ŷ������

“Do you feel that?�� he whispered.
“W�󲹳�?��
His long arms blanketed mine, my hands resting inside his. “You fit me like a shirt. It's a perfect mold.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“He rose up out of his chair, the hint of disdain on his face as he picked up the hoodie. “Not every woman in this world will be for your personal amusement,�� he bit out, staring down at me. “Someday one of them will be your kid, and you’re gonna damn well worry when she’s drawing the wrong kind of attention.��
“You teach your daughter to hide in everyone else’s world,�� I shot back, “and I’ll teach mine everyone else exists in hers. Go fuck yourself, and leave the kid alone.”
― Penelope Douglas, Kill Switch

“He’s temperamental, but he’ll compromise,�� Kai explained to Bryce. “We’ve been through this before.��
“Compromise?�� Bryce whined. “He threw an ax at my head!��
“If I’d thrown it at your head, I would’ve hit your head,�� I growled low.
There was silence, and then I heard Bryce’s voice. “I’m outta here, man.”
― Penelope Douglas, Conclave

“My mom is a mess, she doesn't always put me first, and I hate the positions I'm put in sometimes, but...I know she loves me. Not that it always feels like enough, but I know she tries.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“Her nose brushed mine. “I want to kill anyone for trying to take you away from me.��
I reached my hands around her ass, feeling the strap of blades around her leg, and lifted her into my arms. “If I ever leave you, it’s because I’m dead.��
I sank my mouth into hers, proving the only assurance she’d ever need, and I’d do it a hundred times a day for the rest of my life if she needed.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“She laughed for the first time. It was this perfect, innocent sound, and my hands hummed with the urge to touch her all of a sudden.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“You should run,�� he said, his warning cool and quiet.
Should I? But this was Kai. I didn’t know him, but I’d watched him. He was the good one. The quiet one.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“He laughed under his breath and turned me around, leaning into me and hugging my back. I could feel him over almost every inch of me: my spine, my legs, and my arms. He dipped his head next to mine, his cheek on my ear, and he grazed my fingers with his.
“Do you feel that?�� he whispered.
“W�󲹳�?��
His long arms blanketed mine, my hands resting inside his. “You fit me like a shirt. It’s a perfect mold.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“Was he the first man to touch you?�� Father Kai asked.
�Ԩ�𲹳�.��
He groaned.
I bit my lip, scared, but I pushed further.

“And then he put his hand under my shirt,�� I said, my chest caving at my own words. “I was so scared, but I knew he’d feel good. I craved it so bad.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“You’re different.��
“Different how?��
“I talk to you,�� he replied. “And I like talking to you. That’s rare for me.��
My shoulders relaxed just a little, and he nuzzled my ear again, making me tremble.

“And I want it to be special,�� he continued. “I want to take you to movies and hang out and go for drives and sit you on my lap like this whenever I want. And when we’re ready, we’ll take a long drive down to the inlet and to my family’s boathouse, and I’ll go slow with you.�� His whisper caressed my ear, sending chills down my body. “Taking my time where no one can interrupt us. Taking all night.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“I felt him smile against my skin as he continued his path. “Me neither. How about you, me, and Netflix?��

Hell, yeah. “And no one can know I’m messing around with a pansy-ass rich boy, okay? I’d lose my street cred.��
He snorted, shaking with laughter. “Hey, it’s not the label on the jeans but what’s inside that matters.�� And he hefted me up, gripping my ass and pressing me to him.
I moaned, feeling the heat between us. Yeah, okay, smart ass.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“Ask me not to hurt him,�� I said, my voice cracking unexpectedly.
But she just stared at me, her gaze faltering only slightly.
I inched closer, feeling her body’s heat. “Did it ever occur to you that all you would have to do is ask?”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“Come in,�� I told her, pushing the bowl back.
Hesitantly, she stepped toward me, entering the dining room. “Which bedroom is mine?��
“M���Ա�.��
Her stubborn shoulders fell a little. “I’m tired, Kai.��
“You’re also my wife.�� I picked up my glass, taking a drink of water.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“I won’t hurt him,�� I said, knowing what her worries were. “But I do need to protect myself, so I need to see him. Do you understand?��
“You promise?��
She looked so vulnerable. I couldn’t ask her to choose.
I nodded. “Promise.�� I squeezed her, one hand on her waist, the other on her thigh.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“I want you,�� I told her again. “And I don’t care what your name is, and I don’t care who your parents are or how much money you have or don’t have. I just want you, upstairs, and dressed in nothing but my sheets.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“God, I was lucky.
“So, do you still like me?�� she asked, playing.
I laugh a little. I more than like you.
“I think I’ll keep you,�� I told her instead. “And no one keeps me from you. Got it?��
I kissed her chin, trailing kisses along her jaw. “Not your father, not your brother, not your men.�� I squeezed her ass again, pulling her in deep. “I want your smart-ass mouth.�� I kissed her lips. “I want every memory you’re going to make from now on.�� I kissed her forehead. “And I want this.�� I gripped her, yanking her into me as I bit her neck. “In the car, on this table at breakfast tomorrow, everywhere��”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“Well, I think you’re going to be distracted with me here,�� I pointed out. “I’m not that quiet.��
His chest shook with a laugh behind me. “I don’t mind your distractions.”
― Penelope Douglas, Hideaway

“Why are you apologizing?�� Kai asked, a smile in his voice. “This is the best surprise. My parents will be ecstatic.��
“I didn’t want you to find out like this,�� she explained.
“Well, are you okay with it? Are you ready?��
“I didn’t think I would be,�� she replied. “I wasn’t sure I wanted kids, but since I found out on Monday, I’m just…��
She giggled, and then I heard jumping and a barely audible little squeal.
“No wonder you’ve been smiling so much,�� Kai commented. “And I thought it was because of me.��
“Well, technically it is.”
― Penelope Douglas, Kill Switch

“Or I wanted more kids.
That was until I went over to Damon’s house and then I’d be running out the front door ten minutes later with a migraine. Their nanny day drank, and I wasn’t even going to pretend that I didn’t understand why.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“You’re very lucky, you know?�� Banks said, her voice shaking. “He’s proud of you.��
I touched her face.
“You’re so lucky,�� she said again, and I could hear the crack in her voice.
Bringing her in, I kissed her forehead as she shook with more tears.
“He’s proud of you, too,�� I whispered.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“I love our life,�� she whispered, staring out at the river.
Pressing my lips to her temple, I closed my eyes, feeling it too.
Absolute contentment during these rare moments of calm.
But I sighed, knowing it would take her brother point three seconds to fuck that up tonight.
Michael and Will might take a little longer.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“The dance floor was still nearly empty, except for my wife dancing with her brother.
Hanging back, I folded my arms over my chest, softening at the sight of them together. Okay, okay. I didn’t hate him. I couldn’t hate anyone who loved her.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance,�� I recited Confucius as we slowed down.
She pinched her eyebrows together, breathing hard. “Why?��
“Because a weapon of death shouldn’t be in the hand of someone who hasn’t lived.��
You can’t speak for a world when you only understand one point of view.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“She needed everyone to know that I was hers, when it would save her a lot of aggravation if it could just be enough to know that I knew I was hers.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night

“Kai,�� she moaned, riding me back. “I think I hear screaming.��
Who cares? I didn’t care. The whole house could be on fire right now, and I wouldn’t care.
I stared into her eyes. A truck would have to drag me off you.”
― Penelope Douglas, Fire Night