ŷ������

“Zoya said. “I need Sturmhond to take a
message to Ketterdam for me.��
“I hear he’s very busy these days.��
“I think he’ll appreciate the reward.��
He lowered his voice. “If it involves you out of that dress, I
have no doubt I can convince him.��
“You won’t stop until you’ve created a scandal, will you?��
“The demon made me do it.”
― Leigh Burdugo

“Save their world. But... come back to mine."
"That's rather forward of you, Mr. Cat."
He grinned. But it wasn't just like the Cheshire Cat's smile. There was warmth in it, and even love.
"I'm not the single young lady who goes knocking on strange barristers' doors," he pointed out.
"Hmmph," Alice said, sniffing. "Excellent point.”
― Liz Braswell, Unbirthday

“I have a sweet tooth and I am not ashamed. That's all there is to it. No need to mention donuts at all."
"How about buns?"
She looked back over her shoulder and caught him staring at her ass. She was wearing a tight black skirt for no other reason than she'd had a strange urge to feel sexy after Hassan shredded her the other day.
She gave a little wiggle before she walked into the restaurant and was rewarded with the sound of his sharp intake of breath.
"Layla?"
"Yes?" She turned in the doorway, caught a cheeky smile.
"I like sweet things, too.”
― Sara Desai, The Marriage Game

“I felt more comfortable when you were cursing like a sailor and calling me filthy names."
"Are you conceding defeat?" She tried to keep the hopeful tone from her voice when he tucked his laptop into his leather briefcase.
"Of course not." His dark eyes flashed with mirth. "I have a business meeting in half an hour which I had hoped to conduct here, but I'm too much of a gentleman to intrude on your privacy while you crush the hearts of ten sad and lonely men. I look forward to battling with you tomorrow, Miss Patel. May the best man win."
After the door closed behind him, she sat back in her chair surrounded by his warmth and the intoxicating scent of his cologne. She knew his type. Hated it. Arrogant. Cocky. Egotistical. Ultra-competitive. Fully aware of how devastatingly handsome he was. A total player. She would have swiped left if his profile had popped up on desi Tinder.
So why couldn't she stop smiling?”
― Sara Desai, The Marriage Game

“Maybe I could pay you another way..."
His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment he thought his fantasy of her in those boots on his desk just might come true. "I'm all ears, sweetheart. And a whole lot of something else.”
― Sara Desai, The Marriage Game

“She wiggled beneath Sam but his hard, heavy body was impossible to move, and the more she squirmed, the harder a certain part of it seemed to get.
"I thought you said no missionary," he whispered.
"Oh my God," she raged, keeping her voice low. "Are you getting off on this?"
"I'm a man. You're rubbing yourself all over me. What did you think was going to happen?"
"I thought you were all about self-control." Something she seemed to be lacking at the moment. Fire licked between her thighs. And the heat... She felt like molten lava was running through her veins.
"Not around you.”
― Sara Desai, The Marriage Game

“On the contrary, you speak so beautifully that I could listen all day.'

The astronomer threw a searching glance upon her for a moment; but there was no satire in the warm soft eyes which met his own with a luxurious contemplative interest. 'Say more of it to me,' she continued, in a voice not far removed from coaxing.”
― Thomas Hardy, Two on a Tower

“Do you still like my hair?”
― Walter Tevis, The Queen's Gambit

“Nina Zenik stood behind him, swathed in the red silk kefta that advertised her status as a Grisha Heartrender, one palm pressed to his forehead, the other to the back of his neck. She was tall and built like the figurehead of a ship carved by a generous hand. They were silent, as if they’d been frozen there at the table. There wasn’t even a bed in the room, just a narrow settee where Nina curled up every night.

When Kaz had asked Nina why, she’d simply said, “I don’t want anyone getting ideas.��

“A man doesn’t need a bed to get ideas, Nina.��

Nina fluttered her lashes. “What would you know about it, Kaz? Take those gloves off, and we’ll see what ideas come to mind.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

“But even as the words were coming out of his mouth, he was slightly despising himself for saying them. It was what girls liked to hear though. Every now and again Dex found himself feeling like an actor who'd been performing in the same stage play for far too long. The lines came out automatically, irrespective of whether or not they were true.”
― Jill Mansell, Don't Want to Miss a Thing

“Well, if you’re giving me a choice—I’ll take the flirting.”
― Roseanna M. White, The Nature of a Lady

“Saturday Sonnet by Stewart Stafford

The Bard once wrote that love is blind,
Desire’s muslin cloth veils the eyes behind,
As a hog for truffles nosing in dirt,
The human sniffs out a way to flirt,
Flippant words become overture,
And a dungeon-dweller emerges pure,
Love’s great story blossoming anew,
Past indiscretions in a penitent’s pew,
Hearts as one, a confluence of minds,
Time to think of the tie that binds,
Sure of footing and glad of heart
Wheels turning on a bridal cart,
Handsome husband, pretty wife,
Set out together in this thing called life.

© Stewart Stafford, 2021. All rights reserved.”
― Stewart Stafford

“You jumped in your car and drove here from New York on a whim. I don't do much of anything as a whim."
As if needing to prove her wrong- because something inside of him felt as if he did- Max stood up from his stool and walked around to her side of the counter. Slowly and deliberately. Waves of pink began rushing up her neck and he had a gratifying epiphany.
So I'm the cause of that shade.
Although, really, he knew he was the cause of all the shades. But he sure liked that one best.
"I don't know, Hadley. I think it's been a pretty whimsical night."
Her lips curled up in acknowledgement. "This has all been very unlike me. But that doesn't change the fact that down the road, beyond right now-"
He leaned down so they were eye-to-eye and whispered, "Who said anything about beyond right now?”
― Bethany Turner, Hadley Beckett's Next Dish

“You’re looking down the front of my dress, aren’t you?�� she murmured, setting down the frosting-coated knife.

“Certainly not. I am helping you with the cake.��

Amusement rose in her chest. “Liar.��

She felt him smile against her hair. “If you are going to deprive me of a wedding night, you shouldn’t begrudge me a little peek at your br**sts. And if you didn’t want me to look at them, you shouldn’t have worn such a low-cut gown.”
― Lisa Kleypas, When Strangers Marry

“I meant what I said about seeing you."
"Look your fill." She spread her arms and faced him with reckless confidence, goose bumps and all, even though she knew he'd dated women far more beautiful than she. Pictures of his glossy public life sometimes ran in the "Evening Hours" column of the Times. He always favored a "type." Patrician, fair and WASPy, his dates were as tall and thin as uncooked spaghetti.
Judging by the expression on his face now, Rosa suspected he might be willing to keep an open mind about his type. His eyes didn't just look, they touched. She felt a swift phantom caress on her lips, her throat, her breasts, as his gaze slipped over her.”
― Susan Wiggs, Summer by the Sea

“Mia shook her head. “I’m shocked you’re not swarmed. Successful chef with the best sense of humor on the planet and straight-up gorgeous? I would’ve guessed you’d be turning down women left and right.��
“There’s nothing straight about me, babe,�� Sky responded, the huskiness in her voice sending a shiver down Mia’s spine.”
― Katherine McIntyre, Confined Desires

“Bourbon’s on the sweeter side, which by the way you massacre your coffee it’s clear you like. You’re careful about your appearance, meticulous, so no time for extravagant or ridiculous ingredients. Besides, the Old Fashioned is a classic with wide appeal.�� Grif leaned back, placing his arms on either side of the booth.
“Cheater,�� Dan responded, the grin reaching his eyes. “Was your next choice a rum and Coke?��
Grif snorted. “You’ve got way too much class to be a rum and Coke.”
― Katherine McIntyre, Midnight Heist

“That's when Felipe from Brazil asked me in the most natural and relaxed of ways (almost as if he were wondering if we should get a bite to eat), 'Shouldn't we have an affair together, Liz? What do you think?”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

“I have to hand it to you, little Annamuk, this is not what I would have expected."
"Why is that?"
"It's so, um, romantic."
"And you don't think I'm romantic?"
"I think you're refreshingly unsentimental. It's what makes you a great builder."
"I don't think I follow."
He pauses for a moment. "I think that your eye always goes to what will make a home function smoothly, what will make the people who live there comfortable. That is different than the romantic aspect. Romantic people get focused on things like brand names and labels that evoke a certain feel for them, or focused on elements that may or may not work well for their space. Old-world crown molding in a modern loft space, commercial kitchen appliances for a family that doesn't cook, the kinds of touches that actually make a space feel awkward or just off. Your places are always fully kitted out, with amazing attention to detail, and always designed with the actual usage and client in mind."
"So why is this different?"
"I don't know. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, and still super-functional, but the chandelier? The painted floor? Very girly."
"And I'm not a girl?"
Liam looks me dead in my eyes. "No, my darling. You are not now and never have been a girl. You are a woman. Every inch.”
― Stacey Ballis, Recipe for Disaster

“If there is anything coming it may as well come soon and be done with, for with all these rags to dye before supper I have no time to waste in flirting,”
― L.M. Montgomery, Rilla of Ingleside

“Zaya's nose brushed his cheek. "Tell me what you'd like."

"I don't exactly know how people say it, in polite society."

"It's sweet that you think I travel in polite society.”
― Molly Ringle, Sage and King

“Duncan had never felt more powerfull than when Ghost trusted him enough to fall asleep beside him. And to know that Ghost felt the same way about it? He was so fucked.
Ghost's brow creased. "Do you? Want? I mean. That. With me?"
Damn Ghost for asking. And damn himself for this self-destructive stupidity. "Yes."
"I don't mean sex. I mean -"
"I know what you mean. Yes."
"But you don't want to. You wish you didn't."
"It would be easier not to want you. It would be safer. Probably better for my long-term mental health. But it's kind of moot. I do want you. It's not a choice."
"Then we can. Watch movies."
Duncan sighed. "No. I-" He didn't have the first clue how to say this if Ghost hadn't already figured it out.
"You can't plot to kill someone and then watch a movie with me. It doesn't work that way. I don't work that way.
Ghost considered that for a long time." Fine, I won't kill him. Even if that's the only way out. I won't."
"That's-" Duncan wasn't sure whether to be flattered or appalled. "Are you flirting with me by not murdering people?"
Ghost looked thoughtful. "Do you like it?”
― Sidney Bell, Rough Trade

“�� Seriez-vous un iceberg ? On m'a dit beaucoup de mal des Anglaises, mais je vous préviens ! Notre soleil ne va pas tarder à vous faire fondre, d'autant plus qu'il s'allie à notre musique et à notre vin.”
― Violet Winspear, The Silver Slave

“You are a term of flirting, even useless for self.”
― Ehsan Sehgal

“Roxie arched a brow. “I think I’m familiar with mortifying, doll. Remember, I’m driving my mother to prison tomorrow.��
“Ah, that old chestnut,�� Mel teased back, trying to cling to her composure.”
― Katherine McIntyre, Strength Check

“If someone is not your type, don't waste their time or yours by flirting with them.”
― Germany Kent

“Pour l'heure, il n'était pas à côté d'elle mais un peu plus loin dans la foule, et bavardait avec Bessie la Cloche, la fille du propriétaire de l'auberge, une fille de petite taille avec des courbes là où il en fallait et un sourire que les hommes trouvaient aguichant et les femmes fabriqué.”
― Ken Follett, World Without End

“Excuse me." A pretty brunette appears at his elbow, tossing back her hair so he can get a good view down the front of her tube top. "Really sorry to bother you, but my friend and I have a bit of a bet on. Are you the guy from Outlander?"
"No," crows Calum, "he's better! You should see what happens when you put a hand on his old stones!”
― Brianne Moore, All Stirred Up

“He was a player. She didn’t play. And, if she did, it would have been for keeps.”
― Donna Goddard, Circles of Separation

“You’re not my boyfriend.��
The same velvety voice that I was becoming all too familiar with said, “No, but we can change that.”
― Hasnita Singh, Get You the Moon