the lingering effects of Blake's kiss, now tattooed on her heart. ~ Debra Anastasia

Do you think he would have wanted you to commit suttee?"

"What is that?"

"A Hindu practice in which a widow is expected to throw herself on her husband's burning funeral pyre. Her suicide is considered as proof of her devotion to him."

"What if the wife dies first? Does the husband do the same thing?"

Shaw threw her a mildly taunting grin. "No, he re-marries."

"I should have known," Livia said. "Men always manage to arrange things for their own benefit. ~ Lisa Kleypas

This is what nibbling your ear sounds like." Blake created a soundtrack for his teeth.
"This is what looking into your eyes sounds like." The notes were deep and beckoning.
"This is what my mind hears when my tongue is in your mouth." The kiss sounded steamy and delicate. The rhythm was her heartbeat as he sampled her mouth.
"But when you smile. When you smile it's ... "
Blake scooted the keyboard around behind her. He needed both hands.
She put her hands on his face and smiled in amazement as the music exploded. She couldn't imagine how her simple facial gesture could inspire such a majestic sound.
He smiled back. "One thousand nine hundred and ten."
"So many? Really?"
"Yes, really. And it's not nearly enough. I want to lose count, Livia. Make me lose count." His hands left the beautiful music and grabbed handfuls of her hair. ~ Debra Anastasia

Damn it. I mean, darn it. I thought the church was on fire. I'm so sorry. How do you clean up holy water? Is it like communion? Do you have to lick it off the floor? Can I help you? ~ Debra Anastasia

Blake?" Livia closed one eye while she waited.
"Livia." He was still there.
"You waited," Livia whispered.
"Of course. I'll always wait."
Livia smiled wider than she thought possible. ~ Debra Anastasia

That's great. You have family." Livia rubbed Blake's arm.
"You're my family," Blake said coldly. ~ Debra Anastasia

After three days, Blake was weaned off the drugs that kept him asleep. Told he could wake at any moment, everyone but Livia was concerned. They all found time to try to prepare Livia for the worst. Each time she would listen, thank them for their concerns, and turn back to Blake with a smile.
They couldn't feel the tingling. But she could. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia stayed silent and tried to quiet the screaming in her head. Fuck your mother, Blake! She was a drunk and a coward. You were a child, not a man, and you were only trying to end your own pain. She held tight to Dr. Lavender's advice. Listen. This was Blake's plane crash. Livia's silence invited him to continue. ~ Debra Anastasia

Am I the star in this story or you?"
Blake wrinkled his nose and chuckled.
"Was that a bad analogy? I meant we're the star, Livia. Us. This." He shrugged his shoulders like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Us being in the same atmosphere is either a great cosmic catastrophe or the most serendipitous rendezvous." Blake pronounced the French word like a closeted foreign language teacher. ~ Debra Anastasia

Looks like you dropped your phone," Livia challenged. As soon as it skittered to a stop, Livia brought one of her sturdy boots down on top of it with a satisfying crunch. "And lookie there. It broke. If you ever talk about my future children again, I'll feed you your own balls, assuming you have any. ~ Debra Anastasia

Look at me. Please." It was more than a whisper but less than a shout. She got quieter. "Blake, please."
His green eyes found hers. She spoke as if they were alone.
"I made a mistake," Livia began. "I know you overheard me talking to my dad. I needed him to understand who you are, but I had to talk on his level. As a father he needed to know I was being decisive. I don't think you heard the last part when I told him you were the path I wanted to take."
A flicker. Was it hope? Livia smiled.
Blake's lips moved, and she knew he'd counted her smile.
"I'll make mistakes. I know I will," she continued. "I want to be perfect for you. But I'm human. I can only be me. That probably isn't enough for a soul as beautiful as yours. But if I hurt you by accident, can't we stay and hold hands until we fix it? Can't we fix it?" Livia now spoke louder than she wanted to, but she had to be heard over the cacophony.
Blake bit his lip. "You're perfect."
"No, sweetheart. I can't even pretend to be perfect. Look where we are right now. That's my fault, Blake."
Here. I need to tell him now. "Blake, I love you," Livia confessed quietly.
The tears in her eyes had nothing to do with smoke this time.Livia leaned toward Blake and tried again, louder still.
"Blake, I love you."
Livia shouted in the silence because now her soul was free. "I love you, Blake!"
She smiled as he mouthed the words back to her. ~ Debra Anastasia

Somehow the painted door now stood open. Blaise was following Livia through it, past Throgmorton's outstretched arm. Sunni shed her slippers and hurried after them, still not quite believing they were walking through what she had thought was only paint on a wall. ~ Teresa Flavin

Hey, Dad, if I needed to check someone's background, would you be able to do that for me?"
"That's a little unethical, Liv." John smoothed his mustache. "Is this about a boy?"
Livia cringed. "Yeah, it is."
"Then absolutely. I'd be happy to. ~ Debra Anastasia

In the sanctity of this place, the center of his purpose, Kyle was everywhere he looked. He almost laughed when he remembered how he'd questioned Livia's devotion to Blake after knowing him such a short time, but he didn't make a sound. Even a week with Kyle would feel like forever. Cole looked over at the two pews where they'd stood when he first saw her.
When their eyes locked it had been like a head-on collision - jarring, shocking, and something he wasn't fast enough to stop. When their hands touched, their souls had stepped out of their bodies and joined. But Kyle and Cole could only stand in shocked stillness. Cole knew at some point he'd sent Livia on her way, his eyes never leaving Kyle.
His sole focus had been on keeping her. That was all he knew for sure. He had to keep her there until his soul was done seducing hers. Eventually they'd moved to sit next to each other. His soul had begun an intimate exploration of hers, without asking his permission, and Cole had to talk as if he wasn't affected at all. As he gazed at Kyle, her wide eyes made him believe she felt exactly the same. ~ Debra Anastasia

As the nurses busied themselves with other patients and statistics, Livia slid her hand over his. She needed to feel his skin. She tucked his hand under the thin blanket and held it without protection. The same tingling she'd felt when they first held hands flooded her skin. He's still in there. They can tell me anything they want. Blake's right here.
She scooted her chair closer to his head. The deep, monotonous breaths the ventilator forced him to take sounded scary, but Livia held tight to his hand.
"I love you, Blake Hartt," she whispered. "I'll love you forever. ~ Debra Anastasia

And practice this: 'Yo no soy una puta.'" Kyle said the words in an angry, accented voice.
Livia raised a sensitive, red, now-thin eyebrow at her sister.
"It means 'I am not a hooker' in Spanish. And you already know it in English, so you should be good. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia grabbed Blake's lapels. "Oh, God. No. They're going to arrest him."
Blake pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. "He knows that, love," he murmured. "He knows. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia put a hand over her mouth and leaned against the wall. All hell was breaking loose, and Blake was out in the open, hurt. It was all her fault. ~ Debra Anastasia

Was she terribly ravishing in her underclothes?" Livia asked craftily. "Yes," Marcus said without thinking, and then scowled. "I mean, no. That is, I didn't look at her long enough to make an assessment of her charms. If she has any. ~ Lisa Kleypas

I'm not worried about tomorrow. I'm worried about right now, with you, under this Christmas tree." Blake supported her neck as he laid her on the floor.
Livia turned her head. "You'd better convince me. So far you've talked about the dog going to the bathroom, trash, and dirtiness."
Blake kissed her jaw and turned her head gently, kissing her mouth as she bit her lips together.
"Can't I just convince you with my manly ways?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
He could, of course, do just that - but she shook her head. She loved the playful sparkle in his green eyes. His five o'clock shadow just made him more handsome, framing his kissable lips with scruff.
"Okay." He put his fingers at the bottom of her shirt, lifting it gently so he could circle her belly button with his index finger. "You're the sexiest, most beautiful woman on this planet. So sexy, in fact, that I had to have you. I had to make you bear my children because my universe and yours had to be combined. Everything I've ever been needed to be buried inside of you, so deep, so full of love that we created life. Twice."
He lifted her shirt and kissed the tops of her breasts, whispering his devotion into her skin. "And it's never enough. Unless I can hear you coming, I can't think of anything else. All day every day. For years now. You're that powerful, Livia. This. Us. It's so intense that years haven't cured me. I can't stop wanting to make love to you."
"Wow." Livia smiled and pulled ~ Debra Anastasia

Blake pushed open the door by the altar. His rented tuxedo was crisp, the bow tie perfectly straight. Livia stopped and let the sight of him evaporate her common sense.
When his eyes found hers, he placed a hand over his heart, as if it might stop again. "You are so lovely," he said.
Livia wrinkled her nose and blew him a kiss. ~ Debra Anastasia

Do you remember the pattern, Livia?"
"Blow ... lick ... bite." Livia wanted to say something cute, something funny, but he licked his lips and she forgot how to make any more words. ~ Debra Anastasia

Blake held out a hand to Livia, who felt like she was cheating on an exam as she took it.
"I can't stop looking at you," he whispered. "The candlelight, the dress, the curls." He pressed a reverent kiss on her forehead.
Livia inhaled his cologne. Maybe he'd borrowed Cole's, and the warm scent made Blake a present begging to be opened. ~ Debra Anastasia

My mother called the cops and demanded they remove me from the house. I was never sure if she had me removed because she was scared of me or mad that all her alcohol was in puddles mixed with glass and my blood. When the police and paramedics brought me into the sunlight, I saw. I saw the glass in my skin. The sun reveals what I really am, Livia. I hit a woman. My own mother. The glass and liquor seeped in, and I can't get it out. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia removed her hand from Blake's to take his ring from Cole's palm. She kissed the ring and prepared to place it in its permanent home on his finger. ~ Debra Anastasia

The nurses told me what you did, Livia. You made my heart beat in the woods." He looked at her lips and continued, "You gave me breath. Were you scared, love? I'm sorry."
"You're apologizing because you stopped breathing?" Livia wrinkled her nose.
He nodded reverently. "I left you in the clearing again."
"You took the bullet that had my name on it and let it lodge in your back," Livia responded. "You never left me in those woods. You gave me strength when I needed it. You don't need to apologize, but it's perfectly acceptable for you to never, ever stop breathing again." She touched his Sorry tattoo. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia covered his hand with her own and moved it down to her mouth. She put a sweet kiss in the center of his palm. His beautiful hands went through all this trouble for me.
Blake's eyes flared with desire, making them look greener. ~ Debra Anastasia

Blake and Livia were next to exit. He took the steps before she could and turned to offer her his hand, like a knight escorting his queen. Livia took Blake's hand and hugged his offered arm. Bea's photographer-nephew's flash blinded them as it captured their moment for all time. ~ Debra Anastasia

I wish the Lord would take me now ~ Livia

Kyle led the way, and Cole kept a hand on her lower back, holding her hospital gown together. Livia loved the sight of this man covering her sister. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia held her spatula as Blake whispered in her ear. "I see us just like this a hundred years from now, old and deaf. I'll be the luckiest man."
Emotion caught her - this was all she wanted. Simple, beautiful frittata moments with this man.
"Someday, Livia, I'll be man enough to buy the food," he continued. "I'll give you an oven. I'll try so hard. ~ Debra Anastasia

Blessed are the generous in love: for theirs is the Love of the Goddess.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the poor: for they shall inherit the Earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after the knowledge: for they shall be enlightened.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall be loved by the Goddess.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the avatars of the Goddess.
Blessed are they who are persecuted: for theirs will be the Goddesses' justice.
Blessed are you of the Goddess when the ignorant shall revile you,
And persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for the Goddesses sake. ~ Anna Livia Plurabelle

She kneeled at Blake's side again.
"Hey, handsome. I don't have a signal. We're going to have walk a bit. Let's help you up." Livia slipped her arm under his and tried to help him sit. He shouted, and Livia laid him down quickly.
"I'm so sorry. Is it that bad?" Frustration curled her fingers.
"Livia, it's not good." Blake hardly moved his lips. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia pictured herself holding Blake's hand on a walk in the forest, the sun prickling through the leaves to dance on his face. She pictured his smile. She imagined she felt the gentle touch of his finger on her cheek. She pressed her lips together. He will kiss me again. I know it. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia patted Kyle's shoulder condescendingly. "Look at that! You did all that complaining without cursing. That's a good girl. ~ Debra Anastasia

You can play. You can play. You can play! Livia leaned against the wall, her aches and pains and shivering chill melting away now that Blake's playing had become something beautiful. She tilted her head back and opened her mouth, as if to drink the music. She couldn't imagine how he created it - it sounded as if three people must be playing. She heard bells, then the notes sounded like voices. So clearly the music sang to her: Blake loves Livia. Blake loves Livia. She stretched her arms out and dug her fingers into the rough, scratchy brick, trying to hug him from the outside of the church. She wiped tears from her cheeks. She wanted to run inside and see him creating. She wanted to see his strong arms and intuitive fingers crafting the notes. Blake's sounds enchanted her. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia stopped to hold her small tiara on with her bouquet hand, and she finally looked at him. As always, her blazing beauty ignited him as she approached.
Me. She sees me.
She was only a few steps from the bottom when she smiled at him. Blake mouthed the number back to her.
"You're here," she whispered.
"Always," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. ~ Debra Anastasia

It is better to spend time in one's own company than to consort with people who have no more intelligence than the sheep and goats they herd."
Annoyed by his snobbery, Livia could not resist making a retort. "You are fortunate, then, Mr. Chamberlain. With that attitude, it seems likely that you will indeed be spending a great deal of time in your own company. ~ Lisa Kleypas

He found Whitebread curled up in the chair like a cat, her hand touching Blake's. She was sleeping, and Beckett had almost turned tail to leave her in peace when Blake's eyes snapped open.
"The fuck!?" Beckett ran to Blake's side as his brother's face registered the room in panic.
Whitebread popped up and was almost nose-to-nose with Blake immediately. Beckett leaned around her and held his brother's flailing arms.
Livia spoke in a soft, urgent voice. "Blake? They have you on a ventilator; this thing in your mouth needs to be removed by the doctor. Just calm down. Look, I'm here. I'm here. See? It's okay. Just try to be calm."
Whitebread stroked Blake's cheek. ~ Debra Anastasia

Chaos poked him again, and Blake welcomed the pain this time. This pain will remind me why I shouldn't find her.
Blake hated his weakness, but he let the pain transport him back to the clearing, to her face. He vowed it would be the last time, but he wanted to remember her noises and panting as he tasted her soft skin. She smelled like cinnamon.
Blake tried to see her face in his memory: trusting Livia, submitting to his hands and tongue. Instead he saw her pain as she told him she didn't see his skin turn to glass in the sun. She'd tried to hide her knowing.
Brave, beautiful Livia. She'd stood there waiting and never even flinched when he ran past. He could have plowed into her. Blake knew what it took to stay still when your mind screamed Run! A person had to find a place inside to die while things they didn't want happened to their body. ~ Debra Anastasia

As Blake leaned down to accept her hug she whispered, "Remember when you and Livia tried to hog the spotlight at my wedding? Just when you and Livia get to the good part, Cole and I are going to have porno sex right there."
She pointed discreetly at the spot to Blake's right, and he couldn't help but laugh. ~ Debra Anastasia

His eyes tracked the scarlet trail to its beginning: the top of the stairs leading to the parking lot.
My Livia will come to me on this path. ~ Debra Anastasia

Have a great day, Blake." Livia continued to linger. She hated leaving him here, defenseless.
"I've already had the most amazing day." He glanced at Livia's eyes, and she could see victory in his. She had a feeling that that they had both felt the same intense pull. ~ Debra Anastasia

You'll need a chaperone. I have no doubt that Great-Aunt Clara would stay at the terrace with you, or perhaps - "

"I'll invite old Mrs. Smedley from the village," Livia said. "She's from a respectable family, and she would enjoy a trip to London."

Aline frowned. "Dearest, Mrs. Smedley is hard of hearing, and as blind as a bat. A less effective chaperone I couldn't imagine."

"Precisely," Livia said, with such satisfaction that Aline couldn't help laughing. ~ Lisa Kleypas

I know you were just trying to help. But I passed the point of help a long time ago. Look, I know about your people and customs, and I know you were raised inside a cage. The last thing you need is to be saddled with a man who can barely walk. Why don't you just go and get your own place and live? I'll be happy to put you on all my accounts. You'll never want for anything. (Adron)
I can't do that. (Livia)
Why not? (Adron)
Because I love you. (Livia) ~ Sherrilyn Kenyon

You want to know what I'm afraid of? I'm afraid of every morning when I wake up that this will be the day when I can no longer move for myself. I know it's coming. It's just a matter of time until I have no choice, except to have someone else clothe me, feed me. Change my diaper. And I can't stand it. (Adron)
Then why don't you kill yourself? Why are you still here? (Livia)
Because every time I think of doing that, I can hear my family praying over me while I was in the hospital. I hear my mother weeping, my father begging me not to die on them. I could never intentionally hurt them that way. It would devastate them both, and while I'm a pathetic asshole, I'm not that selfish. (Adron) ~ Sherrilyn Kenyon

Blake's lips were still tinged blue from the time he'd spent waiting for Livia in the rain. Livia decided to change that. She sat in his lap and pushed the hair out of his eyes. His hands found a sliver of bare skin at the small of her back. Livia knew his touch registered on her face when his lip lifted in a snarl. She let her head fall back so her hair would skim his hands.
Blake blew on her neck. She knew what was next. She'd been picturing it since the meadow. His tongue was slow and meandering, and even though she should have been prepared, his teeth still made her gasp. Livia wanted to do so many bad things to him on the kitchen table. She was pretty sure she could actually speak in tongues if she tried right then. ~ Debra Anastasia

I'd rather have you in my life than Margret. I'm not sorry you're here. Livia hugged Kyle again, trying to seal her love into her broken sister. ~ Debra Anastasia

I'm in love with his brother." Saying this out loud to Bea felt like jumping out of an airplane - thrilling and irreversible. In that instant Livia knew her love for Blake was as real as the church walls around her. ~ Debra Anastasia

Blake sat down as well, facing her. The moon now claimed the sky as hers, surfacing slowly over the trees. Blake tested her hand-drawn keys, and in his head he heard a full piano play his heart out loud for her.
Livia clapped when he was done. She put her hand behind his head and pulled his lips close. "I think I heard it," she whispered before kissing him. ~ Debra Anastasia

The introduction was meant to be all important and elegant and meaningful and "This summer marks the voyage of discovery of Livia Stowe," and instead all I'm doing is writing about the plane crashing and when they find my laptop the only message I'll have left for my loved ones and the good of humanity is "Oh, noooooo, we're all going to die! It was the turkeys!" They will know that I knew about the loose bit on the wing. And didn't tell anyone. Okay, everything's smoothing out again now. The flap is still flapping, but we've made it through the flying turkeys, and the plane has stopped bumping. The flight attendants still don't seem bothered, so I think maybe I'm not going to die today. ~ Kate Le Vann

Beckett trained his eyes on Livia as if she were an extension of his brother. ~ Debra Anastasia

You smiled that night. He was adamant that it had lasted longer than the others." Cole looked at her with troubled brown eyes. "Livia, if I may be so bold, he's going to take your kindness very seriously. If you're playing a game, or trying to get even with a boyfriend by dating the worst thing you could find - "
Livia held up one hand to stop him. "With all due respect, never, ever refer to Blake as 'the worst thing' in my presence again."
To Livia's surprise, Cole almost smiled. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia nodded. Seeing him puttering around in her kitchen, turning on the familiar faucet, solidified her feeling of destiny. She knew, staring at his back, that he would not go hungry again. She would have him, warm and safe, with her every day. It was perfectly clear. She would need to talk with her father. It was time for her to be on her own. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia wasn't sure how to comfort Blake. She certainly didn't have a big pile of clean money to take the place of Beckett's. "Beckett is all sorts of bad because of what he does, but who he is - that's very beautiful. Sweetheart, he really stood by me while I waited for you to come out of surgery." She rose and held out her arm. ~ Debra Anastasia

Glancing from Marcus to Livia, she exploded, "What is the source of this family's infernal obsession with Americans?"
"What an interesting question, Mother," Livia said drolly. "For some reason none of your offspring can stand the thought of marrying one of their own kind. Why do you suppose that is, Marcus?"
"I suspect the answer would not be flattering to any of us," came his sardonic reply.
-The Countess (their mother), Livia, & Marcus ~ Lisa Kleypas

We were lovers,' he says dramatically. 'I was very convincing.' Livia giggles and reaches up to stroke his hair. Hank pretends not to notice Livia's hand as it crawls across his cheek, and it turns into a game. Her fingers pet his lips as he mumbles through them, 'What part do you want? ~ Rachel M. Wilson

She glanced in the rearview mirror, as if she might see Mouse sitting up instead of lying flat. "I can't imagine Blake living through the night," she confessed. "If you can see him from where you are right now, tell him Livia did a good job. ~ Debra Anastasia

Beckett, would you do me a favor? For my wedding?" Livia asked suddenly.
He nodded. "You know I'll do whatever you ask."
She looked over her shoulder and back to his face. "In a minute I'm going to faint away from lack of food. When I wake up, I would appreciate it if you were miles away on Eve's bike."
"You're going to crack your fucking head trying to pull a stunt like that." He ran his hand through his hair. "And I gave your dad my word. I don't want him to think that was all a ploy."
"You said anything. Come on, big guy, give me what I want." She looked at him hopefully. "I'll explain it all to my dad later. I promise."
Beckett leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Fine. You take good care of my brother. Tell them both I said goodbye. I can't do it. I'm a pussy. ~ Debra Anastasia

His silhouette was blurry through the angry, sheeting rain, but she could see his hands were two fists. Was he angry? Livia walked toward him, leaving her heels behind after two steps. She let the umbrella tumble off her shoulder shortly after that.
The cold rain made her gasp. It poured over all of Kyle's handiwork. Livia kept moving until she stood before him. She closed her eyes against the burning of Kyle's hairspray as it ran down her face.
Livia reached out to touch his arms. She felt her way down to his fists and gently unfurled them with her fingers. She leaned forward on her tiptoes until her cheek touched his jaw. She sighed as his ice-cold face met her still-warm one.
Livia's hands followed his arms back up to his chest. She frowned at the bandage on his forearm. When she found his chest, she used it as an anchor as she walked carefully around him. She settled her face on his broad back and hugged him.
She felt and heard him breathe. "Livia." But he did not move.
She rubbed her face on the back of his wet black T-shirt to wipe her eyes. When she could see clearly again, she peeked over his shoulder and saw the red heels waiting patiently. The rain had filled them like little ponds. The umbrella lay on its side, catching water like a bucket.
Livia leaned up to his ear and said, "Face me," in a husky voice she'd never used before.
Blake turned achingly slowly until the platform light finally revealed his face. Despite the rain every ~ Debra Anastasia

So many people had tried for Blake, but so many had failed. All it takes is one to be the glue. It's going to be me. Livia moved quietly to straddle him. She put her hands on his scruffy cheeks. "I know all that you are. You almost don't belong here, your soul's so pure." Livia put a hand on his chest. "You're perfect to me. You're chivalrous to me. I adore your manners. You can't disappoint me. It's not possible." Livia leaned in and kissed him sweetly. See? See how much I can fix?
Blake became absorbed by her hair, grabbing handfuls of it. He pulled her to his chest, combing it out with his fingers as he hummed a soothing song in her ear. The liquid velvet of his voice lifted her into dreams. ~ Debra Anastasia

Making you squirm ... making your body convulse." He lowered his lips to my neck, kissing it softly. "I want you, Braelynn. Let me have you. Let me take you."
My conversations with Kennedy and ~ Livia Jamerlan

I'm so ashamed." Livia felt blood filling her mouth again.
Chris pointed a shaky finger at her. "You should be ashamed. It's about time."
"I'm ashamed of you, Chris," Livia said fiercely. "I'm ashamed I ever let you touch me. I should have saved myself for Blake." She topped off her statement by heaving bloody spit into Chris's face. ~ Debra Anastasia

He scratches his mustache. "Thirty is when you stop producing human growth hormone, you know. And your DNA telomeres start degrading. It's when the body starts dying."

"Exactly!" Livia says from behind me.

"I'm not dying!" I protest for the millionth time in the last two months. "And neither are you, Liv."

"We're kind of dying, though," she says.

In front of me, Bud nods in agreement.

"Take your vitamins," he adds, with a touch of sternness, "and then you won't die so fast."

I have something like a Vietnam flashback to all the vitamins Bud's fed me over the years. And they weren't the fun Flintstones ones either. "I'll be sure to do that ~ Laurelin Paige

No, Blake, I trust you. I'd be honored to have an escort to my Escort. I'm a little afraid of the dark." Livia tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear.
"I'm not afraid of the dark at all, so this way, milady, to your chariot." Blake held out an elbow, formally. ~ Debra Anastasia

Do the routine for me. Please, Livie. I love you. I'm sorry I poisoned your boyfriend. I'm the one who made him so cute, though. You have to forgive me, Livia. I'm so bad." Kyle looked close to tears.
"He barfed and now he's fine," Livia said. "You know I love you, and you're not bad, you just make bad choices. Do I still have to do the routine?"
Kyle smiled and wrinkled her nose. "Oh, yes. The routine must happen. Assume the position."
Kyle bounced out of Livia's arms and gave Lorraine what must have been the universal hand gesture for I just tricked my sister into humiliating herself. Start the music before she runs. ~ Debra Anastasia

He was sitting this time and kept his head tilted down as he peered up at her. It looked just like an image from a fashion magazine. Blake was so handsome - Livia couldn't believe the other women on the platform weren't taking cell phone pictures of him. ~ Debra Anastasia

Nothing's promised us by the gods. Isn't that all the more reason to love while we can? ~ Livia Blackburne

Funny how some things become meaningful only when you are very, very sad. ~ Livia Franchini

Don't come here again. Ever," he said, but instead of a threat, this sounded like a declaration of affection.
"Beckett, you can kiss my ass," Livia countered. "I'll be here if you need me - or if I need you."
Beckett winked before growling angrily, surveying the parking lot, and turning to go back inside. ~ Debra Anastasia

He tried to remember the feel of her hand when she'd shaken his. "I'm Livia McHugh. It's nice to meet you."
Smoke poured from the cardboard as he remembered his response. "Blake Hartt. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He'd said his name, but what he'd been thinking was: She touched me. I am someone. I count. ~ Debra Anastasia

You grabbed my tit a little, Mr. Old Timey Talker."
Blake seemed to swallow a smile.
"Manhandling a lady is inexcusable. I would only do so if said woman was too stubborn to remove herself from a dangerous situation." He took Kyle's hand and kissed the top of it lightly.
"Aw, crap. Well, aren't you too fucking charming for words?" Kyle smiled despite her best efforts to look tough. "All right, Mr. Old Timey, I'll let you get away with the boob palming this time."
"That's fortunate because I hate ingesting my own testicles." He gave her a devilish grin with naughty eyes to match.
Kyle looked at Livia. "He's adorable. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia called out, "Slutenstien! I'm home."

"I'm up here, cock dribble," Kyle replied. ~ Debra Anastasia

As they left, Eve watched him slide the coffee sleeve off the drink and put it in his pocket.
After they'd walked a few blocks, she questioned him. "Why'd you keep the sleeve?"
Blake pulled out the cardboard and looked down at it. "Just to remember I could do it."
Eve grabbed it from him quickly, ripped it in half, and threw it in a trashcan on the sidewalk. Blake held his hands up and gave her a What the hell? look.
"Don't tie your success to anything other than what's inside you." She stepped up to him and gently patted his heart. "You did this, Blake. You. Not the coffee, not me, not Livia. You did this. ~ Debra Anastasia

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to a ceremony celebrating Blake Hartt and Livia McHugh. Today is not the start of their lives together. It will mark the day we all stood, clapped, and gave good wishes. But their fates were destined for each other long before they even met. True love, the kind that lasts forever, is very rare indeed. It takes compromise, continued growth, and trust."
Cole paused to look from Blake to Livia and back again. "Livia and Blake have a head start on all those things," he continued. "Time has tested them already, asking a fresh love to face terrifying and life-changing tasks. These two had to find and hold onto their love, even when it felt like all was lost. ~ Debra Anastasia

Livia felt her cheeks pink up like they'd been slapped. "We worked it out. She knows where things, um, go now." Kill me. ~ Debra Anastasia