ŷ������

“But he place a gentle palm under her chin and turned her face back to him. “I'm privileged to see you like this,�� he said, his eyes fierce. “Wear you social mask at your balls and parties and when you visit your friends out there, but when we are alone, just the two of us in here, promise me this: that you'll show me only your real face, no matter how ugly you might think it. That's our true intimacy, not sex, but the ability to be ourselves when we are together. (Winter Makepeace)”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Thief of Shadows

“Why?�� he whispered as he leaned over her, supported on one arm. “Why must ye be the one that haunts me dreams? I’ve seen ye weepin�� night after bloody night since the day I sent ye from me palace with yer dress half undone. If I had it to do over again, I’d cut me own right hand off rather than hurt ye so. Will ye never be able to forgive me, Silence love?��

“I already have,�� she replied, cradling his cheek in her hand. “Long, long ago.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“I love you," she sobbed, rubbing her hands over his face, his hair, his chest, making sure he was solid and real. "I love you, and I thought you were dead. I couldn't bear it. I thought I would die too."

"I'd walk through fire for you," he rasped, his voice hoarse and broken. "I have walked through fire for you.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Wicked Intentions

“Where are we going?�� she asked.

“Mr. Durbin’s sheep have begun to lamb, and I wanted to see how the ewes are doing.�� He cleared his throat. “I suppose I should have told you about today’s outing earlier.��

Anna kept her eyes straight ahead and made a noncommittal sound.

He coughed. “I might’ve, had you not left so precipitously yesterday afternoon.��

She arched a brow but did not reply.

There was a lengthy lull broken only by the dog’s eager yelp as he flushed a rabbit from the hedge along the lane.

Then the earl tried again. “I’ve heard some people say my temper is rather . . .�� He paused, apparently searching for a word.

Anna helped him. “Savage?��

He squinted at her.

“F����dz����dzܲ�?��

He frowned and opened his mouth.

She was quicker. “Barbaric?��

He cut her off before she could add to her list. “Yes, well, let us simply say that it intimidates some people.�� He hesitated. “I wouldn’t want to intimidate you, Mrs. Wren.��

“You don’t.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, The Raven Prince

“There, there, sweetin��,�� he murmured into her hair.

“He loved me, he truly did,�� she gasped.

“I know he did,�� Michael said.

“And I loved him.��

“M��-�󳾳�.��

She raised her head, glaring angrily. “You don’t even believe in love. Why are you agreeing with me?��

He laughed.

“Because”—he leaned down and licked at the tears on her cheeks, his lips brushing softly against her sensitive skin as he spoke, “ye’ve bewitched and bespelled me, my sweet Silence, didn’t ye know? I’ll agree that the sky is pink, that the moon is made o�� marzipan and sugared raisins, and that mermaids swim the muddy waters o�� the Thames, if ye’ll only stop weepin��. Me chest breaks apart and gapes wide open when I see tears in yer pretty eyes. Me lungs, me liver, and me heart cannot stand to be thus exposed.��

She stopped breathing. She simply inhaled and stopped, looking at him in wonder. His lips were quirked in a mocking smile, but his eyes—his fathomless black eyes—seemed to hold a great pain as if his strong chest really had been split open.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“He treasured her, treasured her tears, treasured her love for others. Her heart might even be big enough to fill that empty space in his own chest. Perhaps she could be his heart as well.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“I'll never look at you in any way but complete admiration.�� He stroked her hair soothingly. “You will never be a millstone about my neck. Rather you're the sunshine that brightens my day.�� He swallowed. “Don't you see? You brought me into the daylight. You've embraced parts of me that I was never able to let see light. Don't make me retreat again into the night. (Winter Makepeace)”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Thief of Shadows

“She swallowed, watching as the servants and Harry and Bert trooped out of the room. Lad, apparently not the brightest dog in the world, sat down next to Mickey O’Connor and leaned against his leg.

Mr. O’Connor looked at the dog, looked at the damp spot growing on his breeches where the dog was leaning, and sighed. “I find me life is not as quiet as it used to be afore ye came to me palace, Mrs. Hollingbrook.��

Silence lifted her chin. “You’re a pirate, Mr. O’Connor. I cannot believe your life was ever very quiet.��

He gave her an ironic look. “Aye, amazin��, isn’t it? Yet since yer arrival me servants no longer obey me and I return home to find me kitchen flooded.�� He crossed to a cupboard and took down a china teapot, a tin of tea, and a teacup. “And me dog smells like a whorehouse.��

Silence glanced guiltily at Lad. “The only soap we could find was rose scented.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“He grunted and stirred, withdrawing from her. She only had a moment to be disappointed and then he flipped her to her back and rose over her, powerful and male. He casually parted her legs with his knees and thrust into her again, hot and hard.

She gasped at the swift invasion, the lovely feeling, and then his face was next to hers, his big palms cradling her cheeks.

“What I want,�� he drawled, “is ye. Nothin�� else.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“Will ye come with me?�� he whispered.

And she answered without hesitation. “Yes, please.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“He watched her retreat, his eyes lazy, and his body unmoving. A trickle of blood seeped slowly from the corner of his mouth. He let her get nearly out of the room before he spoke, “I may not have the right, Silence, me love,�� he drawled so soft she nearly didn’t catch the words. “But I would’ve listened to ye. I would’ve believed ye.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“... You are the closest I will ever come to heaven, either here on Earth or in the afterlife, and I will not regret it, not even at the cost of your tears.
So I go to my grave an unrepentant sinner, I’m afraid. There is no use in mourning one such as I, dearest...

-Simon to Lucy in a letter before the last duel.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, The Serpent Prince

“Griffin, please,�� she whispered.

“Do you want me?�� he asked.

“Yes!�� She tossed her head restlessly. She’d explode if he didn’t give her release soon.

“Do you need me?�� He kissed her nipple too gently.

“Please, please, please.��

“Do you love me?��

And somehow, despite her extremis, she saw the gaping hole of the trap. She peered up at him blindly in the dark. She couldn’t see his face, his expression.

“Griffin,�� she sighed hopelessly.

“You can’t say it, can you?�� he whispered. “Can’t admit it either.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Notorious Pleasures

“He grinned, though his face was strained. “That’s it, love. Use me to make yerself feel good.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“A smile flickered across Coral’s face. “Have you ever noticed that once you have had a taste of certain sweets—raspberry trifle is my own despair—it is quite impossible not to think, not to want, not to crave until you have taken another bite?��

“Lord Swartingham is not a raspberry trifle.��

“No, more of a dark chocolate mousse, I should think,�� Coral murmured.

“And,�� Anna continued as if she hadn’t heard the interruption, “I don’t need another bite, uh,night of him.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, The Raven Prince

“Sophia looked down her long nose at the girl. “Who are you?��

“I’m Abigail, ma’am,�� she said, curtsying. “This is my brother, Jamie. I apologize for him.��

Sophia arched an eyebrow. “I’ll wager you do that quite a lot.��

Abigail sighed, sounding world-weary. “Yes, I do.��

“Good girl.�� Sophia almost smiled. “Younger brothers can be a chore sometimes, but one must persevere.��

“Yes, ma’am,�� Abigail said solemnly.

“Come on, Jamie,�� Alistair said. “Let’s go into dinner before they form a Society for Bossy Older Sisters.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, To Beguile a Beast

“What,�� Mick said softly, “is Lad doin�� in me bed?��

Hearing his name, Lad opened small, piggish, upside-down eyes, gazing with idiotic adoration as his whip-thin tail thumped the covers.

“Ah.�� Harry scratched behind one ear. “Well, see, ’e was lookin�� so forlorn, like, out in the courtyard by ’imself. Seemed an awful shame to leave ’im there all alone.��

“Off!�� Mick roared at the dog.

Lad’s transformation was instantaneous. His tiny triangle ears folded back, his eyes narrowed worriedly, and he rolled so that he could crawl toward the edge of the bed on his belly.

“Is that mud on his paws?�� Mick asked in outrage.

Harry glanced at the dog. “I do believe it is,�� he said as if making a discovery.

“Christ!�� Mick watched disgustedly as Lad made the edge of the bed and slithered off, thumping to the floor. The dog seemed to think that his apology was done—or perhaps he’d already forgotten that Mick was mad at him—for he gamboled over as frisky as a lamb.

“He’s not even me dog,�� Mick muttered.

Lad sat, one back leg sprawled out to the side, tongue hanging from his mouth, and grinned up at him. He completely ignored Harry, his supposed master.

“The dog ’as a wonderful affection for ye,�� Harry said brightly.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“She opened her mouth wide in a silent scream and his release caught him, hard and fast as he kissed her openmouthed. He tore his mouth from hers and shouted his triumph. She was his, now and forevermore, until the end of time, until the seas ran dry and man no longer roamed the earth, amen.

His and only his.

She slumped against him, the scent of their passion musky in the night air.

“Sleep,�� he murmured to her, and held her against himself, his cock still buried deep.

She was caught and he had no intention of ever letting her go.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“I’m leaving.�� Her cold lips barely moved as she mouthed the words.
Horror fisted around his vitals. “No.��
For the first time she met his eyes. Hers were red-rimmed but dry. “I have to leave,Simon.��
“No.�� He was a little boy denied a sweet. He felt like falling down and screaming.
“Let me go.��
“I can’t let you go.�� He half laughed here in the too-bright, cold London sun before his own
house. “I’ll die if I do.��
She closed her eyes. “No, you won’t. I can’t stay and watch you tear yourself apart.��
“L�ܳ���.��
“Let me go, Simon. Please.�� She opened her eyes, and he saw infinite pain in her gaze.

Had he done this to his angel? Oh, God. He unclasped his hands.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, The Serpent Prince

“Lucy swayed in shock. A gust of wind moaned through the conservatory and blew out all but one of her candles. Simon must have done this. He’d destroyed his fairyland conservatory. Why? She sank to her knees, huddled on the cold floor, her one remaining
flame cradled in her numb palms. She’d seen how tenderly Simon had cared for his plants. Remembered the look of pride when she’d first discovered the dome and fountain. For him to have smashed all this . . .
He must have lost hope. All hope.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, The Serpent Prince

“What,�� came a deep male voice, “is this?��

Silence froze, her hand still outstretched, clutching a damp, dirty cloth. Oh, dear Lord. Slowly she raised her eyes and found herself face-to-thighs with Mickey O’Connor’s extremely tight breeches.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“Dear God. She ached, wanting something that she knew was a sin.

Wanting a man who was sin itself.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“She swallowed and licked her lips. “It’s rather good.��

He laughed breathlessly. Have care, part of his brain whispered. This way only leads to pain. But his c*ck was pressing hard against the placket of his breeches and he wanted to take her hand and draw her away to his rooms and keep her there until she learned to scream in pleasure.

Until she screamed his name and no other.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“I watched you for years,�� she whispered. The tears were drying on her cheeks, and heat was building within her. If he would just touch her. Touch her there. “I watched you and you never saw me.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, To Seduce a Sinner

“She leaned forward, her gaze so intense that Helen wanted to look away. “And I love him more for it. Do you hear me? He was a good man when he went away to the Colonies. He came back an extraordinary man. So many think that bravery is a single act of valor in a field of battle—no forethought, no contemplation of the consequences. An act over in a second or a minute or two at most. What my brother has done, is doing now, is to live with his burden for years. He knows that he will spend the rest of his life with it. And he soldiers on.�� She sat back in her chair, her gaze still locked with Helen’s. “That to my mind is what real bravery is.��

-Sophia to Helen about Alistair.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, To Beguile a Beast

“She smiled as she poured tea into his cup. “I hope you find your rooms comfortable?��
“Quite.�� He took a too-hasty sip of tea and scalded his tongue.
“The view is to your liking?��
He had a view of a brick wall. “Indeed.��
She fluttered her eyelashes at him over the rim of her teacup. “And the bed. Is it soft and�� yielding?��
He nearly choked on the bite of cake he’d just taken.
“Or do you prefer a firmer bed?�� she asked sweetly. “One that refuses to yield too soon?��
“I think”—he narrowed his eyes at her—“whatever mattress I have on the bed you gave me is perfect. But tell me, my lady, what sort of mattress do you prefer? All soft goose down or one that’s a bit�� harder?��
It was very fast, but he saw it: Her gaze flashed down to the juncture of his thighs and then up again. If there hadn’t been anything to see there before, there certainly was now.
“Oh, I like a nice stiff mattress,�� she purred. “Well warmed and ready for a long ride.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Thief of Shadows

“The butterfly startled at Mary’s gesture and floated up, drifting on the breeze, its wings sparkling blue and bright in the late afternoon sunshine.

Silence watched it, enthralled, and then her eyes met Michael’s.

A corner of his mouth cocked up. “Welcome home, m’love.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“At her gesture Michael cursed and caught her hand, falling suddenly atop her.

She stared up at him wondering what bedchamber faux pas she’d committed.

He groaned at her look. “I’ll let ye pet and play all ye want—after. Now I need”—he pushed her chemise to her waist, parted her thighs, and settled between them—“to be inside ye.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Scandalous Desires

“It hardly mattered. She was tired of waiting for him to acknowledge who he was. Tired of donning a false mask of gaiety when she was so much more—felt so much more—beneath. No one had ever noticed her mask. No one but him. If he couldn’t or wouldn’t make the first move, then damn it, she would.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, Thief of Shadows

“And how closely related to you is Cousin Beatrice?��

Reynaud gave him a look. “Not that close.

“Glad to hear it.�� Vale dropped into a cushioned chair. “I hope she recovers fully so that you can then propose to her. Because I tell you now, matrimony truly is a blessed state, enjoyed by all men of good sense and halfway adequate bedroom skills.��

“Thank you for that edifying thought,�� Reynaud growled.

Vale waved his glass. “Think nothing of it. I say, you haven’t forgotten how to treat a lady in the bedroom, have you?��

“Oh, for God’s sake!��

“You’ve been out of refined society for years and years now. I could give you some pointers, should you need them.”
― Elizabeth Hoyt, To Desire a Devil