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| Link | Quote | Stars | Tags | Author |
| 2994235 | Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he sighed, and reluctantly brought the kiss to an end. He raised his head. Patience's eyes slowly opened, then she blinked, and stared straight at him. For one instant, the look on her face, in her eyes, had him puzzled- then he recognized it. Curious- she wasn't shocked, stunned, or thrown into a maidenly fluster. She was curious. Vane couldn't stop his rakish grin. Nor could he resist the temptation t.. | kiss-and-make-up kisses patience-and-vane | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 28fa6fa | Dazed, she glanced around; the dark shapes of huge leaves reared above the denser dark of heavy pots, grouped upon a tiled floor. Moonlight streamed through walls of long windows and panes in the ceiling, silvering paths wending between sends of palms and exotic blooms. The rich scents of earth and the warm humidity of growing things hung on the heavy air. | moonlight plants | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 0050f8d | Why did you stay?" He stilled; again, Patience felt the net draw tight, felt paralysis set in as his predator's senses focused on her. It was as if the world stopped spinning, as if some impenetrable shield closed about them, so that there was nothing but her and him- and whatever it was that held them. She searched his eyes, but couldn't read his thoughts beyond the fact that he was considering her, considering what to tell her. Then he li.. | vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| fa6022d | Vane met her wide gaze, and managed not to smile wolfishly- no need to frighten the prey. The view he now had- of delectable curves filling a gown of ivory sprigged muslin in a manner he fully approved- was every bit as enticing as the view that first held him- the gorgeous curves of her derriere clearly delineated beneath taut fabric. When she'd shifted, so had those curves. He couldn't remember when a sight had so transfixed him, had so t.. | patience-debbington physical-attraction | Stephanie Laurens | |
| c0b899b | For one moment, she stood stock-still, drinking in the simple beauty of the marble fountain, the base of its pedestal wreathed in delicate fronds, that stood, glowing lambently in the soft white light, in the center of a small, secluded, fern-shrouded clearing. Water poured steadily from the pitcher of the partially clad maiden frozen forever in her task of filling the wide, scroll-lipped basin. The area had clearly been designed to provide.. | fountain patience-and-vane pedestal statue | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 9b5ca41 | He'd finally found her alone and in the perfect location. The stillroom, tucked away on the ground floor of one wing, was private, and contained no daybed, chaise, or similar piece of furniture. In his present state, that was just as well. A gentleman should not, after all, go too far with the lady he intended making his wife before informing her of that fact. The absence of any of the customary aids to seduction should make coming to the p.. | seduction vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 824549d | The [political] left are people with an imagination and the right are those without an imagination. | Amos Oz | ||
| 90f5bfc | These look rather exotic." Behind her, Vane studied the way her gown had pulled tight over the curves of her bottom- and didn't argue. Lips lifting in anticipation, he moved in- to spring his trap. Her heart racing, tripping in double time, Patience straightened, and went to slide around the fountain, to place it between herself and the wolf she was trapped in the conservatory with. Instead, she ran into an arm. She blinked at it. One fault.. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 4a8ba3d | So," he murmured, his tone deep, "nothing of any moment happened here." Her gaze transfixed by the long strip of linen, Patience tried to speak and couldn't- she shook her head. "Good." The word was a feral purr. With a negligent flick, Vane sent the cravat to join his coat. "So there's nothing to distract you." Patience dragged her gaze up to his face. "Distract me?" "From the subject we need to discuss." "You want to discuss something?" S.. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 50651d3 | Indeed." The word, uttered softly, reached her as she halted before the side door; Patience felt a cool tingle slither down her spine. And felt the touch of his grey gaze on her cheek, on the sensitive skin of her throat. She stiffened, resisting the urge to wriggle. She looked down, determined not to turn and meet his eyes. Jaw firming, she reached for the door handle; he beat her to it. Patience froze. He'd stopped directly behind her, an.. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 25b1e0b | Just because fate had shown him the water, didn't mean he had to drink. Of course, before he shook the gravel of the Bellamy Hall drive from his boots, he'd deal with Patience Debbington, too. A salutary jolt or three should do it- just enough to let her know that he knew that her icy disapproval was, to him, a transparent facade. He was, of course, too wise to take things further. Glancing at his prey, Vane noted her clear complexion, soft.. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 4194d9e | I'm renowned within the ton as being cool under fire- around you, I'm never cool. I'm heated- I seethe- I burn with desire. If I'm in the same room, all I can think about is heat- your heat- and how you'll feel around me." Patience felt the heat rise, a real force between them. "I've gained the reputation of being the soul of discretion- now look at me. I've seduced my godmother's niece- and been seduced by her. I share her bed openly, even.. | desire i-love-you passion patience-and-vane true-love vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| bed24b7 | Patience's mental imprecations reached new heights. Mrs. Chadwick had not lied- Vane Cynster was the very epitome of an elegant gentleman. His hair, burnished chestnut several shades darker than her own, glowed softly in the candlelight, wave upon elegant wave sitting perfectly about his head. Even across the room, the strength of his features registered; clear-cut, hard-edged, forehead, nose, jaw, and cheeks appeared sculpted out of rock. .. | male-beauty physical-beauty vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 804e31a | Assault!" he croaked. "The battery might yet follow." The warning- entirely unnecessary from Patience's perspective- came from Vane. One look at his face, as hard as granite and equally unyielding, would have informed any sane person of that fact." | vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| ba29775 | Let us take what the terrain gives. | Amos Tversky | ||
| cd990de | I've grown sick of the upstairs parlor." The parlor he'd arranged for her. "I'm bored there." Vane glanced at her as he juggled her to open the door. "Bored?" Patience looked into his eyes and wished she'd used some other word. Bored was, apparently, a red rag to a rake. "It's not long to dinner, perhaps you should just take me to my room." The door swung wide. Vane stepped through, then kicked it shut behind them. And smiled. "There's more.. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 45d5360 | The warm stillness within the room was broken only by the rustling of sheets, and soft, urgent murmurs. Then the silence gave way to soft moans, groans, breathless pants, desperate gasps. Culminating in a soft, piercingly sweet scream, dying, sobbing, into a deep guttural groan. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 6e67777 | Narrow-eyed, Vane watched her go, watched her hips sway as she glided along. He remained in the archway until she reached her door. He heard it shut behind her. Slowly, very slowly, his features eased, then a Cynster smile tugged at his lips. If he couldn't escape fate, then, 'ipso facto,' neither could she. Which meant she would be his. The prospect grew more alluring by the minute. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| c9f4366 | I apologize." "For what, exactly?" One long look into his grey eyes told Patience she was not going to escape lightly. She narrowed her eyes anew. "For casting unjustified aspersions on your character." She could see him considering, matching that against her unwise words. Rapidly, she did the same. "And your motives," she grudgingly added. Then she thought again. And frowned. "At least, some of them." His lips twitched. "Definitely only so.. | patience-and-vane | Stephanie Laurens | |
| a2286a9 | He'd taken off his coat; in form-fitting waistcoat and soft white shirt, he looked, if anything, even larger, more physically powerful, than before. | physical-beauty vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| b164751 | Is 'Vane' Vane's real name?" Minnie chuckled evilly. "Spencer Archibald- and if you dare call him that to his face, you'll be braver than any other in the 'ton.' Only his mother can still do so with impunity. He's been known as Vane since before he went to Eton. Devil named him- said he always knew which way the wind was blowing and what was in the breeze." | vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| b18682f | his shirt and hauled the fine linen up, and off. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 6b7b2b9 | Times may change; Cynsters never do | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 555e01b | then her ladyship, overwhelming in bronze bombazine, regally glided away. Cedric smiled | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 98c016f | Abstinence. It didn't even sound comfortable | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| d435b5e | we'll find your treasure." Shifting his head, he pressed" | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| ade4305 | You don't have to say anything. You just have to accept. Just have to stop resisting..." He breathed the last words as his lips lowered to hers. "And let what we both want, simply be." | mastered-by-love stephanie-laurens | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 9b6b03a | I hoped you would know without needing to be told." His eyes held hers; his chest swelled as he drew in a steadying breath. "God-and half the ton-know I love you." He searched her eyes, then added, his voice deepening, "Unreservedly, without restraint, far more completely, deeply, madly than I suspect is at all wise." | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| cabb795 | I hoped you would know without needing to be told." His eyes held hers; his chest swelled as he drew in a steadying breath. "God-and half the ton-know I love you." He searched her eyes, then added his voice deepening, "Unreservedly, without restraint, far more completely, deeply, madly than I suspect is at all wise." | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 0f23c1f | wasn't the butler who looked out but Marcus Cynster. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 204c4c9 | Vane strolled in. The smile on his face, curving those fascinating lips, was more than enough to make Patience inwardly swear that she would not, not for anything, give him the pleasure of knowing how flustered she felt. "What's the time?" Nonchalance laced her tones. "Lunchtime," replied the wolf. Feeling very like Red Riding Hood, Patience smothered a feigned yawn, then held up her arms and waved him closer. "You may carry me down then." .. | vane-cynster wolfish | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 32b36f9 | They were also invincibly arrogant, a characteristic fueled by the fact that they were, by and large, as talented as they thought themselves, a situation which engendered in less-favored mortals a certain reluctant respect. Not that Cynsters demanded respect - they simply took it as their due | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| df48229 | It appeared that his sister, usually an irresistible force, had finally met a sufficiently immovable object. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| b6651ca | eighty pounds; hardly any of it was fat. Most people looking only | David Baldacci | ||
| c4f7b9c | You're rather good at this, aren't you?" And she didn't just mean his reading of Gerrard. Vane's grin converted to a rakish smile. "I'm rather good at lots of things." His voice had lowered to a rumbling purr. He leaned closer. Patience tried, very hard, to ignore the vise slowly closing about her chest. She kept her eyes on his, drawing ever nearer, determined that she wouldn't- absolutely would not- allow her gaze to drop to his lips. As .. | passion patience-and-vane pleasure | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 14af0f5 | Samo zato sto mu je sudbina pokazala vodu, nije znacilo da je mora piti. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 2b444f1 | buried deep | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| d988852 | This morning, she still seemed distant, but more in the manner of planning | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 7aaed6b | Why are you here?" Her words were a thread of silver in the moonlight. His answer was deep as the deepest shadows. "You offered to be my inamorata, remember?" | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| bd58eec | Steel shards, his eyes held hers. Breathless, Patience blinked up at him. His face was hard, a warrior's mask. Waves of anger and aggression lapped about her. "When it comes to distraction," he informed her through clenched teeth, "nothing in this world could top you." His words were invested with meaning- a meaning she didn't understand." | vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| fbb1d1b | It was one thing for hope to spring eternal for the unlikely--it was quite another to wish for the utterly impossible. | Stephanie Laurens | ||
| 5c6f18a | Vane watched her reaction from under heavy lids, watched flaring passion light her eyes. Sparks of pure gold flashed in the hazel depths as he gently kneaded, then sent his fingers gliding over her silken skin. He knew he should kiss her, distract her, from what came next- but the compulsion to witness, to know her reaction as she learned what he would do, as he filled his senses with her, waxed strong. | patience-debbington sensations vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| 1dcffd5 | He wanted her- all of her. Not just the physical her, but her devotion, her love, her heart- all the essential her, the tangible intangible of her being, her self. He wanted it all- and he wasn't going to be satisfied with anything less. He knew why he wanted her, too. Why she was different. But he wasn't going to think about that. She was his. He'd known it the instant he'd held her in his arms, that first evening with the storm lowering a.. | vane-cynster | Stephanie Laurens | |
| a0dde46 | That kiss was a revelation- Patience had never imagined a simple kiss could be so bold, so heavily invested with meaning. His lips were hard; they moved over hers, parting them further, confidently managing her, ruthlessly teaching her all she was so eager to learn. His tongue invaded her mouth with the arrogance of a conquerer claiming victory's spoils. Unhurriedly, he visited every corner of his domain, claiming every inch, branding it as.. | passionate-kiss patience-and-vane patience-debbington | Stephanie Laurens |