Jessica Bird: Herring

“Whoa. Fangs. She had fangs.

She leaned in, prodded them a little. Eating with those puppies was going to take some getting used to, she thought.

On impulse, she brought up her hands, turned her fingers into claws. Hissed.

Cool.”

“No, you've got it all wrong, John." Reading his emotions, she shook her head. "You're not half the male you could be because of what was done to you. You're twice what anyone else is because you survived.”

“He wanted to give her another word to say, something like luscious or whisper or strawberry. Hell, antidisestablishmentarianism would do it.”

“Man, he wasn't going to need a stress test anytime soon. If his heart could get through a kiss from her, he could probably run a marathon.

While dragging a car behind him.

Sideways to the road.”

“She is more beautiful than I have words for. And last night, I was blessed beyond measure to serve her.”

“She was glad she didn’t know where it would take her. Because sometimes the only thing that
got you through hell was that you were in too deep to pull out.

[Ehlena]”

“All right, then, her first rule for the rest of her days: no more looking outside for definitions. She might not have any clue who she was, but better to be lost and searching than shoved into a social box by someone else.”

“You would have made a fine warrior, you know that?"

I am one. Death is my enemy."

Yeah, it is, isn't it." God, it made such sense that he'd bonded with her. She was a fighter… like him. "Your scalpel's your dagger."

Yup.”

“You're looking at that chick like you want to roll her up in a taco and put your hot sauce all over her.”

“How sweetly he came to her, she thought. Even with his bulk and power, he came to her… sweetly.”

“Being with Mary was different because… he wasn't the only one who wanted to make love to her.
The beast wanted her, too.
The beast wanted out so it could take her.”

“Thank you for caring for my brother."
He took his sunglasses off.
And looked at her with total adoration.”

“Knock her dead, my man."
"Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”

“As far as he was concerned, there were only two good positions for a human. A female on her back. And a male facedown not breathing.”

“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever. Running her hands up his powerful back, she held him just as hard. “But I am.”

“You are the male I might have been. You are the potential I had and lost. You are the honor and the strength and the kindness she needs. You'll take care of her. I want you to take care of her.”

“He nodded and curled over his paper, writing quickly. As his words took form on the white page, she got to watch him… and realized she never wanted him to go. She wanted him here beside her forever.”

“Yeah.” Rhage sighed. “All I want is one good female. But I guess I’ll settle for quantity until I find her. Life just sucks, doesn’t it?”

“Sorry to bother you,” Bella said over the wailing. “But she wants her daddy.”